318 MANAGEMENT OF HONEY-BEES.-No. 4. MANAGEMENT OF HONEY-BEES.-No. 4. except from the south, and we find such situations THE only covering or roofing necessary for hives calculated to decoy out the bees in the dead of placed as before described, is a couple of boards, winter, when the sun shines clear! But do these say 15 inches wide, fastened together with stout bees ever return? Look upon the snow around leather hinges, and placed upon the top of the your bee-stands-that will answer the question. I hives, with a small block of wood upon each hive, I have often seen the old women, and even men, in order to raise the centre of the boards, and give picking up the torpid bees in pans, and endeavora descent to the sides, to carry off water. Previous ing to warm them into life; and if they should be to strapping the boards together, they should be restored to the hives, perhaps the next day they secured from warping by cleats upon the upper would be found in the same condition. These sides, fastened with wrought nails. When there people had not sense enough to know, that by are several hives to cover, it is best to divide the beating out the backs and ends of their bee-houses, roof into strips of six feet long, or half the length the bees would stay at home! Well, my dear of ordinary boards, for the greater convenience of reader, if you have always seen bee-houses face removing them, which, at certain seasons, is neces- the south, I do not care, I shall front mine to the sary to do, in order to remove hives from one sta-east. There were upon a time two certain husbandtion to another-a very important matter-as will men living near each other; the one allowed his be shown hereafter. This roofing may be secured hired hands to sleep till the sun had reached a confrom removal by heavyweights, by cords attached siderable altitude-and it was remarked how little to the sides, and secured to the posts that support he performed during the season. The other called the hives. The question may be asked why it is forth his hired men as soon as the dawn of day necessary to have any roof at all. A roof of about would admit, and people were astonished at the 2 to 3 feet wide, is important for various reasons. quantity of produce gathered into his barns! In the first place, to protect the hives from natural Now, the result of two stocks of bees, the one decay. Secondly, it affords protection to the bees facing the east, and the other the south, may not be when they cluster out largely, as they will take to dissimilar. The bees facing the south wait for the the inner sides of the hives, and thus be secure in morning sun to throw his rays upon their place of almost any storm. Thirdly, it protects the supers egress, before they will venture forth, which is from the melting rays of the sun, which would en- some two hours later than upon the hives facing the danger the combs. I once found the honey run-east. Then you will see the bees of the one at ning in a stream from the bottom board of one of work long before the bees of the other think of my hives, and on examination I found the combs | sallying forth, and the result of their labors, when in the super melted down flat, from the effects of a the honey-season is past, may not be disproportionJune sun, in a case in which I had omitted to cover the hive. Even the old combs below would be in danger of melting, without any roof; but this kind of roof will shade the hives half-way down to the bottom, which is sufficient. In the spring of the year, let the roof be removed back, so as to present the entire front of the hives to the sun, as it helps generate the necessary heat within to bring forward the young brood. As the season advances, say about the first of June, then let the roof be brought forward to the centre, if fronting the east, and somewhat past the centre, if fronting the south, in order to give the bees the greater shade. I consider this kind of bee-stand as the most economical, and, at the same time, the best adapted to the natural requirement of bees. It allows the hives to be suspended, instead of resting upon a shelf or board at the bottom, and permits the bottom-board to be suspended also, with small wire hooks, the importance of which has already been spoken of. It gives a free circulation of air around the hives, and affords as little shelter to the insects as possible; and when they do get a footing, one has an easy opportunity to dislodge them. When made with care, with posts planed and painted, its appearance is not bad, but rough posts and rough boards for a roof, with a good coat of whitewash, will answer the purpose very well. The situation of the bee-stand will next claim our attention. The reader will, as a matter of course, say, "it should front the south," because he has always seen them so. I admit that we generally see them so, and we also see the hive housed up in the warmest possible situation in the winter season, where not a breath of air can reach them, ate to the result of the labors of the two husband- COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE COTTON CROP. COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE COTTON A GREAT many readers of yours will run over your news of the "Last Year's Cotton Crop," without giving an examination, and will thus be influenced-may be, it will have considerable effect in our market. I presume that none but the bigoted will hesitate to admit, that the cotton crop has more influence on the welfare, or probably on the prosperity of America, than that of any otheralways premising that we had our "daily bread;" therefore, the correction of any unfavorable impression would be of more or less advantage. But to the matter in hand. By the Report of the Board of Trade, it is proved that, in 1845, 1,069,320 cwt. of cotton were imported into Great Britain; during the present year, 1,019,738 cwt. The difference in weight is thus reduced to a trifle less than 50,000 cwt., or above 15,000 bales. In other words, the falling off in weight this year, as compared with last year, is over 4 per cent., but the falling off in the number of bags above 26 per cent! The inference then drawn, is that there is no faith in the shortness of the crop, and that prices cannot improve. 