156 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 25, 1870. 



much regret that it i3 now too late in the season for me to sub- 

 mit it immediately to the test of experiment. — A Detosshxbe 

 Bee-keepee. 



The Biggest Pie os Recoed was made at Lowther Castle, in 

 Westmoreland, in the year 1762, and was sent up as a present 

 to the King. It contained 2 geese, 4 ducks, 2 turkeys, 4 wild- 

 fowls, 1 wild goose, 6 wild ducks, 3 teal, 2 starlings, 12 partridges, 

 15 woodcocks, 2 guinea-fowls, 3 snipes, 6 plovers, 3 water-hens, 

 6 widgeons, 1 curlew, 46 yellow-hammers, 15 sparrows, 2 chaf- 

 finches, 2 larks, 3 thrushes, 1 field-fare, 6 pigeons, 4 blackbirds, 

 20 rabbits, 1 leg of veal, half a ham, 3 bushels of flour, 2 stone 

 of butter. The whole pie weighed 22 stone. This must have 

 been the original pie commemorated in the nursery rhyme — 



" When the pie was opened 

 The guests began to sing 

 4 Is not this a daintv dish 

 To set before the king ? ' " 

 — (Food Journal.) 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Breeding Tueeeys and Geese (A Constant Subscriber). — Most breed- 

 ers prefer early-hatched young hen Turkeys, and seldom keep them after 

 the second or third year. Young cock Turkeys are preferred, especially 

 if the hens are old ones, but there is little objection to using a three-year- 

 old bird; we do not advise an older. You maynse very old Geese, but 

 you want fresh and young ganders. "We have known a Goose doing good 

 duty at eight years old, and we have teen told of some that were posi- 

 tively patriarchal. "We do not advise yon to keep Aylesbury Ducks after the 

 second year — that is, after breeding from them two seasons. Xone of the 

 non-sitters will last so long as those that become broody. "We advise the 

 Toulouse as the best breeding Geese ; but as they do not sit we say of 

 them, and of Aylesbury Ducks, Renew your stock frequently. 



Legs of Pile Game Fowls (U. L. C). — There is no fixed colour for 

 the legs of Game fowls, but in almost every instance willow are preferred. 

 Some, however, like yellow for Piles, especially in the "Worcestershire 

 district. Of late years willow and lead-coloured seem almost to have 

 monopolised the strains. White, yellow, and carp are seldom seen. There 

 was a time when yellow were thought almost indispensable to Duckwings, 

 but now they have nearly disappeared. Of course every bird in the pen 

 must have the same shade, but if that were accomplished we should look 

 only to the more important points of the birds. 



Breeding Pheasants {Pheasant). — We know no other. Lengthy trea- 

 tises on these subjects are made up of non-essentials. Young hen Phea- 

 sants lay the earliest eggs. Two-year-old birds lay the largest number. 

 The old hens require to be put to young cocks, and they will then go on 

 well for years. It is well, however, and nothing is easier in a well- 

 managed preserve, to turn out the hens after they have bred the second 

 time, and put others in their places. The number of pens you have for 

 adult birds must depend on the number of birds you wish to keep up. 

 Your old birds are now, of course, out of the laying pen, andinthe winter 

 pen. Let those that have already bred two seasons grow their wings and 

 fly away. Replace them with young birds from which you have bred this 

 year for the first time, and in the pen they vacate put this year's poults. 

 By doing this you will always have a succession of two-year birds, and at 

 no extra expense. These young hens that are to lay" next season, and 

 afterwards be your two -year-olds, should have their wings cut now, and 

 be penned. A Pheasant that has had its liberty, although tame-bred, 

 never, if caught again, becomes a tame bird to'be depended upon for 

 breeding in pens. 



Game Chickens — Dubbing {Pile}. — It is very rare to find chickens that 

 are deserted by the hen at a month do any good ; but they should never 

 be allowed to perch, as the breast bone must thereby become crooked. 

 There is no cure for it, and it is a disqualification everywhere. Chickens 

 that are deserted by their mother, should for some weeks be allowed to 

 roost in their rip. They huddle together, and keep themselves warm, 

 and it is better for them, while their bones are forming ; whereas if they 

 perch while they have cartilage instead of bone, their legs cannot support 

 them, and their breasts rest on the perch. The bone is soft, and takes 

 the impress of it. They may be dubbed at sis or seven months old, but 

 care must be taken not to perform the operation while feathers are form- 

 ing. They are then in cockers' parlance in " bloody stub," and cannot 

 bear the operation. Scissors used by grooms in clipping horses are good 

 for dubbing. They are curved. The gills are taken off close, and the 

 deaf-ears. The cuts are black the next day, and they soon cicatrise. The 

 bird3 suffer so little, that if all that is removed be chopped up, they will 

 eat it directly. It takes two persons to perform the operation properly. 



Fattening Dress (J. H.). — With Dncks as with human beings, exercise 

 is not favourable to fattening. Shut them in a small pigstye if yon have 

 one ; if not, in some place of the same character. Feed, them on oats, 

 bran, and oatmeal, put in a shallow vessel — say from li to 2 inches deep, 

 add a little gravel, and cover the whole with water. 



Colour of the Eyes of Archangel Pigeons (S. Smith,).— We never 

 impugn the judgment of judges, for their decision is, as to any certain 

 show, a final decision. However, we think that orange eyes suit best 

 with the plumage of the Archangel, and prefer them decidedly to pearl 

 colour. 



Rabbits — Lop-eared, Spanish, Andalusian, and Patagonian (.In- 

 quirer). — The Lop-eared Rabbit i3 the variety, the point of which is 

 length of ears, and the longer the better. A specimen with ears 

 22 inches long is good. The colour is of no importance if rightly dis- 

 tributed over the body. The Andalusian is a native of Spain, of large 

 size, weighing from 12 to IS lbs., colour grey, hair glossy and smooth. 

