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JOITXNAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GASDENEB, 



[ March 3, 1863. 



roof so constructed as to allow of a free current of air between 

 this and the lower roof, guarding also the upper hives entirely 

 from rain. 



Being somewhat a novice in bee-keeping, my ideas as to the 

 suitableness of a construction, such as I have attempted to 

 describe a9 a protection for bees at all times, and in all weathers, 

 may be entirely wrong. However, I am inclined to think that 

 we novices may sometimes make a happy hit, and that more ex- 

 perienced apiarians than I at all pretend to be, may not altogether 

 despise the simple pretensions of " the open bee-protector." — 

 A. K. H., Westhorpe. 



APIAEIAN NOTES FEOM MOBATSHLEE. 



Bees first seen this season working in the open air on Feb- 

 ruary 10th ; on the 13th carrying pollen freely from flowers of 

 early white and yellow-striped crocuses, snowdrops, Jasminum 

 nudiflorum, and Arabis verna. Vegetation considerably in ad- 

 vance for the season. Weather for the last ten days clear and 

 fine, with slight frosts at night. Observed on the 10th inst. some 

 turnips in full flower in the open field. Eurze and daisies 

 flowering commonly. In the gardens Mitchell's Prince Albert 

 rhubarb in the open quarters has stalks 6 inches long. — 

 J. Websteb. 



BEES IN BUILDINGS. 



In answer to the query of " A If oeth-Stapjoebshiee Bee- 

 EEEbeb," December 30th, 1862,1 have seen the experiment tried 

 different ways, ending in different results — viz., a colony in a 

 garret or attic, south-east aspect, 14 feet from the ground, in 

 the centre of a window 3 feet wide, and about 3 feet from the 

 glass to the centre of the room. It began to breed earlier than 

 usual, and did well, throwing two swarms in that situation. 

 Others I have seen lower down, 1 foot 6 inches to 2 feet 6 inches 

 from the ground, which did very well at a certain season, but in the 

 early spring they did not do so well, for being bs low on the 

 gTOund the damp from the stone wall retarded their operations ; 

 and it being close, confined to the side, they never swarmed, for 

 getting into the corner between the hive and the wall, they 

 either lay out inactive, or commenced making combs in the space. 

 With regard to trying them in a building with a north-west 

 aspect, it would not do in this locality, as all the heavy storms 

 come from that direction. They might do very well in good 

 honey weather, but as the honey season generally lasts only 

 about two weeks here, they would probably lose a great many 

 bees in ordinary weather. 



Of all the aspects for bees, I have proved to my perfect satis- 

 faction after about fourteen years experience on that point, that 

 a sheltered north aspect is the best, for in winter they are never 

 decoyed out by the tempting rays of the sun, and in summer 

 they work more constantly, and produce more honey, as they 

 are always nearer one temperature. I have always found that a 

 west or south-west or north-west, is the very worst situation for 

 bees, all the other directions being preferable by far to the last- 

 mentioned. 



As a proof of what I have stated, I have seen it tried all ways, 

 and aa I have a bee-house with the hives facing in all directions, 

 the stocks standing from north to south-east, are always prefer- 

 able, for the driving storm scarcely ever touches them, and 

 dryness is the great secret in having good thriving hives. — 

 A Lanabkshibb Bee-keepeb. 



[Thanks for the above, 

 you.] 



We shall always be glad to hear from 



DEATH OE A HIVE'S POPULATION. 



A Disappointed Bee-Tceeper sends two pieces of comb from 

 a hive which she has lost within the last three weeks, and begs 

 to be informed what has killed the bees. The hive is one of 

 Neighbour's. The zinc slide over the entrance was partially 

 closed, there being the little space to admit of single bees leaving 

 or entering. One slide at the top was removed and the feeder 

 placed over it, and the cover then placed over the top. The 

 food was not eaten, and evidently not required, as the hive 

 contained a good deal of honey as good as the specimen sent. 

 The hive shows no appearance of damp except those spots where 

 the beeB are clustered, a piece of which is sent, and is perfectly 

 free from insects. The bees were all right three weeks since, 

 and were found dead yesterday. The queen was there, and 



seems to have died in the same way as the others. Can a fright 

 kill bees ? for in a high wind about a fortnight since, the cover 

 which was let down in front of the stand broke loose and flapped 

 a good deal against the hives till secured. Another hive in the 

 same place was also dead, but evidently of dysentery, though they 

 had a good supply of honey in their cells and were perfectly clean 

 [Of the two pieces of comb which accompanied the above 

 inquiry, one contained sealed honey of excellent quality, which, 

 of course, perfectly negatives the hypothesis of starvation, whilst 

 the centre of the other is covered with mildew and dead bees. 

