November 9, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



415 



of Aylesbury, will take the chair. Tickets and every information 

 can be obtained of the Hon. Sec. We wish it every Buccess. 



MY EXPERIENCE. 



One rule will not apply to the feeding of all kinds of poultry, 

 because what would produce eggs in the nervous active birds 

 would produce fat in the Asiatics, rendering them useless. 



It is this trying to care for all by one rule that has brought 

 into saying, "The big birds eat the most and make tho least 

 return." It may be trae that they will eat the most if they can 

 get it, but actual experiment has proven to me that an Asiatic 

 is profitable on less than would keep one of the smaller kinds 

 in condition. 



As to climate, observation and experiment have also proven 

 to me that poultry in the southern States and California can 

 bear different treatment from those having to endure the 

 changes of season in the eastern and middle States. I think 

 the feeding of corn during the heat of summer is one cause 

 of the dreaded chicken cholera. Corn is heating and hard to 

 digest. During the heated term the system of a bird is wholly 

 relaxed — digestion is very alow. I think the corn produces a 

 fermentation that poisons the blood. Nor is this thought alone 

 — it is the result of careful study, comparison, and experiment. 



In the extreme west and south, wnere, though warmer, the 

 temperature is more equable, birds keep their tone, and corn 

 could be given the year round, and prove neither healthy nor 

 profitable. 



My way of feeding my poultry is the result of much experi- 

 menting. My object has been to obtain the greatest amount of 

 good for the leaBt expenditure of time and money. In my 

 poultry houses are two bins ; one sufficiently large to hold the 

 wheat for at least a winter's use. The other smaller, and UBed 

 for a mixture of bran, middlings, coarse oatmeal, and, during 

 the winter, com meal. To this second bin I add one half ounce 

 of best cayenne pepper to every 100 lbs. of meal. 



I feed but twice a-day, excepting when the birds are confined 

 indoors by winter storms, then I add a noonday meal of cracked 

 corn, whereas always at night I feed only with wheat, and that 

 neither screenings nor damaged grain, but good clean wheat. 

 On the back of the kitchen Btove is always a kettle, which my 

 wife calls the " Btock-pot." It is washed out every day, and so 

 keeps perfectly clean -and sweet. It has a tightly-fitting cover 

 of tin, made" on purpose, with one-half which be raised with 

 a hinge, so that it can be opened readily, yet the cover taken off 

 eaBily, and still the aroma be prevented from pasBing off with 

 the Bteam. 



Into this kettle all the scrapings of the plates are put, also the 

 potato parings and the waste of vegetables. Into it the water 

 from the boiling potatoes and vegetables ia drained. All the 

 odd bits and bones that would otherwise be thrown to the dog, 

 cat, or left to attract rats, find there a place. Leavings of milk, 

 in fact everything eatable that would otherwise be thrown away 

 goes there. If odd bits of meat and bone are not plentiful the 

 order to the butcher includes a few cents' worth of waBte meat 

 or a Bheep's pluck. Aa I Baid before, the kettle ia on the stove 

 all day, and after dinner, if it ia not already full, boiling water 

 is added to briDg the contenta within 2 inches of the top. Of 

 course by night the "soup" is thoroughly cooked. When the 

 fire is made in the morning the kettle is put over the blaze and 

 ita contenta very Boon are scalding hot. I then empty it upon 

 a pan of the mixed meal I brought in the laBt thing at night, 

 mix thoroughly, and take to my chickens, doga, and cat for their 

 breakfast. 



I have certain places in each run where I feed in the morning, 

 and once a week I make upon those places bonfires, into which 

 1 rake the bones that have accumulated through the week, 

 adding a few oyster shells, thus removing the litter, and furnish- 

 ing charcoal, calcareous matter, and ashes to my poultry. It is 

 curious how little will be left of the ashes after the birds have 

 rolled in and picked them over. As soon as I have emptied the 

 kettle it is washed, and with a little water put in again is placed 

 upon the stove, ready for the scrapB that might come from the 

 breakfast. To be sure this looks like a little trouble, but it 

 is like everything else where there is system; working by rule, 

 it all comes in right and easy. 



