September 1, 1870. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



175 



ttear Rochdale. In the Selling Class {seventeen entries), a Silver- 

 Grey, from Mr. E. M. Royds was first ; the second prize going to a 

 Lop-ear from Mr. G. Johnson, of Kettering. 



The entries of Rabbits numbered fifty-four against some twenty-sis 

 last year, and let me hope the Committee, with this fact before them, 

 will be induced to give a class more for the Angora, and not mix it up 

 with others as this year. I feel sure the experiment will be no pecuniary 

 loss, but that it will attract more entries to tho Rabbit section of the 

 Show, which visitors seem also to have so much pleasure in beholding. 

 — C. R. 



LYTHE POULTRY SHOW. 



The pleasant little village of Lythe, situated about four miles north- 

 west of the now fashionable watering place Whitby, held its fourth 

 annual Poultry Skow on August 26th. The exhibition was highly 

 creditable, both as to the number of entries and the quality of the 

 birds, and it is not too much to say that some of the Cochins ex- 

 hibited at this little village gathering were of sufficient merit to make 

 a mark in any show in England. 



The Rev. T. Phillips, Robin Hood's Bay, and W. Stonehouse, Esq., 

 of Whitby, were Judges, and made the following awards : — 



Brahhas.— l, Mr. Corney, Whitby. 2, Mr. Booth, Lythe. Chickens.— 1, Mr. 

 Corney. 2, Mr. Stephenson, Whitby. Spanish.— 1, Mr. Crowthcr, Lythe. 2, T. 

 Clemrnitt, Lythe. Chickens.— 1, T. Clemmitt. 2, Mr. Stephenson. Cochin- 

 Chinas.— 1, J. Booth, Lythe. 2, M. G. Greenbury, Whitby. Chickens.— 1. T. H. 

 Readnian, Whitby. 2, Mr. Elliott, Lythe. Game.— 1, Mr. Dickenson, Lythe. 

 2, Mr. Pringle, Etfton. Chickens.— 1. Mr. Dickenson. 2, E. Noble, Whitby. 

 Hamburghs.— Golden-spangLe&— 1, J. Pybus, Sanrtsend. 2, ,T. Cooper, Mickleby. 

 Silver-spangled —1, Mr. Pickering, Barnby. 2, T. Kidd, Lythe. Golden- 

 pencilled.— 1, Mr. Stewart, Whitby. 2, J. W. Boyes, Lythe. Silver-pencilled,— 



1, T. K. Keadman. 2, Mr. Pickering. Gold or Bibver-spangled Chickens.— 1, T. 

 Kidd. 2, J. Pybus. Gold or Silver-pencilled Chickens.—!, Rev. R. A. White, 

 Whitbv. 2, T. H. Readnian. Barndoor Fowls.— 1, Mrs. Wellburn, Eamby, 



2, A. Welford, Brock Biggs. Chickens —1,G. Barker, Egton. 2, Mis. Wellburn. 

 Ant. other Variety.— 1, T. Percival, Whitby. 2, Mr. Dickenson. Chickens. 

 — 1, T. Percival. 2, Mr. Booth. Cock.—l, Mr. Speedy. Whitby. 2, R. White, 

 Lythe. Geese.— 1, Mr. Kerr, Deep Grove. 2, Mr. White, Lythe. Duoks.— 

 1, R. Dobeon, East Row. 2, Mrs. Harland, East Row. 



Local Poizes.— Chickens.— Large Breeds.— 1, Mr. Elliott. 2, Mr. Crowther. 

 Small Breads.— I, T. Kidd. 2, It. Thompson 



MEIGLE POULTRY SHOW. 



This was held on August 24th. The following are the awards : — 

 Dorkings.— Chickens.— I and Clip. Mrs. A. Bruce, Westhill. Airlie. 2, D. 

 Gellatly, Meigle. e, G. Anderson. Blairgowrie. Spanish.— Chickens.— 1, P. 

 Synion, Errol. 2, J. W. Will, c, Mrs. Anderson, Mcigle. Brajimas.— Chickens. 

 — 1, J. W. Will. 2, J. Anderson. Game.— Chickens.— 1, D. Harley, Edinburgh. 

