JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
184 
[ March 3, 1881. 
chicks, but care must be taken not to give too much, as it has a 
tendency to produce constipation.— Ed.] 
THE POULTRY CLUB. 
The first meeting of the Committee of the Poultry Club since the 
increase of its numbers was held on Thursday, the 24th of February, 
at the Charing Cross Hotel. There were present the Hon. and Rev. 
F. G-. Dutton, the Rev. H. C. Fellowes, and Messrs. H. R. Dugmore, 
L. C. C. R. Norris, T. P. Lyon, R. A. Boissier, S. Lucas, J. C. Fraser, 
and A. Comyns. 
The voting papers relating to the recent election were examined, 
and it appeared that the following were the votes recorded for each 
candidate :— President, Hon. and Rev. F. G-. Dutton, 45. Treasurer, 
H. R. Dugmore, 30. lion. Secretary , A. Comyns, 42. Committee, 
T. W. Anns, 35 ; 0. E. Cresswell, 25 ; Rev. H. C. Fellowes, 41 ; J. C. 
Fraser, 30 ; T. P. Lyon, 37 ; R. E. Horsfall, 38 ; L. C. C. R. Norris, 41; 
Rev. J. D. Peake, 38 ; E. Pritchard, 41; Rev. W. Serjeantson, 38 ; 
Butler Smith, 40; R. B. Wood, 12. Many voting papers had been 
returned signed in blank, with a request that Mr. Cresswell would 
fill in the names as he chose. This he naturally had declined to do. 
As Mr. Butler Smith had been nominated without his own consent 
his election was declared vcid, and the Secretary was instructed to 
issue a notice requesting nominations to the vacant place on the 
Committee. 
The following new members were elected :—C. R. Williams, 
Waterloo Park, Waterloo, Liverpool ; A. G-ervaise Bright, English 
Street, Armagh ; Anthony Taylor, Netherbury, near Bedminster, 
Dorset. — Lloyd, of Douglas, Isle of Man, was elected an associate 
member. 
Directions were given to the Treasurers to pay the subscriptions 
promised by the Club to the Wolverhampton and Liverpool Shows. 
Some complaints by members as to the non-payment of prize money, 
&c., at various shows were then dealt with, and acknowledgments by 
members of some similar matters having been settled upon the inter¬ 
vention of the Secretary were read. 
A letter from Mr. O. E. Cresswell, stating that the accounts for 
1880 had not yet been finally settled, but that he believed there 
would be a balance, as on the 31st of December last, of £153 8s. 10<L 
was next read. 
The times and places for the meetings of the Committee were next 
discussed, and it was decided that as far as practicable such of the 
meetings of the Committee as are to be held in London shall be held 
at 2 p.m. on each of the following days :—March 28th, April 27th, 
May 30th, June 27th, July 27th, August 29th, and September 26th. 
That the meeting in October be held on the Monday in the Dairy 
Show week. That in November two meetings be held—one at the 
Crystal Palace, on the Monday in the Show week; and another at 
Birmingham, also on the Monday in the Show week; and that a 
meeting be held at Wolverhampton on some convenient day during 
the Show. 
The Secretary was empowered to convene extraordinary meetings 
in case of urgent business. 
The circular to fanciers whose names appear in the “ Fanciers’ 
Directory ” for 1880, directed by the general meeting to be sent out, 
was then considered, and a draft thereof approved by the Committee. 
Directions were given to the Secretary to issue the circulars as soon 
as possible. 
The form of the circular to the Secretaries of shows, requesting 
information as to'the dates on which it was intended to hold the 
several shows in the ensuing season, was then approved, and direc¬ 
tions given for its issue. 
The circular to railway companies, as to the rough handling of 
birds and other similar matters, was discussed ; but it was decided 
that this should stand over until the next meeting, that further 
information as to certain points might be obtained. 
The Secretary was requested, if he should in his discretion see fit 
to do so, to take steps for bringing the question of the carriage of 
poultry under the notice of the Parliamentary Committee about to 
be appointed to inquire into the carriage of stock and agricultural 
produce. 
The Secretary was directed to take steps for obtaining payment of 
such of the subscriptions for 1880 as had not yet been paid, with a 
view to the closing of the accounts for that year. 
The question of the preparation of a standard of excellence was 
then shortly discussed, but was postponed until the next meeting of 
the Committee. 
The Secretary was directed to communicate to Mr. O. E. Cresswell 
the following resolution of the Committee The Committee desire to 
express through their Secretary their grateful sense of the invaluable 
services rendered by Mr. Cresswell to the Club, both in its formation 
and during its subsequent career to the present time.”— Alex. 
Comyns, Hon. Sec. Poultry Club, 47,Chancery Lane, London, W.C. 
SULPHUR VERSUS FEATHER-EATING. 
In reply to your correspondent John Melville, who wishes to 
know the quantity of flowers of sulphur to use for the purpose of 
curing the feather-eating propensities in fowls, I have much 
pleasure in stating that I have been in the habit of giving three 
tablespoonfuls to twenty-four fowls daily, mixed up with their 
morning soft food. He might try two tablespoonfuls at first for 
his thirteen birds, given once a day. If he finds it scours them 
reduce the quantity, or give it every second day. If the disease is 
bad amongst them or of long standing it may take a considerable 
time before it is subdued. The sulphur appears to supply some¬ 
thing which they require and cannot obtain when in confinement. 
