350 



JOUENAL OF HORTICOLTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



( May 7, 1868. 



mothers are now rearing fifty-four chickens ; many deaths have 

 already occurred, some of the broods being six weeks old, but 

 the numbers stand as above this day April 'iSth, 1808. 



Buckwheat is here the favourite food with both adults and 

 okiokeus. When mixed with other seeds, such as oats, wheat, 

 and barley, it is invariably picked out first. — VEKiXiS, Turf 

 Bank, Jersey. 



GAME FOWLS. 



I THINK " Newmaeket's " remarks in reference to the good 

 points of Game fowls are somewhat prejudiced, and contrary to 

 the generality of modern ideas. It is possible he will admit 

 that birds exhibited now by a few of our most noted breeders of 

 Game fowls are very far superior, both in feather and other 

 properties, to birds of former periods, are bred generally with 

 more care, and, I believe, are as deep game as those bred when 

 oook-fighting was in its zenith. Well-matured progression in 

 the art of breeding is the only safe way of arriving at per- 

 fection, and not adhering so closely to old practical theories. 

 The high position our shorthorns, our race horses, pointers, 

 and greyhounds have attained has resulted from the spirited 

 and energetic efforts of breeders, who have discarded the " rest 

 and be thankful" maxim. Breeders of this class well deserve 

 the thanks of the public for the improvement of our breeding 

 stock. 



I do not agree with " Newmarket " as to the inferiority of 

 our present iSrown-breasted Reds in comparison with the old 

 gipsy-combed birds. I consider the present race of birds fur 

 superior, both in feather and other points. The dark-bodied 

 hens, also, when slightly streaked with red on the breast, are 

 far handsomer than the brown-bodied hens. They also breed 

 very true to colour, are as game, and quicker fighters. The 

 old Shropshire Brown Reds, were. I believe, a very slow bird, 

 but a cross of the Pile, Black-breasted Bed, or Duckwing, has 

 produced quicker fighters, brighter and richer in feather and 

 face, nor have they suffered deterioration in other respects. 



My only objection to birds of the present day is whenever 

 tfaere has been a tendency to produce undue size or legginess. 

 and I fancy this fault is fast fading away. The judgment at 

 Leeds, Halifax, and other places, has for the most part been in 

 favour of birds of quality, independent of great size, and this is 

 as it should be. I do not advocate the interests of every small 

 bird, nor do I wish to see undue size take precedence. 



In regard to " Newjlarket's " remarks as to the colour of 

 legs, I think his opinions have changed since 1857. It he will 

 refer to The Cottage Gardenek of that period, volume xvii., 

 .page 372, he will find the following passages in one of his own 

 articles, " I cannot agiee with him (alluding to another corre- 

 spondent), in liking white or blue legs for any variety of Game 

 fowl, they being too much like the common barndoor fowl, the 

 legs of which are nearly always white or blue. I consider a 

 bright yellow-legged black-breasted red cock to be the perfection 

 of a Game fowl. I myself like to see the skin yellow, but then 

 the flesh is invariably white, I fancy the yellow-skinned birds 

 are the fieriest." "Again, in volume xviii of the same year, 

 page 125, the following passage occurs. " As to legs I cannot 

 change my opinion, and would not keep a white or blue-legged 

 Game fowl .... I must agree with ' W.' that white legs do 

 give a soft appearance to Game fowls." 



My own opinion is that all light-coloured birds should have 

 yellow legs, these harmonising best with the different shades of 

 colour, the darker birds always legs of a darker hue ; but I would 

 not say that the colour of the legs has any influence upon the 

 fighting qualities, although a few old cockers are still favour- 

 able to white-legged birds. I feel no hesitation in saying, that 

 if I were to canvass the opinions of different breeders and keepers 

 of Game fowls I should have a majority in favour of the whip 

 tail. I also think that it would be absurd in me to assert, that 

 the form of tail had any directive influence upon their courage. 

 Some people are opposed to the slightest innovation, nor will 

 any enlightened precedent induce them to acknowledge any im- 

 provement established by those who are eminently distinguished 

 for their abilities through repeated intercourse with those 

 following the same avocation. 



