250 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
parents. You may ascertain this by trying the crop of the 
old birds. The young bird must, in such case, be fed some¬ 
how, or it will die. The owner must look for the best shift 
he has got, and it will be advisable to place it under as small 
birds as possible, being better able to feed it, they will 
sit lighter upon it in the nest; whereas, large birds are more 
likely to squeeze it to death in the nest. One keeper of 
Pigeons may breed a hundred more in the season that are 
mere “foxes.” A fancier may raise a few, but they are 
“ lions.” Surely this cannot be called the freaks of fancy. 
The most money I ever knew given for a Pigeon was 
.£25. It belonged to the late Mr. Manton, sexton to St. 
Mary’s, Islington, London, and after his death was sold at 
auction, among his other Pigeons. It is also equally true 
that this was not a Shangliae cock, but it was a wonderful, 
pretty little Bald-head Tumbler, that would not have 
weighed one-twentieth part of the Shanghae cock which 
sold for £40 at Mr. Stevens’s auction. Now, if we estimate 
comparative weights, it was not the weight, but the want of 
weight, and other properties, that caused such competition 
for this pretty little wonder. What will utilitarians say to a 
pie of such Pigeons! “Give us a Pigeon-pie made of 
Spanish Runts, that will weigh from two pounds to three 
pounds each; that will suit us better.” There is a wide 
difference between Pigeon eating, and Pigeon fancying.”— 
Jno. Matthews Eaton, 7, Islington Green, London. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of 
The Cottage Gardener ,2, Amen Corner , Paternoster Row, London ." 
Frigi Domo as a Covering.— R . C . says—“As you invite commu¬ 
nications on the subject of the ‘ Frigi Domo’ canvass, I give you my 
experience. I was induced to purchase owing to the favourable mention 
of it in your columns ; and in ordering, I allowed a foot-and-a-half in 
five yards for shrinking (of which, by-the-by, Mr. Appleby said nothing,) 
on exposure to the weather, however, I found this shrinking go on to 
the extent of twenty-five per cent, on a yard-and-a-quarter, and how 
much farther it may yet go I cannot tell, as the cover has been very little 
used. As to the question of the ‘ Frigi Domo’ being a perfect security 
against frosts, I have simply to state, that on the morning of the lyth 
ult. I found the glass of my frames coated with frost, under two thick¬ 
nesses of Russian matting, with the 4 Frigi Domo’ laid over them.” 
Lucerne-sowing (Lucerne).— Lucerne should be drilled at ten inches 
space between the rows, in order that hoeing may take place, this being 
the most important operation in connexion with the cultivation of the 
crop. And at that distance, also, the land will produce a better crop 
than when the rows are placed either closer or farther apart.—J. B. 
Growing Turnip-seed (IV. Lort ).—Turnips, or Swedes, for pro¬ 
ducing seed, should be selected with care from the variety intended for 
propagation, being particular to choose such as are alike, and possessing 
the desirable properties belonging to its sort, bearing in mind that shape, 
colour, and density, are the most important points. Roots of a mode¬ 
rate size are best for producing seed. They should be transplanted early 
in the month of November, in order that they may strike root before 
hard frost sets in. They may, however, be transplanted at any time 
during open weather in the winter months. The earliest planted will 
usually produce the greatest quantity of the best seed. They are best 
dug in with the spade, taking care to bury the bulb, just allowing the 
leaves to appear above ground. New land should be chosen for the 
purpose, such as orchard land, for no crop will pay so well for growth 
under trees as Turnip-seed. Any corner of old pasture, or land of any 
sort, where Turnips have never been grown, will answer well, because 
the crop will yield more seed than when planted in arable land.—J. B. 
Insects (Sabina). —The insect you state was found in old wood, in 
a post, which was bored through and through by them , is the caterpillar 
of a small, pretty moth, (Ecophora sulphurella , with the case of gnawed 
particles of wood, in which it resides. The borings were not, however, 
made by that insect, but by some Ptinidse or, perhaps, wood-boring 
wasp, and the caterpillar takes advantage of the burrows made by them 
to feed on the soft inner bark and fine fibres of the wood.—W. W. 
Smyrna Seeds again (R. M. E.)> —We had the same kind of seed 
from another correspondent, who was answered last week. You supply 
the additional fact that these seeds (not berries) are eaten at Smyrna. 
Cyclamens might do without covering them with soil, but they answer 
I much better covered, say an inch or two over the crown of the bulb. 
Lrodia achillioides is not a shrub, but an herbaceous plant of the com¬ 
posite order. It was introduced from New Holland just fifty years since, 
and requires the protection of the greenhouse or frame in winter. 
Shanghae is pronounced Shang-aye. The enclosed is a little, trailing, 
half-shrubby Mesembryanthemurn , with pinkish-red flowers of no great 
I account. It has stood 20° of frost in dry, sheltered places near London; 
j at Claremont, for instance. 
Lists (fil'd.)—After the winter is over, we shall enumerate the half- 
December 29. 
hardy plants that stood out unhurt in different parts of the three king¬ 
doms ; and also mention the best sorts that were killed in England, and 
that list will be the one for you to choose from for your part of Ireland. 
