342 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 31, 1878. 
more or less old and moribund bees. Care should be taken after 
a time to remove these temporarily utilised frames should they 
happen to be less regular than those in whose place they were 
substituted. This should be done as soon as the young bees have 
been hatched out of them, then all can be finally arranged for 
the winter. , 
By this plan it is obvious that very large populations of late- 
hatched bees can be secured throughout the apiary at a trifling 
cost. All that need be given of sugar syrup is just that which 
will suffice to keep up the stimulus necessary to encourage the 
queen to breed. Should any of it have been stored in the combs 
utilised for breeding, it can be given to the bees at any time by 
simply arranging it in a box set superwise over any stock that 
may require it. 
The present autumn seems to be singularly favourable to the 
development of late brood, owing to the great quantity of ivy 
blossom, which is expanding quite a fortnight earlier than usual, 
owing also to the summer-like warmth of the weather—B. & W. 
EXTRACTING HONEY FROM COMBS. 
ONE of your correspondents, “ I@NORANCE,” asks, “ What is the 
most improved method of extracting honey from the combs ?” 
This is rather difficult to answer, because he does not say whether 
his object is to save the combs for future use or merely to run 
the honey. If the latter be his object he will find an excellent 
description in “Bee-keeping for the Many” at page 29. In 
addition to what is there said I would only advise him to cut 
away every atom of bee bread and brood comb before he com- 
mences to cut up the honeycomb. : 
If his object be to preserve the comb entire, of course the 
“slinger” is the only thing to use. Failing this he may do as I 
have done this autumn with my bar-frames—that is, slice the lids 
off the combs with a sharp knife, but carefully, and then proceed 
to scrape down the honey on: both sides of the comb, leaving the 
base of the cells as little injured as possible. This ought pro- 
perly to be done in warm weather. If the comb is pretty tough 
most of the honey will run off in a few hours without seriously 
injuring the fabric—the comb being stood upright overa dish. This 
done, in my own case I have given the comb to my bees to clear 
away ; and I hayesome now which the bees have utilised ina hive 
T haye been transferring. They have succeeded in very neatly 
reforming and refilling the cells from their foundation. I doubt 
the possibility of treating in this way any fresh honeycomb out 
of hives without bar-frames, as the combs would infallibly break 
up.—B. & W. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
CocKEREL HAVING BRONCHITIS (i. Smith).—Give him bread soaked in 
ale twice daily until recovered. 
CLEANING BIRD SEED (Jf. Z.).—The best way to clean Canary seed is to 
three-parts fill a cotton stocking, and with the end tied up exercise yourself 
for afew minutes by holding the ends of the stocking in each hand, and 
with an up-and-down motion shake weil the seed. Afterwards rid the seed 
from dust and chaff with the aid of a fine sieve, at the same time converting 
your mouth into a makeshift winnowing machine. 
PARAKEET UNHEALTHY (Z.1V.)—As your Parakeet is suffering from an 
attack of diarrhoea you may now discontinue the fruit diet. Rust in the food 
or two or three rusted nails in the water will act beneficially. You have 
done all you need do in piercing the swollen feet to let out the humour. 
Occasionally bathe the bird’s feet with warm water, and when dary anoint 
them with the oil of almonds. Do not use sawdust. Lower the perches to 
within a couple of inches of the cage floor, upon which place some clean 
moss or soft hay. As the bird gains strength raise the perches. 
PRESERVING EaGs (C. 8. B.).—We cannot tell why the eggs painted with 
linseed oil proved bad. Employ eggs quite fresh. We have had eggs that 
hhave been kept twelve months, and then perfectly fit for any culinary pur- 
pose. We generally use a glazed breadpan. The bottom should be covered 
with slaked lime wetted to a consistence that will allow anything put in it 
to stand upright. The bottom layers of lime will be 2 inches thick. The 
eggs are stuck in this small end downwards close together, but not touching. 
