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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 25, 1872. 



Capsicums (Col. Grove). — "We believe the Prince of "Wales Capsicum came 

 originally from Brazil. The Bird's-eye Chili can be got from most of the 

 seedsmen. 



Names of Plants (G. Me. ,l).~No. 1 is Polystichum Lonchitis ; and 

 No. 2, Cystopteris fragilis. (George).— No. 1, Convolvulus tricolor ; the other 

 Chrysanthemum coronarium. (G. Williams). — Hedysarum coronarium. 

 (Thomas Bush). — Francoa appendieulata alba. (T. Turner). — Lycopodium 

 atrovhide. You have not numbered each of the other three, consequently -we 

 cannot refer to them. (X G.). — 1, Campanula persicifolia; 2, Oxalis cornicu- 

 lata. 



POULTEY, BEE, AKD PIGEON OHEOrTICLE. 



WHICH IS THE BEST BREED?— No. 4. 

 In nry last paper on this subject I considered the case of those 

 many readers of the Journal who could only keep a very few 

 fowls in a very small space, and who therefore needed a breed 

 which could both be kept in close confinement, and would give 

 no trouble from sitting propensities. Let us now consider 

 people in different circumstances. 



Some of the breeds already mentioned, with the purchase of a 

 few sitting hens annually, which can be returned or killed when 

 done with, may be also the best for some of these. Thus, with 

 a good grass range, it will be hard to beat the Hamburghs at 

 egg-production, compared with the amount of food consumed, 

 as I am decidedly of opinion, from all I have been able to gather, 

 that with a pretty fair-sized flock an annual average of nearly 

 two hundred eggs may be obtained from each fowl. The Leg- 

 horn will also be a most useful fowl in such a range, and so will 

 the Houdan; but either of these three, on grass, will beat hollow 

 in profit either the Polish or the Spanish fowl. Where both a 

 fair supply of eggs and also chickens for market are desired, but 

 the demand for the latter is but moderate, few breeds can sur- 

 pass the Houdan, retaining the pullets for laying, and killing off 

 the adult fowls and the cockerels. These last make their weight 

 at an early age, and the flesh is of first-class quality, and will 

 bring credit in the market. 



If, however, the hire or purchase of broody hens is objected 

 to, or if a steady regular supply of chickens for table is desired, 

 other breeds become preferable. "Where a public market is the 

 chief object, I need hardly say that as a chicken-producer no 

 fowl will equal the Dorking, if good range and a dry soil allow 

 of its being kept. In the London market, especially, no fowl will 

 realise such prices as this old and favourite breed ; and on a 

 dry, particularly if a chalky soil, there is really no difficulty in 

 raising the chickens. The special advantage of this breed, I 

 need hardly say, is massive weight at a very early age, with a 

 greater natural aptitude to put meat on the breast and get fat, or 

 rather plump, than any other breed possesses. These are very 

 valuable qualities, which make the English Dorking for certain 

 purposes the fowl of all others ; but in other circumstances it 

 does not do so well, and as an egg-producer almost invariably 

 fails. 



For a good, useful, family fowl, where chickens are needed as 

 well as eggs for the family table, no breed will beat the Brahma. 

 Take it all round, it is a grand breed. The chicks are neither 

 sick nor sorry ; there are plenty of them, and plenty of eggs 

 too ; and they are ready to kill at three or four months old, 

 really fine table birds. I grow fonder of them every year. In 

 economic merit both kinds were originally equal, but through 

 the closer selection of the Dark variety for points of plumage 

 alone, the Light is now in my judgment the better as a rule either 

 for eggs or for the table, having been less deteriorated for eco- 

 nomic purposes by this method, of selection. The eggs of both 

 the Asiatic breeds, I may add, are infinitely beyond others in a 

 flavour at once rich and delicate, so that anyone used to Brahma 

 eggs finds those laid by a Spanish fowl positively insipid. As 

 a rule I should far prefer the Brahma to the Cochin, but there 

 are still circumstances in which the latter is preferable. These 

 are chiefly such as require the raising of the largest number of 

 chickens in the smallest space. A pen of adult Cochins can be 

 kept in a smaller space than probably any other except Polish, 

 if only cleanliness and abundant green meat be provided. I 

 have known birds kept in perfect health in a run only 5 feet 

 by 12 ; so that if, besides this, a small open yard for chickens 

 can be provided, our Cochin will "show up" well as a meat- 

 producer for home use. They must be rigorously kept with 

 ravenous appetites, or if so penned-up they will get overfat ; but 

 this secured, they are most satisfactory fowls, and the very ideal 

 of pet poultry — so calm, so stately, so happy and good-tempered 

 they are. The chickens, like Brahmas, are hardy, and fit to 

 kill about the same time. The difference may be said to be, 

 that the Cochin sits more frequently and can be kept in smaller 

 space, both which point it out as the breed in cases where a 

 good number of chickens are wished for family consumption 

 from a very small pen of adult fowls. 



