98 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 3, 1871. 



Points of Duckwing Game Fom^s (G. H".)-— The hackle of a Duck- 

 winged Game cock should be perfectly clear, the breast should be quite 

 black, the tail also. The Duckwing should be distinctly marked in com- 

 mon and Silver Duckwings, but in the ordinary there may be and fre- 

 quently is the copper saddle. The hackle of such a bird should be straw- 

 coloured, but in the Silver it must be white. In all points of shape, car- 

 riage, &c., the rules are the same for all classes. The distinction is only 

 in colour. 



Age of Moulting (TF. I;.).— Hens do not moult till the end of sum- 

 mer or beginning of autumn. That is the natural time after they have 

 done laying and sitting. The old worn-out plumage of the summer, 

 good and close enough for the hot and dry weather, would prove but a 

 sorry protection agiinst sleet, snow, and frost in the winter. Chickens, 

 being chickens, do not moult, but their feathers change. We believe 

 each new feather is a sort of Phceoix, and rises from the annihilation of 

 its predecessor. One exception may be made, young cocks may be seen 

 TTith theirnecks covered with huge stubs, as though they were moulting, 

 but it is not so ; it is to them like the visible whisker on the adolescent's 

 face, taking the place of the scarcely perceptible down. You may set 

 the eggs at once. 



Removing Tab from Fowi-s' Feathers {J. L.). — We believe chloro- 

 form will remove it, also naptha. We are not sure, as we have never- 

 tried it for the purpose. The presence of a little tar on the plumage is 

 not a very serious objection, as it cannot for a moment be supposed it 

 was put on purposely. 



PouiiTRY House Perches (C. T. S.). — Pheasants never roost at the 

 end of a branch. Almost all birds choose a large perch, and we are 

 strongly in favour of it. We take a fir tree about S or 9 inches in dia- 

 meter, and saw it in half. It is then placed on uprights 24 inches from 

 the ground, with the bark on and round side uppermost. We have 

 always thought crooked breasts indicated either weakness of constitu- 

 tion, or undue growth from Si.imulating or excessive feeding, or wof ul 

 mistakes in perching, perhaps the combination of all these may succeed 

 in producing the crooked breast. Perching is the natural rest. If the 

 resting place be -wide, but slightly rounded, there will he noDack-heel. 

 On such a perch as we have described little clasping is necessary. The 

 bird well and naturally balanced rests on it; but if it be sufficiently 

 narrow to make clasping necessary, the bird remains there by effort, and 

 that is not rest. Young cocks, especi.-illy, are apt to be lanky ; they be- 

 come long on the leg, " for ever and amn," when on " their daily avoca- 

 tions," they leave off walking to sit down ; they are neither tired nor 

 lazy, but they are weak. Such birds on an improper perch clasp it to the 

 extent of their power ; but narrow and painfully round, there is not sup- 

 port until they get their breasts to rest upon it. That which will be bone 

 is then only cartilage, and it takes the impression of the so-called perch. 

 Procrustes was curious in roosts, and might have copied many Y^e have 

 seen advantageously for his system of suiting no one. 



Hen with a Broken Toe (M. R. F.).— -Bind it up iu a large quill, or 

 in any sort of splint you may prefer. It would, doubtless, heal if left 

 alone, but it always remains enlarged, and is often very unsightly. 



Exhibiting Chickens (H.).— The last days of August are not very 

 early for a chicken show. It allows you to show birds that are eight 

 months old, and they are getting on towards maturity. In judging 

 chickens early in the autu iin, if age be coasidereil, it is with a view to 

 distinguish the earliest h^ttched, because early hatching is a great merit. 

 Sufficient attention is not paid to that point. Apart from showing, the 

 most remunerative breeding is that whfch is earliest. We think you may 

 safely show your birds with every prospect of success. They are very 

 good, and so far as weight is concerned, are above the average. The 

 heavier but younger cocks are so weak and lanky, that they show to great 

 disadvantage. 



Poland and Haisiburgh Hens Sitting (J. B. Y.I.— We can say to you, 

 as to oxir former correspondent. We are much obliged by your communi- 

 cation. We shall be glad to receive all such. Polands and Hamburghs 

 are subject to ** hearts" in these matters. We have not before heard of 

 Houdans having a weakness for a brood. We shall now send oat our 

 bellman, offering a reward for a sitting Spanish hen. We merely observe 

 to those who marvel, that an exception does not prove the rule. 



Egg Production {N. TF.),— If the eggs are only intended for the table 

 the cock is quite unnecessary. 



