JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ February 10, 1876. 



on the Gnbject. Golden Polauds must have neither comb nor wattle ; 

 they must be straight-backed. Their plumage Bhould be spangled, and 

 not laced ; the cock's wines should be laced and barred. In the Silver 

 the tail shonld be white tipped with black; in the Golden the colours 

 Bhould be correctly blinded. The less white there is in the top-knot the 

 better for the birds. White feathers, like grey hairs, come on with age. 

 The markings of Gold and Silver are alike, the foundation colours alone 

 differ. 



Hen Laying Docbleyolked Eghb (E. B.).— Laying double eggs has 

 nothing to do with being too f*t. Fowls which are too fat do not lay at 

 all. There is something amiss in the egg-or^aus. Furge her freely with 

 castor oil, and she wi'l be well in a short time. 



Points of Black Red Game Bantams (Youtuj Fancier). — Game 

 Bantams require to have tbe same points as Game fowls ':— sharp snake 

 head, close hard plumage, especially the wines ; these carried close to the 

 body, and without tbo suspicion of a droop. The tail should not be too largo 

 or heavy, the sickle feathers long and rather drooping. Hen-tails are 

 abominations except in Sebright*, and we hoped we shonld never hear of 

 them again. The two red feathers in the breast of your Black Red cock 

 would disqualify him, unless the class were for " Black-breasted and other 

 Reds." He would win as a Brown-breasted Red. The two featters 

 would disqualify him as a Black-breasted. 



Brahmas Dwindling (Brahma).— Our experience of Brahmas is, that 

 the only complaint they suffer from is the " Anno Domini." We find 

 them always hardy and doing well. We should write and ask how they 

 have been hitherto fed. Instead of cabbage leaves and turnip-tops, buy 

 some sods or turfs of growing grass cut with plenty of mould. Give the 

 Brahmas bread and milk. 



Cock's Influence (A. B.).— You arc going into vexed questions. We 

 can only give you onr own opinion. We say to your first question, the 

 whole. We do "not know 1 ow to answer your second. The egg would be 

 laid at its proper time without reference to external influence on the 

 others, that influence would be felt within twenty-four hours. 



Nantwich Poultry Show (A Cheshire Subscriber).— You must send 

 your real name and address, and wo must make inquiries before we can 

 insert even a part of your letter. 



Boeder Counties Poultry Show.— Mr. J. Sibson says that the second 

 prize for Tumblers was awarded to him, and not to Mr. Yardley. 



Black Hamburgh Hen Paralysed (W. C.).— The loss of the use of her 

 legs most probably arises from over-fatness. The " high condition " and 

 the" laying "indii'ilo that during the exertion to expel the egg, a blood- 

 vessel ruptured on the brain Lower and soft diet, and perfect quietude, 

 are to be adopted. If she recover, which is very doubtful, you may safely 

 breed from her. 



41 Brown Red " and " Leicestrp. " are wished to be communicated with 

 by J. F. Btansfield, Esq., Solicitor, Accrington, Lancashire, if they will 

 send to him their addresses. 



Address (J. Frame).— We never reveal the name of a correspondent 

 who chooses to write anonymously. 



Poultry Shows (Q. G. J.).— We know of no shows but those which 

 appear in our weekly list. 



Dublin Poultry Show.— "You say, ' Grey Dorkings were exceedingly 

 good, and, to the credit of the Sister Isle, all the prizes remained at 

 home.' A reference to the prize list, which I have before me as 1 write, 

 will show that the third prize w? s awarded to a pen belonging to myself, 

 the other prize and commcndel birds were, however, Ishown by Irish 

 exhibitors. My birds only reached home from Newark (where they had 

 taken the second prize) about L.30 ; at 2 10 they were in the train again t n 

 route for Dublin.— E. Bartrum, Great Bn-kha muted, Herts. 1 ' 



Aylesbury Ducks' Bills (Devon).— The probable cause is, that the 

 water which your Ducks use has, through rains, changed its colour. If 

 you are unfortunate enough 1o live in the vicinity of heath land, and the 

 water comes down from it charged with peatv matter, that will cause it. 

