116 



JOUKNAL OP HORTICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



[ February 11, 1869. 



tion — myself to wit. Why tliould I Bell my eggs, good animal 

 food, loBing little or nothing in the jirscess of cooking, at 5d. or 

 6d. a-lb., and then purchase mutton at Sd. or 9rf., or bacon at 

 lOd. or llrf., or even higher, both theee losing much weight in 

 preparation ? As soon as the collector oilers only 7s. a-hundred, 

 a mode of purchase which is a relic of barbarism, I close with 

 him for the Eeason ; it is only in the flush of spring that I care 

 to part with any eggs. I assure you, most farmers' wives with 

 any really economic rule of management do the same." 



" And yet yon tell me, Clara, that hundreds might be pro- 

 duced in our own country at little expense — even at a saving." 

 " So they might, but not by one person in one place as an 

 article of trade ; but by many individuals at their own houses, 

 town or country. There are few households of six persons, 

 ■where the scraps, such as parings, outside leaves of vegetables, 

 loaf-ends, and sundry bits would not in quantity maintain three 

 fowls ; add other three, invest as much money as your monthly 

 egg bill in meal and corn ; and if your fowls have been well 

 chosen, and are well managed too, you will soon find yourself 

 in possession of more eggs, valuing them at a market rate, than 

 the cost of your outlay. But if your six fowls do well, do not 

 dream of doubling the number, thinking to double the number 

 of eggs. Youwillonly meet with disappointment. Birds require 

 a wide breathing space, they may not be packed closely like 

 cottage houses in a town — not with impunity at least." 



" Supposing I were to make the venture, how many eggs 

 would these six hens, or rather let us say five, for I do not 

 believe in birds going unmated, give me per week or month ? " 



" I should say fifty or sixty the month, which is a low 

 average. Some birds would lay many more, but you might 

 chance to have one preferring eating to working ; and wonderful 

 numbers do not often occur. I had a Cochin which commenced 

 laying one Christmas-day, and by the beginning of May she had 

 laid ninety-six eggs, after that she never laid again — her life's 

 work was over. I kept her many months, thinking she would 

 be ashamed of all play and no work, and parted with her in the 

 end." 



" I wish they were not such a trouble, I would really try the 

 experiment, if it were only to ease my conscience ; for I often 

 feel uneasy at the good bread and milk, and pudding the 

 children will not eat up." 



" Good egg-producing matter you keep as a nuisance, and I 

 daresay part with for a few coppers." 



" Nay, sometimes I give something to have it removed. We 

 have ample convenience; but then there is the feeding of them." 



" Nothing terrible in that when you once begin. Give them 

 their breakfast of corn, and see that cook mixes up her scraps 

 with meal in a wooden bowl. If you are not afraid of them, 

 others will not be long, and you will soon find great pleasure in 

 the occupation ; and I should not wonder if some day I did not 

 Bee you handle j'our pets as little Harry does his Bantam." 



" I could never do that, Clara." 



" I would rather fondle a bird than a dog ; you are fond of 

 the latter, Mary." 



" You always loved fowls, even when you were a girl." 



" Yes, ever since I invested my first guinea — threw it away 

 you all considered — in Silver Hamburghs. I love them still, I 

 would not be without poultry if my eggs cost more than bought 

 ones. I shall ever speak a good word for the poor birds, often 

 badly housed and ill-fed, for anything is considered by some 

 good enouRh food for poultry — potatoes too bad for pigs, corn 

 with all the meal, if it ever had any, dried out of it ; and on this 

 generous diet they are expected to work all the year round. 

 Yet take care you do not overfeed your birds, for of aU 

 absurdities it is the most absurd. A fat fowl is of little good — 

 healthy and strong they should be for their own pleasure, and 

 your profit. And there are in the winter few more beautiful 

 Bights than that of a lot of well-fed, well-cared-f&r fowls, with 

 their bright silky coats and rosy combs, straying over a green 

 meadow, and giving a feeling of life and cheerfulness where 

 all would be still and dead ; and in our country homes, I assure 

 you, Mary, we make the most we can of every out-door interest 

 this dull December weather." — Maud. 



NOTES ON GOLDFINCH MULES AND 

 MULE-BREEDING.— No. 2. 

 The Goldfinch, which is held in considerable favour in all 

 parts of England, and in Scotland likewise, is deserving of 

 much notice, and is tally entitled to the word proud being ap- 

 plied to it. In Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, and, 

 no doubt, other counties, the Goldfinch is termed a " proud 



tailor," but generally, during my annual visit to the Stafford- 

 shire Potteries, there it is styled the " red Linnet," the breeders 

 and fanciers in that locality thinking much of their Goldfinches, 

 and the brown Linnets, and often matching and selling them 

 for considerable sums. 



