Uay 7, 1668. I 



JODBNAJj OF HOBTIOULTtJRE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEK. 



351 



recording in the columns of " onr Journal." Daring the night 

 of Sunday, tho I'Jth uU., my three Ducks laid four ecgs 

 of the usual size, one with a double yolk, and one soft egg, in 

 all six eggs. Ou more than one occasion I have known thorn 

 lay four cgg^ in one night, I al.^o found that ray three Ducks 

 laid four eggs during the night of April 2l8t. I should 

 state that they did not lay on the night of the 20th. — John 

 Gould. 



[Such excesses and irregularities always indicate that the 

 birds* egg-system is over excited. Tho Ducks probably are 

 excessively fat.— Ens.] 



NEWCHURCn POULTRY SHOW. 



Tins M6ctiiiK, held April '20th, was favoured with dry weather, and 

 the attendance of visitors was oxtraordinarily good ; bat tho hurricane 

 that prevailed on that day was a very great dibadvautajre, for tentg 

 Rnocnmbed to its fnry, and ladies had to cUng to each other to avoid 

 baing blown down. To the general appearance of tho poultry ex- 

 hibited the wind, of course, was a very considerable drawback, and 

 naturally those pens that happened to bo placed in its direct coarse 

 Ba£Fered most severely ; but in many instances the er.hilntors covered 

 their pens of poultry to prevent evil oonsequeuceb. and this proceeding, 

 of course, diminished the attractions of the Exhibition. The now 

 by* far-too- common mistake of waiting for some hours beyond the time 

 specified for the birds to be penned, to take in the late arrivals, caused 

 considerable difficulty, and is, beyond question, oue of the features of 

 many of onr aejrionltnral shows tliat loudly calls for improvement. 

 An hour duly kept, and undeviatiugly insisted on. is by far the pre- 

 ferable plan to ensure permanent confidence. Some of the birds in 

 this instance did not arrive till many hours after the opening of the 

 Show. The public sale on tho Show ground of catalogues for some 

 hours prior to the adjudications being even commenced, is another 

 objectionable feature, and one that calls for alteration. The pens, and 

 the attention shown the poultry, need but little remark, being really as 

 good as could be fairly expected, and we can with confidence Btate the 

 character of the poultry generally was of the best description in 

 almost every class throughout the collection. 



S1NOT.G Cocks.— (?'/m/3.—(\ny colour).— First, W. H. Wheeier, Carlton 

 near Nottinsham (BLick Red). Second, C. W. Erierley, Middleton, 

 Highly Commended, W. Westwell, Baxenden, (Erov.-n Red"> ; J. Turner, 

 Radcliffe ; W. Morris, Accriugton. (Black Red t. CommGuded. J. Bowness, 

 Scout. Bantam. —FiTst, J. Bamber, Accrington. Second, S. W. Smith, 

 Carlton, near Nottingham. Commended, <J. W. Brierley ; W. A, Taylor, 

 Manchester. 



Gaue (Any colour}.— First, J. Bowness. Second and Highly Com- 

 mended, C. W. Brierlf;y. Highly Commended, J. Turner. 



Game Bantam. — First, J. Robinson, Failsworth,near Manchester. Sc 

 cond, T. Birtwistle, Makengate. Highly Commended, G. Birtwistle, 

 Makengate ; G. Anderton, Accrington. 



Bantah (Any other variety except Game).— First, T. Burgess. Brig- 

 hoose. Second, S. & R. Ashton, Mottram. Highly Commended, G. 

 Anderton ; W. A. Taylor. 



DoEKiKGS (Any colour).- First, J. Stott, Heaky, ae&r Eochdaie. Se- 

 cond. .7. Robinson, Garstang. 



OocHiN-CniN-A (Anv colour). — First. F. Haworth,IiawtenstalI. Second, 

 W. A. Taylor ( Bufft. Highly Commended, J. R4>binson ; T. Bott. ^Vood- 

 lande, near Bury. Commended, L. Duckworth, Sheen Hev, P*amsbottom 

 (Buff). 



Spaxish (Any variety).— First. H. Wilkinson, Earby (Black). Second, 

 W. A. Taylor (Black). Extra Prizes, J. Newton, Silsden, near Leeds. 

 Highly Commended, J. Ashworth, Heightside. Newcbuich (Black). 



Brahma Pootra (Any oolonr).— First and Second, E. Leech, Rochdale. 

 Commended, W. Hargreaves, Eacup (Darki. 



Hamburghs (Golden-pencilled).— First. H. Pickles, Jan., Earby, near 

 Skipton. Second, S. Smith, Northowram. Halifax. 



Hambdrghs (Silver-pencilled). — Fii-st, W. Wilson, Crawi^hawbooth. Se- 

 cond, T. Shari>Ies, Crawshawbootb. 



Hamborghs (Golden-spangled). —First, S. & R. Ashton. Second, H. 

 Piokles, jun. Highly Commended, N. Marlow, Denton, near Manchester. 



HAjiBCRGHg (Silver-ypangled). —First. J. Fielding. Newchurch. Se- 

 cond, H. Pickles, jiiD. Hiffhlv Commended, J. Fielding. 



