90 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 29. 
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i 
wore these: the hen was placed in durance vile, in a fatting 
coop (a construction similar to the one illustrated on p. 380, 
No. 380;, and kept fasting for afew hours ; then “ one grain 
of calomel and one-twelfth of a grain of tartar emetic ’’ was 
| mixed with some barleymeal; the quantity of meal made to 
represent the size of an egg. This was put into the feeding 
trough, and placed before the hen for her supper ; a. greater 
part of which she consumed, and she eat what remained the 
next morning. 
We did not find it necessary to repeat the dose, for the 
: hen became sufficiently purged, and altogether of a livelier 
disposition towards the evening. Her next meal consisted 
of some soaked crusts of bread. She came out of durance 
the morning of the second day, and immediately made an 
attack upon gravel, grass, and egg-shells. She dieted in 
: future with her compeers, and to-day, being the fifth day 
; from her malady l she has laid an egg perfect in every re- 
! spect. But in real pity, I would ask “ W. II.,” if two ounces 
I of castor-oil administered to a hen in one week is not too 
much to recommend? The “boy” may have emptied a 
“two-ounce bottlefull” of the oil; but I question very much 
whether he emptied that entire quantity down the hen’s 
throat .— Upwards and Onwards. 
I WHARFDALE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S 
POULTRY SHOW. 
! This was held at Otley, Yorkshire, on the 18th inst. 
Judges—Mr. A. Goodman, Gledhow House, near Leeds, 
| and Mr. J. B. Stead, Leeds. The following are their 
awards:— 
Spanish. — First, Mrs. Lane Fox, Bramham Park. Second, Joseph 
Stockdale, Carlton, near Skipton. 
Dorking. —First and second, Edward Akroyd, Denton Park. 
I Golden Pheasant.— First, William Maude, Dub, near Bingloy. 
Second, Stephen Blakey, Otley. 
Silver Pheasant. —First, Charles Yates, Otley. Second, C. H. 
Mitchell, Park Field House, Manningham, 
Chittapbat. — First, William Maude, Dub, near Bingley, Second. 
Thomas Horsfall, Burley Hall, 
Game.— First, John Scott, Skipton. Second, C. II. Mitchell, Park 
Field House, Manningham. 
Bantams.— First, Robert Jarvis, Newall, near Otley. Second, Walter 
Duckworth, Addingham. 
Turkeys. —First, Edward Akroyd, Denton Park. 
Rouen Ducks.— First, Mrs. Lane Fox, Bramham Park. Second, 
Edward Akroyd, Denton Park. 
Aylesbury Ducks. —First, James Laycock, Otley. Second, Edward 
Akroyd, Denton Park. 
Any other breed. —First, Edward Akroyd, Denton Park. (Cochin- 
China.) Second, William Maude, Dub, near Bingley. (Black Pheasant.) 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Disordered Poultry ( Henricus ).—Never was such an illustration 
of killing by kindness. You give your poultry two-thirds too much 
food. Give them one-third of the quantity you now give, and of that 
third let one-half be soft food. Give them, however, as much green 
food as you can—grass mowings, cabbage leaves, &c. When a fowl has 
a hard crop, or, as it is termed, is crop-bound, pour a dessert spoonfu 
of gin down its throat. Give your hens that lay sliell-less eggs one 
grain of calomel and one twelfth of a grain of tartar emetic, two 
mornings following ; do not let them have any corn, but plenty of green, 
and some soft food. A cross between a Malay fowl and a Cochin China 
fowl is very much like, if it is not actually, what is called a Brahma 
Pootra. Such a cross has never produced any improvement. 
Poultry-house and Yard. —“Myemployer keeps Dorkings—good, 
plain, old-fashioned, useful birds, but not exhibition animals. They 
have a so-called “ poultry-yard,” seventy-five by ninety-five feet. On 
the west and south it is surrounded by a brick wall ten feet high; on the 
north, a range of low shedding, forming a lean-to with pillars in front. 
