November ii, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 451 
particular bee necessary to fertilise it. Again, it has been found 
that twenty heads of Dutch Clover yielded 2290 seeds; but twenty 
other heads, protected from bees, yielded none. In like manner, a 
hundred heads of Red Clover produced 2700 seeds, but the same 
number protected from the visits of insects were all sterile. Hence 
it may be logically inferred that as no other insects visit the Clover, 
were the humble-bee to become extinct in England the plant which 
is dependant upon it for existence would either become extinct or at 
least comparatively rare.—(“ Flowers and Insects'’ in “ Science for All ” 
for November.) 
- Acorn Poisoning. —We draw the attention of our readers 
to the dangers which beset cattle at this period of the year, when, as 
now, acorns are being scattered over the pastures in bushels, and 
young stock are still at large. During the past summer the Oak has 
produced an immense crop of fruit, so much so in some instances as 
to bend and even break down huge branches from their trunks. It 
will be remembered by some at whose expense our experience of 
acorn poisoning was acquired that in 18G8 and 1870, and on several 
subsequent occasions, large numbers of cattle succumbed to the poi¬ 
sonous effects of Oak “ mast,” and many more were so far emaciated 
and otherwise damaged by disease as to require much time and costly 
care to restore them to a thriving state. Moreover, dairy farmers 
sustained serious losses, not only in the diminished supply of milk 
which followed the unrestrained use of acorns, but also in the whole¬ 
sale slinking or abortions which the same cause provoked. When well 
harvested and properly served out, acorns constitute a useful article of 
diet for all kinds of stock, and, with ordinary care, no ill consequences 
should follow their use. It is more especially the fresh unripe fruit 
in which the noxious principle predominates ; hence acorn poisoning 
is most prevalent early in the season, when sharp frosts and strong 
winds have dislodged them from the trees before maturity has been 
reached. Besides the astringent and poisonous acid contained in 
acorns, there is also the indigestible husk, or shell, which renders 
their too free use perilous to stock at all times. When it is remem¬ 
bered that nearly 50 per cent, of animals attacked with this disease 
succumb to its effects, the present luxuriant crop of acorns may be 
contemplated with fear as well as with profit. To be forewarned is 
to be forearmed, and if reasonable precautions are exercised at once 
no loss need be suffered, The removal of the offending agent is all 
that is required. Itinerant gatherers should be encouraged, -where 
acorns abound, or boys told off specially to pick up the fruit a 3 it 
falls. Young stock being most susceptible of acorn disease should 
not be allowed in the pasture until the bulk of the mast has been 
removed .—(Agricultural Gazette.) 
- Cassell’s Magazine of Art.— Messrs. Cassell & Co. have 
sent us the first part of this work of which it is scarcely possible to 
speak too highly. It is of large quarto size, contains forty-eight 
pages of engravings and letterpress, the paper, type, and engravings 
being of excellent quality. The frontispiece is an admirable etching 
of Erskine Nicol’s painting “The Trio.” One shilling is unquestion¬ 
ably a moderate price for such a fine production as this undoubtedly is. 
NEW AND OLD PRACTICES IN BEE-KEEPING.—No. 3. 
Careful investigation leads to discovery in many instances, 
and in bee-keeping new ideas are obtained and new practices 
introduced. Let us examine and compare two. 
One is the practice of utilising old comb, of cutting it out of 
one hive and fixing it in another. Of 1: te years this practice has 
been strongly recommended by one of our schools. The teaching 
in support of this practice is to the effect that if old combs be 
given to bees and fixed in their hives, they will be saved the 
trouble and expense of wasting horey for material or wax to 
build fresh combs. This is very plausible teaching and reasoning, 
for it is well known that new combs are costly, both to bees and 
bee-masters, in their erection. The task that a swarm of bees 
imposes upon itself on entering a large hive, filling it with combs, 
brood, and honey, is not a small one. The labour of the task is 
prodigious, but they willingly undertake the work and carry it out, 
weather permitting. The question for discussion is, Would old 
combs assist the bees ? If their hive were filled or half filled with 
pieces of second-hand combs, would the bees thrive better and 
gather more honey, or rather store up more ? This is an important 
question, deserving the careful attention of all earnest bee-keepers. 
