THE POULTERER. On the Keeping Properties of Eggs. MR. BROWN: Having read occasionally some controversy in the N. E. Farmer concerning the keeping properties of productive eggs, or those containing a germ, compared with unproductive eggs, which are unimpregnated, I wish to communicate a few observations on the subject. Persons who have been accustomed to raising is an observation which he had occasion to ovens. There is a method, he continues, for having eggs preserved a great while without corrup tion, which ought to obtain public attention. It is very remarkable that there should be, among eggs laid by the same hens, some that remain sound and contract no ill taste what ever, though laid a great while before, and kept in a warm, dry air five or six times longer than what would be necessary to rot any other eggs, placed in the same circumstances. This make a great many times, before he tried fowls, must have observed that, if there are several eggs left in the nest of a hen, after she methods for causing chickens to be hatched in has hatched her brood, in frequent instances, After eggs had been warmed for some some of these remaining eggs, when broken, days together in the hatching ovens, there appear to be fresh and uninjured, while others were some that spread the most offensive smell are entirely rotten, or contain dead chickens. in the place if they were broken, and were enNow those eggs which have not been materially tirely rotten. There were others in the same injured by the warmth of the hen's body dur-place, which, when broken, not only had no ill smell, but which were very good to eat.→ ing the period of incubation, are such as never contained a germ; and those which are rotten, They differed from new-laid eggs only in hayare eggs that contained a germ that had per-yolk was an entire ball, like that of fresh eggs, ing some of their moisture evaporated, but the ished. I have always, therefore, made it a practice to examine the eggs in the nest of a setting hen, after she has sat upon them five days, and take away all those which the cess of incubation has not commenced. This is easily determined by holding the eggs against a strong light, which makes apparent the little net work of blood vessels forming within all the productive eggs, and reveals the clear transparency of the unproductive ones. By this means I save all the eggs which are not going to produce chickens, before they have been injured by the warmth of the hen; if I left them a longer time, those eggs which contained a perished germ, would soon become corrupted, though the eggs that never contained a germ would bear this temperature with impunity for several weeks. pro But as the public is always better satisfied if an individual who makes a doubtful asser tion, should establish it by the testimony of some high authority, as well as by his own experience, I have made an abstract of some remarks on this subject, contained in a work "On Domestic Fowls, &c.," by M. De Reaumur, the inventor of the French thermometer. In this abstract I shall use the language of the author, as translated, but shall considerably abridge the sum of his remarks. ap The multiplication of chickens does not pear, says M. De Reaumur, to be a more important object than the preservation of eggs, since it is probable that hens contribute more to the actual supply of man's food by the latter, than the former. It is very easy to surmise that if all the eggs consumed in one year were put into the scale of a balance and weighed, and all the chickens, fowls and capons eaten in the same year were weighed likewise, the weight of the eggs would be superior to that of the flesh of the poultry. He thinks, in any case, however, that the preservation of eggs is a subject of great importance. In some of the eggs that were corrupt enough to spread the most offensive smell, he found a chicken very well formed; in some of the same eggs he found only the remains of one, and in of any. In this last case the germ had probothers he could not perceive the least vestiges ably perished at an early date, and had become dissolved; but the uncorrupt eggs never conive germ, is wanting in the eggs of hens that tained a germ. The germ, at least a productlive without a cock; and those of hens that are not deprived of cocks are not all fruitful. Now, since the eggs that have germs in them are liable to corruption, he was led to think that those which keep sound a longer time, are The experiments necesthe unfruitful ones. sary to remove all doubt on this point were too plain not to be attempted. He accordingly kept four hens without a cock in a large cage, where they had everything besides in plenty; they laid eggs there, the first of which were of course productive; but after these had all been laid, by experimenting upon those which were laid afterwards, he found that when placed in the hatching oven, no chicken was enfolded in them, and they did not contract any corruption. Although they were in an air warm to the degree that causes chickens to be hatched, they remained sound there for above thirty days, and sometimes forty or fifty