Distinguishing the Sex in the Egg (E, E. F.}.~Yoti must not think 

 because we do not believe in the sexes of eg?s,that we are not interested 

 in the subject of which your letter treats. We dare not repeat the usual 

 platitudes about " picking shells on the shore while the vast ocean," &c., 

 or " that we know only enough to teach," &c. We believe we know a 

 great deal about poultry, but we do not know all, and we are happy to 

 learn. Our columns are open to such subjects ; enter the lists. We will 

 answer for fair play, and all our weapons are blunted. If at the end 

 your cocks turn out pullets, and our pullets cocks, we will say, " Brother, 

 brother, we are both in the wrong," and begin again. 



Sebright Bantams (Mrs. E. WilkiTison) .—I regret to hear of your 

 losing so many of your Sebright chickens. One great difficulty, however, 

 you surmount — viz., the difficulty of hatching, for few fanciers hatch 

 many, as clear epgs are sure almost to be very numerous. There must 

 be some cause fo* yonr great lossea which you have not discovered. It 

 is true that the season has been bad, but it is not so now. Youj treat- 

 ment seems good, save and except the pepper, which is wrong. My plan 

 is this — the first few days chopped egg and bread, then bread and milk, 

 bread just moistened with milk, and the egg also ; then grits (whole 

 ^t,s) as soon as they can eat them, potato and gravy, and meat minced 

 very small; grass cut with scissors into very ehort lengths from the first. 

 I am careful to keep every kind of d«mp from them. When the chickens 

 grow older I give them ground Indiftn corn and pollard, half-and-half, 

 mixed thick with water or milk, varying it with oatmeal and pollard. 

 "Variety of food is, I am sure, good— no two meals alike. Ants' egga 

 are relished, and good ; indeed, t fancy animal fpod is particularly bene- 

 fimal to Bantams. Try to find out the c?>u8e of y-our deaths. I incline 

 to think the birds must pick up somethiog injurioTia. The chickens 

 which have full range of the garden are remarkably healthy. Do not 

 give up the beautiful Sebrigbts, but persevere.— Wiltshire RsciToR. 



CrRE or Lice in Pigeons ( C. P. Bav ica).— Cleanliness is the great pre- 

 ventive. As to getting rid of the lioe, you may adopt various plans. Dust 

 sulphur into or rather trader the featheri, or Pe^ian insect powder. 

 Paraf&Q poured on the pefobes ha« aUo been i;eooiameaded. A practical 



fancier once in these pages recommended the following method of treat- 

 ment : — Take a small pot of sheep ointment, plaoe it in a basin of warm 

 water to melt it ; then take a small piece of stick, cutting one end flat, 

 dip it into the ointment, and put a small quantity just above and below 

 the vent, under each wing, and under the throat or neck of the bird. One 

 anointing of this kind would be sufficient. The ointment is mercurial, 

 therefore but little should be used. 



Various {M, R. F.).~ll your Pigeons have had a wire cage in front of 

 their new home in which to sit and see the country around, they will now 

 probably keep where they are. It would, however, do no harm to confine 

 them a fortnight longer. A loft is all the better for being light and airy. 

 Blue Dragoons may have either the white or blue rump. It constantly 

 happens among common Pigeons that a pair out of the same nest mate 

 together and breed. So doing, however, fancy birds would deteriorate if 

 done too often. Give your Pigeons old tares, small beans, peas, Indian 

 corn, barley, either mixed, or change from one sort of food to another 

 frequently. 



Market for Surplus Honeycomb (J. D. E.).—We do not think you 

 will meet with any house in London who will give you the price for honey- 

 comb that you mention. Write to Messrs. Neighbour, 149, Regent Street, 

 London. 



A Maiden Swarm (Darhy).-~You did perfectly right in returning the 

 swarm. The queen sent is apparently an old one, if we may judge from 

 the ragged wings and its somewhat stunted size. The smaller bee is an 

 ordinary worker. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 



CAiiDEN Square, London. 



Lat. 51° 32' 40" N. ; Long. 0° 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feet. 



Date. 



9 a.m. 



In the Dai. 





1871. 





Hygrome- 

 ter. 



Direc- 

 tion of 

 Wind. 



Temp, 

 of Soil 

 at 1 ft. 



Shade Tem- 

 perature. 



Eadiation 

 Tempera- 

 ture. 



.9 



July. 



Dry. 



Wet. 



Mas. i Mm. 



In i On 

 sun. ' grass 





We. 26 

 Th. 27 

 Fri. 23 

 Sat. 29 

 Stm.30 

 Mo. 31 

 Tu. 1 



Inches. 

