THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, JtNE 14, 1859. 
159 
The Grey Dorkings were a truly magnificent collection, most 
of the principal breeders in the kingdom competing. For per¬ 
fection of character it is very doubtful if ever so many first-rate 
fowls were got together of this variety. In this class, Mr. W. 
Bromley, of Smithfield, Birmingham, secured the silver cup; and 
as most convincing proof of the merits of his stock, this gentle¬ 
man also obtained a second silver cup for the best pen of Dork¬ 
ing chickens, only two pens being entered by him for the com- 
petiticn. 
In Buff Cochins, to the celebrated pen of Mr. Tomlinson, of 
Birmingham, was awarded the cup, very closely pressed, however, 
by an excellent pen belonging to Mrs. Henry Fookes, of Bland- 
ford ; this lady taking both second and third prizes. We very 
much doubt the policy of Mr. Tomlinson in exhibiting so very 
frequently his first-prize pen, close confinement and travelling 
having evidently told most unfavourably on the general health 
and condition of fowls otherwise so highly praiseworthy. High 
feeding may certainly ward off the period of ultimate injury, but 
never obviate it altogether ; and failing health will be surely ex¬ 
pedited if necessary rest is prohibited. 
In Brown and Partridge Cochins, Mrs. Fookes, Mr. Cattell, 
and Mr. Felton, secured the prizes, the competition being a 
spirited one. 
In Game (Whites or Piles, Blacks or Brassy-winged) there 
was a first-rate display, Mr. Dawson leading the way with his 
well-known pen of Black ones. White Game took second prize, 
and also third, belonging respectively to the Rev. Mr. Cruwys and 
Mr. Frederick Sabin. We next approach, perchance, the best 
class in the Show,—viz., Black-breasted and other Red Game 
fowls. Reference to the prize list will prove to demonstration 
these prizes were not thrown away—the trial for mastery being 
complete throughout, most of the specimens being also in tip top 
condition. The Duck wings were decidedly superior. 
In Malays no exhibition we can now call to recollection ever 
exceeded the Barnstaple one. Among them were the pen of 
While ones, only the week previously the admiration of all parties 
at Beverley; now, however, their cleanliness proved a bygone, 
and they had materially lapsed in condition, this alone telling 
fearfully against them where the trial for superiority was so 
extreme. Still, however, they managed to obtain a second 
position. The head of the cock in this pen leaves nothing to be 
desired ; it is perfection itself as to Malay character, and would 
afford quite a study to any poultry painter. The silver cup, 
however, was awarded to air. Brooke, of Woodbridge, Suffolk, 
to a pen of marvellously well-plumaged birds. The prize list, 
if referred to, will convince the reader that almost every prin¬ 
cipal breeder of Malays contended. 
The Hamburghs were most creditable : never before did Messrs. 
Lane, Keeble, Chime, Camrn, or Lilly, show so respectable a 
collection. 
The Polands were far superior to those generally exhibited. 
In the Any other variety class, White Spanish took precedence. 
They were fowls of surpassing excellence; and, strange to say, 
fowls from the same yard have, for three years past, maintained 
this covetable position. Yery good Black Ilamburglis, Bi ohmas, 
Dumpies, and Indian Game, also took prizes or commendations. 
In the Chicken classes for Spanish, Dorkings, Cochins, and 
Game fowls, the entries were not numerically strong. Some of 
the chickens were, however, exceedingly good; still those ex¬ 
hibited bore manifest proofs that the very early-hatched chickens 
only could stand the test of exhibition at this period of the year. 
In this present spring most of the second hatches fell victims to 
the severity of the weather. Hence the limited number ex¬ 
hibited. . , , 
The Sebright Bantams fully maintained the good name ot the 
Bath and West of England Society for this variety. The White, 
Black, and Game Bantams likewise afforded the best of specimens. 
The Ducks were superior, and the Turkeys and Geese were 
marvels of gigantic breeding. ■ 
We cannot close our review of this interesting Poultry Ex¬ 
hibition without expressing our extreme approbation of the care 
and attention shown to the birds during their confinement. 
Entirely regardless of expense, the Committee left nothing undone 
to add to the comforts of the poultry ; and we feel well assured 
that many pens will receive actual benefit rather than otherwise 
from their temporary imprisonment. This is saying much, but 
certainly not more than is deserved. 
