JOUENAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



' EOGS FOR Sitting (G. P.).— Tlic fresher tlie better ; hut i 

 3 much older tlian three weeks that have produced t 



: have 



BiSIAJ 



knowu ej 

 chickeuB. 



Nest Fon CANXiBii. Hens (/. C. M. H.).— The nest of which we published 

 a drawing in our No. 522 is not patentedj and any cai-penter could make one 

 if he see the drawing. 



Golden-pencilled Hamburgh Cock (Gold). — There is no suchthing as 

 a Golden-pencilled Hambui-gh cock with white legs. Such a bird must be 

 disqaalihed. 



BREEDlxa DccKwiNG Gajie Bantams (S. G.).—ln breeding for the 

 highest class of exhibition birds, it is an admitted fact that you cannot breed 

 cocks and pullets from the same pai-ents. The bird you describe should be a 

 very good one, and we advise you to breed from him, but we should also take 

 some of our best pullets, and put with another cock. The colours of the 

 Duckwings, like the Sebrights, are constantly recruited by crosses with birds 

 having some quality of colour that they lack, and it is necessary because they 

 are birds of colour. Breeding-out is always such a tiresome process, that it 

 is easier to make two walks, and we advise you to do so. Buy a cock that has 

 in excess that which yom- hens are deficient in. Breed from the separate 

 walks, and next year intermingle the produce, keeping the original hens 

 separate. 



ForR-CLAwED Dorkings {A Novice).— In all Dorking yards fowls are some- 

 times bred with four claws. They are by no means uncommon in Surrey and 

 Sussex, but we know no place where they .... - . - 



not consider them a distinct breed, and 

 propei-ties of the four-clawed Dorkings. 



Brahiljs as Layers {P. E. S.).— Wi 

 class them among the most useful fowls 



sittei-s, and mothers. We have had more, and perhaps bred more, than any 

 in England, and they have never disappointed us. We foUow with them the 

 rule we do with all fowls. We do not keep old worn-out birds seldom over two 

 years. We do not overfeed, and when they have no run we supply them plen- 

 tifully with all the helps they pick up when at liberty. We have nothing to 

 say against Houdans, of which we keep many, and which we urged on public 

 notice twelve years ago, but as a bird of general use we consider it inferior to 

 the Brahma. It is a good layer in the autumn, but a bad spring layer. It is 

 a better table bii-d thau the Brahma. 



Black Bantajis Hens' Legs {BUck Bantam). — We do not believe the 

 gouty appearance of wliich you complain is hereditary, and therefore we should 

 not hesitate to breed from them, putting the clean-legged cock to them. It 

 is difficult to find a cure for this poultry elephantiasis, hut it is much relieved 

 by frequent applications of strong sulphur ointment. 



Brahma Pootoas (B. H. S.).— We are of opinion that the Brahmas and 

 the Cochm-Chinas are varieties of the same breed ; but some good authorities 

 consider them distinct. We publish a list weekly of coming poultry shows. 

 If you reqnii-e fuller information write to the Secretaries. 



iNcnflATORs (H.).— There is not one that has proved satistaetoiy. Buy 

 some Cochin-China hens, they will soon become broody. 



KoYAL AGRicrLTCEAL SocTETY (B. d- if.l.—The Ust of members fills a 

 pamphlet. You must apply to the Secretai^y for it. 



Portraits of Pigeons. — In answer to uumeioin inquiiors mo a.Min sive 

 alist of the numbers in which these appeared. Antwnii, X.,. llil-En-Hsh 

 Carrier, No. 471: Dragoon, No. 473; Pouter, X" I-:; v'.Tn.i].] TuniMer 

 No.489;Barb, No. 500; Flying Tumbler. "No. 50n: Fuutinl. X... olS: TiirWti 

 No. 523; Jacobm, No. 526; Owl, No. 583; Beard aud Baldheail, No. 641; 

 Satinette, No. 548; Archangel, No. 563; and Nun, No. 568. 



Pigeon Portraits I A. ^(tt-irw).— There are none coloured. The nnmbers 

 of our Journal containing portraits are stated above. 



Prize Blue Dragoons with White Beaks and Eriips.— Mr. Prank 

 Graham says his letter relative to mistake in awarding the prize was wiitten 

 before the Colchester Show took place, but not being inserted at once has 

 led to a mismterpretation. The Show he alluded to was Nantwich, and the 

 Judge Mr. Eidpeth. Mr. Graham's informant was Mr. Gamon, of Chester, well 

 ■known as a good Dragoon fancier, and whose testimony can be ba«ked-up by 

 several other eye-witnesses. 



■Washing Canaries (J. S. B.).— Lather well with common yellow soap and 

 a piece of soft raL,'. Rinse thoroughly with wai^m water. Remove super- 

 abundant moisture by the application of a hot soft cloth, or, belter still, by 

 passing the wmgs and tail through the mouth. I do. Clean wai^m water wUl 

 harm no one. Then -nTap in warm swaddling clothes, and place where it can 

 enjoy the heat of the fire. The drying process may be completed hv hand; 

 but as the manipulation is delicate and not easUy described, you must be 

 content with simply changing the cloth when it becomes wetr Keep it warm 

 and the bkd wiU soon dry. 'When sufficiently recovered from the effects of 

 the bath put it in a cage, cover with a cloth, and place near the file.— W. A. 

