42 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 8. 
i 
CAUSE OF HENS NOT LAYING. 
I T may lie safely said that good advice caimot be given 
too often, and more especially when it refers to some certain 
season, and is applicable at that time. Although it may be 
repeated year after year, yet it is more likely to be useful if 
met with just when wanted; it may save the lives of many 
valuable chickens, and it may save the owners from the 
“ blues,” or it may afford comfort to the discouraged to take 
a review, from time to time, of things as they are in the 
poultry world. 
There has been a general complaint this year that hens 
have not laid as freely ns usual. Poultry-keeping, in our 
opinion, humanizes and improves our nature, and we will j 
not, therefore, ask our readers to derive comfort trom the 
fact that their disappointment is only neighbour’s fare. IVe 
would rather tell them to see the cause of temporary annoy¬ 
ance in the variable weather we have had. Tn many in- j 
stances it may also be traced to the fact, that the birds that i 
produced good stock last year are intended by their owners j 
to eclipse themselves now; and it must not be forgotten j 
that the older the hens are the later they are before they J 
lay. Pullets lay at a certain age; hens at a certain season, j 
and that is after February. 
Who has not, within the last few days, felt the necessity ■ 
and luxury of a great coat? Who has not complained that 1 
the easterly winds “ nipped ” him ? Coughs, colds, and 
sore throats, have been “plentiful as blackberries.” It very | 
one looks for a change of wind, for the balmy weather, and 1 
genial showers of April. We advise, then, our readers to 
bear with the temporary sterility of their fowls, and we pro- 1 
mise them that when a beneficial change shall have mollified 1 
them so that they would forgive anything or any one, eggs 
will hp so plentiful, that their good nature shall not he tried. 
SUDDEN DEATH OF LAYING HENS. 
I have had already several hens forwarded to me that, 
have been found dead upon the nest. In all cases they have 
been extremely fat, and apoplexy lias ensued in consequence , 
of the straining to expel an imperfect egg. This state of 
tilings has been so frequently alluded to by me in these 
pages that a lengthened article is not required. I merely 
insert this short notice as a caution ; for it cannot, he too 
often repeated, that over-fed laying liens are always liable 
to sudden death, a circumstance more annoying to the 
amateur, as it is usually his very choicest stock that are fed 
with so lavish a hand.—W. II. Tegetmeier. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
SpANisn Fowls ( Bristoliensis ). — There is no distinct breed of ■ 
Brown Spanish fowls. There are only Black and White, and the latter 
are offshoots from the former. The only distinguishing mark in the 
plumage of the cock is that he has hackle, saddle, and sickle feathers. 
He should have a straight and upright comb ; but lie must have a white 
face, and his cheek should hang down very low. 
Gapf.s (An Ignorant Poultry Fancier). —Put the chickens into a 
box, and make them breathe the vapour of spirit of turpentine. 
Removal of Spurs from Hens, and cure of Gapes (J. K . B.). — 
It appears in the highest degree improbable that spurs can be sloughed 
away by a poultice ; they may be removed by a very fine saw, and the 
bleeding stopped by a little powdered alum, or, if necessary, by a 
momentary touch of a hot iron. There is no remedy so effectual as 
turpentine for parasitic animals. Is the writer sure that the disease is 
caused by them, and is really gapes ? It is confined to very young 
chickens ? at least, we have never seen the parasites in old birds.— 
W. B. T. 
Crooked Toe does not dissualiev. — “A Lady would be glad to 
know whether a large Dorking hen, weighing 8 }lbs., would be disquali- I 
fied from taking a prize at a Poultry Show by having one of her hind ; 
toes doubled up ? She is pefect in other respects.” 
[The accident in question would not disqualify the hen. Those things I 
only which indicate impurity, trickery, or weakness, tell agaii st a bird, j 
If the competition were very close, it might prevent her from taking a 
first prize; but matched with others of equal weight, she would be hard 
to defeat.] 
Tiie Birmingham delinquent. —“The best thing you could do i 
would bo to give the name of the party who has been behaving so dis- [ 
honestly as referred to by your correspondent, ‘ W. X. W.,’ in vour 
paper of the 27 th ult., as it might be the means of preventing any one 
else being duped by such unprincipled scoundrels,—E dw. H. Lingard, j 
Birmingham. ' 
“ P.S.—I sent to the last Exhibition at Shrewsbury, and took several I 
prizes for Pigeons; but up to this day (March 28) have not received a 
farthing. Can you tell me if any of your subscribers who sent have 
received theirs ? or arc they treated the same as myself ? ” 
[When the party at Birmingham acts sufficiently dishonestly to enable 
us to plead justification in case of an action for libel, we will publish his 
name. 
Perhaps some of the Committee, or the Secretary of the Shrewsbury 
Show, will be so obliging as to explain the delay complained of by Mr. 
Lingard. One of the best aids to obtaining numerous exhibitors is to 
pay the prizes promptly.] 
Nurses for Voung Pheasants and Partridges. — “I shall he 
obliged by any information as to the best sort of hens to halch and rear 
Pheasants or Partridges; and also, as to their feeding and management 
when hatched.—I. P.” 
[A half-bred Game hen is the best to set on Pheasants’ eggs ; but any 
hen will do. A Cochin is the worst, as she lays too soon, and is not an 
attentive mother. Bantams, or very small Game hens, are the best for 
Partridges. We shall be happy to give the other information you require 
in an early number.] 
