May 26, 1881.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
433 
one only or two through being trodden under the feet of the mothers. 
Diarrhoea is one of the chief, if not the main, afflictions to be 
guarded against in rearing young chicks. So long as this can be 
warded off other ailments will do little harm, but if this once sets 
in nothing is more weakening, more likely to stunt their growth, 
or more certain to prove fatal. We are much inclined to think that 
most young beginners, labouring under an acute attack of chicken 
fever, injure their young pets by overfeeding or not studying the 
weather in connection with this. At one time we went to con¬ 
siderable expense in buying patent meals, meat to take the place 
of insects, and all kinds of medicines, which latter were straight¬ 
way administered if an eye was seen to close at an unnatural 
hour, and the insect substitutes were supplied whether the chicks 
had natural access to these or not, but through time we have found 
out that much of such doctoring is not only valueless but injurious. 
In changeable hot weather nothing appears to produce diarrhoea 
so much as greaves or any other substance related to them. 
Now our chicks have never anything of the kind, and they are 
certainly no way inferior to what they used to be when we were 
supplying them with such stuff. Soft food is not given indis¬ 
criminately. In wet or cold days it is withheld altogether, and 
nothing but a mixture of small wheat and barley given, and this 
is much more effectual in regulating the system at such times 
than the usual quantities of sloppy food. 
In warm dry weather a little of any kind of green food, such as 
thinnings of Onions, the outer leaves of Lettuce, or the common 
Wood Sorrel, may be chopped up small and mixed with their 
food ; but this only applies to fine weather, and chiefly to chicks 
in confinement, as those running on grass can select green material 
for themselves. There is one kind of food which we generally 
add a dash of to the meal before mixing that we do not recollect 
ever seeing advised for chicks, and that is sugar. It is well 
Fig. 96 .—Mottled java fowl. 
known this is a very nourishing substance, and the chicks seem 
to thrive on it amazingly. It is fattening if given largely, but in 
moderation it keeps them in very desirable condition.—J. Muir. 
THE JAVA FOWL. 
Paradoxical as it may seem, the “ Java Fowl ” is not a Java 
fowl at all, but another product of American fanciers—an Ameri¬ 
can breed. A few years ago Javas were comparatively unknown. 
To-day breeders on all sides are “going into Javas,” and the 
boom has fairly started. Not since the advent of the Plymouth 
Rock has such an important addition been made to the list of 
standard breeds as when, this winter, Black and Mottled Javas 
were admitted. The standard for them has not yet been pub¬ 
lished, but a good bird is apparent to the eye of a fancier without 
the book that describes it. Although good work has been done in 
breeding Javas, much remains to be accomplished. They are the 
very best of winter layers, a large fowl, with smooth shanks and 
yellow skin. As a rule the handsomer birds are those of medium 
size, and compactly built. These have a lustrous plumage in the 
black variety, fine full-plumed tail, and good symmetry. The 
large birds are more stilty. larger boned, and not so handsome. 
One of the first questions that Java fanciers will have to meet is 
that of size. It will be found that the small birds will breed a 
prettier specimen, but the points to gain are fine shape, clear 
lustrous black plumage, and good size for market. There is no 
sort of doubt that this can be done, and so many fanciers are now 
becoming interested in the breed that it is sure to improve at a 
rapid pace. The material is there for a popular fowl for all 
classes, fanciers and farmers alike, and it bids fair in a few years 
to contest the prize for a practical beautiful fowl with the Ply¬ 
mouth Rock. As to their real origin little is known. All we 
positively know is that they are here, and that will answer ; excel¬ 
lence before pedigree always. This is, however, of the Black 
