TIIE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
j July 29. 
May it not, in the same way, be a useful matter of inquiry, 
I whether such geese as carried off the last Birmingham and 
j Cheltenham prizes would not be more profitably kept than 
the ordinary specimens of the genus A user which usually 
meet our eye ? Not to forget that the llouen and Aylesbury 
' 'lucks constantly double the weight of those of plebeian 
pedigree; while, to go a step farther, in remembrance of 
the excellence of Italian pigeons, the Leghorn, and other 
varieties of the Runt, would probably, with benefit both 
to producer and consumer, succeed the skinny specimens 
that too commonly occupy our dovecotes. 
To comprise, within proper limits, an answer to our ques¬ 
tion respecting so great a variety of birds as our poultry- 
yards now contain, much necessarily remains unsaid, al¬ 
though the principal points of merit, as regards their 
profitable management alone, enter into the question, and 
on these points alone precedence must be given. We can 
but speak of what falls under our own observation, and 
very possibly the greater experience of other poultry-keepers 
may lead them to a different conclusion. But under any 
circumstances, good must result from the inquiry, for by 
such comparisons only can a correct judgment be obtained. 
Hence the great value of our poultry exhibitions, which not 
only excite the attention of the public generally to our 
subject, but also collect the best specimens of each class, for 
the information of all those who may interest themselves 
on a subject which appears likely to take a far more promi¬ 
nent position in rural economy than would have been 
thought at all likely some few years since.—W. W. Wing¬ 
field, Gulwal Vicarage, Penzance. 
THE NO-BEARDS OF POLANDS. 
“ But is this law ? Ay marry is it! ” 
It has been said, indeed I have myself “ scSli it in a 
book,” that the golden and silver Polands should not have 
beards—-that the beard is “ a monstrous appendage,” and 
that all Polands possessed of one “ should be sent to the 
fatting coop.” How many of my l'ellow-worldlings are ready 
to believe and to receive a thing as true and substantiated, 
on no better authority than that “they have seen it in a 
book.” 
No proof, however, has yet been adduced (nor can it be) 
that the beard of Polands is really “ monstrous." It is, so 
far, a mere matter of dislike with one or two individuals. 
Woe be unto beards! from that of the lie-goat and “bearded 
Pard,” to that of the trim “ lady-killer,” or the smart chin of 
a modern beau!—“away”—“ to the fatting-coop,” says our 
author. 
“ An Marcus dixit ? ita est.” 
“Did Marcus say ’tvvas fact? Then fact it is. 
No truth so valid as one word of his! ” 
The very best authorities, however, as Mr. Vivian, Baker, 
etc., men of great experience, observation, and knowledge, 
tell me, that no really good and true bred gold or silver 
Poland is without the beard. Mr. Baker, being recently 
asked by a friend of mine, how it happened, that a few per¬ 
sons condemned the beard of Polands, significantly replied, 
“ Ah, because they know nothing about it.” This gentleman, 
whose experience and knowledge will hardly be doubted, 
writes me that, on the Continent (as in Holland, Franco, Ac.), 
all the best, really pure, Polands have beards, and emphati¬ 
cally states his opinion that they should have. 
My own experience and observation quite confirms this. I 
have recently had Polands from the Continent, Ireland, and 
other parts, and, in all cases, the beardless fowls were 
miserably inferior to the bearded ones—inferior both in car¬ 
riage, plumage, and shape itself; their topknots being com¬ 
paratively small, their necks thin and spare, their gait and 
deportment wanting in the pomp and circumstance of a fine 
and true Poland. Nay, so evident were these deficiencies, 
: that, in every instance, I could at once select a bearded from 
\ a beardless Poland, where the throat itself was not visible. 
