262 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 14, 1882. 
roots, as this plan prevents waste. The quantity of roots given per 
day should not exceed 56 lbs. and the cake 4 tbs., with 2 tbs. of bean 
or barley meal, otherwise maize meal. They will then eat a good 
quantity of sweet Oat straw, which we prefer to hay for two reasons. 
Hay is too expensive, and we sometimes find the animals refuse their 
other food when eating hay, but never when allowed straw in the 
racks without cutting. We never feed with roots and cake more than 
twice a day, and a little straw at thrice ; they will then have plenty 
of time to ruminate and take their rest undisturbed, quietude being 
essential to the fattening of cattle under cover. The dairy cows for 
butter-making should have all the grass possible reserved for them, 
but the cows for milking for sale of milk may now receive full allow¬ 
ances of roots of any kind, such as Cabbage, Turnips, and Carrots, 
and hay at the racks, with 3 tbs. of cotton cake per day each in 
addition. 
at her perfection of beauty when on the point of laying for the first 
time. The longer, then, that this stage can be deferred the better. 
A move to a fresh run will often check laying and consequent deve¬ 
lopment of comb, but we should prefer to retard it merely by keep¬ 
ing our pullets growing and on simple fare if backward in comb. 
A fortnight before they are absolutely required for show they should 
be separated from the general flock, put in a good run, and liberally 
fed. No cock should come near them, or their plumage will be 
spoilt. The sexes are now shown separately at almost all the great 
shows. It is a bad plan to exhibit cockerel and pullet together. 
Here and there lack of space in an exhibition hall makes it a neces¬ 
sity. When this is the case we somewhat against the grain put the 
cockerel and pullet together a few days beforehand. A first intro¬ 
duction in the exhibition basket is often fatal to the plumage of 
both.—C. 
Scientific Cheese-making. —A French chemist, M. E. Duclaux, 
has made some interesting experiments in cheese-making, with a view 
mainly to discover the causes which determine the flavour of cheeses. 
It has often been asked why cheese made in different districts in a 
precisely similar manner vary greatly in flavour, while those of one 
particular spot, although manufactured in very different ways, are 
almost precisely alike to the taste. The researches of M. Duclaux 
tend to prove that neither climate, soil, food, manipulation, nor 
variety in the breed of cows largely affects the quality of the cheese. 
It would appear rather that a fungus mould allied in some cases to 
yeast, in others to mould, is communicated by germs in the atmosphere 
to the cheese, and this it is which gives it its distinguishing flavour. 
Sanguine people already look forward to the time when the farmer 
will be enabled to inoculate his cheeses with a variety of ferments, so 
as to produce Cheddar, Stilton, Parmesan, or Gruyere at will. 
Carrier Pigeons.— An interesting trial of the speed of Carrier 
Pigeons was made last week by the Paris “ Colombophile ” Society. 
Three hundred of these birds were taken from Paris to Oron, in the 
Canton de Vaud, where they were released. The fleetest arrived at 
its home in Paris, a distance of 250 kilometres, within six hours and 
a half, and the slowest arrived only half an hour afterwards, notwith¬ 
standing a violent south-western wind which was blowing. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Rye Grass as Manure on Land (J. IF., D al). — Your best course 
would be to sow the land with Mustard or Rape, as that could be ploughed iu 
early in next season, whereas you would have to wait until autumn for the Rye 
Grass. 
International Dairy Show, Dublin. — This Exhibition is to 
be held on the premises of the Royal Dublin Society, Ball’s Bridge, 
on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of October of the present year, when 
prizes will be offered for competition in 117 classes, devoted to dairy 
cattle, butter, dairy utensils, vehicles, fittings, models or drawings of 
dairy homsteads, farm produce, poultry, &c. 
LATE POULTRY SHOWING. 
