334 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 25, 1860, 
Commended, Lady Chesterfield (Grey); Capt. Townshend, Stretton Hall, 
Ashby-de-la-Zouch (Grey and White). 
Cochin-China (any variety).—First, T. Stretch, Marsh Lane, Bootle, 
Liverpool. Second, H. Bates, Harborne Heath, Edgbaaton (Silver Cinna¬ 
mon). . , 
Hamburgh (Golden-spangled).—First and Second, J. Leech, Liverpool 
Hoad Newcastle. 
Hamburgh (Silver-spangled).—First and Second, G. Cargey, Sandon 
Farm. 
Hamburgh (Golden or Silver-pencilled).—First, J. B. Chune, Coalbrook- 
dale (Golden-pencilled). Second, J. W. Holland, Sansome Walk. Worcester 
(Silver-pencilled). Highly Commended, W. Tavenor, Little Aston, Stone 
(Golden-pencilled). 
Turkeys.— First, Lady Chesterfield, Bretby. Second, J. Coxon, Frceford 
Farm (Cambridge). 
Grebe.—F irst, Lady Chesterfield, Bretby (White). Second, B. H. Allen, 
Longcrofts Hall. Burton (Toulouse). Highly Commended, Mrs. A. Baker, 
Grendon, Atherstone. Commended, Mrs. A. Baker. 
Ducks. —First, G. Cargey, Sandon Farm (White Ayslesbury). Second, 
Mr. A. Baker, Grendon, Atherstone. Commended, Lady Bagot, Blithtield 
Hall (Aylesbury). 
The Judges were Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Spark Brook, near 
Birmingham; and Mr. Edward Lowe, of Comberford House, 
near Tamworth. 
BKETTON POULTRY SHOW. 
SECOND SWARMS. 
cradle. The generally received opinion amongst naturalibi ig, 
that they come forth fully matured; for by a wise provision of 
Nature, the common bees do not permit tbeir escape till, as 
Huber says, “ they are able to fly the instant they are liberated* 
Dr. Bevan observes, The young queens are temporarily in- 
prisoned the more completely to insure their first efforts to fly 
In furtherance of this, they are provided with capacious cells 
which, by enabling them to expand their wings before they 
emerge, fit them for immediate flight; whereas the workers and 
drones issue from their cells with folded wings.” My own ex- \ 
perience fully bears out these positions; but the exceptions to 
general rules with regard to bees are so common, that I should 
like to see the subject discussed by those who hold an opposite 
theory.—H. T. 
STICKS IN BEE-HIYES. 
Bretton is near Wakefield, and the Show took place Sep¬ 
tember 6th. The following is a list of the awards :— 
Cochin-China. —First and Second, S. Pickard, Wakefield. Chickens .— 
First, W. Harvey, Sheffield. Second, S. Pickard. 
Spanish.- Prize, J. Dixon, Bradford. Chickens. — First, J. Dixon. 
Second, Rev. J. Powden, Sheffield. 
Dorking.— First, S. Pickard. Second, H. Hemsworth. Chickens. —First, 
H. Hansworth. Second, S. Pickard. 
Hamburgh (Gold n-spangled).— First, J. Dixon. Second, H. Carter, 
Holmfirth. Chickens .—First, J. Dixon. Second, H. Carter. 
Hamburgh (Silver-spangled).—First, J. Dixon. Second, W. D.Henshall, 
Huddersfield. Chickens. —First, H. Carter. Second, J. Dixon. 
Hamburgh (Golden-pencilled).—First, W. Harvey. Second, W. D. 
Henshall. Chickens. —Prize, J. Dixon. 
Hamburgh (Silver-pencilled). — Prize, J. Dixon. Chickens. — Prize, 
J. Dixon. 
Polands (Black with White Crests).—Prize, J. Dixon. Chickens.— 
First, J. Dixon. Second, FI. Carter. 
Polands (Golden-spangled).—First and Second, J. Dixon. Chickens .— 
Prize, J. Dixon. 
Polands (Silver-spangled).—First and Second, J. Dixon. Chickens .— 
First and Second, J. Dixon. 
Game (Black-hreasted and other Reds).—First, J. Heeley, Hepwortli. 
Second, T. Dodd. Halifax. Chickens. —First, T. Dodd. Second, Messrs. 
Noble and Ineson. 
Game (White and Piles).—First, J Crosland, jun., and Yickerman. 
Chickens. —First, J. Heeley. Second, G. Wentworth. 
Game (Black and Brassy-winged).—First, J. Crosland, jun. Second, 
Messrs. Noble and Ineson. Chickens. —First and Second, Messrs. Noble 
and Ineson. 
Game (Duckwings and other Greys).—First, J. Crosland, jun. Second, 
S. Schofield. Chickens.— First, Messrs. Noble and Ineson. Second, J. 
Schofield. 
Bantams (White).—First, S. Pickard. Second, S. Schofield, 
Bantams (Black).—First, .T. Dixon. Second, J. Heeley. 
Bantams (Silver-laced).—First, W. Harvey. Second, S. Pickard. 
Bantams (Golden-laced).—First, W. Harvey. Second, J. Crosland, jun. 
Bantams (Game).—First and Second, J. Crosland, jun. 
Cock and Two Hens of any Distinct Breed. — First, W. Harvey, 
Second, J. Dixon (Brahmas). Chickens. —First, J. Crosland (Black Ham- 
burghs). Second, .T. Dixon (Brahmas). 
Cock of any Breed. —First, S. Schofield (Game). Second, H. Carter 
(Hamburgh). 
Hen of any Breed. —First, T. Dodd. Second, H. Carter. 