days together. Thirty or forty days in an air of the heat of a hen's body must be equivalent in its action upon the eggs, to a great many months of an air which has only the common temperature of our houses. He concluded, therefore, that eggs destitute of a germ might be kept a long time in an ordinary temperature without being spoiled. He then made further experiments of another character. He deposited some of these eggs laid by hens kept apart from cocks, in one of the coolest places in his house on the In order, then, to have eggs that would keep fresh from spring to the middle, or even the end of winter, we need only to deprive hens of all communication with cocks. People, without knowing this, must have owed to this circumstance the occasional advantage of finding a smaller number of spoiled eggs among those they bought. Hens are not furnished in every farm with as many and as good cocks as would be necessary to render all their eggs fit to be sat on; and the egg of such fowls, after being kept a long time, would contain a large proportion well preserved. ground floor, after having written upon each allow them a daily run in a grass park. One of them the date when it was laid. On the hour's liberty is sufficient to keep them in third day of January, he tried those which | health, and their enjoyment of this boon is so had been deposited there on the first of May, great, that, even were there no other reason, the preceding year; and found them in good that should be sufficient inducement for you to condition. A great cavity had been made give them their little bit of happiness, even at within them by evaporation. They were not the expense of trouble to yourself. It is a5in the least corrupt, though the yolk was tonishing how soon fowls accommodate themslightly adhering to the shell. He had these selves to the regulations of the establishment. eggs dressed in different ways, and none of A day or two suffices to make them acquiesce those who eat them, had the least suspicion in all our wishes, and enables them te recogthat they were eight months old. nize without apparent difficulty their respective yards. Fowls seem to understand the value of their hour's play, and lose no time, the trap once opened, in availing themselves of it; they rush to the grass and never cease picking it until driven home. Great care must be taken that one set is put in before another is let out; this demands hourly attention, as by one moment's carelessness in allowing breeds to mix, hopes, for a whole season may be destroyed. If there are several yards of the same breed, these, to save time, may be allowed to enjoy each other's society during their run, as a faux pas in their case, though not advisable, Reaumur quotes some experiments of other need not be fatal-but never let out different persons which were attended with similar re-varieties together. One single mesalliance will sults. I think, therefore, we have reason to ruin the purity of the breed. At no season of believe that the eggs which are laid by hens the year should hens be allowed to associate kept entirely apart from the male bird, are not with the male bird of a different variety, and liable to corrupt, under ordinary circumstances, if super-eminent excellence is desired, not even before the contents are almost entirely evapo- with an inferior one of the same. While the rated. Eggs, on the other hand, which con- fowls are enjoying their grass run, their yards tain a germ, will begin to corrupt immediately may be dug over. Twice a week is not too after the germ has perished; and the germ often for this operation. Occasionally a little seldom retains its vitality more than seven or of the soil may be pared off, and fresh sand eight weeks, unless some extraordinary atten- strewed in its place. At all times, perfect tion is paid to the eggs for their preservation. cleanliness in yards and houses, should greet Indeed, I have no doubt that if a series of the eye of the lady visitor-it is the grand recareful experiments were performed with the quisite. At the risk of appearing didactic, I two different kinds of eggs, to ascertain their must insist upon a sine qua non in a poultry comparative keeping properties, it would prove establishment, great or small, be it that of the that the unimpregnated eggs laid in the spring, laird,' or that of his 'tenant.' I do not say would be found as good in January as other with some writers, If the floor of the fowl eggs laid at the same time, would be in Sep-house be cleansed every morning, so much the tember. But this is conjecture: the exact difference between their keeping properties can only be ascertained by further experiment. Cor. N. E. Farmer. Sound Talk about Poultry. There is a volume of truth contained in the extract below, from a recently published work on poultry, by Mrs. Ferguson Blair; entitled "The Henwife." We commend it to the attention of our poultry-loving friends: "The best guide is nature, and we should always follow her as closely as possible in the treatment of our stock. Fowls are almost grazing animals, and pick up grass, or any green food in