218 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ September 15, 1870. 



having constructed a cubical glass bos 8 feet high in connec- 

 tion with a hive containing a virgin queen. Her exit to the 

 open air was prevented by a contracted entrance, but she had 

 free access to the box by means of a glass tube, where she fre- 

 quently betook herself every fine morning along with the 

 drones; but though the experiment extended over fifteen days 

 Tinder a constant watch, yet no evidence was afforded of im- 

 pregnation. 



Again, is it because of the scantiness or paucity of the bees 

 along with the queen that the desired object is attained? If 

 so, why should not the same result follow in a hive where the 

 bees, equally scant in numbers, have perfect freedom of exit? 

 Such, at least, appears to me to be the logic of the case. But 

 reasonings have no force in the face of facts. To the test, 

 therefore, let us go. 



It so happened that at the very time that Mr. Woodbury ex- 

 pressed his regret at being unable to experiment so late in the 

 season, I had in my apiary two young queens in process of 

 rearing. In one of the hives, a very large one, the bees were, 

 from certain circumstances, reduced to two or three hundred. 

 The queen remained, to my certain knowledge, unfecundated 

 in this hive for several days, though of proper age, and in the 

 society of males, the weather not permitting her to go abroad. 

 But why was thi3 if the fact be an accredited ODe, that the 

 queen could be fecundated in the interior of the hive ? The 

 space was large, the population scanty, and no disturbing in- 

 fluences of any kind were present to prevent the desired object. 

 Bat my experiment, perhaps, is defective. I must detach a still 

 smaller number of bees, and confine them along with the 

 queen, separating them by perforated zinc from the other 

 moiety, and placing the prisoners over the hive in order to 

 succeed. Well, I did so, and introduced, according to directions, 

 selected drones to her majesty, and after two days 7 confinement 

 allowed her and her associates to descend, but no evidence was 

 forthcoming that she was fecundated. In the meantime the 

 marauding bees began to pillage the hive and its scanty popu- 

 lation offered but little resistance. I examined the interior 

 occasionally, and now found the queen encased by the entrants 

 and much injured. I immediately dissected her in order to set 

 all doubts at rest, and found that a virgin queen she still 

 remained. 



Such being the result in this case, I did not submit the other 

 queen to the like ordeal, as I might. Whether by repeated 

 experiments a more favourable result would follow is another 

 question ; but in the case tested with every care and according 

 to the directions prescribed, I find no evidence whatever of the 

 truth of this new theory of queen-fecundation, and I here 

 simply desire to record the fact. 



The Kohler process I consider almost valueless and imprac- 

 ticable in this country. — J. Iowe. 



The Huxgabias Method of Controlling the Fertili- 

 sation of the Queen Bee — Mr. J. H. ThomaB, the apiarian 

 editor of the Toronto Globe, after describing Mr. Dax's method 

 of controlling the fertilisation of queens, says — " The above 

 process, it will be seen, is very similar to the method already 

 described in this Journal. We have experimented with one 

 queen, and succeeded in getting her artificially impregnated." 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Wakefield Show. — We are informed that the Cochin chickens that 

 won the cop are the property of Lady Eurrell, and not of Mr. George 

 Fletcher. 



Profit from Poultry-keeping (R. BX—lt is almost impossible to 

 answer your question. To keep twenty-five fowls profitably yon should 

 have at least three-quarters of an acre, and part of it 9hould be submitted 

 to the landscape process we described some weeks since — that is, if 

 chickens are to be reared. We cannot understand profit without breeding, 

 except in some localities where new-laid eggs sell well. In such places 

 fowls properly managed are very profitable, the eggs selling at 3d. or 4cd. 

 each, andoften more. If you do not intend to breed you may keep twenty- 

 five fowls well on a quarter of an acre. If you have not so much you 

 may keep them on less, but when space diminishes painstaking must 

 Increase. 



Rouen Docks (J. Dove). — You are overfeeding your Ducks, and they 

 are consequently most likely unwieldy from fat. Such a dietary as you 

 name would only be excusable if yon were feeding for exhibition where 

 weight was the only merit. Give barleymeal and a little Indian corn, but 

 discontinue the sheeps' entrails. Compel them to take a little exercise, 

 and allow them a swim if possible. They will then most probably regain 

 the use of all their members. 



Guinea Pigs. — Constant Header wishes to know if any colour or kind 

 is to he preferred of these tzlt§. rentable little animals. 



Driving Bees (H. Marshall). — Bees will not quit their own well- 

 furnished domicile for an empty or even a partially furnished hive merely 

 because the former is capsized and the latter placed over it. They 

 require to be expelled by " driving," in the manner described in page 60, 

 of the last edition of "Bee-keeping for the Many," which is now being 

 reprinted. 



Ants in Dwelling-house {I. L. T.).— Try sprinkling Scotch snnffin 

 and around their haunts, and in the places which you especially desire 

 them not to invade. 



Flies (B. C.).— We know of no mode of relieving a sitting-room from 

 flies except opening the windows, driving them out by buffetings with a. 

 handkerchief, and then closing the windows. 