In regard to the Black-breasted and Brown-breasted Eeds, 

 these were never bred to more perfection than at the present 

 time, nor do I think the Black-breasted Reds have been judged 

 with more care and correctness than other kinds. Perhaps 

 they may have been a little more popular of late. Duckwings, 

 Piles, and other colours have not so generally maintained their 

 position so well, although occasionally we see some excellent 



birds. Perhaps 1 shall not be open to contradiction if I state 

 that the present breed of Game fowls owes a great deal to the 

 Malay cross, which has given the birds a loftier and more 

 majestic appearance, with a longer neck and head, and finer 

 carriage. The coarseness and wartiness has also been softened 

 and toned down by judicious crossing. Birds of this class 

 surpass in general contour the old style of Game fowl for 

 exhibition purposes. 



" Newmarket " will find a good article, signed " W. H.," on 

 the points of Game fowls in volume xv., page 324. 



I have been particularly fortunate this season in breeding, 

 not having had a single case of last year's malady, although 

 I have bred principally from the same stock and in the same 

 yard. I have a few hatched in the second week in January, a 

 few hatched in February, March, and April, all fine, healthy, 

 well-grown birds, equal if not better than May or June chickens. 

 A friend of mine, who lives a few miles from my place, has lost 

 a large number this season, although he had not a single case 

 last year. When the weather has been unfavourable I have 

 placed them in a large horse box, lighted from the top, and 

 4 or 5 yards square. The floor I have covered to the depth of 

 ,'! or 4 inches with clean soil and sand ; over this I have littered 

 clean sweet straw, and when I serve with corn I scatter it 

 amongst the straw, thus affording amusement for the old hens 

 and the young broods, and I believe so conducing to their well- 

 doing. — Yorkshire. 



THE SELLER OF BOILED EGGS. 



Having only just seen the Journal of April 16th, I wish to 

 inform " Nemo " that my object in sending an account of the 

 boiled eggs was simply that others might be led to examine 

 any they might suspect to be in the same state, it being a new 

 dodge to me to boil eggs for sitting. It could not be, as " Nemo " 

 infers, with the object of getting the money returned, for on 

 detecting the fraud I wrote by first post to that effect, demanding 

 my money back, and giving the seller only one day to do so, or 

 it would be put in other hands and proceedings taken against 

 him. The seller thought, no doubt, it would spoil the egg 

 trade for the future if he did not comply; I had, therefore, 

 the mom y before anything appeared in the Journal, and though 

 he may this time have escaped the legal, it is to be hoped the 

 " moral kick " will act in a salutary manner. 



I would, however, beg your readers to be on their guard if 

 ordering an " honest sitting " of eggs, which the seller said I 

 might have, more especially if from the neighbourhood of 

 Halifax, without having the fowls sent to lay them a sitting at 

 their own residence, which the said seller of boiled eggs offered 

 to do if I would only send him the eggs back that he might judge 

 for himself ! Mark the craft. He wanted the proof of his 

 fraud returned safe into his own hands, and for what ? so that 

 he might put " his man " in prison! — J. L. L. 



CAUTION TO PURCHASERS. 



In a recent number of your paper I advertised for Egyptian 

 Geese, and on April (Uh I received a reply from W. D. Wood- 

 ward, giving address 198, Essex Road, Islington, London, N., 

 offering me one or a "couple of pure-bred Egyptian Geese, 

 just beginning to lay, at 9s. each. If you send P.O.O., be good 

 enough to let it be made payable at the Islington district 

 office." 



I naturally thought this price very low, and made inquiries 

 from my bxisiness correspondents, and found that no such 

 person was known at 198, Kssex Road, Islington, which is a 

 post-office. I have since inquired at 198, Essex Road, Isling- 

 ton, and find that no such person lives in the neighbourhood. 

 — Albert 0. Wokthington, Newton Park, Burton-on-Trent. 



DUCKS PRODUCING EGGS FERTILE 



WHF.r.E THERE IS NO WATER FOR TUEIR SWIMMING. 



Is spite of the general opinion that the eggs of Ducks which 

 have not access to water are unfertilised, I tried a sitting 

 from my own, kept in a stableyard with no water, except for 

 drinking, and am glad to state that every egg has brought fortk 

 a duckling. So much for popular notions. — W. I). A. 



Excess of Layinq bt Ducks. — The following instance I 

 cannot but think is an extraordinary freak of nature, and worth 



