S90 



JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTtJRB AlTD CX)TTAQE OABDHNES. 



[ Htr 9, 1U9. 



entered a hive at some distance and were all killed. There 

 were upwards of 15 Ibg. of honey, and all in new combs. The 

 only remarkable feature was the confused manner in which 

 the eggs were deposited in the cells, there being from two 

 to four in each cell. 



Another case of partial desertion was a Ligurian hive 

 which was strengthened with black bees four weeks pre- 

 viously. Sunday the 16th of April being another fine day, 

 the whole of tho Ligurians fled and left their fertile queen 

 with her black subjects. The Ligurians tried to enter a very 

 strong colony of black bees a quarter of a mile off, but were all 

 killed. It appears to me that whenever the bees are iinable to 

 meet the demands of the queen they fly off, as I never knew 

 a strong colony desert its hive, whilst I have seen a weak 

 one with a barren queen remain till the bees had dwindled 

 away and only the queen was left ; but whether this partial 

 desertion was from that cause or for the purpose of robbing 

 I know not, but, perhaps. Mr. Woodbury will say to what 

 extent the Ligurians are inclined to rob or change hives, as 

 I remember his mentioning something of the kind. By so 

 doing he will favour more than — A Lanaekshiee Bee- 

 keeper. 



[The occurrence referred to by my Lanarkshire co-tem- 

 porary took place on the 2nd of April, 1863, and was related 

 by me in " our Journal " of the 12th of the following month 

 (May), in that year. It consisted of the entire desertion of 

 the bees of a Ligurian stock, attracted by what the Germans 

 call the " swarm-tune," set up by a very powerful colony of 

 black bees when released from confinement after a long 

 journey, and placed in too close proximity to the Ligfurians. 

 This desertion was, however, speedily and completely re- 

 medied by causing the two stocks to change places. It is 

 tme that the Italians share the pilfering propensity, at 

 least equally with their dark brethren, but I have never 

 found them at all prone to desert their hives. In fact, most 

 of the circumstances above related are quite unparalleled 

 in my experience, and I trust my Lanarkshire friend will 

 forgive me for hinting, that they seem to me almost to 

 lavour the suspicion of what may be termed over-manipu- 

 fation on his part. I hope ere long to have the opportunity 

 of redeeming my promise of considering what has been ad- 

 vanced by others on the subject of regicide among bees. — 

 A Detonshiee Bee-kbepee.] 



MAE:i>rG AX ARTIFICIAL SWAEM. 



I WISH to make an artificial swarm from a common straw 

 stock hive which is very fuU of bees, many clustered on the 

 outside. Under these circumstances I would perform the 

 operation at once, but for the condition laid down by Mr. 

 Woodbury, that drones should have made their appearance 

 prior to the swarm being driven. 



May I ask, if it be intended that it is only advisable that 

 there should be drones in the swavm, or whether it is abso- 

 lutely essential ? After the swarm shaU have been driven, 

 would it be a favourable opportunity to introduce a fertile 

 Ligurian queen, and can you tell me where I can purchase 

 one? 



I weighed my six stocks on the 4th ult., the weight was 

 126 lbs. gross, or about 90 lbs. for the contents of the hives. 

 The loss in weight since the .3rd of December, 1864, a period 

 of four months, averaged only 61 lbs. per hive. — M. S. 



[The presence of drones in an artificial swarm is not 

 essential to its success, but it is absolutely necessary for 

 tho fecundation of the young queen that drones should 

 exist in considerable numbers either in the parent stock or 

 in some of the neighbouring colonies within, say, a fortnight 

 after tho operation. There would, we think, be a better 

 chance of success if the introduction of a Ligurian queen 

 were delayed two or three days after the formation of the 

 swarm, but we do not know where you can procure one.] 



Eablt Swabhs. — A fine top swarm of healthy bees was 

 thrown off a last season's swarm atTollamill, Inverkoithing, 

 on the 16th of April. It belonged to Mr. Henry Marr of 

 that x>laoe. A hive at Westhall Gardens, Oyne, threw off a 

 fine swarm on Saturday, April 22nd. — {Banffshire JoutnaX.) 



VERY WEAK STOCKS. 



Two hives, Nos. 1 and 9 are both extremely weak. From 

 No. 9 are thrown out numbers of dead drones, and no 

 increase of the other bees. Would you unite them ? I do 

 not think there is half a pint of bees in either. 



[No. 9 has probably a drone-breeding queen, which should 

 be got rid of before uniting. If this cannot be done we 

 should dispose of the drone-breeder and the remaining bees 

 together by means of sulphur, appropriating the combs and 

 their contents to such purpose as they may prove best 

 adapted for. No. 1 may in this case be best restored to 

 prosperity by the addition of a small swarm.] 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



PouLTRT Shows.— *' A Haraburjfh Shower'* complains that he did not 

 know of the Wharredale Exhibition, or he would certainly have exhibited 

 there. This is not the first letter upon Buch omissions ; but if ConomltteeB 

 will not adrertiRC ia our columnR, and send the neceesary statementa, we 

 cannot save our readers from such dieappolntmenta. 