319 I In North Carolina, 9,131 I have seen the remark made-" deliver us from our friends,”—and well may the cotton region repeat it, when alluding to our Northern friends. am very willing to admit that we have often erred in our estimates, but I deny the inference, that we intended to deceive. The cotton crop is more difficult to estimate until gathered, than any other grown, so much depends on the season and the lateness of frost. We have been so sanguine at times of a shortness of the crop, and desiring to have an honest advantage of the fact, that we have prematurely judged; the season proving more favorable has made our estimates fail. I may not know myself, nor may I know others, but I believe, nevertheless, that a more magnanimous and honest people than the cotton planters do not exist this side of heaven, and I would tell my own dear parents that they spoke hastily at least-if they would say that we made false statements for money. To say to you precisely my opinion of this estimating,-I do not believe there is any man who can tell within 100 lbs. per hand, what I will make, scarcely one year out of ten, on the 1st day of August, and that he will frequently fail one bale, and just as apt as not full 100 lbs. per acre, of seed cotton. In alluding above to our Northern friends, I mean to say that they generally give publicity to the largest estimates, and some insist that they know best. The estimates above are truly, I suppose, from foreign data, but the data are so glaringly absurd that any one ought to detect the error. Agreeably to information received from a cotton merchant in New Orleans, J. A. Ruff, I am able to Now, sir, you see at once that your data are too show that the falling off in receipts in the United erroneous to be any criterion, and that we must States, up to August 1, was 361,745 bales; I would rely on the receipts and exports according to the like to see how this deficit is made up in Great U. S. accounts-which will place the crop without Britain. The quantity you state as being imported much doubt on the 1st of September, that being into Great Britain in 1845, 1,069,320 cwt., if multi-the usual date at which the year closes, at plied by 112 lbs. in a cwt., will give 119,763,840 full 500,000 bales short, which, added to the deIbs. ONLY, and the receipts in 1846, 1,019,738 cwt., creasing stock on hand, will and must leave the or 114,210,656 lbs. stock at less than 700,000 bales, supposing the If the first number be divided by 350, which is consumption to continue in '46, as in '45, at over 29,000 bales per week. As to weight of bales, the same fix, or if not, the grass in cotton fiela it is impossible that the increase in weight of bales shows they ought to be. The thing is certain-it is can make up the deficit between the apparent de- impossible for Mississippi with her mammoth load crease of 26 per cent., and the real one of 4 per of 550,000 bales, to get it into market as cent., and I believe it is a mere catchpenny ma- early as last year; and though she may make the nœuvre. Consider, the bales of the southwest average crop, yet, with an ordinary season, much of it must about 420 lbs., and those of Carolina about 330; add be a total loss. Again, all cotton planters know, to these even 25 per cent., and we have Mississippi that a seasonable, rainy year, is not favorable for a bales at 525 lbs., an increase that never occurred in large crop, and that a crop in the grass from May to one year even on one plantation; and I venture August, cannot mature as early, nor make so much, that the difference in weight has not varied 20 lbs. and that large, pretty cotton, is always deceptive. for 15 years, if we take out the advance made on I therefore conclude the crop of '46 is more decotton per bale, by banks. I mean to say, that the pendent on the latter part of this season than any I present average weight of bales has not been 10 lbs. ever saw; that an early frost, with these constant less or 10 lbs. more for any one year, in 15 years, rains, will cut the crop under two millions of bales; except the banking years. And I say further, that and if the fall be very late and favorable, that we a jury of twelve men selected from the cotton make the largest one that ever was made—but the fall states, or from the cotton-receiving cities, would must be very late, because there is not a crop of say the difference in weight has not been over 20 early fruit, nor a fair show for a middling one; our lbs., if that, for the past five years. And why dependence then is for a late crop of fruit. I should it be? Freights have not advanced, our would not be at all surprised if our crop dropped presses are not more powerful, nor is our cotton under two millions, which, with peace with Mexieasier compressed-and a majority of us could not co, and no more experiments by the Government of press 500 lb. bales without a greater loss of time