20 



JOURNAL OF HOSTICUiTTJSE AXD COTTAGE GARDSNEK. 



[ January 6, 1S63. 



say eo at this feBtive time — having a depth of ahout 6i- inches ; 

 take out the hottom and refix it an inch and a half higher up, 

 filling up any cavities that may remain around it, or up the 

 original closing at the side, with hot glue. Cotton wadding 

 forced in firmly with a small chisel is also a very good substitute. 

 Around the circumference at the bottom of the drum cut out 

 three arched sections, rising an inch for each apex, leaving 

 between each about 3 inches of the base as supports. 

 Opposite each other and inside of the drum fix two upright 

 pieces of deal 4i inches long, and four-eighths by three-eighths 

 of an inch in substance, with very small Ecrews from the outside. 

 Then cut a circular piece from out of the lid of a papered hat- 

 box, about one-eighth of an inch smaller in circumference than 

 the inside of the drum, and cut two opposite niches or grooves 

 out of it, so that it may relieve itself well of the uprights. 

 Fasten with tin-tacks two thin strips of deal, an inch apart, 

 parallel and across, to prevent the floater from warping. Tack 

 on the under side, at right angles, four pieces of a cork cut 

 three-eighths of an inch thick, and with a bare bodkin or knitting- 

 needle heated red-hot pierce a quantity of holes over its whole 

 surface, and form one central hole half an inch in diameter, 

 and secure therein a strip of bended zinc to answer as a handle, 

 and the beeB will be enabled, through the agency of the central 

 hole and the corks below, to clear away the food from the 

 bottom. This self-acting float will effectually secure the bees 

 from death by immersion from the downward progress of the 

 food ; and it will be a rare sight to watch them at an evening 

 feast of this kind. It is gluttony perfectly typified, though 

 really to be understood in the opposite sense as regards our little 

 insect friends. 



When I find occasion to feed in autumn I proceed as follows : 

 — I cut a strip of thick cotton wadding about 2 feet 6 inches 

 long by 2 inches broad, and encircle it upon the top towards the 

 outside circumference of the hive, then quietly and quickly as 

 possible ply-up the central piece of plaited straw, place upon the 

 hive a narrow deal fillet half an inch wider than the hole, and 

 immediately lay on the adapting-board ; the fillet refuses the 

 bees admittance under the board, for the central parts of straw 

 hives are generally become sunken a little more or less — circum- 

 stances which I submit to, as I prefer my hives to be made of 

 straw throughout. Now place the feeder upon the board over 

 the orifice, and a large bell propagating-glass over the feeder ; 

 then, with a goose's wing — which should always be at hand in 

 all bee-operationB — waft off the bees that may be running about on 

 the board, and cover the glass with a super-over-hive, and sur- 

 mount with a milk-pan, which will bear the hive down upon 

 the board, which presses the cotton wadding into the irregu- 

 larities of the surface of the stock-hive, defying earwigs, wood- 

 lice, and all other insect depredators, which are sure to be 

 on the alert on these occasions. In the course of about half 

 an hour's time listen, and you will hear a sound as of a resound- 

 ing sea. 



My drum-feeder holds 8 lbs. of food. I supply it to the hive 

 about six p.ar. in August and at five P.M. if in October (I prefer 

 August), and by nine next morning the bees have generally stored 

 the food and mostly forsaken the feeder by about eleven A.M. 

 I then, if it is in October, spread a piece of matting before the 

 hive, remove the pans, super-hive, and glass and feeder ; and 

 when no more food is to be given, I place the feeder on the 

 matting. I consider my stock-hives should weigh 30 lbs. each in 

 the latter end of August. Then take off adapting-board, wadding, 

 and fillet, secure the piece of plaited straw over the hole with 

 three or four slender nails, waft off any stray bees with the wing, 

 and replace the milk-pan on the stock-hive. With the wing I 

 then move off what bees there are loitering about the feeder on 

 to the piece of matting, because, in October especially, the 

 ground is apt to be damp and cold, and the bees, either from 

 being gorged or taken suddenly from the warm temperature of 

 the hive, when they are brushed to the cold ground become 

 numbed, and never rise more ; whereas, alighting upon the 

 dry matting, they recover and return to their hive. When 

 more food is to be given, then I merely replace the bell-glass, 

 super-hive, and pan, and return the feeder replenished in the 

 evening. 



.Never feed them during the daytime. It incites the bees to 

 roystering and to gadding about, and, what is worse, their portal 

 is left in a great measure unguarded, which awakens in their 

 neighbours their never-failing picking, and stealing, and fighting 

 propensities. The bee food which I invariably make use of is 

 composed in proportions of 1 lb. of loaf sugar, j lb. of honey, 



and 4 pint of water to be dissolved in a stew-pan over a clear 

 fire. 



