as last season, and about the same number 
of hens. 
In our own yard, wo hare two light 
Brahma hens running with our Creves to 
obtain a cross for table use. The eggs from 
one of the hens have hatched fairly ; not a 
single egg from the other has hatched. The 
faulty hen we purchased in March last; she 
was a single comb, short-legged fowl, weigh¬ 
ing a trifle over 10 pounds, and has always 
been well and active, and has laid over 50 
eggs since we have had her; wanting to sit 
once, but was broken up. 
To make the matter still more incompre¬ 
hensible, several of the eggs that wo have 
broken appear to have the germ ., or “ tread," 
as it is usually termed, distinctly visible; we 
have not examined it under a microscope, 
and regret now we did not. 
All writers seem to avoid this subject, as 
one upon which they have nothing to 6 ay. 
Wc do not find in any works to which we 
have had access any comments at all upon 
this matter. And it is one of the greatest 
importance to fanciers. 
We hope some of our readers may give 
us a little more light on the subject, and will 
gladly publish such communications, h. 
had never before enjoyed, The advantage 
of a liberal supply of water on the summits 
is not confined to the buildings, as it can be 
made to irrigate the vegetable garden. 
Baltimore, Md. J. Wilkinson. 
pimatt 
arm vrc0ttantj) 
RULES AND EXCEPTIONS. 
Mbs. Terms is so generally correct in 
her observations in relation to bees, that one 
should hesita te before calling in question any¬ 
thing that she puts down as a rule. Being a 
lady, and a teacher of apiarian science, 
where ladies ore so scarce, I u ould rather 
let the matter rest., could I serve the interests 
of the practical bee keeper equally well. In 
the Rural of May 8 th, in an article headed 
“ Roaring Young Queens," are a few para¬ 
graphs, conflicting with my experience, that 
will have a tendency to discourage and mis¬ 
lead under some circumstances. She says: 
“I. The queen-rearing hive must be al¬ 
ways well stocked with young bees, sines 
these are the ones that build queen-cells or 
work wax any way." I need not go back 
further than the present spring to find very 
many exceptions, at least, if they do not re¬ 
verse the rule. During October, tho past 
season, I reared a large number of Italian 
queens. Although I had drones in abund¬ 
ance, the dark, cloudy weather—except two 
or three days—during the whole month, pre¬ 
vented the drones or queens, or both, from 
flying; the consequence was that most of 
these queens failed to meet tlm drones, and 
this spring proved drouc layers. They wero 
introduced to full colonies, both black and 
Italian, without any lest as to fertility, till 
spring. Now, these stocks were in tolerably . 
good condition as to numbers, but had to bo 
provided with a fertile queen at once, to 
save them. They had no workers but old 
ones; none of them had hatched later than 
early In October. 1 had to depend on these 
old bees to rear the queens. From the 7th 
to the 13th of April, the drone layers were 
destroyed and good brood, furnished. All 
but one constructed queen cells. None but 
old bees made them. I had young queens 
laying in April. Mrs. Tcppeu’s teaching 
followed out would have deprived me of tho 
means of rearing a score or more valuable 
queens, the more so for being early. I would 
recommend young bees, when they can ho 
had; but advise making the effort with old 
ones when necessary. 
4t II. Bees can and do move eggs from one 
cell to another." I shall not deny this, hut 
will confess that I have been very unsuccess¬ 
ful in detecting a case of it. For a time, 
when my littlo queen rearing box had lost 
its queen, ami no brood, the disconsolato 
bees would begin cells, advance them to the 
condition that would be right to receive the 
egg as laid by a queen, and when given 
brood, I expected to sec the eggs transferred 
to such cell; but 1 expect it no longer.- I 
have furnished thousands with brood, and 
the first one to be transferred In this way is 
yet to occur. If a cell is ever made— 
finished—it is on the comb containing tho 
brood—a cell simply lengthened out and 
turned downward. The exceptional case 
must be very rare. It cauuot be depended 
on. 
“ III. Never give an unimpregnated 
queen, or ouo that is not laying,-to a new 
colony. She will surely be killed." When I 
say that the drone laying queens before men¬ 
tioned were precisely justsuch queens—thcli 
turning out drone layers proves it—and tlicir 
not being killed, points to exceptions at least. 
