398 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTICULTDBE AND COTTAGK GARDENER. 



[ May 26, 1B68. 



Black Beds should have clean red faces, but if we are to 



"improve on Nature," and give our Brown Beds the clean red 

 face, shall we not also give them the shape, and looseness and 

 softness of feather of the Black Bed. instead of the beautiful 

 symmetry, closeness and hardness of feather, so essential to 

 the Brown Bed ? It we cross breeds like Black Beds and Brown 

 Beds, how are we to get one peculiarity without another ? 



I should have liked to have had my say on tails, but am afraid 

 I am occupying too much space. — Chanticleek, Nantivich. 



LIGHT VERSUS DARK BRAHMA POOTRAS. 

 If any of our noted breeders of Dark Brahmas intend accept- 

 ing my challenge they must do so before June be out, as I 

 consider they have had quite time enough to think about it, if 

 they intend to meet me. " Nemo " was quite right in question- 

 ing my additional conditions ; and in reply, I beg to state 

 I do not wish any concessions from tho " Standard of Ex- 

 cellence," simply the additions thereto as mentioned in my 

 challenge. My reasons for such shall be given at some future 

 time. — F. Crook, ]'ine Cottage, Forest Ilill. 



CANKER AND ROUP IN PIGEONS. 



Having read the whole of the correspondence upon these 

 subjects in your Journal, I felt inclined to send you a brief 

 outline of my experience in the matter during the last two 

 months, hoping that it may bring forward some one who can 

 throw more light upon the matter, for we appear still to be in 

 the dark both as to cause and remedy. 



The roup first made its appearance in my loft in the beginning 

 of March. It showed itself about the same time in two young 

 Carriers and one young Dragoon, all in separate nests. The old 

 birds at that time were healthy ; the young birds died, but not 

 before two of the old ones had taken it. From that time to 

 the present it has continued spreading. I have tried Mr. Heath's 

 and Mr. Eose's remedies ; the effect was beneficial in some 

 cases, in others the birds died under the treatment. After losing 

 several of my best birds I tried Baily'a roup pills ; the effect so 

 far has been good, but as the time is short I cannot speak 

 positively upon it. Certainly I have not lost one bird since, 

 although I had some bad cases that I tried them upon. 



After carefully watching the effect of the disease for several 

 weeks I am surprised that any experienced fancier should say 

 roup is not contagious. The cases brought forward do not prove 

 it to my satisfaction. I have several cases in which one bird 

 is very much affected with the disease, but the mate is in per- 

 fect health ; but I have more cases the reverse of that. I will 

 give you one instance. I have a Short-faced Kite hen that took 

 the roup in March. She was mated to an Almond cock ; he 

 caught it of the hen and died. I then put to her another cock 

 bird that was in perfect health, and he caught the disease and 

 died. She has partially recovered. I could state several other 

 cases which to me demonstrate that roup is highly con- 

 tagious. Who would say that the small pox is not contagious ? 

 and yet how frequently it attacks only one individual in a large 

 family ! 



The canker I care but little about ; if taken in time I find it 

 easily cured, although I have generally found that when one 

 young one in the nest is attacked, the other takes it unless the 

 remedy is applied promptly. 



Being an amateur I read with interest the articles on match- 

 ing for colour, ttc, and have been waiting to see some of the 

 promises fullilled in the shape of other letters upon similar 

 points. There is a great want felt by amateurs which I am 

 sure could be well supplied by your able correspondents. We 

 read often enough what we should not do, but we want to know 

 what we should do. We have heard what is a bad match for 

 Black Pouters, but no one has said what is the best. A few 

 practical letters like Mr. Simpson's would do much to improve 

 the various strains of birds. I hope we shall see them, but 

 above all I would like to see every letter writteu in a good 

 spirit. I think if we differ in opinion we should still display 

 the spirit of friendship. — L. Ween, Lowestoft. 



P.S. — I have found that all the young ones died that were 

 affected by the roup. No remedy that I could try would save 

 them, and the disease generally assumed a different form in 

 the old birds which died from what it did in those which re- 

 covered. 



Staveley Poultry Snow. — The Committee of the Staveley 

 Poultry Show have just issued the prize schedule of their first 



Exhibition. We hope it will prove a success. Six silver cups 

 are comprised in the schedule, besides a considerable amount 

 of money prizes. The Committee on their prize sheets state 

 the names of the two gentlemen engaged as Judges. 



