320 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 30, 1880. 
discovered till near the swarming time, one or two swarms should 
be taken and the combs destroyed. I have already said that foul 
brood never loses its hold of hives; if not destroyed it will in time 
destroy them. Let me say in conclusion that the disease of foul 
brood will never become a plague in an apiary managed on sani¬ 
tary conditions. It is hardly ever found amongst young combs, 
and if the combs never become old the disease can never extend 
far or do much harm. The most effectual way of preventing foul 
brood is to keep the bees in young sweet combs, and for honey 
and profit from bee-keeping young combs are better than old 
combs.—A. Pettigrew. 
REVIEW OF BOOK. 
A Manual Rational of Bee-keeping, by G. De Ribeaucourt. 
Translated from the French by Arthur F. G. Levcson Gamer. 
London : David Bogue. 
This little book is interesting, if only as furnishing us with 
some notion of what progressive bee-keeping has done for Switzer¬ 
land, and how far the Swiss are either ahead, abreast, or behind 
the rest of the world. 
It is curious, too, to find a work in the English language, and 
published in London (albeit only a translation), which absolutely 
ignores, because its author is evidently entirely unacquainted with 
English or American progress in bee-keeping. There is not the 
faintest allusion to any writer on bees, or to any system of manag¬ 
ing bees outside the continent of Europe. We are, indeed, told 
in an “Appendix” that the Italian or Ligurian bee “has been 
introduced into Germany, France, and even into America,” and 
there is similarly one solitary mention of England in connection 
with “ nucleus boxes.” That is all. 
Altogether it is evident that bee-keeping in Switzerland is not 
“abreast” even of our experience in England or America—at 
least if M. Ribeaucourt is to be taken as representing the ad¬ 
vanced knowledge and practice of his countrymen, and yet there 
is evidence of an awakening there. Our author advocates 
“ rational bee-keeping,” and he is quite on the road to the attain¬ 
ment of this object. For instance, we find him putting in the 
first place of improvement the use of moveable bars. The bar- 
frame is yet to come ; but with moveable bars a great deal may 
be done in the profitable and “rational” management of bees, 
which is wholly out of the power of the “ fixist.” The author 
also gives preference to wood over straw as the material for the 
hive, which in so cold a country as Switzerland is a great testi 
mony in favour of it. His hives, too, are larger than those in 
common use around him, although still far too small, for he only 
recommends a size of 13^ inches inside measurement by 6^- inches 
in height. 
M. De Ribeaucourt does not contemplate even with his im¬ 
proved hive any extensive honey harvests, and yet we are per¬ 
suaded that Switzerland might yield an enormous quantity of 
honey in good years high up or low down among its mountainous 
valleys. The common Swiss hive is here stated “ not generally to 
contain more than from 15 to 18 lbs.” It is, therefore, no bigger 
than our ordinary English skep ; but our author seems satisfied 
with a winter store of about 25 lbs. in his stock hive, although he 
says he has sometimes placed supers over straw hives of the 
capacity of from 30 to 32 ftn. of honey, which have been filled 
in a fortnight or three weeks. It is evident that the honey 
harvests by the cwt. or more, which are frequent in America and 
not uncommon in England, are all but unknown in Switzerland. 
The extractor is another improvement which our author mentions 
and recommends ; that in use by himself is the invention of 
Schmiedl. It appears from the woodcut to be a much more 
clumsy affair than those which are now in use in Eugland, but 
doubtless it answers its purpose sufficiently well. 
There are sixteen chapters besides the appendix, which include 
everything important for the apiariaD to know in order to the 
rational and profitable management of his bees. We may add 
that the appendix deals chiefly with the Italian or Ligurian bee, 
which our author very strongly recommends.—B. & W. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Growth of Fowls (A. F .)—The answer to alt your questions must depend 
much on the condition in which birds are kept : thus a well-fed Dorking or 
Cochin will be full grown at eight months, but it will not be at its heaviest. A 
Spanish fowl takes rather longer. If in perfect health, and the weather be 
favourable, a fowl will moult thoroughly in two months. The older they are 
the longer the process. If a Cochin is to weigh 10 lbs. at maturity, we should 
be content to find him weighing 5 lbs. at four months, or even 4 lbs. A pound 
per month is good growth. 
Worms for Poultry (V. R .).—The worms collected from ground, to the 
surface of which they had been driven by a solution of chloride of lime, may be 
given to poultry with perfect safety. 
Golden Pheasants (Steward ).—Golden Pheasants are not productive till 
they are two years old. It is after the same time the cocks get their plumage. 
Barley is the best food, but they are fond of and require green food. They must 
have clean water. They are very hardy, and require little or no shelter. They 
may be allowed to run about in all weathers. If the house is not already 
covered we advise you not to cover it. The birds do not require it, and any 
little gain by keeping out rain is more than counterbalanced ;by the loss of 
sun. 
Mating Pigeons (A Constant Reader ).—The influence of a cock Pigeon 
does not continue with a hen during the winter. We believe there is no fear of 
your Antwerp hens next year showing any taint from the Archangel and 
Trumpeter cocks ; at least, such has been our experience after breeding Pigeons 
of many kinds for twenty-five years. 
