Febrnary 23, 1371. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



155 



into their respective grooves or rests. Those combs containing 

 the most brood are selected for the central portion of the ob- 

 servatory hive. When all the combs that can be inserted are 

 put in it will be necessary to see that they rest evenly, and as 

 soon as possible the glass side should be slipped into place 

 gradually, using very little pressure to allow the clusters of 

 bees to disperse a little before finally pushing in. This being 

 done, run in the bolts, and hang and close the outer shutters. 

 Shake off any bees that may be loitering in the stock hive, re- 

 move the box out of sight, and the bees will soon find their 

 way into their new domicile. 



If " An Aiiateue" should not be in the habit of using bar- 

 hive5, he must make a simple box to receive the bars of his 

 unicomb, and in this case he need not be particular as to the 

 length of the bar he chooses. He would find four bars of 

 16 inches in length and made to carry combs of 9 inches in 

 depth, would make a very nice-sized unicomb. In other 

 respects he may follow the directions I have given. 



Towards the close of autumn, or when the observatory hive 

 is no longer needed, the outer doors are unhung, the glass 

 sides removed, and the bars, combs, and bees transferred into 

 the stock box, which must occupy the same position as that 

 to which the bees have been accustomed. It will generally be 

 necessary to afford the bees a liberal supply of artificial food, or 

 a fall comb or two from another stock may be given. I omitted 

 to say that when bar-and-frame hives are in use in an apiary, an 

 observatory hive constructed on this principle may be stocked 

 at a moment's notice. It is only necessary to visit any pro- 

 sperous stocks, and to remove the requisite number of combs 

 and bees. 



I hope the description and directions given will be suffieient 

 for the guidance of "An Amateur Bee-keepee," but if he 

 should require further information I shall be happy to assist 

 Mm to the best of my power. — S. Bevan Pox, Exeter. 



THE ECONOMIC, A NEW DEPRIVING HIVE. 



One of the objects which I have had before me in bee-keeping 

 has been to improve the system as generally practised amongst 

 my neighbours ; but hitherto the great hindrance has been 

 the want of a really good depriving hive at a moderate price — a 

 want frequently expressed in your Journal. 



In conjunction with Mr. James Lee, of Windlesham, I have 

 endeavoured to supply this want by introducing a hive at a 

 moderate price, combining all the most recent improvements. 

 The lower part, or stock-box, is simply a well-made round straw 

 hive with a flat top like Payne's, but with no hole in the centre, 

 the communication with the super being removed from the 

 centre towards the sides of the top, as in the accompanying 



Sgnre, thus removing the great objection to Payne's hive, the 

 liability of the queen ascending into the super and depositing 

 brood, it being now a well-ascertained fact that she is most un- 

 Ukely to ascend where the communications are at the eides of 

 the top. 



The great difficulty in making the openings at the side of the 

 top was to avoid weakening the crown of the hive, and to get a 



perfectly even surface to allow of the true adjustment of the 

 adapting-board. This, of course, has holes corresponding with 

 those in the straw, is wasp-proof, and may be of any shape. In 

 the present instance it is octagonal to correspond with an oc- 

 tagonal super. Perhaps it would be as well to fasten down the 

 adapting-board permanently with brass screws before using the 

 hive. This octagonal super is of wood, 13 inches wide by 5 i deep, 

 inside measurement, and has two small windows to show when 

 the comb is sealed, is fitted with moveable ribbed bars as in the 

 Woodbury supers, and like tbem has a glass top in a wooden 

 frame, which affords a good view of the super. This top can 

 be removed for the abstraction of the combs. 



As regards the price, Mr. Lee will supply the complete hive, 

 including straw stock-box, floorboard, adapting-board, and 

 octagonal as above, at lO.s. 6rf. Considering its many advan- 

 tages and moderate price, we have named it, by way of dis- 

 tinction, the Economic Hive. 



Another consideration in view in the construction of thi-n 

 hive was to meet the wants of those who cannot afford a shed 

 or the protection necessary for a wooden hive. This hive may 

 be snflieiently protected by an American cheese-box and the 

 old-fashioned milk-pan. These should not rest immediately on 

 the top of the hive, but be slightly raised by small blocks of 

 wood to allow the air to circulate between them, in order to 

 keep the hive cool. At the same time there is nothing equal 

 to a shed open in front, if it can be had or conveniently placed. 

