196 



JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ September 8, 1870. 



loth of July, 1863, I lodged a second cast in a small glass Tim- 

 comb. On the 22nd the young queen was impregnated. On 

 the 25th numbers of eggs were laid, and on the 27th I removed 

 her from the hive. The bees selected a grub for a queen from 

 the earlier-laid eggs. It was sealed August 2ad, and a young 

 queen emanated on the 10th. On the 16th every young bee 

 had left its cell save three, of which no record has been taken 

 whether they were abortive or ultimately hatched out. I may 

 also mention that in the same year (1863) I removed the queen 

 from a Huber hive, that a young queen emanated on the 

 thirteenth day after her removal, and that everylcommon bee 

 had vacated its cell before the nineteenth. 



It is unnecessary to multiply proofs, but I can give them 

 if needed. Meanwhile I shall only add that it is my firm 

 conviction, founded on personal experience, that the views 

 advanced by Mr. Woodbury in opposition to those of Mr. 

 Pettigrew are correct. — E. S. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Hard Projecting Leg-scales (F. A. M.). — It is comparatively a new 

 disorder, and is very prevalent among poultry. We have it among ours, 

 but it is chiefly confined to Cochins and to the oldest birds. It has also 

 shown itself this year on the legs of a Chinese Pheasant. We are trying 

 experiments, but we have discovered no remedy. 



Crossing Houdans and Dorkings (R. H. J 7 .).— The Houdan wonld not 

 be the bird you require ; iff is a non-sitter, and we always protest against 

 crossing between those and sitters. It is against all reason. We can 

 easily name a cross that will suit you in all respects but one, that is the 

 size of the eggs. You will not in any of the sitting breeds get larger eggs 

 than you do from the Dorking. We advise you to cross between the Dorking 

 and Brahma Pootra if you want a good hardy fowl that will lay and sit 

 well, rear its young without trouble, and make a capital bird at table. 

 We are never friendly to crosses, but we think this is the best we know. 

 Chickens with Nostril Discharge (W. B.B.). — Your Hambnrghs are 

 suffering from cold, which will, if neglected, turn to roup. If only part of 

 them are afiected remove them from the others. WaBh their nostrils 

 with cold water and vinegar. Give each bird two pills of camphor each 

 the size of a pea. Feed them twice per day for a time on bread and ale. 

 Discontinue the sharps and potatoes. Use Baily's pills. 



Brahma Cock Moulting (J. A. C). — Brahma cocks of the age you 

 name are often a long time getting their feathers, and we do not think 

 the bird you mention will be in full plumage before the end of September 

 or beginning of October. He may, however, be fit to exhibit, although 

 not quite moulted, as he will in all probability be shown against birds of 

 his own age. It will be a good thing if his sickle feathers never come 

 back. Feed him well on ground oats, give him bread soaked in milk, and 

 let him have plenty of green food, lettuce above all. 



Double Natl (A. E. C). — This on a Dorking cockerel's toe is no doubt 

 a disadvantage, but could only prejudice success where the competition 

 between two birds was so close thb judges had to look to some such acci- 

 dent to enable them to decide, otherwise it would not disqualify the bird. 

 Young Turrets Dying (F. I. C). — We advise yon to remove all the 

 healthy birds to some other place ; it is always a risk and a mistake to 

 keep healthy and diseased birds together. You do not say on what you 

 feed. From your description of the crops of your birds we should think 

 there was something wrong in their diet. Even if they roost too thickly 

 that would not account for it; that would produce the swelled heads, 

 which you seem to have overcome. In all cases where food remains in 

 the crop pour warm water down the throats freely, afterwards give each 

 a table-spoonful of castor oil. Give two pills of camphor each the size of 

 a garden pea. Feed only on bread and ale, ground oats mixed with milk, 

 and having onion-tops chopped fine with the ground oats. This treat- 

 ment must be continued till they are well. It would be beneficial if you 

 have a convenient place, such as an old barn, if you were to shut up the 

 invalids. They would require large sods with plenty of growing grass 

 and mould to be given to them daily, as well as the food we have rscom- 

 mended. 



