January 8. 
COUNTEY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION. 
209 
I 
It is with these feelings (done the above suggestions are 
proposed so immediately after the conclusion of the. late 
successful show, in the hoiie that some, at least, may be re¬ 
viewed impartially, and, if considered advisable, introduced 
into the list for 1850, which will now speedily be issued to 
the public.—* * 
COCHIN-CHINA FOWLS BECOMING SILKY. 
As the eccentricities of I’oultry should find space in the 
Chronicle devoted to tlie subject, I will mention a curious 
fact connected with some Cochin-China fowls. 
I had ten, nine pullets and a cock, in a good, roomy pen. 
The cock suddenly became silky, not a feather remaining. 
I removed him, and substituted a valuable young bird; he 
sickened and died in a fortnight. I purchased a third, and 
he became silky. All three were of different strains, and in 
all respects perfect when they were put in. The hens have 
never ailed anything, nor has any other bird that has inha¬ 
bited the same pen.— Pilos. 
DISAPPEABANCE OF BED-LEGGEH 
PARTIHDGES. 
As Game is akin to Poultry, will you allow me to put a 
ipiery in your Cr[RONicLE, which may, perhaps, find an answer 
from some of your numerous readers ? 
It is a proved fact, that a large number of Iled-legged 
I’artridges may be reared, and kept perfectly tame till tliey 
are shot at. They then disappear, and are never seen again, 
or even heard of. I have known this to happen in Wales, 
Hampshire, and Gloucestei'shire. Ho they return to Suf¬ 
folk ? Although landed proprietors do their best to exter¬ 
minate them in that county they cannot do so.—S. M. 
PAliTEIDGE-COLOUllED SHANG HAES. 
As one of the oldest amateui*s who have bred the T’ar- 
tridge or Grouse variety of Cochin-China fowls, I tliank you 
for the favourable support which you have given to that 
breed, and trust that you will not think the fact unworthy of 
notice, if I remind you, that with reference to your remarks 
on the Cirencester Poultry Show, “ that it was a novell;/ for 
the Partridge to distance the other coloured Cochin,” tliat 
the same success was achieved by Mr. Hodgson, at Anerley 
and Taunton, in both instances carrying aAvay the cups as 
the best specimen of Cochin in the shows. 
I also had the satisfaction of taking the first p)rize with a 
pen of Partridge, at Bedford, in the mixed class of Cochins ; 
and to sliow that the Partridge are considered worthy of 
distinction, I have, since the date of your article, taken the 
first prize at Birmingham, with a Partridge Cochin, in the 
single cock class of all colours.— Tiio.uas BuinaES, Crui/don, 
NOTICE TO EXHIBITORS. 
“ On receipt of twelve postage stamps from any Exhibitor 
or Subscriber, the Secretary will send a copy of the Ex¬ 
hibition Catalogue and Award of Prizes, post free, by Thnrs- 
(lay }d<jht's post. 
“ Essex Poultry Association, 
“ It), High-street, Colchester. 
“ December 20th, 1855.” 
The above paper, issued by the Secretary of tlie Col- 
chester Poultry Show, might afford a hint to the Committees 
of other similar shows. 
IMany exhibitors are unable to attend personally at such 
shows, and, although they may, through the medium of your 
paper, learn to wlioni ])rizes have been awarded, yet, if 
themselves successful, they are left in ignorance of the 
names of those exhibitors wdiose fowls have been less tri¬ 
umphant than their own.—E. V. H., llastiiKjs. 
TREATAIENT OF SPIANGHAE FOWbLS. 
In reply to a Morayshire inquirer. Morayshire is not 
worse than any other xhire for Cochins. If it be a cold. 
damp, and variable climate, “ what of that?” Tlie opposite 
; one, Devonshire, is just as uncongenial. The atmosphere is 
; truB' mild, but counterbalanced by its cold, tenacious clay 
1 soil, producing, necessarily, more drawbacks to the healthy 
‘ condition of birds than snow, rain, or frost, in a permeable 
and gravelly soil. With regard to the general treatment of 
Cochins, they are the most manageable birds imaginable, 
requiring little care and attention. 
Aour Morayshire correspondent asks for a substitute for 
' trowsers to keep his Cochins legs and toes warm. On re- 
I lerriug to a number of Punch, I see the very thing admirably 
burlesqued ; little did I think that the question of trowsers 
! for Cochins w'ould really have been recommended. “ Never 
i n\ind, ’tis Christmas time,” all my family have had their 
i laugh, and I’ll tell your enquiring friend what to do as a 
’ remedy for the infirmities of his poor birds. 
