72 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
October 30. 
Ami here let me give a word of advice to such of my 
fellows as are less experienced than myself— never smoke 
a super for the purpose of taking honey , at all events while 
there are drones about. The smoke (whether from the 
terror it creates or not I cannot say) acts in such a 
manner upon the drones as to produce a most vile disfigure¬ 
ment of the combs. 
Artificial Swarms. —I take this opportunity of adding 
my thanks to the many that have been offered to our un¬ 
known friend, “ The Country Curate,” for his amusing and 
instructive papers. 1 should be glad to have his opinion as 
to my chance of success in attempting fhe following plan of 
artificial spring swarming, and I suggest it for the following 
reasons :—I noticed that upon the first introduction of smoke 
into the glass just mentioned, all the bees in it crowded to 
the top, pressing their heads against the sealed cells, or 
inserting them into the open ones, for the purpose, as one 
must naturally conclude, of staving off as long as possible 
its baneful effects. Further, though many plans have been 
pointed out for the formation of artificial swarms, and though 
such plans have been adopted with success (see particularly 
the two communications at page 325 of the last volume), it 
must be admitted that the formation by driving is attended 
willi considerable trouble, to say nothing of the danger of 
damaging the heavy brood combs by reversing the hives 
preparatory to the driving. (This objection would not, 
perhaps, apply where the old system of fixing sticks across 
the interior of the hive is adopted, but such a system is not 
to be thought of by us new lights.) Supposing then that it 
is the habit of bees to seek the upper parts of the hive, 
under the influence of smoke, why riot place the hive which 
you wish to stock (fitted with a temporary floor-board, 
having a hole four inches square, in the centre) over the 
hole in the centre of the stock hive, and apply the fumigator 
to the entrance hole towards the evening ? would not the 
bees immediately ascend ? Should they directly afterwards 
become stupified it would be but of small consequence, they 
would fall upon the temporary floor-board; stupefaction, 
however, does not take place immediately, and, by admitting 
the smoke slowdy, there would be sufficient time to drive up 
the required quantity of bees. Perhaps a piece of perfo¬ 
rated zinc might, with good results, be placed upon the hole 
in the top of the upper hive; the smell of the fresh air 
might induce the bees to mount more readily. Then, 
should the swarm be a small one, the suggestion of the 
Country Curate, to be found at page 38 of the English Bee- 
Keeper, as to placing it in the position of the old hive, and 
the old hive on a new stand, might be earned out. His 
system, however, is now being explained by him in your 
pages. I have read his work, and think so highly of some 
of his suggestions that I shall certainly try them ; he is, in 
my idea, doing “ the science ” a service by divulging them in 
the columns of our little world. But to return,—an easy 
method of artificial swarming is a great desideratum for 
those who, like me, are engaged through the day. To know 
that you are not dependent upon others for the proper 
watching of your hives at swarming time, is a great thing, 
and I feel much inclined to try the above next year. The 
time when has been pointed out already in various parts of 
your volumes. 
Fumigators. —Those who have a Brown’s or an anybody 
else’s fumigator, need never be at a loss; it will only be 
necessary to have a flat mouth-piece made to fit on in the 
place of the bent moveable nozzle, that is usually a part of 
it. To those who have nothing of the sort, I would point 
out a very useful contrivance, described in Miner’s American 
Bee-Keepers’ Manual, as follows :—“ It consists of an 
ordinary bellows, with a tin tube about three inches long, 
and two inches in diameter, fitted over the air-hole. The 
cover to this tube is perforated with holes ; and the air-hole 
is covered with tin, also perforated in like manner.” The 
mode of using it is sufficiently obvious ; Miner calls it the 
most simple and practical fumigator in use. This book of 
Miner’s is, by the way, a very useful sort of book. The 
author is, like most other writers on bees, rather dogmatic 
in his opinions; but we spectators do not care much for that; 
we adopt the manners of our own favourites, and wandering 
from flower to flower, or rather book to book, take what we 
Avant from those which suit us best. 
