Live Stock.——Bees. 1217

“It is very neceflary to pay attention to cleanlinefs in the management of a dove- cote. Before breeding-time the holes ought to be carefully examined and cleaned; for if any of the young die in the holes in fummer, maggots are foon bred in them: they become putrid, and emit a difagreeable and unwholefome ftench, very injurious to the inhabitants of the dovecote. Pigeons are tenacious of their nefts, as appears from the conduét of the wood-pigeon, which will breed for years in the fame tree, and the mother forfakes her neft with regret; but, unable to endure the filth and ftench of her dead offspring, fhe is obliged to quit the eggs fhe has laid for a fecond brood, and the prime of the feafon is loft. Every fummer, immediately after the firft flight, the nefts fhould be all cleaned out, and the dung totally taken away, as it breeds filth. But remember to do this bufinefs early in the morning.” ‘The remaining eggs ought likewife to be defiroyed, aud a perfectly clean habitation made for the harvelt-flight.

It is advifed“ never to go into a dovecote later than mid-day, but as early ina morning as convenicnt. Whatever repairs are neceflary, either to the building or to the nefts, fhould be done before noon: for if you diturb the pigeons in the afternoon, they will not reft contentedly the whole night; and the greateft part, perhaps, will not enter the cote until the next day, but will fit moping on the ground; and, if in breeding-time, either a number of eggs may be fpoiled, or feveral young ones ftarved to death.”

Pigeons are fuppofed to be more produ@ive from the breeds being croffed, in proof of which afew tame pigeons were put into a dovecote; and the confequence was, that a more early anda more numerous hatch of young were produced than in any of the neighbouring cotes*.

Thefe birds have a great antipathy to owls, which find their way fometimes into dovecotes; and there is no getting rid of fuch troublefome guefts but by deftroying them.<“ Rats are terrible enemies to pigeons, and will foon deftroy a whole dove- cote. Cats, weafels, and fquirrels will dothe fame. It will be neceflary, therefore, to examine the dovecote once every week at leaft, very minutely,” to fee that there are none of thefe intraders.

Pigcons“make an extraordinary good manure, which, if worked up intoacompoft, inftead of being ufed in the prefent flovenly way, would be of fiill more value,”

Bees.—How far thefe indufirious infets may be kept as a part of the farming- fiock with profit has not yet been fully fhown; but as they require little trouble, and there is in moft country fituations a fufficiency of food ready provided for their

* Experienced Farmer.

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