202 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August se, isso, 
upon these the side of the top and bottom bars rest when it is in 
use. The sheet is laid on the board, which is held in the hand 
while the smelter runs in wax between its top edge and the top 
bar. 1 argue that it is an error to wax on both sides. On the 
other side the sheet is perfect to its very limit, and the bees build 
out the cells at once. Wax on both sides is often the cause of 
the comb being left unfinished at the top bar and afterwards 
perhaps dropping, though I believe this never happens unless 
rough handling has favoured the misfortune. 
A new method of making foundation is springing up, which 
will bring a competitor to machine-made foundation into the 
market. I believe I may lay claim to being the introducer of wet 
plaster of Paris as a substance upon which molten wax could be 
formed in sheet. It is singular that this new apparatus is in form 
exactly like three or four made some years back, but with which 
I practically failed because 1 did not use my machine in the best 
manner. It is contrived thus : Two frames of wood, like slate 
frames somewhat, are hinged together. A sheet of foundation 
stands between them when they are shut, while upon each side of 
the foundation with due precaution plaster is filled into the frames. 
When this is fully set the frames are opened and the sheet re¬ 
moved. I operated thus : With a paint brush melted wax was 
coated on to one of the slabs of wet plaster and then the frames 
were shut together, but the wax set too quickly for me to get a 
good impression on the upper side. Our American cousins, how¬ 
ever, have succeeded. They dip one frame while it is held in a 
horizontal position into melted wax, and then sharply shut the 
two together ; and foundation having capital finish and an un¬ 
polished surface, so that it is very quickly worked out in the hive, 
is in a moment produced. Mr. Abbott, jun., showed me some he 
had made thus a few days since, and it seemed to be all that could 
be desired.--F. R. Cheshire. 
BEES ON DARTMOOR. 
I have just returned home after a month’s absence on the high 
grounds of Dartmoor, close to the border land where cultivation 
merges into the waste—the very beau ideal home of the bee. But 
I am sorry to say that among miles of Bell Heather and Ling in 
full blossom, across which we tramped day after day in the most 
perfect weather, neither ear nor eye were gladdened by the sight 
or sound of a single honey bee. Here and there we came across 
a hive or two where there ought to have been hundreds. The 
general cry was they had perished pretty nearly out of the land. 
The white Clover was still in full bloom on the 20th, and may have 
been preferred as yet to the Ling by those bees which have sur¬ 
vived the winter, but still one expects to see the latter covered 
with bees by this time. 
An old woman who had managed to save two stocks described 
in triumph what she thought was the secret of her success. For 
the two last severe winters she had simply plastered up every 
crevice, entrance and all, and not allowed a single bee to move 
abroad from just before Christmas to the end of March. She gave 
as the reason which induced her to try this mode of wintering that 
she found so many bees die in the snow, and blown away never to 
return by the cold winds of the early spring, that she resolved they 
should not budge at all. She said they were very weak but in 
good health when she liberated them, and although one of the 
hives had barely a teacupful of bees, by dint of feeding she had to 
encourage them, that they had swarmed twice each stock. 
As to the march of improvement in bee-keeping there were no 
signs of such a thing. Small hives, which appeared smaller than 
usual were alone to be seen, and all the ancient slovenliness of 
bygone generations.—B. & W. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Ducks where Water is Deficient (Mary). —Rouen Ducks are, we 
believe, the best to suit you. Aylesburys are preferable if you have liens under 
which to put the eggs, as they are non-sitters, as they lay very many eggs, and 
fatten easily. Rouen and Aylesbury are the desirable breeds on account of their 
size. 
Chickens Drooping (B. C. D ).—Remove your chickens to fresh ground, 
provide them with heaps of dust or road grit, and mix a little black sulphur 
with it. Feed them for a short time on stimulating food till they get over their 
troublesome time. Growing the crown and tail feathers are the “ children’s 
diseases ” of chickens. 
Feeding Chickens (Tyro ).—For the first fortnight chickens are best kept 
upon alternate feedings of Indian meal, bread crumbs, and eggs boiled hard, 
chopped fine, and mixed with a little crushed hempseed. The Indian meal 
should be only so far moistened as still to remain crumbly. After the first fort¬ 
night, and until large enough to feed with the older fowls, give them daily in 
addition, a feed or two of either bruised Wheat or bruised grits. From the very 
first days of their life continue, without fail, to give them daily fresh green food. 
Cabbage and Lettuce leaves, and mowings of grass are best. Remember above 
all things that a little food giveu often—every two hours is not too frequently— 
is the chief rule for chicken-rearing. 
Matching Game Bantams for Exhibition (B. T .).—A prize is awarded 
in Game Ran tarns, as with any other fowls, to the most meritorious pen. Hatch¬ 
ing is essential, and it would of course be sought by an exhibitor ; but the fact 
of all three birds having a doubtful merit, or a positive defect, would not be 
lessened in its consequences by their all having it. We prefer a red earlobe in a 
Game fowl. 
Tame Doves (A. B .).—The number of times that tame Doves breed in the 
year entirely depends on the way in which they are kept. If they live a 
tolerably natural life— i.e.. if they are kept in an aviary in the open air, in which 
they do best, with of course proper protection from wet and cold winds, they 
will probably go to nest in March and continue to breed till the end of August, 
rearing about four pairs. If, however, they are kept in a cage in warm rooms 
they will continue laying all the year round with the exception of a short inter¬ 
mission during the moult. They will, however, probably rear fewer young 
in this way, as many will die, and some eggs prove unfertile. Their food should 
be maize, wheat, and millet. 
