) 
58 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 15. 
i 
i 
view to some more generally-recognized standard of wliat 
should he recognized in their case that I am now induced 
to trouble you with my own opinions on the subject.—W. 
THE HAMBURGH EOWL. 
It is now nearly four years since I first protested in the 
pages of The Cottage Gardener against the use of the 
name of Hamburgh as applied to Bolton Greys and Bays, 
or Dutch every-day layers; and although I have had to 
maintain the argument unassisted so long, I am pleased to 
find that two other correspondents have now taken up the 
subject, and 1 confidently hope to see our poultry classed in 
a more scientific, or, at least, natural manner, with a correct 
nomenclature, and that the errors and abuses that from time 
to time have crept in will be reformed, and that the com¬ 
mittees of poultry exhibitions will see the desirability of 
such measures, and will follow the advance of our age of 
improvement by using only such names as are correct, and 
giving honour where it is due, by placing that variety at 
the head of each breed which has the greatest claim to 
originality and purity of race. 
Your correspondent “ W. C.,’’ of March 25th, seems to 
have a strange objection to being corrected, and lie argues, 
that being wrong, it is best to remain so ; setting him right, 
therefore, would only make him worse. He, too, makes a 
great mistake in supposing the lien-feathered Yorkshire 
Pheasant fowls to be crossed with the Sebriglits. On the 
contrary, it so happens that we have testimony to the Se- 
brights having been bred from them ; and also as to hen- 
feathered breeds being found among the Game and Malays. 
Will “ W. C.” also deduce them from the Sebright ? 
As to the correct application of the name Hamburgh, 
see E. Albin’s “ Natural History of Birds,” Vol. 3, 1730, 
where he figures a cock of a peculiar breed, which is 
brought from Hamburgh by our merchants, with a short 
top-knot, a decided beard, and actual whiskers. Also, Dr. 
J. M. Beclistein, in his “ Natural History of Germany,” 
Vol. 3, 1703, gives the following description of the Ham- 
burgh cock. 
“ Der Hamburgische Hahn, Le Coq de Hambourg, which 
is also known by the name of Velvet-breeches, because his 
thighs and stomach appear as if clothed in black velvet. 
His beak is pointed, the iris yellow, and round the eyes a 
circle of brown feathers, from which stands erect a tuft of 
black feathers, which cover the ears. Behind the comb, 
and under the gills, stand similar feathers, and on the 
breast, broad, round, black spots; legs and feet lead- 
coloured down to the yellow soles of the feet. He has a 
proud, majestic carriage, and is known in all the towns of 
Germany; nevertheless, nowhere so fine as in lower Saxony. 
He is liked for the English cock fighting.” 
This combed and crested Hamburgh fowl must not be 
confused with the true-bearded crested fowl which the 
Doctor also describes.—B. P. Brent. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Softening Birds* Skins. —“ In answer to F. G. H., fill a basin half 
full of damp sand, upon which lay a piece of clean blotting-paper doubled 
three or four times, then lay the Humming-bird upon it; next, a little 
more blotting-paper, and cover the whole with a damp cloth until they 
are soft enough. I generally roll large birds in a damp cloth until they 
are soft.— Another Subscriber.** 
contents may have passed, probably the shell or shin remains, which may j 
be long before it passes ; and though death may not ensue, it will, in all j 
probability, prevent her breeding for some time.—B. P. B. 
Gizzard-fallen. —“ I have a Poland hen which appears to me to be ( 
gizzard-fallen. Can you inform me if she will lay whilst in that state? j 
She appears very healthy and very rosy. I am much afraid she is too old 
to cure, being three years old.— Geo. Ray.** 
[We are afraid there is no cure ; but the hen will lay as well as ever. 
We have such birds laying now.] 
Keeping White Fowls in a Town.—Basket for Poultry.-— 
“What is the best way of keeping white poultry clean? The cock, in 
particular, always looks grimy, more especially in the fluffy feathers 
about the tail. Would this disqualify him from gaining a prize ? 
“ Also, I should be glad to know what is the best sort of basket for 
sending poultry to the shows, and where such can be procured?— . 
Albus.” 
[White fowls should be kept away from dust-heaps, and have a good 
grass run. Rain cleanses their plumage ; and some of the dirt of which 
you complain may be the natural result of many weeks* drought. They 
may, at any time, be washed with soap and water, used with a sponge on 
the outer feather, and then put before a fire in a basket, with some hay 
or soft straw. 
A basket to convey fowls to an exhibition should be three feet high, 
from eighteen to twenty-four inches in diameter, according to the size of 
the fowls, round, and closed everywhere except at the top, which should 
be covered with canvass.] 
Newcastle Poultry Show. —A Subscriber says—“In Spanish 
chickens, you only report a first-prize in the Gulden-spangled nr\A Silver- 
spangled Hamburghs the same. I may say that Mr. Dixon, of Bradford, 
took both first and second in those three classes.’* 
LONDON MARKETS. —April 11th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
A fair amount of Fruit and Vegetables for the season has been sup¬ 
plied during the week, anti a trifling advance in the prices of the best 
description of forced Vegetable: and Fruits realized —Asparagus is now 
making 10s. to 12s. per hundred, and Sea-kale from 3s. to 4s. per punnet. 
Potatoes still come to hand in large quantities. We have also received a 
parcel of new ones from Spain, which make 3s. to 5s. per dozen pounds, 
not so good a sample as the first received last year, and they appear 
tainted with disease. Cornish Brocoli has somewhat fallen off. With 
the last arrivals we have had some good natural Asparagus . 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
,, dessert .... 
