404 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 15, 1873. 



"We phould build three or foiir houses, each IS ieot square, and as lofty as 

 posfiible. They luav be inexpensively built of wood, well ventilated and lighted. 

 It is in everj- way preferable to allowing a large number to roost in one house. 

 We ehouUl require 21 feet square for a hundred hens. If you mean to have 

 eetje only, you should have Spanish. Hamburghs. Brahmas, and Creve-Cceurs. 

 We do not think laying properties are improved by crossing. 



Gapes (L. Bradbu/ry).—GWo ea.oh. chicken affected a pill of camphor the 

 size of a small pea every second day until cured. To prevent the disease 

 keep a lump of camphor in the water they drink. 



Pigeon Xksting but not Laying {H. H.).—A Pigeon doing this will 

 usually nest for ever, but never lay — in fact, she is no breeder. Tou did quite 

 right in giving her other eggs, it was her only chance and might revive the 

 power of breeding. 



Food for Young Canaries (IF. H.).— Boll an egg hard and allow it to 

 get cold. This is important, for if the yolk of a warm hoid-boiled egg he 

 rubbed-np or chopped fine, it will harden and dry verj- rapidly. The difference 

 can easily be seen by cutting a cold egg through the middle, and also a hot 

 one. The cold one will remain unchanged during the time that the surface 

 of the hot one will dry and crack; and if the whole yolk be so exposed by 

 being chopjied fine, every fragment will pres'^'ut the same dry, caked appear- 

 ance. Pass both the white and the yolk through the egg-box, which is 

 simply a bf X about, say, 6 or S inches square (larger or smaller according to 

 fancy or the requirements of the bird room), having no top, but a bottom of 

 perforated zinc securely nailed on. The egg can be squeezed through this 

 with a table-knife, much or Uttle as occasion may requiic, and then mixed 

 with its bulk of bread-cmmbs rubbed tine in the hand. Some breeders soak 

 the bread, which should be stale, squeeze it dry, and mix with the egg. Others 

 use one or other of the many plain or fancy biscuits which aie sold in such 

 variety; but nothing is better than bread-crumbs. This is a good stock diet 

 for nestlings. When a hen is disposed to feed she will feed with anything 

 and needs no tempting delicacies, but in case of disinclination add a little 

 crushed hempseed. Let the food be fresh at all times. Do not allow it to 

 remain in the egg-trough till it turns sour. Keep up a supply of fresh green 

 food, such as groundsel, chickweed, or lettuce, and see that the seed-box is 

 duly replenished with clean white canary seed free from dust and dirt. Sum- 

 mer rape and linseed may bo given occasionally by way of change. — W. A. 

 Blakston. 



BrLLFiNCH AND CAN AitT— PROTECTION OF Eggs filf. G.).—Us6 every pre- 

 caution to protect the eggs. When you think the hen is about laying, remove 

 the BulUiTich the night before, and do not replace him till you have secured 

 the c<TC. It will scarcely he necessary to replace him again, but you may as 

 well do so, that you may leave no stone unturned to ensure success. I should 

 much like to know the result, and, if successful, to see the progeny. — W. A. 

 Blakston. 



Restless Canary Hens (A Rcadi-T). — I think if you do as you suggest — 

 " wait a little longer," the good time which is coming will come ; and as you 

 say your hens generally aie troubled in the same way, it may be accounted for 

 on the ground that they aie all a little backward. Give some stimulating 

 food — egg and hempseed prepared as above, and I have no doubt you will soon 

 have plenty of young ones. — W. A. Blakston. 



Pairing Canaries («/. A.). — I think no person can be called "stupid" 

 who has the sense to inquire into the why and because of any effect he sees 

 produced, and has also the sense to think out a theory of his ov.ti, even if that 

 theory be erroneous, which I think yours is. You ai'e in quest of a "veiy 

 pale" .Torque hen to pair with a Jonque couk, with a view to getting colour, 

 and object to a Buff or Mealy hen, because yon " don't want to introduce Buff 

 blood." I take that to be your position: well, why not a high-coloured 

 Jonque hen for your Jonque cock? Don't you think you would get more 

 colour ? Certainly you would ; but beai* in mind, at the expense of feather. 