Large Hives of Bees (Derby ).—Last year it is no wonder your bees did 
nothing. This year seems to have been nearly as bad in the midland counties 
across Eugland. Probably they began the year, as many of ours did, in a very 
enfeebled condition, and it took them a long time to recover. We advise yon 
to stick to your large hives, and not give way to discouragement. Yet, if you 
can afford it, we should recommend you to add a couple of stocks to your apiary 
this autumn, taking care to have them really good. They will travel well in 
October, and may be had cheaper than in spring. Feed them a little (those you 
now have) to quicken them during warm weather this month. 
Killing Bees (0. F. TP.).— The old practice of killing bees with brimstone 
is exploded, and we cannot advocate its adoption. Honey is now taken from 
the bees by driving them into another hive. Smoke from fustian rags is blown 
into the hive to partially stupify the bees, the hive is then placed on its crown 
(upside down), an empty hive is placed on it mouth to mouth, wrapping a table¬ 
cloth tightly round the junctions to keep the bees in, then the bottom hive is 
drummed with both hands or two pieces of wood for fifteen or twenty minutes, 
and the bees ascend into the empty hive; the honey is thus obtained, and the 
bees preserved for future work after being fed with syrup during the winter. 
The present is the time for honey-taking. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
camdbn square, London. 
Lat. 51°32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8 0" W.; Altitude,111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
• O 
O CN 23 __ 
Hygrome- 
a . 
Shade Tem- 
Radiation 
& 
1880. 
ter. 
3 a 
d— ° 
perature. 
Temperatnre. 
03 
P3 
Sept. 
“ a ^ 
££ 
In 
On 
22 Z C3 
Dry. 
Wet. 
5 o 
&-( 
Max. 
Min. 
sun. 
gTh.93. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sun. 19 
29.717 
51.6 
48.9 
s.w. 
53.8 
69 8 
45.5 
105.0 
41.4 
0.050 
Mon. 20 
20829 
.54.8 
49.3 
N.W. 
55.1 
63.9 
42.1 
118.0 
38.2 
0.02) 
Tues. 21 
29.91.5 
53.1 
51.2 
N. 
55.0 
58.0 
47.2 
66.0 
40.8 
0.020 
Wed. 22 
29.959 
59.2 
56.9 
S.W. 
55.0 
70.3 
49.1 
117.7 
42 6 
— 
Tliurs. 23 
30.129 
60.4 
58.8 
N. 
57.0 
70.6 
588 
114.7 
57.0 
_ 
Fridav24 
30.117 
57.3 
56.7 
N. 
58.0 
66.6 
51.3 
81.4 
45.0 
— 
Satur. 25 
30.084 
68.5 
65.6 
S.W. 
57.9 
67.3 
52.5 
92.8 
45.9 
— 
Means. 
29.987 
56.4 
54.0 
66.4 
65.2 
49.5 
99.4 
44.4 
0.090 
REMARKS. 
19th.—Fine in early morning, rain from 9 a.m. till noon ; afternoon and evening 
fine, bright, and breezy. 
20th.—Very fine, clear, cool day, with bright sunshine. 
21st.—Dull, cold, misty day ; slight rain all the forenoon and dark ; clearer with 
glimpse of sunshine at 4 P.M.; foggy damp eveniug. 
22nd.—Dull in early morning; fine, bright, much warmer day. 
23rd.—Early part of morning dull and overcast; very fine, bright, pleasant day ; 
evening close and overcast. 
24th.—TIrck white mist in early morning, hazy and dull generally, slight sun¬ 
shine 2 p.m. till 3 P.M.; clear fine evening. 
25th.—Fine pleasant day, but rather cloudy the after part. 
Slightly cooler and much drier than the two previous weeks.—G. J. SYMONS. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— September 29. 
We have little alteration to quote this week, trade being dull and prices hardly 
maintained. Several samples of American Apples have reached us, making 
their full value. Kent Cobs quiet. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples. 
i sieve 
2 
6 to 4 
6 
Melons . 
each 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Apricots. 
box 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines. 
dozen 
2 
0 
8 
0 
Cherries. 
¥>• It. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges . 
If* too 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 
12 
0 
16 
0 
Peaches . 
dozen 
3 
0 
10 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Pears.kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Filberts. 
If ft. 
i 
6 
1 
9 
dessert. 
dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Cobs .. 
If 5 
1 
6 
1 
9 
Pine Apples .... 
If ft 
I 
0 
3 
0 
Gooseberries .... 
J sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums . 
i sieve 
2 
6 
4 
6 
Grapes . 
^ ft 
0 
9 
3 
0 
Walnuts . 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
If 100 12 
0 
18 
0 
ditto . 
If 100 
0 
0 
0 
6 
VEGETABLES. 
s 
a. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms . 
dozen 
■J 
Oto 1 
6 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard & Cress .. 
punn»t 
0 
2 
0 
8 
Beans, Kidney ... 
If ft. 
0 
0 
0 
6 
Onions. 
bushel 
3 
6 
O 
9 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
pickling. 
quart 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Broccoli . 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
a 
Parsley. doz.hunches 
G 
0 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts. 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Peas . 
quart 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Carrots . 
buneb 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Potatoes . 
bushel 
8 
9 
4 
0 
Capsicums. 
If ion 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Kidney. 
bushel 
4 
0 
0 
6 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
0 
0 
3 
6 
Radishes_ doz.bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 0 
4 
0 
0 
Coleworts_doz. 
bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Scorzonera . 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Seakale . 
basket 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
8 
0 
0 
Shallots . 
If ft 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Garlic . 
. If ft. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
3 
0 
(1 
0 
Herbs . 
. bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Vegetable Marrows 
each 
0 
o 
0 
0 
