THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COfNTE? GENTLEMAN, February 12, 1861. 
that purpose. A common sort is that of a board that hangs 
against the wall, and another with slide for sand to catch the 
du-t projecting beneath. There is no wire over the front, sides, 
or top, which are quite open. A small bow perch is inserted in 
the back, to which the bird is attached by a brace, swivel, and 
chain. In others, the front, sides, and top, are wired-in like an 
ordinary cage, and these are much the better, as the brace can be 
dispensed with ; for although the bird may seem well, yet I have 
often found the bobbin that passes behind the legs to chafe the 
skin and cause large sores and ultimate death, on which account 
I dislike the use of a brace. On the upper part of the cage is a 
small box for seed, closed with a lid, and the bird has to open it 
every time it feeds. Below, in front, hangs suspended a glass 
of water, the bird being provided with a bone thimble at the end 
of a cord by way of a bucket to draw its own water. But great 
care and attention should be paid to these poor little prisoners, 
as any slight entanglement of the string may prevent the bird 
from drawing its water, and a few hours neglect may cause the 
death of the poor bird.—B. P. Brent. ' 
{To be continued .) 
MILK-PAN versus STRAW HACKLE. 
In the Christmas Number of your valuable Journal appeared 
an article on bee-feeding from the pen of “Upwards and 
Onwards,” into which was introduced a criticism on the above 
important bee cause in a manner so seemingly unfair to the 
latter, that I trust you will grant me space to endeavour to set 
in a better light that time-honoured appendage of our apiarians. 
In the case alluded to by your correspondent, the blame rested 
rather on the shoulders of the fair bee-keeper than on “ those 
abominations called straw hackles.” Why were they not renewed 
before they got into the dilapidated state he describes? The 
hive so attended to was found confessedly “all right.” The 
subsequent flow of honey coining in upon her ladyship I should 
be more prone to ascribe to a good bee year and the sound 
lecture on management with which she was, doubtless, favoured 
by her visitor than to the adoption of the milk-pans. 
‘ At first sight, it seems strange that our comparatively mild 
winters should tell so much more destructively on bees than the 
very severe ones of Eussia or America. This is explainable, 
however, by the greater humidity and variableness of our island 
climate. It consequently becomes of the first importance that 
the bee-keeper should guard against these evils by the most 
suitable covers for his hives placed singly on pedestals. Those 
enjoying the shelter of a bee-house are rendered safe by the 
mere wrapping up with some woollen stuff. 
The question then come3 to be, What is the most suitable 
cover ? After a still longer experience than your correspondent, 
and having made it a point to hunt up every conceivable cover 
for bee-hives, I was at last obliged to confess that for defending 
these insects from the extremes of heat and cold, preserving 
them healthfully over the winter, and promoting their early 
swarming the following summer, with all their faults no better 
substitute can be found than the old dome-shaped straw hive 
and hackle of our ancestors, with their pleasing appearance and 
many kindly associations. During the working season, for 
depriving-hives and those subject to frequent inspection the 
hackle might give place for the time to some device more easily 
handled: for instance—the straw cylinder recommended by 
Taylor, wrought on a hoop, with a toooden ornamental top 
instead of zinc, the whole well painted and thoroughly venti¬ 
lated. Straw hackles, like most very cheap commodities, cannot 
be expected to last long, and should be renewed at least once 
every season; otherwise they speedily become both unsightly 
and prejudicial to the bees, offensively steaming in the sunshine, 
a fit receptacle for mice and moths, falling to pieces every time j 
handled—in short, thorough “ abominations.” 
My procedure is as follows:—Beginning of October, when 
satisfied all my hives are safely found with at least six months’ 
store (feeding being supplied as required in the spring, the less j 
they are disturbed in the interim the better), I have my fresh 
hackles ready—no flimsy affairs, but each the carefully drawn 
straw of at least three good oat sheaves (wheat, although whiter 
at first, is too open and brittle), pulled tightly at top and wound 
round into a peaked head fully a foot high, with a light straw 
rope; or, what is neater, tie securely with cord lower down, 
and then, from the cord upwards, cut the straw into a little 
conical top about four inches high. Give the cone a coating 
with Portland cement, which prevents moisture penetrating the 
top through the cut ends of straw. Or, should straw be an 
object, the durability of the hackle can be enhanced and its 
appearance improved. After it has been placed nicely balanced 
over the hive and the entrance cut on the apex of the cone, 
place the centre of a square yard of oiled cotton cloth (cost 7 d.), 
tied securely round its base, spread smoothly over front of 
thatch, folding the surplus in behind, where pin or stick it in 
position ; the whole secured by two iron hoops, the one 21 
and the other 17 inches in diameter, painted black. The upper 
hoop will be a guide to clip off the corners of the cloth into a 
circular form. A couple of coats of stone-coloured paint will 
make the cloth more lasting. Hackles so furnished will be 
found impervious to moisture and much longer serviceable. 
