250 



JOUBNAIi OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 



[ arch 19, 1874. 



fat, and cannot lay. Alter it altogether. Give them ground oats or bariey 

 meal flaked with cold water in the morning; whole com, maize, or barley 

 varied with kitchen scraps in the afternoon; and meal again in the evening- 

 Diecontinne all the rest, and you will have eggs. 



Rotten Ducks (F. G. S.). — The Rouen is not an early-laying Back. Giv^ 

 them oats instead of barley. They will soon lay. The question of shooting 

 fowls that trespass is a vesed one. "We should say the legal remedy would be 

 an action for damage. Fowls are not particularly fond of peas, bat they liie 

 to Eciatch in the earth, and then eat all they find in the way of food. You 

 can stretch wire along the hedge. We have done so successfully. We coold 

 give you a better opinion if you told us their breed. 



TuEKEYS (P. B. JtfoM).— How many hen Turkeys have you? One cock 

 ■will EUfBce for many hens, and an extra one is rather a hindrance than other- 

 wise. We do not believe it will seriously interfere with the fertility of the 

 eggs. A young Turkey cock is not always to be depended upon, and in your 

 place we sho'old be unwilling to dispense with the services of the tried one. 



LiME-WATEB FOB PRESERVING Eggs (A. B.). — Sufficient lime should be 

 put to form a paste in which the eggs will retain the position in which they 

 are placed. They should be put in as laid till the layer is complete. When 

 that is the case, another bed of lime is made, and eggn put in, so on till the 

 vessel is full. We always use bread-pans. We have done so for years, and 

 have never found a cooked one. They must be put in, freshj and new-laid so 

 much the better. 



Chicken Diarrhiea (R. E, fl.). — Your chickens are chilled. Give them ale 

 to drink — poodale,not table beer. When they return to their artificial mother 

 at night give some stale bread soaked iu ale. Feed on boiled egg, bread and 

 milk, chopped cooked meat, and let them have good turves with plenty of earth 

 to them. They want no other food, but they must be fed very often, and above 

 all, at daybreak. Rice may be given as a change if they seem dissatisfied, but 

 it is not good food. 



Roup {L. A, B.). — If the hen be suffering from roup the swelling will be soft 

 to the touch, and the accumulation in the mouth and throat will partake more 

 of the uatui'e of mucus than cheesy matter. If it be roup it may he cured, 

 especially at this time of year; and stimulant given at once in the form of 

 bread steeped in strong ale, will be beneficial. If a cheesy swelling, there ia no 

 cure for it. 



White Leghobns as Lavers (Ntmo). — One cock and ten hens were con- 

 fined all the warm season in a moveable coop 4 feet wide and 10 feet long; 

 the rest were kept undera bam, and had their liberty perhaps one-third of the 

 time: — December. 1871, No. of hens; 24: cocks, 2; eggs, 377; eggs per hen, 

 15.7. January, 1&72, hens, 21 ; cocks, 2; eggs, 452; eggs per heu, 21.5. 

 February — hens, 21 ; cocks, 2 ; eggs, 427; eggs per hen, 20.3. March — hens, 

 26^; cocks, 2; eggs. 500; eggs per hen, 18.9. April — hens, 80 ; cocks, 3 ; eggs, 

 455; eggs per hen, 14.8. May — hens, 27; cocks, 3; eggs, 560; eggs per hen, 

 20.7. June — hens, 27; cOcks, 3; eggs, 466; eggs per hen, 17.3. July — hens, 

 27; cocks, 2; eggs, 445; eggs per hen, 16 5. August — hens, 26; cocks, 2; 

 eggs, 507; eggs per hen, 19.5. September — hens, 26; cocks, 2; eggs, 406; 

 eggs per hen, 15.6. October — hens, 25 ; cocks, 2 ; eggs, 327 ; eggs per hen, 

 9.8. November— hens, 24; cocks, 2; eggs, 235 ; eggs per hen, 13.0 Total for 

 each year— eggs, 5147 ; total for each hen, 203.6 



Petroleum (G. A.). — What druggists sell as Barbadoes tar, Petroleum 

 barbadense. We have never tried it, never having had chickens affected with 

 gapes. Cleanliness, nourishing food only, and a lump of camphor in the 

 water the chickens drink, will usually prevent gapes. 



