Novembkr 13. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
115 
road overlooking Turnliam Green. Taking, for example, the 
liaiuLoniely emblazoned gates and ornamental lodge at 
i the entrance to the Duke of Devonshire’s \ illa. These are 
i in siglit of the mean-looking lodge and gates attached to 
j the gardens. 
j The title of the Society, with the addition of the name 
I of ‘‘Cliiswick,” conspicuously wrought in the pattein of the 
I gates, should ho done. 
j As to the pumher of I’xhibitions to he held at Chiswick, 
I double the number of those at present field there would not 
I he too much, and less in London; tho last at the end of 
; September, if not later. 
'J’he Committee can take a few instructive lessons from 
the Paris Horticultural Society. 
The flower-gardens must, of a necessity, be thoroughly re¬ 
modelled to suit the taste of the public. Mr. D. Heaton 
woitUI, no doubt, soon point out, for the benefit of the 
Society, what kind of attractions it would be desirable to 
make. He has always taken a great interest in it. He 
would not, possibly, object to see tho public occasionally 
admitted to the grounds, free, to admire his handiwork, and 
give young gardeners an opportunity of gaining instruction. 
A great inducement miglit be held out, with the view of 
obtaining subscribers to the Society, in appropriating a day 
or so to them and their friends, by hiring a military band to 
play in tho grounds, according to the plan adojited at the 
Kensington Gardens. Not omitting to have a refreshment- 
room erected, which might be supplied with fruits of the 
Pomological gardens, together Avith the beverages and 
biscuits supplied by IMr. Gunter, at the one in the gardens 
alluded to; also bouquets, after French and English styles, 
of picked choice floAvers from the conservatories and gardens, 
to be sold at a moderate price. 
As the House of the Society in London cannot accom¬ 
modate the anticipated accession of new subscribers, some 
rooms ought to be engaged fro tern, for the use of the 
General Meetings in London. 
The above suggestions are offered with the desii'e of in¬ 
ducing other sulisc.ribers to your Journal to give their free 
opinions on this important subject.— Oct. 30,1855. 
MILDEW ON VINES. 
Seeing an article in The Cottage Gardener for Octo¬ 
ber the Kith, respecting this disease, I must say I cannot 
agree with the Avriter as regards the sulphur on his flues. 
He says, omit the Avashing of the flues until the cro]) of fruit 
is cut; but I think tliat Avould be of little use to secure the 
fruit if attacked Avhen young. As a preventive, I have 
used myself (and some of my neighbours) a mixture of 
soft-soap, sulphur, and soot, and applied it to the pipes and 
flues eveiy fortnight from the commencement of forcing, 
and neAer haA’e I seen the least trace of mildeAV ; but T have 
not got my house up to 100*^, I only keep it the regvdar heat 
required for the health of the Vines. M'hen 1 prune my 
Vines, I remove all loose, old bark, and paint them Avith the 
same mixture as the pipes. As regards dry sulphur, many 
say, if you have mildeAV on your Vines and Grapes, rub them 
Avith finger and thumb Avith the flour of sulphur; I fear 
there is very few that would like to go into a Vinery Avell- 
stocked with fruit to perform that operation. Further, is 
there any one of our Grape-groAvers that Avould like to see 
their fruit shining like Morelia Cherries? What is a Grape 
thought of Avithout its bloom ? It is quite clear that all 
bloom must be gone if the Grapes are coloured Avhen at¬ 
tacked, I think they are not lit to go to a gentleman’s table. 
I am sorry to say 1 think Grape groAviug is not so much 
looked after in many places as it deserves to bo. Good fruit 
is little knoAvn to many. The greatest mistake is too many 
berries, causing them to be so small ; some that are thought 
good are very moderate, Avhen compared Avith some grown 
Avell. Pruning has a great deal to do Avith it. Many gar¬ 
deners do not like the close pruning, Avhich I think I'ar 
superior to any other Avay. — S. T., Norfolk, 
CANAIIY BREEDING. 
{Conihntrd from fage 43.) 
II.AViNG, in my former paper, given some account of the 
breeding and rearing of Canaries in a room, or aviary, it is 
now my intention to write a feAV I’omarks on their manage¬ 
ment in breeding-cages. 
