May 19, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
411 
probably be later than in average seasons—a remark which applies 
also, but with still greater force, to the Potato crop. 
- An Estimate op Agriculture. — Agriculture, says the 
“ American Cultivator,” is an occupation which can be so contracted as 
to make the farmer a mere machine, or it can be so expanded as to 
make him one of the greatest and most intelligent of his race. 
Pursued as it was in former years, a toil of degraded drudgery, we 
cannot consider it strange that the farmer was placed at the bottom 
of the ladder among his fellow men, and that he should have been 
considered hopelessly unprogressive. But the agriculture of to-day 
is one of the most intellectual avocations of man ; it ennobles and 
enlarges the intellect as no industry can. The science of agriculture 
embraces every other science, and the logic of events in connection 
with the growing and ripening of crops trains the mind to a system 
of reasoning which cannot be surpassed in many of the professions. 
In our halls of legislation we hear the pleas of the lawyer, the oratory 
of the man of letters, yet the arguments of both are frequently de¬ 
molished by the plain solid common sense of the sturdy farmer. 
What a pity it is that we do not have more of the latter class of 
wisdom at our State and national capitals ! 
- Dairy Farming. —An imposing array of noble names appears 
on the prospectus of an association for promoting a knowledge of 
dairy farms. By means of a limited company it is proposed to buy 
land, establish a dairy farm and school, and by first-rate tuition 
inculcate profitable methods of dairy farming in this country. 
Farmers’ sons and others are to be received as apprentices. The 
concern, it is hoped, will be self-supporting, but the mainspring of 
the scheme seems to be a desire to improve the profits of English 
farms. Philanthropy, however, cannot be said to be the only motive, 
for the vice-presidents whose names appear are landlords ; and what 
improves the condition of farmers can but be of advantage to those 
to whom farmers pay rent. 
- Death of Mr. Toward of Osborne.—S ir John Cowell, by 
command of the Queen, attended the funeral of the late Mr. Andrew 
Toward, which took place at Whippingham Church last Thursday. 
Mr. Toward was for thirty-nine years land steward at Osborne to the 
Queen and Prince Consort, by whom his long and faithful services 
were highly valued. He had, under the direction of the Prince 
Consort, executed the entire laying-out of the grounds, gardens, 
roads, and plantations at Osborne. He was universally respected, 
and died in his 87th year at Amherst Lodge, Carisbrook, where Her 
Majesty had repeatedly visited him, and saw him last two days 
before she left Osborne. Mr. Toward had been for many years at 
Bagshot in the service of the late Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. 
- Emigration to America.—A recent telegram from New 
York states that 6521 immigrants landed there on the 10th instant, 
the largest number ever received in one day in May. The number 
landed last week was 16,841, making about 130,000 since January 1st. 
The Immigration Office is taxed to its utmost capacity, and is unable 
to furnish the classification of nationalities. A rough estimate places 
the propoition of Irish at about one-tenth. There is a brisk demand 
for labour in all parts of the country, and the demand for farm 
labourers exceeds the supply. 
PRACTICAL SCIENTIFIC BREEDING. 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 
(Continued from page 389.) 
A QUESTION often asked by beginners in the poultry yard is 
this, “How many hens should be allowed to run with each cock?” 
It is a question which is more easily asked than answered. So 
much depends upon the season of the year, the age and vitality 
of the birds, the size of the run, and the particular breed kept, 
that anything like a general answer is very difficult to frame. It 
is, however, a matter of such importance that it cannot be over¬ 
looked, and we shall endeavour to be as explicit as possible. For 
very early hatching—that is to say, for the January and February 
chickens, we should under ordinary circumstances allow but two 
hens to the cock in the more sluggish, and four in the more active 
breeds. As the season advances the number may be doubled in 
each case. These rules must, however, be departed from if the 
male bird be either very vigorous or very old, or if the run be 
very limited or very large. A valuable old bird should be mated 
with but one or two pullets, and the number should not be in¬ 
creased as the season advances. A very vigorous bird will require 
a larger number of hens, or those with him will be injured and 
there will be a failure of chickens. A very limited space, again, 
will decrease the vitality of the stock, while an unlimited run will 
have the contrary effect; and both these points must be taken 
into consideration, and the number of hens increased or decreased 
accordingly. 