 2, W. Melrtrnm, Forfar, c, K. Nicoll, Carnoustie; J. Anderson. Cochin- 

 Chxnas.— Chickens — 1, J. W. Will. 2, D. Gellatlv. HAMDunons.— Golden.— 

 Chickens— I, G. Caithness, Carnoustie. 2, 3. W. Will. Silver.— 1, J. W. Will. 

 2, J. Macandrew, Carnoust'e. Bantams —Chickens.— 1, J.Anderson. 2, J. A. 

 Dempster, Stirling. Any other VAt.iF.TY— Chickens.— 2, Mies A. Anderson, 

 Heigh}. Any Distinct Variety.— 1, T. Raines, Stirling. 2, W. Meldrum. 

 0,3. W.WiH. Chickens.— l.G.Cuthill. 2 T.Raines. e.Mre. A.Bruce. Selling 

 Class.— 1, J. Porter, jun., Myreside. 2. P. Svmon. c, W. Simpson, Cardean. 

 Ducks.— Aylesbury.— 1, D. Gellatlv. 2, Mrs. A. Bruce. Iioiten.— 1, A. Easson. 

 2, J. W. Will. Geese.— 1, Mrs. Barclay. Simprim. 2 and c, Mtb. Ballingall, 

 Cookston. Turkeys.— 1, Mrs. Barclay. 2, Lord J. F. G. Hallyburton. 



DISTRICT PRIZES. 

 Doektngs.- 1, G. Allan. 2, D. Gellatlv. 3, Mrs. A. Bruce. Chickens.— 1 and 

 2, Mrs. A. Bruce. 8, J. Sinclair, Drumkilho. c, G. Allan. Spanish.—1, Mrs. 

 Anderson. 2 and S, A. Shepherd, Meigle. Chickens.— 1 and Tea Service, D, 

 GellaUy. E and 3, Mrs. Anderson. Any other Variety.— 1 and 3, D. Gellatlv. 

 2, Mi3s A. Anderson. Chickens.— 1 and Salver, D. Gellatly. 2, Mrs. Lamond, 

 Inverqueich. 3. J. Porter, jun. Ducks.— 1, G. Allan. 2, G. Cuthill. S, A. 

 Bruce, Holl. Ducklings.— 1 and c, G. Cuthill. 2, Miss Kiddie. 3, Mrs. Kidd, 

 Drumkilbo. Chickens— 1, Mrs. A, Bruce, Westhill. 2, W. Simpson. 3, G. 

 Cuthia. c, J. Fraser, Mcigle. 



Pigeons.— 1, 2, and 3, A. G. H'Neil, Coupar Angus" (Owls, Turbits, and 

 Tumblers). 



CITY COLUMBARIAN SOCIETY. 

 On Thursday last, August 25th, the City Columharian Society held 

 its first show for the season at the Crown and Cushion Tavern, London 

 "Wall. The meeting was well attended by members and friends from 

 Ireland and Scotland, as well as from all parts of England, and great 

 was the suspense of Beveral who were eagerly watching every bird as it 

 was put in the pen to catch the first glimpse. The birds shown were 

 quite up to the average of quality for which this Society is celebrated, 

 and several of them will be seen carrying off high honours at some of 

 the leading shows when they get a little older. It is to be regretted that 

 the committees of public shows do not offer prizes for young birds. I 

 feel assured the entries would repay the prize money, and would be a 

 very attractive feature. — J. F. 



BEEKEEPING AT MANCHESTER IN 18/0. 



The present season has been, as a whole, somewhat unfavour- 

 able f jr bees in this neighbourhood. The honeydew so abun- 

 dantly collected last jear, made the honey very impure and 

 lather unhealthy. Owing to the long winter, cold spring, and 

 impure honey, many hives were weak in numbers, in other 

 words, had only a small population in March and April ; in- 

 deed, many weak hives of bees did not survive the cold spring 

 months, and ths strong hives of bees which outlived the severe 



winter and spring did not swarm early. This year there were 

 very few swarms in May. I had only one, all the rest were June 

 swarms. Usually most of our stoeks swarm in May. Some 

 seasons bees are loth to swarm even after they are ready ; but 

 this year all the hives that swarmed did so freely, many of 

 them yielding second swarms. 