Such queens may be more likely to be killed, 
under such circumstances, but it should not 
be put down as positive. 
"IV. When you leave a young queen in a 
small hive until she commences to lay, about 
the time she hatches give that hive a comb 
with a little brood in it. Many complain 
that when the queens leave those small hives 
to meet the drones, the bees all go with them 
and do not return. If a little brood be given 
them it will be found a sure preventive of 
this loss, as bees never desert combs con¬ 
taining brood.” I have seen this teaching 
many times before this; but as I always 
considered the teacher entirely ignorant of 
his subject, and lacking experience under 
different circumstances. I thought it not 
worth while to contradict; but coming from 
such a source it becomes a duly to give facts. 
Although the presence of brood may have a 
tendency to prevent desertion, it 5s not by 
any means always reliable. I have known 
very many hives, and a still greater number 
of queen - rearing boxes deserted, leaving 
brood in all stages, and very often honey. I 
should have thought a very little experience 
would have given a case or two, enough 
at least, to prevent the use of the words, 
“ never desert." It is well to give them tho 
brood, when it can be had, as well as honey, 
when needed, but do not consider it without 
a precedent, if they fail sometimes to ho 
content with so small a company. 
St. Johnsville, N. Y. M. Quinbv. 
WHY EGGS DO NOT HATCH, 
WATER SUPPLY FOR BUILDINGS 
Mr. G, K. Hawley of Glen’s Falls, N. Y., 
writes, in reference to the non-hatching of 
egg 9 . He says: “Mine may be the ac¬ 
knowledged experience of many. Last sum¬ 
mer, after much study, research, scepticism, 
&c., I decided that there were two kinds of 
Brahmas, and only two. To go a little 
further back, some months before I sent 
twelve dollars to a party in Pennsylvania 
for a trio of white Brahmas. I bought them 
with the proviso that if they contained any 
Shanghai, Cochin or Chittagong blood, they 
need not send them. They wrote me that 
they were a cross from white Cochins, and 
very honorably returned the money. 
Well, after satisfying myself that there 
was such slock as 1 Dark Brahmas,’ I found 
that Mr. Herstine of Philadelphia had im¬ 
ported a trio, and wrote to bun engaging a 
paii- of his young birds, to be delivered in 
September. Their acquaintance was so 
satisfactory I decided to ‘go for them’ an¬ 
other year, inasmuch as the light birds were 
pretty generally distributed. So when the 
spring time came I decided not to sell an 
egg, but to hatch every one. I could have 
sold every one at five dollars per dozen. My 
first attempt to hatch was:—I went six miles 
and paid two dollars for a very fine Brahma 
hen to set; also, paid fifty cents for another 
common hen, and set tho two on Dark 
Brahmas; this was February 10th. The 
second week tho Brahma was taken with the 
diarrhea, and in changing nests spoiled both 
settings. There was no appearance of any 
change in the eggs, and 1 think they would 
not have hatched had they not been thus 
spoiled. 
On tho first of April I set two more hens ; 
one was taken sick the second week the 
same as the other, and the second hen sat 
her time faithfully, but not a chick. The 
eggs apparently unchanged. April 21st. I 
set a Nankin Bantam on four dark Araliraas 
and one light Brahma; the result was one 
dark Brahma and one light do. chick. April 
20 I set two more hens, ono on nine dark 
Brahmas and six Creve-Ccettrs, tho other on 
twelve light Brahmas and three Crcvcs. 
Result: five dark Brahmas from tho first, 
and nine light Brahmae from tho second; no 
Creves. i / • 
Here let me notice tho difference m the 
tune of hatching. Tho light Brahmas were 
hatched and off the uest before there was 
any appearance of the others hatching, and 
were both set at the same time, not three 
minutes apart. The light were set in a box, 
and the others on the ground. 
May 18 I set six light Brahmas, five dark 
Brahmas, and four Crcvcs. Result: five 
light Brahmas, three dark Brahmas; no 
Crcvcs. 
May 19th 1 set twelve white Leghorns and 
one dark Brahma. Result nine Leghorns, 
one Dark Brahma. 
