443 



JOURNAL OF HOliTfCULTOUE AND COTTAGE GASDEN'ER. 



[ De3embor 6, 1377. 



ia no brood in a hive, as the young queen has not then begun 

 to lay. In taking honey from the hive then nothing is destroyed 

 but th9 comb3. The honey is obtained, generally speaking, 

 without the destruction of a cell of brood. The bees driven into 

 an empty hive commence to build comb at once, and the young 

 queen soon begins to lay. In fine weather combs are rapidly 

 built and as rapidly filled with brood in the hive of the turn-out 

 Bwarm; bat to interfere with it while it is in a state of prosperity 

 in every sense — breeding bees, building combs, and storing 

 honey would be well-nigh ruinous. Very little honey would be 

 obtained, all the brood of the hive would be destroyed, and the 

 poor bees would have to commence housekeeping and house- 

 furnishing at a later and more unfavourable season. Your cor- 

 respondent will do well to abandon the idea of having three 

 harvests of honey annually, or of driving bees from their hives 

 twice in a season after s warming. In fine seasons a second 

 harvest of honey may be obtained from first and early swarms 

 by treating them like old stocks — viz., by taking swarms (called 

 virgin swarms) from them as soon as they are ready, leaving 

 bees enough in them to hatch the brood; then, three weeks 

 later, turning all the bees into empty hives. But I do not take 

 virgin swarms, neither do I recommend others to take them, 

 I find it more profitable to super or eke swarm hives than it is 

 to take virgin swarms from them. It Bhould be borne in mind 

 that in filling hives with combs bees have to consume a good 

 deal of honey. 



Bees that are fed-up with syrup and have their hives pretty 

 well filled with combs in September make the best of stocks 

 and the earliest swarms on the f ollowiDgseason. — A. Pettigee w.] 



MR. PETTIGBEWS LARGE HIVES. 



I think " B. & W." misunderstands Mr. Pettigrew's argument 

 as regards large hives being equally good for poor as well as 

 rich honey districts. I have always understood his argument 

 to be as follows : — The egg-laying powers of the queen are almost 

 unlimited. A small hive restricts those powers, and conse- 

 quently affords only a small population. A large hive gives full 

 scope to those powers, and consequently supplies a large popu- 

 lation, and a large population will gather more honey in any 

 district than a small one. But Mr. Pettigrew further teaches 

 that large hives require large swarms, or, failing these, two or 

 three swarms in the first instance to stock them; and, as heat 

 is required for a large early population as well as room for the 

 queen's laying power, he strengthens his large hives by the 

 addition of condemned stocks in the autumn. Have those who 

 have failed with large hives thus fully carried out Mr. Pettigrew's 

 system ? I do not follow his system, but have with advantage 

 adopted much of his teaching, which is applicable to bar-frame 

 as well as other hives. The question, and it is an important 

 one, is simply this : What is the best size of bar-frames and 

 shape of hives to secure the largest early population, and what 

 is the best system for their successful management ?— O. B. 



p.S. — It would greatly help to the settlement of this question 

 if some bar-framists would give a fair trial to a really large frame. 



The Swans on the Thames. — The report of Mr. E. C. Robins, 

 Swan warden of the Dyers' Company for the current year, states 

 that an interview was had with the Lord Chamberlain with 

 regard to the objections of some of the residents and anglers on 

 the banks of the Thames that the Swans ate fish and spawn; 

 and it was satisfactorily proved by the analysis of Mr. F. Buck- 

 land that the outcry was much exaggerated. The birds do not 

 eat the fish or spawn by preference, but only incidentally while 

 feeding upon the vegetable matters with which the river abounds. 

 However, the Crown has decided not to increase the number of 

 Swans, but to maintain the total of grown birds and cygnets at 

 about 400, those of the Dyers' Company at sixty-five, and the 

 Vintners' at forty-five, which was the average of the last seven 

 years.— {City Press.) 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Dominique Fowls (C). — The Dominique is like a Rose-combed Cuckoo 

 Dorking w.th bright yellow legs ar d lacking the fifth toe. They are not 

 more profitable layers than the breeds you name. Their eggs are of fair roll 

 size. They are hardy and do well in confinement, but we know no respect in 

 which they are better than those breeds we already have. Their yellow legs 

 are a disadvantage if they are intended for market ; theymake a considerable 

 difference in their value. 