quantities. If, therefore, you cannot give them a complete liberty, and this is impossible where large numbers and several varieties are kept, you should at all events The better,' but I say, 'It must be done,' and scrupulously so, too. If the floor is as hard as it ought to be, a birch broom is the best implement that can be used for this purpose. supply of water must be copious and of the purest description, and the dust-bath always provided with ashes for the use of the fowls. They love to roll themselves in this, scattering the contents over their feathers, to the effectual discomfort and dislodgement of all parasites. A heap of lime rubbish, or old mortar, should be placed in a corner in each yard-poultry are fond of it, and it is conducive to their health. Once a year the interior of the houses and nests should be limewashed, and the floor saturated with the same mixture; this keeps all perfectly pure and free from taint. It is good during warm weather, occasionally, to sprinkle water from a watering-can over the perch and its vicinity, scattering a little sul THE BEE KEEPER. Bee-Keeper's Calendar for September. This is often a very busy month with bees. The Fall flowers come into blossom, and in some seasons, colonies which have hitherto amassed but little honey, become heavy, and even yield a surplus to their owner. Bees are quite reluctant to work in boxes, so late in the season, even if supplies are very abundant; but if empty combs are inserted in the place of full ones removed, they will fill them with astonishing celerity. These full combs may afterwards be returned, if the bees have not a sufficient supply without them. Comb Guides. I respectfully beg leave to say a few words to my beekeeping friends, through the Ameri can Bee Journal, in regard to comb guides, as that is a subject of vital importance to every one who attempts to keep bees on the more scientific principles of the present age. And also being myself a zealous advocate of the movable comb class of bee-hives, I have been greatly gratified and pleased with the articles brought out already by our valuable "Journal" on the subject of comb guides. I have used for three seasons, strips of comb stuck on the upper or top piece of the frame as a comb guide, and I am so highly pleased with the plan that I cannot refrain from giving my experience to others whom it may concern, as I believe that articles from practical men, in the cultivation of bees, is the way in which the science of apiarian pursuits will be most speedily advanced, bringing beekeeping to a more firm basis than it has heretofore occupied in our country; for I have full confidence in the inventive genius of our American citizens. I also believe that if our energies are rightly directed that ere many years this country will stand out as prominent in beekeeping as she does in many other things. Our advance already in bee hives reminds me strongly of the language of our late Commissioner of Patents, in regard to inventions, that "No sooner are the American people informed that a certain improvement in anything is wanted, than some man steps forward with the very thing needed." But, to the subject we started on. The way I proceed is this: take some pan or skillet, and melt in it rosin and beeswax in the proportions of two parts of rosin, and one part of beeswax. Your vessel ought to be eight or ten inches wide, to give room for slipping in the comb. If no Fall supplies abound, and any stocks are too light to winter with safety, then, in the Northern States, the latter part of this month is the proper time for feeding them. I have already stated that it is impossible to tell how much food a colony will require, to carry it safely through the Winter; it will be found, however, very unsafe to trust to a bare supply, for even if there is food enough, it may not Then select fine meshed brood comb, having always be readily accessible to the bees.-ready a sharp knife; oil the blade of the knife, Great caution will still be necessary to guard against robbing; but if there are no feeble, queenless, or impoverished stocks, the bees, unless tempted by improper management, will seldom rob each other.-LANGSTROTH. ANT RIDDANCE.-We have made a very important and cheap discovery to keep ants from bees. Several years since the little red ants were very numerous in our cupboard, and we put stone coal against the end of the house opposite the cupboard, and it banished them all. We concluded it was the effect of the copperas in the coal. This spring the black ant began to annoy our bees, and we procured copperas out of the coal bank and put it around the bench legs, cleaned all the ants off of the bench, and there has not been one about the hives or bench since.