There is a very decided objection to answering such questions in a work 
like The Cottage Gardener, as people will buy any plants we re¬ 
commend, if they want them, without considering whether they are suit¬ 
able or not to their locality ; and at best we could only guess what 
“ would be likely to stand out ” with you in that part of Ireland. You 
can guess with more certainty than any of our writers. 
Black Spanish Cock (A Subscriber). — Our meaning has been 
somewhat misunderstood in the paragraph you allude to, but a reference 
to our report of the late Birmingham meeting will explain the objections 
entertained against a “ a continuous dark line of feather” over the eye 
of the Spanish fowl. We have not, indeed, yet seen the Spanish bird, 
male or female, that is entirely free from feathers between the face and 
the base of the comb, but, unquestionably, the fewer these are the 
better; and this will be a point for breeders to keep carefully in view. 
But where this space is heavily feathered, and a broad dark line thus 
produced, the effect is certainly injurious to the general appearance of 
the bird. Mr. Amphlet, of Walsall, writes as follows:—“ I have a 
Spanish cock in my possession, eighteen months old, has just got over 
his moult, the pure white warted circle round his face reaches five- 
eighths-of-an-inch above his eye, and without either black or red mark¬ 
ings, the white joining up to the comb. This bird has never been 
exhibited.” 
Characteristics of Fowls (A Constant Header). —The points on 
which a Golden-spangled Hamburgh would be judged would include 
the comb, the white ear-lobe, general clearness of the ground-colour, 
and distinctness of the spangle, where white at the extremity of the 
feather, is, of course, most objectionable. The figure and proportions 
would also be borne in mind. When you complain of a cock as not 
“ hen-feathered,” we should entirely agree with you, so for as the 
hackle and body are concerned, but the characteristic Hamburgh tail we 
should be sorry to relinquish, if it may possibly be retained with a 
spangled-plumage in the male birds ; but here is the great difficulty, for, 
as in the Sebright Bantam, the peculiarities of feather in the lien can 
only be transferred to the cock by sacrificing some of the usual dis¬ 
tinctive feathers of the male sex. But the whole subject to which you 
allude is undergoing our careful consideration. 
Extensive Poultry - keeping ( F. B. Fareham).—We certainly 
should not anticipate profit from your scheme of keeping 300 Minorca 
Hens and 30 Cocks, calculating sales at the rate yon do, viz. 10 s. a 
thousand eggs. Much must depend on the relative situation of your 
market and its average prices, but, speaking generally, we should incline 
to the opinion that “ eggs and chickens ” would pay better than either 
separately, and that for this purpose no more judicious selection could 
be made than Shanghae pullets with Dorking cocks. 
Comb of Spanish Cock ( Greenhorn ). —“ A comb drooping a tittle” 
would not disqualify a Spanish cockerel, though an upright form would 
he of course desirable. Where the comb drops in birds of five months 
old, we should have little hope of any subsequent improvement by its 
becoming more erect. “A crooked tail ” should consign the bearer of 
it to the class for dead poultry. A good Spanish cockerel shows his 
white face in the first year, with continuous improvement up to the 
third. 
Points of excellence in Poultry (James Buckley).— The subject 
to which you refer, namely, the points of excellence of the various breeds 
of poultry is receiving our diligent investigation, although we are not 
at present prepared to say in what manner general acquiescence might 
he best obtained for the recognition of the different points of merit in 
the several breeds. In respect of “ vulture hocks we are at a loss to 
see the improvement that some persons consider them to confer. 
Wooden Shutters.—J. T. L. says he cannot get them six-and-a-half 
feet by four, under ten shillings. Mr. Fish has not had much to do with 
the price of yellow deal lately; but a few years back, the price, fis. 6d., 
was what very nice ones were made for a gentleman in his neighbour¬ 
hood, and they gave the gentleman and gardener much satisfaction. He 
thinks they were not quite three-quarters-of-an-inch thick, but will 
make inquiries, and give the answer. Of course, the more work the 
more cost; hut all they merely want is to be planed on one side, joined 
together, and fastened to three cross pieces. If a ledge goes round, so 
much the better. 
Unnailing Peach and Nectarine Trees (C. T.).— This is a good 
time. It keeps the twigs from being heated by the sun striking the 
wall. Your labourer can do it easily enough ; let him avoid touching 
the trees with the hammer, and tearing out the mortar in the joints. 
Let him give each nail a slight tap on the head before trying to pull it 
out, and it will come out easily. 
Cold Pit (Ibid). —The glass should be raised when it rains, when it is 
mild, and you can prevent the rain entering. Snow is always next-door 
neighbour to freezing ; and if a mat was on it is hardly worth while to 
take it off. We are grateful that a fall of snow has protected many of 
our pits without mats. 
Figs dropping when nearly Ripe (Ibid).—We should say that the 
roots are either too deep or not wet enough ; if the former, cut a small | 
ring of hark out of the principal shoots near the bottom, not more than I 
will heal over the same season. Do it in summer. 
Heating Greenhouse and Melon-pit from the same Boiler 
(R. J. S. L.). —Capital; no difficulty. We have frequently explained ' 
how it can be done. If you are your own tradesman, and want more ' 
information, write again ; any ironmonger or hot-water man will not 
need it. Your proposed arrangement of house of peaches, vines, and . 
plants will do ; but you will have to make a point to give a preference to 
one, as you would see by articles of Mr. Fish lately. You would also see 
