Febuoahy 26. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
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inquirer, whn thinks fit to lake tlie trouble, the opportunity 
of coiivhiciiifi hi»ixclf that the bird in question was very far 
removed from a “ black breasted one.” To call it such, is a 
sad exaggeration. I admit, it was dai'ker than it shoidd 
have lieen as a pcrfer/ exhibition hii-d; but as one of the 
most successful prize-takers in Silver Polamls (who have 
hred their own stock), I should not only not object to take 
tbe bird “ into my own yard,” but should anticipate the be.st 
possible I’esults from his being there. It is well known, the 
perfection of comb, wing-markings, and those of the tail 
and tail-coverts, are each or any of them equal in importance 
to that of the breast feathers, so particularly enforced by 
i\fr. AVilliams as the. most essential; and if that gentleman 
had carefully examined every pen present, he would have 
easily found far moi’e objectionable feathers in every com¬ 
peting pen than in the successful one. From what transpired 
at the Tiiverpool Exhibition, much general attention was 
purposely directed to this enpechd pen, and how any 
individual could declare the cock to be “ black-breasted,” 
seemed to excite astonishment to those who, at the very 
time, had the hied hefnre. them, and, therefore, the only 
positive means of forming unbiased opinions. The opinion 
of several amateur’s was requested since the show, and I 
have not received one single support of the statement Mr. 
Williams has originated, nor do I conceive any gentleman 
has an authority to assert, positively, a statement incapable 
of verification.— Censor.] 
LONDON MARKETS.—Februap.y 25th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
The supply, generally, has fallen off this week, with the exception of 
Potatoes, trade for which continues heavy. The sorts of Fears are now 
comparatively limited, the best in use being Ne plus Meuris, Beitrre' 
Ranee, and Easter Deurre'. A good supply of Cornish Brncoli still 
comes, and meets with a ready call at former prices. Of Forced Vegetables 
quotations remain about the same. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
bushel. 
,, dessert .... 
Pears . 
Peaches, per dot. 
Nectarines, per doz... 
Plums, per sieve .... 
Pine-apples, per lb... 
Grapes, per lb. 
Foreign hlelons, each 
Figs. 
Gooseberries, per qt. 
Currants. 
Raspberries . 
Strawberries,perpottle 
Oranges, per 100 .... 
I.emons . 
Almonds, per lb. 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
100 lbs. 
,, Cobs, ditto .. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 
Nuts, Brazil, per 
bushel. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 
Chestnuts per bushel 
3s. to bs 
6s. ,, lOs. 
8s. ,, 12s. 
6s. ,, 8s, 
2s. ,, 83. 
2s. ,, 4s. 
43. ,, 10s. 
68. „ 123. 
2s. ,, — 
50s, ,, 60s, 
603. ,, 70s. 
2fls. ,, 223. 
12s. ,, 14s. 
Qs. ,, 128. 
12s. ,, 208. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, per doz. Is. to Is. 6d. 
,, Red, perdo-z, 28. ,, 4s. 
Cauliflowers, per doz. 4s. to 6s. 
Brocoli per bdle . Is. ,, 23. 
Savoys. is* >i 2s. 
Greens,per dozen 
bunches. ^s* >» 
Spinach, per sieve- — >> ■fs. 
Beans. 
French Beans, per 
hundred.. 3a. ,, 4s. 
Scarlet Runners .... 
Peas, per bushel .... - 
Carrots, per bunch .. 4 d. ,, 6d. 
Parsnips, per doz. 6d. ,, pd. 
Beet, per doz.Is. ,, Is. 6d. 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 39. ,, 69. 
Turnips, per bunch .. ,, 3 d. 
Onions, young, per 
bunch. Id. ,, 2d. 
Leeks, per bunch .... 2J. ,, 3 d. 
Garlic, per lb. 6d. ,, 8d. 
Shallots, per lb. 4 d. ,, 6d. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. ls.6d. ,, 29 . 6d, 
Lettuce, Cos, per 
score . 6d. ,, Is. 6d. 
,, Cabbage.... 6d. ,, Sd. 
Endive, perscore ..is. 6d. ,, 2s, 
Celery, per bunch.. gd. ,, Is. 6d. 
Radishes, Turnip, per 
dozen bunches ..Is. ,, ls.6d. 
Water Cresses, per 
dozen bunches .... 6d. ,, gd. 
SmalUSalad, per 
punnet. 2 d. to 3 d, 
Artichokes, each .... 3 d. ,, 6d. 
Asparagus, perbundle 5 .(. ,, 8s. 
Sea-kale, per punnet 28 . ,, 3 s. 
Rhubarb, per bundle Is. 6d. 
Cucumbers, each ..., Is. ,, 3 s, 
Vegetable Marrow, 
per dozen . . 
Tomatoes, per punnet - 
Mushrooms,perpot Is. 6d. to 2s. 
HERBS. 
Basil, per bunch .... 4d. ,, 6d. 
Marjoram, per bunch 4d. ,, 6d. 
Fennel, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Savory, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d, 
Parsley, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Mint, per bunch ..., 2d. ,, 4d. 
GRAIN AND SEED. 
Friday, February 22.— The supplies are not very abundant from 
any quarter. Oiits from abroad have reported to the extent of 18,530 
quarters, and Wheat 4250. This morning there is a firmness in the 
Wheat trade, and a fair business has been done in floating cargoes. 
Barley meets an improved attention for Grinding varieties. Oats well 
support the late improvement. Beans, Flour, and all other articles fully 
support the quoted currency. 
POULTRY. 
As the supiily continues moderate, and the demand increases, prices 
rise. The fine weather, however, gives us reason to hope that we shall 
not this year have to record scarcity, almost amounting to famine, as we 
id in 1855. 
