278 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 6, 1870. 





tects. Among the wild ones there was the mason bee and the 

 carpenter bee. Some were very fastidious, and would only line 

 their cells with rose or poppy leaves. He then referred to the 

 marvellous power of the bee in obtaining propolis to strengthen 

 the structure of its cells, and in decreasing the size of the 

 entrance of the hive in those seasons when the death's-head 

 moth was abundant, so that it could not get in, and by imitat- 

 ing the voice of the queen bee be enabled, with impunity, to 

 steal the honey. In conclusion, he said the more we studied 

 the works of the Divine Geometer and the Divine Architect the 

 more we should advance in philosophy and science. It would 

 keep man's pride of intellect in check, and we should learn to 

 Study with child-like simplicity the works of Divine wisdom. — 

 (English Mechanic.) 



CHEAP AND EASY HONEY. 



Under this head the Chicago Post has the following : — Starch 

 is the basis of sugar, alcohol, and acetic acid (vinegar). The 

 four substances have the same constituents, the difference be- 

 tween them being in the proportion in which these constituents 

 are united in the different articles. Starch dissolved in water 

 and boiled with three per cent, of its own weight of sulphuric 

 acid is converted into dextrine — a thick semi-transparent fluid, 

 and if the boiliDg is continued the dextrine becomes sugar. 

 An addition of lime in some form to the water in which the 

 sugar is held in solution throws down the acid in the shape of 

 sulphate of lime; then, after purification and farther boiling, 

 a very light brown syrup — a real grape sugar, not as sensibly 

 sweet as cane sugar, but pleasant to the taste and grateful to 

 the digestion — is the result. This, put into glass jars in which 

 are strips of honeycomb, is very extensively sold as honey all 

 over the country, and such, in fact, the mixture is in look and 

 flavour both. "We are glad to say that this "honey," unlike 

 most factitious food, is not injurious to consumers in any way, 

 though it is a shameful fraud on the bees. 



Comb and Toes of a Creve-Cceub [J. H. C.).— The points of the comb 

 of a Creve-Cceur cock are not as important as they are in some other 

 breeds. Latitude is necessary, because in some old birds of undoubted 

 purity the comb becomes largely developed. The nearer it approaches 

 to our last description the better it will be for it. Five toes on a Creve- 

 Cceur and four only on a Houdan are both disqualifications. 



Removing a Super {John Leonard). — A super should be removed with 

 its adapter to a shady spot at a little distance from the hive, and kept 

 shut-up until the bees manifest impatience at their confinement. Upon 

 being released a number will come out with a rush and take wing. When 

 all are gone that are inclined to depart, the remainder should again be 

 confined until they also become restless and uneasy. In this way nearly 

 the whole may be got rid of, until by the exercise of a little patience the 

 last few stragglers are brushed out with a feather. On no account must 

 the removed super be left exposed or unguarded, lest the whole of its 

 contents fall a prey to robbers. In some cases the bees are most readily 

 expelled by driving, but circumstances vary so much and so often, that 

 the exact mode of proceeding must to a great extent depend upon the 

 judgment of the apiarian. The stock-hive should be weighed after the 

 removal of the super, and if its nett contents do not reach 17 or 18 lbs., 

 it must be fed up to the weight by mean? of an inverted pickle-bottle, 

 which should be refilled every evening until the desired result is attained. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



HAarBtTRGHs' Throats Rattling (Novice). — Tour Hamburghs are suf- 

 fering from cold. It would become roup if neglected, but taken in the 

 early stages it is frequently cured by feeding on bread and ale. If that 

 does* not remove the symptoms use Baily's pills. 



PorNTS in Silver- spangled Hamburghs (Idem). — The hackle of a 

 Silver-spangled Hamburgh cock should be white, clear on the back, but 

 the pendent feathers should have a spangle at the tip. The same maybe 

 said of the saddle. The tail should be white, but each feather should 

 have a black moon or spangle at the end. The hackle of the hen should 

 be striped with black, neither clouded nor spangled. 



Fleas en Poultry House [E. S. H.).— You must continue to wash 

 with fresh lime, that will be your only remedy if the walls of your house 

 are old. See to the washing yourself. The pests save themselves in the 

 holes, corners, and inequalities. Either have your walls plastered, or 

 see that wherever there is any covert a dab of wet lime is put in, and in 

 every corner a good brushful from the bottom of the pail dashed into it 

 hard as can be done. Supply your fowls with plenty of road grit. 



Vertigo in Tuekets (F. I. C.).— You must give each of the giddy birds 

 a pill of camphor as large as a small acorn. We told you before, to the 

 best of our recollection, they roost too thickly. Divide them into four 

 fifties. It is a very bad plan to allow their excrement to lie about, although 

 it is daily covered with fresh mould. We wonder they are not all sick. 

 Let it be removed every morning. Nothing is more injurious to healthy 

 birds than contact with the droppings of diseased ones. 



Cock's Plumage Defective (Troutbecl-).— If the cock is with hens it 

 is probable the hens pick out the young feathers as fast as they appear. 

 Put the bird by himself. Feed on ground oats and a little whole corn at 

 times. Give him lettuce to eat, it is best when seeding ; and rub the 

 naked parts with compound sulphur ointment. 



