June 6, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



469 



eaten as a salnd with oil and vinegar. In Tuscany tliey call it " The Thorn 

 of the Crucifixion Crown," supposing it to be that of which oui- Saviour's 

 crown of Thorns was formed. (W. Nock). — Your specimens were throvm 

 flside, no letter being with them. {F. Hepburn). — Vicia tetrasperma. (M. G.). 

 — Geranium dissectum and pyrenaicum. (fl. L. H,). — Lithospermum offi- 

 cinale. (Camjee). — Asplenium flaccidom. 



POULTET, BEE, AM) PIGEON OHEONICLE. 



FOWLS FOR PROFIT, AND AS A MEANS OF 

 SUBSISTENCE.— No. 6. 



The following is by way of a postscript to the papers •wliicli 

 appeared on April 4th, and in previous numbers. 



There are eleven distinct varieties of lioultry ; five are sitters 

 and six non-sitters. The sitters are the Brahma, Cochin, Dork- 

 ing, Game, and Malay ; the non-sitters are the Spanish, Ham- 

 burgh, Poland, Houdan, Creve-Cceur, and La Fleche. Of each 

 of these distinct varieties there are sub- varieties, but I shall con- 

 fine my attention to the eleven principal varieties, nor shall I 

 mention the Bantam, as my object is to bring under notice only 

 those breeds "which will best repay the purchaser. 

 Sitting Breeds. 



Beahjus. — First comes the Brahma, the favourite of the 

 fancier, the amateur, and of those who keep poultry as a pe- 

 cuniary aid only. The character of this bird is gentle and peace- 

 able ; it is by nature hardier than any other breed. It will thrive 

 in confinement, but also delights in a rtin, and where this ad- 

 vantage can be afforded it will almost keep itself without assist- 

 ance, as it is so persevering in its search for food. This fowl is 

 an excellent sitter and careful mother, and will not hesitate to 

 Bit two or three times iu succession. The hen is untiring in her 

 devotion to her offspring, and under favourable circumstances 

 I have known her commence laying again when the chicks were 

 only four weeks old ; she is a most prolific layer at all seasons 

 of the year. 



Mature birds should weigh, the cock from 10 to 12 lbs., and 

 the hen from 7 to 9 lbs. Brahmas early attain size, and TriU 

 weigh from 4 to 5 lbs. when four months old ; their flesh is much 

 prized, and I am practically convinced that a Brahma fowl will 

 command a higher market price than any other. 



Cochin. — This bird has been rather thrown into the shade 

 eince the advent of the Brahma, but it is, nevertheless, a most 

 valuable breed. It is docile and contented, and I must own 

 rather lazy ; it is very hardy, but the chickens are often back- 

 ward in feathering. Of all birds the Cochin wiU thrive best in 

 confinement; it is a good sitter and mother, and an excellent 

 layer even in midwinter. The eggs are rather small, but rich in 

 quality. Mature birds will weigh — the cock from 10 to 12 lbs., 

 and the hen from 7 to 9 lbs. The frame of the Cochin is more 

 bony thau that of the Brahma, and although, if killed when 

 about seven months old, it will be found to be of excellent 

 flavour, and in size almost as large as a Turkey, yet there is a 

 smaller amount of flesh upon the frame than upon the Brahma. 



DoEKiNG. — This bird is of a quiet nature when not interfered 

 with, but otherwise it will strive for mastery. It is a voracious 

 eater. The chicks are extremely delicate until they attain the 

 age of two mouths, indeed the Dorking cannot be considered a 

 hardy bird even when full grown. It is fond of an extensive 

 iMin, and wiU wander to a great distance ; it is almost impossible 

 to keep it in health without this advantage. A dry graveUy soil 

 suits it best. It is an excellent sitter and mother, and is a good 

 layer of large white-shelled eggs, but only in warm weather. It 

 is a most valuable fowl for market purposes, has a good breast, 

 and the flesh has great delicacy of flavour ; it is well named the 

 epicure's favourite. Mature birds will weigh — the cock from 

 10 to 12 lbs., the hen from 8 to 10 lbs. 



Game. — This is a most beautiful and graceful-looking bird. 

 Its pugnacious quahties and unflinching courage are well known. 

 It is impossible to keep many cocks in the same yard, as they 

 will fight to the death, the victor often being in such a torn and 

 mangled condition as to render it necessary to kill him also. 

 This is a serious loss to the breeder of Game fowls ; and the 

 chicks are as quarrelsome as their parents. The hens sit 

 well, and there are no better protectors of their young ; they lay 

 well in the spring and summer, and the eggs are small but rich 

 in quality. They must have liberty. In weight mature birds 

 average about 12 lbs. per pair. The flesh is scarcely to be sur- 

 passed in flavour, even by that of the Dorking ; it is beautifully 

 white, and will always command a ready sale. 



MAL.iY. — This is a large and plain-looking fowl ; it has a cruel 

 expression of countenance, and is not at all a favourite. Ti-ue 

 to its appearance it is an inveterate fighter, and has a fierce dis- 

 position. It is a hardy bird when full gi-own, but the chicks are 

 delicate and long in feathering. It is a poor egg-producer, and 

 lays only in the spring and summer ; but the hen is a good and 

 careful mother. It must have liberty, and wiU not thrive in 

 confinement. The mature occk should weigh 10 lbs., the hen 

 8 lbs. It is not considered a good table bird in consequence of 



its yellow legs and heavy frame, but the flesh is juicy and well- 

 flavoured. It does not fatten readily. 



