178 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



mell like a flowing stream out of the hive. What an interest- 

 ing sight. Talk about the Pilgrim Fathers (and all honour 

 to them) leaving their native land for the shores of America ! 

 Look at these courageous bees in the act of swarming, rushing 

 forth to make the air ring with their cbeerp, rising into the 

 atmosphere above as, and there roaring at the fullest pitch of 

 joy and gladness, and by reason of their numbers flying in all 

 directions, giving us all the shapes and forms of a thousand 

 kaleidoscopes. The swarming of bees is like a wedding, or the 

 tally-ho of the huntsman in this particular, that it seems to 

 inspire all spectators with a felt interest and enthusiasm in 

 the scene. Brave colonists ! Go and prosper, and multiply 



(From ''The Handy Rook of Bees." Being a Practical 

 Treatise on their Profitable Management. By A. Pettigrew. 

 Now in the press.) 



Crops of 1869.— In Great Britain there were cultivated 

 585,211 acres of Potatoes, and 14,344 acres of Carrots ; in 

 Ireland, 1,041,837 acres of Potatoes. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Patent Food (J. Ransome).— We never employ any. We feed solely 

 npon ground oats, barley, and boiled potatoes. 



Fowls and Eggs to Australia (Warrior).— Do not attempt it. The 

 fowls whilst on board would be a source of perpetual discomfort, and the 

 chickenB, if 5 per cent of the eggs produced any, would be weak. 



Linseed for Poultry (Linseed).— We should not be disposed to put 

 much faith in it after two hours boiling, still it may be useful mixed with 

 barley meal. There is no doubt about its fattening properties; but in 

 poultry it has a tendency to mako the plumage soft, and to make the 

 feathers fall. It does not make bone during the period of growth. 



Specimen Feathers (8. H.).—We are sorry we are unable by seeing 

 one feather to tell you the breed of the fowl to which it once belonged. 

 It may have been taken from a Grouse Cochin, or a cross-bred Game 

 hen, or from that nondescript a barndoor fowl. We are by no means 

 sure it came from a fowl at all. If it did, we should say the bird was of 

 eastern origin. The sharp-cut division .of colour hardly belongs to our 

 western birds. 



Fitness of Eggs for Incubation (A. C.).— The eggs may be set 

 within two days of the cock being put in the yard. The next is rather a 

 disputed point ; wc believe you miy safely set all the laying. We have 

 hatched eggs that were laid a month after the cock had been removed 

 from the yard. In the case of a hen Turkey confined in a loft quite alone, 

 she laid after being there six weeks, and batched all her eggs but one. 

 Your last question is oue on which doctors differ. We believe most of the 

 eggs will belong to the Brahrua. Advising you to the best of our ability, 

 we should sav if vou wish to have pure Dorkings, set only those eggs 

 that will be laid by bens or pullets that have laid none before. They will 

 probably owe their fertility to the Dorking cock, but most of those that 

 form the conclusion of a laying that was beguu under the protection of a 

 Brahma, will belong to him. 



Cross Between a Partridge and a Bantam (Gloucester),— The cross 

 has never been accomplished. We do not, as a rule, like crosses, but we 

 should be glad for curiosity's sake to see this. Let the birds be together 

 without interruption. When the hen lays, let har sit on part of the 

 eggs ; pat the others under another hen. Watch them narrowly for any- 

 thing that may lead you to tuppose you are likely to have produce. If 

 they are in a town gird n. h never large, there is no fear of wild 

 Partridges being about. He should hear none, or he will discard his mate. 

 Points in Brahma Pootras (J. M. C.).— We advise you to buy one of 

 the many good books now published on fowls. Baily gives the exhibition 

 points, which are too long for our space. We will give you the principal. 

 In both sexes, pea-mri 1 -.-', yellow legs, no vulture-hocks, large size. The 

 cock should have light hackle and saddle, black tail, black or black ana 

 white-spotted breast. The hen should be delicately pencilled all over, 

 save the neck, which should be striped black and white. 



Hen with Head Aside (R. J. L.I.— The injury will be 

 killing your Brahma, but it will do so, and we advise you to put her out 

 of her misery after another week if she do not recover, as it will then be 

 plain she is injured. Give her a tablespoonful of castor oil twice, at in- 

 tervals of twenty-four hours. 



Brahma Pootras (H. F. H.). — The weight of the cock has much to do 

 with the injury, but it is not all. Two pullets are not enough to run with 

 a vigorous cock of twelve months. It is rescoring of the sides that causes 

 the fatal injury. He must be removed except on rare occasions, which 

 need only be very rare. We cannot solve the question whether one 

 alliance is sufficieut, but we believe it is ; others deny it. We are certain 

 it does in Turkeys, we believe it does in Pheasants. We should have 

 added above, the cock must be removed till the pallet's side3 are quite 

 healed. 



Vulture Hocks Hereditary (Idem).— As a rule, the chickens of vul- 

 ture-hocked parents are themselves vulture-hocked. Poultry defects are 

 more certainly transmitted th«n their virtues. A merely small fluffy 

 feather curling round the knee joint of a Brahma would hardly be called 

 a vulture hock It is the straight projecting feather that offends. If your 

 birds are all \ ulture-hocked, the only hope you have is to change the cock 

 for one free from the fault. The pea comb is apparently ma£e of three 

 combs; the centre has few and blunt serrations ; on either side of it is, 

 or should be, the plain and somewhat raised impression of another. Thus 

 the pea comb should be, as it were, made up of three combs— that in the 

 centre higher than the others, which should appear to be pressed into it 

 till only a raised outline of them rerun ined. This comb should be straight 

 and very firm. When it can be accomplished it is better to let the dif- 

 ferent shades of Djrkings run together, bit if by mixing you can get 



promise of better shape or greater weight do not stand for colour. Recol- 

 lect Dorkings are birds of weight and judged accordingly. They are not 

 birds of colour. 



