THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
“Entries did not come in, and my colleagues said we 
should have no Show. I felt no alarm, because I have 
always been sure that the exhibitor is the person most 
obliged. 
“ Next came applications to know who were tbe Judges, 
disapproving some and recommending others. These 1 at 
once dropped into the waste-paper basket. \Ye were now 
within a fortnight of the limit appointed for entries, and 
they came in fast. 
“ The Show took place, and was well attended. Success 
was certain. 
“ I was stopped by an exhibitor. ‘ Sir,’ said lie, ‘ it was 
not courteous to answer our letters by an advertisement.’ 
“ ‘ Who are ire ?' asked I. 
“‘ The exhibitors.’ 
“ ‘What will be the result of my want of courtesy ?’ 
“ 1 1 had a great mind not to send.’ 
“ * Who would have been the. loser?’ said I. ‘You sent 
two pens, for which you paid Ms., and you take away a cup 
worth five guineas. You forget 1 cannot gain anything !’ 
“ Another who made the same complaint sold three fowls 
for ten guineas. I was firm with all; I do not think I 
offended any. 1 showed to all our interests were identical. 
I pointed out that squabbles were injurious, and only da¬ 
maged a cause in which we were all interested. I showed 
to some that they made money l>y it, to others that they 
derived pleasure. To my townsmen I pointed out the ad¬ 
vantages arising from the influx of company. To visitors I 
enlarged on the relaxation it afforded, aud the consequent 
benefit, dwelling much on the fact that many men will not 
take necessary relaxation without they have something to 
drug them from the shop or counting-house. I worked 
hard, had a successful Show, did much good, was voted a 
piece of plate, of which I am not a little proud, earned over 
a balance of £50 to the next year, and mean to continue 
the Show as long as I live." 
We will leave the illustration of the last point to' rest on 
this quotation, merely remarking, we agree with it entirely, 
and are convinced, if it is a madness, there is much method 
in it. 
PIGEONS POISONED 
BY WATER CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD. 
The following case, communicated to me by Mr. Esqni- 
lant, one of the members of the Pliiloperisteron Society, 
and well known as a most enthusiastic admirer and success¬ 
ful exhibitor of many of our choicest breeds of domestic 
Pigeons, is so very instructive, that no preface is required to 
introduce it to the readers of The Cottage Gardener. 
On removing some Pigeons to new premises, they were 
supplied with water of a very soft and apparently pleasant 
character from a cistern lined with lead. In a short time 
many of the birds became paralytic, and suffered much 
from cramp and spasms in the limbs. At first, the real 
cause was not suspected, and tlie Pigeons were regarded 
as suffering from some peculiar and mysterious disease; 
but the symptoms of poisoning by lead became so strongly 
marked, that suspicion was directed to the right quarter, and 
on the source of the water supply having been changed, 
and soma diluted sulphuric acid added to their drink, the 
birds gradually recovered. 
It may be, perhaps, desirable to state the circumstances 
under which lead renders water poisonous. When this 
metal is exposed to the air, it becomes covered with a slight 
film or tarnish, which is chiefly carbonate of lead, or white 
lead; this is soluble to a slight degree in water, rendering 
the latter poisonous, and very severe symptoms, both in the 
case of men and animals, have been produced by its 
employment. If, however, the water is not quite free from 
mineral matters, hut contains a very small proportion of 
any soluble sulphate, tbe tarnish or film on the surface of 
the lend is changed in its character, being converted into 
j sulphate (instead of carbonate) of lead, and this is so 
exceedingly insoluble in water, that not the. slightest trace 
of it is dissolved. Hence all ordinary water can be kept 
with safety in leaden cisterns, and transmitted, williout con- 
’ tamination, through leaden pipes; rain water, however, 
j cannot, nor any exceedingly soft water free from mineral 
GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— August 10,1866. 075 
matters. Should such water lie kept in leaden cisterns, it 
becomes poisonous, producing partial paralysis. These evil 
effects, however, may be entirely prevented by adding to the 
water in the cistern an ounce or two of Epsom or Glauber 
sails every fortnight or month, which sufficiently impregnates 
the water with the requisite mineral materials to produce 
the desirable effect which has been described.—W. B. 
Tegetmeier. 
POULTRY SALES. 
The last sale of tbe season took place at Mr. Stevens’s on 
the 6th, and the prices realised proved the truth of the 
assertion, that good stoftk birds will always command fair 
prices. The first six lots, which consisted of three Dorking j 
chickens in each, produced £3 16s. Cd. the six. Some good i 
Polands, from Mr. Edwards, of Bulstrode, produced above a 
guinea a couple. Light Brahmas were in demand for the 
Continent. Lord de Blaquiere sent some very good Black 
Cochins, bred from and entered as Brahmas, and a few good ' 
Rouen Ducks, which produced about £1 each; aud a pen of 
Golden-pencilled Hamburghs sold for £1 10s. 
Under the name of Australian Geese, Mr. Warwick, of 
Colchester, forwarded a pair of birds recommended as 
extraordinary layers, which were nothing more than common 
Geese crossed with the Coloured Chinese or Swan Goose, 
the result being a hybrid that is not uncommon in many 
parts of the world where sailing-vessels from Eastern Asia 
touch. These birds are usually steiileif mated together; but 
the eggs are prolific if they are mated with either of the 
parent races. As layers, the cross-bred Geese are useful, 
deriving their prolificacy from their Chinese parent, and as 
table birds they are unexceptionable. The sale contrasted 
pleasantly with some of the recent ones, as, to use a com¬ 
mercial phrase, things are evidently looking up.— W. B. T. i 
KEEPING COLLARED TURTLE DOVES AT 
LIBERTY. 
I am happy to be enabled to give “E. M. A.” some ! 
information respecting giving these Doves their liberty. In 
the first place, it must be borne in mind that birds raised 
in cages, and that have never had their liberty, have but a 
very imperfect use of their wings, that they cannot judge 
the relative distance of objects, and do not know on what 
objects to alight, or which to shun. A few lessons in a 
large room or some such place will be necessary. At first, 
the bird is soon exhausted by the excitement caused by its 
own blunders and hesitations; hut it very soon learns to glide 
smoothly and easily from one object to another, and, with 
little exertion to itself, will become very difficult to catch. 
If they have full liberty they will prefer tbe shrubs and 
trees to roost and breed in ; but they may be taught to 
return to a cage or pen by first accustoming them to do so 
in the room to which they may be compelled by hunger; j 
and once having thoroughly learnt the lesson, they rarely 
forget. They might then be secured for the night. They 
will require constant daily feeding, and when once, accus¬ 
tomed to the place, there is but little fear of their straying 
far while food is to be had at home, nor have I found 
the cold of our late severe winter injure them in the least.— 
B. P. B. 
THE HOUSEHOLD. 
Syr.T.ABuns.—One pint and a half of cream, half a pint 
of white wine, the juice of a lemon, a spoonful of brandy, 
and sweetened with loaf sugar, whisked well. 
Lemon Sponge. —One ounce of isinglass dissolved in j 
half a pint of water over-night, boiled with lemon and ; 
sugar to the taste, and whisked till it is thick; then put into 
a mould. 
Ground Rice Cake. —One quarter of a pound of rice, 
the same of flour, half a pound of sugar, half a pound of 
butter, six eggs, leaving out half the whites. 
Jugged Hare. —Cut it into little j>ieces, lard them here 