 Wait till the weather changes, and the bills of your Ducks will change at 

 the same time As the show draws nigh, let them be turned every morn- 

 ing into meadows, with the cold dew upon the grass. The cold damp 

 weather has somewhat interfered with the circulation of your cocks. 

 Give them some bread and ale, and while the wet .lasts give them stimu- 

 lants daily. 



Ducks' Eggs IB. R. P.).— We constantly use Goose and Duck egss for 

 puddings and kitchen purposes, and they are approved. We have never 

 need Swans' eggs, but we should expect them to be as good. It is even 

 said by many who are no mean authorities that a Duck's egg within an 

 hour or two of being laid is superior to a hen's. At that stage the white, 

 which is afterwards so leather-like, does not set, but is almost as light as 

 whipped cream. 



Millet and Dari Seed ron Pigeons (A. C. S.).— No Pigeon authority 

 that we know of has ever rt c unmended the above as Pigeon food. The 

 dari might do, for it ib a kind of tare. 



Fantail Putting Her Wings Through Her Tail (Poplar).— As you 

 say the trick is a recent one, we would recommend you to draw both 

 flight feathers, and by the time tiiey were grown again the habit may be 

 forgotten. 



Birmingham Rollers, &c. (Fido).— These birds always have feathers 

 pn their feet, and they tio not fly high aud keep up like ^ky Tumblers 

 They are called Rollers becansa they continue their tumbling, rolling 

 ov«r for twenty times toother. Carriers are too valuable to be allowed 

 to fly. Dragoons do instead. The flying of these birds is wholly diffe- 

 rent to that of Tumblers. We cannot teach all Pigeon fancying in an 

 answer to a correspondent, f-o recommend you to get Brent's " Pigeon 

 Book," free from our office for twenty stamps. Study that book, and you 

 will obtain abundant Pigeon knowledge. 



Runts {John A. Venour). — Runts have only one property— size ; they 

 are esteemed simply on ruvo'jnt of their bulk. First-class birds should 

 weigh over 2 lbs. each. Indian corn adds to the weight, and so docs time, 

 as they increase until four years old. 



Buying Pigeons (R. H. C..— Whether Fancy or Dovecote Pigeons, 

 never pay for tliem until you have seen tbem. If you prepay by a post- 

 office order, payable ten days after date, which can be obtained at any 

 post office issuing money orders, then, if in time you give the post-master 

 notice not to have it paid he wiil &top the payment. 



Pulling-out Feather Stumps -Blackbirds Bald (C. J. J.).— Pulling 

 out the stump of a Canaiy's tail will cause no pain if the feathers be old 

 and dry. The new feathers will t.how themselves in from ten days to a 

 fortnight, or thereabouts, aud the tail will soon grow again to its original 

 dimensions. The baldness results from a kind of scurvy, at least it is 

 known as such. Rnb the place with sweet oil. 



Canary and Linnet Mule-breeding [E. EX— " About May is the best 

 time for pairing, them. Any sort of hen Canary will do. The reBUlt is 

 all a lottery, many blanks and very few prizes. — W. A. Blakston." 



Canary Six Years Old (poplar).— "If the bird be in health it is not 

 too old to breed from. If it be a Yellow cock, mate him with a Buff hen, 

 and vice versa. It is not good stock to begin with. Brent on "The 

 Canary and other Song Birds." Is. 6rf , or free by post, Is. Id. Consult 

 Nos. 352, 364, 3r6, 367, 370, and 374 of the Journal for simple hints on the 

 eubject. I shall be happy to afford any information, and congratulate 

 the ' fancy ' .in having another lady enrolled among its numbers.— W. A. 



