328 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 26, 1861. 
a degree of cold within a hive I could hardly have imagined 
possible or compatible with the existence of the bees. 
Consumption op Food. —If all my hives have consumed 
about the same quantity of food during this past cold season as 
the one of which I have been enabled to take accurate notice 
(and there is no reason to think otherwise), it only tends to 
prove that the actual consumption during the winter months is 
less than many apiarians have imagined to be the case. The hive 
No. 2, which has been suspended from a Salter’s balance (of the 
feeding of which a table wa3 given at page 140 of the present 
volume), registered, on the 15th of October, 34 lbs. 8 ozs.; on the 
27th of November, 33 lbs. 8 ozs.; at the close of the frost, 31 lbs. 
7 ozs.; and at the present date (February 8th), 30lbs. 8 ozs.; or 
only 4 lbs. of stores dissipated in within a week of four months. 
The result perfectly coincides with that of observations I have 
from time to time instituted, and tends to increase our admiration 
of the superabundant industry of these little creatures. 
Feeding on the Top. —I cannot say that I have ever expe¬ 
rienced the difficulty of inducing bees to take down food from 
the top, which is mentioned by “ Upwards and Onwards” at 
page 186, unless the bees were in a hopeless condition from the 
loss of their queen or from some other cause. Since the frost 
disappeared, I have fed six of my hives, both by the inverted 
bottle mode and by that of open feeding-pans, giving from 6 to 
8 ozs. to eac h, and the food has been taken down in a very few 
hours. When it fails in a healthy hive, it is possible that the 
food is not sufficiently palatable. Cottagers use a feeder some¬ 
what similar to that described by the last-named correspondent— 
viz., a trough cut out of a stick of hazel or of elder wood. Would 
ct UFwards and Onwards ” kindly inform us whether he has 
found it necessary or advisable to cover his hives with anything 
further than the milk-pans during the late frigid opportunity ? 
New Depriving-hive.—I quite agree with “A Devonshire 
Vicar” that the hive described under this name, at page 247, 
looks much better in theory and on paper, at first sight, 
than it would prove to be if put into practical use. If care is 
taken to raise the upper box pretty frequently, there would not 
be much danger of the combs being attached to the sides of the 
lower box of such dimensions as are there described ; but if the 
too-sanguine owner should endeavour to possess himself of the 
upper chamber filled with stores, by dividing the combs, both 
he and they, as well as a large number of bees, would most 
certainly come to grief. 
. In Ireland, it is the custom among the cottagers to use a very 
high, narrow, conical-shaped hive, which on being nearly filled 
is raised successively on one, two, or more ekes, the whole in 
autumn being sent to mai’ket or the shops of the wholesale 
purchasers of honey. Owing to the very narrow dimensions of 
the crown portion of these hives, the honey there found is 
usually of a very pure character. Now, if the so-called “ new 
depriving-hive” were made of much smaller dimensions, and used 
simply as a substitute for these ekes of the Irish cottars, it might 
not be altogether useless, but I do not think it can for a moment 
compare, as a “ depriving-hive,” with the adjuster-box described 
by me in a previous Number. I am glad to find that in the 
reply given to the “ Devonshire Vicar,” notice is again directed 
to this plan, which, as is truly said, “has never received the atten¬ 
tion which it so well merits.” My chief object in alluding to 
this at the present time is to say that in the engraving it is made 
to appear as if there were six apertures of communication, five 
of them being visible through the back window. It was a mistake 
of my own, and not of the artist. There should be only four 
apertures, none being made on either side of the centre bar. 
Once only have I been annoyed by the bees working comb 
upwards from the stock-box, and that was owing to my inad¬ 
vertently leaving open a three-inch hole in the centre of the adapter 
between the proper side communications. When another of 
these hives is to be made for me, I intend to have the slits even 
more towards the sides—viz., on either side of the two end bars 
only, so as to interfere as little as possible with the operations of 
the bees in the centre of the stock-box, and to lessen the proba¬ 
bilities of the queen passing through to lay eggs in the upper 
combs.—S. Bevan Fox, Exeter. 
POLLEN COLLECTING AND WINTERING BEES. 
The unprecedented cold has, within the last month, given 
place to as unusual a mildness, causing fruit trees and goose¬ 
berry bushes to put forth their buds, reviving a hope that 
our now naked hollies and laurels may by-and-by follow their 
example. The bees were not long in profiting by the change, 
as several of my hives were busily collecting pollen on Sunday, 
the 3rd instant —indeed, one hive I now suspect having been so 
employed for eight or ten days previously, judging from the 
business-like air with which they set out late in the afternoons ; 
but not expecting such a proceeding before the accustomed 
beginning of March, they were not examined. Whatever be the 
upshot of the season of 1861, our favourites have got an extra 
month’s start to begin with. 
