Jaxuaiiv’ 8. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
I 
as tlip Crystal Palace, I hope the Company will come out 
liberally with this class. I regret to hear, from vixlonhlfd 
aiilhorilij, that their great liberality last year was taken 
advantage ■of; and T hope, that in future no one will be 
allowed to exhibit without signing a declaration that what 
they otter for exhibition has been in their possession at 
least two mo)iths ; and that after this, if imposed upon, the 
name of tlie impostor, along with the account of the trans¬ 
action, will he jndnted in large letters, and placed where 
it will be seen in the building. I am sorry such as the 
above is necessary, but if called upon to substantiate it, 
I will unhesitatingly expose such dastardly conduct.— D. 
ErmousoN, Sloim, liuvhhxiham. 
CULTUIIE, UNDER GLASS, OF BLECHNUM 
BOREALE. 
Pi'.RjrTT me to correct an error which T pei’ceive in No. 
:>7iS of The Cottage (l.vnoENEU, in reference to the cul¬ 
tivation of the Blcchtmni horeale, where tlie writer states 
that “ it will not tlndve either in a Wai dian case, or in a 
greenhouse.” Having grown it to a great extent, I can say, 
confidently, that it will grow, and that, too, most luxuriantly, 
in a greenliouse. I have had plants of it in twenty-four 
sized pots, throw out eight and-thirty fronds, fourteen 
of which were fertile, and it was that, and a tine plant of 
Scolopoti/riuvi iindiildtinn, that attracted the notice of most 
visitors, for they were really noble plants. 
1 have also grown each of these very successfully in a 
stove temperature, and also many other hartiy Ferns. 
Tlie Asp/eiiiiim cheiwiiin 1 liave grown to the length of 
twenty-four inches, and the Blvchnuin horeale to an equal 
length, in a greenhouse ; and, if I am not mistaken, I have 
seen Win Blechuum hnreule growing very widl in a smalt glass, 
or Wardian-case, in the shop front of a chemist at Sloane 
Square, Chelsea, but that I cannot be quite confident about, 
as it is some time since T. saw it, and I did not take that 
notice which 1 should have done had I seen the article I 
have now before me. Rut if Bhchinim hi.renlc will grow in 
the temperature of a moist stove, why should it not grow in 
a moist temperature in a Wardian-case? 
Considering the Blechinim horeale a liandsome Fern for 
])ot culture, as well as for rockwork, has induced me to make 
tiiese observations, as what is stated in the article before me 
miglit prevent many from adding it to their collection of 
greenhouse Ferns. And why should this be rejected, when 
it is far handsomer than many tender specimens ? — W. 
Reeve, Hi ^ hiiate . 
[We abe much obliged by this communication, and shall 
he still more so, if Mr. Reeve will send us for publication 
his mode of treating Blechinirn horenle under glass. Soil, 
temperature, degree of shade, amount of ventilation, &c. 
We think a plant growing in a well-ventilated stove, is no 
proof that it will thrive in the confined air of a Wardian- 
case. We shall be well-pleased to find that it will succeed 
in both structures.—E d. C. G.] 
THE CANARY BIRD. 
BREEDING MULES. 
The extreme docility of the Canary bird, and the ease 
with which it iiropagates in captivity, have induced fanciers 
to endeavour to obtain crosses, or hybrids, from it and other 
allied species, which hybrids are usually designated Mules. 
