March 25. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
471 
tlicir shoulders. Tliis will at once settle the disputed fpics- 
tion of “ who are to he considered cottagers.” 
.\s regards lending fowls to inulesciTcdl;/ secure prizes for 
“Jai'otirilcs," no really respec(:il)ie man will attempt it; for I 
quite agree witli you, “ that of all villany, the greatest is that 
whicli designedly injures tlie ])oor.” But surely, Mr. INlitor, 
with a little care and raanagoment, we can arrange a more 
successf'.d j't^sult, and, by a combined elfort, insure success 
fxcliisiurl;/ to the really deserving. 'The atl.empt is worth 
the trial. — I'inWAitu llnwiT'j', Siinrk Brook, Biniuin/liavi. 
REAlilNG CANARIES. 
Having seen a letter, signed “Argus,” in The Cottage 
Garijener of the 4th of March, in which your correspondent 
complains of his misfortunes in rearing Canaries last season, 
I beg leave to offer a few remarks for his information. 
I'lio cause of the death of the young birds was, probably, 
their having food too nutritious and stimulating; in fact, as 
much so as that given to old birds when init uji for breed¬ 
ing. Hemp-seed, maw-seed, and yolk of egg, are astringent, 
and bread-crumbs swell when moistened in the crop. 
A sketch of my own pi-actice may be useful; but nothing 
teaches like observation and experience. 
■When I put up a pair of birds, I give them, daily, about 
a quarter of the yolk of 'flu egg, boiled ten minutes, with 
about an equal quantity of bread, well soaked in cold water, 
and sipieezed so dry, that when chopped up with the egg 
the mixture will not be sticky, although moist. To this 1 
add, occasionally, hemp-seed and maw-seed ; giving them 
rape and canary seeds as usual, and plenty of green food. 
I remove the eggs, and substitute t\i o ivoiy ones until all are 
laid. 'This ai>pears to be the safest plan. When the young 
are hatched, it is sometimes necessary to feed them with 
bread and egg the first day. I leave them with their parents 
as long as they will feed them. “When the old ones begin to 
peck them, I put the young ones into the small part of a 
common breeding cage, and supply them with the egg and 
bread jirepared as above; sometimes adding a little scalded 
and bruised rape-seed, and, when they are about twenty- 
four days old, a little bruised canary-seed, in a separate 
vessel. 
MTien the old birds are good and steady, the young seldom 
require to be separated before the seventeenth day. As soon 
as the young ones leave the nest, I entice them to feed 
themselves by ottering them some bread and egg on a quill, 
which they readily take, and soon begin to feed. I liave 
found the above method very successful. i 
I presume, I need scarcely add tliat the food and water I 
should be fresh, and the vessels well cleansed, every day, as j 
the sour or stale food would certainlv kill the .young birds. 
—X. C. 
CAUTION TO POULTRY PURCHASERS. 
Mr. PooTHiiY, of Louth, has, very properly, made public i 
Ills transaction with a Sir. Farrant; and your recommeuda- : 
tion to give that gentleman an introduction to a County , 
Court is equally laudable ; but, unfortunately, such a step is 
attended with some expense, the more considerable if the 
purchaser, as in the majority of cases, lives at a distance 
from his victimizer. A good deal has been said about a set 
of scoundrels who have obtained valuable, birds from various 
unlucky parlies without payment. I think it is ecpially 
necessary to put your readers on their guard against parties 
who are eipially expert in obtaining money upon deposit 
from intended purchasers without sending birds to them. 
I hail an offer, lately, of this nature, and sent a half bank 
note as security; it was returned, with a modest request for 
a post-oflice order, which 1 sent; hut neither birds, nor a 
j return of the money, could I get, nor even a reply to ray 
■ rejieated application, and it was only by the kind attentions 
of a friend who chanced to live near the worth}’, whose name 
I send you, that he was induced to send a bird at all, which, 
I need hardly say, was not very valmible. Indeoil, I think 
I may consider my whoh' outlay was expended on “expe¬ 
rience.” I think it would be well if }our victimized readers 
would put you in possession of the names of all the sharp 
practitioners. Such a list would bo a valuable reference in 
all doubtful cases. —W. X. W. i 
[Our corres])ondent has furnished us with the name of ! 
the party who thus served liim. He resides at Birmingham, I 
and if we have certain information of his repeating such n i 
mode of doing business we will publish his name and 
direction.] 