Now the dark Brahma eggs all came 
from one pair. Tho hen has never been 
will; any other cock, nor the cock with any 
other hen; you can imagine my surprise and 
disappointment at the result I attributed 
the ill luck to all causes until so many failed, 
then 1 gave it up as unaccountable, except 
that it was from the theory presented by 
“ B,” under the head of “ Proportion of liens 
to a Cock." 
It was a gratification to mo to have the 
matter explained, and not obliged to think 
of it as my " ill luck." My neighbors also 
all complain of ill luck in hatching this 
season.” 
We publish tho above extract from a pri¬ 
vate letter, as it touches a point that just 
now is exciting no little inquiry and conjec¬ 
ture. Wo find the mishap of our corre¬ 
spondent to be wide spread. Numbers of 
letters contain the same complaint. While 
one contends that it is the result of such and 
such causes, another is equally positive that 
it is the effect of something entirely different. 
While we do not doubt that the article which 
called forth the letter irom which the above 
is an extract, explains the matter in a large 
number of cases, it would be folly to contend 
that it is the only cause of the difficulty. 
We know of a friend who has a cock and 
five hens of the dark Brahmas. The eggs 
from four of the hens hatch well, but from 
the fifth, not a single egg has hatched this 
season. The hen is perfectly healthy, to all 
outward appearance—has never been sick 
that he knows of, and lays, apparently, a 
perfect egg, but. of peculiar shape, being 
slightly ribbed around the middle. In this 
case no cause can be assigned except mal¬ 
formation in the sexual organs of the hen. 
Still another case, from another corres¬ 
pondent: A fine black Spanish hen was 
taken sick during the full of 1868, while 
moulting; after a long period of moping 
around, she recovered, seemingly as well as 
ever, but this season not an egg from her has 
hatched; last season they were uncommonly 
fertile. The same cock is running with her 
The great and increasing demand for a 
full supply of good, pure water for rural 
residences, for both useful and ornamental 
purposes, and the great difficulty in obtain¬ 
ing it on many sites otherwise very desira¬ 
ble, has called into requisition tho greatest 
degree of skill and ingenuity possessed by 
the landscape engineers, and has developed 
many interesting, useful and novel features 
In hydrology. 
In recently improved places I have substi¬ 
tuted for well ami spring means for saving 
the rain water from the roofs of buildings, 
each roof supplying its respective building. 
If the barn or stable is located on a liill- 
eicle, and has a basement stable, I can gen¬ 
erally locate the cistern in the ground, on 
the upper side of the building, so as to draw 
the wator in the basement by natural How, 
the convenience and oconomy of which is 
groat, and is highly appreciated. In supply¬ 
ing the dwelling with water from the roof, a 
reservoir is usually placed in the lower por¬ 
tion of tho building, so that it will receive 
the water from the roof of tho higher por¬ 
tion, and yet so elevated that water will 
flow from It to tho chambers of the main 
building, bath-room, water-closet, kitchen 
and laundry, and will also cause the hot 
water to flow where it may bo require*!. 
The overflow' of the elevated reservoir, and 
usually tho water that falls on the back 
building roof, is conducted in the ground to 
a cistern in the ground. 
If the building is so locatod that dust from 
a neighboring road is liable to affect the roof 
water, so that it requires filtering, it is 
filtered in tho cistern, by causing it all to 
flow, or filter through a wall of soft, or 
salmon bricks, which is a superior filter. 
The rain water of a cistern located at a depth 
in the ground bo great as to bo below solar 
influence, is quite as cool as that from ordi¬ 
nary wells; but should it ho preferred to have 
tho rain water Horn the cistern the tempera¬ 
ture of that from the icc pitcher, or water¬ 
cooler, this is readily effected by locating the 
rain -water cistern and ice houso contiguous, 
and extending tho suction pipo attached to 
the kitchen pump to the ice house, and mak¬ 
ing asuitable coil in said pipe.it being below 
the ice, and any quantity of ice water de¬ 
sired may be drawn at any time, the cooler 
and ice pitcher dispensed with, and tho 
trouble and annoyance of taking ice from tho 
ice house, avoided. 
