138 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



I Angnst 18, 1870. 



compelled to let my black bees take their chance until the end 

 of September, at which time I hope to exchange the queens for 

 pure imported Italians to reign in their stead. 



I shall be interested to see the account of all " Uitenhage's " 

 hives, good and bad, and I may state that most of the out- 

 Bide combs which I have taken already will bear comparison 

 with those usually taken from " supers." 



In reference to the Rev. G. Raynor's communication, I may 

 juBt remark that I much question whether the queen is ever 

 impregnated inside the hive, as my experience teaches me that 

 impregnation always takes place outside the hive and " on 

 the wing ;" and I am also of opinion that the queen is generally 

 impregnated prior to her leaving the hive with a swarm, in 

 which case her progeny would not be affected by her being placed 

 amongst an apiary of black bees. — Sudbury. 



[It is only first swarms that can be expected to remain pure, 

 as these are usually, although not always, accompanied by the 

 old queen. After-swarms have only virgin queens.] 



Colonel F. C. Hassaed, R.E. — The lovers of poultry will 

 learn with regret that this gentleman has been ordered home, 

 and will soon have reached England. Few who had any acquaint- 

 ance with the Colonel will deny that to his individual efforts 

 dnringhis stay in Canada, especially in Toronto, is owing much of 

 the improvement in the culture of pure-bred poultry which has 

 recently become so visible in this country. As a poultry and 

 Pigeon fancier he had in Canada no equal, while to his thorough 

 acquaintance with the rules of English poultry clubs, and his 

 superior knowledge of poultry, much of the recent improve- 

 ment in poultry judging at our shows is to be attributed. With 

 him originated the inception of a poultry; club in Ontario. 

 He communicated his views on the subject to a few fanciers, 

 who aided him in the formation of a society, the benefits of 

 which to poultry-breeders is a recognised fact. — (Canadian 

 Poultry Chronicle.) 



THE VINEGAR PLANT. 



In answer to inquiries as to where this strange production 

 may be purchased or procured, I may state that it is never 

 offered for sale, but may be easily obtained by the following 

 means. Leave a little vinegar in a small bottle to become stale 

 (during hot close weather is best), till a film appears on the 

 surface. This film is the spawn or mycelium of a species of 

 mildew, and is the incipient state of the Vinegar Plant proper. 

 If a few fragments of coarse brown sugar be now added it will 

 somewhat aid its growth ; but when the film has attained the 

 thickness of parchment it is ready for transfer to syrup, where 

 it soon becomes the housewife's normal Vinegar Plant. 



Procure a large jar or bottle, and to two quarts of boiling water 

 add half a pound of treacle and half a pound of the commonest 

 brown sugar; Btir well together, and when cool transfer the 

 film from the surface of the vinegar to the surface of the syrup ; 

 cover up to exclude air, and keep in a warm cupboard. Thi3 

 film will now rapidly grow and form a thick, slippery, gelatinous 

 mass all over the surface of the syrup, and in the coarse of six 

 weeks or so the liquid will be changed to excellent vinegar. 

 The Vinegar Plant can now be taken and divided into layers, 

 or cut up into fragments, each piece of which, if placed upon 

 fresh syrup, will rapidly grow and change the liquor into vine- 

 gar. The vinegar should be allowed to settle, and be strained 

 before it is used. — W. G. S. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



cellent breeders, that, supposing your birds are of the opposite sexes, we 

 can conceive do reason for their barrenness, except old age. 



Hiving a Swaem of Bees Settled in a Roof (J. if.). — Ton require 

 skilled assistance to enable you to secure the swarm, which can only be 

 done by opening the roof, and thus obtaining access to the space occupied 

 by the bees. 



Bee Hives at Liskeari> Poultry Show.— Mr. W. J. Pettitt,of Dover, 

 was awarded the silver medal for the best bee hive for cottagers' use at 

 this show. 



Frame Hives (James Sail, Eedington). — We have no knowledge of the 

 hive to which you refer beyond what we can glean from the handbill, but 

 we may confess to not being very favourably impressed with it. If yon 

 wish for a moveable comb hive we should recommend the one named 

 after Mr. Woodbury. 



Oak Silkworm ( ). — The following reply is from Dr. Wallace, of 



Colchester:—" The culture of the Yama Mai {Japan Oak) Silkworm in 

 this country is not yet successfully introduced. Many have failed in 

 Great Britain and Europe ; nevertheless, there are several exceptions. 

 In lfc69, a German Baron obtained 27,000 cocoons, and others have like- 

 wise succeeded in various parts of the Continent. In England several 

 gentlemen have reared this insect, more especially in the western and 

 midland districts ; but in the southern and eastern districts nearly all 

 attempts have failed. I believe the cause of failure to be the exposure 

 of the caterpillar to too dry an atmosphere. In a cool moist climate 

 success has been obtained. I know of at least one hundred cocoons this 

 year raised by three individuals. Correspondents in Japan have promised 

 to send me full details of the mode they practised of rearing this valuable 

 insect, and also some particulars of the climatal influences. Bombyx Mori 

 culture on light soils and in such seasons as the present is highly suc- 

 cessful in our southern and eastern districts." 



