354 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTDBB AND COTTAGE GABDBNEB. 



[ May 10, 18T7. 



avoided, and dne care taken to prepare the boU before plantinR. As a general 

 rule we advise that all balba should have as good and carefully prepared floil 

 in the open ground as in pots. This applies ocpecially forcibly to new gar- 

 dens, many a valaable batch of bolbs having been lost through planting in a 

 crude or nDgcnial Boil. 



Vallota purpurea (D. if.).— The plants should be potted early In the 

 spring if required, encouraging their growth by eprinklings overhead and 

 copious waleringB. In June they may be placed outdoors in an open situa- 

 tion, watfiring copiously and removing to a greenhouse or room window 

 when the flower scapes appear. Cultural notes on this useful autumn decora- 

 tive plant will shortly be published. 



Planting Potatoes (Efader).—Vfhen the sets have been small and the 

 rows nearly 2-^ feet apart we have found eight sacks sufficient to plant an acre 

 of ground; when the sets have been larger we have required ten sacks, or 

 even more. 



Setting Cannon Boiler {Berne Lodged—ton may have the boiler set 

 its proper way without interfering with the circulation of the water to any 

 serious extent. It is not material as to the distance between the flow and 

 return pipes, bat the circulation is best when the return enters the boiler at 

 its lowest part, the flow being at the highest; but we have one similar to 

 yours and the circulation though slow is complete. The depth of the furnace 

 calculating from the grate bars to the lower central convexity of the boiler is 

 9 inches, and in length 18 Inches; but without good stoking and fuel of 

 elow combustion such small furnaces require frequent attention. 



Weed in Wheat Field {BTene'hley).—\i is the Corn Buttercup (Ranun- 

 culus arvensis), whioh flowers during May amongst the young corn, its three- 

 cleft leaves giving rise to the name of " clock wheel." It is best proceeded 

 against by hoeing before it flowers. Hoeing being now almost abandoned in 

 the cultivation of cereal crops, hence the increase of weeds by their being 

 allowed to seed. Fallow before taking a Wheat crop, or what is better, a 

 root crop, and drain the soil if required. 



Destroying Weeds in Gravel Walks {Suhseriber, St. Bridgid). — We 

 have no experience of vitriol except for destroyicg coarse weeds sush as Thistle, 

 Dandelion, Plantain, &e., but the followiug application is very effective: — 

 Dissolve 1 lb. of powdered arsenic in three gallons of cold water, bail and keep 

 ctirring, then add seven gallons of cold water and '2 lbs. of crushed soda, 

 stir the whole well whilst boiling, and with a rose watering-pot apply to the 

 walks in dry weather from March to May. It may be applied cold, but is best 

 nsed hot, placing an Incliuing board at the sides of the walk to keep the hot 

 liquid from the Boi or Grass. The above quantity is sufficient for 25 square 

 yards. 



Calico Lights (Idem). — Pale Unseed oil three pints, sugar of lead 1 oz., 

 white reein 4 ozs. Grind the sugar of lead with a little of the oil, adding the 

 other ingredients, incorporating the whole thoroughly in a large iron pot over 

 a gentle fire, and apply hot with a large brush to the calico tacked loosely on 

 the frame. The following day tack on to the frame tightly. Thene fraraea are 

 very useful to ward-ofT heavy rains, and for affording shelter and shade. 



Glazing Vineby (T. IF.).— We should glaze the house with 21-oz. sheet 

 glass ttiroughout, the other glass you name not being necessary for either 

 the Vines or plants. 



Green Fly on Peach Trees (G. C.).— Tobacco smoke properly applied is 

 B certain cure for green fly, but it often causes the flowers of plants to fall 

 off. Fumigating Peach trees before and after flowering will save them from 

 the ravages of greea fly. Trees on walls out of doors are difficult to manage 

 when green fly attacks them. We uae a rick cloth to cover the wall and 

 trees, syringe it well to thicken the cloth, aud then fill the space between it 

 and the wall with tobacco smoke, and afterwards syringe the fly off. 



Names of Plants {E. R. ilf.).— Polemonium cceroleum variegatnm. 



POULTEY, BEE, AKD PIGEON OHEONIOLE. 



BIRDS AND TELEGRAPH WIRES. 



We had no idea when writing on the " dangers of birds " two 

 or three weeks ago that the subject would have been interesting 

 to so many. We have had, however, bo many letters asking for 

 farther information as to what birds were killed most frequently 

 in the time when there were but two or three wires running 

 along the line of railway, that wo have made further inquiries 

 from a most responsible person, who has supplied us with the 

 following information concerning the birds whioh have come 

 into his own hands. 



He has had Partridges in abundance and a few Pheasants, also 

 Bome few Wood Pigeons ; but these did not come into his pos- 

 Bession in large numbers, although his neighbourhood abounded 

 with them. Of Hawks he had no less than seven hobbies, three 

 of which he now has set up in his own collection. They were 

 all males except one. One of them was killed close by Mr. 

 Keynes's celebrated rose gardens near Salisbury, and another 

 of them had his wing cut oft by the wires. He also obtained 

 from Devonshire very many tawny Owls and several barn Owls. 

 Cuckoos, Wrynecks ; and Doves, too, in great numbers were 

 picked up on the line in his neighbourhood and brought to him. 

