February 6. THE COTTAGE GARDENEK. 305 
below. The hen house is 9§ fact long by 5 feet wide and 
0 J feet high. How many fowls might I safely allow to 
roost there at night, having free liberty by day ? I have 
formed my garden (being on the slope of a steep hill) into 
terraces, and under one of these terraces the above hen¬ 
house is placed. 
“ 3rdly. Whether it is advantageous, and promotes egg- 
laying, to keep the fowls during winter in a stable, cow¬ 
house, or conservatory, or other warm-covered building? and 
what temperaturo is best? 
“ I should add, that my fowls (chiefly Silver-pencilled 
Hamburghs, Game, and Dorkings), although nearly thirty 
in number, have laid no eggs since October, except one 
which I lately put into a warm conservatory. They have 
free liberty over a meadow of two acres, and abundance of 
good food. The liens of neighbours in the town are laying, 
though pent up in dustholes and within narrow limits. 1 
attribute my failure to the cold and damp weather and 
clayey soil, and the absence of any straw or litter. 
“ I have lately placed five hens under the stage of a small 
conservatory, the temperature of which averages 55°, being 
heated by a flue with coke. Am I wrong in this ?—J. C.” 
[1. The ammonia arising from a pit where horse-dung 
alone is deposited would be injurious to fowls roosting over 
it. The evil results of the ammonia in an ill-ventilated 
stable are sufficiently well known, especially with respect to 
the eyes of horses. 
2. The character of the soil would be an important con¬ 
sideration in determining this inquiry. If dry and porous, 
so as to secure absence from damp in the hen-house, and 
suitable apertures were left for air above, i.e., just below the 
roof, such an arrangement would, doubtless, answer its 
purposo. From twelve to fifteen full-grown fowls would be 
well accommodated within the dimensions stated. 
3. Artificial warmth for poultry is a subject on which great 
care should be exercised. It is an admitted fact, that their 
plumage is never in higher condition than when roosting in 
laurels, low fir-trees, and other evergreens; and condition 
in this respect is evidently the most effective protection 
against weather. Even where extra warmth is desired for 
early-hatched chicken, a greenhouse or conservatory with¬ 
out fire answers better than where the flues are heated. 
As regards eggs, however, we should have little doubt that 
the laying properties would bo promoted, or at least accele¬ 
rated, by warmth during weather of more than ordinary 
severity; but this is a totally different condition from their 
actual health, and is, moreover, in analogy to what we 
notice in over-fed young birds unnaturally forced, which, 
after attaining great weight at a very early age, rapidly fall 
off. The instances of fowls’ productiveness and condition 
when allowed to roost in a cottage, or cow-house, is another 
matter; in such cases, the natural warmth of the animals 
below, and the circumstance of the birds roosting above, 
with a free passage of air in a building of considerable 
extent, romoves this caso from either of those mentioned in 
your communication, viz., “ confinement, over a pile of horse- 
dung,” or “the heat obtained by the combustion of fuel.” 
In a cottage, moreover, the number kept is comparatively 
small, and their usual position, at least in Ireland, where 
such inmates aro not objected to, is in the large chimney- 
side, with a consequent free circulation of air, and among 
the heap of turf-ashes, which would contribute so greatly to 
their well-doing. In all arrangements for housing poultry, 
security from actual frost, and shelter from cutting winds 
and damp, are to be aimod at rather than actual warmth; 
although, as before said, the production of eggs might be 
increased for a time under the latter course. 
A dump meadow and clayey soil are obstacles to success in 
poultry-keeping only to be obviated by great attention to 
the fowls, and the provision of dry yards of chalk, gravel, or 
some equally porous material, with good under-drainage. 
The varieties you name aro not early layers; but still, at 
the present date, whether old birds or moderately-forward 
chickens of last year, they should certainly be contributing 
their quota to the egg-basket. 
The policy of placing your hens in a conservatory heated 
with coke to an average of 55°, may he answered by a 
reference to the former portion of this reply. 