Guinea Fowls.*- First. H. Carter. Second, W. D. Henshall. 
Ducks (Aylesbury).—First. G. Robshaw. Second, G. Farnhill. 
Ducks (Rouen).—First, J. Dixon. Second, S. Pickard. Second, J. Hurst, 
Gander and Two Geese. —First, J. Dixon. Second, J. Fawcett. 
Turkey (Cock and Hen).—First, J. Fawcett. Second, J. Dixon. 
The Judges were Mr. Chaloner and others. 
Length of Ears in Rabbits.— At the Crystal Palace 
Show in “ Class 96, for length of ears,” the first-prize Babbits 
had ears 22 j inches by 4J inches ; and the second-prize Babbits, 
22i by 4L 
The communication in your last publication of your correspond¬ 
ent, “ A Y oung Bee-keeper,” opens a question as to the pro¬ 
bable causes of the unusual interval between the issue of his prime 
and second swarm. Mr. Golding, one of our most accurate 
observers, says that he lias frequently known, in backward springs, 
the usual interval extended to eighteen or twenty days, and he 
particularly instances the year 1829. My immediate object is, 
however, now directed to that part of the subject relative to the 
case of the young queens, and the position they at once are com¬ 
monly stated to occupy in the hive on emerging from the royal 
£56 
A correspondent at page 350, who signs, “ A Young Bee¬ 
keeper,” complains of having been misled regarding the use of 
sticks as a support to the combs in bee-hives, and thinks Mr. 
Taylor’s book is in error on the point. I have turned to this 
subject, both in the “ Bee-Keepers’ Manual,” and in Mr. 
Payne’s “ Apiarian’s Guide.” The latter says, “ I should re¬ 
commend the purchaser to send his own hive to the person of 
whom lie intends to buy a swarm, and to desire him not to put 
any sticks across the interior, as is a common custom, for they 
cause much trouble to the bees in forming their combs, and 
render their extraction almost impossible.” 
This I know from experience. Mr. Taylor’s advice is of a 
qualified character, and I give his own words. “ Sticks or props 
inside a hive are an annoyance to the bees, presenting a difficulty 
in extracting the combs, and are never required iu a hive made 
with a proper regard to proportion; in other words, where the 
combs are not too large to bear their own weight when loaded.” 
It would seem that the question turns mainly on the point as 
to the size and depth of your correspondent’s hives, of which we 
are not informed, but only that they are “ common straw.” 
Now, no one, that I am aware of, puts sticks within a wooden 
hive, and the mere material of a properly proportioned hive does 
not seem to me to affect the principle at issue.—H. K. J., 
Hampstead. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Profitable Rabbit-keeping ( Greenhorn ).—There is no good work on 
the subject. There have been several good papers about the fancy kinds 
and on general management in our former volumes. For table purposes 
no breed is so profitable or so hardy as the common grey domestic Rabbit. 
“ Siden-tailkd Bibd.” (F. TV. II.). —Side or crooked taiis spring from 
two causes: lfirst, from a crooked back, and next from injury sustained. 
But sometimes the defect is only temporary, and arises from having been 
packed or confined for a long time in a low or small basket, compelling 
undue depression or twisting round of the tail. After such treatment a 
cock will carry his tail sideways for days ; and if “ F. W. H.” has ever 
slept on a lock of hair twisted into some unnatural position, and been 
called to the consciousness of it by an unwonted pain on awakin , he will 
understand it. This is not a disqualification, as the bird will recover it; 
but if the tail has been aheatjs crooked, or even lopped on one side, the 
bird is disqualified. 
Fancy Pigeons [Brahma ).—A few fancy Pigeons may be kept in the 
garden without injury to the walks, lawn, or flowers; but if they become 
numerous, or are not sufficiently fed, they will peck the tender leaves off 
from some plants while young, and would then annoy the gardener by 
thinning his seed-beds or pecking the young Peas and Cabbage plants. 
Many ladies admire the Fantails; but tastes differ so much, it is impossible 
to clioose for another. As to accommodation, each pair of Pigeons require 
two nests of about one foot or ten inches cube in size; and these should be 
protected from the weather, and so arranged that one pair may not take 
more than their share. For further directions see “ The Pigeon Book for 
the Many.”—B. P. B. 
Canaries Travelling by Rail ( W . IT .).— You will find no difficulty 
in sending your Canaries by rail in a cage well supplied with food and 
water. In case the water should be spilled it would be advisable to fill the 
pan with sopped bread. The cage would be better covered with cilico. 
As to the best book on Canaries, that is much more difficult to answer. 
Bechstein is probably the best; but, being a foreigner, he did not know 
anything of English fancy breeds “ The Bird-keeper’s Guide,” a little 
shilling book, scarcely notices any other variety than the London Fancy. 
Kidd’s shilling treatise is written in the fashionable sentimental style, and 
it is very difficult to sift the sense from the chaff. We shall endeavour to 
supply the want by the series publishing in The Cottage Gardener, and 
beg of fanciers to help us.—B. P. B. 
Teaching a Starling to Talk and Whistle ( A Subscriber) .—It is a 
popular error to suppose that slitting a bird’s tongue with a piece of silver 
will make it talk: it is far more likely to cause the death of the poor 
sufferer. Some bird-fanciers, however, maintain that clipping the skin 
beneath the tongue gives it more play, and that the bird talks better for it; 
but as the bird talks" more in the throat than by the tongue, I am at a loss 
to understand the reason. We have, however, raised birds that have 
talked and never had anything done to their tongues. The birds should be' 
made familiar; and the words and sentences it is required they should 
speak should be pronounced to them clearly, and this should be continued 
and frequently repeated many times a-day for several months.—B. P. B. 
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