Notwithstanding the length of time without rain, very little 

 honey was found in flowers this season, save during the first 

 three weeks of June and this month (August). Still, swarms 

 kept themselves, and needed but little feeding. During the 

 fair month of July, and in the absence of oloud or rain, hives 

 generally became much lighter, breeding was discontinued, 

 white drones were torn out of their cells and cast out, and 

 drone3 were massacred. The drought and easterly winds con- 

 tinued to the loss and discouragement of bee-keepers. I had 

 then upwards of 2,000,000 of my faithful and industrious ser- 

 vants near starvation point. Their commissariat stores had to 

 be thought of. A favourable balance sheet this year was but a 

 remote idea, if not quite out of the question. Soon — very soon 

 14 lbs. of sugar per day will be required to keep them alive ; 

 28 lbs. would do it better. A twig of heather jnst bursting into 

 blossom was sent from the moors. Well, heather is hardy, and 

 not easily affected by weather. Perhaps it will yield honey 

 while the wind is easterly. Let me try my bees there ? Away 

 they go to grouseland about the end of July and beginning of 

 August, fifteen hives at a time every two or three days. The 

 bees began work at once, and before the last lot arrived the first 

 one had gained in weight several pounds per hive. 



Yesterday (August 23rd) I went to see them, and, arriving 

 about 11 a.m., I found them busy, and collecting honey rapidly. 

 My May swarm, the best, was first uncovered and weighed ; its 

 weight was just 95 lbs., and its mother hive Btanding by its 

 side was 82 lbs. Some swarms weighed 80 lbs., some 70 lbs., 

 some 00 lbs., and some 40 lbs. At 3 p.m. the best swarm was 

 again weighed, and found to be just 9S lbs., with many bees out 

 at work. Some of the best hives have gained from 50 to 60 lbs. 

 each during the last three weeks. Grand results ! —a fair harvest 

 of honey without a speck of impurity, a favourable balance- 

 sheet after all, and the lightest of the hives have ample stores 

 for themselves if kept for stooks. — A. Pettigrew. 



BEES BUILDING OUTSIDE THEIR HIVE. 



My bees this year seem to have behaved strangely. First, I 

 have a common straw hive with a pquare box at the top, the 

 whole enclosed iu a wooden stand, for the sake of warmth and 

 shelter in winter. In order to take the box of honey from the 

 top of the hive, I opened the door of the outer case, and found 

 that my bees had not only filled the small square box at the 

 top of the hive which I was going to remove, but had also made 

 large combs filled with honey outside the box, and on the top 

 of the straw hive (inside the outer case), so that I had some 

 difficulty in detaching the box of honey, which when emptied 

 was pnt back again. The combs outside still remain, and the 

 bees continue working. Secondly, Another straw hive, also 

 inside a bee case, had a glass super put on, and over that a 

 small straw hive to keep out the light, and on opening the 

 door of the case I find likewise outside the glass super, and in- 

 side the little straw hive (put on, as I said, to keep out the 

 light), the bee3 are working combs. Is not this unusual? — 

 C.E. 



[Bees when pressed for room will extend their combs in any 

 direction, and sometimes take possession of the outer cases in- 

 tended only for the protection of their hives. All such combs 

 should now be removed, and those portions which are available 

 carefully preserved until next year, when they will be found 

 useful either as guide combs or decoy combs for glasses and 

 supers, and when, also, somewhat more care should be taken 

 to afford the little labourers sufficient accommodation.] 



THE BEE SEASON IN SCOTLAND. 



We have now arrived at nearly the close of the bee season 

 of 1S70. In Scotland it has, on the whole, been one of a very 

 unsatisfactory charaoter. A cold, dry, and nngenial spring 

 succeeded a very protracted and unfavourable winter, in which, 

 as I formerly remarked, many weak hives, otherwise well pro- 

 visioned, succumbed. The weather at the commencement of 

 summer was more propitious, and things began to look more 

 hopeful, but notwithstanding a cvnUouou3 track of apparently 