You appear to have several varieties kept separate. Has 
each their separate run ? Or do you allow it them only on 
alternate days? Remember that the breeds you speak of, 
“ Hamburghs,” “ Dorkings,” and “ Game,” are those never 
to be kept, it profit is expected, within a run of only mo¬ 
derate extent. Without full liberty they never really thrive.] 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of 
The Cottage Gardener, 2, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London.” 
W. Smith, York, is thanked for his flattering communication. It is 
not suitable for publication. 
Autumn - planted Potatoes (A Subscriber). — We, cultivating a 
light, thoroughly-drained soil, always plant in autumn, seven inches deep 
and do not earth the plants up more than enough to cover such tubers as 
may be formed near the surface. Some good authorities prefer early spring- 
planting ; but we persevere in autumn-planting, our crop having never 
suffered much from the disease since we did so. Volumes were published 
on the “ Gooseberry,” “ Apple,” and “ Vine.” 
S HANGn ae Eggs (A Subscriber from the first).—All the varieties 
of,the Shangliae, Buff, White, and Partridge, lay eggs having a 
cream-coloured shell. To show how tastes differ, in most places their 
eggs are preferred for their delicate flavour. The opinion that they are 
unwholesome is totally erroneous. If there is any difference, the White 
are the least abundant layers of the three varieties; but we are not aware 
that they are less hardy. 
London : Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalcndar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, of Church Hill, Walthamstow, in the County of 
Essex, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of Christ¬ 
church, City of London.—February 6, 1855. 
8faberttStment$. 
GLASS for CONSERVATORIES.-Thos. Millington 
requests attention to the present PRICES of SHEET GLASS, packed 
in 100 feet Boxes, Good Quality, about 15 oz. to the foot, Boxes Is extra, 
but allowed for when returned. 
Inches. 
100 feet. 
Inches. 100 ft. 
Inches. 100 ft. 
6 
by 
4 ' 
104 
by 
84 
15 by 
1 ° N 
6 
it 
44 
13s 
li 
tt 
9 
154 .. 
104 
61 
t> 
44 
114 
it 
94 
" 6 s 
16 „ 
10 
6 
a 
54 
13 
it 
9 
| 
164 „ 
104 
-18s 
7 
it 
ft 
124 
tt 
94 J 
17 ,> 
10 
71 
it 
54 
>13s 6 d 
12 
,, 
10 
171 
104 
8 
It 
6 
121 
tt 
104 
13 „ 
u 
*4 
it 
64 
13 
„ 
10 
■19s 
134 .. 
"47 
9 
l> 
7 
* 158 
134 
tt 
10 * 
And many 
other sizes, 
94 
tt 
74 
14 
tt 
10 
from 14 by 11 
to 24 
10 
it 
8 J 
144 
it 
104 ^ 
by 14, at 19s. 
Large Sheets for cutting up in Cases, at 2£d and 3d per foot. 
T. M. has supplied large quantities to Mr. Itivcrs for Orchard 
Houses, &c. 
HARTLEY’S IMPROVED ROUGH PLATE GLASS, Sheet, and 
Rough Plate, Tiles, Milk Pans, Bee and Propagating Glasses, Wasp 
Traps, Cucumber Tubes, Preserve Jars with and without covers. 
Piute, Sheet , Crown , and Ornamental Window Glass; Crystal 
Glass Shades for Ornaments. 
87, BISHOPSCATE STREET WITHOUT, LONDON. 
(Same side as Eastern Counties* Railway.) 
FAIRHEADS EARLY CONQUEROR PEAS- 
The earliest variety known. Is per quart. Price per bushel or quarter, 
on application to CLARKE & CO., Seedsmen, Borough. 
GENUINE SEEDS.—JAMES CHARTRES & CO. 
beg to inform their Patrons and Purchasers of Seeds generally, that their 
unrivalled Stork is now arranged, and they earnestly solicit early Orders, 
as many choice articles are deficient in quality this season. 
A Catalogue may be had upon application. 
Seed Warehouse, 74, King William Street, City, London. 
LYNCH’S STAR OF THE WEST CUCUMBER, 
the best frame variety in cultivation. For description, see Kendle’s 
“Price Current and Garden Directory” for 1851. 
Price Is Oil and 2s 6d per packet. 
Apply to WILLIAM E. BENDLE & Co., Seed Merchants, Plymouth. 