 All depriving hives require as much shade as possible, especially 

 from midday and afternoon sun. 



Lastly, to meet the wants of those who cannot afford 10s. 6d., 

 Mr. Lee has agreed to sell the straw hive- constructed on the 

 above principle separately at 2s. 9cl., or 15s. the half dozen. 

 With this as a basis, any man of ordinary intelligence may 

 easily construct a perfect depriving hive. A piece of wood for 

 an adapting-board is easily obtained, and boxes of all shapes 

 and sizes may be had at a very moderate price at the grocers'. 

 A lady sends me all her milliner's boxes for the purpose. If 

 preferred, two supers can be used side by side, the second being 

 put on when the first is half filled with comb, or when the bees 

 seem to require more room. 



For further particulars about the Economic Hive I must 

 refer your readers to Mr. Lee,, whose advertisement appears in 

 your columns. — H. C. Ripley, Burton Abbots Vicarage, Oxon. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Capojtising (Alpha). — It is a cruel, dangerous, and needless practice. 

 Cramming is equally so, for a fowl cooped and fed naturally on nourish- 

 ing food will fatten in a few days. The town you mention is surpassed 

 by others since the introduction of railways. 



Brahma Heks' Backs Featherless {G. R.). — In other breeds we 

 should say that their mates had pecked them, but that is unusual witli 

 Brahmas. If the swelling and redness are in what we should call the 

 abdomen it is perhaps natural; but if it be all round the insertion of the 

 tail, then their comimnions have hid to do with them, and all you can do 

 is to separate them. Rub the bare places with compound sulphur oint- 

 ment, and give the birds plenty of large sods of growing grass cut with. 

 3 or 4 inches of mould. They eat the feathers because they lack some- 

 thing their runs do not afford. 



Daek or Ligkt Erahmas (WoodJark).— There is no difference in the 

 Erabmas except the colour. The Light liave the same properties as the 

 Dark, and in some shows they have been equally numerous. It is wicked 

 and unprofitable to stop the desire to sit in a hen, and it is almost im- 

 possible. Every man thinks the world was made for Cresar, and that 

 he is Ca3sar. A man asks whether, if he pick tbo breast of a ben and 

 whip it with stinging nettles, it will make her sit ! 



Scurf on Cochins' Legs {Levion £uj?"),— We do not believe it to be 

 infectious, but we would not risk it. Sulphur ointment is the application 

 for it. Canary seed and millet in the spray are the best food for Grass 

 Parakeets. They like green food. 



Pheasants are not Poultry {W. F.). — For a cup to be awarded for 

 the most points in poultry, Pheasants ought not to be allowed to contend. 



Diseased Dorkings (^ Constant Eeader).— They have diarrhoea, caused 

 probably by the changeable weather. Give each fon-l five grains of 

 powdered chalk, one grain of opium, and one grain of powdered ipe- 

 cacuanha twice a-d ay until the looseness is checked, accompanied by a 

 warm soft diet, such as oatmeal mashed with a little warm ale. 



Judging Erahsias (J. i^.).— It is impossible for us to give the reasons 

 for the awards made by the Judges. The single fact that we know 

 nothing of the competing pens or their merits would prevent us. But, 

 speaking of general ideas, we have no reason to be silent. In an open 

 class, where all ages come into competition, a careful judge should weigb 

 the merits of each, taking age into consideration. The young should not 

 suffer from their want of age as compared with their elders. It is their 

 disadvantage that they have no class for themselves. Mere weii^ht should 

 not decide, because the chickens in that point cannot compare with 

 adults. The latter have an advant^se in their freshness and the beauty 

 of their plumage. These points should be allowed as a counterpoise to 

 those parts that are the peculiar properties of age. We do not believe 

 that any of our experienced judges pass over chickens because they are 

 chickens, and we think you will do better to agitate for separate classes 

 ratber than withdraw from exhibiting. 



