100 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



[ July 29, 1876. 



the flowers, and atop the shoots one joint beyond the fmit. not watering nntil 

 the fmit he set. The wet weather and the position nf the frame is nut 

 favourable to the Melons settioK. The cause of the Cucumbers beiog bitter 

 is an imperfect elaboration of the sap, caused by slow growth, which may be 

 obviated by a freer growth, promoted by more bottom heat and a moderately 

 moist well-ventilated atmosphere. Do not overcrop, as that retards the 

 sweUing of the fruits, and conduces to the bitterness of which you complain. 



GHEEKHOrsE Ferks iH. IF. Boss).— The following are superior :— .\diaQtum 

 cuneatum, Lomaria gibba, Asplenium dimorphum, Cheilanthes elegans, 

 Davallia pyxidata, Gleichenia dicarpa, Neotlopteris auatralasica, Nephrolepis 

 tnberopa, Pttris scaberula, Adiantnm sulphureum, Asplenium Veitchianum, 

 and Lomaria Belli. 



Plinting a Vine Border (E. C. S.).— We cannot, having regard to the 

 well-being of the Vines, advise that the border be cropped, and especially if 

 the roots are confined to the 5 yards width of space. In the case of old- 

 established Vines, the feeding roots of which have i)enetrat6d far beyond the 

 border, tha border itself may be cropped with flowers. We know at least one 

 cultivator, however, who places 6 inches of manure on his Vine border in the 

 antumn, and in the spring plants it with Stacks and Asters, and few have 

 finer Grapes and flowers ; he never digs the border. So much depends on 

 circumstances and the primary requirements of an owner that it is not easy 

 to advise correctly. If the Vines are young and fine Grapes are expected, do 

 not plant anj thing on the border ; if they are old, and ordinary Grapes are 

 only looked for, and flowers are particularly coveted, you may follow the ex- 

 ample we have given. 



NAJIE3 OF Plants iC. E. P.).^It is Hydrangea japonica var. coerulea. So 

 many offsets from a Lily bulb is very unusual. {A. B. C). — It i§ Chrysan- 

 themum sei,'6tum, known popularly as the Corn Marigold and many other 

 names. Fliesfre'iuentitprobablyforsomesecretion which they like. (G. L.). 

 — The shrub in flower is Ceanothus azareus ; the other we cannot name with- 

 out flowers. (S. E. T.).— Certainly not a Sedum, but Saxilraga aizoides, 

 (J. A. M.). — Yes, it is Carum (or Slum) verticillatum ; the other is G5nanthe 

 Lachenalii or pirapineUoides. {IF. C). — 1, Campanula persicifolia; 2, Gail- 

 lardiapicta: 3, Malva moachata alba; 4, Deutzia scabra. (Mrs. H.). — Doro- 

 nicnm pardalianches and Helenium grandiflorum. (Lor/an). — 1, Silene 

 Armeria; li. Not a Grass, laolepis gracilis. iR. A'.). — i, Enyngium sp. ; 

 4, Centaarea sp.; 8, Acantholimon glumacaum; 12, Galega olticinalia. 

 {E. H. H. r.l.— Epipactis latifoUa. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON OHKONICLE. 



CALL DUCKS. 



We have been asked to say something concerning the habits 

 and peculiarities of Call Dacka, and to do battle for them with 

 the secretaries of shows that classes may be given for them. 

 We will gladly tell all we know, but do battle for them with 

 secretaries we really cannot, as that kind of work is not very 

 easy. We have recollections ourselves of working up an almost 

 unknown breed some three or four years ago and getting it 

 classes; and though we to a great extent succeeded, still the 

 trouble and correspondence attending it was too great to make 

 us give time just now to go through it again. Nevertheless, we 

 are certain there are many committees who will gladly give Call 

 Ducks classes if only a certain amount of the prize money or a 

 fair proportion of entries are guaranteed. 



We certainly do not find much about this graceful little breed 

 of waterfowl in the poultry books ; but then there really is so 

 little to say. When we know there are two varieties, the White 

 and the Coloured, and that the latter resemble miniature Eouens, 

 ■while the others are like Aylesburys with orange bills, then 

 we have come to the tether of their notice in most of the books 

 on poultry. We confess we should like to see them more culti- 

 vated, for they are when good exceedingly graceful and a great 

 ornament to lakes and pieces of water. We have seen a fine 

 flock of both colours mixed together on a sheet of ornamental 

 water, and the effect was charming. We believe they were 

 much more commonly found a few years ago at the shows than 

 now, for since the lovely little ornamental varieties of waterfowl 

 have come in the Calls have had to go on the shelf. We are 

 glad to find, however, they have many friends left, and we 

 shall cordially welcome classes for them ; for really, though the 

 Carolinas and Mandarins are such glorious little creatures that 

 we can hardly begrudge them their prizes, still it must be galling 

 to exhibitors of Black East Indians, Calls, Muscovies, and such- 

 like to find their pets always having to put up with those un- 

 satisfactory commended cards. 



