March 25. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
409 
of an obscure court, surrounded on all sides by high 
buildings, this pigeon rises up above the top of the highest 
edifice, hovers an instant aloft, and then returns to that 
dwelling, plunging on to it almost vertically. According to 
all appearances, this is the pigeon that was formerly made 
use of in the east to carry despatches; and those authors 
who pretend that it was a Roman pigeon have doubtless not 
considered, that among all these birds they would, in that 
case, have chosen the one least calculated to perform the 
duty; besides, they have not consulted the ancient monu¬ 
ments, which would have shown them their mistake, since, 
as we have before said, all sculptors represent the Carriers 
in all its forms and details. Be this as it may, the sailors 
of Egypt, Cyprus, and Candia, rear this kind of pigeon on 
board their vessels, for the purpose of setting them at 
liberty, says Belon, when they approach land, to announce 
their arrival to their friends. Another author says—“In the 
east, especially in Syria, Arabia, and Egypt, they train 
pigeons to carry letters under their wings, and to bring back 
the answer to those that have sent them. The Mogul rears 
pigeons which carry letters on such occasions when great 
speed is necessary. The consul of Alexandria makes use 
of this means to send news quickly to Aleppo. The caravans 
which travel in Arabia communicate their march to the 
chief Arabs with which they are allied in the same manner. 
These birds fly with an extraordinary rapidity, and return 
with as much diligence to the place where they have been 
born, and where their nests are. These birds are some¬ 
times seen lying on the sand, with their beak open, waiting 
for the dew to refresh them, and to recover breath.” Accord¬ 
ing to Pliny, pigeons had already been made use of to send 
letters to Modena, besieged by Mark Antony. The custom 
was renewed in Holland in 1574; the Prince of Orange, 
; after the raising of the siege of this last place, wanted these 
! pigeons to be fed at the public expense, in an aviary made 
| expressly for the purpose; and when they died, that they 
i should be embalmed, and kept at the Hotel de Yille as a 
I perpetual sign of thankfulness. 
j Red-necked Carrier ( Columba labellaria collo rubicundo). 
—This bird, originally from Liege, has an eye of an enamel 
white, and carries on its neck some feathers streaked with 
red. The rapidity and lightness of its flight equals the 
preceding ; it may be employed for the same purpose, 
although its habit of rising very high in the air sometimes 
renders it a victim to the birds of jirey. 
English Carrier Pigeon (Culumba labellaria Britannia). 
—This differs essentially from the preceding in its feet, 
which are thickly furnished with feathers ; it is black, with 
the cloak and wings white, tinted with rose-colour when seen 
in the sun; the bar is black. 
Hutch Carrier Pigeon (Columba labellaria Balavica ).— 
This very much resembles the preceding, but its feet are 
not so thickly furnished with feathers, and it has a white 
plumage, tinted with rose-colour in the sun, with the bar, or 
end, sometimes black. This charming variety has always 
been very scarce, and perhaps at the present day it is even 
lost. 
White-barred Carrier Pigeon (Columba labellaria lineata 
Candida ).— It has the form of the common Carrier, but its 
plumage is entirely black, with the exception of the two bars 
on the wings, which are pure white ; it has a black iris and 
naked feet. These charming birds are become extremely 
rare in France, and we have only seen them at M. Cartuc’s, 
one of the most distinguished amateurs in the capital. 
Crested Carrier Pigeon (Columba labellaria cristata ).— 
The Germans possess this variety in great abundance, but 
it is not yet become common in France. They are blue, 
black, red, yellow, or, but rarely, speckled black and white ; 
it produces well. 
Silky Carrier Pigeon ( Columba labellaria setacea). —This 
singular variety has only been known a short time. The 
beards of its feathers are separate, pendant, and soft, which 
deprives this bird of the faculty of flying; and, although it 
produces well, it will doubtless never be multiplied but as an 
object of curiosity. 
{To be continued.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of 
the Cottage Gardener, 2 , Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London. 
Protecting Material. —Our coadjutor, Mr. Fish, writes to us thus : 
—“ What is the best and cheapest material for protecting fruit-trees ? 