Experience proves that t ho supply of water 
obtainable from the roof 6 of buildings, with 
a reasonable degree of economy In its use, 
is ample for all purposes of necessity, both 
in the dwelling and the stock bam, even in¬ 
cluding the water-closet and bath-tub among 
the necessities, as they arc both necessary 
luxuries. Bomo demand more than this; 
they do not always consider in the purchase 
of a country residence, the absence of facili¬ 
ties for obtaining a liberal supply of water 
for ornamental purposes, in tho way of foun¬ 
tains, cascades, and the like. 
It rarely occurs that an adequate supply 
for these purposes is obtainable from an 
elevated spring, hence tho only resort is to 
use the water of a stream as power, and 
either pump or ram up a portion of the 
water of the stream; though it sometimes 
occurs that a sufficiency of spring water can 
be obtained to pump up, using the brook 
water as power. 
In the absence of tho supply of spring 
water, and in case one is obliged to put up 
that of the stream, frequent, complaint is 
made of the turhiduees of the stream in 
times of unusual fall of rain. Then means 
are devised by which the wheel and pump 
may be stopped when the water is in this 
condition, and also to prevent the unneces¬ 
sary wear on wheel and pump, occasioned 
by running them at night, when no water is 
required, and when the reservoir is full. 
This may be effected by a very simple and 
effective-appendage in the water-wheel house 
which is operated by simply closing a stop¬ 
cock, convenient of access, in the supply 
pipe in the dwelling. The stoppage of the 
rising main or house supply in it, is made to 
stop the flow of water on the wheel, thus 
saving fifty per cent, of the wear on pump 
and wheel, and the excessive wear on the 
pump when the water is full of sediment, 
and securing at all times a supply of pure 
water. When the cock is opened in the 
supply in the house, the supply to the wheel 
is again put on. 
It frequently occurs that the overflow 
water from a reservoir in the dwelling may 
be made to supply a number and variety of 
fountains and cascades, by taking advantage 
of the fall of the ground, and by using the 
same water successively. Hundreds of lit tle 
rills, the water of which was turned to little 
account hitherto, are now dammed at fre¬ 
quent intervals, forming ice ponds, and pro¬ 
viding power for supplying dwellings on the 
summits of the hills with flowing water, the 
luxury of which the denizen of the country 
FANCY GATES, 
We continue our illustrations of fancy 
wood gates designed to be used with the 
various forms of picket fence. Our corres¬ 
pondent, L. D. Snook, has furnished us 
with other designs, which we shall use as we 
find space. The gates above and previously 
given should not ho built higher than the 
fence. 
TWO EGGS A DAY. 
I never had tho" hen fever,” nor did I ever 
show any symptoms of nn attack of the dis¬ 
ease, but being a reader of the Rural, I 
frequently notice the effusions of tho “ beat 
mine if you can" class of patients. Facts 
concerning a hen belonging to a friend of 
mine have come to my knowledge, which I 
conclude are a little beyond the ordinary ex¬ 
perience of hen folks. About tho first of 
May said lien commenced to lay two eggs per 
day J which practice sho continued till about 
the 25th, at. which time she proposed to do 
as other hens usually do—hatch ; but being 
discouraged by her owner, gave it up. 
After recruiting her wasted powers for 
about two weeks, she again on the 10 th inst. 
commenced her previous practice of deposit¬ 
ing in the nest two eggs per diem. 
I felt rather dubious about taking the story 
at first; but her owner assured me that there 
was no possibility of any other hen having 
intruded her assistance, as he owns hut 
three, one of which is at present engaged in 
converting eggs into chickens, and the other 
lays a white egg in a separate nest, whilst the 
“ big hen" lays yellow eggs. 
Please give this a place in your column 
of “ chicken fixins” and “ hen Joins,” with 
a “ who beats that" at the end of it. 
P. 8 .—I have not bought tho eggs, nor 
don’t propose to “ship them, ready packed 
and warranted to grow', &c., for - per 
dozen." A. M. Fletcher. 
Scwickloy, Pa., June, 1869. 
This beautiful, airy and unique form of 
gale may be made a foot or more higher 
than the fence with high cased and corniced 
posts. Tho style of finish of posts will sug¬ 
gest itself to any carpenter. 