Northampton Pigeon Show. — We are informed that, owing to the neglect 

 of the railway company, Mr. Townson's birds were not delivered until after 

 seven o'clock on Tuesday March 3rd, the Judges having left the hall several 

 hours. 



Trumpeter Pigeons.— In The Journal of Horticulture, March 12th, 

 Mr. Frederick Ivy [Joy], Walmgate, York, offers for sale an EngUsh 

 Trumpeter, "Prince Charlie," and says, "winner of many prizes, beating 

 Mr. Fulton's and Mr. Lederer's foreigners." Now, I beg to say that none of 

 my Trumpeters has been beaten by the above English Trumpeter, The Usts 

 of awards of the shows where I exhibited will prove that.— J. Ledeeee, 

 Bootlc, near Livervool. 



Canary's Song Being Injured — Cayenne Feeding (M. B.).— You need 

 be under no apprehension as to the bird's song being injured. If it is a 

 trained German songster, it should not be within hearing of the noisy song of 

 an ordinary Canary. That would injure it, as it would copy some of the head- 

 splitting notes. It might be that during the breeding season, when birds ai-e, 

 or ought to be, In the highest possible condition and most robust health, a 

 trained songster might not always feel disposed to warble his varied accom- 

 plishments and operatic selections to his* inamorata; but might, in the ex- 

 uberance of his joy, speak in a language she might understand more plainly ; 

 and I don't know whether, under such circumstances, he would not sing the 

 " proud song" Nature has taught him ; but the breeding season being over, 

 and things returned to their normal condition, there can be no fear of his not 

 returning to his more chaste melodies. The cayenne food must be given 

 fresh every day. Nothing is more injurious to birds than sour food. Bear in 

 mind, it must only be given during moulting, while the blood is in circulation 

 in the feather. — W. A. Blakston. 



Canaries Going Blind (IT. Smith). — A disposition to blindness is not 

 among the diseases to which Canaries are liable. Isolated cases may and do 

 occur, but what I mean is that no breeder regards such a calamity as one of 

 the many difficulties he has to contend against, and it is not one of those 

 things for which any cure can be prescribed. Still, every effect has a cause, 

 and if you have ten per cent, of youi- stock so affected, I should advise you 

 first to remove the blind birds into a separate cage, and notice whether they 

 are temporarily or permanently blind. Keep a sharp look-out for fresh cases, 

 for it evidently is some infectious form of ophthalmia. Hold a council of your 

 most inteUigent friends among the fancy, and see if any local cause can be 

 discovered. You do not say anything of the symptoms, whether accompanied 

 by inflammation or other outward signs of the mischief working. Perhaps 

 other breeders who may have met with a similar scourge will "relate their 

 experience." — W. A. Blakston. 



Bullfinch and Canary Breeding (Ashantec). — Try them, if you are dis- 

 posed for so experimenting, but the result of all x^rovious attempts has shown 

 the endeavour to be futile. If you search the index of the Journal for 1873, 1 

 think you will find some very definite information on the subject, furnished 

 me by Mr. Forth, of Pocklington. I am afraid you will find it a waste of 

 time. — W. A. Blakston. 



Canary III {Cimary), — By this time your patient will probably have gone 

 to the happy hunting' grounds. He is in the last stage of pulmonary disease. 

 The aggravated symptoms may be, to some extent, alleviated by keeping the 



bird near the fire. Feed on bread-and-mili and a little maw seed. Give a 

 drop or two of cod-liver oil, either floated on water or by dropping it into his 

 throat from a pointed stick ; but he will go. — W. A. Blakston. ' 'i\iOr 



Removing a Hive (G. G.).~You may safely remove your hive six miles 

 on a light cart or other conveyance with springs; or it could be swung on a 

 light pole and carried between two persons, or one may easily carry it on his 

 head the whole way. Close the door of the hive with tow or rags, and tie tho 

 hive tightly to the board before it is sent off. 



Offal Thbown-out by Bees (W. E. M.). — The dead bees yon have sent 

 for inspection are all young and imperfect. Those in parcel a died in their 

 cells alter they had reached their pupa or chrysalis state. That in parcel b 

 has not been matured, but has either left its cell or been taken out by tho 

 bees about two days before its time of hatching. That in parcel c has appa- 

 rently been twenty-one days in its cell, and therefore is not an abortion. 

