March 12, XSTl I 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. 



231 



English-bred specimens. The most conspicuous fanciers of this 

 breed who have exhibited successfully are Messrs. A. H. Easten, 

 Hull ; S. Ball, Bradford ; and J. Boyle, jun., Blackburn. 



HiM,ix,AYAN have been well upheld at all the shows of the 

 season. The blackness of the points, so necessary in an exhibi- 

 tion Rabbit of this variety, have been often shown to perfection. 

 The principal breeders of prize-winners are Messrs. B. S. Roth- 

 well, S. Ball, J. W. Harling, Burnley; H. White, Rochdale ; W. 

 H. Tomlinson, Newark; and G. T. ilutton, Bradford. 



Anooeas have hardly kept pace with some of the newer intro- 

 ductions, still they have certainly improved. Seldom is that 

 straight, clodded wool seen ; the more silky texture of the fur 

 has long displaced it. Angoras have many supporters, whose 

 names are already familiar ; amongst others I may mention W. 

 "Whitworth, jun., Manchester; and G. S. Hutton, Bradford. 



Dutch have now become general favourites. At nearly all the 

 leading shows the D utch have had a class to themselves, and even 

 where they have not, have generally carried o& the majority of 

 the prizes in the class they competed in. The new style of 

 marking has become general, in fact the old has almost dis- 

 appeared from the show pen. This new marking may be hand- 

 some, yet I think its precedent far handsomer, and hope that 

 with the new season it will return to its previous estimation. 

 The breeders of the novel variety, who have more or less dis- 

 tinguished themselves by their Rabbits, are Messrs. J. Boyle, 

 jun. ; J. Mason, Hull ; and W. Whitworth, jun. 



Belgian Hares are rapidly gaining favour, chiefly on account 

 of their size, and partly by the unceasing endeavours of some 

 fanciers to establish them in this country. Three shows have 

 already given a separate class to them — viz., Boston, Edinburgh, 

 and the Crystal Palace, which have always been well filled with 

 good specimens. To enumerate the many fanciers who have 

 given this breed their attention would be very difficult ; I can 

 only name a few of them. Messrs. W. Whitworth, jun. ; J. Boyle, 

 jun. ; W. Massey, Spalding ; and Messrs. G. P. & R. Hackett, 

 London, have had perhaps the lion's share. 



Pataoonia.ns have, I regret to say, been much neglected for 

 their rival, the Belgian Hare. I will not here attempt to discuss 

 the merits of this breed, but simply state that it is deserving of 

 more patronage than it at present receives. 



White Patagonians are now to be found in England. Of the 

 other varieties I have little to say. 



The Siberian has slowly advanced, but certainly not to the 

 extent it should. 



Polish have almost disappeared. 



The new introduction, Flemish Giant, has scarcely been 

 noticed, which, considering its immense size, is to be regretted. 



The longest-eared Rabbit yet bred is Mr. J. Cranch's, its ears 

 measure 24 inches ; the widest-eared, Mr. G. Phelps's, measuring 

 6J inches. The heaviest Rabbit of the season was fed by Mr. W. 

 Canner, of Leicester, and weighed 17 lbs. 6 ozs. ; this was run 

 very closely by Mr. T. Davis, of Southwell, with his 17 lbs. 4 oz. 

 Lop doe. — A Rabbit Fancier. 



The West Rldino Ornithological Society. — An attempt is 

 to be made by this Society to establish an annual exhibition of 

 Pigeons, Cage Birds, Cats, and Rabbits on the 7th and 8th of 

 April, and in a note now before us the Secretary says, " We hope 

 to make it a great success — that it may become as permanent as 

 the Leeds Smithfield Show." It is under the patronage of the 

 Mayor and members of the borough of Leeds. "The entries close 

 on March 28th, and the Show wUl be held in the Music Hall, 

 within five minutes' walk of the railway stations. 



CRYSTAL PALACE BEE AND HONEY SHOW. 



I am sorry to find it is only intended to be a local show, and 

 chiefly in the interest of fancy-hive makers, because there is 

 such a division and sub-division of the same thing, that the 

 prizes are so cut down that no one from a distance will be likely 

 to compete. 



One hundred pounds in prizes ! First-rate, and quite sufficient 

 to attract apiculturists from all parts of the kingdom if properly 

 divided. I have looked the schedule through, and have wondered 

 why in the hive classes there is not a class for the best hive for 

 honey and for profit. They are all for the " most improved " of 

 this kind and the other kind, and who is to say which is the 

 " most improved," unless those particular kinds and particular 

 improvements have had a fair trial in competition with other 

 kinds? I can only think that it has been drawn up carefully to 

 avoid the exhibition of the best and most profitable kind of hive. 



In the bee classes I see there is to be a prize for the most 

 beautiful progeny of a queen, but the queen herself is not to be 

 taken into account ; and why not ? I do not know, but think if 

 any profitable advantage (which I doubt) is to be derived from 

 beauty, the queen should be of the first importance instead of 

 the second. Then comes the largest breed of bees. I suppose 

 it is thought they will be stronger if large, and able to carry 

 more honey, forgetting that if so they will be likely to consume 



more. But then this lot may be from any nation, and I wonder 

 who will bring bees from abroad for the chance of winning £2. 

 But perhaps some one has something extra in this line already 

 imported, and not far o2 from the scene of exhibition. 



In the honey classes A and B appear to me to be the best ar- 

 ranged if the amount of the prizes had been more liberal. Who 

 will take a lot of supers, say ten or twenty, to London for the 

 chance of winning .t'2 '.' It ought to have been t'.^ at the least. 