Books {John Choiite).— The "Poultry-Keeper's Manual," published at 

 our office, is the best book on the subject, and can be forwarded free by 

 post for 7s. 1 d. (6>. Lee).— "My Bee Book," by the Eev. W. C. Cotton, 

 is an interesting and instructive work, but the fact of its having been 

 written nearly thirty years ago is sufficient to prove that it is not suited 

 to the instruction of even a novice in the modern system of scientific 

 bee-keeping. 



Canker in Pigeons (Nonplussed).— Diseases of the throat havo this 

 dry weather been wonderfully common, both with the human subject and 

 with Pigeons, as if the very intense and lengthened dryness of the atmo- 

 sphere acted as the reverse so frequently does. Try a strong solution of 

 alum, applied with a feather twice a-day. Thirty years' experience in 

 Pigeon-keeping convinces us that these birds will bear almost any amount 

 of heat in their loft, but cannot bear any draught. Vary their food, 

 giving peas now for a time. 



Kotjp in Pigeons (H'. Hi.).— See what we have said above concerning 

 heat and cold for Pigeons. Perhaps you ventilate overmuch, in other 

 words, put the birdB at night in a constant draught. Try a dose or two 

 of charcoal powder, or a dose of carbonate of soda, or a pinch of alnm; 

 all these have been known to cure roup. 



Pigeons not Breeding (J. N. B.).— Baldpated Tumblers are such ex- 



METEOROLOBICAL OBSERVATIONS 

 In the Suburbs of London for the week ending Angnst 16th. 









thermometer. 



Wind. 





Date. 



BAROMETER. 



Air. 



Earth. 



Rain. 





Max. 



Min. 



Max. 



Min. 



1 ft. 



2 ft, 





Wed... 10 



30.071 



29.906 



76 



52 



67 



62 



N. 



.16 



Thurs. . 11 



80.099 



30.084 



78 



50 



73 



62 



N. 



.00 



Fri 12 



80159 



30.106 



82 



56 



68 



62 



N.E. 



.00 



Sat. ... 13 



30.182 



30.162 



79 



52 



70 



63 



E. 



.00 



Sun. . . 14 



30.189 



30.050 



73 



59 



66 



63 



E. 



.00 



Mon. . . 15 , 



29.987 



29 911 



70 



43 



69 



62 



E. 



■00 



Tues. . 16 



30.012 



29.995 



75 



42 



63 



61 



N.E. 



.00 



Mean.. 



30.099 



30.031 



76.14 



50.57 



68.00 



62.14 j . . 



0.16 



10. — Fine, cloudy ; showery ; clear and very fine. 



11. — Cloudy but fine ; cloudy; very fine, clear. 



12.— Very fine ; exceedingly fine ; clear and fine. 



13. — Overcast ; very fine ; cloudy but fine. 



14. — Fine ; overcast ; densely overcast. 



15.— Densely overcast ; clear and fine at night. 



16. — Densely overcast; fine; clear at night. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— August 17. 

 The markets have been less active during the week, and the demand 

 in the provinces has also slackened as they become supplied from their 

 own localities, so that a reduction in prices has taken place. Hothouse 

 produce is more than sufficient for the trade. Peaches and Nectarines of 

 good quality are being offered from the open walls, and range from 8s. to 

 6s. per dozen. Plums of all descriptions are very abundant. In the 

 Potato trade in all its branches a fair amount of business is done. 



FRUIT. 



Apples £ sieve 1 



Apricots doz. 1 



Cherries lb. 



Chestnuts bushel 



Currants J sieve 2 



Black do. 3 



Figs doz. 3 



FilbertB lb. 



Cobs lb. 



Gooseberries quart 



Grapes, Hothouse.... lb. 2 



Lemons #100 8 



Melons each 1 



s. d. s. 



Mulberries lb. 9 to 



Nectarines doz. 3 10 



Oranges #100 14 



Peaches doz. 5 12 



Pears, kitchen doz .00 



dessert doz. 16 8 



Pine Apples lb. 2 6 5 



Plums J Bieve 8 5 



Quinces doz. 



Raspberries lb. 6 1 



Strawberries lb. 



Walnuts bushel 10 16 



do #ioo i o a 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes doz. 



Asparagus #100 



Beans, Kidney ..j sieve. 



Broad bushel 



Beet, Red doz. 



Broccoli bundle 



Brussels Sprouts.. i sieve 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums #100 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 



Celery bundle 



Coleworts..doz. bunches 

 Cucumbers each 



pickling doz. 



Endive doz. 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish ....bundle 



s. d. s. 

 Oto 6 



Leeks bunch 4 to 



Lettuce doz. 16 8 



Mushrooms pottle 3 4 



Mustard & Cress.. punnet 2 



OnionB bushel 4 6 



pickling quart 4 



Parsley sieve 8 



Parsnips doz. 9 1 



Peas quart 10 1 



Potatoes bushel 8 6 5 



Kidney do. 4 6 



Radishes .. doz. bunches 



Rhubarb bundle 



Savoys. — doz. 



Sea-kale basket 



Shallots lb. 6 



Spinach bushel 3 



Tomatoes doz. 10 1 



Turnips bunch 6 



VegetableMarrowB..doz. 2 3 



