354 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
DEG. 4 
each. It has received a first-class certificate 
from the Jiort. Boo., of France, and it is said 
that the flowers are pure white, most delicately 
perfumed, of large size and very double. 
The accompanying pretty illustration is from 
a plant imported by Mr. Henry A. Dreer of 
Philadelphia. 
‘Jifital gxrWtttarf, 
A SMALL COTTAGE. 
BY L. F. GRAETHEK, CIVIL ENGINEER. 
The illustration (see page 353) represents a 
cheap and tasteful one-story dwelling, having a 
picturesque appearance, obtained without re¬ 
course to elaborate ornamentation or costly 
mode of construction. The plan presents a 
main building with a gable in front and rear, 
and wings on each side. A veranda on the one 
side serves as a porch, and shelters the entrant)© 
to the kitchen and the dining-room. In the 
front is the living-room, and on the side is the 
kitchen, each 12 feet square, and in communica¬ 
tion with these are two bed-rooms, each 9 by 12 
feet. The hight of these rooms is 10 feet in the 
clear, making thorn pleasant and airy. The liv¬ 
ing-room and the kitchen are each provided with 
lire places and neat wooden mantles. Tbo out¬ 
side wa Ik are covered with clap-board and vorti¬ 
cal siding. The pitch of the roof is sufficient to 
admit of the use of shingles for covering; the 
roof itself is supported by brackets at t he eaves. 
The chimney shafts are of brick. The rooms 
are all properly lighted by broad windows, and 
the garret by small windows in the gables. The 
garret may bo used as a space for storage, beiug 
accessible from the kitchen by means of a scut¬ 
tle. 
The whole is erected on a platform about four 
feet from toe ground, aud there is a closet un¬ 
derneath with lattice work. Within, the cottage 
is finished plainly but neatly, the inside wall 
being hard-finished. 
The estimated cost of this cottage, in a neigh¬ 
borhood where materials and labor are not above 
the average rates, is five hundred aud sixty dol¬ 
lars. 
35 Bayard Street, N. Y. 
<% 4’°ulti'!! garth 
DOES POULTRY PAY.-No. 1. 
BY HENRY HALES. 
Under this heading much has been said and 
written, but too often by interested persons, in 
order to sell a book or to puff up some variety of 
fowls that has been made a liobbv of by such 
persons. That poultry can be made profitable 
there can be no doubt. They are given to man 
for his benefit, and it remains for him to use 
such industry, judgment and experience as their 
nature renders necessary; but he should not rely 
too much on his own caprice or fancy. Just as, 
n tilling the soil, keeping other live stock, and 
most industries, there is here, &Iho, a limit to 
the profit, that cannot bo passed without dis 
appointment. 
A few persons have, no doubt, made a great deal 
of money by raising pure-bred fowls,but I have no 
doubt many more have been in this disappoint¬ 
ed. The fancier aud the farmer are too often 
inclined to think that their interests are not 
identical on this subject. This, however, is a 
mistake. All the sanitary laws, breeding, feed 
mg and management interest them alike. Na¬ 
ture is the same in every case, and to ho success¬ 
ful each must follow her laws. 
Farmers are more interested in this subject 
thau others. Taking the country through, they 
are more numerous than fanciers, and on their 
exertions depends the supply of eggs and poul¬ 
try for the table. To the patience, skill and care 
of the fancier, we ate indebted for all the beau¬ 
tiful variety, size and distinct characteristics of 
each breed of our domestic poultry. These, in 
the hands of the farmer, can be made far more 
profitable than the old-fashioned, bony, small 
hen of the past. The improvement in poultry 
is quite as great as in any other kind of domes¬ 
tic stock. Who would, now, over think of keep¬ 
ing one of the old land-sharks of pigs, whose 
pictures, as they lived a hundred years ago, we 
sometimes see ? Or who would now be content 
with the pig of even fifty years ago, stilted up 
on its long, thick legs, with a nose that reminds 
oue of a subsoil plow? The same may likewise 
be said of cows, horses and other animals. Poul¬ 
try have been bred to their peculiar excellencies 
mostly by amateurs who have only had very lim¬ 
ited Bpace— a small yard and still smaller hen¬ 
house—in the neighborhood of towns, as a harm¬ 
less recreation, much to the delight and happi¬ 
ness of many families. Keeping poultry on a 
large scale is a subject that has been treated of 
very often, yet there are continually new inqui¬ 
ries with regard to it. 
