June 29. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
247 
given, all is done that can be for the cure of this most 
troublesome disease. Should these plans bo thought too 
troublesome, I should recommend the strong astringent to 
be given Internally. I think I have seen more benefit from 
half a grain of blue vitriol twice a-day, in meal, than from 
other internal remedies. For a lengthened account of the 
disease, refer to an article in Number 20H, which is at page 
127, of Volume xi.— W. B. Tegetmeier.] 
PIGEONS NOT PAIRING. 
“ It is not long since I saw your answer to me in The 
Cottage Gardener about the Jacobins not pairing, as I 
had been out for a long time. I kept the Jacobins in a 
cage together for ten weeks, and they did not have any 
eggs (the Jacobins arc a pair); but, ns soon as I let them 
out, they instantly paired with other Pigeons and had eggs. 
What would you advise me to do now, as I want very parti¬ 
cularly to have some young Jacobins; but the young ones 
that I get are only half-bred? What would the rigeons 
be called that were bred by Jacobins and Tumblers ? An 
[ answer to this would greatly oblige as soon as possible.— 
R. Stone.” 
[Adopt the common pairing-cage, with a division in the 
centre, so that the Pigeons are continually kept in sight of 
each other, but secluded from others, until such time as 
appearances indicate their desire of matching; for this 
effect, a week or ten days is usually sufficient. 
The offspring of Tumblers and Jacobins would be simply 
a mongrel—to be consigned to execution so soon as they 
attain sufficient size.—W.] 
SIIELL-LESS EGGS. 
“ I keep six Cochin hens. I to not get a single egg; 
! every one laid is soft. It is grievous sometimes in the 
j morning to look into the house to see the remains of three 
j or four that have been dropped during the night. I have 
| just lost my best hen, and, I believe, in consequence of 
exhaustion from repeatedly laying these eggs, I have tried 
| the remedy specified in your prescription till I am tired of 
j it. 1 have pilled them, to no purpose, for the week together, 
j I fancied they were fed too liberally, as they had always 
food by them—namely, barley, and the broken pieces of 
j kitclien -stuff; therefore, lately, I have limited, even 
' stinted them, fancying they were getting too fat; but all 
i has been of no use. They are well supplied with water. 
I Their house is small; but, I think, sufficiently large for the 
j number, namely, three feet by six, and five feet in height; 
it is of brick and tile, with brick floor; it is well ventilated, 
j as the door is open all day, and a tile is always kept re- 
- moved. They have the range of a gravel-yard thirty yards 
' square. Respecting the house, I might have observed, 
that it is not kept so clean, perhaps, as it might be; 
but it never goes more than a fortnight—sometimes it is 
cleaned weekly. I should, however, think this is not 
! the cause, as the hens all look perfectly healthy. In one 
thing only have they been hitherto deficient, that is in 
being provided with raw meat; they have plenty of green 
i food ; as they cannot procure worms, Ac., in the yard (being 
gravel) I have lately been advised to give them raw meat. 
l)o you think that will be a remedy ?— One Disappointed.” 
[Confinement in a small yard, combined with too stimu¬ 
lating diet, are the causes of the eggs being laid soft, added 
to the want of chalky matters from which to form the 
shells. Give the hens no meat. Let them have the bones 
from your table to pick. Give them barley in the morning, 
and soft food, such as pollard and barleymeal mixed, boiled 
rice, and mashed potatoes in the afternoon. Your idea of 
“ plenty of green food,” may be too limited ; they cannot 
have too much of it. Your hens are too fat, and their 
egg systems are inflamed. Let them have a constant supply 
of pounded chalk, or whitening, such as plasterers use for 
white washing; or burnt and powdered oyster-shells. We 
have our hen roost cleaned out almost daily. Dirt and 
disease are almost as synonymous as their initial letters.] 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Strawberries not Fruiting (A Subscriber). —The frost in April 
may have killed the blossom ; or, if very leafy, you may have manured 
them too highly. We cannot give a decided opinion without more | 
information. 
Depilatory (A Distressed Female). — Orpiment quarter-of-a- 
drachm ; finely powdered quick-lime and starch, of each three drachms. 
Mix and keep in a glass-stoppered bottle. For use make it into a paste 
with a little warm water, and apply the paste to the part previously 
shaved close. As soon as the paste has become thoroughly dry wash it 
off with warm water. 
Parrot ( Chatterer ).—Enquire among the bird dealers in and near 
St. Martin’s Lane. 
Second Crop of Hay (Ignorance). —Liquid-manure is the most 
effectual for obtaining a second crop. It is not at all uncommon for a 
white Shanghae chicken to come from variously coloured parents. 