 • Blakston. 



Feeding Canaries iN. 0. B.).— Canai-ies have a habit of jerking the seed 

 out of the hoppers when fresh filled. They aU do it. It is a wasteful prac- 

 tice, but by management they can be made to pick up the crumbs and eat 

 then: leavmgs, much m the same way as a hungry child will eat for its 

 supper the crusts it rejected for its tea. Good canary seed is the best 

 food; add no other, and the bird wUl have no dainties to search for. 

 (J(. i. if.).— Have patience. Give a little chopped hard-boiled egg and a 

 few gi^ams of hcmpseed. It wiU not be long before they commence Eouse- 

 keepmg. — W. A. Blakston. 



Breeding Canaries (T. BaTOon,ia>i.).— The room without a fii-e wiU do 

 very weU pro\-ided it be Ught, well ventilated, dry, and free from dran"hts 

 The Noi-wich variety is the most prolific. — W. A. B. 



Bee-keepers' Club.— Eve -will be much obliged if anyone could give her 

 Information about establishing in a country neighbourhood a bee-keepers' 

 club. ^ 



ArsTRALiAN Grass Parroqcets (W. JT.).— Canary seed and crumbs of 

 bread seem to be the best food for them. They require water. A handful of 

 fresh grass with the seeds on it should be given frequently. 



Poultry Witticisms. — A ■wag ■wishes to know " if W-o-r-c-e-s- 

 t-e-r spells Wooster, whether B-o-c-h-e-s-t-e-r spells Booster. 



What is the differeuce between a fowl plucked bai'e of its 

 plumage, and a barren moor ? One is a featherless hen, and 

 the other a heatherless fen. — {American Poultry Bulletin.) 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 



Camden Square, London. 



Lat. 51° 32' 40" N. ; Long. 0' 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feet. 



In the Da 



0. 50 

 0.03O 



REMAEKS. 



28th. — Cold and foggy in morning ; but bright and fine in the middle of the 



day ; change of wind at night. 

 29th. — Rain in morning, and at intervals during the day ; gale from S.W. in 



evening and night. 

 l6t.-*Warm and damp all day, occasional showers but no wind or heavy 



2nd.— Gradually getting more and more dark at 8 A.ii., but soon clearing off, 



and becoming bright and spring-like. 

 3rd. — Rather dull morning ; but very pleasant in the middle of the day. 

 4th. — Very damp fog early ; but bright and fine all day and evening ; hot 



5th. — ^Very bright and fine during the whole day, but the wind colder than 

 yesterday. 

 A further general rise of temperature of about 4°, but the sluggish rise in 

 the ground temperatuie is as marked as it was last week. Although the fall 

 of rain has been very small, the aii- has been damp, and the soil has therefore 

 scarcely become perceptibly diier. — G. J. SraioNS. 



COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— Mahch 6. 

 The markets aa-e somewhat fii-mer, with a better attendance than usual at 

 this season, partly accounted for by the fact of the large quantity of flowers 

 now offered for sale under the influence of such open weather. The supply of 

 out-door produce is ample, prices being nearly stationaiy. Hothouse Grapes 

 are just sufficient for the demand. Strawberries are offered in limited quanti- 

 ties at present. The Potato trade is dull, and there are large airivals by rail. 



FEUIT. 



lb. 



Melons each 



Mulberries Jb. 



Nectarines doz. 



Oranges., 



Pears, kitchen do 



Filberts 



Cobs lb. 



Grapes, Hothouse.... lb. 10 



Pii 



Qui 



Raspbi 



awberries ^< 



doz. 



lb. 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes doz. 



Asparagus ¥^100. 



Beans, Kidney.... per 100 



Broad bushel 



Beet, Red doz. 



BroccoU bundle 



Brussels Sprouts. .J sieve 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums f-lOO 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 



Celery bundle 



Coleworts.. doz. bunches 

 Cacambers each 



pickling doz. 



Endive doz. 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish handle 



Leeks bonch 2 too 6 



Lettuce doz. 10 2 4 



Mushrooms pottle 10 2 



Mustard & Cress, .punnet 2 



Onions bushel 2 4 



pickling ^... quart 6 



Parsley per doz. bunches 3 4 



Parsnips doz. 9 1 o 



Peas quart 



basket 1 



Shallots lb. 



Spjnacb bushel S 



Tomatoes doz. 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrows. .doz. 



POULTRY MARKET.— ilAKCH 6. 

 Cue supply diminishes as usual at this season of the j 

 maintained. Ducklings and Green Geese are scarce, 

 s. d. s. ( 



Large Fowls 4 to 4 



Smallerditto 3 6 4 



Chickens 2 6 8 



Green Geese 7 8 



Ducklings 5 5 



Pheasants 



s. d. B. d. 



Partridges to 



Hares 



Rabbits 15 16 



WUd ditto 10 Oil 



Pigeons 10 10 



Guinea Fowl..... SO S 6 