Dorking and Brahma Cross {Idem}. — A Silver-Grey Dorking cock will do 

 as well to cross with Brahma hens as an ordinary G-rey. Nothing is, however, 

 gained by it. and as a good SilverGrey is worth certainly twice as much as a 

 common Grey, it would seem, as you seek profit, more conducive to that end 

 to sell the expensive bird and buy a cheaper. You must, however, recollect 

 a Silver-Grey must not have a speck of white on the breast or a shade of 

 white in the tail. If it has it forfeits all claim to the class. 



Hotjdans (Idem). — It is very desirable that the cock and pullet in a pen 

 should resemble each other as closely as possible. If the birds, although of 

 different shades, are equal in other points, there can be no hesitation. Put a 

 dark hen with a dark cock, and vice versd. But it is well to say the point is 

 not so material with one hen as with two. Two hens or pullets put with a 



cock must match. A dark and a light one put in the same pen would have 

 little chance of sncceps. Considerable latitude may be and is allowed for the 

 difference in shade between cock and hen provided the points that prove 

 purity of breed are undeniable. Nevertheless we repeat, if all other points 

 are equal it will be advisable to match cock and pullet as cloBely as you can 

 ia every particular. 



Lice on Fowls (Ledbury).— Dusting them with Scoth snuff under the 

 feathers will destroy the vermin. 



Mis-shapen Eggs (E. W. B ).— We should think from your fowls one 

 after the other laying the fame mis-shapen eggs that some of the materials 

 necessary for the formation of the BheU were wanting. "We say some 

 of them, because unless the shell were partly formed there would be no 

 shape at all; but the egg, as is frequently the case, would be quite soft 

 to the touch. Lime ia a necessity, and it is most profitably given by 

 throwing down in their haunts a Darrowload of bricklayers' rubbish, old 

 plaster, ceilings, &c. This not only supplies them with what they want, but 

 it also amuses them, causing them to turn over, scratch, and search for the 

 necessary mgreiients. Ground cats (such as thev have in Sussex), they also 

 form shell, as they contain chalk. Where aU these appliances exist and vet 

 the eggs are faulty in shell, there is some mistake in feeding, or the birds are 

 out of health, and the secretions are at fault. The food shouldbe barleymeal 

 or ground oats slaked with water morning and evening; whole corn, barley, 

 or maize, varied at times with kitchen scraps, for the midday meal. If they 

 are in confinement they must ba supplied with good sized sods of growing 

 grass. We believe this will be found a remedy. 



Fowls Declining ( W. D. H.).—We believe there is something your fowls 

 eat which disagrees with them. There is but little of it, and they have not 

 all access to it, or all would softer alike. Or it may be your food is wrong, 

 and those that are weak or sickly become victims. What is the floorin" ol 

 the houses '? If wood, stone, or brick that will in a great measure account 

 for it. Even in the healthiest yards there is sickness at this time of jeai- 

 and some die, but it appears you have been suffering for months. At 'this 

 season of the year the fowls should be fed three times per day. There is little 

 for them to find except when there is thrashing going on and the bam door 

 is open. The chaDge of weather, the damp, cold, and the long nights are 

 trying to them. We advise you to feed as we have named in the preceding 

 answer. Let your house have an earthen floor and we believe the deaths 

 will cease. 



Lat.51°32'40' 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 

 Camden Square, London. 

 N. ; Long. 0° S' 0" W. ; Altitude, 111 feet. 



Date. 



9 A.M. 







In the Day. 





1877. 



■ O 



Hygrome- 



a . 



= "3- - 



Shade Tem- 



Radiation 



d 



Nov. 



ter. 



1,9 



gag 



Et/lrH 



perature. 



Temperature. 



