THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 5, 1861. 
2580 
bee-keepers, as far as Essex is concerned. I bad good hopes of 
my last hive (having previously lost three), but two days ago 1 
found that the fourth was also gone. I had intended changing 
the floor-board for a fresh and dry one as soon as the frost gave 
way; the latter has done so, but I find my poor little friends 
past all care. Iam now a complete bankrupt in the bee line. 
My only assets are a plentiful stock of straw hives, 14 inches by 
7 inches deep, flat, and with openings at top, thoroughly painted, 
also a stock of floor-boards, adapting-boards, caps, and glasses, 
and no bees.” 
Similar accounts reach me from all quarters, and I very much 
fear that the winter of 1860-1 will long be remembered by 
apiarians in this country as having proved most fatal in its 
effects upon their little favourites.—A Devonshire Bee-keeper. 
NEW DEPRIYING-HIVE. 
I WAS very much struck with the pleasing diagram of the 
above in page 247 of The Cottaoe Gardener ; but on reading 
the account, I fear it sounds too much like an Irish bull, and that 
the author has never put his theory into practice. 
I should like, therefore, to ask him whether when the luve is 
raised the bees, in carrying down the combs, attach them to the 
sides of the outer hive ? If so, how is it possible to raise the 
inner hive from time to time ? On the other hand, if they do 
not so attach them, what becomes of them when severed by the 
knife from the inner hive. Would they not soon reach the 
floor-board to the destruction of both bees and combs ? A 
Devonshire Yicar. 
[The “new depriving-liive,” a description of which was 
copied from the Irish Farmer’s Gazette , is, undoubtedly, open 
to the objections so forcibly stated by our correspondent, and, 
lik e him, we should be much inclined to fear that the author 
had never reduced his theory to practice. We may also state 
that the boxes are altogether too large for the requirements of 
bees in any part of the United Kingdom; whilst, even supposing 
for a moment that the arrangement were at all practicable, it 
would be open to the objection that most of the honey obtained 
would be of inferior quality, owing to the presence of bee-bread 
and the impurities which are inseparable from combs which 
have been used for breeding. 
However objectionable may be the arrangements of this hive, 
we believe the principle to be good, and as it is in this respect 
identical with one which was figured in page 99 of our twenty- 
second volume, and which we believe has never received the 
attention which it so well merits, we make no apology for re¬ 
producing it. 
This is the adjuster-hive, invented by Mr. George Fox, of 
Kingsbridge, Devon, in which the inner hive is the stock-box, 
whilst the outer one affords protection in winter, and forms at 
the same time a kind of super which admits of enlargement to 
almost any extent by being gradually raised, from lime to time, 
as the bees extend their combs downwards towards the top of the 
stock-box, which they are not allowed to reach. 
In the hands of the inventor and his cousin, Mr. S. B. Fox 
(who first introduced it to our notice in his “ Apiarian Notes,”) 
the adjuster-hive has afforded such excellent results, that we 
deem it well worthy of a more extended trial than it appears to 
have received. There are, however, one or two little incon¬ 
veniences yet to be overcome, which make us hesitate to re¬ 
commend its adoption by any person disposed to timidity in 
apiarian operations. One of these is the mode of removing the 
crown-board of the hive through the super, afrer which the bars 
and the top-board of the latter must be replaced in defiance, 
possibly, of a smart attack by the irascible colony. The other 
is the frequent difficulty of preventing the bees from carrying 
their combs upwards from the stock-box—a proceeding which 
must on no account be permitted, but which if once commenced 
is likely to expose the unfortunate apiarian to the direst ven¬ 
geance of his unruly little subjects, whilst endeavouring to 
compel them to construct their combs in accordance with his 
requirements. These are after all but minor obstacles, which 
may be encountered without fear by the more experienced 
apiarian, and to such we recommend the adjuster-hive as being 
sound in principle, and, therefore, worthy of a fair trial.] 
LIGURIAN BEES. 
A eriend, who is in possession of a stock of Ligurian bees 
about twenty miles from London, assures me that on Sunday 
(January 27tli) they were actively carrying pollen into the hive. 
My object in writing is to call attention to this fact, as corrobo¬ 
rative of the assertion that this race of bees is more hardy than 
our native one. I am not aware from what source so early a 
supply could be furnished, but it seems to point to the fact that 
breeding had already commenced. I would ? moreover, point out 
the desirableness of experimenting with meal or flour placed 
within the hive, as a substitute for the scanty supply of natural 
food for the young at present obtainable abroad.—H. T. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
IIens Losing their Throat-feathers (-).— Not knowing either the 
variety you keep nor your mode of keeping them, it is impossible to tell 
with certainty either the cause or the remedy. Giving them more green 
food, and rubbing in some sulphur ointment on the featherless places may 
be the best treatment. It can do no harm. 
Silver-cinnamon Cochin-Chinas [Delta). —The plumage of their bodies 
is of a creamy white colour, and that of the neck, or hackle, a bright 
cinnamon brown. With a buff-coloured cock hens of that colour will pro¬ 
duce most chickens of their own colour, but some will be light buff. 
Colour in the progeny, however, is very uncertain from such parentage. 
Rabbits, &c. ( 11. A. M.). —We shall be very much obliged by your 
doing as you kindly propose. We fear, unless the musical box is large, 
that it will not be effective in teaching a bird to sing. We know of no 
nursery where you can purchase cuttings. Let us know any that you 
especially require, and at the same time oblige us by stating your direction. 
Wild Rabbits in Confined Space [A Dei onshire Vicar).—1 should 
advise “ A Devonshire Vicar” to kill off the wild Rabbits he has, and 
pui-cliase about six does and a buck, either Chinchillas, Silver Greys, or 
Himalayan?. The skins of both kinds are about, one value. The carcases 
are much larger than of the wild Rabbit, and the skins should pay for their 
keep.—R. S. S. 
Colour of Silver Grey Rabbits (G. C. WhUwell). — The colour of the 
Silver Grey Rabbit skins, now most in favour with furriers, is the dark. 
A few years since the light was in fashion, but the very light are termed in 
the fur trade, “millers,” and arc barely worth anything, merely the same 
price as the common wild grey. The Dutch are not quite so large as the 
Silver Greys, but I think sell quite as well. The Patagonians cost more 
than many long-eared Rabbits, but are not so plentiful.—R. S. S. 
Price of Honey [An Apiarian).— We cannot tell wbat price the dealers 
in London are giving for honey in the comb ; but we know that Messrs. 
Neighbour are selling some very superior out of Stewarton supers at 4*. 
a-pound. 
Stocking a Hive (A Constant Deader. Cardross ).—The best mode of 
stocking a hive is with a swarm in the usual way. To transfer bees suc¬ 
cessfully from an old straw skep to a depriving-hive, requires much 
practice and great skill in apiarian matters. At the best it would be a very 
hazardous operation. Read our reply to “A Devonshire Vicar” in 
another column. 