BLAXfeTON." * 



Address (/. Magnier).—W. J. Pettitt, Hive Manufacturer, Dover. 



Dislodging Bees froji Wainscoting, &c. (.If. E. B ). — "It will be a 

 difficult matter to dislodge the bees after thirty years' location in the 

 walls of your house ; and it is also verv difficult to suggest any mode of 

 proceeding in any individual case without an actual inspection of the 

 state of affairs. Should it even be practicable to destroy every bee and 

 remove the accumulated stores, yet, unless every portion of the comb be 

 extracted, and every crevice stopped, the vacant spaces may again soon 

 be taken possession of by another colony. At least this has been the 

 experience of the writer in five cases out of seven where the dislodged 

 bees have been removed to a distance, and ae much a6 possible of the 

 combs cut away. I fancy the bees in this case must be destroyed, and 

 the easiest and most certain mode of effecting this wiil be to insert into 

 every available crevice pieces of rag saturated with a Etrong solution of 

 cyanide of potassium. This salt being, however, a dangerous poison, 

 care is requisite in its application, and there is some risk in having it 

 about you, but the vapour is very penetrating, and by it every bee may be 

 destroyed. The mison's services should then be called into requisition, 

 and when the combs are sufficiently exposed they should be carefully and 

 effectually excised. The present season is a suitable time to effect the 

 operation, tbe bees being less numerous than at any other period.— G, 

 Fox." 



Haybands Round Hives (I*. DA— Swathing hives with haybands or 

 any other non-conducting material is beneficial in moderating changes 

 of tempprature. Three or 4 ozs. given by means of an inverted bottle 

 about twice or thrice a-week as the weather permitB, until the bees are 

 able to proride for themselves, will probably be sufficient. 



POULTRY MARKET— Febf.uary 9. 



The change of the season is coming on. Game is disappearing from 

 the inarktt, and we Bhall soon he dependant on the farmyard only. 



p. d. s. d. ' s. d. 8. d. 



Partridges to u 



Pheasants 



Pigeons 1 1 2 



Hares 2 6 8 



Rabbits 14 16 



Wild ditto 9 10 



Large Fowls 3 6 to 4 



Smaller ditto 3 3 



Chickens 2 2 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— February 9. 



We have experienced a large influx of out door produce, and rough 

 vegetables are not so saleable. Forced vegetables are plentiful for the 

 demand, which is not so good as usual at this period of the year. Cornish 

 Broccoli is good, and our Continental supplies are also good, and now 

 becoming reasonable in price. 



8 0to5 I Mulberries quart to 



.. doz. Ne 



. lb. 0. 

 . bushel 8 14 6 



. ■{■■?. 



. do. 



Goosehurri.'-i quart 



Grapes, Hothouse lb. 4 



Lemons ^100 6 



Melons each 2 



lb. Plums.. 

 . lb. 6 9 | Qu" 



Oranges ^* 100 



Peaches doz. 



Pears, kitchen doz. 



dessert doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 



Raspberries .. 



10 6 ' Strawberries lb. 



10 Walnuts bushel 10 



S i do t*100 1 



VEGETABLES. 



. doz. 



Beans, Kidney do. 3 



Broad bushel 



Beet Bed doz. 2 



Broccoli bundle 1 



Brussels Sprouts.. 4 sieve S 



to 6 | Leeks bunch 



14 Lettuce score 



i Mushrooms pottle 



; Mustard&Cress.. punnet 



2 



3 4 



4 8 



.flOfl 



, bunch 



burnUe 



.doz bunches 



2 4 



Endive doz. 2 



Fennel bunch 



Garli< 



quart 



Potatoes bushel 2 



Kidney do. 3 



Radishes . . doz. bunches 1 



Rhubarb bundle 1 



Savoys doz. 1 



Sea-kale.... baBket 2 



Shallots lb. 



Spinach bushel 2 



Tomatoes dez. 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrows . .doz. 



