236 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, July 10, 1860. 
bars in a space of 131 inches, when, if left to themselves, they 
would construct at least nine combs. In my own hives, any bar 
will fit equally well in any box, so that full combs can be easily 
shifted from one to another. 
In common with the “ Devonshire Bee-keeper,” I have 
reduced the dimensions of, and distances between, bars, which 
are made one-inch wide, with half-inch interspace, instead of 
one-one-eighth of an inch bar, with same space between, as 
advocated by Dr. Bevan, Golding, and others; and yet find that 
the bees are more inclined to lessen the distance between the 
combs than to exceed it. Eor the honey-supers, the width of the 
bars is not of so much consequence, as the cells are made pro¬ 
portionately deeper; but for the stock-boxes, it is important that 
the nearest approach to the measurement, consistent with the 
habits of the bees, shall be the one adopted. Where removal of 
bees is no desideratum of the amateur, the Stewarton hive will 
prove as good as any other, but no guide-combs must be attached 
to the bars in the stock-box, all being left to the bees themselves. 
I once tried an experiment for the purpose of obtaining Borne 
very thick combs. Having a super which would in the ordinary 
way hold six combs, side by side, I attached guide-combs for four 
only, and was rewarded by complete success. One comb measured 
more than three inches and a half in thickness all through, the 
cells on one side being two inches and a quarter deep. If this 
had been done, even in a less degree, in a stock-hive, the extra 
room would have caused the bees much extra trouble, and some 
poor, thin combs would have been built between the others. 
Ho. 6.—A large, nine-bar, octagonal box, stocked first with a 
driven swarm from No. 8 on the 24th of May. From some 
cause the bees dwindled away, and on the 23rd of June a good- 
sized swarm from No. 3 was united to them; but with an un¬ 
usual amount of fighting. On examining the comb3 that had 
been constructed, a few inches of eggs and one or two lately- 
hatched larva; only were to be found. In most of the cells were 
two, if not three, eggs, which appeared larger than the common 
eggs : hence I am led to conclude that this was a case of retarded 
impregnation. On driving the bees from No. 8 it was evident 
that the old queen had departed or died, as there was no young 
brood, and two royal cells from which the young queens had only 
just emerged—one of them making its escape during the dis¬ 
turbance created by the driving. The unfavourable weather 
must have prevented her majesty from being fertilised for a 
period, probably beyond the time assigned by Huber when the 
production of drones’ eggs only is possible. There was no reason 
for her to lay more than one egg in each cell, as there was abun¬ 
dance of comb of which she could have availed herself. I can¬ 
not tell which queen now retains the sovereignty, but I hope it 
is the one from the swarm last added. 
J\ To, V, An Adjuster Ilive. — I have often found, after a very 
good season, that many of the hives which have done well 
become weak the following spring, and die, or would perish if not 
timely supplied with a queen : so it has proved with this, and 
with one or two others in my apiary. A fine swarm was hived 
in this box in 1857. The following season it gave me 30 lbs. of 
pure honey ; and in 1859 I took olf in one box 52 lbs. of the very 
finest honeycombs possible. Early this spring it was very crowded 
with bees, and seemed likely to prove again to be the best of my 
depriving hives. But the queen must have died in March ; as, 
from that time, the bees diminished in numbers, though pollen 
was carried in up to the end of May, when I searched each comb 
finding no queen or sign of recent breeding. A swarm having 
opportunely risen the same day from another hive, was united to 
No. 7 in the usual way, having first excised the greater portion 
of the old combs. In this case a deadly warfare raged for about 
an hour, ending in the death of the greater part of the original 
inhabitants. This, however, was not of much consequence, as 
they were, in all probability, already living beyond the ordinary 
term of bee existence.—S. B. Fox, Exeter. 
(To be continued.') 
FERTILE WORKERS. 
The queen cells in one of my small artificial swarms having 
turned out abortive, owing to the inclemency of the weather, 
some amongst the working bees have taken the opportunity of 
usurping the functions of royalty,_ by depositing eggs in the 
breeding cells. I presume these will produce drones, although 
laid in the workers’cradles; two or three being deposited in 
each cell. The depositing a plurality of eggs in a cell is not, 
however, peculiar to fertile workers, since a prolific queen, when 
pressed for room, will often deposit two or more eggs in one 
receptacle. I am unable to detect the difference in size which 
is said to distinguish workers which have assumed the functions 
of maternity. These fertile workers are Ligurians. 