In these articles I shall endeavor to show what 
kind of places and bouses are best adapted for 
fowls, how many can be kept for profit, their 
management, and the best kinds to keep. 
A hillside facing the northwest is not a good 
aspect for keeping poultry, especially in winter. 
A southern or southwest aspect is the best, and 
an eastern is next best, but declivities facing 
from the northeast to the northwest arc very 
unfavorable sites for a poultry yard, neither 
should the hen-houses face these points. 
The soil of a poultry yard should be dry, and 
there sbonld be in it no hollows to allow water 
to stand in pools, in wet weather. Wind-breaks, 
either trees or board fences, should bo on the 
north aud west sidoH of all places exposed to 
cold winds, and trees should always 
be found in the yards, or other 
shade should be provided in sum- fljPW 
mer. 11 on- houses stuck against the JM jN 
north or west side of a barn should IB M 
never he tolerated. Fowls require JHiV 
warmth and sun in winter and /Ifp! lf| 
shade in summer, or they will not EWj'mt 
thrive long. On a farm, such |Mj r || 
places can be generally selected, 
without much expense, by having W M I 
your hennery near the cow-house. ^rj-y 
If such conveniences do not exist, 
a little trouble and a small expense 
will make a number of birds 
profitable by raising for them a 
hovel or some sort of shed, under R , 
which they may find refuge in cold 
and wet weather. A small, shed-like building, 
no matter bow common the material, will answer 
for a few heus ; but never attempt over-crowd¬ 
ing. 
If your accommodations are small, be content 
with a few birds and of one variety, if wanted 
pure. Of birds of ordinary size, one to every 
three square feet of ground-floor of houBe, is all 
that should bo kept in each building. Any more 
than this will be over-crowding. Whatever bo 
the material of which the house is built, it must 
have sunlight aud ample ventilation, and yet he 
so constructed that it can be shut up tightly 
for fumigation, when required. Unless a house 
is so constructed, it cannot possibly he kept 
clear of veriniu. The poultry-house mite will 
get a permanent hold of every hen-house that 
cannot be fumigatod. In course of time, after 
it lias become infested, the fowls will not’do 
well. Even tho old beams in a barn will become 
infested in this way, and annoy the fowls if they 
roost on them. Whitewash is good, but it is not 
suflicient, as the little mites get quite into the 
wood- Whitewash and fumigation together are 
the ouly means of destroying this pest of every 
dirty hennery. 
-*-♦-*- 
THE BRAHMA FOWL.; 
Mr. Wallace says, in Rural of Nov, 17, the 
Brahma fowl is a " native of Siam !” It would be 
interesting to fowl breeders of the United States 
to read the proofs of this assertion. Many of 
Hume men, who were living at the tune when 
the original pair of Light Brahmas came to New 
York in 1847, on board au “ East India man,” as 
was reported at the time, have earnestly sought 
to ascertain their native land but in vain. Nor 
has there ever been published any authentic re¬ 
port of their being found in auy part of the 
world out of this country, excepting where they 
were introduced, either directly or indirectly 
from the United States; but Mr. Wallace says 
that this fowl is found in “China, Birmah, In¬ 
dia, and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.” 
Indeed, he says they exist " throughout” those 
countries, which means that they arc aB plenti¬ 
ful ns in this country! Now, I do not hestitate 
to say that this is totally incorrect; aud I shall 
look for the proofs (no mere “ hearsay”) from 
Mr. Wallace with interest, if he will bo bo 
kind as to furnish them to the Rural. 
Linden, N. J. T. B. Miner. 
Jnllustnal Jnijjlcnmtts, 
and those desiring a low-priced mill are pretty 
sure to be suited. 
The stones are of the genuine French burr, 
selected at the quarries in France by an expert 
in the business, and imported by the firm. The 
quality iB of a Bharp texture—some are medium- 
open, others closer. The mill ia simple and yet 
complete in Itself, requiring no hangers, etc., 
to set it in operation, and can be put to work 
without an experienced mechanic. A boy can 
NOBDYKE, MARMON & CO.'S FEED-MILL. 
CORN AND FEED GRINDING. 