 It may be accepted as a principle that pairing Jonque and Mealy produces 

 both colour and compactness of plumage. Jonques and Mealies are not, as 

 you imagino, distinct breeds, but merely separate classes of the same variety, 

 and are produced in pretty nearly equal proportions in the same nest. If I 

 misunderstand your object write again. I say this because I am not sui-e 

 whether you wish to breed for colour, or whether you are aiming at producing 

 white birds. Do I believe in the marigold theory? I will put your question 

 in another shape. Do I believe in the theory that the colour of a Canary can 

 be affected by feeding ? I will tell you what I believe in. I believe in Mr. E. 

 Bemrose, of Derby, who exhibited two remarkably high-coloured bii-ds at the 

 last Crystal Palace Show. The fact of their being officially passed over by the 

 Judges without a reason, and the reason being subsequently anonymously 

 stated in the Journal will be in the memory of all interested in Canary 

 matters. Mr. Bemrose assured mo the birds were genuine, that he had 

 moulted them himself, and that the colour was owing to the feeding, and to 

 nothing else. Mi-. Bemrose and the colour theory are therefore inseparable. 

 I believe Mr. Bemrot^e to be a gentleman who would not stoop to such a 

 meanness as a falsehood, and who would neither stain a bird nor cast in his 

 lot and herd with those who do, and therefore I believe in the ''Marigold 

 theory" as un fait accompli. Incipient asthma may become chronic. See 

 "Fringilla Canaria" on diseases. -W. A. Blakston. 



Bees Dwindling Away {Ligurian). — It is difficult sometimes to account 

 for hives perishing and becoming so weak in population while so well pro- 

 vided with honey. It is a veiy common subject of complaint this spring. 

 The winter and spring have been exceedingly unfavom-able for bees. We do 

 not approve of tho inverted glass for ventilation and condensation of moisture. 

 The dead bees may have been gradually carried off by the living. The tomtits 

 could not materiaUy affect the population. It is most likely that the queens 

 died during winter. If the combs are badly mildewed, we should cut the 

 worst affected pai'ts away; if not, we should let them remain, and repeople 

 the hives with swarms. The bees would soon put the combs to rights. Li- 

 gurians aie noc more liable to internal dampness than other bees. 



WooDBtTRY Hn"ES {WnJlaston'\. — 1, They are 14^ inches square by 9 inches 

 deep, inside measure. 2, The bars, when in place, should be 1 ij inch from centre 

 to centre — that i^, half an inch between each. 3, Just sufficient for the bara. 

 4, Bars are seven-eighths of an inch ^-ide. This gives a measurement of 

 \A\ inches for the box, but Mr. Waodbury preferred to have it quite square, 

 and used to spread the other quarter of an inch over the spaces generally, or 

 towards the sides. Recesses of an inch wide for bars only seven-eightha of 

 an inch wide would give too much play. 



Babbit Eating Her Dung (F. M. X).— Tho habit is very unusual, and 

 ■we would recommend a little milk as a safe liquid, or two tablepoonfnls of 

 water ouce a-week in warm weather, and more especially when the doe is 

 about to litter. Give her caiTots and crushed oats, sweet hay, a little green 



clover when ready, or vetches, but not when wet; in fact, all gi-een food 



should be given sparingly. Roots are always safe. Allow a little water or 



milk to be in the hutch at the time of littering, as intense thirst generally 

 accompanies that event. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 



Cauden Square, London. 



Lat. 51° 32M0" N. ; Long. 0° 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feet. 



BEMABK3. 

 Tth. — Rain in early morning, but line by 10 a.m., and so continued till between 

 2 and 3 p.m., when rain commenced and continued more or less 

 all day. 

