JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
520 
[ December 2, 1880. 
not more than from 4 to 6 inches in depth, the hive turned up, 
and a strip of the proper length dropped into the first groove. 
The hive is then tilted up from front to back, and having 
previously heated some wax in a smelter, the long spout of the 
wax smelter is brought near the upper end of the groove, and a 
small quantity of wax is allowed to run down the groove on one 
side of the foundation, which securely fixes it in its place. When 
the wax is firm, proceed in the same way with the next strip, and 
so on until your hive is full of foundation. If properly done and 
the wax hot enough there will be no danger of the foundation 
falling out. The boxes were treated in the same way. I have for 
some years used the Stewarton hives, and have always fixed the 
foundations in this manner. “A. P.” recommends the foundation to 
nearly touch the cross sticks, which makes me believe he has not 
tried it. The foundation should not touch the sticks within half 
an inch, or the result may be buckled combs, which frustrate the 
object the bee-keeper has in view. 
We have heard much lately about straw hives, but how is it we 
never see any honey produced from these hives at any of the 
numerous shows held throughout the country ? The only answer 
is that the straw hivists are afraid with their irregular combs to 
compete with the beautiful straight combs now produced by those 
who have the moveable-comb hive. If a bee-keeper wishes to 
obtain the best article in the shape of honey he must adopt the 
most improved methods of production, and he will find that unless 
he uses comb foundation he will not be able to compete with his 
neighbour who does. Comb foundation is very different from 
what it was some years ago ; it has been greatly improved, and 
the price is so low that it is certainly within the reach of all. 
That it has been and is of substantial advantage has been proved 
long ago, and I am sure no one who has used it properly would 
ever think of doing without it. “ A. P.” says, “ I shall be pleased 
if all the schools give them a fair trial next season, and record 
their results.” Has “A. P.” only just heard of foundation? and 
does he not know it has been employed by advanced bee-keepers 
for a great number of years, and by nearly all bee-keepers 
using moveable-comb hives now ? I could record the results he 
asks for, but it would be a repetition of what has been previously 
stated by others in this and other journals, not only showing that 
it is useful but indispensable.— Thos. Wm. Cowan, Horsham. 
MR. PETTIGREW'S CHALLENGE. 
In a late issue of our Journal my friend Mr. A. Pettigrew 
calls on “ Perthshire ” to come forward and compare results with 
his Carluke friends. As, owing to the attack of foul brood which 
I lately described I am practically “ out of the running ” this year, 
I showed the challenge to a neighbour of mine, a working mason, 
who may be taken to be a fair representative of the modern 
school. My friend, William Mann, is no stranger to the skep, 
having practised that system for years. He has, however, gone in 
strongly for the bar-frame system as the most profitable. In his 
reply he says : — 
“I see that Mr. Pettigrew has published some wonderful results 
from a skep at Carluke. I had thought that the time for 
pitting skeps against bar-frames was over long ago ; but if Mr. 
Pettigrew chooses I am prepared to set aside six of my best 
hives against any six of his during next season, the one who 
fails to show the best results from any one of his six stocks to 
forfeit one of his stocks to the other. I do not profess to be an 
expert like Mr. Pettigrew ; but that will give him the better 
chance of getting a bar-frame hive to learn upon. I have twenty- 
four stocks all in splendid condition. I raise all my own queens 
from my choicest stocks, and I am this winter venturing to keep 
spare queens in case any should be required in spring. I do not 
keep a record of every hive, but I did of one this year. It gave me 
122 lbs. comb honey in 1 lb. sections, 30 lbs. extracted honey, and 
has over 40 lbs. left to winter on ; yet I consider this has been a 
poor honey season. I sold the honey taken from this hive for 
£9 1L?., and have my stock left to me well supplied. 
“ In 1878 I took from one hive 173 lbs. in supers, the hive being 
only one of several swarms run off a skep in the same year. I 
had only four weak stocks to commence with that year, but I 
increased to eleven, sold 600 lb3. of honey, and left enough for 
winter stores.” 
I may add that Mr. Mann makes all his own hives, and though 
devoting great attention to his bees, I do not think he lost a day’s 
work at his trade this season. —Wm. Raitt. 
SUCCESSFUL BEE-KEEPING. 
I see in your valuable Journal of October 28th, that Mr. 
Pettigrew invites comparison of his straw system with the bar- 
frame or Stewarton system. I have been a reader of the Journal 
for many years, and have read with interest what has been 
advanced on both sides all tending to the advancement of bee¬ 
keeping. I admit Mr. Pettigrew has done much for the cottager 
by the advocacy of large hives, but surely he must see the great 
advantages the new system has over the old straw hives. Your 
correspondent has a good right to praise his own system, but with 
your permission I will give one instance that came under my own 
observation of the benefits of the Stewarton system in Arran this 
most productive season. From one stock James Crawford, a 
mason, obtained the following results: Old stock, 140 tbs.; 
top swarm, 187 lb3. ; second swarm, 154 lbs.; total, 481 lbs.— 
James Anderson, Ryeside Cottage , Dairy, Ayrshire. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Andalusian and Angora Rabbits (A. TV).—We are unable to inform 
you where they are obtainable; those who have them for disposal would do well 
to advertise them. 
