POULTRY & BEES.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 444, 20 October 1904, Page 6

POULTRY & BEES.

T~ HOMEMADE BROODER. It li Mcetive Md Constructed on Simple tad at the Same Time i Correct Principle*. ' V - - ,*t i* A plan is shown herewith that gives a brooder constructed on simple and at the same -time correct principles. The diagram (Pig-. 1} is eery nearly e a! fexplanatory. A box three feet square or thereabouts has in the bottom a brooder lamp or stove. Above this is a sheet of sheet- iron as large as the fnside of the box and-supported at the four sides, and by an iron prop near the lamp, if it is inclined to sag. M;ike the edges air-tight with cement, so that no fumes from the lamp can get up above the sheet iron. Have a sheet Iron drum made as- indicated in Fig 3 and set this into the brooder floor, iilling in the rest of the floor about the drum with cement, that there maybe" no danger from fire. The dram neednot be over six inches in height. It has a half dozen openings under the top. as shown in the sketch- When the

lamp it lighted air enters at one side above the sheet iron. Is heated and rises in the drum, passing out through the openings into the chick chamber, and is diffused about it. Three or fom ventilating holes are in the -wall neai the floor for the exit of cold air. Thk gives a constant movement of -warn air into the brooder. These opening; can be partly closed when desired. An opening in the side near the bottom oi the lamp chamber and a be near the lop on the opposite sides give fresh aii for the lamp and an exit for its fumes The lamp is inserted through a smal door in the side of the box. One whole side of the brooder chamber is a drop door, for the easy sweeping out of the floor. The top (in door) can have a pane of glass in it, so one may see the chicks and the thermometer hanging against one aide. Glass on two sides gives light. The top must fit very tightly. If this brooder is to be used out of doors a roof must be added, as indicated by dotted lines. The corners of the brooder are cut off, as seen in Pig. 2, so that the chicks may not i crowd into them and tie weak be trampled upon and smothered by the stronger, should the chamber ever become cold.—Farm and Home.

NOTES FOR BEEKEE.BS2S- j "With good management-itccrts'ittk to keen a few hives of bees. Do n»t neglect to look for the queens , or broed tbe hives in the spring. "So matter whea bees are moved, th ey should be fastened up so that none can escape. " To a very considerable extent spring dwindling is tbe result of poor winter management. Have the entrance to the hives and tbe vicinity around 1 them clean and convenient for tbe bees to get out and in readily. The life of bees during the working season is very short, and it requires a good laying queen to keep up the force of bees in the hive. The proper time to transfer bees from box hives to movable frames is early in the spring, before the comb becomes heavy with brood and honey. Hives should be located in good season in whatever particular location they are expected to occupy in readiness to receive the swarms as they come off. If any colonies are found too week in the spring to take care of a frame of brood give them bees from the strongest colonies, but be careful not to give them the queen-

When the weather gets warm enough for the bees to fly without becoming chilled give them finely ground cornmeal, wheat or the finer parts of sifted ground oats, fe

The secret of large honey crops is strong colonies and plenty of room for the bees to store honey. Give each frame in the hive exactly one and a h?.lf inches of space.

Do not open the hives to excite tbe bees when it is too cold for them to fly. The best time to remove surplus fel.rcr.d frames is after two or three days ox good honey weather. Do not open the Mves to excite the bees when it is too cold for the::i !• fiy. The best time to remove sun-'; for brood frames is after two or thres daj> of good honey weather. X If in the spring any of the. colonics ar" Touud without queens give tin >a ?

frt-ne of brood. Do not allow thi «l ernes to rear queens until drone: an l-.-Sz'u to insure mating.—St. L-uis l^publie.

Tho Ajax Rabbit Tfap which has become so popular with tropers, c n b° frcm W. THEYERS