The hreeding-cago should he roomj'. Indeed, its shape 
or make is of little consequence, provided it is suHiciently 
large ; that there is a somewhat sheltered nook or corner 
for the nest; and that it is so placed, or can be moved, so 
as to enjoy the influence of the sun’s rays occasionally, 
whicli conduces much to the health and vivacily of the 
inmates. 
The commonest breeding-cages are those sold in London 
for half-a-croAvn each, being made of thin deal, boarded at 
top, bottom, hack, and sides, the front only being of wire, 
and furnished inside with a centre perch, and one along the 
front, for the birds to feed on; tAVO nest-boxes, hnug, one in 
each of the back corners, and tho bottom to draw out, in 
j order to clean the cage. In addition to the cage, tAvo glasses, 
j one for seed, the other for Avater, Avhich Avill cost threepence 
each, and a twopenny tin pan for the soft food, completes 
the furnishing of their abode, at the cost of three sliillings 
and threepence. A common cock Canary may be bought in 
London for tAvo-and-sixpence or three shillings, in the 
autumn; and a hen for ono shilling or eighteenpence; so that 
if one has a mind to he economical, their tirststai't need not 
cost very npuch ; hnt if a lady or gentleman intends to be¬ 
come a fancier, I Avould advise her or him to buy more sub¬ 
stantial cages, and breed birds of some fancy variety, in the 
selection of Avhich they can indulge their tastes to any ex- 
1 tent they think agreeable. 
I knoAV not of any fornr or shape of cage that is better 
! adapted to successful rearing of birds than another, always 
I provided it is sulflciently roomy. The common cages, before 
I mentioned, are about twenty inches long, ten wide, and 
1 twelve, high, and I Avould not advise any smaller space for a 
j pair of birds, but the larger the better, provided they do 
I not become cumbersome; if boarded round, they should be 
made of good yelloAv de.al, strong of turpentine, and Avell- 
painted externally ; or, if required to be ornamental, of ma¬ 
hogany or fancy wire-work, though Avire filligree is rarely 
durable. Care should be taken that the Avood-Avork is well 
and closely put together; and if you intend having the 
cages made to order, it would be an excellent plan to smear 
all the edges of the Avood AAdiere it is to meet Avith a mixtui’e 
of turpentine and some thick oil, or fat, so as to j ire vent any 
insects from harbouring in the cracks and crevices of the 
cages, Avhich they otherwise Avill do, much to the annoyance 
of the old, and frequently to the destruction of the young, 
birds. Such cages as are not painted may be occasionally 
rubbed over with oil, so as to fill all cracks, and then rubbed 
dry, which Avill not only improve their appearance, Imt 
destroy much of the vermin. 
'I'he nest-boxes are, I think, best made rather deep, as 
the hen sits then more secluded. The size I recommend is 
about three-and-a-half inches square, and tAvo-and-a half to 
three inches deep, the bottom to be made of wire, so th.at 
any dust or dirt that may work through the nest may fall 
out, and not accumulate on the Hoor of the nest to form a 
harbour for vermin. The nest-box, too, should be Avell- 
irainted, so as to soak the Avood Avell Avith oil and tiniAentine. 
If the breeding-cage is all made of open-Avork, it Avill be 
requisite to hang it up out of draughts; and, in that case, 
it Avill be advisable for the nest-boxes to have little roofs of 
their own. If a large cage is used, two hens may be put 
up to one cock; but, in that case, it is advisable to alloAv tlie 
ladies to become Avell-acquainted before the gentleman is 
introduced to them. 
A bath is indispensable ; it is a frame of mahogany, hold¬ 
ing a small, Avhite pan, and covered over Avith wires (and 
may be purchased at most bird-cage shops in Londoji); the 
pan being tilled Avith Avater, and the bath hooked on in front 
of the open door-Avay, the birds take great delight in bathing, 
Avhich conduces much to their health and the beauty of their 
plumage. The floor of the cage should be sti’ewn with 
sand; a small lump of salt-mortar he placed in it for them 
to peck; and, in other respects, treatecl as described in my 
former paper. The young birds should be removed as soon 