Supplying Water to Bees, —Most likely many of your 
readers have been, like me, sadly bothered about floats for 
their water-pans. Bits of Avood floating about in them, do 
not present an over neat appearance; besides, unless con¬ 
tinually dried, they become water-logged, and sink. Miner 
recommends (and I see the Country Curate does the same) 
that the pan should be filled with small stones. He says— 
a tin baking-pan, about an inch or more deep, is suitable. 
As the Avater should be reneived every morning, I think it 
would be convenient to have the pan rather deeper along the 
centre, than elseAvhere, and to have a thumb-screw fitted in 
at its deepest part, whereby to let the Avater off preparatory 
to refilling. 
Aspect, Screening Hives, and Winter Consumption 
of Food. — Noav so much is being said about the ivinter 
consumption and general prosperity of hives, in connection 
Avith aspect, I feel much inclined to make a few remarks on 
the subject. I am one of those Avho tried the burying system 
last Avinter, and T take this opportunity of stating that my 
buried hive has done \’ery well throughout the season. I do 
not at all regret haring tried the experiment; in fact, I am 
quite ready to try any other that may appear calculated to 
advance the science. Our clerical friend haring taken up 
the cudgels on our behalf, and given to our detractors what 
they deserve, and to our experiments something of a heroic 
cast, the whole matter may as well be alloived to drop. The 
report of my a ttempt appeared at page 40 of the last volume, 
and I there mentioned that the average monthly consump¬ 
tion of two unburied hives, between the 20th of October, and 
the 20tli of January, did not exceed ten ounces in one case, 
and twelve in the other, and this moderate consumption was 
attributed to the hives haring been protected through the 
winter from the direct influence of the sun. 
Now, if the matter in dispute is merely as to the advan¬ 
tage of a certain position, in consequence of such position 
being that in which a minimum consumption of honey takes 
place, and if the old-established position is found advan¬ 
tageous for any reasons at all, it would seem that if tins 
minimum consumption can be obtained by any means not in¬ 
volving a change from the old position, it would be. advisable 
to adopt such means. It has, hitherto, been considered by 
the most intelligent writers on bees (Mr. Taylor and Mr. 
Payne amongst the number), that the morning sun, at all 
events, is advantageous to bees. I have noticed that one of 
my hives, which is more shaded than the others, is always 
about half-an-hour after the others, before it gets Avell to 
work, a somewhat serious matter in this country of short 
seasons, where every half hour is of importance. Again, 
Avhere water is not abundant, the bees take advantage of the 
heavy dews which so abound with us—at least, I fancy so, 
for when my bees have been prevented by high and drying 
AA r inds from getting out early, they have invariably made a 
greater use than usual of the water-pans, toAvards the middle 
of the day. For these reasons I feel partial to the old 
southern or south-eastern aspects ; by the use of the jackets 
described at page 57 of the last volume, aided by a piece of 
inch stuff, about three inches square, placed on edge before 
the entrance hole, the inducement for the bees to leave the 
hive, viz. the sunshine, is Avarded oft’, a moderate con¬ 
sumption of food takes place in Avinter, internal heat, and 
consequently early breeding, is promoted, and the three-inch 
piece being remo\ r ed, somewhat of the effect of shady walls 
and shrubberies is produced in summer. As between the 20th 
of January, and the 20th of February, the two hives above re¬ 
ferred to, lost nothing in weight, and as such can only be 
accounted for by supposing that breeding had commenced, I 
cannot help thinking that such breeding Avas partly to be 
attributed to the quiet state of the hives through the Ai-inter. 
It is not internal heat, but activity, that causes increased 
consumption.—It. 
THE DOMESTIC PIGEON. 
CARE TO RE TAKEN OF THE DOVEIIOUSE. 
Pigeons only attach themselves to their dovehouse so 
long as they find a Avliolesome and convenient shelter there, 
and an agreeable and safe lodging where they can rear their 
young. If these conveniences are not united, they soon 
become tired of it, and abandon it. These birds cannot bear 
a bad smell; Avlien they are exposed to it for a long time, 