.Whitworth and Rochdale Poultry Show. — Mr. S. H. Stott, of 

 Quarry Hill. Rochdale, states that he, and not the Rev. G. Hustler, took 

 the first prize for Grey Geese at this Show. The error is that of the 

 prize list forwarded to us. 



Eeighley Show (J. G.).— If, as you say, your birds were not exhibited 

 owing to the mistake made by the Secretary, the Committee, ought to 

 return you the entrance moneys. 



Rats in a Pigeon Loft, and Proper Food for Pigeons (A Weekly 

 Header). — Gas tar frequently applied to the runs of rats will cause the 

 rats to leave. They are cleanly animals, and cannot bear the toach of 

 tar. We have got rid of the vermin from a pigstye in this way. The tar 

 once dried is, however, of no use. as it will not Btick to the rat's fur. The 

 best plan you could adopt would be to put sheeting of tin on the wall the 

 rats run up, lettisg a piece of tin stand out at right angles from the wall, 

 projecting, say, half a foot or more ; the rats could not get above that. Let 

 not the tin be painted, nor have anything on it to give foothold. As to 

 the best food for Pigeons, a mixture of peas, Indian corn, and barley Is 

 excellent. We add barley for the sake of the young birds which their 

 parents are just ceasing to feed. They go about in a starved condition, 

 unable to pick up the peas or Indian corn, so we always have tome smaller 

 grain mixed with them. They also readily pick up charlock, which the 

 farmers gladly give away, only take care it does not get into your garden. 



Food for Silver-Grey and Angora Raeeits ( ). — Clover, Vetches, 



Dandelion, Carrots, Turnips, &c, with crushed oats, bran, Indian meal 

 boiled into porridge, say once or twice a-week. This fattens them. Too 

 much green is objectionable, and avoid cabbage. Oat straw and sweet 

 hay they like, ana are good for them. They will not succeed well upon 

 the ground all winter, especially the Angora, being hutch Rabbits. The 

 Silver-Grey may be allowed to run as the wild Rabbit, and many are 



turned out with tnem to improve the fur. If intended to remain outside 

 all winter in hutches these must be made warm and dry, 2 feet above 

 ground, and placed with a south aspect. Avoid all damp air, as this gives 

 them the snuffles. In removing them from the hutches to place them 

 upon the ground (but never except it is dry), take hold of the ears with 

 one hand, and place the other hand under the hind part of the Rabbit, so 

 as to prevent the hind legs bringing out the bedding with them. If the 

 hutches are 5 or 6 feet in superficial extent they will not often require 

 any exercise out of them ; yet to let them have a frisk upon a lawn when 

 the grass is dry is by no means objectionable. All green food should be 

 given dry, or it tends to give the Rabbit the rot ; and in the absence of 

 green food soaked peas are good twice a-week, with a little clean water, 

 especially during hot weather. 



Uniting Swarms (T. M\ N.\. — The dead bees were all workers, but we 

 cannot tell why they were killed, except that in this mode of uniting 

 more or less fighting often ensues. The best plan is to drive both lots of 

 bees into the same empty hive one after the other, and then induct them 

 into their permanent home by knocking the united cluster out on a cloth 

 and placing their hive over them. It is not absolutely necessary to re- 

 move one of the queens, although it is well to do ao if the opportunity 

 presents itself. Your syrup appears to have been too thick, but the 

 crystals will not injure the bee3. We use three parts sugar to two parts 

 water by weight. 



Commencing Bee-keeping [T. A.).— A stock of bees ought at this sea- 

 son to be readily obtainable for tbe bare value of ithe hive and the honey 

 which it may be fairly estimated to contain. Get " Bee-keeping for the 

 Many," which may be had free from this office for five stamps, and select 

 from the hives therein described the one which you think most likely to 

 meet your views. If the bees now belong to a near neighbour many will 

 return to the old spot and be lost, thereby weakening the colony, a result 

 which would be avoided if they were brought from a distance of not less 

 than a mile and a half. We cannot recommend you, as a novice, to 

 attempt transferring the stock to a new hive, but should rather advise 

 your waiting for it to swarm in the usual way. 