What a snug, clothed, cosy appearance to the eye, were it 
nothing else, is a row of hives so protected to withstand the 
rigour of a winter such as the present, compared to the cold 
bare nakedness of a clumsy reversed milk-pan. How is such 
a mere thunder plump protector to preserve them from the 
drifting rain, snow, or sleet ? Perhaps your correspondent’s 
hives are of an unusual thickness, but even then straw is very 
retentive of moisture when once absorbed. Besides, the inmates 
of exposed hives must be much more susceptible to all the 
variations of our changeful climate. The sunshine of a winter’s 
day beaming on the hives will at once allure them forth to the 
frosty atmosphere never to return ; and, what is of still more 
importance, at the end or beginning of a season, when the 
population are at the minimum, a sudden change to sharp cold 
will force the bees to draw up together off the brood, which, 
left uncovered, must chill and perish, causing the bees afterwards 
considerable labour in carrying out the dead grubs, and pro¬ 
tracting the swarming season. The late Mr. Payne, quoted by 
your correspondent, although a milk-panist, became latterly alive 
to this fact, as I think he somewhere recommended binding such 
hives all round with haybands. 
In conclusion, might I suggest, for the consideration of your 
correspondent, the propriety of closing up that abominable 
four-inch central communication to his supers? (the “reason 
j why ” he will find under Stewarton-hives in No. 610 of your 
Journal), and in lieu thereof cut four inches or so out of each 
end top band; and instead of the hot baking to which his 
supers must be subjected during the dog days, underneath the' 
earthen plate give the thorough protection of a good thick 
thatch, and he will be in the way of producing supers of a purity 
more in keeping with the Cockaigne taste, cause the honey-buyer 
at Messrs. Portnum & Mason’s to smile upon him, and, instead 
of being quizzed, fairly astonish the rector.— A Renfrewshire 
Bee-keeper. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Pullet Paralysed ( Widgeon ).—Your Cochin-China pullet with legs 
and wings affected in the way you mention has either a blood-vessel 
ruptured on the brain, or has something seriously obstructing her egg- 
organs. In either ease it arises from her being overfed. Your diet" of 
Indian meal and Indian corn, oats, scraps, &c., is surfeiting. Give her 
a. dessert-spoonful of castor oil, and keep her upon boiled potatoes, and a 
little ground oats or barley given three times a-day, and let her range 
freely. If not relieved before, give her another spoonful of castor oil at 
the end of two days. 
Goldfinch Mule with Injured Wing.—“Hybrid’s ’’ Goldfinch Mule, 
whose right wing is injured, appears from his description to be dislocated. 
Probably the wing was pressed too hard against the wires of the cage in 
catching, and that the joint has slipped out of the socket. To remedy 
which he should take the bird in his left hand, back uppermost, pass his 
thumb over the back of the neck—in that way the bird may be held securely 
without squeezing ; extend the right wing, -which is the injured one, with 
the right hand, and, placing the points of the second or third finger under 
the joint, stretch the wing steadily, pressing the joint hack in its place, 
when I expect it will slip back. Some force will he required; but care 
l'* be taken not to break the bone or pull the other joints out of place.— 
LONDON MARKETS.— February 11. 
POULTRY. 
The supply of poultry is small. We expect it will be so for some time, 
and we shall not be surprised if we have to record high prices arising from 
scarcity till the chickens of the year are fit to kill. 
Each— s. d. s. d. I Each— s. d. s. d. 
Cock Turkeys. 0 0 to 0 0 ! Pheasants. 4 0 to 4 6 
Hen do. 0 0 ,, 0 0 j Partridges . 2 0 2 3 
Capons . 0 0 „ 0 0 1 Grouse . 0 0 0 0 
Large Fowls. 5 6 ,, 6 0 ‘ Pigeons. 1 4 ,, 1 5 
Smaller Fowls. 4 0 ,, 4 6 Hares. 3 0 ,, 3 3 
Chickens . 3 0 „ 3 G i Rabbits. 1 4 ,, 1 a 
Geese.. 6 0 „ 7 0 i Wild ditto. 0 8 „ 0 9 
