6J, 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ January 20, 1863. 



large piece of ground planted with tine variety called Birming- 

 ham Blues. I prided myself on their appearance, and had 

 almost begun to calculate the money they would return when 

 consumed, and in the shape of bacon. Delusive grasp! In a 

 few days afterwards their tops were black with disease, and 

 reeking in everybody's nose. I had never heard of the disease, 

 and I believe they were the first in the neighbourhood to be 

 attacked, I being more forward with them than my neighbours. 

 The affair was so sudden, and the taking them up so sudden 

 as well, that before the disease was mooted in the papers the 

 Potatoes were boiled and salted to suit my own palate, and then 

 well rammed-down in the hog-tubs ; the putrid ones buried in 

 a rippled grave by the side of the river, and the diseased haulm 

 burnt upon the ground. 



I little thought to what an extent the disease waB about to 

 spread. I knew, though, that the tubers could not increase in 

 health or bulk by remaining in the soil after the foliage had 

 been destroyed by so sudden a check of nature. 



I lived near Ludlow then ; and on the 2nd of June — I am 

 not quite sure if it was a Knighton fair day — two of the most 

 Cruikshankish Igawkish-looking pigs imaginable were bought 

 there from the Welsh hills, for I knew it would never do to 

 buy sleek well-bred fellows from the lowlands to fatten on the 

 food that I should give them for some weeks to come. When 

 they were driven home over some fourteen miles of ground they 

 were as fresh as larks ; and our neighbours' jokes flew thick as 

 leaves in Tallambrosa on my devoted head. Jones, our parish 

 clerk, declared he thought I had "bought a couple of grey- 

 hounds to fatten !" Well, they had their laugh, and I saw no 

 earthly reason why they should not ; and the result proved as 

 follows : — 



Jane 2. Expenditube. £ s. d 



Bought two store pigs 3 8 



Man driving home ditto ... 2 6 

 27 L bash, damaged potatoes 17 6 

 li bash, of grey peas, given 

 "whole to the pigs a few 

 at a time 6 4 



8 cwt. of barleymeal at 10s. 

 perewt 4 



9 hoBhels of barley at 45. per 

 bushel -. 1 16 



Grinding ditto at mill, 25. 



per sack 6 



Lettuces, pot-liqnor, straw 



and laboor balanced by 



dung 

 Man killing two pigs 4 



Dec. 30. Beturn. £ a. 



Sold two bacon pics, weight 



732 lbs. at 5i per lb 16 15 



To two pigs' lrys 3 



16 IS 6 

 Deduct expenses 11 10 4 



1110 4 Profit remaining 5 8 2 



It was now my turn to laugh and joke. I never had pigs 

 that came on better than those did with the salted potatoes. I 

 adopted the practice for two years afterwards ; and I salted 

 boiled carrots, parsnips, and yellow globe mangold wurtzel also, 

 but I always did it according to my own palate, and I do not 

 like too much salt with anything. 



We came to this place in 1847, where, in consequence of 

 having very near neighbours and being situated in the town, we 

 do not now keep pigs, though we have the credit of it, for the 

 gate-keeper next door does so ; and I am often accosted by 

 people who say, " Oh, dear, Mr. Eenn ! why don't you advise 

 the rector Hot to keep pigs? They smell so really offensive 

 every time we turn the corner to go into the park ? " — Upwabds 



AND ONWABDS. 



TEA-MAKING. 



Haking Tea. — The making of tea is a subject every one is so 

 well practised in, that it is scarcely necessary to give directions. 

 The essential requisites are — First, good tea ; second, a good 

 teapot — that is, one of plain shape, free from ornaments, which 

 give a larger surface to throw off the heat, or from flntings and 

 mouldings, which prevent the inside being wiped clean and dry 

 after use; third, boiling soft water. When soft water cannot 

 be obtained, a small portion of carbonate of soda is often used to 

 correct the hardness of the water, but in general it is employed 

 in great excess, when it renders the tea soapy and mawkish ; for 

 a large teapot a quantity the size of a pea is amply sufficient. As 

 the making of tea is a subject in which every one is interested, 

 we add the directions of two men almost equally celebrated, the 

 one as a poet, the other as a cuisinier (or cook). 