Large Fowls 6s.Od. to 6s. 6d. each 
Smaller do. 4s. Od. to 4s. 6d. ,, 
Chickens.. 3s. 6d. to 4s. Od. ,, 
G. Geese. 8s.fld. togs. ,, 
Ducklings 49 . 6d. to 5s. Od. ,, 
W'ild Ducks 2s. 6d. to 2s. gd. ,, 
Widgeon.. Is. 6d. to 2s. Od, ,, 
Teal.2s. od. to 2s. 3d. each. 
Guinea Fowls.. 3s. to 39. 6d. ,, 
Pigeons.... Os. 8d. to Os. gd. ,, 
Rabbit.. .. Is. 5d. to Is. 6d. ,, 
Wild Ditto .lOd. to Is. ,, 
Larks .... 2s. to 2s. 6d. per doz. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
CArxiON.—We beg to caution our readers against a class 
of tradeis who are oftering for sale Plants, Roots, and Trees, 
which are brought from Prance, and for which they realize 
large prices under the pretext that they are nem or rare. 
Many have already fallen victims to them, and, before they 
have an opportunity of discovering how they have been 
cheated, the parties w ill have decamped. 
Sunflower Seed. — R. L. and others will be much obliged by in¬ 
formation, from reliable sources, as to the employment of this seed as a 
food for Poultry, Pigs, and other stock. We published what we know 
upon the subject in our Numbers 310 and 334. 
Name of Seed (H. R. M .).—We believe tlie seed you sent us is of 
the West Indian Ebony-tree, Amerannum ebenus, or Brya ebenus of 
The Cottage Gardeners' Dictionari/. The seed-pod would decide the 
point. It is not the true Ebony of commerce. The tree is common in 
the West Indies. The flowers are in the shape of Pea flowers, yellow, 
and sweet. You can raise plants of it in a Cucumber-hed, and keep 
them in a stove for many years ; and the leaves are handsome, but it will 
never give you blossom in an ordinary stove. It will grow in the same 
kind of soil as Geraniums or Oleanders. Do not more than just cover 
the seeds, and give them but little water. A bit of moss on the top of 
the pot will keep the earth moist enough in a frame; but remove the 
moss as soon as you see the seeds heaving up the surface of the soil, and 
if the husks rise on the seed-leaves, as they sometimes do in this class of 
seed, you must act the part of a good surgeon, and split the husk w ith 
the greatest care and nicety, by the help of a pair of sharp-pointed 
scissors, so as not to hurt the seed-leaves ; for if they go, all is over with 
the plant. When the seedlings are four inches high, pot them otf into 
single pots, and after that treat them in the common way of ordinary 
stove plants. 
Poultry-house (.4. L, P.).— ln “The Poultry Book,” pp. 17—19. 
and in other parts of that volume, you will find drawings and descriptions 
of various poultry-houses. They are too long for us to extract. 
Account-keeping. — L. 6. would be much obliged to any corres¬ 
pondent of The Cottage Gardener recommending a simple printed 
form for keeping accounts of dairy produce ; also, of poultr}*, or, indeed, 
of the general working of a small farm. 
Diseased Suangiiaes. — “1 have some very fine white Cochin fowls 
of last year’s rearing. Several of them have died after seven or eight 
months’ old, in this way:—The back very weak, comb turns black, and 
the neck appears forced into the crop, or as if tbe crop was well filled; 
sometimes water running from the beak. They will stand about in this 
way a week, or longer, and then die. There is one now has been so 
several days.— An Engli.shwoman.” 
(The diseased birds are evidently suffering from some error in diet or 
management. Are they fed on unnatural food ? Or are they overcrowded 
in a small run ? There must be some such cause to account for several 
having died with similar symptoms. I should recommend an attentive 
search for the cause of the disease ; and to any that may be suffering at 
present, a grain of calomel every night, for three nights, as an alterative, 
or ten grains of jalap every other night for a week.—W. B. T.) 
Destruction of Insects and Mildew (J. S .'^.—If you possess a 
cheap receipe for this purpose, and effectual as you state it is, prepare 
some for sale, or publish the recipe. 
Poland and White Dorking Fowls (L. 77.).— Write to Dr. Horner, 
Hull, about Polands ; and Mrs. Mills, Bisterne, near Ringwood, Hants, 
about the White Dorkings. What do you mean by a Silver-/)e?ici//ed 
Poland ? 
Marine Aguauium. — An Old Subscriber will be much obliged by 
some information respecting a Marine Aquarium. What plants and fish 
will live with Sea Anemones without requiring the sca-water to be 
changed ? and where the plants may be procured ? 
Work on the IMicroscope (A. 7J.).—Buy Hogg “On the Micros, 
cope.” Thanks for the note about the Ceterack offieinarum. 
Y'oung Gardeners. —We are very much gratified by hearing from 
many of these rising young men that they have benefited by Mr. Appleby’s 
advice to them. 
Heracleum giganteum. —Let An Old Subscidber send his address 
to “ G. W. .lohnson. Esq., West Highlands, Winchester.” 
Preserving Eggs (A. S, U. 71.1. —It is not necessary to keep eggs 
from the air. Frost, or very hot sun are the only things to hurt them ; 
neither is it necessary to turn them often. Take your cue from a hen 
that steals her nest in a hedge. The eggs lie there till she is disposed to 
sit. Pheasants and Partridges the same. They seldom fail to hatch. 
Colour of Suangiiaes’ Eyes (Idem). —It is not necessary that the 
eyes of Cochin Fowls should match. A tu'isted elare is scarcely to be 
termed an objection at all, unless the fowl is lamed by it. To recom¬ 
mend a cross with Game Fowls, we should be informed what object was 
sought by it. If to improve them for the table, we should advise to 
cross with the Grey Dorking. 
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