May 2, 1863. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



351 



on frosty nights. Terily it is no home, and on the fii'st 

 opportunity the Pigeons rightly decline it, with thanks. I 

 never Icnew any live for any length of time in one, except 

 Fant.ails, who looked miserable enough, but being the worst 

 of fliers and, jierhaps, the meekest of Pigeons, preferred to 

 put up with present ills rather than fly, or try to fly, to 

 others which might be worse. 



If "Chanticleek" has no loft or room to afford for his 

 pets, I would recommend him to build a projecting loft 

 from the gable of an outhouse, of stout planks for the floor, 

 and bricks for the sides, and roofed with tiles or slate, with 

 a flat board on the top of the roof, and an open hurdle 

 lastened on the south or sunny side for the birds to rest 

 on. The place should be 6 feet by i at the least. By the 

 way, instead of blaming the black rooks, are not the black- 

 guards to be blamed? — in other words, were not the Pigeons 

 stolen ? though I incline to the idea if their cot were a 

 wooden construction on a pole, that they left not finding their 

 home comfortable. 



Now that I am writing about Pigeons, let me, for the 

 credit of poor maligned human nature, narrate a pleasing 

 circumstance which happened to me only last week. Sis 

 years ago, and several before that date, I was accustomed to 

 deal at a certain bird shop. Pigeon books of a former day 

 used to end in some such way as this : " It would be abso- 

 lutely impossible to enumerate the tricks that are played off 

 to deceive the unwary by Pigeon-dealers. There is not 

 one-tenth part so much jockeyship among horse-dealers as 

 Pigeon-sellers " — in short. Pigeon-dealer and rogue were 

 supposed to be synonymous. But oh ! never condemn a 

 whole class, it is harsh, it is wrong. But to return to my 

 tale. Last Friday I called at the old shop in search of some 

 high-flying Tumblers, I am getting up a flight, I found a 

 son and daughter of the late proprietor now, and for long, 

 installed in the old man's place. I chose a pair of birds. I 

 noticed the owners whispering, when the brother came up 

 to me, and touching his hat, said, " I did not know you at 

 fii'st, sir, but mj- sister says you are the gentleman that once 

 did poor father a kindness, and we therefore beg you to 

 accept the birds." I had forgotten the subject to which 

 they referred, as indeed, it was but a very small matter. I 

 accepted the Pigeons, for I am sure it would have hurt their 

 feelings if I had not, and, of coiu-se, I pm-chased another 

 pail-. — Wiltshire Beciok. 



holes securely stopped, all nests well cleaned and repaired, 

 and the whole lirae-washed, mixing some flowers of sulphur 

 in the wash. As to what sort to breed that must depend oa 

 fancy or inclination, almost any kind will do except the more 

 tender and high-bred fancy breeds. 



Blue Eocks. These would be most in keeping with the 

 old monastic dovecot, but they are difScult to procure, 

 troublesome to establish, and not very fast breederfi. 



Then come the Chequered Dove-house Pigeons of a, dark 

 slate colour (often, though improperly, called Blue Eocks). 

 These are more prolific. Or he may choose to have all 

 quite white. They look very pretty, though of a common 

 kind, are equally haj-dy and good breeders. But if he is 

 quite careless of appearances, then mixed breeds, or mon- 

 grels will soon people the house and fill pies. I do not, how- 

 ever, advise any of the before-mentioned. If the nest places 

 are large enough, I would stock it with the largest Eunts I 

 could get. Failing these, I would have something to look at 

 as well as eat — all Antwerp Carriers, or Dragoons, or else 

 one variety of Toys, of which there are so many to choose 

 from. Buy a few pairs of the approved variety and let them 

 breed until they had stocked the cot, only kUling any that 

 were badly marked and odd cocks. In this ease all stray 

 Pigeons must ba killed whenever they join the flock. As to 

 the Toys, to choose from there are Nuns, Spots, Archangels, 

 Magpies, Spangles, as Suabians, Porcelaius, Victorias, &e.. 

 all easily procured ; and many others that are not so easily 

 obtained would give sarisfaction. — B. P. Beent. 



EAETHEJTVVAEE PAIN'S FOE INVESTS. 



Perhit me to state in your Journal my experience of the 

 use of earthenware shallow pans for laying and sitting, as 

 recommended by Mr. Geyelin. 



1st. Jly hens wiU not lay in them, but, having removed 

 every other kind of nest, prefer the hard concrete floor, 

 although I have varied the pajis by putting in sand, turf, 

 cocoa-nut fibre refuse, &c. 



2nd. I have sat flve hens in them, and in each case the 

 eggs have been reduced to from six to eight by the hens 

 turning the others out, owing to the turf placed on sand 

 being nearly level with the edges of the pan. My hens 

 (Cochins), therefore, will not take to them at all. 