Canada Thistles and Illinois Railroad*.—At 
tho last session of the Illinois Legislature tho 
following law was passed. Tho Legislature 
ought to have gono further and proscribed pen¬ 
alties for every farmer who allowed a Canada 
thistle to go i /0 seed on his premises : 
St:C. t. Ik U ctuusteA by the People of flic Stole of 
Illinois nprenentriJ in the. Ocvr.rnl Aa^cmJjl u, That all 
campanula, corpora.! iiitts, ussnctutions, or Individu¬ 
als, Owning, controlling or OROrating any railroad 
within tins SOvto, hr. ami arc* hereby required to cut 
down all Uunmln thistles and other noxious weeds 
that tony «t anytime hereafter be growing In or upon 
the lands belonging or appertaining to such’railroad, 
over which the right uf way or such railroad ratty 
run. so as to provotil Hie seed of sneli Canada this¬ 
tles or other noxious weeds from ripening or matur¬ 
ing! and so us to prevent tltr* spread ol such Canada 
thistles or other noxious woods. 
8kc. 2. Any such company, corporation, associa¬ 
tion, or individual owning, eotiuudling, or operating 
ony railroad within this State, who shall fall or refuse 
to ooinnly with the provision* of this act, ahull for 
each omniMt ho tlnnrt in the sum of one hundred dol¬ 
lars, ttuoh lino t<* bn recovered In the. mum of the 
people of tho State of Illinois, before any Justice Of 
the Unarm of the county where such otlijnse shall be 
committed, or before the circuit Court, In action of 
debt, together with costs of 6U|t. ono-half of such 
flue to he paid to the person who shall prosecute the 
same, and the other half to the school tunas of tho 
county in which such offense shall ho committed. 
Sec. 3. This act shall he tu force from and after Its 
passage. 
Approved March 29, 13G9. 
Disease in Poultry.—T have some fifty-five 
hens and six roosters. In March 1889 one lien 
had a dlseaso in the head, bocamo stupid, and 
had sore < yes. 1 tried many cures, but of no 
value, so I Killed the lion. Now two other hens 
have the same compltdnl, and I have lost over 
fifty young chlcka with this disease this spring. 
My oh taken sure Chittagong* oud Bloch. Span¬ 
ish. Many others have lost nice Inis of chickens 
hero this spring and summer with this disease. 
Win you. or some of th<? many poultry friend? 
of the Rural toll mo the name of tho disease, 
and tho best remedy James W, Ludlow, 
Clark CM., Ohio. 
From tho meager description given above, by 
your correspondent, of tho disease nffccllng his 
fowls, we should say It was <he roup, Ihemost 
prominent symptoms of which are almost Iden¬ 
tical with those of catarrh; froth appears in tho 
inner corner of the eye; the lids swell.and In 
severe cases tho eyeball Is entirely concealed, 
and the fowl, tumble to sec or feed, Buffers from 
great depression and sinks rapidly. 
Dement, in the American Poulterer’s Com¬ 
panion. t-ays the disease Is infectious, and that 
tho healthy fowls should at once bo separated 
from those diseased—thus taking the precaution 
to prevent it spreading through the yard. Many 
breeders recommend tho killing oT all fowls at¬ 
tacked with roup on the first symptoms of tho 
disoaso appearing in the flock. 
Dr. Bennett in his Poultry Book gives the 
following recipe, which wc have used, and know, 
in nine cases out of ten, it will prove a sure euro 
lor the disease:—“Take finely pulverized, fresh 
burnt charcoal, and new yeast, of each thrco 
parts; flour, one putt; pulverized sulphur.two 
parts; water, quantity sufficient to mix well, and 
make tuto boluses of thesizeof a hazel-nut, and 
give ono tliroo times a clay.' 1 Cleanliness lie 
claims to be essential in all cases, and frequent 
bathing-of the eyes and nostrils of the fowls 
with warm milk and water. 
Another remedy is to remove tho fowls to a 
dry coop or yard, and feed them on scalded In¬ 
dian meal, adding two and a half ounces of 
Epsom ealts for every ten hens, or in that pro¬ 
portion ; give it warm, and repeat the dose in a 
day or two it the fowls do not recover. The 
remedy is a simple one, und w ithin tho reach of 
all breeders, and, of course, is worthy of trial. 