The prizes for poultry were awarded by George Andrews, 
Esq of Dorchester, and Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Birmingham ; 
the Pigeons’ premiums being allotted by William Cottle, Esq., of 
Cheltenham, and it may be truly urged, that even these long- 
experienced gentlemen have rarely had a more difficult task 
assigned them than on this occasion, from the excellence dis • 
played throughout every class. 
GUNDLACH ON THE SECRETION OF WAX 
BY BEES. 
(Continued from page 37.) 
“ In order to ascertain how much honey bees required to form 
wax, and how often, in a swarm engaged in building, the lamina; 
attain maturity and fall off, I made the following experiment, 
which appears to me not uninteresting. 
“ On the 29th of August of this year (1841), at a time when 
the bees could obtain in this district no farther supply of honey 
from the fields, I emptied a small hive, placed the bees in a small 
wooden hive ; having first selected the queen bee, and shut her up 
in a box furnished with wires, which I placed in the only door of 
the hive, so that no embryos could enter the cells. I then placed 
the hive in a window, that I might be able to watch it. 
“ At 6 P.M. I gave the bees six ounces of honey run from the 
closed cells, which had thus the exact consistence of freshly-made 
honey. This had disappeared next morning. On the evening of 
the 30th I gave the bees six ounces more, which, in like manner, 
were removed by the next morning; but already some laminae of 
wax were seen lying on the paper with which the honey was 
covered. On the 31st of August and the 1st of September the 
bees had in the evening 10 ozs.; and on the 3rd of September, in 
the evening, 7 ozs.; in all, therefore, 1 lb. 13 ozs. of honey, 
which had run cold out of cells which the bees had already closed. 
On the 5th of September I stupified the bees by means of puff¬ 
ball, and counted them. Their number was 2765, and they 
weighed 10 ozs. I next weighed the hive, the combs of which 
were well filled with honey, but the cells not yet closed; noted 
the weight, and then allowed the honey to be carried off by a 
strong swarm of bees. This was completely effected in a few 
hours. I now weighed it a second time, and found it 12 ozs. 
lighter j consequently the bees still had in the hive 12 ozs. of the 
29 ozs. of honey given to them. I next extracted the combs, and 
found that their weight was five-eighths of an ounce. I then 
placed the bees in another box provided with empty combs, and 
fed them with the same honey as before. In the first few days 
they lost daily rather more than 1 oz. in weight, and afterwards 
half an ounce daily—which was owing to the circumstance that, 
from the digestion of so much honey, their intestinal canal was 
loaded with excrement; for 1170 bees in autumn, when they 
' have been but a short time confined to the hive, weigh 4 ozs.; 
consequently 2765 bees should weigh 9 ozs. But they actually 
weighed 10 ozs. ; and therefore had within them 1 oz. of excre¬ 
ment, for their honey-bladders were empty. During the night 
the weight of the box did not diminish at all; because the small 
quantity of honey the bees had deposited in the cells, having 
already the proper consistence, could not lose weight by evapo¬ 
ration ; and because the bees could not then get rid of their excre- 
j ments. For this reason the loss of weight occurred always during 
the day. 
“If, then, the bees in seven days required 3-)- ozs. of honey to 
support and nourish their bodies, they must have consumed 13) 
ozs. of honey in forming five-eighths of an ounce of wax; and, 
consequently, to form 1 lb. of wax 20 lbs. of honey are required. 
This is the reason why the strongest swarms in the best honey 
season, when other hives that have no occasion to build often 
! gain in one day three or four pounds in weight, hardly become 
heavier, although their activity is boundless. All that they gain 
is expended in making wax. This is a hint for those who keep 
bees to limit the building of comb. Cnauf has already recom¬ 
mended this, although he was not acquainted with the true 
relations of the subject. From 1 oz. of wax bees can build cells 
enough to contain 1 lb. of honey. 
“100 lamina; of wax weigh 0'024 gramme (rather more than 
one-third of a grain) ; consequently one kilogramme (= 15,360 
grains), will contain 4,1G6,G60 lamina;. Lienee five-eighths of an 
ounce will contain 81,367 laminae. Now this quantity was pro¬ 
duced by 2765 bees in six days ; so that the bee requires for the 
formation of its eight lamina; (one crop) about thirty-eight 
hours, which agrees very well with my observations. 
“The laminae, when formed, are as white as bleached wax. The 
cells also, at first are quite white, but they are coloured yellow by 
the honey, and still more by the pollen. "When (lie cold weather 
