THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— May 20, 1S56. 
144 
enthusiastic, is the Hedge Sparrow, or Hedge Accentor, and 
not the common House Sparrow. The former has a beau¬ 
tiful song, and, as lie says, “superior plumage,” and would, 
doubtless, under the circumstances, readily learn the 
| Canary’s song, which is itself usually an imitation only. 
For the common House Sparrow to sing like a Canary would 
require a special miracle in the re-creation of a vocal organ 
differing from all the rest of Ms race.— A very Old Sub¬ 
scriber. 
(We forwarded the above to Mr. Hewitt, and his answer 
is this: — 
“ Permit me, in reply to your correspondent, who, like 
myself, has been a very old subscriber, to sincerely thank 
him for the suggestions he offers me that the Sparrow 1 
alluded to,as singing the song of the Canary, was the Hedge 
i Sparrow, or Hedge Accentor, and not the common Eaves, or 
House Sparrow. I, like himself, was altogether sceptical as 
to the bare possibility of any really vocal powers being pos¬ 
sessed by the common Sparrow, and, before seeing it, Pelt as 
| confidently certain as he does, that the bird would prove a 
, male of the variety he mentions; more particularly, as I 
j well knew the Hedge Sparrow very easily acquired the songs 
! of other birds, if trained whilst young. The result was not, 
however, as I imagined. This bird is a veritable House 
Sparrow', but in unusually cleanly and superior plumage. If 
your correspondent will kindly forward me his owm address, 
| or favour me with that of any friend in Birmingham, who 
| wishes the opportunity, I wall at once remit the address of 
the owner of this rara avis, and am sure, on the most casual 
inspection, all differences of opinion will at once cease, as 
! the bird mentioned is not of the ‘ soft-billed tribe,’ but be¬ 
longs to the family of ‘ Grossbeaks.’ My sole motive for 
1 writing you in the first instance, was the very easy proof, and 
| apparent impossibility, of such a tinging bird existing.— 
Edward Hewitt, Eden Cottage, Sparkbroolc, near Birming- 
\ ham") 
EGG NOT PASSING A CAUSE OF 
BARRENNESS. 
About the latter end of November, or beginning of De¬ 
cember last, I cannot name the exact day, as I made no 
note of it at the time, I had a hen egg-bound. She conti¬ 
nued so for more than a week, when all trace of the egg 
disappeared, and I was obliged to think that the egg had 
been laid and eaten. She did not, however, lay another egg, 
although she seemed in good health, eat as heartily as any 
of her companions, and evidently gained in weight. In 
February I changed my residence, and thinking, she had 
been too much confined, I gave her a more extended run; 
but finding, after a fortnight, that she did not lay, I ordered 
her to be killed on the 8th of March, and, on examination, 
a shelled egg was found still adhering to the passage, but had 
undergone a change. From a brown the shell had changed 
to a chalky grey, as well as the interior, which consisted of 
a thin fluid and a granulated curdy mass. The hen weighed, 
when dressed, without the leaf, 41bs. 10oz., and appeared to 
be healthy in every respect, but was very fat.—C. R. 
THE FAREHAM POULTRY SHOW. 
The Cottage Gardener now being the leading journal 
in all poultry matters—and some most valuable information 
it has diffused—it would, perhaps, not be out of place to 
give a few words of advice to the gentlemen who have the 
management, or getting up, of the above show (I mean the 
] Committee). Much praise is due to them for the pains 
taken by them at the last show. I believe every effort was 
made to ensure success; but as all must have a teaching, 
whether young or old, and all such are more likely to censure 
than praise, I think one great drawback, or, rather, mistake, 
was made, that of enforcing the birds to be at the place of 
show on the Saturday morning, so as to be judged on that 
day, the exhibition not being open to the public till the 
following Monday; by this rule, I consider a-day-nud-a- 
balf was wasted, without any apparent reason. Another 
rule, J think, would also be an improvement, and a step in 
the. right direction, that of removing all diseased birds from j 
the exhibition room ; and would not fine sand be preferable 
to sawdust at the bottom of the pens? as I observed many 
of the fowls were eating it.—A rgus. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Various Queries (.1. S. IV. B .).—For White Comb, since turmeric 
and cocoa-nut oil have failed, you should use compound sulphur oint¬ 
ment, give castor oil as medicine, and let the fowls have a good grass 
run. Lettuces are excellent food for fowls thus affected. 
Roup cured in the early stages of the disease is generally eradicated 
from the system. If it return at any time, it is at the moulting season ; 
i and tonic medicine, with good food, will carry the patient well through it. 
A very practised eye can form an opinion, but not an infallible one, of 
a Spanish Chicken at three months old. The cocks show the white fac c 
! much earlier than the pullets. The latter are not to be discarded for I 
faults till they are twelve months old, if you have faith in their breed. 
When competition is close, any dissimilarity in the Birds of a pen is ! 
likely to be fatal to success. The difference between a Vulture-hocked 
Cochin, and one lacking that distinction, is less important than any 
other ; but we advise you to abstain from it. 
An indisposition to sit is no proof of high-breeding, or otherwise, in a 
Cochin fowl. 