I mean in the way of cloth or canvass. I have read our friend Mr. 
Errington’s statements with great gusto ; I can manage to retard 
without such means, hut not so well as if I had a cloth, which could be 
serviceable for keeping off sun and cold too, and the removing of which 
would give us sun when we liked. I have had several private applications 
this verv week, and I cannot answer them satisfactorily, because I cannot 
tell the exact price, and no advertisement seems to supply it. A stout, 
cheap material, about 3d. per yard, is what is wanted. I saw some with 
a neighbour that cost about 8d., nearly two yards wide, very strong ; hut 
he is gone from home, and I cannot, therefore, just now say who is the 
seller. I am sure that in these times, a cheap, stout cloth or canvass 
might he made for something like 3d. per square yard; and if so, or 
cheaper, I am sure that all other modes (branches, nets, and bunting) 
would soon be at a discount. By merely using it in time, we may retard 
as we please, and when the blossom is fairly open, we can give full sun¬ 
light just in those hours most suitable. If you can do anything in this 
matter you will confer a favour on many of your readers, and if our 
manufacturers can meet our case, we need he under no more obligations 
to the Autocrat of all the Russias, for littery, and expensive, and in¬ 
effectual mats.” We wish we could aid Mr. Fish by pointing out a 
fabric such as he requires. We wish some of our manufacturing readers 
would inform us of any that they think would answer the purpose. The 
demand for a cheap, suitable material would be very large. 
Concrete Walks again {One who appreciates the Cottage Gar- 
i dener).— You have done quite right till you came to the finishing stroke, 
that you omitted, and after many weeks you tried the last coat, hut the 
bottom is so hard, that “ a good watering did not soften it, so as to re¬ 
ceive the paint or finishing coat.” How could it, after letting it once get 
settled ? The river Amazon might flow over a good concrete walk like 
yours for a week, and not soften it sufficiently for the purpose; but as 
j concrete will stick to concrete, you can make a little of it now, very thin, 
and with fine gravel; run this all over the walk as thin as you car. lay it, 
! and before it dries colour it with the finest gravel, and roll it next day, 
j Greenhouse Lights (Ibid).— Your present light must have three 
I bars only, then your glass would he 10 inches wide, and if the panes are 
from 20 inches to 30 inches long they will do, or you may have them 
40 inches if you prefer it. Use no lap putty for a greenhouse, and 
Hartley’s rough plate is the best glass for you. We shall let you know 
next week the price of lights per foot. 
Roses for a Veranda ( Subscriber from the beginning).— None of 
the roses in your list are fit for your veranda, and most of them are 
probably not known at all in the rose world of these days, and certainly 
not as climbing roses. The last you mention is probably the old common 
China, and Ranunculi flora is probably a second-rate evergreen climber 
with a name something similar, hut being associated in the common 
jumble who can tell what they are '! It is disgraceful to any dealer to 
send out such a list, after the whole family have been admirably registered 
these dozen years and more. Buy Jaune Desprez, Noisette Lanark, 
Laure Davoust, Pourpre de Tyre , or Tyrian Purple, Crimson Boursault , 
and one Felicite Perpetuelle to bud others on. Let this one he against 
the middle pillar, to run right and left at the top, and put none but 
Gloire de Rosamene at the bottom, but rather bud dwarf roses on shoots 
of the climbers. 
Roses and Dahlias (C. S.).-We would not adopt the plan on any 
account, hut that is no reason why you should not; and to keep the 
dahlias dwarfed in pots, as you propose, seems the most rational way. 
Fuchsia cordifolia {Senex). —This is mentioned in the new Supple¬ 
ment of Paxton’s Dictionary, and in The Cottage Gardeners' Dictionary, 
just published. It may he bloomed at this season, or it may be brought 
forward just now, as stated at p. 308. Your plant may shed its bloom 
from one of several causes—too sudden change of temperature, want 
of water, or deficient drainage, and consequent excess of stagnant water. 
The natural season for Fuchsia cordifolia to he in bloom is July or 
August; yet these good-natured plants may he flowered at any season of 
