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JOURNAL OP HOKTICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 25, 1S64. 



and more recently by the apiarian writer in "Chambers's 

 Information for the People." The notion of young bees 

 finding themselves with " their heads where their tails should 

 be," appeared to me so whimsical, that although I certainly 

 discovered a defunct young queen in this position in a royal 

 cell in a foul-breeding hive, I paid little attention to the 

 circumstance until reminded of it by "A Reotkewshibe 

 Bee-keepeb," and assured by him. that he had found dis- 

 eased pupae in this extraordinary predicament. Since that 

 time I have only once had the opportunity of examining 

 perfect pupae in a diseased state, and in this case they were 

 unquestionably inverted, their heads being in contact with 

 the bases of the cells. On adverting to this circumstance 

 in my correspondence with that accurate observer, " R. S.," 

 I find, however, that he is unable to affirm it, and as I hope 

 to have no further opportunity of investigating the point, 

 I mention it in The Journal of Hobticulttjre, on the 

 chance of Mr. Shearer or some other correspondent being 

 able to throw light upon it. 



Whilst on the subject of foul brood, I wish to express my 

 acknowledgements to Mr. Tegetmeier for directing my at- 

 tention to Bonner's quaint and interesting description of 

 this disease which appeared in page 303. I quite agree in 

 the opinion privately expressed to me by an esteemed friend, 

 that "it is creditable to British apiarians, that a disease so 

 prevalent as foul brood appears to be, has not altogether 

 escaped their attention." — A Devonshire Bee-keepek. 



WINTER FEEDING. 



Is brown sugar moistened with a little water, or rum and 

 water, and pressed firmly into basins and turned over the 

 top of the hive, a good plan for feeding bees in the winter ? 

 — M. P. 



[We never before heard of, and of course have never tried, 

 this plan of feeding bees, but cannot say that we are very 

 favourably impressed with it. We believe winter feeding 

 to be a mistake, and consider that the necessary supply of 

 food should always be administered in the autumn.] 



THE SQUIRREL IN CONFINEMENT. 



When a youth, this pretty little animal was a great 

 favourite with me, and after some failures I succeeded in 

 keeping one five years in the best of health. The most 

 wholesome food I found to be a piece of bread, the size of a 

 large walnut, steeped for about two minutes in milk, in such 

 condition that he can hold it in his hands ,- "pap" I found 

 invariably gave squirrels the rot, and they never survived 

 long on such diet. In addition to the bread I kept in his 

 cage a small pan of hempseed which he was very fend of, 

 and allowed him to drink from a pan of water as much as 

 he liked once daily. Nuts, fruit, and green buds he had as 

 a treat occasionally. I have had squirrels so tame that they 

 have lived in my pocket, and have gone with me wherever I 

 went, and the pretty little fellows have had many a ramble 

 in the fields and on trees, always returning at the shaking of 

 a few nuts. Like most tame favourites, however, a violent 

 death was generally their fate, so I was induced to restrict 

 their liberty, and latterly confined them mostly in a cage. 

 It is generally considered that a revolving cage is torture 

 to a squirrel, I must differ entirely from this. On the con- 

 trary, it is a source of great delight and exercise. If the 

 wheel by any means was stopped, the distress of the squirrel 

 was extreme, and a gleam of pleasure could be plainly seen 

 in his large bright eyes when it started again. There are two 

 facts which struck me as contrary to the generally-received 

 habits of the squirrel — the first was the extreme reluctance 

 of the animal to jump ; even half a yard in any direction but 

 downwards required a very strong temptation, and nothing 

 would induce a squirrel to jump where he could cliinb. I 

 have noticed this peculiarity both in confinement and when 

 at liberty. The other point is, no squirrel that I ever was 

 acquainted with would eat acorns ; they would seize them 

 eagerly, nibble them, and drop them in disgust. — John 

 Hunter, New Maiden, Surrey. 