these U. S., will bring forward the most thrifty and labor than would be compensated by the little times we have seen for ten years. M. W. PHILIPS. saving. That the shortness of crop admits now of Edward's Depôt, Miss., Aug. 9th, 1846. no possible doubt, I am well convinced, and I believe it exceeds the apparent difference. Why, say you. Because I know of some planters who held on to a part, or the whole of 1844 crop, hoping better prices, and that the improvement in 1845 caused them to send it forward, which was added to the '45 crop, but of course it does not affect the quantity received. If you will refer to page 279 of the Report of the Commissioner of Patents, you will see that I estimated a probable decrease of 300,000 bales, on the 5th of last September. DISEASES OF FOWLS. the stomach. If any one has any doubt of this, I can only affirm that the most apt thing that hens are liable to swallow, is dead particles of grass, which become matted, and create a stoppage. A CORRESPONDENT in your journal (p. 241, current volume), who signs his name S., has thought proper to condemn my mode of curing fowls by a surgical operation. He says he has opened the crops of many hens, but never saved one. His modus operandi must have been wrong; for, from its simplicity, a child with a common penknife, could perform the operation. S. comes to the conclusion that, had I given my fowls plenty of The matter now that presses forward-" what lime and gravel, the case would not have happened. hopes have we in an advance?" I believe we may Now I contend that my fowls had plenty of lime, hope for it, not only on account of the certain vast gravel, and fresh water. Consequently, it could reduction of stock that must be on hand, January, not have been that your correspondent intended to 1847, but from the prospect of this crop. I am lead your readers to believe that my fowls had aware that new cotton has gone forward already, a none, and had become crop-bound. Furthermore, few bales, and I believe it will injure the U. S. to he says that he doubts whether any fowl would hundreds of thousands of dollars, because the fact swallow anything liable to obstruct the passage of of cotton going into market before the 8th of August, is too strong proof of the forwardness of the crop, for the opinions of all planters to the contrary, to show the truth. Notwithstanding this, and that I will have no credence, I assure you that the crop, so far as I see, or can hear, is from two weeks to one month later than the last crop. I have seen many large fields, have conversed with a large number of planters, and the information is"two weeks later," "three weeks later," "I believe about one month later" than last year's crop. In my immediate vicinity, there are five families belonging to our connexion, of which I am one, and I know we were picking cotton at this date last year, whereas I can see no prospect of being three weeks hence where we were at this date. As to myself, my cotton book, kept accurately for 15 years, will show that on the 15th of August, 1845, I gathered an average of 160 lbs. per hand, and that I began to pick on the 4th of August. This year I have not seen an open bowl, and have not yet stopped my team or my hoes, a thing that never occurred before. My neighbors are generally in In conclusion, I would merely say, provide your hens with proper food-lime, charcoal, gravel, and fresh water; and if they get crop-bound, resort to the knife, as directed on page 142 of this volume. Keyport, N. J., Sept. 5th, 1846. H. T. LLOYD. ATMOSPHERE NEAR THE SEA.-From various experiments made by the savans of Europe, it has been ascertained that the atmosphere over the sea contains less carbonic acid than that over the land; that, when the sea is rough, and especially when the wind is violent, particles of sea-water, in a state of great tenuity, float in the air, particularly on the coast where the waves break; and that these particles are carried to greater or less distances, according to the violence of the wind, and the degree to which the sea is agitated. Hence the influence of sea-air upon the soil and vegetation in places near the sea. Ladies' Department. LADIES' DEPARTMENT. DOMESTIC EDUCATION OF CATS. 321 of languor and hunger. Lemery, after having put a cat into a cage, suffered two or three mice to run through it. Puss, instead of destroying them, only looked at them with apparent indifference. The IT has not been ascertained at what period cats mice became more bold, and even attempted to prowere first classed among domestic animals; but as voke her; however, it had no effect, as she still rethis is of little consequence, I will endeavor to give mained quiet. Liberty being given her, her some account of them from the time that their use-strength and voracity returned; so that, had the ful and amusing qualities brought them into gene- cage been open, the mice would soon have become ral notice, as forming a part of our household com- her prey. They also fear severe chastisement, and forts. The finest species of domestic cats are those therefore this may be considered the best means of called Angora, which are remarkable for size and enforcing obedience. It is related that the monks strength of body, elegance of the head, softness of of the Isle of Cyprus instructed cats to drive away hair, and docile qualities, which rank them prece- serpents which infested the island; and they sucdent as domestic cats. Every country has its pecu-ceeded so well, that in a short time they were reliar species; that of Tobolski is red; that of the lieved