May 12, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



317 



not be afraid of using too much milk — if yon have plenty, let 

 them have it to drink. 



Information as to the effects of mangold wurzel on fowls was 

 asked in a recent number. I have often given them a mangold 

 to peck at, for they are very fond of it, and I have never found 

 it hart them in any way. In the winter, when all kind3 of 

 green staff are scarce, I find this an excellent substitute, also a 

 Swede turnip thrown in whole. I have never noticed the combs 

 of fowls turn black after eating it, but I certainly think both 

 the mangold and turnip greatly assist in preventing feather- 

 eating. It requires a considerable amount of exertion before 

 they can peck much off either, it gives them something to do, 

 and wo must try and keep them occupied when we have them 

 in confinement with little exercise and good living. 



I intended to have said something about diseases, breeding 

 chickens, and preparing birds for exhibition, but mu3t leave 

 that for some future time. — N. 



BROWN-BREASTED RED GAME BANTAMS. 



Amongst all the articles and correspondence which have been 

 published iu this Journal respecting useful and ornamental 

 poultry, there is ono remarkably pretty little variety which has 

 never yet attracted attention — I refer to the beautiful Brown- 

 breasted Red Game Bantam. As in large Game the Brown 

 Red is the most stylish, and take3 the lead at many of our 

 principal shows, I think the model of the breed would, if culti- 

 vated, in a short time surpass the Black Red Game Bantam. 



It cannot be denied that hitherto my favourite has been 

 sadly neglected. One lady only has exhibited birds which 

 have endangered the position now held by the exhibitors of 

 Black Reds. But I have rejoiced to see at the shows held 

 within the last few months a pen here and there of first-rate 

 Brown Reds. Tue breed is evidently improving, but sadly 

 need3 encouragement from the class of men who hold the fate 

 of nearly every kind of domestic poultry in their hands — com- 

 mitteemen. 



It is a manifest injustice to class the Brown Red, a breed 

 yet in its infancy, with the Black Red. At any large show 

 there are to be seen from a dozen to a score of really good 

 Black Reds, whilst until very lately it has been quite the 

 exception to see one pen of first-class Brown Reds. The classes 

 for Game Bantams at the present day usually are — 1, " Black 

 and other Reds;" and 2, " Aay ether variety." Let these be 

 altered to — 1, " Game Bantams, Black Reds ;" and 2, '• Game 

 Bantams, Any other variety," and I venture to predict that 

 nearly twice as many Game Bantams would be shown as there 

 are at present. Tnere being so few Brown Reds exhibited 

 under the present arrangements, the change suggested could 

 scarcely prove a loss to the committees, who, by the way, are 

 gentlemen who look very sharply after the main chance, and 

 in order to obtain any alteration in the classes it is necessary 

 to couvince them they would be gainers by it. If the Brown 

 Reds were to cjrnpet?, as I propose, in the Game Ban'am " Any 

 other variety " class, they would have to fight their way against 

 Dackwings and Piles. Now, the three last-named varieties 

 would li;rve pretty nearly equal chances. Not one of them can 

 be said to be in a much more advanced stage than the others : 

 therefore it would not frighten the exhibitors of Dackwings 

 and Piles to put the Brown Reds in competition with them, and, 

 consequently, there would be no decrease of entries on the part 

 of these gentlemen. It is, of course, entirely unnecessary to 

 do more than say that the Black Reds could not be lessened in 

 number by transferring the Brown Reds to another class. 



In conclusion, I would say that if the committeemen who 

 read the above remarks would but give the matter a fesr minutes' 

 serious consideration, they would see the advisability and ad- 

 vantage of the proposed changes, and a beautiful breed of Game 

 Bantams now undeveloped would soon muster in such numbers 

 as to require a class for themselves. — Gallus. 



For my own part, being a Houdan fancier, I feel somewhat 

 aggrieved that Houdans should not be honoured with a separate 

 class, not to say separate classes, at every show of importance 

 throughout the kingdom. Nevertheless, hoping for better 

 times, I intend to subscribe two guineas, in furtherance of the 

 interests of French fowl fanciers generally, towards establishing 

 the two open classes. Is it unreasonable to hope that the re- 

 maining eight guineas will be forthcoming from the pockets of 

 the many well-to-do fanciers of the French breeds who occasion- 

 ally bewail in print the want of attention paid to their pet 

 birds by the executive of poultry exhibitions ? By offering 

 good prizes for competition, and by entering plenty of birds to 

 compete, we shall prove to committeemen that separate classes 

 may be offered for tho French varieties without the risk of 

 pecuniary loss, and alterations and additions will speedily be 

 made in the prize lists of most poultry shows. 