Overfeeding will also, I think, produce it, as that brings on a 
vicious appetite and diseased habit of body. Doubtless plenty of 
green food combined with grubs and insects, which fowls obtain 
when on a grass run, is the best natural preventive; but where we 
are compelled to keep fowls in a small space, and are not very 
careful as regards their diet, they will make fat internally, and 
that tends to induce the cannibal propensities. The sulphur, 
perhaps, purifies and cools their blood, and so brings them into a 
better state of health. —F. C. Taylor. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Fowl Ailing (C. M. C., Stroud ).—We fear from the account you give of 
her symptoms, that your hen is suffering from liver disease. Your treatment 
has been correct enough so far. Try the effect of a grain of calomel every 
other day. The lameness is, however, a bad sign, and we fear the hen will not 
recover. 
Frostbite (Idem ).—You can do nothing now for the frostbitten comb. 
Should such a thing occur again rub the comb well with snow or cold w r ater, 
and keep the bird in a moderately cold place until the healthy colour returns. 
Chickens with Gapes (R. H. J.).— The only method of curing gapes 
which we have found thoroughly effectual is the removal of the small worms, 
the presence of which in the windpipe of the chick constitutes the disease. 
This can be done by means of a small quill feather from which the greater part 
of the feather has been removed, only about half an inch at the end being left 
on. This must be inserted in the windpipe of the chick, the opening of which 
will be seen just behind the tongue, gently pushed down as far as it will easily go, 
twisted round, and drawn out again. It will generally be found that there are a 
number of small worms adhering to the feather. Care must be taken that the 
chick is not choked during the operation. A difficulty is sometimes experienced 
by beginners in getting the feather down the windpipe, but by holding the 
chick’s beak open with the finger and thumb of the left hand applied from 
behind, and pressing the throat of the chick slightly with one of the other fingers 
of the same hand, the opening of the windpipe can be clearly seen. If the feather 
be moistened with spirits of turpentine before use it will be an advantage. The 
turpentine kills the worms, but the feather must only be moistened, not soaked, 
with it, as a drop going into the lungs would be fatal to the chick. Another 
mode of cure recommended is holding the chick until nearly, but not quite, 
suffocated in the fumes of sulphur or carbolic acid. We have not found this 
cure at all reliable. Scrupulous cleanliness with a liberal use of disinfectants 
(such as carbolic powder), and the separation of the infected chicks from the 
others, are the only means of prevention. The ground is said to become tainted 
with the germs of this disease, so it is as well where possible to avoid putting 
other chicks where those with gapes have been. 
Bones for Poultry (J. S., Cairnie ).—Except for the purpose of allowing 
them to pick off any scraps of meat, &c„ which may be on them, bones can 
only with advantage be given to poultry after having been crushed in a bone 
mill, or broken quite small by hand. Bonemeal is largely used to aid the growth 
of exhibition poultry, and can be purchased from the various dealers in it. It 
is distinct from bone dust, which is made from the refuse of workers in bone 
and is useless for poultry. 
Mustard and Cress on Farms (Victor ).—The quantity of seed required 
per acre is for the former about 16 lbs., and the latter about 12 lbs.; both should 
be drilled at about 14 inches apart in order that the land may be hoed if requisite. 
The produce of these in seed is so various and so much depending upon soil, 
situation, &c., and the crop being so uncertain and speculative, as well as in 
some cases seriously injured by small birds before it can be harvested, that we 
may. only mislead some people if we were to name the quantity of seed which is 
sometimes obtained. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE,LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 32'40" N.; Long. 0° 8-0” W.; Altitude,111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
Rain. 
1881. 
Feb. 
I Barome- 
! ter at 32° 
1 and Sea 
1 Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sun. 20 
30.172 
37.3 
37.0 
N.E. 
39.1 
38.8 
36.2 
42.0 
30.5 
0.755 
Mon. 21 
30.247 
34.0 
33.8 
N.E. 
38.3 
3.5.4 
32.3 
44.7 
32.0 
— 
Tues. 22 
30.166 
31.7 
31.7 
N. 
37.2 
33.4 
28.8 
41.3 
28.7 
0.010 
Wed. 23 
30.188 
32.9 
32.4 
N.E. 
30.‘> 
37.3 
31.5 
48.4 
31.7 
0.543 
Thurs. 24 
80.282 
3.5.6 
34.2 
N. 
3n.3 
40.7 
32.2 
64.0 
31.8 
— 
Friday 25 
30.178 
85,0 
33.7 
N.E. 
3 .3 
39.3 
33.4 
48.7 
32.3 
— 
Satur. 26 
29.859 
32.7 
30.9 
W. 
3 r .3 
43.0 
28.6 
78.1 
25.2 
— 
Means. 
30.1.56 
34.2 
33.4 
: 7.2 
38.6 
31.9 
52.5 
31.2 
1.308 
REMARKS. 
20th.—Rain in morning, dull throughout; sharp showers of small hail from 
6.20 P.M., turning to snow at midnight. 
21st.—Ground covered with snow 2 inches deep ; fair, dull, and cold. 
22nd.—Foggy dark morning ; cold damp day. [2.30 P.M. 
23rd.—Fair first part of morning ; slight snow at noon, falling thickly from 
24th.—Fair throughout; clear sky and bright sunshine for short time in middle 
of day. 
25th.—Fair, but overcast, damp, and cold ; bright starlight evening. 
26th.—Fine with bright sunshine in middle of day, but overcast at night. 
Temperature equable and low, with a heavy fall of snow on 21st, and another 
of rapidly melting snow on 23rd.—G. J. SYMONS. 