of the venomous reptiles. Cape of Good Hope blue; and those of China and Japan have pendent ears; Pallas informs us, that in Russia the muzzle is small and pointed, and the tail six times as long as the body. The effect that both sound and music have upon this animal is well known. They, like dogs, may be made to answer the call of a whistle. An invalid, who was confined to his room for some time, At all times, cats have acquired some influence, was much amused by this means, and with other indeed, may be considered favorites with women. proofs of the docility and sagacity of a favorite cat. There were very severe laws enacted in Egypt Valmont de Bomare saw, at the fair of St. Germain, against those who killed or even ill-treated this cats turned musicians, the performance being ananimal. They carried their notions so far as to be nounced by the title of the "Mewing Concert." quite ridiculous; for they actually worshipped In the centre was an ape, beating time; and on them as their gods, made great lamentations at their either side were the cats placed, with music before death, and buried them (according to Herodotus) them on the stalls. At the signal of the ape, they with much pomp. In China, this animal is indulg-regulated their mewing to sad or lively strains. ed with a bed of down and silk, where it remains One of our celebrated naturalists assures us that in a state of indolence, or lies at the feet of its mis- they are capable of gratitude, and may be consitress on a sofa, covered over like a child, decorated dered faithful. with a silver collar on its throat, and its ears adorned with ear-rings of jasper or sapphire. The Turks have places made or rented for them, that they may be fed and attended to by servants engaged for the purpose. They enjoy a still happier life in France; as faithful companions to their mistresses, they not only amuse them, but, by their gentleness and playful tricks, dispel ennui. They seldom look you in the face, but obliquely. After so many instances well known, why should so severe a sentence be passed upon these animals? It is said (without proof) that education has no effect upon their natural savageness; but I cannot imagine why this should be asserted, when we notice how quietly a cat will obey its mistress, and remain by her side most of the day, if required; will run when it is called, and appear unsettled and unhappy during the absence of its protectress; and how delighted when she returns, as it proves by its caresses, not acting from dissimulation or cunning. When cats have attained these social habits, they will retain them till their death; and thus brought up, they lose their inclination for mice and rats, and are devoted to those who are attached to them. From all that can be said, this conclusion may be drawn, that the more pains are bestowed upon educating them, the less they show of their natural wild state.-Magazine of Natural History. I have remarked that naturalists have not spoken much in favor of this animal, particularly Buffon, who says, "that the cat may be considered as a faithless friend, brought under human protection to oppose a still more insidious enemy. It is, in fact, the only animal of this tribe whose service can more than recompense the trouble of education, and whose strength is not sufficient to make its anger formidable. Of all animals, when young, there is none more prettily playful than the kitten; but it appears to change this disposition as it grows old, and the innate treachery of its kind begins to show TO MAKE KITCHEN VEGETABLES TENDER.— itself. From being naturally ravenous, education When peas, French beans, and similar productions, teaches it to disguise its appetite, and to seize the do not boil easily, it has usually been imputed to favorable moment for plunder. Supple, insinuat- the coolness of the season, or to the rains. This ing, and artful, it has learned the art of concealing popular notion is erroneous; the difficulty of boil. its intentions till it can put them in force; when-ing them soft arises from a superabundant quantity ever the opportunity occurs, it directly seizes upon of gypsum imbibed during their growth. To whatever it finds, flies off with it, and remains at a correct this, throw a small quantity of sub-carbondistance till it thinks its offence is forgotten." ate of soda into the pot along with the vegetables, the carbonic acid of which will seize upon the lime in the gypsum, and free the legumes, &c., from its influence. From the French. The aversion cats have to anything like slavery or imprisonment is so great, that by means of it they may be forced to prompt obedience; but, under restraint, they are very different; though surrounded by food, when deprived of liberty, they CRUST ON BOILERS, &c.-Potatoes and flour will abandon the desire of theft or prey, and literally die prevent the incrustation of boilers and kettles. 