Pullets Dropping their Eggs (Hunt* II,uu-i/e).—li your pullets drop 

 the eggs from their perches, remove the perches. We fcnow no reason 

 why they should drop them, and do not believe they will continue to do 

 so. It is from being out of order. When hens first eat their egijs it is 

 for the sake of the shell, then they get to like them. Putting all things 

 together, we are disposed to think your fowls lack lime. Throw down in 

 their haunts Borne basketsful of bricklavers' rubbioh, old ceiling, and 

 the like. 



Egg Shells Varying in Colour (Idem).— It has never been decided 

 why eggs vary so much in colour, but it is so. Three hens of the same 

 breed will lay three different shades. There are those who say it is 

 ruled by the atmosphere, and that the warmer the weather tho darker 

 the egg will be. We cannot say, but we think in hot weather the eggs 



Poultry Judging (Duckwing).— Your premises are wrong, there iB by 

 no means a large per-centtge of inferior birds shown. In many classes, 

 and numerous ones, an inferior pen is the exception, and the j udges have 

 far too much to do to spare time for small details. 



Sky Tumdlers Brief on the Wing (Nottingham). — Any birds sent to 

 a strange place will not flv the same as if they had been reared there. 

 The birds ought to be kept as stock birds. Breed, rear, and train the 

 young ones to the premises. We hope to publish next week some notes 

 on breeding, training, and feeding the Sky Tumbler. 



Antwerp Pigeon (W. IT.).— If you refer to page 13^, you will find a 

 portrait of a standard specimen, and all the particulars you ask for. (J. 

 H. and Reader).— Write to Mr. H. Move, 19, Hagley Road, Birmingham. 



Pigeon with Stiff Wing (Ath Knowle).— Most probably your hen 

 Turbit had wing disease, and it was cured, but the joint remains, and will 

 ever remain, stiff. In a hen bird this does not matter, but it renders a 

 cock bird useless for breeding. It is a pity that you destroyed the hen 

 Magpie, as her case was similar, and the dis'ease is not cmtagious. 



Rules of Racing Pigeons (Will. Jones).— We do not know where 

 these can be procured, but, perhaps, some of our readers may know and 

 will inform you next week. 



Barbs (Amateur).— The width of skull is seen at the age you mention* 

 but will improve by time. All Barbs require age, four. Years, to develope 

 their beauty. We cannot speak as to price or sellers. It is best to write 

 to eminent Barb breeders, those who take most prizes. The first point 

 is the breadth, evenness, and bright red colour of the ■ 

 eyes, the second the shortness of beak, the third the i 

 the head. See Brent's "Pigeon Book." 



Mule Canaries (C. G. S.).— There is no difference in the name whether 

 the cock or hen Canary is one of the parents. Your query about a book 

 is too indefinite. 



Making Impressed Wax Sheets iT. Nicol),—We do not know where 

 the apparatus for making them can be obtained ; perhaps some of our 

 correspondents maybe able to give the required information. 



Hives (I?. iT).— We cannot obtain the information you ask for. The 

 hive you name is not patented. 



Gold and Silver Fish (J. E.).— No work is devoted to their manage- 

 ment. If the water is frequently renewed, a few aquatics in the aquarium, 

 a few shreds of uncooked meat given daily, and some sand at the bottom 

 of the aquarium ; nothing more can be done for them. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— March 2. 



With a return of open weather the markets have resumed their normal 

 condition, and have been well attended, first-class articles being iu 

 much better request. A few Strawberries have been offered this week at 

 from 4*. to 6*. per oz. The usual consignments from the Continent 

 reach us in good order, and are a great boon, for we should scarcely have 

 any salading to offer without them. The Potato trade is dull, and large 

 quantities of a very inferior description are offered. 



Mulberries quart to 



Nr-etarines doz. 



Oranges - 100 6 12 



time | currants., 



Black do. 



Fitrs doz. 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs lb. 



Gooseberries quart 



Grapes. Hothouse.... lb. 8 



Lemons Vim 6 



Melons each 



Kaspben 

 strawbi-i 

 Walnuts 



. doz. 

 ,..lb. 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes doz. 3 Ot 



paragns a* 100 10 



ana. Kidney do. 5 



Broad bushel 



Beet.Red doz. 2 



Broccoli bnndle 1 



Brussels Sprouts..* sieve 3 



Cabbage doz. 1 



Capsicums r> 100 



Carrots bunch 4 



Cauliflower doz. 3 



Celery bundle 1 6 



Coleworts.. doz. bunches 3 



Cucumbers each 2 



pickling doz. 



Endive doz. 2 



Fennel bunch 3 



Garlic lb. 8 



Herbs bunch 3 



Horseradish ....bundle 3 



Leeks bunch 4 t 



Lettuce doz. 1 



Mushrooms pottle 2 G 



Mustard & Cress.. punnet 2 



Peas quart n 



Potatoes bushel 2 



Kidney do. 3 6 



Radishes .. doz. bunches 1 



Rhubarb bundle 1 



SavovB. doz. 1 6 



Sea-kale basket 2 



Shallots lb. 6 



Spinach bushel 5 



Vegetable Marrows, .doz. O 