Tho catarrh is another disease quite common 
among fowls, and resembles somewhat the roup. 
Tho symptoms are a watery or sticky discharge 
from the nostrils, and slight swelling of the eye¬ 
lids; in extreme cases the face is swollen at tho 
sides, and unless immediate attention is given. It 
terminates in roup. This disease Is caused hy 
exposure to cold and dampness, fow ls being al¬ 
lowed to roost in places that are damp and open 
to the north and west winds. If attacked with 
this disease, they should at once be removed to 
warm and dry quarters, and given stimulating 
and nutritious food, which will generally effect 
» cure. Feed of mashed boiled potatoes, ivell 
dusted with fresh ground black pepper, given 
three times a day. is said to answer the purpose. 
Don't feed corn.— J. Brace. 
To Illuminate a Dark Place.—By tho uso of a 
mirror to throw r, reflection of tho sun’s rays 
down a deep, dark well, tho bottom is clearly 
seen, ami a lost bucket or other object hooked 
up. The same means may he applied to light a 
dark garret, cellar or closet. If there arc obst a¬ 
cles preventing success with one glass, tako two 
glasses, ono to receive the direct rays of tho sun 
und the other the reflected rays from tho mir¬ 
ror. I once had a dentist who had broken off, 
in a cavity of my tooth, a piece of one of his 
Instruments, and not being able to got sufficient 
light to fish It. out, was assisted Ju the operation 
by a mirror throwing tho light into ray mouth, I 
Imvo frequently, by glass reflections communi¬ 
cated with a person wboK> office Is across Broad¬ 
way, opposite to my own. So you seo that a 
looking glass has more uses than to furnish us 
pictures of our pretty or ugly faces, as the case 
may be.—W. H. t New Fork, June, 1S09. 
Thrashing hy Steam.— Will some of tho read¬ 
ers of the Rural who tiro used to thrashing by 
stoam please give their experience through its 
columns for the benefit of those of us who have 
had none? Please givo facts and figures. How 
much more will a steam machine earn in a sea¬ 
son than a horse power muohine? Is it much 
trouble to move one about, atul docs it require 
an experienced engineer to run the engine? Is 
n six horse power engine equal to tcu horses on 
sweep power? Will it pay better to nm one in 
sections whore the jobs average ten or fifteen 
dollars ouch, and a season’s thrashing amounts 
to six or eight hundred dollars, than to run a ten 
horse machine? Can any time be gained in 
moving about among small jobs over tho horse 
power machine, and arc not people afraid of 
fire?—E. M. G-, Birmingham. O. 
Wire Fence.— A correspondent of the Prairie 
Farmer says“ Let liitn that, would make a wire 
fence set me posts, for level ground, a rod apart, 
more or less, boring holes for the wires to pass 
through; make staples of the wire, and with 
them fasten inch square pine strips, vertically, 
every two feet, talcing care to drive the staples 
so tight that the strips will not slip about on tho 
fence, thereby spoiling Its bounty. Cattle will 
not crawl through such a fence as this, if proper¬ 
ly built with four or five wires. 
Propagating Potatoes.— Can the best variety 
of potatoes be propagated from cuttings or side 
slips; if so, how late in the season can tho work 
be done and the potatoes mature ?— W. R., Grand 
Rapids, Mich. 
A Moth Trap is easily made by placing a ves¬ 
sel with thin sorghum molasses near the bee¬ 
hives. Bees do not like sorghum molasses, and 
the moths do; and they will stick fast lu it and 
die. In this way, by keeping the molasses stand¬ 
ing all the season in the apiary, they may be de¬ 
stroyed. 1 am trying it the second season with 
success— L. D. Hewitt. 
Lime for Preserving Hay and Wheat.—A corre¬ 
spondent calls for the experience of those who 
have employed lime in the preserving of grain 
and hay after it is stored in the barn. 
Gapes in Turkeys.—I would like some one to 
inform mo what is the cause of turkeys having 
the gapes, and the best remedy.— e. s. 