322 Boys' Department. BOYS' DEPARTMENT. RUMINATION, OR CHEWING THE CUD. THE process of chewing the cud is always connected with a complicated stomach, excepting individual instances, as in man and the kangaroo, there being at least four distinct chambers, the structure of each of which is very different. The first, which is similar to the crop or craw of birds, is termed the paunch, and serves by its heat and somewhat scanty moisture, to prepare the herbage for farther change. It is situated on the left side, and lined with a rough membrane studded with small flat projections. It is inferred to have a rotatory motion, from the round masses of hair, called bezoar stones, frequently found in it, arising from the union of hairs licked off, from time to time, by the animal when cleaning itself, and said, without proof, to be miraculously medicinal. In the chamois, the bezoar stones appear to consist of vegetable matter. second stomach; but, in the instance of liquids, such as broth, a portion always passes into each of the four stomachs immediately; the only opening into the third stomach being very straight, and capable, also, of being quite closed, so as to prevent the passage of anything coarse. The reason why liquids pass into the third and fourth stomachs is, that unless the gullet-inlet into the first stomach is expanded by a morsel of solid food, the cud-duct is more open to receive the liquid, and, for the same reason, the cud-duct is prevented, by the expansion of the gullet-inlet, from admitting solid food. In the process of common vomiting, the contents of the stomach are, by the action of the midribs and the muscles of the belly, ejected in a mass; but in chewing the cud, there is only a small rounded pellet brought up into the mouth, so that the process is in this very different from vomiting. Bourgelat denied the existence of the pellet, and Daubenton says it is formed by the second stomach. M. Flourens ascertained, beyond all question, that the pellet or cud (which is only a different way of spelling quid) is detached from the mass of aliment The second is termed the honeycomb bag, king's in the paunch, by the latter contracting and pressing hood, or bonnet, is much smaller than the paunch, the mass upwards towards the adjacent inlets of the and is situated on the right of the lower end of the paunch, the many-plies, and the cud-duct, which gullet, which opens in common into it and into the seize and detach from it a portion about an inch in paunch. On the inside a number of shallow cells, diameter. The space, also, which these several adlike those of a honeycomb, are formed by a project-jacent inlets enclose, being round, and its walls in ing membrane, and the whole is lined with a rough motion, the pellet is thereby rounded, and at length scarf skin continuous with that of the gullet and pushed up into the gullet, and returned to the paunch. The third is the smallest of the four, and is named the many-plies, because the inner surface rises up into a great many folds, one above the other, amounting to about forty in the sheep, and about one hundred in the ox, and covered with a rough scarf skin. Some of these folds project farther than others, there being first two long ones on each side, and within these, two shorter, and so The smallest of them, between the opening from the honeycomb bag, are puckered, so as to act as a valve between this third chamber and the fourth. on. The fourth, which is exclusively the digestive stomach, according to Dr. Carus, is called the rennet bag, or red. Here, as in the simple stomachs of beasts of prey, we find no lining of scarf skin, which goes no farther than the many-plies; but a soft mucous membrane, which has the property of curdling milk, and that of the calf is used for this purpose in cheese-making. mouth. It is very remarkable, that, during the formation of the pellet, a very copious flow of spittle takes place from the mouth down the gullet, without which the pellet, which is rather dry at first, could not easily be brought up. The second stomach, also, has, by its contraction, the opposite open cells brought into contact, so as to form a series of shut cells; an admirable provision for preventing the fluids, always more or less present here, from being brought up along with the pellet. The pellet, when returned to the mouth, is minutely chewed and reduced to a half fluid pulp. which, on being swallowed, is not solid enough to force open the always shut inlet of the paunch, and consequently enters the always open inlet of the cud-duct, and passes to the third stomach, from which it is forwarded to the fourth. The account of this process by Blumenbach, adopted by our British physiologists, is grossly erroneous. In consequence of this complicated process, aniIt is important to observe, that, from the inlet of mals which chew the cud can digest more effectuthe paunch or first stomach, from the termination ally than those which do not, such as the horse, it of the gullet, near the junction of the second and being common for the latter to pass corn quite undithird stomachs, there runs to the third stomach a gested, a circumstance that rarely happens with groove, which I shall call the cud-duct, with the horned cattle; and hence it is well known to grafirst stomach on its left, and the second on its right. ziers, that one-third less will be enough for an This cad-duct has thick prominent margins, which ox than for a horse or an ass. According, howcan be brought to meet so as to form a tube, and ever, to the recent experiments of De Dombasle constitute a continuation of the gullet across the and Biot, this will depend, in the case, at least, of second into the third stomach. This duct was as-roots, such as carrots or potatoes, upon boiling, so certained by M. Flourens to remain always open, as to break the globular crust enveloping the nueven when the gullet inlet of the first stomach was closed. When an ox or a sheep first swallows grass or other herbage, it passes chiefly into the paunch, but both partly, immediately and successively, into the trient matter, which the stomach cannot well effect. This matter, formerly called amidine from its occurring in starch, has been termed by M. Biot dextrine.-Professor Rennie. |