January 26, 1871. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



77 



to the interest of the Rabbit fanciers. If something of this kind were 

 carried out, it would, I doubt not, put an end to all jealousy betwixt 

 the various fanciers, and they would increase both in numbers and 

 respectability. — M. Miilixgton, Yorh. 



SILVEK CUPS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE 

 CANARY SHOW. 



"What does it mean wheii yon are told to "wire in?" Ig it an 

 electricaJ, mechanical, physical, or mental operation ? I can find it in 

 no dictionary, not even in the newest claiming to have some thonsanda 

 of new words, nor in any puhlished list of obsolete terms. I am told 

 it is an English way of rendering a common expression fonud in I 

 forget what language {but it is written in characters about as legible 

 as those mysterious Arabian-Nights-Iooking blotches on tea chests), 

 and is a verb neuter, signifying to set abont a thiug with energy, but 

 that it conveys more meaning than words can tell, something lite our 

 word "humbug," than which a more expressive word we have not. 



In the columns of " our Journal " there ia to-day a statement from 

 " Yours ever, H. A." respecting the above, from which will be seen 

 what is intended to be done. The cups can all be raised if the sup- 

 porters of each division to which a cup is appropriated will only " wire 

 in." Isn't it a famous word ? I have the Belgian piece of plate in 

 bond, and if Belgian fanciers will at once send in their donations to 

 me, or, better still, direct to Mr. Ashton, their cup can soon be made a 

 certainty. I am aware that the classification of the Belgians is neither 

 on so extended a basis, nor have they so liberal a prize scale, as more 

 favoured varieties have extended to them ; but the indifference of 

 exhibitors is to blame for this, as I am sure a proper representation 

 made in the proper quarter would remedy this defect. This should 

 not deter any from subscribing a mite, but all should " wire in " with 

 a will, and support what is undoubtedly the show of shows, and by a 

 display of enthusiasm induce Mr. Wilkinson to make such an altera- 

 tion in the schedule next year as will meet the views of all classes of 

 exhibitors. 



Mr. Stansfield, of Bradford, who has the Mule cup to fill up, writes 

 me he has about a hundred names on his list. Well done ! I can 

 only repeat my sloggan " Wire in," and most likely jou will have 

 enough for two cups, which assuredly there should he, unless Jonqnea 

 and Mealies are to he weighed in an even balance irrespective of 

 colour. And the " Any other variety " class, containing as it does 

 most extraordinary hybrids, will it have a separate cup ? If ever a 

 man had a " call " (I think that's the right word), a call to " wire in," 

 Mr. Stansfield is the man, and the " Any other variety of Mule " class 

 is his field of labour. 



Remember, all who are collecting for cups, the Show will open on 

 February 11th — that is, in a fortnight ; and you, whose name is legion, 

 Tpho intend to respond to "Yours ever, H. A.," in this movement, 

 send in your donations at once, that on the opening day the cups may 

 decorate the table in the snug little corner behind the door of the 

 tropical department. — W. A. Blakstox. 



As the Crystal Palace Canary Show is now not very far distant, 

 allow me through your valuable paper to inform Canary fanciers that 

 I am again trying to raise money for silver cups, as last year ; but as 

 the time is so short I have, instead of doing it all myself, asked dif- 

 ferent fanciers to take a class each, and the following have most 

 kindly consented : — Mr. Blakston for Belgians, Messrs. Moore and 

 Wynne for Norwich, Mr. Stansfield for Mules, Mr. Waller for London 

 Fancies, Mr. Harrison (I think) , for Cinnamons, and myself for 

 Lizards. I hope that all intending exhibitors will not delay, hut send 

 in their names and the amount they wish to subscribe at once. I 

 think those who won cups last year ought certainly to subscribe this 

 year. — Howaeth Ashtos, FoUfiehl Hall, Manchester, 



NoKTHAMPTOX PoTJLTRY Show. — Your readers will see by an adver- 

 tisement in this Journal, that we hold our second annual Show on 

 the Sth and 9th of March. About fifty classes will be open for com- 

 petition — twenty-five for poultry, and the remainder for Pigeons and 

 Rabbits. The prizes will be uniform throughout, unless any special 

 prize he subscribed for. We have introduced a class for Malays, and 

 hope breeders and admirers of this class will support us. We can at 

 present afford only two prizes for the best and the second best cock 

 and hen, but we think it needs only to be mentioned to bring us suffi^ 

 eient to support the class with four prizes — viz., for the best and 

 second best cock, and the best and second best pair of hens, the same 

 as in onr other classes for large fowls. In the Pigeon classes there will 

 be two classes for Pouters instead of one, and the same for Carriers. — 



WiLLIAH HUSIPHRETS. 



FOUL BROOD. 



