March 13. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
447 
skin beneath the throat. The White China have the 
bill and feet a clear yellow. 
Looking to the woights that have constantly been 
attained of lato, adult Geese should be required at not 
loss than 10 tbs. for the gander, and l:ilbs. for the 
goose; nor should goslings fall much below this estimate. 
This is a low estimate for the White and Mottled, though 
a fair average for the pure bred Toulouse. We speak 
of storo, not fatted condition. 
When Geese are exhibited under a year old, the task 
of deciding on their relative sexes is one of extremo 
difficulty, and it would, perhaps, bo better that the 
schedule should merely roquire throe birds, without 
stipulating for sexes. 
Ducks are capable of a far more certain classification 
as to breeds than Geese. The distinction of the Ayles¬ 
bury, the Rouen, the Black Bast Indian, the Brazilian, 
the Call-duck, and the common Duck of the farmyard, 
being readily observable. 
The Aylesbury must have its plumage of a spotless 
white, the bill pale flesh-colour, and the legs orange. 
Bills that are stained, or are of any other colour than 
what has been described above, must at once disqualify. 
In the Rouen breed, the plumage of tho Wild Duck 
in its relative sexes must be produced. Streaks of white 
on the face, pale breasts, or the presence of white feathers 
on any part of its body, are fatal objections. 
The weight of both the Aylesbury and Rouen birds 
should never fall below 6 fbs. for the drake, and 5 lbs. 
for the duck. 
The Black East Indian Duck is considerably smaller 
than the foregoing, and is remarkable for its peculiar 
elegancy of form. The plumage must be jet black, with 
a brilliant green tint throughout, not merely in the 
drake, but particularly also in the duck. Any brown or 
white feathers disqualify. 
The colours of the Brazilian, or Musk Duck, are in 
great variety. Beyond groat bulk, however, these birds 
have little to recommend them; and the Birmingham 
Committee have this year exorcised sound discretion in 
depriving thorn of their special class, and requiring their 
appearance in that for any other variety. Whatever 
their plumage, they should be carefully matched, and 
should exhibit the very marked peculiarities of their 
race in the corrugated bunch of red flesh on the upper 
mandible, their skinny face, and tho crest elevated or 
depressed at pleasure at the back of the head. The 
body is elongated, the legs being; disproportionably 
short. 
The Call-ducks are either brown or white. In form 
they stand, in reference to other domesticated Ducks, as 
the Tumbler does to other Pigeons, being peculiarly 
round and compact. This resemblance is also continued 
to the “ stop” at the forehead, in marked distinction to 
the general form of that feature in the Duck tribe. 
The Brown birds should exhibit the plumage of the 
Wild Duck, a deep, rich, purple tint being thrown over 
the whole plumage. The White variety have bright 
yellow hills. 
Wo might as reasonably bo called upon to give the 
points of the barn-door fowl in all its phases of mon- 
grelism, as to specify the characteristics of the “ common 
farmyard Duck.” But whatever its pedigree, it is, as 
already observed, clearly distinguishable from the varie¬ 
ties already spoken of. Believing, that for every 
economical purpose the pure strains have the advantage, 
we must not, however, refuse commendation to many 
pens of merit that have been exhibited in this class; 
for, beyond doubt, great weights are attainable by the 
cross-breeding of different varieties, giving us good birds 
for the table, though, for obvious reasons, to be rejected 
as breeding stock. It would be well, however, that 
exhibitors in this class should limit their assertions of 
merit for such specimens to their ono really valuable 
property of weight, without claiming the position of 
what is incorrectly termed “ improved breeds.” Thus, at 
Birmingham, in 1854, there appeared an excellent pen 
of most evidently cross-bred brown Ducks, to which a 
prize was awarded, although their owner had done what 
he could to cause their rejection by the Judges by enter¬ 
ing them as “ improved East Indian.” 
So unsatisfactory, indeed, aro the majority of the par¬ 
ticulars furnished by exhibitors as to the age and other 
circumstances of their specimens, that wo have long 
thought that tho catalogue would be equally satisfactory, 
and the Judges would bo less perplexed by the omission 
of all particulars save the class in which the birds were 
to appear, and, where necessary, the fact of their being 
above one year old. 
HARDY DESSERT APPLES ADAPTED TO 
ALMOST ANY PART OF ENGLAND. 
As some persons may have still to select and plant 
fruits, I will run through each family, and point to such 
as have been found both useful and profitable. 
Apples. —I will now look over our table or dessert 
Apples. The old Ribston cannot yet be dispensed with ; 
the only pity is that it should canker. This is in use 
from November to April. 
Ashmead's Kernel is a fruit of the Nonpareil section, 
and a very good Apple; but we fear not very prolific. 
This from November to the end of April. 
Borsdoffer Pippin; this I have not grown myself, but 
am told it is a very good thing, and in use through 
December, January and February. 
Kerry Pippin, unquestionably the best September 
Apple in the kingdom, and not to be despised in 
October. No garden should be without this. The tree 
is, with us, the healthiest of the healthy, and has the 
best and most fruitful character of wood of any Apple I 
know. I cannot but think that seedlings from such 
kinds would bo peculiarly adapted for stocks for 
a dwarfing system; it is probable that we should then 
want no Paradise stocks. 
Maclean's Favourite is a good table-fruit as to flavour, 
but not a great bearer. This is useful in November and 
December. 
Margill, an excellent fruit of the Ribston class. In 
use in November and December. 
Sturmer Pippin. Of all tho accessions to our long- 
keepers, this stands pre-eminent. No garden must re¬ 
main without it. It has every recommendation—a 
healthy tree, good bearer, flavour first-rate, in size and 
appearance noble, and possessing a sort of freshness 