But there is still another class of poultry-keepers, who have a 

 fair run, can keep a fair number, and can rear a moderate num- 

 ber of chickens, such as a Dorking will hatch, but who wish 



chiefly for eggs and hardy constitution. There is a breed which 

 will just suit them in the American Dominique, which is what 

 we call a "Cuckoo" fowl. Hardy as any, it only sits usually 

 once in a season, and lays abundantly ; while the carcase is ex- 

 cellent both in proportions and quality, notwithstanding its 

 yellow legs. It is in fact a kind of medium-sized hardy Dorking, 

 but a far better layer, and I have no hesitation in saying is a 

 most valuable breed.. It has lately been much lost sight of even 

 in America, and good truly-bred specimens are scarce, so that 

 some recently imported birds. I have seen showed by their 

 progeny strong traces of recent cross-breeding ; but even these 

 specimens had proved themselves the most profitable of any 

 fowls in the possession of the gentleman to whom they belonged, 

 and he was loud in their praises. I doubt if this will ever be 

 much of a " fancy " fowl, its homespun suit is too plain ; but for 

 good general usefulness, on a farm or round the house, none will 

 beat it. Of this I am sure, and I hope to see it much commoner 

 in England as a useful fowl, acceptable to a very large class of 

 the community. 



I do not wish any of my remarks to be taken absolutely. I 

 have already said that there are strains of birds both better and. 

 worse than the average, and some breeds apparently suitable 

 sometimes seem as if they would not thrive in certain localities. 

 But on the average I think the conclusions I have thus sketched 

 will be found sound ones, from an economic point of view ; and 

 the " fancy " view I have not been considering. If a man " goes 

 in " as a fancier, he had far better take the fowl to which his 

 fancy inclines him, or he will have no " heart " in the pursuit ; but. 

 if he is seeking only profit by his fowds in eggs or meat, I 

 think, according to the circumstances, those I have named will 

 be found, as a general rule, the best breeds. — L. Weight. 



LIGHT BRAHMAS. 



May I remind committees of the many shows now in forma- 

 tion of the great claims of the Light Brahmas to separate 

 classes ? It is all very well for our eloquent advocates of the 

 Dark variety to say what can and should be done to improve 

 the Light Brahma, but in common with many of our principal 

 breeders, I am more than ever convinced of the superiority 

 in size of the Darks, as I see them actually running away in 

 their growth from their more beautiful brethren. It is most 

 disheartening to see so constantly the sham competitions be- 

 tween the two varieties, and the absurdity of the chance or 

 winning where one class only is provided. 



I would also suggest that committees in their catalogues should 

 imitate Bristol by placing the words " not sent " opposite the 

 entry of an empty pen. I have lately made many entries and have 

 failed to send the birds, and I must say that wrong impressions 

 are often conveyed to exhibitors who are not present at the show 

 to see for themselves. — James Long. 



HASLINGDEN POULTRY SHOW. 

 The eighth annual Show of the Haslingden Agricultural So 

 ciety took place on Thursday last, July 18th, and for once, and 

 once only we believe since the formation of the Society, they 

 were favoured by fine weather, the day being one in every way 

 desirable, and as a result the show field was crowded with visitors. 

 The exhibition of poultry for the season of the year was a very 

 good one, some of the best specimens in the country having 

 been sent for competition. 



In Buff Cochins, adults, there was a fair entry, the first priz- 

 going to a very fine pair, but getting rather too old. In chickene 

 the first-prize pair were very fine indeed, and splendidly growns 

 Any other variety of Cochins, first good Partridge, and second, 

 capital White. In chickens, both prizes went to good Partridge,, 

 the first fine well-grown birds, the second not so large, but 

 the pullet excellent in all points. The adult Brahmas were 

 very good and in capital trim for the time of year ; the prize 

 birds were, however, well to the front. The chicken classes were 

 good, the first-prize being very promising. Adult Dorkings 

 were a fair class, but, as might be expected, were getting out of 

 feather: first, good Dark Greys single-combed, second rose- 

 combed. In chickens the prizes went to large well-developed 

 specimens of the Dark Grey variety. French fowls were a small 

 entry, containing nothing particular except the first-prize pen, 

 the others sadly out of feather. Spanish adults were a capital class, 

 all well shown, the first prize went to a neat pen of birds with 

 a good quality of face, the second-prize pen had large but some- 

 what heavier and coarser faces. In chickens the first-prize was 

 very good, especially the pullet ; it is wonderful how they can be 

 matured in the time. Several other pens contained good speci- 

 mens, but generally indifferently matched. Game were few but 

 very choice, a beautiful Pile in single cocks taking first over, as 

 the catalogue stated, the winner of the cup at Birmingham. In the 

 class forcockand hen, Piles were again first, Brown Beds second. 

 Hamburghs, as might be expected from the locality, were capital 

 classes, and the competition in some cases very keen. In adult 

 Golden-pencilled the first pen was clearly ahead of the rest, and 