LONDON MARKETS.— Mat 10th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
Considerable improvement is to be observed both in the quality and 
supply of Fruit and Vegetables since the beautiful change in the weather. 
Hothouse Grapes and Strawberries are now quite equal to the demand ; 
Pines somewhat scarce for the season, owing to the late gloomy, chilly 
weather being so unfavourable for the forcing and ripening of them. 
Among Vegetables, French Beans are quite a drag. Asparagus , both 
French and English, very plentiful, and much reduced in price. Im¬ 
ported goods comprise New Latatues , Carrots, Artichokes , Cauliflowers, 
and all the usual description ot Salading. Potatoes still come to hand 
very freely; 90s. to 100s. for top samples. 
Strawberries, per oz.. 6d. ,, is. 
Foreign Melons, each 3s, ,, 6<. 
Oranges, per 100 .... 4s. ,, 10 s. 
Seville Oranges, do... 6s. ,, 12s. 
Lemons. Gs. ,, l‘2s. 
Almonds, per lb. 2s. ,, — 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
lOOlbs. 50s. ,, 60s. 
,, Cobs, ditto .. 60s. ,, 70 s. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 20s. ,, 22s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 12s. ,, 14s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 9s. ,, 12s. 
Chestnuts, per bushel 15s. ,, 24s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, perdoz. Is. to Is. 6d. 
,, lied, per doz. 2s. to 4e. 
Cauliflowers, per doz. 4s. ,, 6s. 
Brocoli per bdle . Is. ,, 2s. 
Savoys. Is. ,, 2s. 
Greens, per doz. bnch. 4s. ,, 6s. 
Spinach, per sieve ., — ,, 4s. 
Green Peas, per quart 3s. ,, 5s. 
French Beans, per 100 9d. ,, Is. 
Carrots, per bunch .. Qd, to ls.6d. 
Parsnips, per doz. 6d. to 9d. 
FRUIT. 
Beet, per doz. 
Is. to Is 
. 6d. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 
3s. to 
6-“. 1 
bushel. 
6s. 
to 10s. 
,, Frame, per lb 
Is. to Is.3d. 
,, dessert .... 
6s. 
,, 10s. 
,, New, ditto 
4d. to 
6d. 
Pears, per dozen .... 
Is. 
,, 3s. 
Onions,Young, per cwt. 4d. ,, 
,, Old, per bushel 5s. ,, 
6d. ! 
Peaches, per doz. 
Nectarines, do. 
3fis. 
„ 48s. 
78. 
36s. 
,, 48s. 
Turnips, per bunch.. 
ls.6d ,, 
2d. 
Pine-apples, per lb... 
8s. 
,, 14s. 
Leeks, per bunch .... 
2d. „ 
3d. I 
Foreign Grapes, per lb 
Hothouse ditto, ditto 
3s. 
,, 4s. 
Garlic, per lb. 
6d. ,, 
8(1. 
6s. 
,, 15s. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. 
Shallots, per lb. 6d. ,, Is. 
Lettuce, Cos, each .... 6d. ,, Sd. 
,, Cabbageper doz. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Endive, per score .. ls.Gd. ,, 2s. 
Celery, per bunch.... 9d. to ls.6d. 
Radishes, Turnip, per 
dozen bunches .... — to 6d. 
Water Cresses, ditto .. 6d. ,, 9d. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet. 2d.,, 3d. 
Artichokes, per lb. — ,, 2d. 
Asparagus, per bundle 3s. ,, 6s. 
Sea-kale,per punnet ls.Gd. ,, 2s. 
Rhubarb, per bundle 3d. ,, 6d. 
Cucumbers, each .... 6*1 to ls.Gd. 
Mushrooms, per pot Is. 6d. ,, 2s. 
HERBS. 
Basil, per bunch .... 
Marjoram, per bunch 
Fennel, per bunch .. 
Savory, per bunch .. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 
Parsley, per bunch .. 
4d. 
4(1. 
2d. 
2d. 
2d. 
to 6d. 
„ 6d. 
,, 3d. 
,, 3d. 
,, 3d. 
,, 3d. 
,, 4d. 
,, Sd. 
POULTRY. 
The little alteration we have to note is the increased supply of spiall 
chickens, and the scarcity of larger fowls. 
Large Fowls .. 7s. 6d. to 8s. each. 
Smaller do .... 6s. to 6s. 6d. ,, 
Chickens.. 3s. Ud. to 4s. 6d ,, 
I Goslings.7s. to 7s. 6d. ,, 
' Ducklings 3s. 6<i. to 4s. 3d. ,, 
Guinea Fowl 4s 6d. to 0s. Od. ,, 
Quails.... 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d. each, 
Leverets .. 4s. Od. to 5s. Od. ,, 
Pigeons .9d. to lOd. ,, 
Rabbit.. .. Is. 6d. to Is. 7d. ,, 
Wild Ditto .. 10d. to 1 s. Od. ,, 
Dottrell .. 0s. Od. to 0s. Od. ,, 
Plover’s Eggs, in bulk. 
3s. 
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.—May 2Q, 1856. 
