JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
430 
[ November 4, 1880. 
of thirty years since he had not found a form that could be com¬ 
mended, but, as we now have it, it is greatly improved, and is really 
in part a frame hive. Notwithstanding this he found it awkward 
to manipulate, and often a necessary investigation would cause the 
painful crushing and destruction of many bees. He thought the 
screws and buttons nuisances that should be at once removed, and 
that the great height to which the hive sometimes reached was a dis¬ 
comfort to the bee-keeper and a danger to the stocks. He should 
never like to be wholly without Stewartons, yet the ordinary frame 
hives were those to which he looked for the main work of the apiary. 
Captain Campbell explained the history of the Stewarton he possessed 
and his early difficulties, and stated that he had made the same 
addition as Mr. Cheshire, and could now apply the extractor whenever 
required. The slide-sticking trouble he overcame by putting between 
the slide and bar a piece of sheet steel about 3 inches wide and prizing 
the two apart till the propolis separated with a crack. He found that 
the Stewarton could be left longer without attention than other 
forms, and so liked it as thoughts of the bees did not so much inter¬ 
fere with yachting trips. After Mr. Bartrum’s reply, the usual votes 
of thanks terminated a very enjoyable and profitable evening. 
HONEY AT THE DAIRY SHOW. 
The idea of associating the produce of the apiary with that of the 
dairy was, we believe, conceived by the earnest Secretary of the 
British Bee-keepers’ Association, and it was done so well that milk 
and honey, long ago the emblems of fertility and abundance, are 
likely again, we should think, to appear in company. The hives 
were but few and not particularly remarkable, those taking the first 
prizes in Classes 94 and 95, both made by Mr. Blake, having little to 
recommend them except solidity and cheapness. They both con¬ 
tained by example the old (we had hoped obsolete) and incon¬ 
venient rack to take the frame ends. The exhibition of honey, 
however, was extremely fine in quality and finish, and being taste¬ 
fully staged, made not only a novel but a most inviting addition to 
the general exhibition. The aggregate was greater than that col¬ 
lected at any previous time, amounting to no less than 3 tons. As 
late as July of last year we had to point to the beautiful flatness of 
the 1^ ton of American honey shown at Kilburn ; but the English 
producer has risen to the occasion, for not only now do we find old 
adepts with their perfect combs, but new names are attached to 
exhibits which were not inferior to the very best Amerian examples. 
Mr. J. T. Thorne in the best display had sixtv-two sections of spotless 
comb, taking first, while Mr. Cowan came second, showing thirty-six 
sections carrying combs perfect in form and colour. Mr. Rus- 
bridge exhibited some beautiful slabs, but as their weight was greater 
than that allowed in the schedule he was not admitted into the com¬ 
petition. No. 1102 was wanting in flatness through neglecting the 
separator. Quantity helped the Judges in this class, but in the next, 
limited to twelve sections, they must have been sorely tried. Here 
Mr. Cowan justly won, putting Mr. Rusbridge second, and Mr. 
Thorne third; Rev. H. Peel and Mr. S. Thorne being highly com¬ 
mended. Mr. Smith’s boxes were exceedingly neat, while Mr. Hooker 
showed 1 tb. sections, which in such a competition with heavier 
metal could not win. Class 98.—Mr. Cowan surpassed all comers 
with combs that would delight a geometer, Mr. Brooks taking second 
with extremely pretty and well-got-up boxes. Class 99.—Supers of 
honey. Mr. Rusbridge won with a splendid set of combs 61J tbs.; Mr. 
Cowan was second with a beautiful Stewarton daintily staged with 
an octagon glass cover edged with light blue paper. The extracted 
honey of Classes 100 and 101 was for the most part excellent, but 
one or two exhibits partook of that porter-like tone which speaks of 
aphide contamination. Such honey has no chance of winning. The 
clarity of almost all was remarkable, proving most unmistakeably 
the perfect freedom from contamination of the article as thrown out 
by the extractor. 
The difficulty of wording a schedule with regard to wax lies in the 
fact that where foundation is used no exhibitor could declare that he 
showed only the product of his own bees. We fear that this difficulty 
has made it possible for foreign blocks of bought wax to come success¬ 
fully into competition with cakes procured from combs either worked 
out or built in the apiary of the exhibitor, and classified by his own 
hands or those of his assistant. If this be true it is at least 
unfortunate. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Fowls for Profit (J/. F. G .).—We should advise you to try two Dorking 
cockerels, six Dorkiug pullets, and six Brahma pullets. As the Dorking3 lay 
white eggs aud the Brahmas brown, they can easily be distinguished. For early 
and late broods set the Brahmas’ eggs, the produce from which will be very 
strong and hardy and good table birds when young. From February to July set 
the pure Dorkings’ eggs, which will produce chickens excellent to eat at almost 
any age. 
Mixing Ducks (E. C. 0 .).—It is impossible to be sure of the produce of 
two breeds of Ducks, like Aylesburys and Buenos Ayres, kept on the same piece 
of water. We have this year tried it on two pools, one a very large one, and in 
both cases failed. There would be more chance of keeping them pure if the 
second breed were wild Ducks, strictly paired, or some of the very small Call 
Ducks or fancy Ducks. 
Canary Songless (Idem ,).—No one can be sure without seeing your 
Canary what the cause of his ceasing to sing is. He may be old or weak in 
lungs, or he may have moulted late and not yet recovered his song. We think 
the latter the more probable reason. Try a little stimulating food, such as 
sponge cake dipped in sherry, and have a little patience. 