When the bottom layer is full, then a fresh mixture of slaked lime is poured 
till thick enough for the eggs to stand up in it, and so on till the pan is full. 
The eggs should be perfectly sound in shell, not cracked or in any way 
injured, and they must not touch each other. 
CANE.—" J. B.’ desires to know where he could obtain cane for making 
hives. 
COVERING STEWARTON Hives (G. B. B.)—Heavy wooded hives are an 
exploded idea, the lighter being every way better and more porous. AIL 
hives whether of wood or straw must be carefully protected from the 
weather by some good external covering, such as a bee house, straw hackle, 
or wooden cover, for each stock singly, in keeping with the taste or means 
of the bee-keeper. My colonies are on single pedestals protected by covers 
of square and octagon form; these are of wood, three-quarters of an inch 
thick, 18 inches wide, by 27 inches high at the eaves. The body and top are 
alike moyeable, the last named coyered with thin zine surmounted at the 
apex by a turned vase, well painted stone colour. These covers are thoroughly 
useful as well as ornamental. If slides project 14 inch to draw by, and 
are made to work very easy at the start, they give no trouble afterwards ; 
i£ cut too short and fit tightly they require a pair of pincers to draw 
them. The sun’s rays in summer, and a heated smoothing iron at other 
times, are said to be sufficient to soften any amount of propolis, but after 
twenty years’ experience I have never had occasion to employ either.— 
A RENFREWSHIRE BEE-KEEPER. 
BEES (R. A. AL, J.).—Bees would no doubt do.wwell in a hayloft, provided 
good pasturage was afforded outdoors, supplemented by artificial feeding as 
required. 
CHLOROFORMING BEES (J. Salter).—If you can cover and surround the 
strong colony of bees which are under the plastering of your house with any 
kind of strong cloth slightly damped you may both save the bees and take 
their honey by the use of chloroform. Thenest being 14 feet from the ground 
is the greatest difficulty. First go up the ladder with some smoking cotton 
rags in your hand, and if the bees be disturbed apply the smoke and master 
them till you see how the cloth can be fixed, then fix the cloth as closely 
around the bees as you can with a teacup saucer inside. When this is done 
pour an ounce or two of chloroform into the saucer. The chloroform will 
act instantaneously and cause the bees to make a great buzzing noise. As 
soon as the noise subsides the bees will be found in the cloth, and should be 
speedily hived, and all the combs promptly cut down and removed. An 
expert in bee management could easily use the combs from the bees without 
the use of chloroform, and hive them afterwards. 
TOMATO SAUCE (Rus in Urbe)—Stew a dozen large tomatoes with 
Cayenne pepper and salt until they become like a marmalade. Pass them 
through a sieve to remove the seeds, and stir until it is of the consistency of 
very thick cream, then add a half pint of nice broth and a little butter; 
or if you have no broth a little warm water, and 14 oz. of butter, with two 
table-spoontuls of grated biscuit, or bread may be stirred in just before send- 
ing to table. In seasoning the same use very little pepper. It will be a nice 
accompaniment to beefsteak or cold roast beef. ‘ 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 32° 40" N.; Long. 0° 8’0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 9 A.M. IN THE DAY. 
apna tte ‘cieeeios eye! 5 
i ene_-| Hygrome- Sd |S#,.|Shade Tem-| Radiation iI 
1878. |B? 2 S ter. Sa PIERS) perature. Temperature.) 3 
neo ss |s'62) ————_|_—__—— __ ia 
Oct. |2 Ran | Br |oa0H < In On 
Ras | Dry. | Wet.| A'S \a iMax.| Min.] sun. | grass 
In deg. deg. ! deg. 
We. 23 W. 54.7 94,1 
Th. 2 Ss. TAS 
Bri. S.W. 92:2 
Sat. S.W. 86.3 
Sun N. 86.2 
Mo. 28 W. 89.8 
Tue 2 NS 74.7 
Means | 29.428 | 45.9 | 443 40.7 85.4 
REMARKS. 
