230 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. c September 8, issi 
specimens of the breed have been imported into this country, and 
a good illustration of a pair of them appears in the Illustrated 
Book of Poultry , but they do not seem to have made much way 
here. This is a pity, as they are hardy, excellent layers, and good 
for table. The chickens are said to grow rapidly and mature 
early. The plumage is of the colour known amongst fanciers as 
cuckoo ”—that is to say, a ground colour of very light blue-grey 
pencilled or banded across each feather with darker blue-grey 
bars. The ground colour is sometimes pure white, in which case 
the bars are of comparatively light blue-grey. On the other hand 
the bars are sometimes almost black upon a rather dark blue-grey 
ground. The margins of the two colours which arc on each 
feather are not clearly defined, but are shaded or run off into each 
other. The general shape and style are very much like that of 
the Dorking, although the hens are rather more down by the head 
and jaunty in carriage than the Dorking generally is. In 
America the breed has hardly had fair treatment of late years, 
and has been somewhat overshadowed by the newer Plymouth 
Rocks, but it is now being taken up again ; and the writer from 
whom we have already quoted recommends that the standard of 
weight should be increased to that of the Plymouth Rocks—viz., 
from 9 to 10 lbs. for cocks, and from 7 to 8 lbs. for hens. 
Ouit American contemporary, the Poultry Bulletin, a short time 
since boasted of the superiority of the American poultry illustra¬ 
tions in general, and its own in particular, and even referred in 
terms of censure to some of the plates in the Illustrated Book of 
Poultry. It is not a little amusing after this that the illustration 
of Dominiques given last month should be a mere reproduction in 
black and white of the coloured plate in the English work to 
which we have already referred. It reminds one of Mr. Burn¬ 
ham’s coolness in running down the English Brahma as being 
vulture-hocked, &c., and then reproducing the engraving of the 
Dark Brahma cockerel in Mr. L. Wright’s work on the Brahma 
fowl, and describing it as a specimen of the Brahma as bred by 
Mr. G. P. Burnham. It is rather strange, if it be true that the old 
country is so much behindhand in the matter of poultry illustra¬ 
tions, that an American journal in illustrating an American breed 
should have recourse to an English work as a source from which 
to obtain an illustration of that breed. 
Plymouth Rocks have during the last few seasons made great 
strides in popularity on this side of the Atlantic. They are of 
comparatively modern origin, and, except that they are somewhat 
larger in size and have single combs, they are almost identical 
in appearance with the Dominiques. They are said to have been 
originally produced by a cross between Dominiques and the black 
Java Fowl, which we recently described. The smaller size and 
Cochin character of the tail and the greater abundance of fiulf are 
also points of distinction between the Plymouth Rock and the 
Dominique. These latter characteristics seem to indicate that a 
Cochin cross has been resorted to ; and as the Plymouth Rock is 
more Asiatic in type than either the Dominique or the Java Fowl, 
it is probable that a cross of Cuckoo-Cochin blood has been em¬ 
ployed to improve the original cross. It is perhaps as well to 
note, in order to avoid risk of confusion, that the name Plymouth 
Rock was some thirty years ago applied by Dr. Bennett to a 
mongrel fowl which he produced “ by crossing a Cochin China 
cockerel with a hen that was herself a cross between the fawn- 
coloured Dorking, the Great Malay, and the Wild India.” The 
modern Plymouth Rock has, however, no connection with Dr. 
Bennett's wonderful production, which has, we believe, long since 
disappeared. _ 
The modern Plymouth Rock is, as we have already stated, 
becoming firmly established here. A Club has been formed to 
support it, and it will this season have classes at Birmingham, the 
Palace, the Dairy Show, Oxford, and several other exhibitions. 
A standard of excellence has been issued by the Club. A leading 
fancier of the variety informed us some time since that he had 
orders for more than double the number of eggs for hatching 
which he could supply during the past season. It would thus 
seem that the Plymouth Rocks are having a fair trial, and we 
shall be glad to learn the results of their experience of the breed 
from any of our readers who may have kept them. It is a pity 
that our American friends should have such a fancy for yellow 
legs as to insist upon their presence in all their breeds. There is 
a prejudice against yellow legs in the English markets for table 
poultry, but if the birds be of sterling merit for table purposes 
that prejudice will doubtless ere long be overcome in their favour. 
That they are in the first rank as layers is generally accepted, and 
the table of laying results which -we extracted last week from an 
American contemporary fully bears out this view. 
