JOURNAL OF HOETICUIiTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEPENEB. 



[ Juac 27, 18C7. 



' unlimited grass run and good water, also a dry soil. I have 

 fonnd that hirds by a removal from the country where they 

 were hred, to a distant one have suffered in confititution, and I 

 have also known it to have a confrnry effect. For instance, a 

 few years a^o I forwarded to a friend in Craven, some forty 

 miles from wiierp I reside, a pen of Game fowls. Tliese bird's 

 had been bred in-and-in, and were becoming somewhat small. 

 My friend bred from them, and, singular to say, the prodnce 

 improved botli in bone, size, and stRmina. Tlie situation was 

 dry and well sheltereJ, wHh good water, and the mineral lime- 

 stone. It is just possible the hens I have bred with this 

 season have suffered by removal, or they have otherwise had 

 some hidden taint in the constitution. 



I have no hesitation in snying, that several of our most 

 choice breeds of poultry have much degenerated in stamina, 

 and to a great extent this deterioration is owing to breeding 

 from stock which has been too freely exhibited, and, conse- 

 quently, cannot have the health necessary to produce a vigorous 

 progeny. — Yokkshire. 



posed to imposition, hut where they have reason to believfl in 

 the respectability of the party concerned, I think it would be 

 only just to make some allowance of the kind I suggest. — An 

 Irish Sdbscribeb ANp Soffbrek. 



■Tuy ^iiiviU in 



UNPRODUCTIVENESS OF HIGH-PEICED 

 EGGS. 



I' QUITE agree with " Verit.^s," that the sellers of high- 

 prieed eggs do themselves more harm than good in supplying 

 eggs that are either stale or insufficiently impregnated. My 

 own experience this season has been somewhat the same as 

 his. About a month ago I sent an order to one of the best 

 poultry estabhshments for two sittings of eggs. The eggs 

 were received and placed under two proved hens that I had 

 waiting in five days, so that no time was lost. The cost of the 

 two sittings was about Z&s., all expenses paid ; the result, 

 fJaree chicks. 



I wrote at once to the house stating the case, and by return 

 of post received a letter expressing regret at ray iil-succesg, 

 but stating tijat the same number of eggs (twenty-six), had been 

 gathered from the nests that morning, and sent to me, " free 

 of cost." Now, this is what I call liberal and conscientious 

 dealing, and wortliy of the imitation of all, and in all trades. 

 I do not feel at libertv to disclose the name of the firm, but 

 will certainly do all I can to recommend it amongst my own 

 friends. 



Whilst I am on this subject, I would like the opinion of ex- 

 perienced breeders on this theory expressed by the writer of 

 the above letter, " that unless the birds are well impregnated 

 at the commencement of laying, the whole batck of eggs re- 

 main unproductive." Is not this rather far-fetched ? I think 

 with " Veritas," it is simply a matter of fresh or stale eggs. 

 I have just had two broods hatched, the one Houdans, in 

 twenty days, the other Creve Coptirs, in between nineteen and 

 twenty days. The eggs were in both cases nil laid by my own 

 fowls in one day, and put to hatch at once. I had twenty-five 

 chicks out of the twenty-six eggs. A friend of mine has spent 

 some pounds this season in high-priced eggs, the result has 

 generally been two or three chicks per sitting. Another friend 

 has one cock and twenty-eight hens, all last season's, a mongrel 

 set, but fine birds. He has had about one hundred chicks this 

 month. His losses average ten per cent, on the eggs, and the 

 chicks are healthy and strong. 



Some of mv friends argue that travelling is detrimental to 

 eggs for hatching. This cannot, I think, hold good with fresh 

 eggs, being perfectly full. A fresh egg cannot be shaken ; a 

 stale egg. wasting every day, produces a vacancy, which, of 

 course, gives room for the yolk to be shaken about. My last 

 sitting of last season's, the eggs from London, in the month of 

 August, produced twelve chicks out of thirteen eggs. — A. Le 

 CmSMrNANT, Fouloii Vah; G)iernf.et/. 



MERITS OF HAMBURGHS. 



I coTKciDE with all that your correspondent " ToBV " says 

 about the Pencilled Hamburgh fowls. If any of the fanciers of 

 the Brahma Pootra, Dorking, or Cochin kinds will keep an 

 accurate account of the quantity of eggs laid in a season, they 

 will find that the Silver-pencilled Hamburghs will throw all 

 the others into the shade. No doubt those fanciers will say 

 the eggs of Hamburghs are small — and they are rather small ; 

 but let the eggs for a season he weighed, and a very large 

 balance will then be found on the Hamburgh side. 



I well remember one of your correspondents asking, Who 

 ever heard of a Hamburgh fowl laying in the winter ? I have 

 had fresh-laid eggs from Hamburgh fowls all through the 

 winter. I have had Silver-pencilled hens laying when nearly 

 naked in the moult, and only stopping for a very short time; 

 whereas my neighbours who have kept the leading kinds they 

 call winter layers have not had an egg, and have come to me 

 for the eggs of my Hamburghs. I have kept all kinds of fowls 

 except the new French ones, and I find that as layers the 

 Hamburghs are the best. Moreover, not one of the four varie- 

 ties of Hamburghs are such large eaters as most of the large 

 fowls.— E. F. g; 



I SAW in your Journal sittings of Dorking eggs advertised in 

 England, and in March wrote for a sitting, for which I paid, 

 with carriage, 19s. They were put immediately on their 

 arrival under a most steady sitting hen, but at the end of the 

 usual period there was not a vestige of a chicken in any of 

 them, and some presented an appearance similar to that of a 

 boiled egg. I am bound to say, however, that from the first 

 sitting of egss this year from my own birds. I had only one 

 chicken in the lot, and iu a second only five. I think, however, 

 where very high prices are paid for eggs, it would be iu the 

 interest of dealers, in cases of such total failure, to supply a 

 second sitting — say at half price — not that they should be 

 bound to do so, as, of course, in some cases, they might be ex- 



BRIGHTON POULTRY SHOW. 