23rd._Fine bright morning, shower at 2.50 P.M,; fine afternoon, damp- 
evening. Air temperature down to 32°, and a little snow. 
24th.—Wet morning, heavy rain at 11 to 11.15 A.M. with squall of wind ; 
fine bright afternoon ; cold starlight night. 
25th.—Fine, bright, cool day ; beautiful starlight evening. 
26th.—Heavy showers during the morning; fine afternoon, but stormy- 
looking sky, and windy ; starlight evening. ° 
27th.—Very fine fresh autumnal day. 
28th. —White frost in early morning, shower at 11.30 A.M., and slight shower 
2.15 P.M.; fine afternoon, with sunshine; wind rather high in 
evening. 
29th.—Clear cold day, bright sun at intervals ; solar halo at noon ; starlight. 
night. 
Seasonably cool weather seems to have set in, but although there have 
been traces of white frost on metal surfaces, none has yet been formed om 
grass, and the air temperature has not yet fallen below 36°.—G. J. SYMONS. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.—OCTOBER 30. 
THE only feature in our Market has been the steady fall in Kent Cobs, 
there being a disinclination on the part of buyers to do much business at 
present rates. 
FRUIT. 
s.d. s.d. s. d. 3. d 
tsieve 2 Oto4 0! Melons.... each 1 O0to4 
dozen 0 0 O 0O| Nectarin dozen 00 0 0 
tb 0 0 O 0} Oranges ~? 100.8 0 16 0 
bushel 0 0 0 0] Peaches dozen 8 0 12 © 
sieve 0 0 90 0O| Pears, dozen 0 0 0 0 
4sie 00 00 dessert .. dozen 2 0 6 0 
dozen 0 0 0 0| Pine Apples Pib. 8 0 6 O 
pib. 0 8 1 0} Piums.... dsieve 26 0 o 
a Ib O 8 1 O| Raspberries.... Pib. 0 0 0 0 
quart 0 0 © 0| Strawberries .. Pb. 0 0 0 0 
pib 0 9 6 0} Walnuts ..... bushel 5 0 8 0 
e100 6 0 18 0 GittO.... ee e100 0 0 0 0 
VEGETABLES. 
Sods /S.1ds s. da. s.d 
Artichokes dozen 2 0to4 0|Mushrooms.... pottle 1 6to2 0 
Asparagus... bundle 0 0 0O 0 | Mustard & Cress punnet 0 2 0 4 
Beans, Kidney Pp itb 0 8 O 6) Onions .. bushel 2 6 3 0 
Beet, Red dozen 16 8 0 pickling quart 0 4 0 6 
Broccoli .. bundle 0 9 1 6| Parsley.... z punches 2 0 0 0 
Brussels Sprouts sieve 8 0 4 6) Parsnips . dozen 00 0 6 
Cabbage ..... ... dozen 1 0 2 0} Peas.... . quart 0 0 0 0 
Carrots. . bunch 0 4 0 8} Potatoes . bushel 8 6 4 6 
BBM) Kidney ...... bushel 4 0 5 0 
83 0 6 0|Radishes.. doz.bunches 1 0 1 6 
1 6 2 0} Rhubarb ... bundle 0 0 0 0 
..doz.bunches 2 0 4 0|Salsaty .. . bundle 0 9 1 0 
Cucumbers .... each 0 4 1 0|Scorzonera .... bundle 10 0 0 
Endive .. dozen 10 2 0}|Seakale ... . basket 0 0 0 0 
Fennel... bunch 0 8 0 0} Shallots .. 5 Pib 08 00 
Garlic S tb. 0 6 O O)| Spinach . bushel 2 6 4 0 
Herbs bunch 0 2 O 0/| Turnips.. . bunch 0 2 0 6 
Leeks .......... bunch 0 2 4 0| Veg. Marrows.. each 0 2 0 U 
