THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— July 29, 1856. 
They are the produce of the accidental or promiscuous mixture 
of any two or more varieties, and, consequently, under one 
circumstance resemble one breed, and under another a dif¬ 
ferent sort; they are everywhere the commonest or most 
numerous ; are generally excellent breeders ; many of them 
are kept in dovecots, and are capable, like the Dove-house 
Pigeon, of providing for themselves in the fields.—B. P. 
Brent. 
THE HOUSEHOLD. 
How to Determine the Height a Colt will attain 
when full Grown. —Mr. J. R. Martin, of Lexington, Ken¬ 
tucky, gives out the following upon this point:—“ I can tell 
you bow any man may know, within half an inch, the height 
a colt will attain to when full grown. The rule may not 
hold good in every instance, but in nine cases out of ten it 
will. When the colt gets to be three weeks old, or as soon 
as it is perfectly straightened in its limbs, measure from- the 
edge of the hair on the hoofs to the middle of the first joint, 
and for every inch, iL will grow to the height of a hand of 
four inches when its growth is matured. Thus, if this 
distance be found sixteen inches, it will make a horse sixteen 
hands high. By this means, a man may know something of 
what sort of a horse, with proper care, he is to exppct from 
his colt.” 
How to Wash Flannel. —Some washerwomen possess 
quite a knack in washing flannels, so as to prevent it fulling. 
It is not the soapsuds nor rinsing waters that thicken up 
flannel in washing, but the rubbing of it. Cloth is fulled by 
being “ pounced and jounced ” in the stocks of the fulling- 
mill with soapsuds. The action of rubbing flannel on the 
wash-board is just the same as that of the fulling-mill. 
Flannel, therefore, should always be Washed in very strong 
soapsuds, which will remove the dirt and grease, by squeezing, 
better than hard rubbing will in weak soapsuds. It should 
also be rinsed out of the soap in warm water, and never in 
cold, as the fibres of the wool do not shrink up as much in 
warm water after coming out of the warm soapsuds. Great 
care should be taken to rinse the soap completely out of the 
flannel. This advice will apply to the washing of blankets, 
the same as it does to the washing of flannel. 
White Collops. —Cut your collops as thin as you can off 
a leg of veal, put a little butter in your pan, set it upon a 
slow fire, put in your veal, keep stirring it till it turns white; 
then put in some mace and nutmeg, a little lemon peel, 
onion, and anchovy, all finely shred, and a little white wine 
when the collops are tender; then put in a little flour to 
dry up the gravy; and then some cream, according to 
the quantity of collops; add force-meat balk, which must 
be boiled. 
To make a Lemon Cake. —Half a pound of lump sugar 
beat and sifted, six eggs, take half the white out, and whisk 
them to a froth ; add the sugar by degrees, and whisk it an 
hour and a half; then add six ounces of flour, well dried 
and sifted, with the rind and juice of a lemon, or a large 
spoonful of rose-water; the flour must not be put in till 
just going to the oven. 
Ratafia Pudding. —Take six sponge cakes, soak them in 
white wine ; then make a custard, and pour it over them; 
then put them in the mould, steam them for twenty 
minutes—make a nice sauce with wine, melted butter, 
and sugar, pour it over the pudding in the dish; and put 
either a row of ratafia cakes round the top, or raisins. 
Gingerbread Nuts. —To two pounds of sifted flour put 
two pounds of treacle, three quarters of a pound of moist 
sugar, half an ounce candied orange peel cut small, one ounce 
and a half ground ginger, the same of allspice, carraway, and 
coriander seeds, three quarters of a pound of butter oiled; 
mix altogether, set it by for ‘some time; then roll it out 
into pieces about the size of a large walnut, lay them in 
rows on a baking plate, press them flat with the hand, and 
i bake them about ten minutes. 
Gingerbread. —Two pounds of flour, sixteen ounces of 
j butter, two ounces of ginger, one ounce of cloves, twelve 
ounces of sugar, a little lemon peel, as much treacle as the 
ingredients take to mix up. 
Ginger Cakes.— One pound of flour, half a pound of 
butter, half a pound of loaf sugar, a quarter of an ounce 
of Jamaica ginger, and two eggs. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Cochin-China Chickens (X I'.).—If, instead of rice, you give them 
barley or wheat, you coutd not further improve their dietary. They 
naturally feather slowly, especially the cockerels. 
Hens Dying suddenly- (Subscriber ).—They unquestionably died 
from over-fatness. Chickens should be fed under a coop adjoining their \ 
mother, and so (hat she cannot get at their food. They require a highly ; 
nourishing diet; but she, on the contrary, a cooling and non-fattening 
diet. Whilst the chickens are having eggs boiled hard, barleyraeal, and I 
wheat, the mother should have little barleymeal, but plenty of boiled 
potatoes and boiled rice. 
Feeding Chickens (D. P.). —Feed them four or five times a day. 
A little at a time, and often, is the best. 