THl-: ANERLEY POULTRY SHOW. 
The schedule of the forthcoming Aneiley Show' is dis¬ 
tinguished by so great an amount of liberality, that there 
can be no doubt of a most successful exhibition of the 
highest character. Nine silver cups, value ten guineas 
each ; two rdlver cups, value live guineas each ; first prizes 
of four and tlnee pounds each ; and bronze medals instead 
of high commendations, form, altogether, an attraction not 
easily resisted by exhibitors. 
d'he first five classes are devoted to Gold and Silver Se¬ 
bright, Bhude, MTiite, and any other variety of BaitUnns; a 
first, second, and third prize of Tli, T1 10s., and 15s. being 
given in each class. 
The next eight classes are for the Hamhitrijhs; the prizes 
for the old birds equalling those allotted to theBantoms; 
and for the chickens there are first, second, and third prizes 
of T2, Tl, and 10s. respectively. 
Black, Golden-spangled, and Silver-spangled Pohmds 
form the next six classes: throe for old birds, and three for 
chickens; (he prizes beiiig equal in value to those for 
liamburghs. 
Spanish were always favomites with the iMetropolitan 
breeders, and as there are but two classes, viz., ohl birds 
and chickens, a duo liberality is shown in awarding four 
prizes in each of T4, T'd, T'2, and T'l. 
I’he Gaiiie birds are arranged in tlnee groups: B-lack and 
Black-breasted forming the first; then come 'White and 
Biles; and lastly, Duckwings, Greys, and Blues. In each 
division there is a class for old and one for young birds, with 
the same inizes as for Hamburghs and Bolands. 
Next come the Cochins ; Cinnamon and Butf, Grouse and 
Partridge, and 'White, mature and young birds in each. 
Of tlie so-called Brahmas there are four classes: two of 
Pencilled, and two of Light birds. 
Dorkintjs are honoured by two classes, not usually found 
at our shows; there being two for Coloured Dorkings, two 
for White, and two for Speckled (Blue or Cuckoo), 
In all the above, a cock and two hens, or a cockerel and 
two pullets, must be shown. 
For any other variety of fowls a number of first and second 
prizes will be given according to the merits of the class. 
Turkeys (a cock and hen) have three prizes. Geese 
(gander and goose) also three. And now’ that a pair of 
Geese frequently approach half-a-hundred-wcight, it is most 
desirable that tlie tax of railway carriage should be, as far 
as possible, spared the exhibitor; hence, we regard the 
number shown as a considerable improvement on the edd 
plan of having three birds in eaidi pen. Ayleshnry, Bonen, 
and other varieties of Darks complete the poultry list. 
Nine silver cups w ill be given to the best pens of Bantams, 
Bencillt'd and Spangled Hamburghs, Bolands, Spanish, l 
Game, Cochins, Brahmas, and Dorkings. | 
The Diyenns are most liberally dealt with ; twenty-two ' 
classes receive prizes of from .T’-J downw’ards, there being I 
three prizes in each class; and in order to jirevent all dis¬ 
putes between high and low class breeders, two cups are 
given. One to the three best pens of Cai riers, Tnmhlers, and 
Boaters; the second to the four best pens of other varielics. 
Every effort appears to be made to meet the wishes of 
exhibitors. Thus, notice is immediately to be given to the 
late owners of the sold birds. The cock and hen in each 
pen may be sold separately. Catalogues and prize lists will 
be forwRU’ded to exhibitors, Ac. The date of the show has 
been altereil from that originally advertised, as a change ' 
was necessary, from the. Royal Agricultural Meeting having 
been jireviously fixed for the same week. The hist three j 
days in July and the 1st of August is the period now' finally 
determined upon. 
One regulation w’O may notice, as it may save some persons 
the annoyance of apparent neglect, viz., applications for \ 
sthedalrs mast contain a pre-paid envelope. 
