144 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, June 7, 1859. 
after stating to the same effect as Kirby and Spence, that “the 
wax is secreted, and may be seen in lamina;, under the abdominal 
scales,” adds, “ whence it is removed by the hind legs of the bee 
and tranferred to the fore legs; from them it is taken by the 
jaws, and after being masticated, the fabrication of comb com¬ 
mences.” This was Mr. Taylor’s deliberate judgment on the 
subject in 1855, since which time he may, of course, have 
changed his mind ; but, if so, we have no statement in proof of 
it from that gentleman himself. And I will venture to say that 
when he does see fit to expunge the above quotations from his 
“ Manual,” he will put forth good and scientific reasons, founded 
on well-ascertained facts, for his change of opinion. 
2. With regard to Gundlach, I have no where called him an 
“eminent German apiarian,” as Mr. Wighton states, or even 
seemed to do so ; for the simple reason that I was entirely un¬ 
acquainted with his writings till “ A Devonshire Bee-keeper” 
favoured us with some extracts from his works. I state this in 
order to guard myself against being supposed to endorse all that 
he may have written about bees. Nevertheless, I should have no 
hesitation in endorsing as a statement of fact, coinciding with 
my own observations, that “bees often starve in April, when 
their stock of honey is consumed, and when they can obtain in 
the fields abundance of pollen, but no honey.” And I am sure 
I may confidently appeal to all bee-keepers (not being “ novices 
in botany or in bee-keeping”), in corroboration of this statement 
of Gundlach. Who has not seen pounds and pounds of pollen 
carried into their hives by the industrious insects at the very 
time their stores of honey were visibly decreasing, from day to 
day ? Is it credible, that if honey were to be procured in the 
field, they would be slow to bring it in as well as pollen ? The 
instinct of self-preservation, which leads all living creatures to 
seek their food, is surely no less strong than the instinct which 
leads them to nourish their young. It appears to me that I 
might well retort upon Mr. Wighton his own remark as applied 
to Gundlach, that “ the thing is too absurd to comment upon ; ” 
and I much wonder at the hardihood which sets up to be a 
teacher of others in matters which arc evidently res incognitas to 
the teacher. Till now I had thought apiarians were unanimous 
in the belief that honey is produced in quantity only in certain 
states of the atmosphere,—as, for instance, in warm, moist, or 
sultry weather,—whereas, in cold weather, however fine, that 
substance is secreted in very small quantities, if at all; at the 
very time there may be a million flowers in full bloom, inviting 
the little pollen-gatherers into the fields. 
3. It is for Mr. Wighton to prove his statements, which, in so 
many respects, are new to bee-keepers. This he has declined 
doing. When I declared myself “not satisfied” with his new 
theory “ on bees secreting wax,” his reply (at page 11 of this 
volume of The Cottage Gardener) was this—“Were I to 
write so (that is, scientifically), perhaps I might be less under¬ 
stood.” 
4. While on this subject, 1 may mention that I have lately 
watched a great number of bees on laurel bushes, when each bee 
confined itself to the use of its tongue, which it passed hastily 
along the ribs of each leaf in the hollows at the back of the leaves, 
licking up the substance, whatever it might be, which attracted 
it. Some of these leaves I tasted, and fancied I detected a sweet¬ 
ness not unlike, sugar or honey. I observed that the bees pre¬ 
ferred those of the young leaves, which were more or less imperfect. 
Here the tongue lingered some time. Also I noted some ants 
wandering over the young shoots; and am inclined to think that 
some aphis, or other insect, must have punctured the leaves, and 
so caused a sweet exudation to flow; or possibly left some of its 
excrement behind, as in the case of honey-dew, which is generally 
supposed to be the excrement of aphides. It is well known that 
ants regularly attend upon these insects, and, as it were, com¬ 
pelled them to give out their secretions by squeezing or “ milking ” 
them. I should be glad to know if any of your other readers 
have had their eyes upon the laurels this season. Scientific truth 
can only be arrived at by frequent and patient observation on the 
part of many eyes.—B. & W. 
r.S.—Since writing the above, and on the same day (May 26), 
at 10.35 A.M., the sun shining brightly, and honey secretions 
being, I doubt not, abundant, I have just come in from a fresh 
observation of the laurels in my garden. Many bees are at work, 
but I see no signs of ants or aphides; but it is plain to see at the 
backs of most A>f the young leaves, more or less, minute patches 
of moisture—several patches on every leaf. The bright sunshine 
makes these to glisten very perceptibly. I also continue, a3 
I think, to detect a saccharine sweetness on applying the tongue 
to the leaves. I therefore incline to the opinion that bees are in 
search of honey on the laurels, at least at this season of the year; 
and that this honey is a natural exudation or secretion of the 
plant itself, and not, as I suggested above, the'deposits of aphides. 
