THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— August 20, 1856. 
392 
going out into the garden, I saw a swarm had just issued 
from it, and was in the air. It settled on a tree, and, 
without any difficulty, I hived it into the straw cover 
used for protecting the super, intending to return the 
swarm to the hive from whence it issued in the evening. 
I therefore placed it near the parent hive, and in about two 
hours’ time, looking at it, was surprised to find tho hoes had 
left it, and had returned to the parent hive, around tho 
mouth of which they were clustering, and the glass super 
was again filled with bees. Feeling interested, I took a low 
stool, and sat down opposite the entrance of the parent hive, 
watching attentively the proceedings, and amusing myself 
with capturing the drones as they appeared. In a few 
minutes the queen bee (I presume the one that accom¬ 
panied the swarm) came out on the alighting board, when I 
immediately seized her majesty between my finger and 
thumb, and conveyed her in-doors, where she terminated 
her existence, and added a specimen to my collection. On 
the loss of the queen the bees immediately returned into 
the hive. 
Five days after, viz., on the 28th, during my absence from 
home for some days, a swarm again issued from the hive, 
which was again placed in the straw cover. On this occa¬ 
sion they remained there, and, on looking at it three days 
since, I perceive they have partially filled it with comb ; but 
feeling convinced that it would be far too weak to stand the 
winter, it will shortly be added to another hive. 
Thus, from one swarm of this season, June 3rd, I have had 
three swarms. One is now r , provided they recover the accident, 
a strong, heavy, and well-filled hive. The second was re¬ 
turned, and the third has succeeded, for the present, at 
least, in establishing itself; whilst in the original there is 
still some honey in the comb in the super. 
I have found that an entrance four inches in breadth, and 
three-eighths in depth, cut in tho lloor-board, is very supe¬ 
rior to cutting away the straw of the hive, and when not 
required of the full width is readily closed by blocks of 
wood. I do not think the bees in the overturned hive could 
have removed their dead companions had the entrance been 
of the ordinary kind. 
Should this gossip be at all interesting, I may, at some 
future time, forward the results of some experiments and 
observations on my Bees, although I hope I shall not have 
to record that they are purchased at such a price as I am 
now paying.—W. B. Tegetmeier. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Bulbs ( Fuverdale ).—We know of no recent work devoted to the general 
culture of bulbs. There are directions for cultivating Hyacinths and 
Tulips in “ Haddock’s Florists’ Directory,” but it is rather antiquated and 
benighted in its details. There are sufficient directions for growing them 
successfully in The Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary. 
Hair-palling (J. C.). —Dissolve as much salt as you can in brandy, 
and rub the solution daily down at the roots of the hair. 
Lamb’s Tongue. —it. H. informs us that this is a popular name for 
“the common Rib-Grass, Plantago media;" the proper English name, 
however,is Hoary Plantain. Upon turning to Gerarde’s “ Herbal,” we 
find that he applies the name of “ Lamb’s Tongue ” to the larger, or 
broad-leaved Plantain, Plantago major; and in Bauhin’s “ Historia 
Plantarum,” we find that such name is as old as the time of Theophrastus, 
for he calls it Arnoglosson, which is literally the Greek for Lamb’s 
Tongue. 
Bee Trap ( Clericus ).—We are not aware that this very simple con- 
trivance has been made for sale. The late Mr. Payne gave us the 
description published by us in “ Bee-Keeping for the Many.” If you 
find the inventor’s name in “ The Clergy List,” and write to him, he 
would give you every information. 
Cuttings (zl Subscriber ).—You may safely put your rooted cuttings 
in the box as you propose. 
Nigiit-blooming Stock (J. G., Paris). —You may obtain it from 
any of the principal nurserymen near London. 
Back Numbers (Mem).—You can have any and all the back num¬ 
bers now. We have had them reprinted. 
Mangles’ Variegated Geranium ( J. H.). —Tho green and white 
sports are quite common in this Geranium. 
Celery Insect-eaten (G. H.). —The destruction is caused by the 
grub of the Celery Fly ( Tephritis onopordinis). We know of no remedy, 
for the fly deposits its eggs on the young plants, and the grubs come 
forth in succession from July to November. The pnrent fly may be seen 
usually upon Laurels from May to the end of July. See a drawing in 
our first volume, page 72 . 