DccKS {Constant JReader, yauftcich).—l( by saying the "Ducks pcrck 

 In a larpe pond/' you mean that they sleep there at night, it will do them 

 no harm. 



Goose Eogs Umfbetile ( W. C. ).— We do not know how you account for 

 the three fertile eegs, but your gardener is right. If the tub is deep it 

 may answer the purpose. 



Various (Old Subsr.riber), —Your hens may sit in the cellars, but the 

 chickens ma«t be removed to a drier and better atmosphere directly they 

 are hatched. Hens become egg-bound from a fevered state of body. The 

 remedy is to dip a wing feather in oil, and to lubricate the passage with it. 

 It affords immediate relief. The symptoms arc—the hen walks with her 

 tail on the ground. Many Bantams are uncertain breeders ; the eggs you 

 mention are not impregnated. We cannot believe any one would purposely 

 spoil the eggs he sells for sitting. Leaving higher considerations out of 

 the question, It would be against his interests. Gamecocks' combs require 

 no preparation. 



Rearing Young Pheas^nta (iVouice),— Yon must put yonr young Phea- 

 sants on a dry and dusty spot, where they will have plenty of aun. Feed 

 them on curd, chopped egg, breiid and milk, cooked meat, chopped fine. 

 Buy " Pheasants and Pheasantries," by Baily, 113, Mount Street, It costs 

 by post, Is. Id. 



SwELUKG r*J He!*'8 Abuosien (F. G,).— If the swelling in question is fat, 

 the frequent doses of castor oil will remove it. If it is not, it is a fatal 

 case, and a mere question of time. It often resulta from over-feeding, 

 especially with meat. If it does not decrease, we advise you to Kill her. 

 You will find the hard substance made up of cheesy stuff, such as would be 

 produced by a mixture of white and yolk of eggs. Let her diet be barley- 

 meal and mashed potatoes, with plenty of green food, especially lettuce 

 leaves. 



Spanish Hkhs with Breast Swellikos (B. 5.).— The swelling is a. 

 dropping of the crop. It is generally caused by a rupture or u relaxation, 

 of the skin ; at other times by a fevered state of body, which causes intense 

 thirst, and they drink till the crop is unduly filled and distended. The 

 latter case can be cured by confining the bird?, and giving them a small 

 allowance of water; if mixed with vinegar or wormwood so much the 

 better. In the former case It Is incurable. The hen will go on laying, but 

 you must make up your mind to submit to the eyesore, or the pendant in 

 front. 



Spanish Hess Balo (ff. .S. C). —Rub the bare places with sulphur oint- 

 meit. All this is sometimes the work of one hen; if that be the case, 

 remove her. The knife is not necessary. The feathers will ail grow again 

 speedily. 



GiDDiHBss IK A PioBON (J. L. J.).— Youf PigeoH seoms to have met 

 with rather rough u«age. Tna twisting round of the head would seem to 

 indicate that the brain wm affected; and not being able to fly may arise 

 from tlie same cause or from injury to the back. II the scalp is much torn 

 it may be poftened by bathing with warm water. Tho eilgen may then be 

 drawn together by a needle and thread, and the wound anointed with 

 unsaltcd butter or lard. Place her in a quiet pen by herself; give a pill 

 containing one grain calomel. foUowci by a teaspoonfiil of castor oil : avoid 

 hempseed or stimulating seeds; and put down her throat daily three or 

 four pieces of mortar about the sIkc of peas. If the twisting of tho hqad 

 incrcist's repeat the calomel and oil, and pull out tho tail; this in growing 

 will draw the blood from the head.— B. P. Bkemt. 



lUiiiHTR {C. 5.).— Ivy leaves will not Injure them. 



Khratum.— In the article at p. 352. " Hive< with Entrances at the Top," 

 the cxplaniitory line under the woodcut nhoald read— "a, Passage sunk in 

 the top, permitting entrance to the sfock-hive.*' 



LONDON MAUKETS.— May 8. 

 POULTRY. 



Our supply ramains vcrv wmill, ami, but for the unprocedentedly amall 

 demand of the present seiKon, prices would be very high. 





». d. H. il. 









d s. 



too 



„ 

 ,, 

 3 „ 1 



8 „ 



d 





2 li „ 3 



PiirtriduCB 



FlaroH 



Kabbits 











1 



(1 





2 ,, 2 3 



n 



Go.linKR 



7 „ 7 6 



4 (1 „ 4 C 



4 



Wild do 







fi 



Guinea Fowls 



„ 



Pigeons 







9 



I 



