July 8, 1880. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
39 
the suitability and the productive powers of farm seeds on different 
soils and in different districts; (b) conditions regulating the 
change of seed ; (c) any other branch of the inquiry which may 
be considered desirable. 
4th, Plant-growth Committee .—Evidences given by plant-growth 
as to the quality, composition, and capabilities of different soils 
and in different districts. 
The work proposed to be carried out by the above-named Com¬ 
mittees will not in any way interfere with the prosecution of 
research into other details of agricultural science in which the 
staff of the Royal Agricultural College is or may be engaged, as 
it is intended for an additional series of investigations. 
“THE PERFECT MILK PAIL.” 
We were much annoyed, not to say disgusted, this spring by a 
dust—so fine that it passed through the strainer—falling from the 
cows into the milk pail, and the utmost care of the dairymaid 
could not prevent it. The animals were not in any exceptionally 
dirty state, nor were they at all unhealthy, but from being housed 
through the long winter and spring their coats were charged with 
this fine dust, which fell into the open-mouthed pail at every 
movement. That this is no uncommon evil would appear from 
an American invention apparently intended expressly to counter¬ 
act it. This is called “ the perfect milk pail,” and it certainly 
would exactly have met our difficulty had not the advancing 
season, bringing a turn-out of the cows, come to our relief. But 
Fig. 11. 
winter troubles will be coming round again, and possibly some 
enterprising reader of the Agricultural Gazette may already 
be able to pronounce on the pail, or be disposed to go in for a 
trial of it. 
The manufacturers claim for it “that the milk is so enclosed 
that ii cannot be reached by any effluvia, to say nothing of its free¬ 
dom from filth.” It is a strong fourteen-quart pail with a dishing 
cover forming the milker’s seat. A milk receiver or funnel pro¬ 
jecting forwards and upwards from the top of the pail has a wire 
gauze strainer inside ; and the stiff rubber tube, by which it is 
attached to the pail, being flexible, it can be readily turned aside 
if the cow starts or kicks, or while brushing the bag, or making 
other convenient arrangements conducing to cleanliness, freedom 
from odours, &c., all of which are most desirable conditions of 
dairy management; and, to be effectual, should commence at the 
time of milking, as no later care can undo evils contracted then. 
—A. L. O. S. (in Agricultural Gazette). 
[We are enabled to give an illustration of “ The Perfect Milk 
Pail,” through the kindness of Messrs. Carson, Bachelor’s Walk, 
Dublin, who furnished us with the block.— Eds.] 
THE FOWLS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. 
The nomenclature of our breeds of poultry and Pigeons has not 
always been fortunate, and when once a race has become popularly 
known by some incorrect name it is next to impossible to get it 
changed. Cochins will always so be called in spite of the now 
undisputed fact that their home is China, where they have for 
ages been known in what fanciers would call an “ unimproved ” 
form. Hamburghs and Polish will still keep their names, in spite 
of the fact that no possible connection can be found between them 
and their reputed countries. With some races it is otherwise. 
Spanish, and the various sub-varieties of the breed which we 
know 7 as Minorcas, Andalusians, &c., belong certainly to a breed 
which has been long spread over the Peninsula. As w r e find the 
French breeds here and there where attention has been given to 
poultry kept in purity and with regard to certain points, but for 
the most part greatly confused, so the Spanish breeds, retaining 
some general and defined characteristics of form in all minor 
points, are found of the most charming variety. 
The object of this present letter is not so much to speak of the fowls 
of the Mediterranean in general as of the Leghorn or Italian breeds 
in particular. If my memory does not deceive me, the Brown and 
White varieties of Leghorns wffiich have become so soon popular in 
England, came to us first from America, bringing their name with 
them. For once in a w 7 ay there seems to have been really some 
reason for their bearing it. Doubtless birds of a certain degree 
of purity had gone straight from the port of Leghorn to some 
fancier in America, who appreciated the merits of the race and 
attempted to improve it. When Leghorns were far less known 
than now I was one struck by the size and excellence of the eggs 
at an obscure village in the Alps at the extreme edge of the Italian 
frontier. I asked to see the fowls that laid them, and was not a 
little surprised to find them very fair specimens of the tw 7 o breeds 
of Leghorns, all of course mixed together, and one or 
two hens among them of the same characteristics, but 
varying in colour. Since then at various times I have 
been able to observe the poultry in almost every part of 
Italy, and have found them more or less kindred to this 
breed from the French frontier to the Adriatic, and from 
the Alps to Cape Spartinento. At Leghorn, however, 
and m the neighbouring part of Tuscany they are 
decidedly finer than elsewhere and far more uniform in 
characteristics. I have specially observed some pretty 
Cuckoo specimens, and fancy that the admirers of the 
breed wmuld not find it difficult to procure birds from 
wffiich to raise a permanent Cuckoo variety. For the 
most part through all the Italian peninsula the peculiar 
single comb, the Leghorn carriage, and yellow legs are 
everywhere seen in the poultry. As to size the fowls 
are simply miserable. Everywhere they show signs of 
degeneracy and starvation. I do not remember where 
or by whom Spanish and Spanish sub-varieties were 
first classed with Leghorns as “ the fowds of the Mediter¬ 
ranean ; ” certainly the classification was a very apt 
one, for there is a most distinct relationship between 
these Spanish and Italian races in spite of their diffe¬ 
rences, especially of colour. In both the single comb 
is almost invariable, in both the general form and 
carriage is alike ; both are good layers of—for their 
size—large eggs, and both are poor mothers. Here in 
Sicily I still find some birds of the Leghorn type, but there have 
also evidently been many importations from the East and Spain. 
Feather-legged and Spanish-like birds both abound in the ports, 
and the result is that the common street fowls are at least twice the 
size of those in Italy. These constant importations seem to have 
invigorated the gallinaceous race as much as the various waves of 
immigation have the human population. 
Those of your readers who have shown so much spirit and 
perseverance in the improvement of Leghorns maybe glad to know 
that their favourites evidently have a pedigree in the land of their 
origin.—0. Ernest Cresswell, Syracuse. 
BIRD BREEDING—MULES AND HYBRIDS. 
In reply to questions from Mr. H. M. Buffham relative to breed¬ 
ing with the Canary and Yellowhammer or Chaffinch, I have 
never heard of the Yellowhammer (M'Gillivray) or Yellow Bunt¬ 
ing (Bechstein) breeding wdth the Canary, and after the tw 7 o 
blank nests of eggs I think it would be hopeless in further pur¬ 
suing the matter. The Chaffinch (Fringilla) might be the more 
likely of the tw 7 o to cross with the Canary, and even from this 
particular Finch the obtaining of mules would be still more rare 
than young from the Bullfinch and Canary. Bechstein says— 
“Instances have occurred of Chaffinches pairing wdth female 
Canaries and producing hybrids, and it is also said with the 
Yellow Bunting.” During many years’ experience and knowledge 
of the various crosses in breeding mules or hybrids I cannot 
bring to mind an instance of a mule having been bred from the 
Chaffinch and Canary. Yellowhammers and Chaffinches make 