Still another American variety seems to have recently received 
renewed attention. Jersey Blues were apparently “ made ” some 
years back, but after a while passed out of notice, and have only 
of late been again taken up by some leading fanciers. They 
betray an undoubted Andalusian origin in their colour and mark¬ 
ing. The ground colour is a deep slate blue, and the pencillings 
are almost black, as also are the saddle, hackle, and tail feathers 
of the cock. The earlobes are red, the legs black. They are 
squarely made, full-breasted, thickset birds, and weigh from 8 to 
10 lbs. in the case of the male bird and from 7 to 9 lbs. in the 
hen. Their tails and combs are of medium size ; and as they are 
said to be excellent table fowls, and, indeed, “ to have been 
frequently eaten as Turkeys, and pronounced good ones too,” it 
is not unlikely that the Langshan may have something to do with 
their origin. A cross between good-sized Andalusians and Lang- 
shans as free of leg feather as possible would probably produce a 
fowl not unlike the modern Jersey Blue ; and as the birds are 
reported to mature very early and to be exceptionally hardy, it 
may be worth while for some fancier or farmer to try the effect 
of such a cross. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Incubators {Mrs. M .).—We have had no personal experience of the incu¬ 
bators you name ; they are, we believe, identical in principle with, and merely 
vary slightly in detail and perhaps in quality from, Christy’s. We think the 
business of the firm you first refer to was taken over by the other maker you 
mention, so that there is really only one incubator in the market. We have 
amongst our readers several who have used Christy’s machines with success, 
and should recommend you to obtain his pamphlet, also Brown’s work on 
incubation, published by Messrs. Cassell, Petter, & Galpin. 
Plymouth Bocks (£, S .).—You will find some notes in reference to this 
breed in another column. It is of American origin, and the birds are esteemed 
and found profitable by many poultry-keepers—at least, so we find by reports in 
the American papers. 
Hens' Feet Swollen (L ., Baltimore ).—We have never before heard of the 
ailments which you describe affecting Hamburghs. If your roosts are very high 
lower them, and if there is any broken glass lying about remove it. If pus have 
formed in the swellings on the feet they must be lanced and the matter squeezed 
out, and the parts fomented with warm water. Some few days after the matter 
(if any) has been extracted, or at once if there be no matter to extract, apply 
lunar caustic daily to the swellings on the feet. Until a cure has been effected 
the birds must not be allowed to perch, but should sleep on straw. The scales 
on the legs may be removed by scrubbing well with a hard nail-brush and soap 
and water, and then applying an ointment made up of flowers of sulphur and 
lard. Repeat this process daily until a cure is effected. 
Prickly Comfrey {Hans F. Hamilton ).—In November the plants may be 
divided into as many pieces as there are crowns, reserving a portion of root to 
each division, planting in rows 30 to 36 inches asunder, and 24 to 30 inches apart, 
burying up to the crown in loose soil. The ground should have been deeply 
trenched, and the more manure is worked-in tire better the plants will flourish. 
A good dressing of manure should be given about the crowns after planting, 
and this should be pointed-in early in spring. The deeper and richer the soil 
the more space should be given the plants. Comfrey does best in deep damp 
soil, but the moisture must not be stagnant. Propagation is also effected by 
cutting the roots into lengths of about a couple of inches, and dibbling them in 
at the above-named distance apart, November and February being suitable 
seasons. G-uano, nitrate of soda, and salt are good surface dressings, applying 
in March. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE,LONDON. 
Lafc. 51° 32'40" N.; Long.O 0 8'0" W.; Altitude.lll feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAT. 
Rain. 
1881. 
August. 
September. 
• o 
4) 04 eg _ 
H W 0> <V 
c+d rn > 
£ 
Inches. 
30.032 
30.026 
29.807 
80.130 
30.182 
30.137 
30.030 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
a . 
O'd 
5 a 
B 
Qo 
. S3 
© 
S’© <2 
PH 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
deg. 
57.2 
58 2 
58.6 
53.4 
52.7 
54.3 
55.3 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass. 
Sun. 28 
Mon. 29 
Toes. SO 
Wed. 31 
Thurs. 1 
Friday 2 
Satur. 3 
deg. 
52.1 
57.3 
36.5 
49.6 
48.6 
51.6 
52.6 
W, 
s. 
w. 
N. 
N. 
N. 
N. 
deg. 
58.0 
57.8 
57.7 
57.9 
56.7 
56.0 
56.2 
deg. 
67.1 
62.7 
69.3 
59.4 
57.4 
61.6 
64.0 
deg. 
42.3 
50.2 
54.7 
48.6 
48.7 
50.0 
51.9 
deg. 
120.2 
72.3 
120.7 
103.7 
104.2 
95.2 
103.4 
deg. 
37.8 
43.3 
4(5.3 
40.4 
49.3 
48.7 
In. 
0.070 
0.791 
0.214 
0.010 
Means. 
30.032 
55.7 
52.6 
57.2 
63.1 
49.5 
102.8 
4(5.4 
1.085 
REMARKS. 
28th.—Fine, dry, and cool. 
29th.—Wet morning ; latter part of day squally ; heavy rain in evening. 
30th.—Fair day, with a very heavy shower at 2 P.M. and a little rain in evening. 
31st.—Fine, but with scarcely any sunshine. 
1st.—A cloudy day, with occasional sunshine in morning. 
2nd.—Fine pleasant day without much sunshine. 
3rd.—Cloudy morning, fine bright afternoon and evening. 
A dull cloudy week, with a gool deal of rain in the first half. Temperature 
rather below the average.—G. J. Symons. 