Careful Breeding.—Most Profitable Ducks. —“Will you be 
kind enough to explain to me what is meant by ‘ careful breeding,’ be¬ 
sides breeding from good stock ? and whether there is a book on the 
subject ? Also, which kinds of Ducks are the most prolific layers ? And 
what book can you recommend which treats upon the breeding and 
management of all kinds of poultry, Ac.; the price, and where published 
—B. T. T.” 
[The first condition of careful breeding is to choose stock not related, 
and possessing in an eminent degree the qualities you wish to perpetuate. 
Care must he taken that there be no deformity in any of the parents, and 
that they be of proper ages: a three-year-old cock witli pullets, or a 
yearling cock with liens. Aylesbury Bucks are the best layers, but they 
are bad sitters, Baily’s book treats of “Dorkings;” Tegetmeier’s of 
“Profitable Poultry;” “The Poultry Book” of all kinds. This last 
costs about 20 s.; the others about Is. 6 d. each.] 
LONDON MARKETS.— April Ttii. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
Supply somewhat improved, but trade remains inactive. Asparagus, 
Sea-kale, and Cucumbers are now unusually good, and with a continuance 
of the present weather prices must recede a little. Cornish Brocoli still 
comes good, but not in such large quantities as hitherto. Continental 
importations are much as usual, remaining at former prices. Potatoes 
have slightly advanced, although large quantities of good, sound stuff can 
be had both coastwise anil by rail. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
bushel. 
3s. 
to 
Cs 
,, dessert .... 
Cs. 
10 s. 
Pears, per dozen .... 
Is. 
3s. 
Pine-apples, peril)... 
8 s. 
12 s. 
Foreign Grapes, per lb. 2 s. 
3s. 
Hothouse ditto, ditto 
15s. 
30s. 
Strawberries, per oz.. 
2 s. 
3s. 
Foreign Melons, each 
2 s. 
>» 
4S. 
Oranges, per 100 .... 
4s. 
10 s. 
Seville Oranges, do... 
Cs. 
,, 
12 s. 
Lemons. 
Cs. 
12 s. 
Almonds, per lb. 
2 s. 
— 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
100 lbs. 
50s. 
60s. 
,, Cobs, ditto .. 
60 s. 
70 s. 
,, Barcelona, per 
bushel. 
20 s. 
22 s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 
12 s. 
,, 
14s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 
9s. 
12 s. 
Chestnuts, per bushel 
15s. 
t) 
24 s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, per doz. Is. to 
Is, 
. 6 d. 
,, Red, per doz. 
2 s. 
,, 
4s. 
Cauliflowers, per doz. 
i 4s. 
Cs* 
Brocoli per bdle . 
Is. 
2 s. 
Savoys. 
Is. 
it 
2 s. 
Greens, per doz. bnch. 4 s. 
6 s. 
Spinach, persieve.... 
— 
,, 
4s. 
French Beans, per 
hundred . 
3s. 
4s. 
Carrots, per bunch .. 
4d> 
» * 
6d. 
Parsnips, per doz. Cd. ,, pd. 
Beet, per doz. Is. to Is. 6 d. 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 3s. ,, 6 s. 
Onions, young, ditto.. Id. ,, 2d. 
Turnips, per bunch .. ,, 3d. 
Leeks, per bunch .... 2 d. ,, 3d. 
Garlic, peril). 6 d. ,, fid. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is. 6 d. to 2 s. C< 1 , 
Shallots, per lb. 6 d. ,, Is. 
Lettuce, Cos, each .... 6 d. to fid. 
,, Cabbage per doz. 2 d. ,, 3d. 
Endive, per score .. Is. 6 d. ,, 2s. 
Celery, per bunch.. pd. ,, Is. 6 d. 
Radishes, Turnip, per 
dozen bunches . 6 d. 
Water Cresses, ditto .. Cd. ,, pd. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet. 2 d. ,, fid. 
Artichokes, per lb.2d. 
Asparagus, per bundle 5s. ,, 8 s. 
Sea-kale, per punnet 2s. ,, 3 s. 
Rhubarb, per bundle 6 d. to Is. 
Cucumbers, each. Is. ,, 3s. 
Mushrooms, perpot Is. 6 d. ,, 2s. 
HERBS. 
Basil, per bunch .... 4d. to 6 d. 
Marjoram, per bunch 4d. ,, Cd. 
Fennel, per bunch .. 2d. ,, fid. 
Savory, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 2 d. ,, 3d. 
Parsley, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Mint, per bunch .... 2d. ,, 4d. 
Green Mint . Cd. ,, 8d. 
POULTRY. 
The market has been hut scantily supplied during the past week, and 
most of the poultry has been of very inferior quality. Some American 
Game has arrived in excellent condition. We refrain from quoting 
Plover’s eggs, as they come only in small numbers. 
Large Fowls .. Cs. Cd. to "s. each 
Smaller do. 5s. Od. to 5s.Cd. ,, 
Chickens.... 5s. Od. to Os. ,, 
Goslings. 8s. 6 d. to Qs. ,, 
Ducklings .... 4s. 6<1. to 5s. ,, 
Wild Ducks Os. Od. to Os, Od. ,, 
Teal...... Os. Od. to Os. Od. each 
Leverets .. 4s. Od. to 5s. Od. ,, 
Guinea Fowl 3s, Cd. to 4s. Od. ,, 
Pigeons. lOd. to Od. ,, 
Rabbit.... Is. 6 d. to Os. Od. ,, 
Wild Ditto .. lOd. to Is. Od. ,, 
London: Printed by Hugh Barclay. Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar ; and Published for the Proprietors 
at The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—April 8 , 1856. 