What I have written, however, I let stand, as it may quicken our 
naturalist friends to help forward a decision of this still-open 
question. 
THE BEE SEASON. 
In my last communication a month ago, I mentioned the pro¬ 
bability of a late arrival of north-easterly winds during this 
month. My bees have lately received a sudden check ; violent 
gales from the named quarter have caused the. death of great 
numbers from the most populous hives ; and, more than once, 
drones have been taken from their cells before maturity, and cast 
out of the hives ! 
The latter (the drones) appeared in great numbers in April, 
and the prospect of early swarms going forth seemed imminent ; 
but the late cold winds and frosty nights have blighted the hopes 
of a prolific bee time; and I much fear we are not to have 
another “splendid summer” to add to those three last which 
have passed. 
The bees were breeding fast at the end of February; as I 
observed them, then in great numbers, in search of water, which 
caused me to fill the trough earlier than usual. 
By the middle of March the gooseberries were in blossom ; and 
on the 24th of April, in sheltered, warm soils, the white haw¬ 
thorn was fully in bloom also. This is about fourteen days 
earlier than I ever saw it. Notwithstanding all this, it appears 
probable that the bee year of 1859 will prove a very uncertain 
and showery one. My average of good seasons for the thirty 
years is about one in three; but many neighbourhoods are hurt 
from being overstocked, and hence arises an outcry without real 
occasion. I hope your next Number will announce some new 
swarms. These premature springs seldom benefit bees.—II. W. 
Newman. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Young Partridges, best Food for.— In answer to “X. R. G.,” at 
page 114, you name the best food for these young birds (and Pheasants 
also); but there is one omission, and that is a material one—ants’ or emmets’ 
eggs, as they are styled in Gloucestershire. For many years I was a game 
preserver, arrd when nests were cut out by mowers a man in my employ 
used to search every day for the ants’ nests. There is no food of which 
these birds are fonder in June and July. You may add various species of 
maggots.—H. W. X. 
Top-Knot of White-crested Black Polands. —“ The question at issue 
is, should they be close-crested or loose-crested ? Last year I particularly 
noticed that the prizes were given to looser-crested birds than either Ray’s 
or Edwards’s birds. Theirs are not only large-crested but close and firm 
when eompared-to either Dixon’s or Battye’s. I must say that those I 
examined of Pmv’s birds last year had handsomer heads than I ever saw at 
any previous exhibition ; but generally they run second to Dixon’s and 
Battye.’s, owing, I presume, to the crests of Battye’s and Dixon’s being a 
little larger but loose.”— James Williams. 
[We always feel some diffidence in answering such a question as you 
put; because we can only give our own opinion, and Judges are not in any 
way bound by it. It is, however, certain that fowls must be judged as a 
whole ; and the closest top-knot possible will not ensure a prize if other 
qualities are wanting. The best information we can give will be to describe 
wliat we consider good top-knots for this breed. As large arid close as 
possible. Size will not carry a loose one to success, nor closeness a small 
one. The shape should be as much like a cauliflower as possible, and it 
should be firm and well fixed on the head. The feathers forming it should 
all turn inwards. The top-knot is not the only point. The birds must be 
quite black and quite straight; good, also, in every other point.]. 
Hour (An old Subscriber). —It is very unusual for Cochins, either chickens 
or adults, to have roup ; but there isiio gallinaceous constitution can stand 
against east winds, wet weather, and irregular or bad feeding. Discon¬ 
tinue rice and potatoes—nothing can be worse for chickens ; and when the 
elements arc so unfavourable as they have been of late, chickens want the 
best of everything. In this instance they sometimes were doubtless empty, 
and then they feed greedily. This would cause sickness and predispose to 
cold. Turkeys would catch it directly. We would not advise you to kill 
all; but destroy those that are evidently sinking from disease, and remove 
the Turkeys from the chickens ; put them as far apart fi om each other as it 
is possible; continue your feeding, with the exception of rice and potatoes ; 
do not spare bread and ale; give them roast meat chopped up, and put 
some wormwood in their water. Put them near the sun, but not in it; and 
save the strong by sacrificing every one that shows weakness or infection. 
This answer will serve also North C. Subscriber. His game fowls have the 
roup. 
Brown Substance in Egg Yolks (Ovum). — That of which you com¬ 
plain is generally the effect of using stimulants too freely. Tlie organs 
became deranged. There is no doubt it is caused by inflammation, and 
cooling food is the cure. Nothing better than lettuces. Avoid feeding on 
whole corn, and give meal rather sparingly. 