The most common Mules bred in this country are from 
j Goldfinches or Grey Linnets. These Mules are considered 
; excellent songsters, and are more valued than Canaries, on 
i account of the difficulty and uncertainty of obtaining them ; 
I and being themselves, as a rule, unproductive, their siqiply 
is consequently uncertain, and can only be obtained with 
trouble. Dr. Rechstein, as before quoted, says the Serrin 
and Cibril Finches breed most freely with the Canary; but, 
as such have never come under my observation, I cannot 
oiler any opinion on that subject. Resides tbc Goldfinch, 
and Grey or .Rose Linnet, i have also bred IMules from the 
• Greenfinch, or Green Linnet; the Siskin, or Aberdevine; 
2(il I 
and the Redpole. I have heard of Mules being obtained 
from the Sparrow, Rullfinch, Chaffinch, and Yellowhammer ; 
but such cases are exceedingly rare, because these birds, 
being so very different in their habits, food, and structure, 
are not easily induced to form matrimonial alliances with 
Canaries; and even in cases where this difficulty is over¬ 
come, the union is commonly abortive. I have tried all 
four myself, but never succeeded, except so far as to get a 
Chaffinch to couple with a hen Canary, which hen, horvever, ' 
proved barren, and I could not induce him to pair with 
another. I once had a Hawfinch paired with a long Rel- ; 
gian hen Canary; but, by some unaccountable foolishness 
on my part, I separated them, and he, likewise, refused to 
pair witli any other. ; 
]\iy reader may ask. Of what use is it troubling one’s self j 
to obtain these unnatural or extraordinary productions? I 
answer. It is an amusement. The more difficult an alliance 
is to bring about the greater is the value set on the produce ; i 
and those who have been foi'tunate to produce any rare Mule 
would not part with it under a considerable sum. Goldfinch 
Mules and Linnet IMules, being comparatively easy to obtain, 
are not considered much more valuable than good Canaries, 
unless they are of some novel or elegant marking, or sing a 
fancy song. All other Mules are enhanced in value accord¬ 
ing to the difilculty of obtaining them. 
IMost breeders of Canaries have a few surplus hens, which, 
perhaps, they do not care to dispose of; nor are they of such 
excellent, colouring as to induce them to procure mates for 
them. Tliese, then, are often advantageously employed for 
mule-breeding. Most fanciers have some plan of their own : j 
that which I consider the most successful is, in the summer ! 
to obtain a nest of young birds of the sort nr sorts from which ' 
it is intended to breed. These should be brought up by 
hand, and kept through the winter till late in spring, where , 
they will remain tame, as I consider it is of great importance 
to have them as familiar ns the Canaiy; and I think it is 
much best to cage them separately, at least the cocks, so 
that they may be in full song and good-tempered. A merry 
song-bird, who has not had Ids temper spoiled by being con- \ 
fined with others, is most likely to make favourable advances | 
to tlie ladies; nor should he be put with her till the spring i 
is so far advanced that the hen, too, is likely to be pleased \ 
with his company. Some breeders say the cock should be i 
two years old. In this I beg to difier, as I see no reason to 
wait two years, liaving been more successful with birds one ' 
year old than when I followed the advised plan of keeping 
them two years before pairing them. When put up, they 1 
should be treated and fed the same as I described for breed¬ 
ing Canaries, only tliat they require more watching. Some¬ 
times the cocks will prove kind husbands and good fathers; 
but more frequently they show some evil propensity, such as 
pulling the nest to pieces, eating the eggs, or even killing 
the young; so that it will, in that case, require attention to 
make up her nest when she is about to lay; to remove the 
eggs as soon as laid, substituting a bone one till all are laid, , 
wlien tliey must be returned; and, lastly, by removing him, i 
leaving the care of the eggs, or young ones, to the hen; but | 
if he appears kind and attentive, he will be a great acquisi- ; 
tion, and ought not to be disturbed. 
I have been very fortunate, this season, in rearing Gold¬ 
finch and Green-Linnet Mules, and have had, also, many 
Grey-Linnet Mules, but, unfortunately, lost nearly all after 
they fed alone. I am not aware of the causes. Perhaps 
some breeder may be able to inform me if they require any 
particular treatment. 
I must also plead ignorance as to the means of producing 
pied Goldfincli Mules. I have heard of several plans; but 
they have not succeeded with me. [f a successful breeder 
of pied Mules would favour me with his manner of pro- | 
cedure, &c., he would much oblige.— R. P. Reent. 
NURSERYMENS’ CATALOGUES. 
We studiously avoid noticing these unless they assume a 
form and substance elevating them above a mere list of 
plants. Two are now before us so elevated, and more than 
usually entitled to notice. 
Rendle’s Price Current and G.-vrden Dictionary ior 