A GUIDE TO CANARY-BREEDING.— No. (i. 



As I stated at the commencement of these brief articles, I 

 have not attempted a learned disquisition on Canaries. I have 

 tried to make them what they profess to be, and what I wish 

 the Editors of the Journal had entitled them, " An A B C 

 Guide," with duo emphasis on the ABC. I am somewhat 

 sorry that I have provoked no discussion, but 1 infer from this 

 that the matter I have adduced has been so very elementary 

 as, perhaps, to leave but little room for any. When I have 

 inserted my paper-knife week after week into the uncut folios 

 of the Journal, always commencing at the " Poultry, Bee, and 

 Household Chronicle," as I have no doubt those genial souls 

 the " Wiltshire Bector " and " D., Deal," do at the other 

 end, I have often admired the plucky manner in which " New- 

 market " and his opponents buckle on their spurs and fight 

 on behalf of their combative proteges. Pigeons, too, can evoke 

 columns of spirited discussion ; while the "Devonshire Bee- 

 keei'er" and other apiarians have a friendly bout now and 

 then, enriching our stock of knowledge from their own weU- 

 stored hives. "D., Deal," who is equally at home among 

 roses, camellias, and potatoes, will relate his experience, and 

 tell us the names of a score of approved sorts of either, with a 

 detailed statistical account of their merits or faults. Each and 

 every pursuit which may be supposed to find a home in the 

 country gentleman's house has its niche in your Journal, and 

 friends who maintain all shades of opinion. But excepting a 

 solitary query now and then, one hears but little pro or con. 

 respecting a fancy which numbers its supporters by the thou- 

 sand. I thought that the proposition which emanated from 

 Polefield Hall, and which was supported by Mr. Warren, of 

 Southampton, and myself, would have met with a ready re- 

 sponse ; and that your columns would, week after week, have 

 teemed with articles from enthusiastic correspondents, till the 

 subject was thoroughly ventilated, and something like an all- 

 England association formed, with its complete schedule and 

 standard of excellence. Granted that breeders are too fully 

 occupied with their birds just now to pay much attention to 

 these matters, but I hope that before the autumn shows com- 

 mence some definite conclusion will be arrived at touching 

 certain points which the liberal extension of prize schedules is 

 beginning to develope. The value of a perfect cap in a Lizard ; 

 what constitutes the difference between marking and variegation 

 in Norwich and other classes ; whether Ticked and Variegated 

 Belgians should be shown in the same class ; the proper clas- 

 sification of Created Norwich, &o., are questions of interest 

 which I should like to see discussed. 



In drawing these articles to a close, I will just add a word or 

 two on running one cock with two or more hens, which it is 

 sometimes advisable to do. The modus operandi is either to 

 keep him in a separate cage, and introduce him to the hens 

 when they evince a disposition to nest, and then leave the 

 rest to the good breeding and feeding qualities of the hens, or 

 to single out one, the best, as his mate, and confine him with 

 her till she lays her first egg, when he can be introduced to a 

 second. By the time she has built and laid, the first will have 

 chipped, when he can be returned to his first love to assist in 

 family duties. I have seen two hens in one cage each attend- 

 ing to her own nest, and each receiving attentions from the 

 cock without showing any symptoms of jealousy, and it is not 

 uncommon in such a case to find either hen assisting the 

 other in feeding. Polygamy is tolerated among Canaries as 

 among other domesticated feathered tribes, and the cock will 

 be found faithful to all his loves, even alter a very prolonged 

 absence. 



I may at a future date, as occasion may suggest, request the 

 favour of a corner in these columns in advocating the claims 

 of the Canary. Few hobbies pay their working expenses 

 better, and Mr. Eedwell's observation, which I quoted some 

 time ago, showing that the sale lists of our exhibitions prove it 

 to be as remunerative as "breeding pelargoniums or bees" is 

 very true. No one can spend an hour in a breeding-room 

 without learning lessons of kindness, gentleness, and affection. 

 I spend many an hour there with my children — no greater 

 treat to one than to dispatch him with my basket to the fields 

 for the daily supply of green food, and no greater pleasure to 