A neighbour of mine was troubled very much by feather-eating 

 fowls. He says he found his remedy in pounded borax, which 

 he discovered by a mere accident. He had been pounding some 

 borax in a wooden box, and leaving it for a few moments he 

 Sound his Black Leghorns eating it greedily. Afterwards, seeing 

 it did them no harm, he furnished it to them, and very soon 

 after feather-eating ceased entirely. Query, what did the birds 

 find in the borax that satisfied the craving that they had had 

 before for the feathers or blood? You've noted a great many 

 remedies in your paper for vermin, but I have not Been a 

 mention of carbolic powder. I have used it and found it perfect 

 as both disinfectant and vermin-exterminator. I merely dust 

 it through the feathers of a bird, using a common flour dredge. 

 With that so applied, with coal oil used freely over the roosts, 



by burning out the nesta of sitting hena after each hatching, by 

 whitewashing twice in the twelve months, and making a smudge 

 once, I have kept my premises perfectly free from vermin of all 

 sorts. — E. Stowelt.. — [American Fanciers' Journal.) 



DERBY SHOW OP POULTRY, &c. 



The ninth Show of the Derby Ornithological Society was held 

 on the 4th and 6th inst. in the Rifle Drill Hall, which is without 

 doubt one of the best places in the kingdom for such a purpose, 

 the light being equal and good. The entries were good— 650 in 

 all, but several classes had been taken off, elae they would have 

 been much larger. Turner's pens were used, and well placed in 

 single tier. Spratt's foods were used, and with an ample staff 

 of Stewards and a Committee of real fanciers, who face real 

 work with earnestness, the whole was well managed. 



Dorkings were first, and a good class, while the Cochins were 

 better. The fir6t old Buffs, second a grand pen of Partridge 

 chickens. In Dark Brahmas first was carried off with a famous 

 hen and a ccckorel, the rest being young birds. Lights not so 

 good as Dark6, chickens winning; the third cockerel rather 

 cloudy on the wing, but a grand pair otherwise. Game were 

 6ingle birds. In Black Red cocks firat was a chicken, a gem 

 all through ; second young also, but rather rakish ; and third a 

 substantial old bird, but not vip iu feather. Brown Red cocks 

 not equal, but there were two very promising undubbed cockerels. 

 Black Red hens, aa a lot, were very rough, but the first pullet 

 was au exquisite bird, second a large substantial hen, and third 

 a pullet, which needs making-up a little. In Brown Red hens 

 first and second were gems, and both of this year; the third an 

 old bird. Iu the Variety class Piles won all the prizes ; one 

 Duckwing, very good in all other points, was crooked. Hens, 

 Pile first and third, and Duckwing second. Hamburghs had but 

 two classes. Iu Pencils first were very good Silver-pencils; the 

 cockerel had a capitail tail; the second Golden. One pen of 

 Goldena (Hallam) had by far the best pullet, but the cock was 

 ill. Iu Spangles first and third were Golden, and second Silvers. 

 The first a very good all-round pen, and in nice order. The 

 Silvers were only priced at £2, and were sold. Bantams, Game 

 Reds were poor if we exoept the two pens of Black and Brown 

 Reds, firat and second, and in the next only the first Duckwings 

 were of any quality. In the Variety of Bantams first and third 

 were Black, and second White Booted. In the Variety class 

 firat were a capital pair of Golden Polish, aecond and third 

 Spanish. 



In Pigeons Carriers were first on the list, a good all-round 

 Black cock winning, his neighbour, perhapa a better bird, not 

 yet in bloom, was a Black of splendid beak and wattle ; second 

 a Black cock, a little flat-wattled; and third a Dun hen. In 

 Pouters Messrs. Watkin's White was again to the front. 

 Dragoons were a large class ; first perhapa the best Silver in 

 the fancy, second a Blue, and third a Yellow ; a better Yellow 

 (Wood) was altogether down, and its feathers the wrong Bide up. 

 In Antwerps were a mixed class; first a Red Chequer, Becond a 

 Silver Dun, and third a Red Chequer, all Short-faces. Fantails 

 a grand lot and showing well, and well placed as regards posi- 

 tion for judging. In Turbita all the prizeB went to one loft; the 

 second to a capital Black bought in the Selling class at Mans- 

 field the previous day. Tumblers, firat the Mansfield cup hen, 

 and second the cock, aa also the Red Whole-feather third. Iu 

 the Variety class first waa Mr. Yaidley's Black Barb hen, second 

 a capital Red Jacobin, and third a Pigmy. In the Selling class 

 firat was a grand Red Swallow, aecond a Black Carrier hen, and 

 third an Almond. 