Ligurian v. English Bees ( Comber , Co. Down ).—We will reply to your 
letter by saying that “ doctors differ ” so much in regard to the merits of the 
one bee over the other that it is difficult to gauge those merits accurately. We 
have no others in our apiary but either pure or hybridised Italians. It is many 
years since we have introduced and used them, but with the exception that they 
are good-looking and the queens are wonderful egg-layers, we cannot say that 
we have found any marked superiority in the one breed over the other, or in the 
quantity of honey they gather. We have sometimes thought them earlier abroad 
aud more active than the old English bees, but on the whole we cannot speak 
more positively on their merits. If others can speak better of them let them do 
so. Should you be tempted after this to try them let us know and we will help 
you further, but it is not a time of year to introduce them. 
Preserving Syrup {Bertie ).—The coldness of the atmosphere is probably the 
cause of your bees not taking the syrup presented to them. When the mercury 
of the thermometer falls below 50° bees can do little work either inside or outside 
their hives. If you were to warm the syrup and give it to your bees in a hot¬ 
house or warm room they would take it readily enough if they are in a healthy 
state. If you do not use it now, boil it well and keep it in a cool place. Closing 
the doors of your hives with perforated zinc will do no good, for bees do not fly 
about in cold weather. If the zinc were left on when they want to come out it 
would do harm. Contract the doors so that mice cannot enter the hives, and 
let the bees have liberty to come out when they like when snow is not on the 
ground. 
Gold Fishes Dying (Mrs. Burt ).—If the tank in which the fish was 
placed had been recently cemented the fresh cement would render the water 
injurious. We are unable to suggest any other cause for the loss of the fish. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lai. 51°32'40'' N.; Long. 0° 8'0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
Rain. 
1 
1880. 
Oct. 
1 Barome- 
! ter at 32° 
1 and Sea 
1 Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sun. 24 
39.201 
40.2 
35.4 
N.E. 
44.4 
48.4 
30.0 
88.4 
27.4 
— 
Mon. 25 
30.211 
40.3 
38.5 
W. 
43.7 
48.6 
32.1 
60.7 
27.7 
0.052 
Tues. 28 
29.750 
40.8 
39.5 
S.W. 
44.0 
46.7 
39.3 
46.3 
35.1 
0.915 
Wed. 27 
29.399 
44.5 
44.5 
E. 
44.0 
68.3 
38.9 
60.1 
39.3 
0.302 
Thurs. 28 
28.823 
49.7 
48.2 
S.W. 
46.0 
58.6 
43.7 
72.1 
42.0 
0.399 
Friday 29 
29.503 
36.3 
36.2 
N.N.W. 
45.9 
47.7 
34.8 
59.0 
35.7 
0.010 
Satur. 30 
30.133 
34.0 
31.8 
W. 
43.9 
47.4 
29.6 
81.2 
26.7 
— 
Means. 
29.726 
40.8 
39.2 
44.6 
50.8 
35.5 
66.8 
38.4 
1.678 
REMARKS. 
24th— Fine, bright, cold day ; cloudy evening ; fog in town, but not here. 
25th.—Fine, but not very much sunshine ; rain after 9.30 P.M. 
26th.—Thick fog in early morning ; rain commenced at 8 A.M., continued the 
whole day. 
27th.—Foggy morning; rain all the forenoon ; fine, with a gleam of sunshine 
between 2 P.M. and 4.30 P.M. ; heavy shower 5 P.M. ; windy evening, and 
fair. 
28th.—Stormy day with frequent showers; much wind in previous night. 
29th.—Cold wet morning, clearing off at 11 A.M.; fine afterwards, with sunshine 
for a short time at noon ; cloudy evening; starlight at 10 P.M. 
30th.—Thick white frost in morning, very cold, but fine dry day with bright 
sunshine. 
Temperature lower than last week, and rather below the average. Heavy 
gale in night between 27 th and 28th.—G. J. SYMONS. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.—NOVEMBER 3. 
TRADE keeps very quiet. Large consignments of Apples from America and 
Canada have again reached us. Home-grown fruit is now beginning to fall off 
in supply, the bulk of the crop having changed hands. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples. 
4 sieve 
2 
6 to 4 
6 
Melons . 
each 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries. 
If ft. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges . 
V 100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 12 
0 
16 
0 
Reaches . 
dozen 12 
0 
18 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Filberts. 
*rft. 
i 
6 
1 
8 
dessert . 
dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Cobs. 
w ft 
i 
6 
1 
8 
Pine Apples .... 
If ft 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Gooseberries .... 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums . 
4 sieve 
2 
6 
4 
6 
Grapes . 
If ft 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Walnuts . 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons . 
IflOO 12 
0 
18 
0 
ditto . 
If 100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes. 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms . 
dozen 
1 
otoi 
6 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard & Cress . . 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
8 
Beans, Kidney .... 
If ft. 
0 
0 
0 
6 
Onions . 
bushel 
3 
6 
6 
9 
Beet, Red . 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
pickling . 
quart 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
9 
i 
6 
Parsley . doz. bunches 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts. . 
J sieve 
1 
9 
2 
S 
Parsnips . 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Peas . 
quart 
0 
0 
o 
0 
Carrots . 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Potatoes. 
bushel 
8 
9 
4 
0 
Capsicums. 
If 100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Kidney. 
bushel 
4 
0 
4 
6 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
0 
0 
3 
6 
Radishes doz.bunches 
i 
8 
2 
0 
Celerv . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 0 
4 
0 
0 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsaly. 
bundle 
i 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Scorzonera . 
bundle 
i 
6 
0 
0 
1 
0 
2 
0 
basket 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallots . 
no 
3 
0 
0 
Garlic . 
V ft. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Herbs . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Vegetable Marrows 
each 
2 
0 
0 