Poultry Keeping for Profit (A Young Beginner). —First-rate 
j Spanish and Dorkings alone excepted, there has been a general depre¬ 
ciation in the prices of fancy poultry since last year. In Spanish, to 
I which you specially allude, the uncertainty as to the quality of the 
produce would prevent any accurate estimate of value until the chickens 
have nearly reached maturity. If you intend breeding Spanish for sale 
next season, it must he regarded as a matter of speculation, and birds of 
high merit, such as alone should be selected for breeding-stock, will 
not be attainable at the price you mention, viz., dll a head, however 
numerous inferior specimens at a few shillings each. The choice of the 
fowls to be kept by any individual, with a view to a profitable sale, 
depends so entirely on his special circumstances as to locality and other 
conveniences, that general advice, without a knowledge of such con¬ 
ditions, would he far more likely to do harm than good. Any dealer can 
supply you with ltouen ducks, which we certainly consider preferable to 
the Aylesbury. It is contrary to all reason to suppose that the eggs can 
exert any influence, such as you allude to, on the incubating hen ; or, 
that the latter can induce an organic metamorphosis in the form of the 
embryo in the egg. Some error, therefore, must have misled your 
observations.—W. 
Vine-leaves Diseased (IV. C. Whitehaven). —Judging from the 
starved appearance of the leaf inclosed, we think there is something 
wrong at the root of the Black Hamburgh. The dark-coloured fungi 
are very likely to arise from a stagnant state of the sap. We should 
dust the leaves with flowers of sulphur, and apply some manure to the 
roots, besides keeping the surface mulched throughout the summer. 
Names of Plants (A.S.B.), —Your Fir is Abies Smithiana, or, 
A. morinda, of some botanists. ( Falcata ).—1, (Enothera prostratu ; 
2, Geranium sanguineum; 3, Hetianlhemum vutgare ; 4, Genista 
Rhodophnii. (R. S. A'.).—1, Aearia longifolia; it is not hardy; 2, 
Chuma’rOps humilis, not hardy; 3, Deutzia straminea; 4, Amelanchier 
vulgaris; 5, Helianthemum vutgare; fi, Lychnis diurna ; 7, Hieracium, 
cannot make out the species ; 8, Veronica, cannot make out the species. 
Specimens in very bad condition. (J. S.)—Symphytum asperrimum. 
Other question next week. (F. H. S.).—Your Orchids are, Epidendrum 
cochleutam ; the spotted one an Epidendrum, allied to E. pictum ; a 
variety of Gangora macutata ; and the fourth plant is not a Siningia, 
but a Gesnera , related to G. mollis, (W. X. W.). — 1, Viola grunili- 
tiora (?) ; 2, Hieracium ; 3. Solatium. Specimens too had to determine 
specific distinctions. ( Sancho ).—Probably Campanula alpina. (Daisy). 
— Onosma tanrica , or Golden Onosma. (G. A.). — Silene angliru. 
(C. K. ('■ ).—The Ferns enclosed by you, nre, 1, Hypolepis Dicksonioides ; 
2, Pier is uquiliniL in the seedling state, and probably drawn up in heat 
(two specimens),- 3, Ncphrodium molle. 
Those who do not take pains to send good specimens, and packed in 
damp moss in ahox, so as to facilitate our examination, we are reluctantly 
obliged to say we must decline endeavouring to name their plants. 
CALENDAR FOR JULY. 
FLOWER-GARDEN. 
Annuals (Tender), bring out from frames; dress; give fresh earth; i 
stake and tie. Annuals, sow for autumn ; transplant generally. Auri¬ 
culas in pots, dress and water judiciously; seedlings transplant; old 
plants repot, c. Box edgings clip, b. Bud roses, jasmines, &c. BuLn- 
ous Roots, take .up (see June); seeds sow. Carnations, attend to 
(see June); shade and shelter during hot weather; water freely, and give 
liquid-manure. Chrysanthemum suckers separate and plant; layer. 
Cuttings of most herbaceous plants will root now, and of all the scarlet 
Geraniums, if planted on a south border, b. Dahlias require support 
and pruning. Edgings, clip. Evergreens, prune; seedlings, prick 
out. Flower-beds, stir surface often ; train; stop and olten regulate 
the plants, to get an uniform growth and bloom. Grass mow and roll 
freely. Hedges, clip. Hob and rake at every opportunity. Layering 
Carnations, &c., may be performed, b.; water freely ; transplant rooted 
layers. Leaves, decayed, remove as soon as seen. Liquid-manure, 
give occasionally to flowering shrubs. Mignonette, and a feiv other 
quick-flowering annuals, may be sown, b., for autumn. Piping of Pinks, 
&c., may he still practised, b. Pelargoniums, cuttings, plant, b. Po¬ 
lyanthuses, seedlings, transplant; roots of old, part. Roses, hud, 
layer, and make cuttings of, b. Seeds, gather as they ripen. Stake 
and lie up the plants whenever necessary. Transplant, b., from the 
reserve garden in damp or dull weather. Water freely, not only the 
roots, but over the foliage. D- Beaton. 
GREENHOUSE. 
Air, admit freely night and day, unless when stormy ; make an ex¬ 
ception, however, in those cases where growth is still desirable. There 
shut up early, and use the syringe morning and evening. Bud and 
Graft oranges, camellias, azaleas, climbers, &c. Cinerarias, cut 
down, plant out-of-doors, or keep in pot, according as you wish to grow 