Although remarked upon by various apiarian writers, this is 
the first instance of the occurrence of fertile workers which has 
come under the direct observation of—A Devonshire Bee- 
keeper. 
COVERS FOR HIVES. 
In accordance with your request, I write to state that I have 
two common straw hives of larger dimensions than usual. In 
the top of each of these I have cut a large hole, and placed on 
the hive an octagon board of red cedar, about sixteen inches 
across. The large hives to cover these are 18 inches in 
diameter, and 28 inches high at the top (inside measure). 
I have two twelve-inch glasses, which I purpose placing on the 
boards when we are favoured with a better honey season than 
the present. I purpose securing the covers for the winter by 
making two holes in the hoop at bottom on each side, passing 
a loop of stout cord through these holes, and hooking it on to 
a nail under the side of the stool or block on which the hive 
stands. The two covers cost me 10s. each, which is more than 
I expected. I find the most economical protection and stand 
for hives is a wooden bee-house. The incessant rain this 
season has greatly damped though not totally extinguished the 
ardour of —One Suffering Severely ekom Apimania. 
r.S.—Would “A Devonshire Bee-keeper” say whether he 
finds the Italian bees breed drones earlier than the black bees; 
also whether they really increase faster, &c. ? 
[The season has been so exceptional, and my bees have been 
so much interfered with during my queen-rearing proceedings, 
that I am unable to afford the required information.—A Devon¬ 
shire Bee-keeper.] 
OUR LETTER EOX. 
White Bantams (A Bradford Exhibitor, — In answer to two 
northern correspondents, we have to reply that of White Bantams there 
are two perfectly distinct varieties, each of which is equally eligible 
for prizetaking—viz., the hooted Bantams, and the perfectly clear-legged 
Bantams. Although distinct, and each strain will breed quite truly, any 
“cross-bred” specimens between the two varieties would be of not the 
smallest value as exhibition birds. At Birmingham, London, and many 
other of our principal shows of poultry, “ booted Bantams ” have taken 
precedence when well shown in the general classes for White Bantams; 
and by reference to the prize lists for Sheffield, it appears there was not a 
class for “any other variety of Bantams therefore the birds complained 
ofby “F.H.” had no other chance of competing than as “White Bantams.” 
Itoup (Arthur ).—Give each of them half a grain of powdered sulphate 
of copper daily in some soft food, bread sopped in ale, and plenty of green 
food, such as Lettuce and Cabbage leaves. If not better in a week or ten 
days kill them. 
Points in Bkown-breasted Bed Game (Tudor ).—The colour of legs is 
immaterial, but it is essential all should match in a pen. The most popular 
colour is willow. It cannot be taken as an indication of purity or other¬ 
wise, as other shades are not without their admirers. Hard body, close 
feather, smart head, full eye, and full but not over-large tail, carried more 
drooping than otherwise. We mention this, because many are now-a-days 
squirrel-tailed. The plumage should be very dark, but the principal feathers 
beautifully marked with yellow, and a rich but not bright copper ; black 
breast, with bright brown shading, and very rich deep red or crimson 
wing. The hens should be very dark, with golden-striped hackle. 
Aor. ron Exhibiting Hamburgh Chickens (If. IF.). —We should not 
advise you to exhibit Silver-pencilled Hamburgh chickens if less than four 
months old, unless they had grown very fast. The combs should be 
beginning to show, the deaf cars should bo white in the pullets, and 
whitening in the cock, and the feathers getting firm. Give them a good 
dry run, with plenty of grass ; and if you feed on ground oats you will, in 
weather like the present, see them grow. 
LONDON MARKETS.— July 9. 
POULTRY. 
There is rather a larger supply of poultry than we have had of late, hut 
the prices are much in excess of those of former years at this season. The 
truth is, there has been a scarcity. 
Each- 
—s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Large Fowls. 
fi 
0 
to 
G 
G 
Smaller Fowls. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Chickens . 
. 3 
0 
>» 
4 
0 
Geese. 
0 
0 
>> 
0 
0 
Goslings . 
. !> 
6 
»» 
G 
0 
Du cks . 
. 0 
0 
>> 
0 
0 
Ducklings. 
G 
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3 
0 
Each—s. 
cl. 
s. 
cl. 
Turkeys. 
0 
to 
0 
0 
Guinea Fowls 
. 3 
0 
3 
G 
Pigeons.. 
. 0 
8 
0 
9 
Hares. 
. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Leverets . 
. 3 
G 
4 
G 
Rabbits. 
. 1 
4 
1 
G 
Wild ditto. 
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