 He also tells us that he has never come across Rooks, Crows, 

 or Magpies killed in this way— in fact none of the Crow family; 

 neither has he ever had Martins or Swallows. These birds 

 apparently were able to keep out of such dangers. 



Of smaller birds he tells us great numbers were continually 

 being picked up under the wires, especially Larks, but it was no 

 small number also of Thrashes, Fieldfares, Blackbirds, Red- 

 wings, Yellow Bantings, Cbaffinobes, and Robins, the latter 

 being nearly always killed at early dawn. He also found one 

 Ring Ousel, Lapwings, Wild Ducks, .Tack and common Snipes, 

 Thick-kneed Bustards or Norfolk Plovers, also Golden and 

 common Plovers. In one morning in October he found five of 



the latter species lying dead all close together. Wagtails, too, 

 used to be found in numbers, generally in the autumn, when 

 many of them had got into flocks for migration, and these most 

 especially near Chard, where they used to congregate in the 

 osier beds. It was not, however, from flocks in migratory flights 

 that the greatest number met their deaths, but nearly always 

 when they were oat seeking their food ; and they were most 

 generally found in a valley, when the birds flying from the hills 

 could not see the few wires which then ezisted, as they were 

 against the light. 



These birds were all picked np in the years of 1857—1860. As 

 soon as the number of the telegraph wires were increased, most 

 perceptibly did the number of deaths occasioned by them de- 

 crease, and now when there are eighteen or twenty wires the 

 mortality among the birds from this cause is almost nothing 

 in comparison to former times. We can, then, easily realise 

 what a startling number of birds must have been annually 

 killed in past years, for all those which we have mentioned 

 were either picked up by or came casually into one man's 

 possession, and he has now many of them exquisitely set up 

 and cased in memory of those murderous times. One or two 

 have written to us saying that it was impossible for three men 

 to have in one season picked up 361 Partridges on eight and a 

 half miles of line. We can, however, assure them that it was 

 the case, and that even since writing at that time we have again 

 verified the statement, and would again tell our readers that it 

 was on the L. & S.W.R. that this occurred, whioh line of rail- 

 way runs through some of the very best Partridge shooting in 

 the soQth of England. 



While on the subject, however, of wild birds and their foes, 

 we are glad to hear that an ofiicer of the Society for Prevention 

 of Cruelty to Animals seized upon a large quantity of young 

 Blackbirds and Thrushes which were exposed for sale at Rom- 

 ford a week or two back, contrary to the Wild Fowl Protection 

 Act; and, again, we learn that one of the London bird-catchers 

 has been brought to book, for last week at Wandsworth George 

 Smith, a bird-catcher, was charged with taking a nest contain- 

 ing some young Linnets, contrary to the byelaws of the Con- 

 servators of Wimbledon Common. The charge was proved, and 

 the culprit was fined 40s., or in defaalt of payment to undergo 

 fourteen days' imprisonment. From this we can see that there 

 are people on the alert to do what they can to protect our wild 

 songsters. — W. 



exhibitors— DEALERS AND BREEDER 3. 



Who or what is to be praised — the high breed and fine con- 

 dition of the bird, or the exhibitor? Most certainly the breed 

 and condition. These guide the decision. Why, then, must the 

 merit ol the birds shown be slighted because their owner is a 

 dealer? If they are, there should be an animal's protection 

 society, and fowls so treated should be handed over to its care. 

 Why should we behave so jealously and ungratefully to the 

 dealer? Does he deserve it? Is it a fitting reward for his 

 labour ? Here we have examples of dealers who are such strong 

 fanciers they ruin themselves in pursuit of their hobby, and as 

 an appreciation of their efforts they are to be excluded from 

 competition. Why does the dealer wish to exhibit ? B.ecause 

 he is not without ambition, and he desires a premium or dis- 

 tinction for some breed he has imported with much expense 

 and trouble. He will support the shows where he is allowed to 

 exhibit openly, and must take other steps where he is slighted. 



He has a friend, a shoemaker, named Crispin ; he has a pair 

 of Turtle Doves under his bench which, of course, have young 

 ones ; he is, then, a breeder. The dealer has recourse to him, 

 and by bis instrumentality he can show his birds. He seeks no 

 unfair advantage ; if he did he would not be allowed to obtain 

 it. He does right. My friend, why does envy make that eye 

 blind with which you should see yourself? How often has the 

 breeder helped you ? He has answered all your demands, and 

 enabled you to improve your breed. He has made you a better 

 breed than yon ever had before. Thoy have been praised as 

 your breeding, and all the thanks he gets are — " Tou can go 

 about your business." — {Translated from the " Geflitgel Blatter.") 



ROSSENDALE POULTRY, &c., SHOW. 



This Show was held at Newchoroh on the 5th inst. Clark's 

 pens were used, and the whole of the birds were shown in the 

 open air; the day was fine, whioh contributed largely to the 

 success of the Show. The entries in poultry, Pigeons, and 

 Babbits were about 370. 



Game headed the list with a small entry for the amount 

 given, but the birds were good and the awards well made. 

 Spanish only two, and Dorkings four. The Cochins and 

 Brahmas were very good classes, and while the entries were 

 but small in the Hamburgh classes the quality was such as is 

 not easily surpassed. Game Bantams, Black Red were very 

 good ; first an old pair, and second and third birds of last year. 

 In the variety of Bantams, flnt was a good pair o{ Fekins, and 