NON-SITTEBS. 



Hajtbubghs. — All the varieties of this breed are most prolific 

 layers, "the everlasting layers" is their ti-ue cognomen. They are 

 small fowls, and are profitable to keep. It is an active bird and 

 peaceably disposed, but possesses great spirit ; it is hardy when 

 full gi-own. The chicks do well if hatched about AprU. It must 

 have a long run, and will not thrive iu confinement. It pro- 

 duces more eggs than any known breed, but only of medium 

 size ; the Black variety lays the largest eggs. In matui-e birds 

 the cock weighs about 4 lbs., and the hen about 3 lbs. It is a 

 plump fowl, and the flesh is superior in flavour, but is too small 

 to be very profitable as an article of food. 



Spanish. — This is a most aristocratic-looking bird. The white- 

 faced variety has a very elegant appearance. It is not a hardy 

 fowl. The chicks are longer in feathering than any other breed. 

 It is a proud shy bird, and though quietly disposed will not allow 

 a rival in the yard without a struggle. Like the Hamburgh it 

 delights iu a long run and a dry soil, but I have known some 

 of the varieties to thrive weU with constant attention iu a veiy 

 small space in the centre of a town. It is an excellent layer of 

 the largest eggs known, pure white in colour, but only in warm 

 weather. The cock is subject to a disease in the comb, and 

 requires warmth and care in the winter. The cock when 

 mature weighs 8 lbs., the hen 6 lbs. The Spanish fowl is Uttle 

 used for the table, the legs being black and long. It does not 

 put on flesh rapidly. 



Poland. — This breed is larger than the Hamburgh, but is not 

 such a general favourite. It is a Uvely brisk bird, is a small 

 eater, and prefers to forage for itself. It is hardy when fuU 

 gi-own, and on a di-y soil. The chickens are delicate, and should 

 never be reared imtil spring weather has fairly commenced. It 

 must have a good run, and cannot be kept long in health if con- 

 fined. It is a good layer of medium-sized eggs, but not in 

 winter. The weight of the mature cock is about 6 lbs., that of 

 the hen about 5 lbs. It is a plump little fowl with a nice breast, 

 but small, and this, with the dark colour of its legs, prevents it 

 being of value as a table bird. 



HouDAN. — Tills is a useful variety, and of late years has been 

 very generally appreciated. It is a hai'dy fowl, and will thrive 

 in confinement ; it is also a good layer of white-sheUed eggs. 



Cekve-Cceue. — The great disadvantage of breeding this variety 

 is its delicacy of constitution, in this our variable and humid 

 climate ; it is positively essential that it should be reared in a 

 warm situation, and on a dry soil. It is a good layer of large 

 eggs, and the pullets put on flesh rapidly. It will not thrive in 

 confinement. The legs being black, it is not in repute as a table 

 fowl. 



La FLicHE. — This variety is now also being more generally 

 bred than formerly. It has more size than the Creve-Cceur and 

 Houdan, and is a hardy, precocious, and easily-reared bird. It is 

 a good layer, and the eggs are tolerably large. It is, lite the last 

 two, a French breed. — Vincent Skinner. 



BEDLINGTON POULTRY SHOW. 



I WEOTE my report at half-past three o'clock on the Monday of 

 the Show, long after the judging was over. Pen 275 at that 

 hour contained a handsome White Owl with a blue tail, de- 

 cidedly the best bird in its class. If this bird was not in its pen 

 when that class was judged the fault is not mine, and does not 

 iu the least interfere with the accuracy of my report. In the 

 Barb class Mr. Orange's bird had a red card, upon which was 

 printed " first-prize," tied on its pen, No. 301 ; andin substantia- 

 tion of this fact I refer Mr. Hewitt to the list of awards which 

 was pubUshed in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle. This paper had 

 a reporter on the gi-ouud, and if the card was put on the wrong 

 pen by mistake I had nothing to do with that. The two pens 

 in the Variety Class, Nos. 32.5 and 326, containing White Dragoons 

 and TeUow Dragoons, Mr. Hewitt says were empty when the 

 awards were made, but the birds were afterwards penned. All 

 I can say is the bird.s were in the pens when my report was 

 taken, aud there were no cards placed upon those pens to the 

 effect that they were too late for competition. — Bedlington 

 Tebbiee. 



In reply to Mr. Hewitt's letter in this Journal of the 30th ult., 

 page 4.50, ia which he states that the two pens in the Variety 

 Class, Nos 32.5 and 326, containing White Dragoons and Yellow 

 Dragoons, were empty at the time the awards were made, but 

 were afterwards penned — now as those two pens belong to me, 

 as soon as I read Mr. Hewitt's letter I wrote to Mr. Bobert 

 Swann, jun., the Secretary of the Show, asking him if such state- 

 ment was correct. I enclose you his reply, and shall feel obliged 

 if you will publish it. I have seen him persoually since, and 

 he gives me full permission to ask you to do so. He says Mr. 

 Hewitt is under some wrong impression, and positively asserts 

 that those bu-ds were penned previous to the Judges giving their 

 awards. All my birds were sent in one basket, in charge of my 