 8th. — Much rain in the night ; fine morning and pleasant day, though there 



were several showers, but they were slight; a line night. 



9th. — A lovely morning ; rather stormlite in the afternoon. Only a few drops 



of rain fell here, hut tho rain was very heavy at Blackheath and its 



neighbourhood. 



lOth. — Fine morning ; the day fair, but more cloudy than the preceding one. 



nth.— Fine morning ; and all day rather cloudy between 6 and 7 p.m., fine 



aftei-wards, but wind rather high. 

 12th. — A most lovely day throughout, and followed by as fine a night. 

 ItJtii. — Fine morning; rather clouded over at noon, a brisk and rather cool 

 wind ; tine afteiTioon and evening. 

 A very hue week, especially the latter part ; temperature about 3- above last 

 week. Sun very powerful on the last three days. — G. J. SvaioNS. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— May 14. 

 A FATR average supply and good attendance, the midland markets sending 

 buyers now to a considerable extent. Importations of foreign produce have 

 largely increased, compiising among other articles Apricots, Cherries, and 

 Strawberries. St. Michael's Pines seem to be over now, as the Orange season 

 has ended, and few vessels call there. New Potatoes are well supplied at 

 from 2d. to 3(Z. per lb. ; good old ones scarce. 



Apples -1 sieve 3 



Apricots doz. 8 



Cuernes %* box i 



Chestnuts bushel 



Currants i sieve 



Black do. 



Figs doz. 10 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs lb. 2 



Gooseberries quart 1 



Grapes, hothouse lb. 8 



Lemons q,+ lUO 6 



Melons each 6 



d. s. d. I 



Oto5 ! 



Mulberries ^*lb. otoO 



Nectarines doz. 



Oranges ^ 100 4 



Peaches doz. 18 SO 



Pears, kitchen ooz. 10" 



dessert doz. 6 



PineApples lb. 8 



PlttuiB 4 sieve 



Quinces doz. 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries i* oz. 6 



Walnuts bUBhel 15 



ditto %*-100 2 



a. d. 

 6 

 

 

 

 

 



3 



IS 



12 

 











1 6 

 SO 



2 6 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes doz. 



Asparagus %> 100 



French 



Beans. Kidney ^100 



Beet, Red doz. 



Broccoli bundle 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums ^110 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 



Celery buudle 



Coleworts.. doz. bunches 

 Cucumbers each 



pickling doz. 



Endive doz. 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Uerbs bunch 



Horseradish bundle 



Leeks bunch 



Lettuce doz. 



8. d. a. 

 3 Oto6 



Mushrooms pottle 



Mustard ti: Cress. .punnet 

 Onions ^ bushel 



pickling quart 



Parsley per doz. bunches 



Parsnips doz. 



Peas quart 



Potatoes bushel 



Kidney do. 



Round do. 



Radishes., doz. bunches 



Rhubarb bundle 



Salsafy ^bundle 



Savoys doz. 



Scorzonera.... ^bundle 



Sea-kale basket 



bballots lb. 



Spinach bushel 



Tomatoes doz. 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrows 



8. d. B. d. 



Oto2 

 2 

 6 



POULTRY MARKET.— Mat 14. 

 Orn market tells of untoward weather in the past. The yotmg ponlt^ Is 

 not as forward as wo expected and hoped. There aie, however, indications 

 of improvement, and we hail them gladly. Outrageous prices are neither 

 good lor senders nor sellers. 



Large Fowls 6 to 6 



SnuLllerditto 5 & 



Chickens 4 4 



(iowiings 7 7 



GuiUfU Fowls 8 4 



Ducklings 4 



8. d. B. d. 

 6 

 6 

 6 



Pheasants 



Partridges 



II«rc8 



Rjibbirs 1 



Wildditto 



Pigeons 



d. 8. d. 



to 







e 



1 7 

 10 

 10 