I may add that I have been singularly unfortunate in not 

 having hatched a single chicken ; and, in fact, out of three 

 sittings I only found life in one egg, and that two days 

 overdue, which I sacrificed rather than waste the time of 

 the hen in rearing. — Peect Ceoss. 



STOCEINGi- A DOYECOT. 



In reply to Alan Walter, as to how he is to stock his large 

 dovecot, he has only to procure some pairs of Pigeons, con- 

 fine them there for a fortnight or three weeks, but so that 

 they can see out of the opening, or openings, which is to be 

 ttieu- future entrance. It is only necessary to see that the 

 Pigeons are an equal number of cocks and hens. Pairing 

 and multiplying will then proceed without further trouble! 

 ^eed them well, and give them plenty of clean water ; also, 

 broken mortar t-om an old waU, and sufficient straw for build- 

 mg Mieir nests, cut up into short lengths of 5 or 6 inches. 

 Before stocking the cot it wiU be advisable to have it 

 thoroughly cleaned and repaired, all the rat and mouse- 



WHAEFEDALE POULTET SHOW. 



The sixty-eighth annual Show of the above Society took 

 place at Otley, on Friday, the 21st of April. 



The show of poultry was superior to any previous one. 

 both as regards the quality of the specimens shown, and 

 the number of entries. 



There were also several classes for Pigeons, but the 

 entries were not numerous, though some of the birds were 

 very good. Subjoined is the prize list : — 



Spanish.— First and Second, H. Beldon, G'.lstead. Bingley. 



DoBKi.sGs. — First. J. White, AVarlaby. Second, F. R. Pease, Djrliogton. 



Gamk (Black-breasted and other Red's). — H. Snonden, Bradford, and J. 

 Sunderland, Halifax— Equal. 



Game (Any other variety).— First, H. Snowden. Second, H. Beldon. 



Hamboeghs (Golden-spangled). — First, R. Tate, Leeds. Second, H. 

 Beldon. 



HAMEuncHS (Silver-spangled).— First and Second, H. Beldon. 



HAiiBcEGHs.Golden-pencilled).- First, H. Beldon. Second, H. Snowden. 



Hamburghs (Siiver-ptnciiledJ. — First, D. lilingworth, Buriey, Otley. 

 Second, H. Beldon. 



Bastams (Game).— First. E. Tate. Leeds. Second, W. Taylor, Hunslet. 



Bantams (Any other variety).— First, H, Beldon. Second, F. K. Pease, 

 Darlington. 



Ant other Breed. — First, H. Beldon. Secoi]d, R. Tate. 



Game Cock.— First. J. Sunderland. Second, T. Dyson. Halifax. 



Ducks (^.ouen).— First. H. Beldon. Second, J. Ward, Drighlington. 



DccKS (Aylesbury). — First, Suttle & Waddington, Otley. :recond, H. 

 Beldon. 



DccKS (Any other variety). — First, I. Todd, Clifton. Second, Suttle and 

 Waddinglon. 



Vtoeoss.—Tiimilers (Short-faced). — Prize, C. Cole, Bradford. Tiimllers 

 (Common).— Prize, R. Ranisden, Armley. i^rtriiniT*.— Prize, T. Ritchie, 

 Olley. jPowters.—PrizQ, E. Rip'.ev, Hawbsworth. .fiarfis.— Prize, C. Cole. 

 Oit'/s.— Prize, I. Todd. Carrier's.— Vnze. C. Cole. Ttirbits.— Prize, H. 

 Beldon. ./ocoiins.— Prize, C. Cole. An;/ other rarieti/.—Pme, H. Beldon. 



The Judges were Wm. Smith, Esq., Halifax, and Mr. E. 



Hutton, Pudsey. 



DOES WILD GAELIC I5IP.iET AN ILL SilELL 

 EITHER TO BEES OE THEIE PEODUCE.^ 

 Last year, about this time, I perceived such an offensive 

 smell proceeding from one of my hives that I felt convinced 

 that that much-written-about disease "fotil brood" had 

 shown itself in my apiary. Accordingly, I resolved to de- 

 stroy the hive forthwith, although it was my strongest and, 

 in every way, most thriving stock, and any others that 

 might be similarly affected. On examination I found the 

 same smell emanating from all my hives, and it was per- 

 ceptible towards the close of the day from some distance 

 from the apiary. This being the case it was of no use to 

 destroy the hives, at any rate before consulting some well- 

 experienced apiarian. I wrote to Mr. Woodbury, and also 

 to a friend in my own neighbourhood with a request that he 