 They certainly were not frightened to death ; but such a dis- 

 turbance as is described may indirectly have contributed to the 

 fatal result by causing a number of bees to disperse into the 

 colder parts of the hive, where they became so benumbed as to 

 be unable to return, whilst the main cluster was so diminished 

 by their defection and chilled by the dampness of the comb, 

 that the whole perished during the next frost. Why moisture 

 should have accumulated on that particular comb whilst all 

 the others remained dry, appeared to us at first an inexplicable 

 mystery ; but on showing it to an experienced apiarian friend 

 he at once referred it to condensed moisture dropping from the 

 feeder ; informing us at the same time of a case in point which 

 had occurred in his own apiary, in which he had found a cluster 

 of dead bees on a mildewed comb under precisely similar cir- 

 cumstances.] 



West Eiding Consolidated Uattjealists' Society. — The 

 fifth quarterly meeting of the above Society, established for the 

 more rapid dissemination of knowledge in the various branches 

 of local natural science ; for making each society acquainted with 

 the natural history of the district of the others ; and for the 

 exchange of specimens, &c., was held in the large hall of the 

 Assembly Eooms, Leeds, on the 17th ult., at three o'clock in the 

 afternoon. The meeting was attended by members of the Leeds, 

 Halifax, Huddersfield, Wakefield, and Heckmondwike Societies. 

 After the despatch of the usual routine business, the Chairman 

 requested that any member who had specimens would lay them 

 on the table, when several specimens of Lepidoptera, shells, &c, 

 were produced, among which we noticed three fine specimens of 

 Antiope, which were exhibited and verified to have been caught 

 in Wakefield, by Mr. Talbot, of that place, also P. iota in the 

 larvee, pupEe, and imago state, all animate, and bred from the 

 same batch of eggs, by Mr. B. Gibson, of Wakefield. Mr. John 

 Connell, of Leed3, exhibited a series of fossil shells from the 

 Leeds carboniferous formation, and most liberally requested any 

 gentleman present to select specimens for their own cabinets, 

 which generous offer was most freely responded to. The Rev. 

 T. Hicks, B.A., president of the Leeds Naturalists' Society, 

 lee tured on " Land and Marine Shells." The lecture was illus- 

 trated by coloured diagrams, and the manner in which the 

 lecturer explained the action of the bivalves, the formation of 

 pearls, the provision for renewing the broken shell, and the 

 other interesting phenomena elicited by the topic, gave evidence 

 of a most careful study, extensive research, and a thorough 

 knowledge of the subject. 



OUE LETTEE BOX. 



Devizes PotXTRY Show. — The conduct and management of this Poultry 

 Exhibition is above all praise. I have never had. my birds during the eight 

 years I have been an exhibitor returned so expeditiously from any poultry 

 show, and I have never in any instance had the prize money obtained 

 remitted so promptly. Other poultry shows would do 'well to imitate so 

 good an example. I really hope the Devizes Show will continue to nourish. 

 Such excellent management is well deserving of patronage ; and, if the 

 period for holding it were somewhat more judiciously chosen, 1 have no 

 doubt it would secure the success it so well merits. — P. C, Oswestry. 



M. Soua's PocLTaT Establishment ( W.). — We cannot guide yon, and the 

 expense of a visit thither we do not think needed, for we believe that we have 

 information on all points connected with poultry which may be fully relied 

 upon ; and if you will explain the points on which you want information, 

 we shall be happy to impart it to you. You must make up your mind to 

 begin in a small way, and you must not be discouraged if you fail at first. 



Food Required by Poultry (Clumbe?-). — We can only answer your 

 question with a qualification. The quantity fowls require depends much 

 on their condition. If they have come from a place where they have been 

 fully, if not over, fed, they require but little. They are full of meat and 

 fat, and nature is satisfied and at rest. If they have been on short commons 

 ihey are ravenous and in a hungry condition. Nature requires food, and for 

 a time at least ihey are great consumers. Taking them at a medium, we 

 consider a pint and a half of corn should keep a full-grown Dorking during 

 a week, having no other help than that derived from seeking in grass and 

 shrubberies. Half the quantity should be enough in a farmyard where 

 there is threshing going on. Ground food is cheaper than whole food, and 

 oats are better than bailey for the purpose. The whole of the corn should 

 he ground, and nothing taken from it. 