New England Apple-sauce. — Make your cider of good, 

 sound, ripe apples, and immediately on its running from the 



press, and before it has an opportunity to " work " or fer- 

 ment in the least degree, put it into good, clean, brass, 

 kettles (they must be scoured and cleaned perfectly bright 

 inside, the old verdigris and rust is poison), and boil it four 

 barrels into one. Take good, ripe, sweet apples — (Tollman 

 Sweetings are the kind I used), of the late fall or winter 

 varieties — pare, quarter, and core them ; then take a pan- 

 full and put into your kettle of boiling cider, and let them 

 cook through but not soft, so that the quarters retain their 

 shape and size, and skim them out with the skimmer, and 

 put them into the barrel, or whatever the sauce is to remain 

 in — which, by the way, must be perfectly clean and sweet, 

 or free from acid. When the apples are all cooked, the cider 

 in the kettle will be somewhat reduced in strength, and must 

 be boiled down to the state to keep well, and then poured 

 into the cask with the apples, in sufficient quantity to cover 

 them well and to have plenty of j uice in the sauce when used. 

 In making true New England apple-sauce and boiled cider, 

 much depends on having the cider boiled instantly on its 

 running from the press, as it begins to ferment the moment 

 the apples are mashed ; and the warmer the weather, the 

 more haste should be made, and also the stronger the cider 

 should be boiled down, even six to one. In boiling the cider, 

 if it should be necessary to defer boiling a part of it over- 

 night, for want of time to accomplish it all in one day, it 

 should not be allowed to remain in the kettle overnight, nor 

 to stand in it when not boiling for any length of time, as it 

 will attain a poisonous acrid taste. Care should also be 

 taken not to boil so as to burn or scorch the cider on the 

 sides of the kettles. When boiling the cider, all impurities 

 should be skimmed off, especially just as it arrives at the 

 boiling-point. The proportion of apples to cider must be to 

 your own taste, whether thick with apple or thin with cider. 

 If too thick with apple, more cider may be added at any 

 time after; and also if the cider is boiled down too thick 

 which cannot well be done in this warm climate, it can be 

 reduced with water as used. — (Prairie Farmer.") 



OUR LETTER BOS. 



Islington Prize List. — We are informed that the Silver Cup for the 

 best pen of Game was awarded to Mr. E. Aykroyd's first-prize Duckwing 

 chickens, 



Weakness in a Dorking Cock (A. JV. 5.).— Give htm bread steeped in 

 strong ale every morning and evening". Feed him on ground oats in the 

 middle of the day. The most certain restorative Is to give him the yolks of 

 raw eggs, three or four every day, but it is a dangerous taste to encourage. 



Unfertile Eggs (Subscriber). — Tou probably have too many heus to 

 the cocks. The eggs you mention are unimpregnated. 



Depraved Appetite in Fowls (Guernsey-Blue).— It is not. an unusual 

 thing at this time of year, during the moulting season, for fowls to peck off 

 each other's feathers and eat them. It arises from a fevered state of body, 

 and a craving after unnatural food. They seek to eat the bleeding stub of 

 the feather. The fowl appears well, and we are always advocates for leaving 

 well alone ; but if you wish to cure him of his cough, we think a dose or 

 two of castor oil will do it. Lettuces are very,good for heated systems. 



Diet of Poultry (Poultry Fancier).— Our theory has always been the 

 same, and it has stood the test of many years of breeding. It is, during 

 the period of growth to feed as well as possible, in order to supply the 

 means of increase. Although in most instances pullets cease to grow when 

 they begin to lay, that is only as regards the scaffolding; but the furnishing 

 of plumage, and the filling-out of irame then begins, and although growth 

 ceases, there is a constant, increase of weight. Many amateurs consider 

 spare feeding that which we should call luxurious. Scantily-fed chickens 

 cannot make large hens. 



Distinguishing Ganders from Geese (W. X.).— Examination is the 

 certain test of sex in Geese. There is sometimes difficulty even in this. 

 You should ask the Judge who disqualified your pen. He will tell you his 

 grounds, perhaps. 



Bolton Greys (Bolsover).— This is the local name for the Silver-pencilled. 

 Hamburghs. They are a distinct variety and come true to colour. They 

 will bear confinement in a small space. They are one of our best egg-pro- 

 ducers, but seldom are broody. 



Woodbury and Stewarton- hives (Cornwall). — Messrs. Neighbour and 

 Sons, 149, Regent Sireet, and 127, Holborn, and Mr. R. Eaglesham, Stewar- 

 ton, manufacture, and will on application state prices of Woodbury and 

 Stewarton-hives respectively. We can recommend no others in preference 

 to these. We are unacquainted with the hive you mention, and shall be 

 glad of a description of it. 



LONDON MARKETS.— October 22. 

 POULTRY. 



Trade is very dull at market. The supply is ample. 





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