December 30, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



587 



and 3-inch hot- water pipes, a flow and return, along the front and both end^ 

 or, if the piping niay not be taken aeross the end of the house from the door- 

 wny, iiiterferintt with that arrangement, have pipintr in front or at back to 

 inuki.' the quantity of piping required, which will, to exclude front, require 

 about 50 feet of 'J-inch piping. Owing to the presHuro of gaa being not more 

 than half after midnifiht, we should have a stove boiler, and fix it in the 

 Bhed at the l>ack of the Rreenhouse, having attached to it the quantity of 

 2-inch hot-water piping above named. A boiler of the kind named would not 

 require very frequent attention. 



PouLTHY DcNQ (G. jT/.).— It ia applicable to all plants and crops that need 

 manure. Containing much ammonia it must be used cautiously. An ounce 

 to a gallon of water for potted plants. For kitchen-garden crops it may be 

 applied an inch deep on the surface before digging. 



Dessert Pears for Durham (^NoW/tt-rncr).— BeurreSuperfin, Oct.-Nov.; 

 Doyenne da Cornice, Nov.; Mort-chal de Cour, Nov.-Dfc; Marie Louiae 

 d'Uccle, Oc/.-Woi'. ; Thompson's, Nov.-Dcc. ; FondantedeCharneu, AfoJ'.-Dcc; 

 Comte de Flauilre, Dec. ; Hacon's Inoomparablo, D>c.; Winter Nelis, 

 Dfc.'Jan.; Beurre Bachelier, Jan.; Forelle, Jan.-Fcb.; Beurre Sterckmans, 

 Jan.-Feb. 



Coal Tah for Fencing (S. P. P.).— Applying it at this season to the 

 outer side of the fence would not injure trees on the inner pido. We have 

 Rome boarded fences drcGsed with Stockholm tar, and we have found it injure 

 the leaves in eummer when the sun melted the coating. You ehould only 

 use a coping- hoard before the blossoms opened, and remove it again when the 

 fruit ia set. The small quantity of rain water from it would not iojure the 

 trees. 



Peas for Succession (2(7f»u).— 'William I. ia the best early. Add G. F. 

 "Wilson to the other two sorts yon name. 



Planting Border Facing East {J. F. £.).— We have a border in pre- 

 citiely the same position as yours; it is also sheltered by shrubs. Part of it 

 has been planted with herbaceous plants, and tho remainder with roixed 

 bedding plants. Both have succeeded remarkably well. Wo trenched and 

 manured the ground first, and the subsoil is well drained. 



N.4MES OF Fruits {!(. L.).—l, Blenheim Pippin; 2, Gravenstein ; 3, Hol- 

 laudbury; 4, Alfriston; the other two nut known. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON OHEONICLE. 



POULTRY, PRESENT AND FUTURE. 



It is said we can get nsed to anything in time, and we believe 

 it ; and altbough we can recollect some years ago at school we 

 had a round-hand copy telling us that "familiarity breeds con- 

 tempt," we can give only a qualiiied assent to it. There are 

 certain things that occur annually and seem to be more pleasing 

 each time. It is so with our present task. For many years we 

 have been accustomed to take a review of the past year as it 

 bears on our favourite pursuit. We can imagine how many, on 

 reading our words, will participate in our feelings when we say 

 the paramount is gratitude that we have been spared again to 

 the end of another year. 



Oar task is easier than it was of old. The subject is more 

 generally understood. Improvements have been suggested and 

 carried out, and the capabilities of every breed of fowls, &o., 

 tested to the utmost. To those who, like ourselves, have 

 watched the progress of the pursuit, it has often been matter 

 of surprise to see with what facility the requirements of judges 

 have been met. It has seemed merely a question of time. "We 

 are not yet, however, so far advanced in manufacturing colour 

 as onr German neighbours. Some years ago a man offered to 

 make any bird (Pigeon) we liked in three years; we had one 

 coloured in the most grotesque style and sent it. We had the 

 fac-simile alive within three years. This has been done in 

 England in poultry. We can get anything to a feather, but we 

 do not yet find wo advance much in providiug a larger amount ot 

 food ; neither is there as great an advance in the quality of the 

 poultry offered for sale as there is in the beauty of shape and 

 plumage for exhibition. The number of shows proves the great 

 interest still taken in the pursuit, and shows how deep-seated 

 is the love of natural history in most minds. The prices still 

 realised for good birds prove that the friendly competition of a 

 showis popular. We must, however, believe that there is another 

 future for poultry, and that it must supply more and better food 

 than it yet does. Poultry should not remain the luxury it is, nor 

 should it be impossible to get a really good fowl in a country 

 town. The principal cost of rearing and fattening it is not in 

 outlay but in labour. It will not pay to hire to do that which 

 may be done by ourselvts. We are not about to say that every- 

 one should breed and fatten poultry, but we do say that where 

 anyone is disposed to pay personal attention to the subject, 

 especially in the matter of feeding, poultry will pay its own 

 expenses if it does not leave a profit. 