Books on Bess (yew Subscriber ).—Our manual, “Bee-keeping for the 
Many,” published at this office, price id., post free i^d.. contains useful instruc¬ 
tion and concise information for young apiarians. Larger and good works are 
“Neighbours’ Apiary,” 5.?., published by Kent & Co.; Cheshire’s “Practical 
Bee-keeper,” 2s. 6/t., 170, Strand ; and Pettigrew’s “ Handy Book on Bees,” 3s. 6 d., 
Blackwood & Sons. These works give sound information on the various modes of 
bee-keeping. 
Langstroth Hives (A Ten-years Subscriber ).—We do not possess Lang- 
stroth’s hive, but believe the principle is the same as in the case of all other bar¬ 
framed hives. You cannot have a better hive than Mr. Cheshire’s. By Italian 
bar hives we presume you mean hives for Italian bees. These bees are not 
imported into this country in Italian hives. Perhaps some of our correspondents 
who know Langstrotli’s hive by experience will kindly say if it is in principle 
different from our English bar-framed hives, and if they know anything of Italian 
bar hives. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51°32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8-0” W.; Altitude.Ill feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
• O 
5? S3 -a — 
Hygrome- 
P . 
<*-* _ 
Shade Tem- 
Radiation 
s 
ter. 
"•£ a 
O ;»H 
—, O 
cTa.° 
perature. 
Temperature. 
aj 
« 
August. 
5 O O’- 5 ' 
r-" 
OCGh 
In 
On 
M 2 C* 
Dry. 
Wet. 
So 
Ph 
Max. 
Min. 
sun. 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sun. 1.5 
30.088 
63.4 
60.0 
N.E. 
64.4 
70.7 
58 6 
114.4 
59.2 
_ 
Mon. 16 
30.086 
.59.5 
57.7 
N.E. 
63.7 
68.7 
56.7 
85.0 
57.4 
_ 
Tues. 17 
30.101 
6>.4 
61.6 
N.E. 
63.3 
77.7 
58.4 
128.6 
57 3 
_ 
Wed. IS 
30.13.5 
62.3 
57.6 
N.E. 
63.8 
71 0 
57.6 
108.4 
58.0 
_ 
Thurs. 19 
30.058 
60.5 
58.9 
N.E. 
63.6 
77.7 
57.4 
126.6 
57.5 
_ 
Friday 2 1 
30.041 
63.4 
61.2 
N.E. 
64.2 
73.4 
60.4 
120.4 
60.7 
— 
Satur. 21 
30.106 
64.7 
60.3 
N.E. 
63.9 
79.4 
58.6 
127.3 
56.1 
— 
Means. 
30.088 
62.7 
59.7 
63.8 
74.1 
58.2 
115.8 
58.0 
— 
REMARKS. 
15th.—Cloudy and rather dull all day, with the exception of a little sunshine 
about 3 P.M. 
lGth.—Cloudy and cool; not a glimpse of sunshine all day. 
17th.—Cloudy till about 11 a.m. ; afterwards fine and bright. 
lHth.—Dull cloudy day, with a few glimpses of sunshine at long intervals. 
19th.—Dull and cloudy till about 10.30 a.m. ; remainder of clay fine, bright, and 
pleasant. 
20 th.—On the whole rather dull and cloudy, though there was a good deal of 
sunshine in afternoon. 
2lst.—Rather cloudy early ; fine and bright after 10 A.M. 
A fine week, but with a good deal of cloud and persistent N.E. winds. Tem¬ 
perature lower than that of the preceding week.—G. J. Symons. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— AUGUST 25. 
There is still a large supply of Grapes arriving from the Channel Islands, 
but that of home-grown fruit is very limited. Large quantities of Plums have 
arrived within the last few days, realising moderate prices. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. d. 
s. 
a. 
s. 
d- 
Apples. 
i si eve 
2 
6 to 4 6 
Melons . 
each 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Apricots. 
box 
1 
0 
2 0 
Nectarines. 
dozen 
2 
0 
8 
0 
jf ft. 
0 
0 
0 0 
Oranges . 
IF 100 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 12 
0 
16 0 
Peaches . 
dozen 
3 
0 
10 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
2 
0 
4 0 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
4Fft. 
0 
8 
1 0 
dessert . 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cobs.. 
IF ft 
0 
0 
1 0 
Pine Apples .... 
4F ft 
i 
0 
8 
0 
Gooseberries .... 
1 sieve 
2 
6 
4 0 
Plums . 
4 sieve 
i 
6 
8 
0 
IF ft 
0 
9 
3 0 
Walnuts . 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
$noo 
6 
0 
10 0 
ditto . 
IF 100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s 
d. 
s. d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 0 
Mushrooms __ 
dozen 
Oto 1 
6 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 0 
Mustard & Cress .. 
punn°t 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beans.Kidney . 
%F ft. 
0 
0 
0 6 
Onions. 
bushel 
3 
6 
6 
0 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 0 
pickling. 
quart 
0 
0 
0 
9 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 6 
Parsley. doz. bunches 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts. 
j sieve 
0 
0 
0 0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 0 
Peas . 
quart 
0 
9 
1 
0 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 6 
Potatoes. 
bushel 
3 
9 
4 
0 
W 100 
1 
6 
2 0 
Kidney. 
bushel 
4 
0 
0 
(1 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
0 
0 
3 6 
Radishes.... doz.bunches 
1 
6 
2 
6 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 0 
4 
0 
0 
(Inleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 0 
Sal safv. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
4 
0 6 
Scorzonera . 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 0 
Seakaie . 
basket 
0 
0 
0 
0 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 0 
Shallots . 
%> ft 
0 
3 
0 
0 
$>■ ft. 
0 
6 
0 0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
8 
0 
0 
0 
hunch 
0 
S 
0 0 
Turnips . 
bun ch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks....; .. 
hunch 
0 
0 4 
Vegetable Marrows 
each 
0 
2 
0 
9 