 Doubtless it was either diseased or impeiiect when cast out of the hive. For 

 a day or two after they are hatched bees are of a hght grey colour like that 

 in parcel c. What you have witnessed is of common occurrence in healthy 

 prospeious hives. Many young bees lose their foot-hold of the combs, and 

 fail on their boards where they become chilled. Not having sense to crawl 

 back into a warm place they soon lose the power to do so. Your treatment of 

 your bees is quite correct. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 



Camden Square, London. 



Lat. 51° 32' 40" N. ; Loog. U^ 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feet. 



It 



REMARKS. 



11th. — Snow on the ground and extremely cold in spite of bright hot sun, 



was nearly 50^^ hotter in the sun than in the shade. 

 12th. — Dull early and very cold; heavy snow from 8.30 A.M., lying about 



lO.SO A.M. nearly 3 iuches deep; faint sun about 1 P.U., and thaw. 



Drizzle at night. 

 13th.— Fair, hut not a bright day. 

 14th.— Fine throughout, with hot sun at times. 

 15th. — Dry but dull ; much warmer. 

 16th.— Fine warm morning, cloudy at times daring the day ; fine night, and 



windy. 

 17th.— Rather dull, cloudy, with tendency to rain; sHght shower for a few 



minutes at 10 p.m. 

 Owing to the week embracing both very cold and also warm days, the average 

 temperatures are unaffected, but so cold a day on March 11th should not pass 

 unnoticed. Low as the temperature fell here, it was far lower in other parts 

 of the country, and on grass in north-west Yorkshire actually fell below zero 

 — i,€.i more than 32'^ below freezing. — G. J. Symons. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— Maech 18. 

 Rather more inquiry has prevailed among the dealers during the past 

 week for articles of choice descriptions, and prices have correspondingly ad- 

 vanced, although not to much extent. We may, however, now reasonably 

 expect soon to have a revival of the usual spring demand. Some new hot- 

 hnncp Grftnpq nrft in the market eellins at 'Jls. the pound. Strawberries a 



house Grapes are in the market selling at 'Jls. the pound. Strawberries 

 very doll trade. 



FKUIT. 



B, d. B. d. 



Mulberries ^ lb. OtoO 



Nectarines doz. 6 



B. d. 8. d. 



Apples 1 sieve 2 OtoS 



Apricots doz. 0"" 



Cherries ¥' lb. 





 



Chestnuts bushel 10 20 



Currants i sieve 



Black do. 



Figs doz. 



Filberts lb. 1 16 



Cobs lb. 10 16 



Gooseberries quart 



Grapes, hothouse lb. 3 5 



Lemons **- 100 4 12 



Melons each 



Oranges ^100 4 12 



Peaches doz. 



Pears, kitchen doz. 2 3 



dessert doz. 8 10 



PineApples lb. 5 



Plums 4 sieve 



Quinces doz. 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries ^ oz. 1 6 3 



"Walnuts bushel 10 16 



ditto ^100 2 2 6 





 

 

 



VEGETABLES, 



Artichokes doz. 3 



Asparagus %»'100 4 



French 12 



Beans, Kidney.... 1^103 2 



Beet, Red doz 1 



Broccoli bundle 



Cabbage doz. 1 



Capsicums V 100 



Ciirrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 8 



Celery bundle 1 



Coleworts. . doz. bunches 2 



Cucumbers each 1 



pickling doz. 



Endive doz. 2 



Ftnnel bunch 



Garlio lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish bundle 3 



I Leeka buuch 



L Lettuce.. doz. 1 



d. B. 



Oto6 

 10 



8. d. B. d. 



Mushrooms pottle 1 to 2 



Mustard & Cress. .punnet 2 G 



Onions bushel 4 7 



pickling quart 6 



Parsley per doz. bunches 4 6 



Parsnips doz. 9 10 



Peas quart 6 



Potatoes bushel 3 6 4 6 



Kidney do. 



Round do. 6 



Radishes., doz. bunches 10 10 



Rhubarb bundle 9 16 



Salaafy bundle 18 



Savoys doz. 10 3 



Scorzonera bundle 10 



Sea-kale basket 10 2 



Shalluts lb. 3 



Spinach bushel 2 8 



Tomatoes doz. 



Turnips bunch 8 4 



Vegetable Harrows 