Continuing our remarks on this subject from page 238 last week, 
we may observe that the treatment proper for young birds of those 
breeds in which size is a great point differs materially from that we 
have previously described. In this case the great object is to keep 
them growing steadily as long as possible, and then just to bring 
them into blooming condition when they are required for exhibition. 
Of course, we presuppose, as a rule, the separation of the sexes at 
an early age of all these varieties. This is one of the chief means 
of keeping them chicken-like. Then they must be fed with nourish¬ 
ing, not exciting, food. Oatmeal gives strength of constitution and 
stamina for future development. Cockerels require much more sup¬ 
port than pullets, and from three to nine months old must have as 
much as they can eat three times a day. Pullets should be fed as 
often, but should not at each meal have all that they are willing 
to eat. House scraps and such dainties should be kept for the 
cockerels till it is desired to bring the pullets into show condition. 
A little bone meal is a valuable addition to whatever meals are used 
for both sexes. Care must be taken that it is genuine bone meal, 
and not the dust sold by ivory turners. It keeps chickens growing 
in frame, and does not at all stimulate them. 
One of the satisfactory points in late showing is that it gives 
time to the whole young stock to show their good points, and to 
younger and more promising ones to pass their elders. Too often 
at the very early shows forced and precocious birds win simply 
because they are precocious, 'l hey may have serious faults, but a 
judge dare not pass their flowing tails and rosy combs for mere 
chickens, though in the end the latter may be ten times as valuable 
as the former. By October and November the younger birds will 
have had time to pass their elders in the race. In the case of Dork¬ 
ings it is wonderful how April and May-hatched birds often grow. 
We have known chickens hatched in the middle of April carry off 
the cup at Oxford late in October, and even June birds in the Bir¬ 
mingham prize list at the end of November. Asiatics do not deve- 
lope nearly so fast; still, with good management chickens hatched 
early in April may be had of great size by the late autumn. 
Pullets which lay very early are seldom of any use for exhibition 
in autumn. If they become broody a heavy moult, follows. They 
sometimes come out in fresh plumage by Christmas, but then look 
hen-like, an i are liable to be disqualified as old birds. A pullet is 
Chickens with Gapes (IT. R .).—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 grou nd 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. 
Mustard and Cress on Farms (A. S .).—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, Ac., 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. 
.2 
5 
W 
1882. 
September. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32« 
and Sea 
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. 
3 
29.783 
62.0 
55.8 
S.W. 
5845 
70.0 
55.9 
125.2 
53-0 
— 
Mon. 
4 
30.128 
57.8 
54.5 
N. 
58.9 
70.3 
53.0 
116.5 
45.0 
— 
Tues. 
5 
30.220 
62.9 
36.3 
W. 
59.3 
65.0 
53.4 
107.5 
47.0 
0.465 
Wed. 
6 
30.234 
57.2 
51.3 
N. 
68 8 
66.2 
51.8 
119.8 
46.1 
— 
Thurs. 
7 
30.402 
68.4 
53.8 
58.2 
69.0 
46.7 
119.8 
47.0 
— 
Friday 
8 
30.393 
67.7 
52.4 
N. 
57-5 
69.3 
46.3 
121.5 
38.8 
— 
Satur. 
y 
30.368 
59.6 
54.5 
N.E. 
57.6 
67.7 
46.2 
112.9 
39.6 
— 
30.218 
59.4 
54.1 
58.4 
68.1 
50.5 
117.6 
45.2 
V.465 
REMARKS. 
3rd.—Fair morning, bright afternoon, fine calm evening and night. 
4th.—Cloudy morning, fine and moderately bright afternoon. 
5th.—Dull showery morning, soaking wet afternoon and evening. 
6th.—Fine, bright, pleasant day. 
7th.—Fine bright day, clear cold night. 
8th.—Fine, bright, pleasant day. 
9th.—Fine day, though a little cloudy. 
With the exception of Tuesday a fine and bright week, but showing decided 
signs of autumn. Temperature above that of the preceding week, and con¬ 
siderably above the average.—G. J. Symons. 
