178 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— June 8, 1850. 
THE .POULTRY CHRONICLE. 
THE HATCHING SEASON. 
Complaints of bad batching are common, not only among 
: Poultry breeders, but Game-preservers ; and Pheasants and 
j chickens will both be late this year. We, therefore, come 
| forward with a word of comfort for those who have equal 
i dislike to early and late hatching. This is a numerous 
class. They will not encounter the labour of January 
chickens, and they share the old prejudice against hatching 
in June. We cannot understand why. It is said, chickens 
never do well if hatched at that time. We have had as 
good chickens as were ever -bred, in that glorious and sunny 
month. Tradition says, that the tenth is the day when 
more Pheasants are hatched than in the remaining three 
hundred and sixty-four; and the twenty-first is the chosen 
time for Partridges. We know these rear well, and why 
should not chickens? The nights are short and warm, the 
earth teems with animal food, and there is nothing to in¬ 
terfere with their growth. If our readers will trust us, if they 
have been disappointed in early chickens, they will breed 
some in June, and when they see their rapid growth they 
will not repent it; and the chickens in October will show 
advantageously by the side of earlier brethren, nipped and 
dwarfed by the biting east wind. 
THE EXETER POULTRY EXHIBITION. 
Held the 29th and 30th of May, 1850. We shall give our 
comments next week. 
Spanish. —First, J.R.Rodbard, Esq., Aldwick Court, Langford, near 
Bristol. Second, John Buncombe, Esq., Wellington, Somerset. Third, 
Mrs. Brutton J. Ford, Ide, near Exeter. (Cup withheld.) 
Spanish Chickens of 1856.— Second, Capt. H. M. Ellicombe, B.N., 
Culverland Cottage, Exeter. (First withheld.) 
Dorking (Coloured).—First or Cup, J. L. Popham, Esq., Chilton, 
Hungerford. Second, Mr. William Connett, 2/0, High-street, Exeter. 
Third, Mr. William Connett, 2/0, High-street, Exeter. 
Dorking (White).—Second, Richard Daw, Esq., Mount Radford, 
near Exeter. Third, Francis J. Coleridge, Esq., Ottery Saint Mary. 
(First withheld.) 
Dorking Chickens of 1856.—First, Mr. Henry Drew, Peamore, 
near Exeter. Second, Mrs. John Hole, Green End, Plymtree. 
Cochin-China (Cinnamon or Buffs).—First, the Rev. G. F. Hodson, 
North Pctherton, near Bridgwater. Second, Mr. W. L. Channing, 
Heavitree, near Exeter. Third, Robert T, Head, Esq., The Briars, 
Alphington. 
Cochin-China (Brown or Partridge-coloured).—First or Cup, the 
Rev. G. F. Hodson, North Petherton, near Bridgwater. Second, Mrs. 
Brutton J. Ford, Ide, near Exeter. Third, Mrs. Brutton J. Ford, Ide, 
near Exeter. 
Cochin-China Chickens of 1856.— Prize withheld. 
Garik (Black-breusted and other Reds).—First or Cup, J. R. Rod- 
bard, Esq., Aldwick Court, Langford, near Bristol. Second, Dr. Scott, 
St. Leonard’s, near Exeter. Third, J. H. Amory, Esq., Bolham House, 
Tiverton. 
Garie (Duckwings, &c.).—First, Second, and Third, J. R. Rodbard, 
Esq., Aldwick Court, Langford, near Bristol. 
Game Chickens of 1856.—First and Second, Dr.Scott, St. Leonard’s, 
near Exeter. 
Malays. — First, John Buncombe, Esq., Wellington, Somerset. 
Second, R. B. Stewart, Esq., Lydeard House, Swindon, Wilts. Third, 
j John Buncombe, Esq., Wellington, Somerset. 
Guinea Fowls.— Second, Mrs. Sarah Pratt, Tale Farm, Pay hem- 
| bury. (First withheld.) 
Hariburgus (Golden-pencilled). — First, Mrs. Charles Coleridge, 
Eton College, Windsor. Second, the Rev. Lewis Gidley, Honiton. 
Hamburgiis (Golden-spangled).—First or Cup, Miss Frances Pat- 
teson, Feniton Court, near Honiton. (Second withheld.) 
Hariburgus (Silver-pencilled). — Second, Miss Frances Pattcson, 
Feniton Court, near Honiton. (First withheld.) 
(There was so much confusion in the classes of Ham- 
burghs, that we fear mistakes occurred.) 
Polands (Black, with White Crests).—First, G. S. Fox, Esq., The 
Court, Wellington. (Second, no competition.) 