Pigeon Cote (Idem ).—The oftener it is cleaned out the better for the 
pigeons. 
Creve Ciedks (X 8 .).—The name of the party and his direction are 
quite genuine. It is too late to sit hens now. We have repeatedly 
stated the mode to be adopted to cause hens to cease from being broody, j 
LONDON MARKETS.— July 28th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
Supply well kept up, and a moderate, regular demand during the past 
week, which has been particularly favourable for the getting in of all the 
preserving fruits now ready, causing great activity in some branches, 
more especially the retail dealers, who find an increasing demand from 
all those families that turn their attention to having genuine preserves, 
which are difficult to be met with, except they are done under home 
superintendence. This, we are happy to find, is largely increasing, and 
we have no doubt will meet with corresponding favour. The importation 
of foreign Pines nearly 100,000 this week. Potatoes now come to hand 
in large quantities, and among them some excellent Regents. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
bushel. 8s. to 12s. 
,, dessert .. .. 12s. ,, 20s. 
Pears, per dozen .... is. ,, 3s. 
Peaches, per doz. 10s. ,, 20s. 
Nectarines, do. 10 s. ,, 20s. 
Pine-apples, perlb... 6s. ,, 10s. 
HothouseGrapes, per lb. 3s. ,, 6s. 
Strawberries, per lb. 3d. ,, Is. 
Foreign Melons, each 2 s. ,, 5*. 
Wall Cherries, per lb. Is. to ls.6d. 
Cherries, perlb. 6d. ,, Is. 
Oranges, per 100 .... 4s.,, 10s. 
Seville Oranges, do... 6s.,, 12s. 
Lemons. 6s. ,, 12s. 
Almonds, per lb. 2s. ,, —s. 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
lOOlbs. 50s. ,, 60s. 
,, Cobs, ditto.. 80s. ,,100s. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 20s. ,, 22s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 12 s. ,, 14s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 9-s. ,, 12s. 
Chestnuts, per bushel 153. ,, 24s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, per doz. Is. to Is. 6d. 
,, xveii, per aoz. zs. iu “is. 
Cauliflowers, each.... 9d. ,, Is. 
Brocoli, per bdle. Sd. ,, 6d. 
Savoys. Is. ,, 2 s. 
Greens, per doz. bnch. 4s. ,, 6s. 
Spinach, per sieve .. — ,, 4s. 
French Peas, per bslil. 6s. ,, 10s. 
French Beans, per 100 Is. ,, 2s. 
Carrots, per bunch .. pd. „ Is. 
Parsnips, per doz. 6d. to 9d. 
Beet, per doz. Is. to Is 6d. 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 3s, to 6s. 
,, Frame, per lb. 6d. ,, 0d. 
,, New, per lb .. 2d. ,, 4d. 
Onions, Y’ng.perb’nch. 4d. ,, 6d. 
,, Old, per bushel 5s. ,, 7s. 
Turnips, per bunch.. 9d. ,, is. 
Leeks, perbunch .... 2d. ,, 3d. 
Garlic, per lb. 6d. ,, 8d. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. 
Shallots, per lb. 6d. to Is. 
Lettuce, Cos, each .... 6d. „ 8d. 
,, Cabbageperdoz. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Endive, perscore .. ls.6d. ,, 2s. 
Celery, per bunch.... 9d. to ls.6d. 
Radishes,Turnip, per 
dozen bunches .... 
— to 
fid. 
Water Cresses, ditto.. 
6d. 
9d. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet. 
2d. 
3d. 
Artichokes, per lb. 
— 
2d. 
Asparagus, per bdl. 
3s. 
5s. 
Sea-kale,per punnet .. 
— 
— 
Rhubarb, per bundle 
3d. 
6d. 
Cucumbers, each. 
4(1. 
6d. 
Mushrooms, per pot Is 
. 6d. 
2s. 
HERBS. 
Basil, per bunch .... 
4d. to 
6d. 
Marjoram, per bunch 
4(1. 
,, 
6d. 
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 . 
6d. 
ft 
8d. 
POULTRY. 
The demand for poultry gets less daily. The London season is draw¬ 
ing to a close. The great heat of the weather makes senders shy, and 
field occupations take precedence of poultry-feeding for a time in the 
country. Any change in price will now be a diminution. 
Large Fowls 6s. 6d. to 7s. Od. each. 
Smaller do 4s. 0d. to 5s. 0d. ,, 
Chickens .. 2s. 9d« to 3s. 3d. ,, 
Goslings.6s. to 6s. 6d. ,, 
Ducks.... 3s. 0d. to 3s. 6d. ,, 
Pigeons.9d- to lOd. each 
Quails .... 2s. 3d. to 29. 6d. „ 
Leverets .. 4s. Od, to 5s. 6d. ,, 
Rabbits.... Is. 5d. to Is. 6d. ,, 
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 Tiik Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in ' 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—July 29 , 1856. 
I 