Bechstein says, that to breed Mules it is necessary that the 

 Goldfinch be reared from the nest. This is entirely unneces- 

 sary, for Mules can bo bred from Pinches, whether reared from 

 the nest or not. Some, who evidently know more of the theory 

 than the practice of Mule-breeding, assert that it is of no use 

 trying to breed Mules unless you do so with a " cheverel " 

 Finch. This is a mere random statement. 



The Goldfinch is an especial favourite of mine, and I have 

 closely observed its habits. One of the best breeding Gold- 

 finches I have had was a small bird, with a not very fiery 

 face, sent to me by a Plymouth friend. This bird accidentally 

 lost one eye, but it did not prevent its breeding, for 1 paired it 

 with a mealy-crested hen, almost a white one, and had very 

 great success. I bred many exceedingly handsome Mules ; one 

 in particular, after winning a first prize, found a home at Calke 

 Abbey, in Derbyshire, the seat of Sir J. H. Crewe, Bart. The 

 mother of this Mule never bred a nest of Mules without most 

 of the young being light or well marked ; yet, singularly enough, 

 after losing my one-eyed Goldfinch, I sold the hen to Major 

 Howarth Ashton, and he having paired another Goldfinch with 

 her, and bred Mules, the young stock, to quote his expression, 

 were " as dark as mice." Here is an instance worth noticing, 

 of the difference between one Goldfinch and another. It is, 

 and has always been, quite evident to me, that Goldfinches 

 often " hit it " (so to use the term) better with some hens than 

 others. I have known many instances of this occurring, but, 

 of course, by having a good strain of hen Canary there is more 

 likelihood of light or pied Mules being bred. 



There is much difference in Goldfinches, for they vary in 

 colour, plumage, appearance, and size, and in habits also. The 

 Goldfinch I am fond of for breeding with, is one that builds at 

 the top of high trees, the pear tree for instance. In this and 

 other localities there is a kind termed the " pear-tree " Finch. 

 The Rev. F. 0. Morris, in his "British Birds," says "that 

 the Goldfinch builds in orchards and other trees ; " and Yarrell, 

 in "British Birds," says "the Goldfinch builds a very neat 

 nest, which is sometimes fixed in an apple tree, or pear tree." 

 This is the kind of Goldfinch to which I allude, and I have for 

 several years visited an orchard near Derby, had a nest taken 

 from the highest branch of a pear tree,, and myself, or with the 

 assistance of my wife, who is equally fond of birds, reared the 

 young by hand, feeding them with the yolk of egg and bread, 

 mixed iuto a pulp. These Goldfiaches have become reconciled 

 or tame, or at least they never exhibited the wildness and 

 fluttering habits of other Finches when reared. They have 

 been so tame, that upon placing my face to the cage side they 

 would puU at my whiskers, or feed from my mouth. Such 

 Goldfinches, or those termed •' eheverel " or " chibald," I be- 

 lieve are more sought after by many for breeding with, but as 

 they are not to be had at any period, as I remarked in my 

 previous paper, it is immaterial whether the bird be a " ehe- 

 verel" or not. Others will breed, so do not be deterred from 

 Mule-breeding. 



Mule-breeding requires much attention and patience, and 

 even when young Mules are bred many a breeder or fancier is 

 disappointed with the appearance of the young stock season 

 after season. I know many who have tried some years, and 

 have only been rewarded with dark Mules, although the hens 

 have been of a good strain. To breed them good is a great 

 diificulty, but still there are some I know who have had good 

 fortune with them, but they are unwilling to part with the 

 hens, except at remunerative prices. When good Mules are 

 obtained, their value is great ; for instance, a clear bird which 

 it often requires years to obtain, or one well and evenly pen- 

 cilled about the eyes, with a pair of faultless marked wings, 

 bearing a rich yellow throughout the bars, with a striking 

 bronze-like colour on the face. These points in a fine speci- 

 men, added to close bloomy feather, and prime condition, ac- 

 companied with size and form, and a pair of bright eyes peer- 

 ing through a clean snake-looking head, often cause me to 

 think there is a something more aristocratic and superior in 

 Mules than many other buds. On really first-rate specimens 

 the attention becomes rivetted, and the more you look at them 

 the more you like them. There is, also, one advantage in 

 having a good Mule or two, for, unlike a Norwich, London 

 Fancy, or Lizard, they do not deteriorate in appearance after 

 I passing through the moult. The prices, too, which they realise 