-Cor. Bee Journal. so that it will pass through the comb without clinging to it, first having the comb at the proper temperature, that it will not break. You must also see that you have not your comb too warm, or it will be easily mangled. When things are all right, your knife will slip through the comb very perfectly, leaving the strips straight and in good order. Your strips ought to be about three-fourths of an inch wide. Have the top piece of your frames flat; then slip the strips of comb in your melted wax, and set them straight on the frames, and they will stick tight almost as soon as they touch, so that you can set each frame away as fast as it is fixed. When you have things all in a state of readiness, you can fix a set of frames in a few minutes, and then you have, I think, the best comb guide that can be used almost, for several reasons. In the first place, you have given the bees a start of the right kind of fine mesh ed comb, worker-brood comb; again, you have a comb on or in each frame, as straight as a rule, which is a very desirable thing. Then the animal heat of the hive is not absorbed or hindered by partitions of wood or metal between the combs, which new natural swarms dislike very much; and you economise the use of the old or waste combs about your bee yard. bees gathered a good deal from blemished fruit, of which there was a large quantity, as he only picked for the use of his family. The same has been noticed in abundant peach years elsewhere; but near a good market, the crop is too carefully gathered for bees to obtain much from this source. "The nauseous Ailanthus" blooms very late. The white clover, in my vicinity, suffered from drouth this year before the Ailanthus blossomed, and bees work I used this method of comb guides last season in about fifty hives, and I do not thinked with unusual activity upon it. I observed that I had one crooked comb in the lot. I am certain that if that kind of comb guide is properly put on and used, that you will attain to a very high perfection in straight combs -in fact, almost all that a person could wish or desire.-Cor. Bee Journal. this upon an avenue of trees over one mile in length. I have been informed that the timber is extensively used in China (where it attains a large size) in ship building, and the leaves of the young trees for feeding a worm which produces an inferior silk, worn there by the lower classes. The chief need, in closely cultivated districts, is something to fill the gap be [The Editor pro tem of the FARMER has this season tried the use of these strips of comb,tween white clover and buckwheat.-Bee Jour. and his success is such that he recommends them as the easiest guide to make, while at the same time it answers the same purpose of securing straight combs.] Bee Pasturage. Those wishing to improve their bee pasturage are advised to plant maple, locust, chestnut, and linden trees, and to encourage others to do so. In setting out ornamental trees, it is surely worthy one's attention to have regard to their honey-producing power; and to select, with this end in view, those blooming at different times, rather than all of one kind, or those blooming at the same time. I should like to know the comparative value of these trees for producing honey, and also which varieties of these mentioned are the best. For timber, the yellow locust is the most valuable. It is extensively planted on the western prairies, where it grows very rapidly, and is chiefly used for railroad sleepers. In Southern Ohio, bees, some years, gather a large portion of their surplus honey from the locust. Their industry during the yield from the locust is surprising. Where the tree grows in great numbers, they almost abandon all other sources of supply. Apiary in September. Immediately after the failure of honey in the flowers-which will be in September in most places, look out and remove all colonies too feeble to defend themselves. They are quite sure to be robbed by stronger ones, which thus get a bad habit, and will be induced to attack others. Late swarms which are strong enough to winter, but lack honey, should not be fed this month-as many recommend-un- ̧ less they can be fed sufficiently to construct comb in which to store it, and rear considerable brood. Next month, the brood will mature, and leave the cells, and give room for several pounds of honey... When two or three feeble colonies stand near together, and contain bees enough for a good colony, they may be united for a winter stock, if fed properly. To prevent quarreling, sprinkle with sugar water flavored with a few drops of peppermint, or other essence. Condemned colonies will have a little more honey if taken now, than if later; yet when all the brood is matured and out of the way, it will be nicer. Stocks in which much foul brood has appeared, should be removed at once. It will not do to wait for such to mature all their brood, as they continue to rear that till cold weather, and in the mean time may get robbed, which would infect other hives with the disease. When cells of honey and dead brood are mixed together in the same comb, it is best disposed of by burying-the honey is unfit for use, very little wax can be made from it, and the bees should not be al Twenty years ago, an old farmer in New Jersey raised from the seed about 20,000 yellow locust trees, which, when tall enough not to be injured by cattle, he set out on the roadside, along his fences, and also thinned out his woodland and planted a locust