Fowls and Foxglove ( Baltimore ).—Although we have not had ex¬ 
perience of fowls being injured by eating Foxglove, still uo doubt it would have 
such an effect as you describe. The following extract from Dr. Hogg’s 
“ Vegetable Kingdom ” may be of interest to you :—“ If the leaves are rubbed 
between the fingers they emit a nauseous odour, which is dispelled in drying, 
and they have a bitter and slightly acrid taste. The plant is narcotic, sedative, 
and diuretic. When administered in small doses it has not any marked effect 
on the system, but in large doses it produces nausea, vertigo, headache, dimness 
of sight, secretion of saliva and urine, vomiting, frequent action of the bowels, 
increased pulse and confusion of thought, and convulsions. Its medicinal pro¬ 
perties were first brought into notice by Withering, and, when judiciously 
administered, it has proved valuable both as a diuretic and for its sedative 
influence over the circulation. It is highly useful in dropsy, in controlling the 
action of the heart, in aneurism, hypertrophy, and enlargement of the heart, 
palpitations from gouty or rheumatic irritation, and in various forms of hemor¬ 
rhage. It has also been prescribed in mania, epilepsy, spasmodic asthma, and 
whooping cough. But, as a medicine, it should never be administered unless by 
a skilful and practised hand, because of its extreme activity, and the dangers 
resulting from an imprudent use of it; and one of its peculiarities is that, after 
having been given in moderate doses for several days without apparent effect, it 
sometimes acts suddenly, with an accumulated influence, even to the danger of 
life.” 
Feeding Bees ( G. S.). —You ought to have fed the bees freely in Sep¬ 
tember, so that the stock at Michaelmas weighed at least 20 lbs. without the 
hive, and then have left them quiet and well protected through the winter. If the 
colony is much below that weight now you can only continue giving syrup 
during mild weather; if the hive is about the weight named feeding will not be 
necessary, but the hive must be well covered to keep the bees as warm as 
possible. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51°32'40" N.; Long. 0° 8'0” W.; Altitude,111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAT. 
Rain, 
1 
1880. 
Nov. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32° 
and Sea 
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. 21 
30.407 
31.0 
30.2 
N.E. 
39.2 
38.0 
26.8 
62.1 
21.9 
— 
Mon. 22 
29.950 
25.8 
25.6 
N. 
38.6 
84.3 
24.6 
66.0 
21.3 
— 
Tues. 23 
29.889 
35.3 
33.4 
S. 
37.6 
44.4 
25.3 
57.6 
21.3 
0.010 
Wed. 24 
29.900 
40.6 
47.6 
S. 
38.2 
52.5 
34.6 
58.1 
31.8 
0.092 
Thurs. 25 
29.623 
53.8 
50.7 
s.w. 
41.1 
565 
47.8 
81.3 
42.0 
0.090 
Friday 26 
29.603 
.55.5 
54.4 
s.w. 
42.6 
56.6 
43.3 
60.3 
35.3 
0.106 
Satur. 27 
30.003 
45.7 
43.7 
s.w. 
43.6 
53.1 
43.3 
78.4 
36.6 
— 
Means. 
29.912 
42.4 
40.8 
40.1 
47.9 
85.1 
66.3 
30.0 
0.298 
REMARKS. 
21st.—Fine, bright, and cold. 
22nd.—Very cold ; fine with bright sunshine ; slight fog in evening. 
23rd.—Overcast morning; slight rain at noon; sunshine between 1 and 2 P.M.; 
damp evening. 
24th.—Rain in morning; fair afternoon ; much warmer day. 
25th.—Stormy, much wind; showers and very bright sunshine at intervals ; 
starlight evening. 
26th.—Rain in morning ; afternoon and evening fine. 
27th.—Very fine spring-like day. 
Temperature on the whole near the average, but varying very much ; that at 
9 A.M. on 26th, 55.5 n , was nearly 30° above that of t 12nd.—G. j. Symons. 
CO VENT GARDEN MARKET.— December 1. 
IMPORTATIONS of American Apples have been large this week, making fair 
prices. The first cargo of St. Michael Pines is to hand, but samples are inferior. 
Trade quiet. 
FRUIT. 
Apples. 
Apricots. 
Cherries. 
Chestnuts. 
Figs. 
Filberts. 
Cobs. 
Gooseberries .... 
Grapes . 
Lemons. 
s. d. s. d. 
i sieve 2 6 to 4 6 
box 00 00 
fft. 0 0 0 0 
bushel 12 0 16 0 
dozen 0 6 10 
^ib. 16 18 
W tb 1 6 18 
} sieve 0 0 0 0 
^lb 2 0 4 0 
noo 12 0 18 0 
Melons . 
Nectarines. 
Oranges . 
Peaches . 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dessert . 
Pine Apples .... 
Plums . 
Walnuts . 
ditto . 
s. d. s. d 
each 2 0 to 4 o 
dozen 0 0 0 0 
rioo 0 0 0 0 
dozen 12 0 18 0 
dozen 00 00 
dozen 20 40 
lb 1 0 2 0 
I sieve 2 6 4 6 
bushel 0 0 0 0 
r 100 0 0 0 0 