Stewing Vegetable Marrows.— "E. A. M." recommends the follow- 

 ing recipe. Just scald the vegetable. When a little softened cut off one 

 end and scoop out the seeds ; fill with chopped meat that has been partly 

 cooked, a little parsley, pepper, and salt ; lay them in a saucepan the cut 

 end uppermost, to keep out steam and water; add some good gravy 

 flavoured with tomato, and let them stew gently. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 

 In the Suburbs of London for the week ending September 6th. 





BAE02ETEB. 





THEEM03IETEE 





Wind. 





Date. 



Air. 



Earth. 



Rain. 





Max. 



Mln. 



Max. 1 Mln. 



I ft 



2 ft. 





Wed. .. Si 

 Thnrs. . 1 

 Fri 2 



Sat. ... 8 

 Son. . . 4 

 Mon. . . 5 

 Tnes. . 6 



80.1S2 

 29.912 

 29.456 

 29.888 

 29.930 

 29.618 

 29.471 



80.018 

 29.637 

 29.412 

 29.8^7 

 29.839 

 29 367 

 29.873 



72 

 73 

 73 

 69 

 72 

 67 

 67 



33 

 45 

 55 

 82 

 62 

 62 

 46 



60 

 60 

 60 

 60 

 68 

 60 

 60 



67 

 57 

 57 

 57 

 57 

 67 

 57 



.-W. 



' S. 



S. 



N.W. 



S.W. 



S. 



S. 



.00 

 .00 

 .04 

 .00 

 .00 

 ■43 

 .16 



Mean.. 



29.770 



57.574 



70.43 



45.00 



69.71 



57.00 j .. 



0.62 



31. — Clear and fine ; very fine ; clear and very fine. 

 1. — Very fine; very fine ; overcast at night. 

 2. — Drizzling rain ; cloudy, but fine ; clear. 

 3. — Showery ; heavy showers ; clear and fine. 

 4. — Very fine ; exceedingly fine ; overcast. 

 5.— Overcast; heavy rain; exceedingly heavy showers. 

 6. — Overcast, damp ; showery; clear and fine. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— September 7. 

 The market is overstocked with all sorts of fruit, and clearances are 

 only made at low prices. 



FRUIT. 



b. d. s. d 



Apples \ sieve 1 to2 



Clierries lb. 6 10 



Currants J sieve 2 



Figs doz. 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs lb. C 



Grapes, Hothouse.... lb. 2 



Lemona ^-100 10 



Melons.. each 1 



Mulberries lb. 



Nectarines doz. 



Oranges 3*100 



Peaches doz. 



d. s. 

 9to0 



Pears, dessert doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums j sieve 1 



Walnuts bushel 10 



do ^100 1 



VEGETABLES. 



B. d. 8. d I 



Artichokes doz. to 



AeparaffuB 2*100 



Beans, Kidney ..J sieve. 4 



Broad bushel 



Beet, Red doz. 2 



Broccoli bundle 



Brussels Sprouts . . J sieve 



Cabbage doz. 1 



CapsicuxnB 1*100 



Carrots bunch 4 



Cauliflower doz. 2 



Celery bundle 1 6 



Coleworts.. doz. bunches 3 



Cucumbers each 6 



pickling doz. 2 



Endive doz. 2 



Fennel bunch 3 



Garlic lb. 8 



Herbs bunch 8 



Horseradish . ... bundle 8 



I Leeks bunch 



Lettuco doz. 



Mushrooms pottle 



Mustard & Cress, .punnet 

 Onions bushel 



pickling quart 



Parsley.... Bieve 



Parsnips.... doz. 



PeaB quart 



Potatoes bushel 



Kidney do. 



Radishes .. doz. bunches 



Rhubarb bundle 



Savoys... doz. 



Sea-kale basket 



Shallots lb. 



Spinach bushel 



Tomatoes doz. 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrows . , doz . 



s. d. B. 



4to 



16 3 







2 

 