This was meant as a laying-shed, and a row of boxes is fixed along the 
wall; but the hens have an aversion thereto. They neither lay, nor sit 
in them satisfactorily. Would I be right in transforming this to a 
roosting-pen, leaving the front open as before ? It is low—only sufficient, 
at the highest, for a man to stand upright with his hat on. The east 
side of the yard is bounded by cattle-pens, and a close roosting-house, 
which I thought of transforming to a laying-house. The yard is turfed 
over, and has a reservoir of fresh-water in the centre. Strange to say, 
we never succeed in rearing chickens within its precincts. The hens fly 
over the lean-to into an extensive farm-yard at pleasure. Such being 
the circumstances, we are unable to keep any select fowls apart advan¬ 
tageously. We wish more fowls—I mean, more of the fancy varieties, 
and consider that there ought to be ample facilities for keeping three or 
four kinds, provided we only knew the most judicious mode of pro- 
ceedure. Expense is no material object, and abundance of labour is at 
command. Should you recommend unturfing the grass-yard, laying 
down a portion fresh, and keeping the rest for being dug over, or for 
planting a few shrubs, Sec. ?— Enquirer.” 
[An open shed facing the north is about the worst situation and form 
that could be selected for a laying-house. No hen would go there by 
choice. Pull down the shed, and build a poultry-house facing the south 
against the ten-foot wall. Let the roosting and laying compartments 
be walled or boarded on all four sides. Warmth and seclusion are pre¬ 
ferred by the birds, and promote laying in the winter. You might have 
the yard divided by wire fences into four slips, each eighteen feet nine 
inches wide, and at the end facing the south, each should have its roost¬ 
ing and laying room opening the one into the other ; but it is quite 
impossible to advise specifically without having a ground plan drawn 
to a scale.] 
Sunflower Seed as a Poultry Food. — " In one of your back 
numbers, I see that inquiries are made about the use of Sunflower seed. 
I grew some last year, ami in the autumn I allowed some Cochin chickens 
(a few weeks old) to run in the garden. The wind blew down the Sun¬ 
flowers, and the chickens feasted on the seeds, and died, in consequence, 
I believe, of eating those seeds. I gave a few of the seeds to some 
grown-up fowls, who did not suffer from it. Possibly, whole wheat, or 
other hard grain, might have been equally fatal to young chickens. I 
have hitherto kept only Cochins, which, though confined only by a low 
frame, have never intruded into my neighbours’ gardens. I now wish 
to try Brahma Pootras, provided they will not cause me to incur the 
expense of making higher fences. 1 shall feel obliged if you will inform 
me if this will be necessary or not. I shall also be glad to be informed 
if Brahma Pootras are as good winter layers as Cochins are.— Cochin.” 
[All large seeds uncrushed are injurious to very young chickens. 
Brahma Pootras are as good layers as Cochin-Chinas ; indeed, they are, 
at the best, only a white variety of that breed speckled with black. 
Burnham, in his “ History of the Hen-lever,” gives an account how 
Brahma Pootras were manufactured in America. We will publish the 
narrative when we can spare space.] 
Geese laying Double-yolked Eggs. —“ G. M. is greatly obliged 
by the hint given by ‘W. II., Exeter,’ as to the treatment of poultry 
laying soft eggs ; but would be glad of a little further information as to 
the quantity of castor-oil to be administered to a Goose; and how often 
should the dose be repeated ? Also, how could the * tonic * in the form 
of ‘ nails ’ be applied to Geese who supply themselves with water from a 
very small pond ? In ‘ G. M.’s ’ case, though the Goose has occasionally 
laid soft eggs, her chief fault is in producing monster eggs with double 
yolks, weighing from 10 oz. to 12 oz., and which have always proved un¬ 
productive. There have been three, and even four, yolks in one shell.” 
Origin of the Dragoon Pigeon. —“Will you be kind enough to 
tell me whether the produce of a cross between a Carrier and Pouter 
Pigeon would produce Dragoons ? And also the points of a good bird of 
this variety ?—W. C.” 