I Iniprirnia. Do not be so anxious to give your Cochins a 
1 large range, they are a listless, inactive folk, and, provided 
I they have a moderate space, green food, sand, and a place 
I set apart for some clean, loose straw, with some barley 
; thrown daily amongst it, as an amusement, they will be 
I perfectly contented, and if kept dry there will be no frost- 
j bitten toes. A stiff cross-bar perch in tire centre of the 
: house is indispensible, and a preventive, as the birds dry 
and preen themselves on it. 
I do not think Cochins are a bit the better for a very large 
range, especially in winter. Nor have I seen any good 
result from cramming. Most injurious effects result from 
a too long use of soft food, the crop gets preternaturally 
distended, and, from the gizzard having its mill unemployed, 
an inactive state of the digestive organs accrues, producing 
hepatic, or liver diseases, accompanied by a sub-acute in¬ 
flammation of the membrane lining of the croji, producing 
loss of appetite, listlessness, and death. 
As to the laying properties of the Cochins, they certainly 
are variable in that respect. The breeding in and in of the 
Butt's has made them less productive than tlie I’artridge- 
, coloured kind, which I apprehend is the primitive one, as 
I the Butts have a tendency to return to it. But stop! I 
find I must not get out of my deptli respecting the diseases 
and races of poultry with your able coadjutor, so I again 
sign myself—W. H. 
LONDON AIARKETS. —January 7xir. 
COVENT GAEDEN. 
A marked improvement has taken place in the supply these last few 
days, and the prices somewhat lower for Broeuli and Cuuliflou er. It is 
I surprising to sec how soon vegetation has thrown off the efifects of the 
! frost. Scarcely any traces of it remain in what comes to market, and 
! should the open weather continue, w'e shall soon have quite sufficient 
! for the demand. Among fruits we have to notice an unusual quantity of 
' good Bines, chiefly of the Montserrat variety, the best of which can he 
I had for fis. per lb. The supply of Grapes is still good. Bears consist 
I of Nelis d'[liver, Chaumontelie, Gtuut Mureeau. and two or three varie- 
I ties of baking Pears. 
FRUIT. 
I Apples, kitchen, per 
i bushel. 3s. to 6s 
I ,, dessert .... 6s. ,, lUs. 
Pears . 8s. ,, ICs. 
j Peaches, per doz. 5s. ,, 8s. 
I Nectarines, per doz... - 
! Plums, per sieve .... 4s. ,, 8s. 
’ Pine-apples, peril)... 4s. ,, 6s. 
Grapes, per lb. Is. ,, 6s. 
Foreign Melons, each 2s. ,, 4s. 
Figs... . 
Gooseberries, per qt. - 
Currants. ——- 
I Raspberries . .. 
I Strawberries,perpottle - 
I Oranges, per too .... 4s. ,, 10s. 
I Lemons . 6s. ,, 12s. 
' Almonds, per lb. 2s. ,, •— 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
100 lbs. 508. ,, 60s. 
j ,, Cobs, ditto .. 603. ,, 70s. 
I ,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 20s. ,, 22s. 
Nuts, Brazil, per 
' bushel. 123. ,, 14s. 
; Walnuts, per 1000 .. Ds. ,, 12s. 
' Chestnuts per bushel 12s. ,, 20s. 
VEGETABLE.S. 
I Cabbages, per doz. Is. to Is. .6d 
,, Red, per doz. 23. ,, is. 
Cauliffowers, per doz 
4s. 
,, 6s. 
Brocoli per bdle .... 
. Is. 
,. 2s. 
Savoys. 
9d „ 
Is. 6d 
Greens, per dozen 
bunches. 
33. 
„ 6s. 
Spinach, persieve.... 
— 
,, 4s. 
_ 
French Beans, per 
half sieve . 
Scarlet Runners .... 
Peas, per bushel .... 
Carrots, per bunch .. 
4d. 
,, 6d. 
Parsnips, per doz. 
bd. 
,, 9d. 
Beet, per doz. 
Is. „ 
Is. 6d. 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 
3s. 
,, 6s. 
Turnips, per bunch. 
„ 3d. 
Onions, young, per 
bunch . 
Id. 
,, 2d. 
Leeks, per bunch .... 
2d. 
,, .3d. 
Garlic, per lb. 
6d. 
,, 8d. 
Shallots, per lb. 
4d. 
,, 6d. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is. 6d. ,, 2s. 6d. 
Lettuce, Cos, per 
score . 
. 6d. ,, Is. 6d. 
,, Cabbage. 
... 6d. ,, 8d. 
Endive, per score 
Celery, per bunch. 
.. Is. ,, Is. 6d. 
_ 8d. ,, Is. 
Radishes, Turnip, 
per 
dozen hunches 
.. Is. ,, Is. 6d, 
Water Cresses, 
per 
dozep bunches . 
... 6d. ,, 9d. 
I 