POULTRY.-Dobkings.— 1, E. V. Snell. 2 and vhc, V. Holbrook. 8, E. John- 

 son. Cochins.— 1, W. Smart. 2, Rev. R. Feilding. 3, R. P. Pervical. Bbahmab. 

 — Dark— 1, F. Holbrook. 2, Rev. T. C. Peake. 8, R. P. Percival Light.— \. R. 

 P. Percival. 2, W. Thorn. 3 and vhc, S. S. Vernon. Game.— Black Bed.— 

 Cock.— I, R. A. Barton. 2, E. Wiowood. S.T.Spencer. Hen.— 1, R. Johnaon. 

 2, W. Kirby. 8, J. K. Pratt. Brown Bed— Cock — 1, K. Ashley. 2, A. Schofleli. 

 8, R. Garnett. Hen.— 1, R Garneit 2, R. Ashley. 8, J. Richardson. vkc,A. 

 Schofield. Any other variety.— Cock.— \, G. Barnesby. 2, R. Ashley. 3, G. 

 Payne. Hen.—l, R. Ashley. 2, J. Obcroft. 3, Heath & Howlett. Hambubqhf. 

 —Gold or Silver-pencilled.— 1. Duke of Sutherland. 2, C. W. Gibbs- 3, E. V. 

 Snell. Gold or Silver-spangled.— \, J. Long. 2. J. Widdowson. 3, Dnke of 

 Sutherland. Bantams.— Game, Black or brown Reds.— I, J. Oscroft. 2, S. 

 Beighton. 3, T. Siddon. Game, any other variety. — 1, S. Beigbton. 2, P. S. 

 Hockaday. 8, Rogers & Kerry. Any otlier variety except Game—1, A. & W. H. 

 Silvester. 2, F. Holbrook. 3, R. H. ABhton. vhc, W. Cramp. Any other 

 VABIETT.— 1, A. & W. H. Silvester (Golden Polish). 2, S. W. Hallam. 8. J. 

 Aldridge (Black Spanish), selling Class.— 1, Rev. R. Feilding (Cochin). 2, 

 R. Hall.jun. 8, H. E. Radford. 



PIGEONS.— Caerieeb.— I, H. Yardley. 2, W. H. A. Miller. 8, J. Brewer. 

 PorTEBs.— l.L. &. W. Watkin. 2, J. Bawkins. 3, H. Yardley. Dbagoons.— 1 

 R. Woods. 2 and 3, A. McKenzie. vhc, W. Smith, A. McKenrie. R. 'Woods 

 Antwebps.— 1 and 3, H. Yardley. vhc, R. White, W. Payne. Fantails.— 1, 2 

 and 3, S. Swift, vhc, J. F. LoverBidge. Tobbits.— 1, 2, and 3, R. Woods. 2. 

 J. Gardner, vhc, J. W. Lamolough. Tomblebs.— 1 and 2, H. Yardley. 3, M. 

 WeBton. vhc. A. & W. H. Silvester, M. Weston (S). Any otheb Vabietv.— 

 1. H. Yardley. 1 and 2. .J. Gardner. 2. T. W. Swallow (Jacobinl. 8, A. & W. 

 H.Silvester, vhc, B. Woods. H. Yardley. Selling Class.— 2, R. Woods. 3, 

 A. & W. H. Silvester, vhc, H. Yardley. 



CAGE BIRDS (Local Department).- Belgians. -Clear or Ticked— 1, J. N 

 Harrison. 2, W. Woodward, sen. Variegated.— 1, J.N. Harrison. Norwich.— 

 Clear Yellow— 1. C. J. Salt. 2, E. Orme. 3. W. Ashley, vhc, John Bex&on. 

 Clear Buff.—\, C. J. Salt. 2, E. Orme. 3, H. WatBon. vhc, W.- Ashley. Fn- 

 evenly-marked Yellow.— 1, C. .7. Salt. 2. H. Wateon. 3, E. Orme. vlie, Joseph 

 Besson. Unevenly-marked Buff.— I, C. J. Salt. 2, W.Ashley. 8, John BexBin. 

 Evenly-marked Yellow.— 1. E. Orme. 2, John Bexson. 3, C. J. Salt, vhc, W 