"To the controversy ao ably carried on by Mr. Lowe and the 

 *'Detomshiiie Bee-keepek," seven years ago, we are indebted 

 for much of the valuable information that has appeared in the 

 pages of "our Journal" on the subject of foul brood. The 

 former never had any experience of the complaint, and be- 

 lieving that bees enjoyed immunity from anything of the nature 



of an epidemical visitation, endeavoured to show that all the 

 evils complained of by the latter might be traced to an im- 

 proper interference with hives, whereby the young larvaj were 

 killed and left to rot in their cells. In elucidation of his views 

 he drew an amusing picture of the doings of experimentalists, 

 but in writing that article, which bore all the features of a 

 caricature, I am well assured he had not the slightest intention 

 of giving offence to anyone. Taking it for granted that the 

 laws of Nature had been violated, and that the appearances 

 which presented themselves in Mr. Woodbury's apiary were 

 due, not to the presence of disease proper, such as scarlet 

 fever or small pox, but to some evil or defect artificially 

 created, he intimated that health would certainly be restored 

 by complete excision of the affected parts. 



The question, therefore, in the first instance, to be solved 

 was this, Is foul brood a real" disease, a spreading epidemic, 

 and infectious ? or is it merely an artificial malady, caused by 

 chilled and dead larvas, and one that can be eradicated by a 

 simple removal of the evils introduced ? To determine this 

 point certain experiments were undertaken, which have been 

 detailed in the Journal, and I think it was clearly proved ia 

 the cases described that foul brood was communicated by in- 

 fection, that it found its way into hives where no chilled and 

 dead larva were previously present, that it could not be cured 

 by any amount of excision of the tainted combs, and that it 

 was a true disease — a pestilence extending itself — and as con- 

 tagious as any which afflict the human family. 



Now I, for one, will not charge Mr. Lowe with either ignor- 

 ing or disbelieving the evidence adduced on the subject, al- 

 though he may not have stated in the Journal that he is com- 

 pletely satisfied with the proofs that have been offered. If I 

 mistake not he is ready to assent to the view that foul brood 

 is of the nature of a pestilence, infectious, and incurable by 

 excision, and wishes us to regard his present contention as 

 relating entirely to its causation or origin. It has been shown 

 by Mr. Woodbury and others that chilled brood, even in a 

 putrefying state, when placed in a hive does not necessarily 

 produce disease ; but whilst accepting the fact, and also ad- 

 mitting that in the summer season a strong swarm will speedily 

 clear out all decaying larvse, I yet do not think I am precluded 

 from holding the view that putrescent matter may have much 

 to do with the introduction of foul brood into our hives. 



The theory which finds most favour at the present time is 

 that which ascribes putrefaction to the presence of living or- 

 ganisms developed from germs floating in the atmosphere. In 

 the dead subject these microscopic objects find a suitable nur- 

 sery for their propagation ; and I can conceive that under 

 peculiar conditions of temperature, moisture, &c., and whilst 

 they are being developed, there may be evolved an element of 

 destruction — call it a virus, if you like — which, fastening upon 

 young larvtB and killing them, may produce putrefaction of a 

 specific character, or true foul-brood corruption. It may be 

 said that no such metamorphosis in the character of putre- 

 faction has ever been witnessed, and that a corruption which 

 is infectious has not arisen from corruption non-infectious. 

 Well, fever may not be directly caused by filth, but the disease 

 is, nevertheless, frequently generated amid unsanitary con- 

 ditions. There seems to be no reason for thinking that some 

 particular combination of elements may not give rise to 

 diseases of the zymotic class, although their prevalence in any 

 locality may often be due to infection or contagion. It is said 

 that true Asiatic cholera, without infection being present, 

 spontaneously arose in the House of Industry, at Coventry, in 

 1838, and many are of opinion that this fell plague has its 

 origin in the exhalations arising from animal and vegetable 

 matter in a state of decomposition. Now, when making some 

 remarks on the theory of Dr. Preuss I stated " with a caveat " 

 that there appeared to be some cases of week hives that were 

 healthy allowing in spring or autumn chilled brood to decay 

 in the cells without any attempt to remove them, and that 

 injurious results had followed the use of combs from which 

 putrid larvffl had been extracted. But I am not satisfied yet 

 with the proof I possess, and I would be glad if any apiarian 

 who has made observations on the point, would record his 

 experience. 



In regard to the cure of foul brood, there can be no doubt 

 that chloride ol lime has sufiicient power to cope with the fatal 

 influence, whatever that may be. It was need with complete 

 success by the " DEvossHinE Bee-keepeb," in the purification 

 of his boxes, and his facts have been fully corroborated. It 

 cannot, then, be said we are still without a remedy, but we 

 would like to know of an agent that we can make use of for 