Names of Plants (South Bank). —Common Borage has come up in 
your liitchcu-garden—the proper place for it. ( Subscriber). —We cannot 
name Verbenas from dry specimens. (W. Blase). —l, Lysimuchia vul¬ 
garis. 2 . Leycesteria formosa. 3. Lycopodium clavatum. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Bridlington. August 27 th. Sec., Mr, T. Cape, Bridlington. 
Dorchester. Sept. 17 th and 18th. Sec., G. J. Andrews, Esq., Dor¬ 
chester. Entries close Sept. 1st. 
Essex. At Colchester, 8th, 9th, and 10th of January, 1857* Sees., 
G. E. Attwood, and W. A. Warwick. 
Gloucestershire. Nov. 20th and 27 th. Sec., E. Triudcr, Esq., 
Cirencester. Entries close Nov. 1st. 
Leominster. Thursday, October Id. 
Nottinghamshire. At Southwell, December 17 th and 18th, 1856. 
Sec., Richard Hawksley, jun. Entries close November 19 th. 
Nottingham Central Poultry Association. January 14th 
and 15th, 1857* -Sec., John Spencer, Nottingham. 
Sowerby Bridge. Sept. 5th. Sec., F. Dyson, Esq., Sowerby Bridge. 
Entries close August 291 h. 
N.B.— Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
POULTRY exhibition at tottington, 
LANCASHIRE. 
Tras proved a very spirited little affair, for although only 
118 pens competed for the Society’s premiums, the quality 
of the poultry, as a whole, was very superior, and the 
arrangements such as reflect the highest credit on the 
managing committee. The fowls were ranged in a double 
tier, and, from being in tho open air, no advantage of position 
was secured for any individual pen above its adversaries 
throughout the Exhibition. The Show took place on the 
very suitable grounds of Mrs. Knowles, affording somewhat 
extensive views, whilst the weather, though somewhat 
threatening of tempest, eventually proved without any rain 
whatever, and occasional gloarns of sunshine caused the 
fowls to be seen to great advantage. The attendance was 
very good, and the visitors all seemed well satisfied. 
The Dorking chickens were the first entry upon the cata¬ 
logue, and were, as a whole, very good, but bore unmistakc- 
able testimony of the really unfavourable weather that 
marked the early spring of this present year. In many 
pens were to be seen chickens of three different and widely 
diverse ages, evidently grouped together to make up the 
necessary complement for exhibition. We do not, by any 
means, urge this as a complaint, hut simply to show the 
great paucity of very early chickens this year; indeed, in 
many instances, perhaps only a single bird or two were 
eventually secured out of very promising hatches, that at 
the onset numbered thirteen or fourteen. So difficult a 
season for young live stock to maintain their health we do 
not remember, and the consequence was, frost-bitten toes 
were generally prevalent among most of the few early- 
hatched birds exhibited. Both in these and also Spanish 
many of the younger chickens were birds of very great 
promise indeed. Tho second prize Cochin chickens were 
black ones, and as good as any we remember to have seen, 
but the arrangement permitted all colours to compete on 
terms of perfect equality; and grave doubts are always 
entertained that a cockerel without any stain whatever may, 
when adult, show coloured feathers ; in the black ones, 
indeed, the defect is almost proverbial. The Game chickens 
were very superior, but the old birds of this variety were in 
the worst condition possible for exhibition from their 
moulting. The Hamburgh chicken class was worthy of 
Lancashire, being excellent, but most of the pens wero very 
injudiciously selected, one imperfect fowl proving condem¬ 
natory of others of especial good quality, and this arose, in 
not a few cases, where the fault might very easily have been 
avoided. Much amusement to visitors was created in this 
class, from the fact of Pen 81 being empty after the fowls 
were adjudicated, and permission was very anxiously sought 
to allow a party resident in tho immediate neighbourhood 
to exhibit a cat and four kittens therein. This strango 
request was complied with, and certainly very few pens 
proved so truly matched. The old cat and her four youngsters 
were incomparable as “ tabbies; ” not a single white hair 
stood amiss throughout tho whole, and the incongruity of 
such an unprecedented addition to a Poultry Show was the 
fitting subject for not a small amount of wit and repartee. 
This group certainly caused great attraction, for none ever 
bespoke tho tender solicitudo that had been previously 
bestowed upon them bettor than they did, and the pen was 