Leigh Hunt's Recipe. — Dear reader, male or female (very 

 dear, if the hitter), do you know how to make good tea ? because 

 if you do not, and we have known many otherwise accomplished 



persons fail in that desideratum, here is a recipe for you. In 

 the first place the teapot must be thoroughly clean, and the 

 water thoroughly boiling. There should not be a leaf of stale 

 tea left from the" last meal. The tests of boiling are various with 

 different people, but there can be no uncertainty if the steam 

 comes out of the lid of the kettle ; and it is best therefore to be 

 sure upon that evidence. No good tea can be depended upon 

 from an urn, because an urn cannot be kept boiling, and water 

 Bhould never be put upon tea but in a thoroughly and imme- 

 diately boiling state. If it has done boiling it should be made to 

 boil again. Boiling, proportion, and attention are the three 

 magic words of tea-making. The water should be soft, hard 

 water being sure to spoil the best tea; and it is advisable to 

 prepare the teapot against a chill by letting a small quantity of 

 hot water stand in it before you begin, emptying it out, of course, 

 when you do so. These premises being taken care of, excellent 

 tea can be made for one person by putting into the pot two or 

 three teaspoonfuls, and as much water as will cover the quantity ; 

 let this stand five minutes, and then add as much more as will 

 twice fill the cup you are going to use. Leave this additional 

 water another five minutes, and then, first putting the Bugar and 

 milk into the cup, pour out the tea ; making sure to put in 

 another cup of boiling water directly. 



Tea — Soteh's Plan. — Soyer recommends the following plan, 

 and from repeated experience we can speak very decidedly in its 

 favour: — Put the tea in a perfectly clean and dry teapot ten 

 minutes or a quarter of an hour before it is required ; warm 

 both the pot and the tea by placing them before the fire ; then fill 

 the teapot with boiling water ; allow it to stand for five minutes, 

 and it is ready. The method improves the fragrance of the tea 

 very considerably, slightly but pleasantly altering the flavour. — 

 {Prairie Farmer.) 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Doektng Pullets sot Layixg (A Constant Subscriber). — 'We are dis- 

 posed to think th»se Iriends are right who say the birds are over-fat; but 

 we have done so badly ourselves with eggs, spite of every painstaking in 

 food, change, run, age, and selection, that we give an opinion with diffi- 

 dence. Nevertheless, we think we would diminish the food a little. They 

 are fat at 7 lbs. each, and, when very fat they will not lay. In a park 

 there is choice of natural food ; but when they are very fat they will not 

 seek it. 



Coloured Dorking Cock (An Old Sub).— A. white feather in his tail 

 and a speckled breast wonld certainly not disqualify him for exhibition. 

 Colour is only essential for Dorkings in the Silver-Grey classes. One 

 white spot is enough to disqualify if shown as a Silver-Grey. 



Hens Alone (Ignoramus).— They will lay as well as if a cock were their 

 companion. 



Breeding Bantams with 'Willow Legs (Cochin).— A. white-legged 

 Game Bantam cock, and a blue-leg Bantam Game hen, probably would 

 breed chickens, some with white and some with blue legs. We see no 

 reason for thinking they would throw willow. 



Fattening Fowls (Idem). — Ground oats mixed with milk form the 

 best food for fattening fowls or Turkeys. 



Black Bantams.— "Wiltshire Bectoe" recommends " C. G." to ob- 

 tain a sitting of eggs in the spring from Mr. Baily, of Mount Street: they 

 would be from pnre birds. Good Black Baniams are somewhat rare, and 

 consequently dear. Mr. Baily's cheapest are 105. each. 



Dorking Pullets at Manchester (An Exhibitor). — We have made the 

 necessary inquiries, and find that you are totally wrong: in your suspicions. 

 Under any circumstances, such suspicions could not have been published 

 until you had communicated to us your name. 



Ducks for Table (Alpha). — The Aylesbury is the quickest fattener. 

 It is not so hardy as the Bouen. The Buenos Ayrean is the handsomest ; 

 and, although not as large as the others, it is a prolific and profitable bird. 

 That we recommend. 



Oat-bruising Mill— Spanish Fowls (N. T.) We do not know of a 



second-hand mill for sale. An advertisement In our columns would perhaps 

 find one. Tou will in all probability breed good pullets from the cock with 

 a fallinff comb, but they will produce you lop-combed cocks when you 

 breed from them again. In our opinion it is always a pity to breed from 

 faulty stock. 



Spanish Bunts suffering prom Cold (H. B. P.).— If the birds are kept 

 fairlv warm and well fed, they wiU soon recover. If the discharge from 

 the nose and eye continues, give a capsule containing a dose of mixed 

 balsam of copaiba and cubebs. This acts as a specific on the diseased 

 mucous membrane, and effects a cure sooner than any other remedy we are 

 acquainted with. 



Disease in Short-paced Almonds [Almond).— The conditions under 

 which you keep your birds appear so perfectly satisfactory that we can 

 only attribute the tubercular disease of the liver to hereditary causes, or to 

 close interbreeding carried to a great extent. We should suggest a change 

 of your present matches, and, if possible, an infusion of new strains. 



LiGURiAN Bees (£.).— Write to T. Woodbury, Esq., Mount Eadford, 

 Exeter, who will give you every information as to price, He, of Ligurian 

 stocks. 



Bottle-feeder for Bees.— There ;s an error in the reply to " One Who 

 Has Bees." Thirteen lines from the bottom of col. 1. p. 42, the neck is 

 spoken of as "enveloped in the neck," instead of in the net. 