French fowls are striking in their appearance, full of character, 

 if not absolutely handsome, and their economical merits are 

 undeniable. Their size is large, their bones fine, their flesh 

 laid on in the right places, very white, and delicate; their eggs 

 extra-sized, very sweet, and in the case of Houdans, at any rate, 

 almost always fertile. I appeal to tho poultry-loving public, 

 Do not such birds deserve encouragement ? — H. Seviioub, 

 Fraser, Headley, Hants. 



FRENCH FOWLS - CLASSES AT SOUTHAMPTON. 

 It is proposed to institute this year at the Soathaoipton 

 Poultry Show two classes open to the French varieties, one for 

 adults, one for chickens. I am authorised to inform those who 

 fancy French fowls, that the Committee of the Southampton 

 Show will supply second and third prizes, provided exhibitors of 

 the breeds in question will raise by subscription tho sum of 

 ten guineas fur the purchase of two silver cups, ono for each 

 class. I shall be happy to receive subscriptions towards the 

 purchase of these caps. 



ANNALS OF MY POULTRY- YARD.— No. 3. 



I described in my last notice the rude shed which was con- 

 structed to protect my poultry in stormy weather, but as yet 

 I have given no description of my poultry house proper. It 

 was ia no ornamental little mansion, created for the express 

 purpose, with all the most perfect modern appliances, with 

 chambers for laying, chambers for sitting, chambers for rearing, 

 and an elegantly furnished chamber for my lady to sit and rest 

 from the fatigue of strolling down her garden while chatting 

 to her well-paid poultry- woman, but in a common little " cot6" 

 over two pigstyes, that th3 whole of my laying and sitting took 

 place. In this little chamber, 11 feet by 7, which was only 

 3 feet 3 inches high in front and sloped down to 1G inches, I 

 have collected several thousand eggs, hatched many hundred 

 chickens, and hope to hatch many more. A snug comer of my 

 carpenter's shop has often kept early chickens warm during 

 long cold nights ia February and March ; and the same fire 

 which warmed my old glue-pot ha3 cooked many a dainty for 

 the first hatch of the season. 



By April one of the voracious occupants of the pigstye3 had 

 become bacon, and my chickens triumphed in his den till old 

 enough to perch amongst the older fowls. 



In this my third year my stock was only increased by five, 

 making in all nineteen ; of these sixteen were Hamburgh and 

 Cochin hens, the remaining three were cocks. I very soon 

 reduced my stock by one of the cocks— a long-IsggeJ, weak- 

 jointed, Cochin bird — who looked so like an overgrown appren- 

 tice that I thought it best to put him iu the stock-pot. During 

 this summer I had the assistance of a very knowing coachman, 

 from whom I gained much useful information, but under his 

 advice I must confess an act of cruelty was practised which I 

 will never again sanction. One of the Cochins was entirely 

 unsuccessful in hatching any of her first sitting, so she was 

 set again, as custom'allows, but again she had no better success, 

 and a third time did this faithful creature begin her task of 

 incubation. She was rewarded after h3r patient sitting of 

 nine weeks by eight chickens ; but tho poor thing was much 

 weakened and emaciated, though she very soon recovered. I 

 cannot condemn this practice too strongly, and I have never 

 since allowed it. 



In all I had seventeen sittings, from which only 114 chickens 

 were hatched ; but the most truthful record of my transactions 

 is in the balance sheet. 



Dr. £ s. 

 19— Stock of poultry at be- 

 ginning of year, valued 



at Is. 6<i. each 1 8 



1 Sack of barley 1 8 



2 Sacks thirds flour 114 



I Sack of Indian corn 8 



J Sack of Indian meal 8 



Wheat and medicine, 2s. . . 1 2 



£6 4 3 

 Profit 6 8 9 



£11 13 



53 Chickenskilledatls.M 

 1415 Eftss at 15 a-shi!ling 



less 253 used for sitting 

 19 Pullets sold at Is. Bd. . . 

 8 i— Stock of poultry in 



hand at end of year, 



lued at Is. and Is. 



each i 



6ii. 



Another great reduction in the proportion of profit occurs 

 this year ; and it would seem from an examination of my last 