M 





d o 3.2 



1 



*..■" 







In 



On 









Dry. 



Wet. 



So 





Max. 



Mm. 



Bun. 



grass- 







Inches. 



deg. 



deg. 





deg. 



deg. 



deg. 



deg. 





In. 





29 278 



40.6 



S8.7 



W. 



43.0 



50.2 



37.2 



70 



31.6 



0.200 



Th. 29 



28.832 



45.2 



44.3 



S.SE. 



42.8 



49.1 



40.0 



63.1 



36 



0.C50 



Fri. 30 



29.' 69 



40 6 



S9.5 



W. 



42.1 



46.5 



39.1 



67.1 



33.0 



0053 



Sat, 1 



29.224 



42.0 



42.0 



S.W. 



41.9 



47.1 



40.0 



67.8 



33 3 



0.017 



Sun. 2 



29 930 



40.3 



S9.9 



K.E. 



41.3 



48.5 



36.7 



76.8 



28.8 



010 



Mo. 8 



30.167 



44 6 



44.3 



S.E. 



42 



46 7 



39.4 



50.0 



33.6 



0.045 



Tu. 4 



30.019 



43.8 

 41.4 



42.9 



N. 



43.1 



46.7 



42.4 



51.2 



41.4 



0.014 



Means 



29.503 



41.7 





42 3 



47.S 



39.3 



63.7 



34.0 



0.389 



REMARKS. 

 28th. — Bright sunny day throughout, colder; 'wind and rain commenced at 



11p.m.; gusty during the night. 

 29th. — Eeivy raia and windy in morning; line and bright afternoon; star- 

 light evening, but rain at 11.15 p.m. 

 SOth. — Fine morning; rainy and dull afternoon ; clear at night. 

 1st. — Dark, foggy, rainy morning ; sunshine at intervals after 11 A.M., but a 



damp day ; starlight evening. 

 2nd. — Rather fine morning, bright sun at times, but on the whole a raw 



damp day. 

 3rd. — Dark dull day, with rain at intervals. 

 4th. — Dull day, hut no rain till opji.; showery afterwards. 

 A dull damp week, with very little range of temperature. — G. J. SraoNS. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— December 5. 

 Otm market still remains quiet, and though the supply of first-class goods 

 is getting very short prices do not vary. 



s. d. s. d. 



Apple3 J sieve 2 6 to 5 



Figs dozen 



Filberts .• lb. 6 8 



Cobs lb. 6 8 



Grapes, hothouse.. lb. 1 6 6 



Lemons ^ 100 6 10 



Melons each 1 G 4 



s. d. s. d 



Oranges ^KO 3 OtolO 



Peaches doz. 



Peara, kitchen.. dozen 10 SO 



dessert dozen 2 6 



PineApples lb. 1 6 5 



Plums rVsieve 



Walnuts bushel 5 8 



VEaKTiEIX?. 



Artichokes dozen 2 



Beans, Kidney., bushel 



Beet, Red dozen 1 



Broccoli bunale 



Brussels Sprouta $ sieve 2 



Cabbage dozen 1 



Carrots bunch 



Capsicums ^ 100 1 



Cauliflowers.... dozen 2 



Celery bundle 1 



Coleworts doz. buncnes 2 



Cucumbers .... each 



Endive dozen 1 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Lettuce dozen 1 



Leeks bunch 



d. s. 

 0to4 



Mushrooms .... 

 Mustard & Cress 

 Onions 



pickling 



Parsley.... doz. 



Parsnips.. 



Peas 



Potatoes 



Kidney 



Badi&hes.. doz. 



Rhubarb 



Salsafy 



Scorzonera .... 



Seakale 



Shallots 



Spinach 



Turnips 



Yeg. Marrows.. 



pottle 

 punnet 

 bubhel 



s. d. 

 1 6 



quart 

 bunches 

 dozen 

 quart 

 bushel 

 bushel 

 bunches 

 bundle 

 bundle 

 bundle 1 

 basket 2 

 lb. 

 bushel 2 

 bunch 

 each 