I disapprove of the use of old combs, especially of artificially 
refixing them in other hives after removal from their own. Such 
refixtures are greater hindrances than helps. In some few 
instances the combs of swarms that perish in winter may be 
profitably used by putting swarms amongst them on the following 
season. Even such young combs as these I should not remove for 
refixing. 
The other modern practice which I have alluded to is quite 
the reverse of this—viz., the destruction of combs while they 
are comparatively young. Both profit and health are at the 
bottom of this practice. I follow and recommend it in great 
harvests and honey seasons. Why ? Because in such seasons the 
yield of honey is very great, and stocks made of two swarms 
united and sugar-fed are cheaper and bet’er than heavy honey 
stocks. Mr. Edward Thorp of Sale adopts this practice. He is 
an amateur, and of course keeps bees for pleasure, but he manages 
them well and profitably. His stock is reduced to two hives. 
Last spring or summer he sold one swarm for 20.?., the other five 
were kept for honey. All their combs were destroyed in Septem¬ 
ber, and in their destruction they yielded 105 lbs. of honey and 
honeycomb. The run honey was sold for 1.?. 3 d. per pound, and the 
comb for 1.?. Gd. per pound. The bees of the five hives are now 
being fed into three stocks by giving them 72 tt>3. of sugar made 
into syrup. One of the stocks will be sold, which, doubtless, will 
realise more than the cost of the 72 lbs. of sugar divided amongst 
the three. We see that by Mr. Thorp’s mode of multiplying his 
stocks in summer and destroying their combs iu autumn, his 
income from two stocks (originally) is more that £7. I know not 
what his expenses were in spring-feeding and in sending his hives 
in August to the moors ; but, considering the season of 1880, I 
estimate that one swarm sold and 105 lbs. of honey obtained is a 
good return from two stock hives. Besides, by following this 
practice year after year Mr. Thorp will never have foul brood in 
his own apiary. I ask the reader to ponder on his example and 
success, and compare results. 
Many collateral points claim attention when the question of 
comb-building and comb-destruction are considered. On the 
question of swarming and non-swarming, of supering and non- 
supering, there is great diversity of opinion and practice among 
apiarians. All, or almost all, have some reason on their side. In 
some districts there is no Heather, honey-gathering ends with July, 
and the bee-keepers there naturally do not want swarms to waste 
their time in building combs that are never filled, but adopt the 
non-swarming and supering system. Others who have had abun¬ 
dance of super honey during a favourable season may think they 
have found out the real secret of success. Such earnestness is 
pleasing, but it is well to temper zeal with wisdom and ex¬ 
perience. How are old black combs to be disposed of, and when ? 
How are the young sweet combs to be obtained, and when ? In 
the absence of swarming, where do young queens come from ? 
These points are not forgotten in well-managed apiaries, and 
practices are modified to suit seasons and circumstances. But it 
should be borne in mind that the wax in supers is as costly as 
the wax in swarm hives. The question is, How to obtain most 
honey or profit? My prejudices are based on experience and 
success, and year after year they grow stronger and stronger in 
favour of the old practice of swarming. This system I prefer for 
both honey and honeycomb, and the reason for it is this : On the 
swarming system of management the bee-master has always 
plenty of bees in autumn to make his hives doubly and trebly 
strong. Autumnal unions of swarms make hives strong for work 
of all kinds, and this is the secret of success in all apiaries. Being 
now unequal to garden work I am trying to sell my place. If it 
be sold I will devote my time to keeping bees and manage them 
on the swarming principle.— A. Pettigrew. 
PROTECTING BEES—PRODUCTS OF BAR-FRAME 
HIYE. 
It will not do for us to put our bees in houses the same as the 
Americans do, but above ail things we must keep them warm. If 
they are well wrapped up in hay and well ventilated there is no 
fear of their sustaining injury. I have eighteen stocks placed in 
winter quarters ; they are wrapped in hay. A board is put up in 
front to keep the sun from shining too early on the mouth of the 
hives. In the event of snow I shall place the board straight in 
front to protect the mouth from the reflection of the sun when 
shining on the snow, which often brings Ihe bees out only to fall 
down and never return. This board is a great saving to the bees, 
and it should be put up now. 
I have taken up all my Crocuses, and put them in boxes to 
have them in bloom early, so as to afford pollen for early breeding. 
I have read the article in the Jovrnal of Ilorliculture on the 