Possessing at present both the bearded and the beardless 
sorts, I am impartial in my opinion; but, from observation 
and reflection, I feel convinced that the beard of gold and 
silver Polands is a natural, aye, and a really (in them) 
becoming appendage. It entirely comports with the tout 
ensemble of the Poland; it is in keeping with his magnili- 
279 
cent topknot—with his large, full, thick, and long neck—his 
long flowing hackles—and with his general dashing and 
debonnaire deportment. 
It is very highly probable that the beardless Poland is a 
crossed and mongrel bird, originally produced between the 
Poland and spangled Hamburgh; and, in colour of plumage, 
there is much similarity. A thorough-bred bearded Poland 
ever produces bearded progeny ; out of forty chickens reared 
this year, all are bearded. 
On looking over the chickens bred from beardless silver 
Polands, I find, that not a few of the cocks have the double 
or rose comb of the spangled Hamburgh. I have but just seen 
this, and surely it is “ confirmation strong ” of the opinion 
just expressed, that beardless Polands are a mongrel breed. 
Unfortunately, the really clever and excellent author alluded 
to himself oi't acts as judge at our poultry shows, and has 
inoculated other judges with his dislike of bearded Polands; 
but these very judges were compelled to give the premiums, 
at Birmingham, to bearded Polands. Why? Because, as 
they confessed, they were so immeasurably superior to the 
“ Shaven and shorn, 
And all forlorn ” 
beardless ones. 
Though this communication is, I fear, too long, yet, for 
the sake of others, let me observe, that I have this year 
crossed the bearded with the beardless Polands, cock with 
hen, and lien with cock, and the result is, in by far the 
greatest majority of cases, that I have spoiled all; most of 
them still have some beard, but ruined in all other points ; 
as in their small topknots, thin necks, Ac.; but, in a very 
few cases, there is the smooth face, with a tolerably large 
topknot and the full neck.— F. R. Hoenee, M.D., Hull. 
THE DOMESTIC PIGEON. 
ON LAYING AND INCUBATION. 
(Continued from page 202.) 
It is sometimes necessary to make a substitution of eggs; 
for example, suppose a pair of valuable pigeons perish after 
laying, or escape permanently from the dovecote; instead 
of losing their eggs, we may place them under common 
pigeons, but this substitution requires some precaution. 
1st, the time of their being laid must be exactly the same, j 
whether the eggs have been set upon or not; if there is i 
more than twenty-four hours difference, wo run the risk of 
losing all. 2nd, we must change both the eggs, for if wc 
only change one these animals have sagacity enough to 
discover it, and will throw it out of the nest. 3rd, never 
give them three, because they seldom cover more than two, 
and in this case they would separate one ; but, as they are j 
in the habit of moving them occasionally, in all probability ; 
they would not always separate the same one, and the result 
of this would be that they would all perish. However, they 
will sometimes adopt all three. Besides these cases that wc 
have just mentioned, the substitution may be advantageously 
made in other circumstances. Suppose that one has a pair 
of rare pigeons, and desire their rapid increase; we might 
take every third brood from them, and have it hatched and 
brought up by other birds ; wo should by this means gain 
two or three pairs of young ones during the year; but wo 
must not abuse this expedient by making use of it too long, 
as it would, after some time, greatly weaken the father, and 
still more the mother. When we would make this kind of 
substitution, we should use some means before hand to in- j 
sure success. In a dovecote inhabited by a great number of 
pairs, it is indispensably necessary to write in chalk the date 
of the laying over each nest, so as to make the time exactly 
agree, as wc have said above. We must also, as nearly as 
possible, give the eggs to bo hatched to those birds that 
have produced clear eggs, so as not to lose a brood unneces¬ 
sarily. Again, we should choose, as foster-parents, old 
pigeons, but still having energy, and above all, the habit of 
always rearing their broods well. 
It would be very interesting to know how long eggs may 
be kept fit for brooding, in consequence of the facility we 
should have in procuring pigeons in this manner from some 
distance, the carriage of which is always very dear ; but, 
unfortunately, observations on this subject have never been 
made sufficiently exact for us to be able to give any useful 