 29.401 

 29.71i 

 29.720 

 29.895 

 29.629 

 80.000 

 80.076 



aeg. 

 61.7 

 64.2 

 69,6 

 65.1 

 60.9 

 62.5 

 6S.S 



aeg. 

 65.0 

 55.9 

 68 8 

 57.9 

 55.'1 

 67.2 

 66.6 



N.W. 



N. 



E. 

 S.W. 

 S.W. 

 N.W. 

 S.W. 



deg. 

 60.3 

 60.3 

 61.3 

 60.6 

 60.5 

 69.2 

 60.5 



deg. 

 67.3 

 76.7 

 71.9 

 71.8 

 68.1 

 74.4 

 74.0 



deg. 

 53.0 

 51.2 

 560 

 62 8 

 61.3 

 45.8 

 48.0 



deg. I deg. 

 113.8 61.3 

 126.7 ' 51.4 

 117.0 56.3 

 121.4 1 51.6 

 U6.8 51.6 

 122.4 45.2 

 122 4S.0 



In. 

 0.0.5 

 0.175 

 0,362 

 0.290 

 0.060 



Means 



29.776 



63.8 



66.7 





60.5 



72.1 



61,0 



120.0 1 50.8 



0.943 



REMARKS. 

 26th.— Fine, but very windy; two or three showers; a very fine sunset, 



but very cold. 

 27th.— Very fine all day. 

 28th. — Rain in early morning; fine shower between 10 and 11 a.iu. ; fine 



day, but very heavy shower between S and 9 p m. ; fine night. 

 29th. — Fine but windy ; heavy rain at 4.20 phi , fine after. 

 30th. — Rainy morning, at 6 p.m., and again at 10 p m., fine after. 

 31st. — Fine all day, hot sunshine, but with nice breeze. 

 1st.— Beautiful day. 



The total rainfall during July was 4.125 inches, and it fell on eighteen 

 days, being in both cases above the July average. The total fall since 

 January 1st is, however, only 15.823, being but slightly above the average, 

 the early months being mostly dry, very little more rain having fallen in 

 the first five months than fell in June and Julv.— G. J. SnroNS. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— August 2. 

 There is very little alteration to note here. Business remains much 

 as usual : a slight diminution in the supply of Currants, Raspberries, and 

 Gooseberries, but no alteration in price worth notice. Potato trade dull 

 with a very heavy supply ; prices range from 30s. to £o per ton. 



Apples i sieve 



Apricots doz. 1 



Cherries lb. 



Chestnuts bushel 



Currants i sieve 3 



Black do. i 



Figs doz. 3 



Fiiberts lb. 1 



Coba lb. 



Gooseberries quart 



Grapes, Hothouse,,., lb, 2 



LemoHs ^100 6 



Melons ea^ 2 



i, d. s. 



1 6 toi 



3 



Molberrieg lb. 



Nectarines doz. 



Oranses V 100 



Peaches ^.. doz. 



Pears, kitchen ,77,.. doz. 



dessert doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums j sieve 



Quinces doz. 



Raspberries lb, 



Strawiberriea lb. 



■Waln'ata bushel 10 



ditto , ^100 1 



4 



6 



6 







2 



3 

 

 

 8 6 

 6 



d. B. d 



to 

 12 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes doz. 4 



Aaparagms »■ 100 



Beans, Kidney .. i sieve 3 



Broad bushel 2 



Eeet.Red doz. 2 



Broccoli bundle 



Brussela Sprouts. . i sieve 



Cabbage doz. 1 



Capsicums ^100 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz, 3 



Celery bundle 1 



Coleworta..do2. buncheB 2 

 OuoumberB each 



pickling doz, Q 



fndive doz, 2 

 ennel bunch 



Garlio Bb. 



Herbs buDch 



Horseradfish ,.,, imodle 8 



d. 



Oto 



































6 







6 







6 







Leefes bunch 



Lettuce doz. 



Mushrooms pottle 1 



Mustard A Crpag.. punnet 



Onions per doz. bunches i 



pickling quart 



Parsley sieve 8 



Parsnips doz. 



Peas quart 



Potatoes bushel 1 



Kidney do. 8 



Radishes .. doz.bunobea 



Rhubarb bundle 



Savoys. ,.,..doz. 



Sea-kale basket 



ShaUots lb. 



Spinaoh buahel 3 



Tomatoes dqz. 2 



Tarnipa buncb 



Yegi^able Manro ws , . d«8. 2 



d. 

 4 too 