[Dragoon Pigeons are thought to be originally produced from a 
Carrier and Tumbler; their chief colour is blue. If bred over to the 
Carrier again, they become Horsemen in common phraseology. Their 
points are the same as those of a Carrier, only proportionately less. The 
cross between [the Carrier and the Pouter produces the bird known as 
the Pouting Horseman, These are large, merry birds, excellent breeders, 
and produce fleshy and well-flavoured young. Their points are inter¬ 
mediate between the Carrier and Pouter.—B. P. B-] 
LONDON MARKETS.— April 28ih. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
There is an abundant supply of everything in season, and the prices 
continue much the same as in our last quotations. The display ot early 
Grapes is very fine, and the Asjniragus from France is large, and remark¬ 
ably well grown. Cornish Brocoli is now nearly over, and is replaced by 
Asparagus and Ash-leared Kidney Potatoes from the same county, and 
all from the open ground. The late severe morning frosts have very 
much retarded and even checked the Asparugus in the neighbourhood of 
the Metropolis. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
bushel. 
6 s. 
to 
10 s. 
,, dessert .. .. 
6 s. 
,, 
10 s. 
Pears, per dozen .... 
Is. 
3s. 
Pine-apples, perlb... 
8 s. 
*» 
12 s. 
Foreign Grapes, perlb. 3s. 
n 
4s. 
Hothouse ditto, ditto 
12 s. 
20 s. 
Strawberries, per oz.. 
Is. 
2 s. 
Foreign Melons, each 
Os. 
Os. 
Oranges, per 100 .... 
4s. 
»i 
10 s. 
Seville Oranges, do... 
6 s. 
»» 
12 s. 
Lemons. 
6 a. 
12 s. 
Almonds, per lb. 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
100 lbs. 
2 s. 
— 
50s. 
>) 
60s. 
,, Cobs, ditto .. 
60 s. 
70 s. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 
20 s. 
n 
22 s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 
12 s. 
14s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 
0 s. 
12 s. 
Chestnuts, per bushel 
15s. 
n 
24s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, per doz. Is. to Is 
6 d’ 
,, Red, per doz. 
2 s. 
4s. 
Cauliflowers, per doz. 
4s. 
6 s. 
Brocoli per bdle . 
Is. 
28 . 
Savoys. 
Is. 
2 s. 
Greens, per doz. bnch 
Spinach, persieve..., 
. 4s. 
6 s. 
— 
4s. 
French Beans, per 
hundred.Is 
6 d. 
2 s. 
Carrots, per bunch .. 
4d. 
6 d. 
Parsnips, per doz..... 6d. to 9d. 
Beet, per doz. Is. to Is. (id. 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 3s. ,, 6s. 
Onions, young, ditto.. Id. ,, 2d. 
Turnips, per bunch.. ,, 3d. 
Leeks, per bunch .... 2d. ,, 3d. 
Garlic, per lb. 6d. ,, 8d. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. 
Shallots, per lb. 6d. ,, Is. 
Lettuce, Cos, each .... 6d. to 8d. 
,, Cabbageper doz. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Endive, perscore .. Is. 6d. ,, 2s. 
Celery, per bunch.. 9d. ,, Is. fid. 
Radishes, Turnip, per 
dozen bunches . Cd. 
Water Cresses, ditto .. 6d. ,, 9d. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet.. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Artichokes, per lb.2d. 
Asparagus, per bundle 4s. ,, 8s. 
Sea-kale,per punnet ls.6d. ,, 2s. 
Rhubarb, per bundle 3d. to 6d. 
Cucumbers, each. la. ,, 3s. 
Mushrooms, per pot Is. fid: ,, 2s, 
HERBS. 
Basil, per bunch .... 4d. ,, 6 d. 
Marjoram, per bunch 4d. ,, fid. 
Fennel, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Savory, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Parsley, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Mint, per bunch .... 2d. ,, 4d. 
Green Mint . Cd. ,, Sd. 
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 29, 1856. 
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