This Show, held in connection with that of the Southern Countie<* 

 Agricultural Association, comraenrecl on the 24th iust., and will close 

 on the 2Stli. The entries amounted to about 180 pens of poultry and 

 Pigeous. The following is the prize list : — 



DoRKiNfis (Coloured).— First. D. C. Campbell, M.D , Brentwood. Se- 

 cond, J. Clift, Dorking. Highly Commended, C. Cork. New Sliorebam, 

 Sussex ; J. Lewry. Bolney. Cuckfield. Commended, D. C. Cami^l)!^!!, M.D. 

 Chicl-ciij;. — First, J. Lewry, Bolney, Cuckfield. Second, Messrs. E. & A. 

 Stanford. Ashnrst, Hurstpierpoint. Commended, D. C. Campbell, M.D.; 

 Mrs. M. Seiimons. 



DonKiNGS (White). — Prize, T. P.Edwards, Lyndburst, Hants. Chidcen^. 

 — Second. H. Lingwood. Barking, Keedhnni Market, Suffolk. 



Game (Black nnd other Reda . — First. S. Matthew, stowmarket. Suffolk. 

 Second, S. Dnpe, Evercrcecb, Bath. Highly Commended. H. Gorringe, 

 So\:thwick Green. Sussex. Chickens. — First, J. Jeken, Eltham, Kent. 

 Second, J. H. BiRden, Hove. 



Game (Pile, Blue, or Duckwinc:).— First, S. Matthew. Second, Kev. F.B. 

 Parkes, Rectory, Soutbwick, Susses. 



SpANiSH.^First, J. Jenner, Lewes. Sussex. Second, A. Heath. Calne, 

 Wilts. Highly Commended, R. Wrijjht, Hollowjiy Rofid. London; J. 

 Jenner. Commended, R. Fulton, Deptfnrd. C7ii>/vth.i.— First, F. James. 

 Second, J. Jenner. 



Cocittn-China (Coloured).— First, J. Stephens, Waleall, Second, T. 

 F,lnm, Suuthsen, Hants. Chicke m.—Fivst and Second, F. W. Rust» 

 Hnstings. 



Corms'-CHiNA (White).— First, H. Hobson, Walsall. Second, H. Loe, 

 l>:\e of Wight. 



Brahma Pootras, — First, The Marchioness of Btith, Muntham Court, 

 Worthing. Second, E. Shecrman, Chelmsford Highly Couimendeil. F. 

 Jnmes. Pcckham. Commended, E. Sheerman : F. Crook, Forest Hill ; 

 Mnrchioness of Bath. Ch ick rn.t.—First, Mrs. M. Seamons. Second, A. 

 Espery, Kingswood. near Bristol. 



HAVrRURGHR (Gold and Silver-pencilled) — Fir.st and Second, F. Pittie, 

 jun., Newiinrt, I. W. (Gold nnd Silver). C/jiVA-ck-n-.— First. H. Pickles, jun., 

 Einliy, Skipton, Yorkshire. Second, C. CatU Bri(?bton (Gold). Commended, 

 C. Havers. The Beacons. In^atestone, Essex (Silver); C Cntt C^ilver). 



Hamburghs (Gold nnd Silver-spangled).- First, withheld. Second, T. 

 Penfold. Newhaven fSilver). niicke^nt.—Trize. H. Picldes. jun. 



PoLANDS.— First, D. Mutton, Brighton. Second and Commended, T. P. 

 Edwards. 



Game Bantams.— First, F. Pittis, jun. 'Duckwings). Second, Rev. G. 

 Baynor, Tonbridge 'Black Bed). Commended, J. Lamb, H:xstings (Black- 

 breasted Red Game). rhirk'.m—'Prize, Rev. G. Raynor (Black Red). 



Bantams (Any other distinct variety).— CAieA-^ns.-Second, T. C. Harri- 

 son. Bcveiiev Eond. Hull (Sel»right). 



Gfesf.— First. Mrs. M. Seamons, Hartwell, Aylesbury. Second, Lady 

 M. Macdonald. Woolmer, Liphook. Hants. 



Ducks (Avlesbury).— First nnd Second. Mrs. M. Seamons. 



Ducks (Rouen).— First, H. Densett, Pleehey, Chelmsford. Second, F. 

 Parlett, Great Baddow, Chelmsford. 



Ducks (Anv other distinct variety).— First, W. Stanford, jun.. Pteyniug 

 (Black East Indian). Second, Mrs. H. Wild, East Peckbam, Kent (Mus- 

 covvi. 



Turkeys.— First, Marchioness of BHth. Second, Lady M. Macdonald. 



PIGEONS. 



Carriers.— First. H. Yardley, Birmingham. Second, R. Fulton. Highly 

 Commended. Messrs. Wat«nn. Hove ; R. Fulton. 



Tumbt-ers (Almond). —First, R. Fulton. Second, F. Else, Westbourne 

 Grove, B.^vswater. 



Tumblers (Other sorts).— First and Commended, R. Fulton (3hort 

 Face). Second, H. Ynrdlev. 



Pouters.— First and "econd, R. Fulton. Commended, H. Yardley. 



Runts. — Prize, H. Ynrdlev. 



Jacobins.— First, H. Yardley. Second, J. Percivall. 