The importance of grinding feed for stock 
has been demonstrated by onr most experienced 
stock-raisers. It has been frequently proved 
that the coarse food necessary to keep twenty 
head, when finely ground and carefully fed, 
will keep, in equally as good condition, twenty- 
five head. A mill, such as is illustrated here, 
used with any kind of suitable power, will enable 
the farmer or stock-raiser to save at least twen¬ 
ty-five per cent, of all the grain used. 
This mill is made by Nurdyke, Marmon A Co., 
Indianapolis, Iud., and has been in use for a 
number of years, and in all cases has proven it- 
Bolf worthy of the reputation it has obtained. 
The improvements made within the last two 
years place it among the best milk of its class. 
operate, keep in good order, and oasily make 
good meal with it. 
Its construction is such as to render overy part 
firm and durable. They will bear to be contin¬ 
ually used with a strong power without any part 
yielding. To those having any kind of light 
power the smaller size Is well adapted, and in 
every situation where they have been properly 
placed, their satisfactory working has been ex¬ 
emplified. It will make good merchantable or 
family meal, grind win at, middlings or minerals, 
and all kinds of feed, fine as flour or coarse as 
may be desired. 
It has a horizontal steel spindle, resting in an¬ 
ti-friction metal bearings, and a Btool seat at its 
end to receive the pressure of the burrs in 
grindiug. 
The runner is placed in an iron back and firmly 
attached to the spiudle. The bed stone is so ar¬ 
ranged aud constructed as to be self-adjusting ; 
the mill, therefore, can not get out of tram. 
The bed-stone is held up to its place in grinding 
by a stiff rubber spring, so as to enable it to 
yield in case any hard substance enters between 
tho burrs, thus obviating the danger of injuring 
the mill, and yet not permitting the stones to 
yield or press apart in grinding ordinary sub¬ 
stances. Tbo spindle being horizontal, this mill 
can ho driven directly from an engine, horse¬ 
power, or line-shaft. One great item is, that a 
strong or light power may be used, aud the mill 
will grind in proportion, and will do good work 
at the same time. 
Every mill warranted, which seems superflous, 
as the reputation of the makers is like good 
wine, needing “no bush.” Any inquiry ad¬ 
dressed to Messrs. N. M. & Co., will meet with a 
prompt response. 
<?l)f g,|iarian. 
NATIONAL BEE-KEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
(Proceedings concluded.) 
Dr. E. Parmly read au essay on “ Importing 
Foreign Races of Bees." He desired to call the 
at tention of the Association to making efforts to 
import bees that have not y6t been tested in this 
country, which, either pure or crossed, may prove 
to be better than the bees w'e now have. The 
Cyprian honey-bee had been stated to be supe¬ 
rior in some respects to the Italian, which had 
been the means of increasing the interest in 
American apiculture largely; and also had been 
one of the causes of commencing the publica¬ 
tion of papers devoted to bee-keeping, which 
now are widely circulated. He recommended 
that a committee be appointed to obtain infor¬ 
mation in regard to foreign bees that have not 
yet been introduced into the United States. He 
thought that the Association should eaoh year 
make some advanced efforts to improve our bees, 
aud their general management — efforts that 
“ will oominand respect." 
Mr. M. Metcalf followed with a paper on 
‘ ‘ Rearing Italian Q ueens. ’’ He spoke of the di f- 
fioullieB in the way of breeding pure queens, 
owing to the fact that our native bees are to be 
found in every part of the country, and they will 
mix, and become crossed, if the black bees exist 
within three or four miles of the Italians. He 
scouted the idea, that no matter whether Italian 
eens cross with black bees or not, their drones 
would always be pure. It was contrary to all 
living nature, and could not be as claimed. Ho 
claimed that the Italian bees are not oven pure 
in Italy, their native habitat, which is proved by 
the fact that no queens have ever beon imported 
that showed a nniformity in colors in their orog¬ 
eny. He thought that Italian bees may be great¬ 
ly improved, but the “ bogus drone theory” must 
be abandoned. His theory of improvement was 
to “ keep the black bees away ;” then, in doubt 
as to how that ia to bo done, he asked, “How 
shall we do this ?" and he did not solve the 
question, because it cannot be solved. Accord¬ 
ing to his experience, the lightest-colored queens, 
drones, and workers, are the most industrious, 
and give the greatest profits in honey and swarms, 
and are more easily handled than tho black bees 
or the hybrids. 