 Then the ten classes from C to M inclusive might very well be 

 put into three — viz., glass, wood, and straw supers, and for the 

 best of each kind. To classes N, O, and P I have no objection, 

 but wonder why Q should have crept in. Is honey either better 

 or worse for being got out of the comb by the extractor ? 



I am glad to see a chance for cottagers, and hope they will 

 come up in full force if there are any cottagers in the vicinity of 

 Loudon who keep bees. 



In the miscellaneous classes all is very good except the essay 

 department, which I think will not do any good, and will be 

 simply 4;8 thrown away, besides the valuable time of those who 

 may venture to compete. The fertilisation of queens by selected 

 drones must of necessity be profitless and uncertain, and the 

 cure of foul brood is simply impossible. 



I believe a common straw hive is the best for honey- gathering 

 purposes ; another believes a bar-frame is, another the Stewarton, 

 another the collateral. But one fact is worth a dozen theories ; 

 and I will suggest, as the best hive for profit is left out of the 

 schedule, that a fair trial be made during the coming summer. 

 — T. Bagshaw, Loyignor, Buxtvn. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Brahma. Catarrhed {D. J.). — Your cock is eufiering from cold. In 

 almost any other breed it would turn to roup, but Brahmaa are not subject to 

 it. Give him a tableapoonfal of caator oil everj- other day for fourteen days, 

 and let him have two feeds of toasted crust soaked in old strong ale every day. 

 He will recover. 



Fattening BRiHiiAS [R. J. S.). — You should have only the natural 

 difficulty, which is, that part of the food you give must go in growth. Fretting, 

 like ill-temper, prevents putting on fat, and wo know nothing that will induce 

 the unhappy mood more certainly than to be in confinement with the oppor- 

 tunity of seeing others at liberty. Prevent it. Exercise, a^'ain, is against 

 fattening; prevent it. Put your birds in a small coop, such as is described 

 and drawn in Baily's " Fowls," and allow them only as much room as is 

 necessary to stand up and nit down again. Put this coop in a dark outhouse 

 away from the door, and let the coop be covered with sacks or old carpet ; 

 not only to keep out light and draught, but to ensure ■warmth. Thewe need 

 only be removed three times per day for the purpose of feeding. They will 

 soon be fat enough to draft. 



Poultry Yards (H.B.). — You have ample accommodation for two breeds, 

 but if you have no other object in view thau you describe we caimot imagine 

 why you want a cross. You have every convenience for two breeds, and 

 plenty of room. You can keep three. During the breeding season you can 

 well put a cock and six. hens in each of the smaller yards. The northern aspect 

 will not interfere with or affect them. Ee content with two breeds. Keep 

 Brahmas and Dorkings. Let the former have two of the smaller runs. Let 

 that joining the large run be allotted to the Dorkings, and let them have the 

 large run as well. This should also be devoted to the chickens as soon as they 

 are hatched. For some months of the year all the birds might run together, 

 say from August till November; after that they should be separated, on 

 account of the approach of the breeding season. Taken on the whole, we 

 know no more useful fowl than the Dorking ; but it must have a run. Nest 

 in our estimation is the Brahma. They bear confinement well. You need 

 not doubt the fertility of your eggs. If you are bent on a cross, put a Brahma 

 cock to Dorking hens. You have plenty of room for thirty fowls. If you do 

 not wish to keep so many, keep a cock and eight hens of each breed. 



Brahmas Laying Soft Eggs {A. P.). — There is something amiss with one 

 or two of your hens. It will come right; but if you can discover which it is, 

 you will help considerably if you give a tablespoonful of castor oil. Yoa 

 mention only two meals per day. Give the same quantity in three feeds. 

 Give meal morning and evening ; whole corn at mid-day. Do not increase the 

 quantity. Over and improper feeding were never so rife as they are now. 



Cock's Beak Divided (A. S. B.).—We fear the beak will not do well if let 

 alone. We advise you to cut away the outsides of the two pieces into which 

 it is split, as long as you cut only horn. You must not make it bleed. You 

 must then bring the ends of the two pieces together, but it ■will always be a 

 deformed beak. It will not interfere with him for any useful purpose. 



Shell-less Eggs (/. K. L.).— Your fowls are well cared for, and we 

 imagine the shell-less eggs to be accidental, arising from temporary derange- 

 ment of the egg-producing organs. If you can discover the offenders, we have 

 no doubt a couple of doses of castor oil given at twenty-four hours' interval 

 ■will prove a cure. We will offer a few suggestions which will, wo hope and 

 beheve, be found useful. Give the barleymeal slaked in the morning; discon- 

 tinue the sharps and Indian meal. Let the mid-day meal be of whole corn- 

 barley, or oats and maize. Feed on barley meal, or better still if you have 

 them, on ground oats. Discontinue the potatoes ; they are bad food, and we 

 should not be surprised if they have not much to do with causing your com- 

 plaint. Throw down a barrowload of bricklayer^' rubbish m their haunts. 

 You cannot depend on their picking the mortar from the walls. 



Brahma Pooteas (7(/cm).— They are good useful family fowls, making 

 large size at an early age. They are not as good table fowls as Houdans. We 

 do nut like crosses much, and we always object to mingling sitters and non- 

 sitters. Taken as a whole for an ordinary run where a hardy bird is wanted, 

 and one that requires no great care at any period of its life, we know nothing 

 better than the Brahma. 



Cock Hen-pecked (A. V. !<.).— All hens like to pick any raw and bleeding 

 place they see in themselves or in the cock. They particularly like to eat the 

 cock's comb, and he seems to have no objection; he will stand still during 

 the operation, only flinching now and theu when one gives a, harder peck or 