Calls are still frequently used as decoys, for their frequent 

 " quack, quack," often entices the flocks of wild Ducks to descend 

 and pay a visit to their cousins. We know of a beautiful piece 

 of water in the midst of a large tract of Kentish underwood 

 which has always been called the decoy pond, and where, thanks 

 to the Calls which live there, wild Ducks can always be seen in 

 the winter when they are not to be found anywhere else in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Perfect pens of Call Ducks are rarely seen, and our own expe- 

 rience tells us they are very diifieiilt to breed good. They 

 should be very small, have very short bills indeed, and high 

 round foreheads, all of which points are difficult to obtain. The 

 colour of the Brown variety should resemble a Rouen in every 

 particular — legs, bills, feet, and plumage ; while the White 

 should be a clear white free from any cream-coloured tinge, with 

 an orange-coloured bill quite free from black specks. The best 

 Duck we ever saw in our life was in head points like a perfect 



Almond Tumbler Pigeon, but she had a black mark or two on 

 her bill, and was thus spoilt for successful competition ; and 

 though all her ducklings were clear in beak, still not one of 

 them had the perfect head and bill of the mother. The only 

 way to secure these short bills and full foreheads is to breed from 

 no other birds but those with those points developed as much 

 as possible. We find long-billed Ducks generally throw longer- 

 billed ducklings. There is the same difficulty in obtaining them 

 small as there is in Game Bantams, and as they have voracious 

 appetites it is trotiblesome to keep them on short commons. 

 We had a brood this year which we tried hard to keep small, 

 and so fed tbem but seldom, making them find their own living ; 

 but these birds, as soon as they got their wing feathers, flew 

 after the chicken-feeder from coop to coop all round the chicken 

 field, and got a meal from every batch. The result is that as 

 we write we can see at the water's edge half a dozen of what 

 might be fair-sized Aylesburys. Call Ducks are delicious-eat- 

 ing, and being a little large for this purpose is a feather in 

 their cap. 



We think the best way is in rearing for exhibition to hatch a 

 good many, make them forage for their living as much as pos- 

 sible, and then, picking out the very best in shape, size, and 

 head, serve up the remainder as wanted with cayenne pepper 

 and lemon. Call Ducks make splendid sitters and admirable 

 mothers, but they are not good layers, often only laying twenty 

 or twenty-five eggs in a season, as they keep with their ducklings 

 nearly all the summer. 



Von breeding they have to be kept in pairs ; and though in 

 the laying time the drakes fight and quarrel fearfully, as soon 

 as their wives begin to incubate they live together in perfect 

 peace. The ducklings are delicate when first hatched, and very 

 susceptible to cold and damp. We have known whole broods of 

 ten and twelve when three or four days old go off in twenty- 

 four hours ; but once two or three weeks old and they thrive 

 wonderfully well. 



We know of no Duck that is so graceful in the air as a Call 

 Duck. They fly in small flocks, and seem to fly merely for the 

 sake of flying, circling in the air like Pigeons, rising higher 

 and higher, till presently they dash suddenly down right into 

 their pond. We have never known a single instance of one 

 flying away. On the contrary, they seem quickly to know their 

 own bounds, and are as tame as any other breed of Ducks. In 

 the water they are moat attractive, and dive in the liveliest 

 manner possible before the eyes of visitors without being the 

 least shy. 



As regards classes for Call Ducks we hope those who keep the 

 breed will come forward and show committees that they will 

 fill them, and then there is no reason why they should not have 

 their class at many shows as much as the East Indian. They 

 did have a class at Oxford last year, but owing, perhaps, to its 

 not being in the regular schedule, only being pastedin as an 

 alter-thought, only eight pens appeared, and unfortunately Mrs. 

 Bailey's pen, which was the best of the lot, was too late for 

 exhibition. Still, here is an opportunity for Call Duck fanciers, 

 for we are certain if they will only guarantee Mr. King, the 

 Oxford Secretary, this year twelve entries, he will see they not 

 only have a class and three prizes but a silver cup as well. The 

 Palace people, too, are enterprising go-ahead folks, and if help 

 is only promised we are sure Messrs. Howard and Nicholls will 

 do all they can for them. This is the only way to bring the 

 breed to the front. Secretaries must be shown that a class will 

 pay, and to do this for the first few times the hand must be put 

 into the pocket and the shoulder to the wheel, and then all will 

 be plain and easy sailing. This is the only way that Black 

 Hamburghs, the French breeds, Malays, and even Brahmas ever 

 rose from the unhappy destiny of a variety class. We confess 

 we hope Call Duck fanciers will do this, for we know of no 

 breed of waterfowl which is more attractive or lively in its 

 ways, and with them striking in appearance and happy in dis- 

 position. — W. 



THK LATE BRISTOL SHOW. 



From the number of inquiries received by me there appears 

 to be a general desire to know the financial result of the poultry 

 show held in January last. I shall be glad, therefore, to give 

 the information through the columns of those journals which so 

 kindly assisted with subscriptions and recommendation. The 

 total receipts amounted to .i'1179 15s. \d., and the expenditure 

 to t'lOVG 17s. fliZ., leaving a balance in hand of fl02 17s. id. 

 Now, as the loss on the previous show was about £70, and as I 

 increased the prize list in the face of such loss by over .tl20, it 

 follows that the last show was nearly X:jOO better than its pre- 

 decessor. 



This is a very satisfactory result so far as the past is concerned, 

 but now a word as to the future. It has been hinted to me that 

 as the show produced a balance it must be self-supporting and 

 will not need subscriptions in future. The amount of subscrip- 

 tions received by me last year was £11:1 12s., exceeding the sur- 

 plus by i'll, and if everyone withdrew their assistance there 

 would probably be a loss of that amount. In addition to this. 



