270 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
JULY 7. 
time. A common milk-pan is the best vessel to use for 
soaking the leaves and seed-pods in, as it gives a large sur¬ 
face for the action of air, and yet contains water enough to 
keep a double handful of leaves well-covered ; the time that 
leaves require for soaking depends much on the situation 
of the pans, and the kind of leaf ; a full south aspect, un¬ 
shaded, is desirable, and the more fetid the water that 
contains the leaves the better, except for the oak, and that 
requires to have the water changed once a week, as it pos¬ 
sesses some substance (Tannin) which preserves rather 
than decays other vegetable matter. The chief art in this 
anatomizing, is to take your subjects when their exterior is 
fully decayed, and the interior untouched ; after well washing 
them in several waters they should be bleached in a solution 
of chloride of lime; where that is not found powerful enough, 
a few drops of oil of vitriol may be added. An ivy, or pear- 
leaf, is about the easiest to skeletonize, and they do not 
require more than four or live weeks’ soaking; all begin¬ 
ners of this work must remember to keep their leaves 
under water whilst taking off the skin, or the fibre is apt to 
t ear< A Skeletonizer. 
POULTRY SHOW AT SWAFFHAM, NORFOLK. 
Ox Wednesday, June 22nd, a good show of poultry, for a 
first exhibition, took place under the auspices of the Norfolk 
Agricultural Society. As in all first exhibitions of the kind, 
a little experience is required, as was the case at Swaffham, 
for had the entry for pens been, as at other exhibitions, 
three or four shillings, instead of being confined to members 
and subscribers of £1 11s. 0d., a more numerous entry 
would have been the result. There was little competition, 
except in the Cochin chicken class, in which Messrs. Fairlie, 
I 1 ill an s, Reynolds, H. Gilbert, R. Gilbert, and other ex¬ 
hibitors of repute, sent beautiful specimens. The following 
were the fortunate exhibitors in their respective classes. 
Judge, G. S. Andrews, Esq., Dorchester. 
Class 72 .—SPANISH. Cock and two Hens. 
First prize, Rev. J. Bulwer. 
Class 75.—DORKINGS. Cock and two Hens. 
First prize, F. L. Astley, Esq. Second prize, J. Fairlie, Esq. 
Class 77 .—DORKING, Chickens. 
First prize, W. P. Pillans, Esq. 
Class 78 .—SHANGHAE. Cock and two Hens. 
First prize, J. Fairlie, Esq. Second prize, W. P. Pillans, Esq. 
Class 81.—GOLDEN-PENCILLED HAMBURGHS. 
First prize, W. P. Pillans, Esq. 
Class 84.—SILVER-PENCILLED HAMBURGHS. Cock and two 
Hens. 
First prize, Mr. N. G. Barthropp. Second prize, Rev. G. L. Fellowes 1 
Class 86 .—SILVER-SPANGLED HAMBURGH CHICKENS. 
Prize, R. Marsham, Esq. 
TURKEYS. (Old). 
First and second prizes, J. Fairlie, Esq. 
TURKEY POULTS. 
Prize, J. Fairlie, Esq. 
GOSLINGS. 
Prize, J. Fairlie, Esq. 
Class 96 .—AY'LESBURY DUCKS. 
Prize, J. Fairlie, Esq. 
Class 103.—BANTAMS (White). 
First prize, Rev. P. Gurdon. 
Class 105.—BANTAMS (Black). 
Prize, J. Fairlie, Esq. 
THE OPERATION FOR CROP-BOUND. 
I beg to make known a more simple and easy, as well as 
an equally efficacious, mode of relieving the condition of 
crop-bound in Fowls. The plan usually adopted is unne¬ 
cessarily complicated, and requires some nicety in its due 
performance. I mean the laying open the crop to the 
unwarrantable extent of two inches, at its lowest part (as 
recommended in The Cottage Gardener), and afterwards 
sewing up the wound. The washing out of the crop is also 
quite uncalled for. The operation which I advise is, simply 
the making of a very small incision with a lancet, and that 
at the upper part of the crop; say, at least, two-thirds from 
its most depending portion ; and then, by a very little mani¬ 
pulation with the fingers, and with the occasional aid of a 
pin, the turgid grain is readily extracted, and no sewing up 
of the wound is required. It will be admitted that the 
rendering unnecessary the use of the needle and thread is 
a great simplification of the process; and experience has 
shewn me that the skin of the crop is a part that rapidly 
unites when cut open. 
The required conditions for the success of the operation 
are, that the wound be small, scarcely twice the length of a 
barley corn ; that it be made at the upper part of the crop ; 
and that the food and drink be afterwards allowed but in i 
moderate quantities at a time, till the wound be healed. : 
The rationale of these conditions are sufficiently obvious; j 
the small wound soon heals of itself—its position secures it 
from being distended or opened by the contents of the crop 
—these contents being in moderate quantity do not extend 
to the wound. 1 
I last year, successfully, thus relieved a crop-bound 
Sebright pullet; the facility of the plan, and the rapidity of 
the cure were such as to induce me now to urge it upon the 
notice of the readers of The Cotage Gardener. 
If fowls are susceptible of gratitude, this case of the 
Sebright pullet affords an illustration; being an oddling 
amongst a clutch of Polands, it was a good deal domineered 
over, so that it became scared and wild as a Partridge; after 
the operation and cure an immediate change came o’er it, 
and it became most docile and attached to me. So much 
so that it generally perches on my shoulder as soon as I 
visit the lawn; nor will it feed with the rest of its com¬ 
panions if I am present, but literally pecks at, and pulls my 
ears, till I offer it some of the food in my hand, when, with 
a gratified chuckle of success, it slides down my arm to the 
cherished hand and handful.—F. R. Horner, Hull. 
THE ROUP IN FOWLS CONTAGIOUS. 
Seeing in your valuable Journal a letter from “ Linas,” in 
favour of the roup being contagious, I can give you a little 
of my experience on the matter. In the winter I got three 
Polish hens and a cock from a dealer, one of the hens, on 
arrival, had evident signs of theroup, and was very ill; however, 
she recovered; during the illness of the Polish hen, I got, 
at different times, six or seven other hens, all of which had 
the roup, one or two of them died, and others I killed as a 
means of ridding myself of the disease. The weather 
certainly was wet and stormy all the time, but no roup shewed 
itself until the arrival of the Polish hen before mentioned. 
I should certainly say that the roup is contagious. 
T. Iv. A. | 
[Mr. Roscoe, manager of Capt. Hornby’s poultry, and who 
has more personal and ancestral experience than any one 
living, has no doubt that roup is contagious. We shall be 
glad of facts either for or against the opinion.—E d. C. G.] 
OUR MONTHLY CONTEMPORARIES. 
The Scottish Florist for May is an excellent number. 
Among other amusing and instructive articles is one by 
Mr. Cuthill, on Melon and Cucumber-growing for Covent- 
Garden. He says—“I was the first that ever had a Bank- 
sian medal from the Horticultural Society for a Melon cut 
on the 10th of May, 1837, and exhibited on the 13th. The 
sort was Cuthill’s Early Scarlet Flesh. This I have had 
since 1830. It is very hardy, very easy of growth, and most 
productive of fruit, and is the first to be seen in Covent- 
Garden at the present day. It gained a prize two years 
ago at Regent’s Park, and one at Chiswick in July, so that 
the flavour is not amiss. I do hope that gardeners will not 
think that I am endeavouring to instruct them; I merely 
say what I have done with these two plants. 
“ Several mornings, at the dearest time, I have brought 
home £5 for Cucumbers only, and the same for Melons; 
but then the expense must be considered. Those very 