 The ears are generally long and dangling, as if inclined to "be half lop, at 

 least, longer than in all the other varieties, Lop-eared excepted. This is at 

 times also designated the Ram Rabbit. The Patagonian is another large 

 variety more frequently found in France, and the sort seeming to be the 



greatest favourite here is of a light yellow, or almost cream shade, so 

 called: weight about from 12 to 55 lbs. Ear3 shorter and more erect 

 than those of the Andalusian. The last two varieties are scarce, but 

 they are valuable for the table. 



Canary {Bird Fancier).— Write to W. A. Blakston, Esq., 22, Norfolk 

 Street, Sunderland. 



Goldfish (H. L.).— Mr. G. H. King, 190, Great Portland Street, London . 



Oats Ground, &c. {Inquirer). — Crushed oats are oats crushed between 

 two fluted rollers. Ground oats are the whole grain, including the husk, 

 ground to a coarse flour, and oatmeal is the kernel of the grain only, 

 ground to a coarse or a finer meal. 



Canvas Hxte Cover (IT. J. P.). — We are unable to say where this can 

 be obtained. 



Mouse and Beetle Traps {Perplexed). — For information respecting 

 the prices of the inventions to which you refer apply at 10, Essex Street, 

 Strand, London. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 

 In the Suburbs of London for the week ending August 23rd. 









THER5IOHETEB. 



■Wind. 





Date. 



BAE02IETEE. 



Air. 



Earth. 



Bam. 





Max. 1 Min, 



Max. 



Miry 



1ft. 



2 ft. 





Wed. . . 17 



29.977 



29.971 



74 



40 



64 



61 



K. 



.00 



Thnrs. . IS 



29.836 



29.703 



83 



49 



64 



fil 



W. 



.00 



Fri 19 



29 910 



29.756 



69 



33 



66 



61 



2T. 



.00 



Sat. ... 20 



30.041 



29.963 



74 



32 



63 



61 



W. 



.08 



Sun. . . 21 



30.103 



30.076 



71 



33 



60 



60 



X. 



.00 



Mon. . . 22 



S0.05H 



29.685 



69 



46 



61 



59 



S.TT. 



•78 



Tues. . 23 



29503 



29.735 



70 



42 



59 



58 



sr.w. 



.00 



ilean.. 



29.963 



29.843 



72.S6 



39.28 



62.43 ' 60.14 



•• 



0.78 



17. — Overcast, fine ; densely overcast ; clear and fine. 



13. — Very finej exceedingly fine ; clear and fine. 



19. — Very fine ; cloudy, but fine : clear and fine. 



"23.— Exceedingly fine; very fine ; cloudy, but fine. 



21. — Very fine ; cloudy but fine : overcast, heavy clouds. 



22. — Tery fine ; overcast, fine ; heavy rain. 



23. — Overcast, damp ; cloudy, but fine ; clear and fine. 



COYEXT GARDEN MARKET.— August 24. 

 Our chief demand is now among the rougher descriptions of goods 

 which are supplied in very large quantities, and, consequently, the sale 

 must be forced at a low price to dispose of it. Continental supplies are 

 also heavy, notwithstanding the interruption caused by the war. Potatoes 

 are good and a fair steady trade is doing. 







s. d. 



s. 



& 







R. 



A. 



b. a 





i sieve 



1 to2 

 10 3 



: 

 





lb. 





 3 



9t 



n 







s 





lb. 



6 

 



1 























e 







14 





bnshel 







10 







2 



4 



(i 



Pears, kitchen .. 









n 



















II 







1 



(i 



3 



Hga 



lb. 



1 

 9 



4 

 1 







n 





lb. 



2 



6 







5 







. i sieve 



3 6 



Cobs 



lb. 



9 



1 



ii 







n 



n 











o n 



{I 



i> 





lb. 







6 



1 



Grapes, Hothouse lb. 



2 n 



6 



o 





lb. 



u 



it 









.. ^100 10 



16 



o 











16 







1 



* 











X 







a o 







YEGET 



iELES. 















s. a. 



B. 



d 







fl. 



d. 



s. d 







OtoO 











II 



4 to 



Beans, Kidnev . 



I sieve. 







4 







6 



o 











1 



3 



6 

 



3 







4 





bnshel 







(1 



n 



Mustard .v Cress 



.punnet 



II 



a 











2 

 



3 

 



o 











4 

 







4 



6 



Broccoli 



.bundle 



8 



TCmsspls Spront = 



.4 sieve 











u 







3 















1 



SI 















9 



1 















u 











U 











4 







8 







3 



11 



5 







2 



6 









do. 



4 







6 



Celery 





1 6 



2 







Badishes .. dos. 



bunches 















Coleworts..doz. bunches 



3 



6 



1 







II 



n 







Cncumbers .... 



. . . each 



6 



1 



u 























2 



4 



























2 

 3 





 





 





lb. 





 3 



6 























lb. 



8 

 3 





 







n 







1 



D 

 6 



1 











Horseradish ... 



. bundle 



3 



6 







Vegetable Marrows . . doz. 



2 







S 



POULTRY ILiP.KET.— August 24. 

 Theee is a good supply of poultry and an average trade. Grouse are 

 unusually plentiful. 



s. d. s. d. 



LargeFowls 3 Oto 3 6 



Smaller ditto 2 6 3 



Chickens 19 2 



Ducks 2 2 6 



Geese 5 6 6 



Turkeys 



s. d. 3. d. 



Grouse (young) 1 9 to 2 



Pigeons OS 9 



Rabbits 14 15 



Wild ditto 8 9 



Hares 



Partridges 