Our old friends the Cochins have shown still with what 

 facility the Eastern breeds acclimatise. The same may be said 

 of the Brahmas and the French breeds: they not only adapt 

 themselves to our climate but they improve both in size and 

 constitution. Those who have noticed onr latest novelties in 

 the shape of Houdans and Cruve-Cteurs must have remarked 

 the great increase of size. There is ebb and flow in poultry as 

 in all other things. Some years ago the Spanish was one of the 

 principal classes, and many can recollect a celebrated show 

 where two pens were sold for i.'200, and single birds commonly 



made £'20 each. Now they are aa good as ever, but they make 

 only a moderate class. The Silver-pencilled Hamburghs again 

 have fallen both in numbers and quality till they have become 

 a small class. The Golden do not require the same mention, 

 but they do not hold the position they did. Their quality, 

 however, has not suffered. Dorkings have fallen oft in numbers 

 at the great shows. They have held their own in other respects. 

 After an absence of many years the Black Cochins have re- 

 appeared in tolerable numbers. Bantams have visibly decreased 

 during the past year. Even at the largest shows the Sebrights 

 cut but a poor tigure, and the Game are less numerous. Had 

 the old spirit been alive the pretty little Cochins would not 

 have been allowed to die out. A pen of them now would make 

 a large sum. The Rouen Ducks have in every way distanced 

 the Aylesbnrya. Malays have looked up during the past year. 

 Turkeys have made progress, not, perhaps, in the weights of 

 the prize pens, but taken as classes they have been heavier. A 

 recent introduction — the class for ornamental waterfowl — has 

 exhibited not only beautiful but rare specimens. The lately 

 rare Carolina and Mandarin Ducks are now shown in classes. 

 The varied Whistling Ducks, the Bahama Teal, and even the 

 Bar-headed Geese, have been seen quietly viewing the hundreds 

 of spectators who stayed to look at them or who passed them by. 



Pigeons have increased in popularity. They have always been 

 pets, but never so generally so as at the present time. Many 

 years ago, perhaps nearly half a century, we were struck with 

 the Pigeons in our German Noah's Ark — many coloured; some 

 with coloured wings and white bodies, and some juet the reverse. 

 As we stood them in a row, resting on two stumps and their 

 tails, it was often remarked by our seniors, who were "o' the 

 fancy," that the Germans allowed their children to colour them 

 to their fancy, for such birds had never existed. We now have 

 every bird and in any numbers. 



We have warmed on our subject and have gone on writing 

 just as if we were talking to one of our numerous friends. We 

 have much pleasure in it. We have prospered and do prosper, 

 and we like to believe we have only friends for subscribers, 

 readers, and contributors. We are thankful we have nothing to 

 disavow ; and while we look with pride on the years of public 

 favour we have enjoyed, we still believe we move with the age, 

 and it is our purpose to do so. 



We cannot believe that, during this year of 1875, we have 

 caused pain to anyone. We are sorry if we have, for we have 

 not done it willingly. 



We seek to do impartially and aright, and to all with whom 

 we have to do, and whom we thank, we heartily with 

 A Happy New Yeab. 



TUNBRIDGE WELLS POULTRY SHOW. 



This Exhibition was held on the 17th, 18th, and 20th inst. 

 The entries were fair and the quality good, but there were 

 several other shows held on the same days in other parts of the 

 country, which must have damaged the entries here. The great 

 drawback, however, was the detention of the birds over Sunday. 

 We know for a fact that two of the greatest exhibitors in the 

 neighbourhood refused to countenance this Sunday business, 

 and would not send a feather. We really think they did well, 

 for there can be no occasion for a country show to have a 

 Sunday included at all; and really the late lamentable goings- 

 on at another Kentish show held a few days ago where the birds 

 were kept over the Sunday — when specimens were changed and 

 birds got out — will make exhibitors nervous, we hope, of enter- 

 ing at them. We really do wonder they can countenance the 

 fact, for there is no doubt exhibitors have it in their power, by 

 not supporting such exhibitions, to stop the practice. Mr. Leno 

 and Mr. Martin judged the poultry, and their awards were satis- 

 factory. Mr. P. H. Jones awarded the Pigeon prizes, except in 

 the Homers where Mr. Cotton adjudicated, both alEO satisfac- 

 torily. 



DorJiinf/s were good, but not up to the standard of the last 

 Show. The cup went to a grand pair of Coloured birds. We 

 did not care for the way this variety was classified, as it gave no 

 chance to the Whites and Silvers against the Coloured, which 

 could be entered in every class. CocJiins were a nice lot, the 

 Buffs really admirable. The cup went to a fine pair of Buffs in 

 beautiful feather and of much quality. Second and third were 

 good birds, well-coloured and large. In the next class a fine 

 pair of Whites were first ; we liked the hen very much. In the 

 next class Lady Gwydyr's bird was a splendid fellow. Beyond 

 the prize birds there was not much else up to the mark in this 

 class. Brahmas were very good in quality and quantity; they 

 did ample justice to the good fare provided for them and came 

 in goodly numbers. The cup went to Greeting for a grand old 

 cock, monstrous, deep and good in colour. In hens Mr. Ans- 

 dell's old hen looked very well; adult Lights were nice, and 

 we are glad to see Mr. Scott winning again with his old loves. 

 Dark Brahma cockerels were very good, the winners really excel- 

 lent ; while the Lights made two large classes of much merit, 

 the cnp going to an admirable pullet. The noticed birds too 