TJndueeed Game Cocks (C. S. M.). — You are at liberty to show as you 

 please, but we think you have no hope whatever of success if you show 

 cndubbed birds. What hinders you from dubbing them ? They are old 

 enough, and the operation is trifling ; they recover it in ten days. You 

 must show according to the prize sheet. If the class is for cockerel and 

 two pullets it will be useless to show only one of the latter, however good 

 the pair may be. 



Brahma Pootra Weak-legged (H. D.).— The birds that are weak in 

 their legs when young never grow up strong adults. Bread and milk, 

 yolk of egg, and ground oats from which nothing has been taken in the 

 way of skin or bran, are the best food. It is also one of those cases in 

 which raw meat may be given. 



Brewers' Grains for Fowls (Exon). — We are not friendly to brewers' 

 grains for poultry. That which is best for fattening is also good for 

 laying. Stimulants are only good in very severe weather, or as medicine. 

 The best food there is for poultry is ground oats as they are to be had in 

 Sussex, only (we believe), mixed with milk or water, varied at times with 

 whole corn, maize, or barley. Green meat and road grit are indispensable 

 to their well-doing. 



Flight Feathers of Golden Polands (A.B. C.).— The white in your 

 Golden Poland plumage is a defect and great drawback. It is only ad- 

 missible in the top-knots of very old b : rds, and on the sickle feathers of 

 old cocks. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 

 In the Suburb? of London for the week ending October 4th. 



Date 





BAB03IETXE. 





CHER3I03C:T£Il 





"Wind. 





Air. Earth. 



Rain. 



Max. 1 



Jlin. 



Mas. | Min. j 1 ft. 



2 ft. 





Wed... 



9fi 



80.227 



80.027 



71 ! 34 



58 



58 



E. 



.00 



Thurs. . 



59 



30.296. 



30.210 



71 



45 



55 



53 



E. 



.00 



Fri. . .. 



30 



30894 



30 349 



64 



30 



53 



53 



E. 



.00 



Sat. ... 



1 



30.437 



3'. 430 



61 



S3 



53 



53 



E. 



.00 



San. . . 



•>, 



30.427 



30.351 



70 



34 



54 



52 



E. 



.00 



3Ion. . . 



S 



30.398 



30 369 



61 



35 



54 



53 



E. 



■00 



Tnes. . . i 

 Mean.. 



30.404 



30.323 



61 



35 



. 54 

 53 71 



53 



E. 



.00 



80.369 



30.294 



.65.57 



1 



35 23 



52.86; .. 



0.00 



28.— Fine, foggy : very fine ; clear and fine. 

 29.— Overcast ; very fine ; overcast. 

 30.— Fine, foggy ; fine ; clear and fine. 



1. — Very fine; exceedingly fine ; clear and fie e. 



2. — Foggy, damp : vi?ry fine ; clear, starlight. 



3. — Foggy, overcast ; very fine ; overcast. 



4.— Overcast; fine, foggy; dense fog. 



COYEXT GARDEN MARKET.— October 5. 

 We have no alterations to report. Trade is dull, and quotations are the 



same as last week. 



Apples k sieve 1 



Apricots doz. 



Chestnuts bushel 



Cherries lb. 



Currants i sieve 3 



Black do. 



FiES doz. 



Filberts lb. 1 



Cobs lb. 1 



Gooseberries quart 



Granes, Hothouse.... lb. 2 



Lemons ^100 10 



Melons each 1 



to 2 

 



do.. 

 VEGETABLES. 



Mulberries lb t 



Nectarines doz 2 



Oranges ^ 10o 



Peaches doz, 1 



Pears. kitchen ...... doz. 1 



dessert doz. 1 



Pine Apples lb. 3 



Plums fc sieve 1 



Quinces doz. 1 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries lb. 



Walnuts bushel 10 



d. s. 

 0to0 



Artichokes doz. 



Asparagus V' 100 



Beans, Kidney ..£ sieve. 



Broad bushel 



Beet, Red doz. 



Broccoli bundle 



Brussels Sprouts. . £ sieve 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums "r- 100 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 



Celery bunole 



Coleworts..doz. bunches 

 Cucumbers each 



pickling doz. 



Endive don. 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish . ... bundle 



OtoO 

 



Lee^s bunch 



Lettuce doz. 



Mushrooms pottle 



Mustard & Cress . .punnet 

 Onions bushel 



pickling quart 



Parsley sieve 



Parsnips doz. 



Peas 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. 



d. s. 

 4 to 



POULTRY MARKET.— October 5. 

 *It is plain that Michaelmas loses in public interest every year. We 

 always have to report a bad trade. The present was no exception. Except 

 for a few large and very choice Geese, the sale was heavy and the price 

 moderate. They made" from 55. Gd. to 10s. 6d. each, according to weight. 



Large Fowls 2 



Smaller ditto 2 



Chickens 1 



Bucks 1 



Geese 6 



Turkeys 



a. s. 



a. 





 6 

 9 

 

 

 





s. 

 



a. s. 



8 to 

 5 1 

 8 

 

 8 1 

 2 



a. 



2 



Fatbits 



1 

 



6 



i 























6 









2 



6 