Any other Variety.— First. Col. Stuart Wortley, Grove End Road, 

 London {Cr.-ve-Cceury. Second, H. Schofield, Newchurch (Black Ham- 

 bu»ghs). Hit,'hly Commended, D. Lord, Stacksteads (Black Hamburghsj ; 

 N. Marlor ; H. Woodworth, Church, near Accrington. 



TiTRKEYs.— First and Second, E. Leech. 



Ox£8E. — First, E. Leech. Second, Mrs. Tattersa'.l. Scout, Newchurch. 



DccKs (.\ylesbary).— First, Withheld. Second, R.\yhittaker,Flasmoss. 

 sear Haeiiupden. 



Ducks (Rouen).— First, E. Leech. Second, T. Bott. Commended, J. 

 Greenwood, Burnley. 



Ducks (Any other variety) —First and Second, W. Brierley. Highly 

 Commended, S. & R. Ashton (Carolina). 



The Jndge wag Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, 

 near Birmingham. 



CHILLED EGGS— PROTRACTED PEIIIOD OF 



HATCHING. 



I HAVE thiB season had one or two rather remarkable in- 

 Btances ol eggs hatching after haying been left some hours 

 cold, and beg to send you the particulars, in case yon think 



them worth a comer in yonr colnmnB. Some breeders affirm 



that it is most important to have the egRS closely sat for the 

 first iew days. Others think that tho critical time is a few 

 days before hatching. Which theory is correct ? or is there 

 anything in either of them .' On March 2l6t I sat ft Game hen 

 on fifteen Brown Ked eggs. On .March ;^Oth nhe was accidentall^v 

 shut off the eggs from eight until one o'clock, and on April 

 1 1th and 12th hatched out nine healthy chickens. On April 

 20th I set eight Brown Ked eggs under a Game Bantam hen, 

 and she was shut oS the eggs from seven o'clock on the night 

 of the 23rd until eight o'clock the following morning. I have 

 to-day (May 2ndl, broken one of the eggs, and found a lire 

 chicken about two-thirds formed. This is the most extraor- 

 dinary instance of the kind I ever knew, especially as the night 

 of the 23rd of April was frosty, and the nest in a tub out of 

 doors. 



On April 7th, forenoon, I sat a hen on fifteen eggs, and a few 

 days afterwards found that she was infested with parasites. 

 I fumigated the box in which she was sitting, and dusted the 

 hen well with quicklime, which made a thoroughly eft'ecfcual 

 cure, but the eggs did not begin to hatch out until April 30th, 

 and the last chick was hatched at noon on May 2nd. Is it not 

 very unusual for eggs to hatch four days after time ? and conld 

 it have been caused by the hen not sitting closely the first few 

 days in consequence of the parasileg? — Brows Bed. 



ON THE REARING OF TURKEYS. 



Youe insertion of my notes on the rearing of spring chickens 

 has led me to send a few more on the rearing of Turkeys. 



Turkeys being rather delicate should never be bred from near 

 relations. Procure the cock and hens from different places if 

 possible. The first eggs laid by the hen Turkey should be 

 placed under a common hen. and let the hen Turkey lay a 

 second clutch. It is best to hatch all that are required not 

 later than Jane. 



The Turkey hen is a good sitter, and while kept in the coop 

 a careful mother. She mnst never be let out early in the 

 morning with her brood, otherwise she will drag them throngh 

 the wet grass, and tire and exhaust them. Stinging nettles, 

 too, should not be left in their way, as they sometimes get their 

 legs stung. 



The coop should be kept in a sheltered situation, with its 

 back to the wind, and be moved every day. The ground on 

 which coops are placed will soon become tainted. 



For food I use curds mixed with meal, bread soaked in ale, 

 bread crumbs, and a little canary and hemp seed, but the last 

 must be used sparingly. I do not like the plan of keeping the 

 food always before them, but think it best to give a certain quan- 

 tity at a time, and fresh. A little well-cooked meat, torn into 

 shreds, is very much reUshed, such as remains after beef tea 

 has been made. They do not care much for wet food, such as 

 meal, but require a change until they come into the yard and 

 eat corn with the other poultry. I never give any green food 

 to young Turkeys, but let them run on grass. I have had 

 them in a garden while the hen is cooped, and they are very 

 fond of cabbages. I do not approve of poultry under cover, 

 unless for a day or two. If they will not do well out of doors, 

 neither will they in -doors. 



When the young are about two months old they must be 

 carefully attended to, as this is a very trying time for them 

 while they are " shooting the red," or getting the red head. 

 When they are old enough to run with the other poultry th^ 

 must be driven in at night, otherwise they will frequently roost 

 out of doors and take cold. 



The cocks may soon be distinguished from the hens by their 

 strutting, spreading their tails, and lowering their wings. The 

 hens spread theirs also, and lower their wings, but, from my 

 own observation, only while challenging for battle, neither do 

 they raise the feathers so high as the cock. — L. B. 



A FEW REMARKS ON THE DIFFERENT 

 VARIETIES OF PIGEONS. 



I NOW proceed to give my opinion on some other varieties of 

 the domestic Pigeon, with reference to their present condition 

 as eiemplified by those exhibited. 



I shall pass by the Pouters, so much having been written on 

 that particular breed of late is "onr Journal" by such able> 