In conclusion, I will observe, that a quarter-of-a-peek measure 

 is more likely to be on the premises than a fig-drum, which was 

 the case with me last autumn, so I merely with some tacks as 

 small as possible, fastened two parallel uprights inside the 

 measure, driving the tacks from withinside in this instance. 

 These formed a float after the manner above stated. I fashioned 

 a wooden ferrule out of a lath an inch broad, cut away three 

 three-inch segments, half an inch deep, out of its circumference, 

 and placed the measure plenished with food upon it, upon the 

 adapting-board over the hive. Nothing could answer better, 

 and it is a simpler matter of construction even than the drum, 

 whilst the quarter-peck remains good for its other legitimate 

 purposes all the year round. — Upwards and Onwaeds. 



SALT FOE PIGS. 



1 TniUK Mr. Preston has not solved the question. An over- 

 dose of salt is a poison to all animals, and pigs are frequently eo 

 poisoned to my knowledge by bacon-brine. That they thrive 

 at sea is because they get, in medical verbiology, quantum sat, 

 and that much improves most animals — not, I think, excepting 

 dogs, but those animals most that are subject to internal 

 parasites. 



I give my horse and my dogs salt as an alterative, nor do I 

 forget myself or my friends ; many of whom, especially of the 

 poorer order, have expressed their satisfaction at a benefit from 

 so easy a remedy as a spoonful of salt in a morning before break- 

 fast, and continued daily for weeks if necessary. — Qtjaetz. 



[We think our correspondent has shot by-side the mark. The 

 question raised was not whether an excess of salt is fatal to pigs, 

 but whether in moderate quantity it is injurious or beneficial. 

 Bacon-brine may be fatal, but fatal because it contains saltpetre, 

 which is poisonous even in small quantities to other animals. 

 We will add the following which came to us by the same post 

 that brought the letter from " Quaetz : " — 



" I hate seen salt given on a small scale to pige, but with 

 beneficial results, as they seemed to relish their food better with, 

 it, and it had no ill effect upon them. I fancy if those worthy 

 folks who say it is injurious were to use it themselves at the same 

 rate they have given it to their pigs, it would very likely disagree 

 with them too, as the effects they ascribe to it are just what one 

 might expect from an over-dose. — A. R."] 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Elack Bantams at Darlington.— "We have received an explanatory 

 letter iioni Mr. Munn, but too late for insertion this week. 



Black Bantams.— Will the "Wiltshire Rectos," who wrote in this 

 Journal of December 23 "A Plea for Bantams," inform " C. G." where 

 she can obtain a cock and two hens of the pure Black Bantam breed, and 

 at what price? 



Dead Silver-spangled Hamburgh Pullets {G alius). — The crops of 

 both the birds you sent were quite empty, and there were no stones in the 

 gizzard. Your feeding is good, and yet your birds look and dissect as if 

 they died of atrophy. There was no appearance of the gizzard having had 

 anything to do for days. Has their roosting-place any kind of flooring t 

 Constant chill might have to do with it. We doubt not bread steeoed in 

 strong ale would save them, and, in the event of another case, advise you 

 to try it freely. 



Laying Age op Fowls (A. B. M.).— Pullets only lay in the winter; 

 Coebin Chinas and Brahmas, hitched in May, will lay in the winter - 

 Dorkings and Spanish, hatched in February, will also do so. It may he 

 taken as a rule that Cochins and Brahmas lay when from twenty to 

 twenty-four weeks old, and others at thirty to thirty-six weeks old. 



Bantams in a Garden {Museum).— We have often had occasion to 

 notice that Bantams, and especially Sebright Bantams, do little harm in a 

 garden. 



Coral (Idem).— There are naturally three kinds — white, red, and 

 black. We never heard of the colours of the two last-named being 

 whitened, for the colouring pervades the whole substance. 



Buckwheat for Poultry [A Subscriber).— Euckwheat is good for 

 change. Pheasants are not very fond of it, Partridges are; but neither 

 care much for it in confinement. If a piece of it be grown, Partridges will 

 teed on the stubble till all be ploughed-up. 



Pigeons [Idem). — Tiles make very good Pigeon-nests, as thev fdo not 

 harbour vermin like straw and wood. The shapes most adapted are those 

 that are ridged and curved towards the edges. We have known flower- 

 pot saucers used. "We do not know where you can meet with Blue Bocks 

 for your dove-cote. 



Doe Babbits Eating their Young 0nes (F. C,).— Generally speaking 

 only very young does eat their young ones, Jf they art- kept quite'away from 

 the buck, are kept quiet, have a private plaee in which to kindle, and are 

 plentifully supplied with every sort of green meat, especially parsley, they 

 seldom eat their young. 