We have known instances at farm houses where as many as 
forty hens have been running with a couple of cocks, and almost 
every egg hatched ; but then the birds were mere mongrels and 
had an unlimited run, and we should not recommend that in the 
case of prize-bred poultry more than fifteen hens should under 
any circumstances be mated up in one yard. 
In selecting a breed young fanciers should bear in mind that in 
these days of close competition it is necessary that birds should 
have every reasonable advantage in regard to suitable space and 
locality. Success is often merely a question as to how far in- 
breeding can be carried without an undue deterioration of the 
strain. Fowls which thrive best in a large run can no doubt for 
some time be bred with fair success in a confined space ; but when 
it comes to be a question how long fresh blood can be dispensed 
with, the man who has ample space for his birds, and whose 
locality is most suitable for the breed he keeps, has the immense 
advantage of being able to keep the vitality of his strain at the 
highest possible point, and thus carry out his plans to their legiti¬ 
mate end without being forced to cross in some foreign and 
perhaps undesirable element. Every circumstance of space and 
locality should be carefully considered. The amount of run 
available, the aspect, the soil, and the nature of the surface, all 
have their share in success or failure. Dorkings are not found to 
thrive on a heavy clay soil. The feather-footed sorts are unsuit¬ 
able for rough or uneven ground, or for long grass. Game and 
Hamburghs require ample space. Spanish require warmth and 
a southern aspect. The list might be increased indefinitely, but 
these instances are enough for our purpose, which is merely to 
illustrate the statement that the circumstances of the fancier and 
the necessities of the breed he selects should as far as possible 
coincide. Much may be done by care and intelligence to supply 
artificially what is wanting in natural advantages, but it is useless 
to handicap oneself in a contest, when by the exercise of reason¬ 
able foresight an even start may be secured. 
One other matter claims a passing notice as exercising an in¬ 
fluence upon the vitality of the strain. Whatever be the breed 
selected the proper housing of the birds is of primary importance. 
The essentials in this respect are dryness of ground surface, 
cleanliness, thorough ventilation, and freedom from extreme cold 
or draught. Nothing so thoroughly undermines the constitutions 
of fowls as continual standing about on a damp surface, and 
confinement at night in a close vitiated atmosphere is almost 
equally detrimental. The larger the covered houses and sheds 
are the better it will be for the birds, provided that the above 
points be attended to ; but no amount of house room or shedding 
will compensate for neglect in these particulars. Roup and liver 
disease follow in the train of wet floors and deficient ventilation ; 
and even though these evils may not develope at the moment, the 
seeds of them are sown and they bear fruit in after generations. 
(To be continued.) 
PRESERVING FOOT FEATHER. 
We have frequently been asked how the feathers which grow 
on the legs and feet of Sultans, Cochins, and Brahmas can 
be kept from breaking or wearing, and assuming that ragged 
appearance which in the show pen contrasts so badly with more 
perfect foot feathering. To all who keep or contemplate keep¬ 
ing such fowls the subject is of the greatest importance, as in 
competition good foot feather is a weighty point. Some people 
have no difficulty in keeping them perfect, others cannot do it 
without much preparation and care. The whole matter depends 
on the run. On a hard rough run the foot feather will never be 
satisfactory, but with smoothness and softness under foot the 
feathers will always be good. Heavily feathered feet are much 
more easily kept in condition than scantily furnished feet, and 
as much feather is the proper thing attention should be devoted 
to breeding for it. Sand or very fine gravel makes an excellent 
run for feather-footed fowls, and short grass is equally good, 