Pears, per dozen .... 
Pine-apples, per lb... 
Foreign Grapes, per lb 
Hothouse ditto, ditto 
Strawberries, per oz.. 
Foreign Melons, each 
Oranges, per 100 .... 
Seville Oranges, do... 
Almonds, per lb. 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
lOOlbs. 50s. 
,, Cobs, ditto .. GOs. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 20 s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 12 s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 9 s. 
Chestnuts, per bushel 15s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, per doz. 1 
,, Red, per doz. 
Cauliflowers, per doz. 
Brocoli per bdle . 
3s. to 6s 
Parsnips, per doz.... 
Beet, per doz. 
Potatoes, per cwt. . 
6 d. to 9d. 
Is. to Is. fid 
38. ,, 6s. 
6 s. 
, 10s. 
Onions, young, ditto 
. Id. 
,, 2d. 
18. ,, 3s. 
Turnips, per bunch. 
Leeks, per bunch ... 
,, 3d. 
8 s. 
,, 12s. 
2 d. 
,, 3d. 
2 s. 
, 3s. 
Garlic, per lb. 
6 d. 
,, bd. 
15s. ,, 30s. 
2s. ,, 3s. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is. 
6 d. to 28. 6d 
2s. ,, 4s. 
Shallots, per lb. ... 
Lettuce, Cos, each . 
. 6d 
.. Is* 
4s. ,, 10s. 
.. Od 
to 8d- 
6 s. 
„ 12s. 
,, Cabbage per doz. 2d. 
Endive, perscore .. Is. 6d. 
„ 3d. 
Cs. 
,, 12s. 
„ 2*. 
60 s. 
70 s. 
22 s. 
14s. 
12 s. 
24s. 
Greens, per doz. bnch. 
Spinach, persieve.... 
French Beans, per 
Carrots, per bunch . 
Celery, per bunch.. 9d. ,, Is. 6 d. 
Radishes, Turnip, per 
dozen bunches . 6 d. 
Water Cresses, ditto .. 6 d. ,, 9 d. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet.. 2d. „ 3d. 
Artichokes, per lb.2d. 
Asparagus, perbundle 5s. ,, 8 s. 
Sea-kale, per punnet 2 s. ,, 3s. 
Rhubarb, per bundle 6 d. to Is. 
a. 
Cucumbers, each. 
Is ,, 
3s. 
». to Is. 6d. 
Mushrooms,perpot Is 
6d. , 
2a. 
2 s. 
.. <*• 
HERBS. 
4s. 
,, 6s* 
Basil, per bunch .... 
4d. „ 
Od. 
Is. 
,, 2s. 
Marjoram, per bunch 
4d. „ 
0 d. 
is. 
„ 2s. 
Fennel, per bunch .. 
2 d. „ 
3d. 
4s. 
,, 6s. 
Savory, per bunch .. 
2 d. „ 
3d. 
— 
.. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 
2 d. ,, 
3d. 
Parsley, per bunch .. 
2 d. „ 
3d. 
3s. 
„ 4S. 
Mint, per bunch .... 
2 d. „ 
4d. 
4d. 
,, Od. 
Green Mint . 
Od. „ 
8 d. 
POULTRY. 
Grey Spanish Rabbit.— An Old Subscriber, who asks where to 
find the above, can obtain them by application to J. Young, Hill, 
Southampton. 
Hen Canary (A Constant Reader ).—You have not described the 
symptoms of the hen Canary’s illness with sufficient minuteness to 
enable us to guess at her disease. If she has experienced difficulty in 
laying, it is probable she will not lay again this season, or not directly. 
If so, and she continues on the nest, it will be advisable to replace those 
eggs she has already laid, on which she will, most likely, sit. The cock, 
in that case, may be removed, and put up with another hen. Soft food 
should be given to the birds from the time they are put together till 
breeding is over. A little moist sugar is good (mixed in the soft food) 
to assist the hen in laying; and a lump of old mortar, with a very little 
salt in it, is also very useful placed in the cage for the birds to peck at. 
The squecking mentioned by our correspondent is, probably, the call or 
chatter of the hen to her mate. If through weakness she was unable to 
lay, the srffieezing of the body may have broken the egg, and though the 
Good poultry continues scarce, but indications arc not wanting of a 
better supply being at hand. The season, on the whole, has not been 
unfavourable for rearing chickens, and we think wc muy look forward to 
a more satisfactory year than that of 1856. 
Large Fowls .. 7s. to 7s* 6d. each. 
Smaller do. 58. Od. to 5s. 6d. ,, 
Chickens .... 4s. Od. to 5s. ,, 
Goslings. 8s. Od. to 9s* ,, 
Ducklings .... 4s. Od. to 5s. ,, 
Guinea Fowl 4s Od. to 0s. Od. ,, 
Plover’s Eggs, in bulk. 
Teal.Os. Od. to 0s. Od. each 
Leverets .. 4s. 6 d. to 5s. 6 d. ,, 
Pigeons. 1 od. to Is. ,, 
Rabbit.. .. Is. 6 d. to Is. fid. ,, 
Wild Ditto .. lOd. to Is. Od. ,, 
Wild Ducks 0 s. Od. to 0s. Od. ,, 
... . 5s. 
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 Loudon.—April 16, 1856. 