Were it not that I am desirous to test the length of their 
memories, or rather perhaps their lives, by withholding then* 
accustomed supply of rye flour, to see if they came to seek it, as 
was their wont last spring, at the customary place, I would 
have again attempted supplying by the less effectual mode within 
the hive recommended by “ H. T.” By the way, some of your 
correspondents will soon be getting desirous to learn how your 
valued correspondent, “A DevonshireBee Keeper’s” Hack bees 
look now, wearing up to a green old age in his Italianised stocks. 
I regret to notice in your last Number that gentleman’s doleful 
mortality report of the south. In our neighbourhood, considering 
the peculiarities of both last summer and winter, stocks have 
stood remarkably well. My ten came all through so far in very 
fair condition. 
Perhaps the last-named correspondent would kindly say how 
he protects his hives ? No dampness such as he complains of 
with us, causing moving into dry boxes at the end of the 
season unnecessary, thanks to the extra thick straw hackles. 
Such of your correspondents who rest content under no better 
protection than the shadow of such a protector as a milk-pan, 
would do well to bear ,in mind that damp is one of the worst 
evils they have to contend against, cold when the hive is quite dry 
having no prejudicial effect, the inmates being kept undisturbed. 
One hive I had as a test, having, although oifly peopled late in 
the season with an artificial swarm, resisted with impunity 25° of 
frost within the hive, and is now all right, — A Renfrewshire 
Bee-keeper. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Dubbing Game Bantam Cocks [A Poultry Fancier).—Yes, their combs 
should be dubbed, and it is quite as essential it should be well and cleanlv 
done as it is in the larger breeds. 
Cock with Bent Knee [Brahma Cock). —We know of no means of 
remedying the deformity of which you complain; nor should we think it 
worth the trouble, as it is an indication of weakness, and such would pre¬ 
vent us from using him as a stock bird. 
Points in Golden-spangled IIamburghs ( H. H.).— There are two 
opinions—one goes for black breasts, the other for spangled; but both °-o 
for white ear lobes. We, therefore, advise you to send the spangled breasts 
j and white ears. You do not mention combs: they must be upright and 
firm. * a 
Bantams in a Garden (F.).— The Bantams we kept were the Sebright • 
and we know now a garden under the care of an old fidget, who hates 
poultry and loves gardens, and yet bears the little birds and rather approves 
of them. White worsted interlaced liberally among the branches will keep 
away Bullfinches and Tomtits from gooseberry and currant trees. 
Lodging for an Early Brood [F. F. M.).— As you appear to lack 
space for all your fowls, we advise you to do that which we do ourselves— 
put the hen under her rip on a good hard gravel path by the side of a 
strawberry-bed, or a bank having a southern or western aspect, and 
providing the brood with dry dust. They will do no harm of any kind. 
The rip must be securely and warmly covered up at night, and your 
chickens will do all the better if you give them some good ale to drink We 
last year had a hundred chickens on the paths of a small garden and we 
wish we had the same now. The hen is not to be let out. If you disapprove 
this you must provide a quiet place on the ground, and where there is dust. 
Right to Remove Hen-iiouse [Sussex Higgler).— Having the leave of 
the Lord of the Manor to remove it makes no'difference. The permission 
of the copyholder is essential, if any permission is needed. 
Pullet’s Wings Cut (IF. It. F.).- Yes, they would stand a chance of 
winning; it is not an advantage, but it does not disqualify 
Inducing a Moved Hen to Sit [A Kent Amateur).—Ike best way to 
make a broody hen sit, after being removed from her chosen spot is to 
place her at night on the eggs where it is wished she should remain’ She 
should then be covered up closely, so that she can neither see nor escape 
She generally takes kindly to the eggs after this. If she does not, she 
should be shut m a box whence she cannot get out, and which will not 
allow her to stand up. 
Cock’s Comb Frosted (Pciofer).-Camphor dissolved in ammonia is the 
best thing to put to a cock’s comb that is frostbitten. It is a. certain cure 
Pigeons in same Loft (Idem).— There is little or no danger of the 
Pigeons crossing, so long as there are only the three or four pairs • hut 
there is afterwards when they are more numerous. ’ 
Turkeys’ and Geese Eggs under a Hen [Idem).— Fowls will covn- five 
or six Tui keys’ eggs, but they are not fit to sit on Goose eggs. V hen 
could not cover more than three. 
Rearing Pheasants [J. 0. O .).—If you send thirteen penny postage 
stamps and your direction to Mr. Baily, 113, Mount Street, Grosvenor 
Square, W„ he will send you his little hook entitled “ Pheasants and 
Pheasantncs.” 
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