Dressing Rabbit Skins. — "W." will be glad to be informed the best 

 way to preserve the skins of White Rabbit3 to be used for fur trimming. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 

 In the Suburbs of London'for the week ending September 13th. 





BABOMETER. 



THEB5IOMZTEB. 



Wind. 





Date. 



Air. 



Earth. 



Rain. 





Max. 



Mir. 



Mai. 



Man. 



1 ft. 



2 ft. 





Wed... 7 



29.429 



29.386 



58 



44 



58 



57 



S. 



.26 



Thurs. . 8 



29.662 



29.490 



67 



46 



59 



57 



W. 



.20 



Fri.... 9 



29.463 



29323 



72 



43 



59 



57 



W. 



.20 



Sat. ... 10 



29.930 



29 541 



70 



34 



62 



56 



W. 



.00 



San. .. 11 



30.089 



30.066 



68 



34 



57 



56 



• S. 



.00 



lion. . . 12 



30.0S3 



29 995 



67 



43 



57 



55 



W. 



00 



Taeg... 13 



29.892 



29.752 



59 



53 



58 



56 



S.W. 



.24 



Mean.. 



29.792 



29.651 



65.86 



43 00 



58 57 



56.2S 



" 



0.90 



7.— Overcast; heavy rain; showery; clear, starlight. 



8. — Very fine; clear and very fine ; rain at night. 



9- — Overcast, strong wind ; cloudy ; clear and fine. 

 10. — Roisterous ; exceedingly boisterous ; clear and fine. 

 11. — Very fine ; fine, bright sunshine ; clear. 

 12. — Very fine ; cloudy but fine ; clear and fine. 

 13.— Fine, but overcast ; rain : fine and clear. 



COVEN r GARDEN MARKET.— Septeslber 14. 

 Continuous heavy supplies of goods prevent any better prices from 

 being obtained, and we find large consignments of French fruit coming 

 to hand that, but for the war, would have found their way to Paris, all tend- 

 ing to glut the market. Pears now comprise Marie Louise, Louise Bonne, 

 Bon Chretien, and Beurre d'Amanlis. The best varieties of Apples are 

 Ribston Pippin, Downton Pippin, Ingestrie, and Kerry Pippin. Regents 

 Potatoes, 90s. to 110s. per ton ; Kidneys, 110s. to 120s. per ton. 



FRUIT. 





lb. 



B. 



1 





 

 





 

 



1 





 10 



1 



a. 





 

 

 6 

 

 

 6 

 9 

 6 

 

 

 

 



B. 



to2 

 

 



1 

 4 

 



1 

 1 

 2 





 5 

 16 

 i 



i 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



n 





lb 

 ifHOO 



s. d. 

 



2 







1 







1 



3 

 1 6 

 

 





 10 



1 



8. d 



00 

 4 

 14 









8 



Black 



Fisa 



Pears, kitchen . 

 Plums 



lb. 

 lb. 





 S 

 5 





lb. 



3 





lb. 









e.... lb. 



¥"•100 



n 



Grapes, Hothous 



Strawberries . 



lb. 





 16 

 2 G 









VEGET 



AELES. 









Beans, Kidney . 



Beet, Red 



Brussels Sprouts 



»100 

 i sieve, 

 bushel 



. bundle 

 ..i sieve 



ff. 

 





 i 

 

 2 

 

 



1 

 1 





 3 

 1 

 S 

 

 8 

 g 





 

 

 B 



d. s. 

 OtoO 

 

 6 

 

 s 

 

 

 2 

 1 

 4 

 6 

 6 2 

 6 

 6 1 

 4 

 

 3 

 8 

 3 

 6 



a 





 





 









 

 



c 



8 

 

 

 





 

 





 



Si 







s. a. 



a 



1 6 



3 

 2 



4 

 4 



3 

 9 

 



5 



4 

 

 

 

 

 6 



2 



i e 



6 



2 



a. a 





 3 



Mustard & Cress 

 Radishes .. doz. 



.punnet 



bunches 

 lb. 



4 

 

 6 O 

 8 







1 

 



5 



6 O 



Coleworts..doz. 



. bundle 

 mnches 



lb. 





 

 

 O 





Vegetable Marrows . .doz. 



2 6 

 1 



Horseradish .... 



bunch 

 bus die 







S 



POULTRY MARKET.— Septehbeb 14. 

 The only alteration we have to note is the beginning of the regular 

 season for Partriages. If the hatch was satisfactory, there has been 

 great mortality. We find a dozen old for one young. Trade is dull for 

 everything. 



B. 



Large Fowls 2 



Smaller ditto 2 



Chickens 1 



Ducks 2 



Geese • 6 



Turkeys 



a. s. a. 



6 t» 3 





6. 







d. s. d 

 8 to 9 



2 6 

 9 2 





e 



4 15 

 9 IS 



2 6 







8 



6 6 





l 



4 16 



6 







6 SO 