In regard to introducing queens to queenless 
families, be said : —“ Never leave a stock queen- 
less an hour before introducing a stranger 
quecu ; if yon do, it is at the risk of her life.” 
At the close of Mr. Metcalf's remarks, Mr. L. 
C. Root said :—“ It is well known that the cross¬ 
ing and changing of stock 1* practiced with good 
effect. I prefer Italians for extracted honey, 
and the black bees for box-boney. I want both 
in my yard." To the question. “How can you 
keep your Italians pure with both kinds ?” he 
did not reply. 
Mr. E. D. Clark said that he had 300 colonies 
of black bees, but no Italians, and be was very 
successful with tho blacks. He inquired, “ What 
kind of bees stored the honoy that, took tho gold 
modal ?" Tho reply was, “ The black bee.” 
Mr. Betbinger next addressed the Convention 
on “ Preparing Brood Combs for Winter.” Ho 
said decidedly, that tho claim of boiho bee-keep¬ 
ers. (lint it is necessary to extract tho honey 
from tho central brood combs, in order for bees 
to winter safely, is incorrect. Ho claimed that 
the honey was needed just where the bees had 
stored it ; that after the honey harvest is over, 
the bees commence to feed on the outside combs, 
which are not acceptable in very cold weather ; 
and tho honey in the central combs is reserved 
by the bees for later consumption. He thought 
that the centra) combs—whero the bees cluster 
in cold weather—when filled with honey and 
warmed by the bees, would not be as much 
affected by sudden changes from mild to cold 
weather, as empty combs would be. The bees, 
when clustered upon their solid stores, will begin 
to consume the honey In the center of the comb, 
and by the first of January will have space to 
begin brood-rearing, the honey adjoining the 
brood being in the best possible locality. lie 
thought that by keeping the central combs well 
filled with honey, so that there would not be 
much room for brood till April, the bees would 
not be affected with dysentery, would he in per¬ 
fect health, and there would be no dwindling of 
the bees in tho spring. In his case last winter, 
tho only families that survived were those whose 
central combs were fullest of stored honey; and 
he considered the extracting of honey from such 
combs in the fall as very injurious. 
Mr. N. J. King said that iu hiB opinion, one of 
the principal causes of the loss of bees in winter¬ 
ing, was their being pnt into winter quarters sup¬ 
plied almost entirely with honey gathered in 
September and October, as from buckwheat, the 
aster, Ac.; that many of these fall blossoms se¬ 
crete honey containing acids that are injurious 
to bees. His rotnedy was for bee-keepers to re¬ 
move frames of comb filled with honey in June 
and July, and keep them to replace those oombs 
filled in the fall. The fall honey, he said, would 
bo very good to supply to the bees in the spring. 
Rather than use fall honey for wintering bees, 
ho would prefer feeding a sirup made of two 
parts of best coffee-sugar to one part of pure 
soft water, boiled five minutes to destroy the 
grain of the sugar ; then add a small quantity of 
salicylic acid. He formerly had wintered bees 
in a double-walled briok building, with a dead- 
air space between the walls. They wintered well, 
but suffered terribly in tho spriug. He kept the 
temperature at about 40- above zero. In the 
latter part of February the bees would begin to 
breed, and by the time they were Bet out upon 
their summer stands, they would have a good 
supply of brood in all stages of development. 
Lately he has wintered his bees upon their sum¬ 
mer stands well packed in “ absorbing material,” 
and seldom loses a stock. 
Next in order was an essay by J. H. H asbrouck 
on “ Management of the Apiary." It consisted 
moBtly in theories that the m&jor.ty of bee-keep¬ 
ers will be slow to practice. He could not say 
that his system iB one that he had fully tested; 
and, consequently, we thick it best not to use 
our space in Btating what he said, beyond a few 
extracts which strike us as particularly incor¬ 
rect. He Baid: 
“ Fifteen years ago, some one made the dis¬ 
covery that the fertilization of the queen could 
be confined to one of three or four selected 
drones, and this method has been tested and 
practiced with various modifications by some 
who have been ambitious of having fine stock.” 
Now, we claim that this system of fertilizing 