wherever there there was a chance for one to thrive. The ma-lowed to take a particle. Stocks of any age jority are now worth $1 each for posts. Some years since, a farmer in the west set out a very extensive peach orchard for firewood-the tree being of rapid growth in rich soil. When they began to bear, he marked those that yielded good fruit, saved them, and cut the others as needed. In this way he originated some fine fruit. He remarked that his may be attacked, and hence all should be examined where the disease is prevalent. When a stock is diseased just enough to condemn it, yet not sufficiently to prevent it from being wintered, it may be kept, but some hive containing combs and a small quantity of honey, should be provided to which to transfer in the Spring. Honey taken from such hives, when THE HORTICULTURIST. it can be cut out free from the mixture of brood, Introducing Italian Queens-A New Method. After the : CORRESPONDING EDITOR. Ornamental Shrubs.-No. 2. SWEET SCENTED SHRUB (Calycanthus).— Several species. Floridus is most common and perhaps the most desirable. The wood is fragrant, foliage rich, flowers single, of a chooolate color with a peculiar agreeable spicy odor. WHITE FRINGE (Chinanthus).—A fine shrub with large, broad Magnolia-like foliage and delicate greenish white flowers resembling cut paper. Editors Co. Gent.: Last season I first attempted to introduce the Italian variety of bees in my apiary, but the method of doing it was new to me, and like some others, failed in the attempt. This season I tried it again and succeeded after the experience of last year. I I obtained my queen from Mr. Quinby. She was of a beautiful color. I have raised a few queens from her which I introduced without a cage-a new method to me, and compartively easy. The method is as follows: swarm had been deprived of the native queen and cells four or five days, take a cup containing a small amount of honey, and put the queen in, being sure you get her completely covered with honey as quick as possible, without injuring her; then with a small spoon carefully put her in the top hole of the hive, and by the time she is licked off she is all right. The few trials I have given this method have not failed in DOGWOOD; RED BRANCHED (Cornus Sanguia single instance, but as I have not thoroughly tested it, I would advise none but our large).-A large spreading shrub with willow-like Italian bee raisers to try it. During this shoots and white flowers; very conspicuous month there will be more queens introduced and ornamental in winter when the bark is than in any of the past ones; hence it will be necessary for our bee-keepers to communicate as quick as possible, so as to give our amateurs a chance.-L. A. ASPINWALL. REMOVING HONEY FROM HIVES.-Two years ago we tried the following experiment on a hive of bees, from which it was desired to take the honey. Having bored a few small holes near the top of the hive, it was then inverted, and an empty box of the same size placed over it; both were then lifted into an empty tub, into which water was slowly poured, allowing time for the liquid to penetrate through the holes, but not too fast, in order to avoid drown PURPLE FRINGE OR SMOKE TREE-(Rus Cotinus).-A very neat pretty shrub of large size, covered in summer with a curious purple inflorescence resembling fringe or hair. This and the White Fringe should have the shelter of other shrubbery to endure the winter in Wisconsin. blood red. Cornus Variegata is desirable for its variegated foliage. FLOWERING CURRANT-Yellow-(Aurea.)— Large spreading shrub with neat foliage and abundant yellow flowers with strong cinnamon perfume. The Crimson and Double Crimson are not hardy. Gordons, (Ribes Gordoni) is a hybrid between the crimson flowering and the yellow; it is quite hardy, but should be slightly protected in Wis. to insure a good bloom. LILAC.-An old fashioned shrub with hand ing the bees. As the water rose amongst the some foliage and a profusion of fragrant showy combs the bees found their way up into the flowers, in early spring, indispensible to every empty box, which was then lifted off and placed on the bee-stand. The box, full of garden. May be grown in clumps or trained water and combs, was then lifted gradually out as a small tree. Makes a fine ornamental hedge of the tub, the water escaping by the holes or screen. Beside the common purple and through which it entered. The whole operation occupied but a few minutes, and scarcely white, there are several newer varieties which any bees were lost. The short time necessarily are desirable. Charles the 10th is a strong prevented the honey from becoming dissolved, growing variety with large leaves and reddish and, as the greater number of cells are sealed, up, there is really little danger of such loss purple flowers. being sustained. After the water was drawn off it was found to be only slightly sweet; the combs soon became dry, and the honey was in no way injured. The Persian has slender branches and small leaves, there is a purple and a white flowering variety. Josikea is a very distinct species with dark glossy leaves, |