Polands (Golden).— Second, Edward Winthrop, Esq., Lydeard 
House, near Swindon, Wilts. (First withheld.) 
Polands (Silver). — First, Mrs. Charles Coleridge, Eton College, 
Windsor. (Second withheld.) 
Thorough Bred.— First, Walter Hugo, Esq., Albert Villa, Mount 
Radford, near Exeter. (White Spanish.) Second, Walter Hugo, Esq., 
Albert Villa, Mount Radford, near Exeter. (Black Hamburghs.) 
Bantaris (Gold-laced).—First, the Rev. G. S. Cruwys, Cruwys Mor- 
chard Court, Tiverton. Second, T. H. D. Bayly, Esq., Ickwell House, 
near Biggleswade, Beds. 
Bantaris (Silver-laced). — First, T. H. D. Bayly, Esq., Ickwell 
House, near Biggleswade, Beds. Second, the Rev. G. F. Hodson, 
North Petherton, near Bridgwater. 
Bantaris (Any other variety).—First, the Rev. G. F. Hodson, North 
Petherton, near Bridgwater. (Black.) Extra first prize, Mr. W. H. 
Minty, Stafford Terrace, Heavitree. (Rumpless.) Second, Rev. G. S. 
Cruwys, Cruwys Morchard Court, Tiverton. 
Turkeys. — First or Cup, Charles Edwards, Esq., Brockley Court, 
near Bristol. Second, J. R. Rodbard, Esq., Aldwick Court, Langford, 
near Bristol. Third, George Turner, Esq., Barton, Exminster. 
Geese.— First, Philip Francis, Esq., Moor House, Crediton. Second, 
Mrs. John Hole, Green End, Plymtree. 
Ducks (Aylesbury).— Prize withheld. 
Ducks (Rouen).—Third, ihe Rev. G. F. Hodson, North Petherton, 
near Bridgwater. (First and Second withheld.) 
We will give the Pigeon prizes next week, together with 
our comments. 
DUCK FEEDING. 
Could you inform me at what age it is desirable to vary 
the soft food for Ducks with a few oats, and whether they 
are better soaked or dry at first?— Azile. 
[If it is desired, Ducks may be put on hard food at eight 
weeks old. Our own impression is, that meal is always 
cheaper food for Poultry than whole corn. Oats are best 
for Ducks, and they should be put in water with a little 
gravel. The latter keeps them very healthy, but it also 
gives enormous appetite. If they are at liberty it may be 
thrown on the ground, choosing a hard spot to avoid waste.] 
GRITS IN THE HUSK. 
Kate has a sack of grits—hut they are in the husk—not 
at all like those bought at the grocers. Can she use these 
parboiled, and mixed with oatmeal, for young chickens ? and 
would the grits be more injurious than the others, if given 
unboiled ? 
[We think the grits may he given unboiled. We have 
never tried them with the husks; but we are partial to the 
ordinary ones for chickens, and we give them without any 
preparation.] 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
How to detect fektile Eggs ( J . Duffield ). —“By what means 
can I judge whether the eggs are fecundated or otherwise ? I have 
looked into various books upon the subject, which nearly all advise 
examination of the eggs by candle-light to ascertain whether they are so, 
or otherwise, but not one of them explains by what particular mark or 
appearance I can ascertain the fact.” 
[We confess our inability to give the required information. We further 
express our belief, that where there is no reason why the eggs should be 
sterile, they are seldom or never found to be so. It is against nature; 
and causes may generally be found for the non-production of chickens 
from eggs, in the state of the weather, or even the condition of the hen. 
Where a young and healthy cock runs with hens no such complaints 
should ever be listened to.] 
Hen laying soft Eggs (A Novice in Poultry Keeping).— The 
symptoms you describe show that the egg-organs of your hens are over¬ 
excited. Separate the male bird from them; give them at an interval 
of a day two pills, each containing one grain of calomel and one- 
twclftli of a grain of tarter emetic ; substitute scalded rice for the barley ; 
feed them less liberally, hut give them as much green food as they will 
eat, such as grass and lettuce leaves. 
LONDON MARKETS.— June 2nd. 
COVENT GARDEN. * 
Supply good, and a steady trade in general; first-rate articles com¬ 
manding prices quite equal to last week. Importations from the Con¬ 
tinent now include three or four varieties of good Cherries , and some 
good spring CauHjIowers. Among home-produce there is not anything 
new to report. Prices for Cornish and Somerset Potatoes may be quoted 
about 20 per cent lower. 
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.—June 3 , 1856. 
