April 24. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
03 
90,000,000 of eggs, the duty upon which (one penny per 
dozen) amounted to .£34,000. Nine-tenths of the foreign 
eggs imported into Great Britain are from France. The 
importation thence in 1842 was 89,548,741 ; in 1843, 
70,413,831; and in 1844, 07,487,920. The yearly impor¬ 
tation exceeds 80,000,000. The consumption of eggs in 
Paris is estimated at upwards of one hundred millions 
yearly. Supposing a fowl to produce one hundred and 
twenty eggs annually—which is perhaps a fair average—the 
reader may imagine the immense stock of poultry that must 
be kept in France. Any one who has travelled in that 
country is aware that they are reared in vast numbers, they 
being the most profitable stock on the many farms owned or 
tenanted by the French peasantry. The late poultry shows 
have tended to awaken new interest in the breeding and 
rearing of poultry by our own farmers, especially those 
whose land is situated near large cities, or where there are 
means of rapid transport to such cities. Though we are far 
from believing all the stories which interested parties, or 
amateur poultry-keepers put forth, there can be no question 
that, with economical management, the poultry-yard becomes 
a source of large profit, as it is of unabated interest. On 
this subject, however, others are far more competent to 
speak than we are. But we are glad when a new impulse is 
given to the rearing of any domestic stock, and though the 
present movement in that direction looks a little too much 
to extravagance in size, or peculiarity of breed, its mature 
result will be beneficial to the farmer, and through him to 
the consumer.— N. 4'. Commercial Advertiser. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Answers to several Correspondents must remain until 
next week. 
Periwinkle under Trees ( T.E .)—There is no need to rake the 
leaves off, they can be brushed off with a broom. The few which remain 
decay and manure the Periwinkle. The sulphur and lime will not hurt 
the Plum-tree buds. It probably sheds its fruit because the walk and 
the shallow soil prevent its obtaining food enough. Try manuring it, 
and keep the roots mulched all the summer. 
Gardening Work (An Intended Gardener). —Tiie Cottage Garden¬ 
ers’ Dictionary will suit you. Soaking seed is not generally useful. 
Usually it is best to let seeds absorb moisture gradually from the soil in 
which they are sown. 
Cucumber Bed (A Constant Header). —We should prefer building it 
on pillars, so that the dung may be renewed at any time when the heat 
declines. 
Hydro-incubator (J. Price). —Before we bought one we should 
visit some private individual who has one, and ask him if knowing what 
he does now he would buy one if not already possessed of one. The 
chickens hatched artificially, we believe, are as strong as those hatched 
under a hen. Any one who has used a Hydro-iucubator will oblige us by 
stating the results of his experience. 
White Poland with Black Top-knot (A Subscriber). —If the 
top-knot is quite black we think you could not match it in Europe. We 
recommend you to buy one of the opposite sex which is white with a 
greyish top-knot, and breed from them. Mr. Vivian, w'e think, has the 
grey top-knotted. 
Book on Bee-keeping (D. W.). —Buy one of “ Kichardson’s Hand¬ 
books,” entitled The Hive and Honey Dec. Its price is only one 
shilling. It is published by Messrs. W. S. Orr and Co., London. 
Churn. — H. T. wishes to know the best for churning from ten to 
| sixteen pounds of butter. 
Farming a Clay Soil ( Silvester ).—“ A clay soil on an elevated, and, 
therefore, cold part of one of our western counties ” affords slight 
encouragement to the schemes of the poultry-keeper. For such a 
locality, the hardy Game fowl would probably be found most suitable ; 
! but as regards cost and produce, we cannot hold out any great hopes of 
! success under the circumstances you refer to. At all events, poultry 
profits would entirely depend on the general economy of your farm 
management, which, as regards a London supply, would be affected by 
distance from the railway, and the charge of transmission thereon. 
CALENDAR FOR MAY. 
ORCHID HOUSE. 
Air: now that the days have lengthened, and the sun obtains much 
power, air must be given liberally. If the house is built as we recoin- 
j mended, facing east and west, the sun will have great power early in the 
morning, and late in the afternoon, and, therefore, air must be given ac¬ 
cordingly. Baskets, examine weekly, and such as are dry give a good 
steeping in tepid water. Catasetums, Cyrtopodiums, and plants of 
similar habit, will now be growing freely, and should be as freely watered 
at the root, care being taken that no water lodges in the hollow of the 
young leaves. Dendrobiums, and any other plants in flower, should 
either be removed to a cooler house, till the bloom is over, or be placed at 
the coolest end of the house, and more air given there j but they should 
be removed into their growing quarters till they have formed the new 
bulbs. New Plants, such as have just been received from abroad, 
should not have much water or great heat till fresh growths nre com¬ 
menced. Heat: during this month the greater part of the plants will 
be making rapid growth ; the heat must be kept up to the maximum. 
Moisture must also be plentifully bestowed upon the internal air; wet 
the walks, walls, and pipes, two or three times a day, especially in the 
morning and afternoon. Insects, such as snails and slugs, will abound ; 
destroy them diligently. It is a good practice to look in upon them in 
the evening, with a lamp or candle ; they may be probably found at 
their work of destruction. Potting, if not finished last month, should 
now be completed. As soon as a flower is potted, secure each pseudo¬ 
bulb to a stick, the compost being so open they would fall over if not 
securely tied ; this gives an opportunity to arrange the shoots in a sym¬ 
metrical form. Lycopodiums grown in the Orchid House, divide, 
repot, and tie. Shading, apply daily when the sun shines. Syringe: 
this will be in constant requisition, especially for plants growing on blocks. 
Water, at the root, bestow liberally to all growing plants, but withhold 
it gradually as the bulbs arrive at maturity. Let the Weeds be all drawn 
up, for they will grow even in an Orchid House. T. Appleby. 
STOVE PLANTS. 
Aciiimenes, attend, with support for the weak-growing ; give freely 
plenty of water to those advanced in growth; pot the last batch this 
month. A. picta is a fine species to bloom in winter. Air, give liberally 
to keep down at maximum point the internal atmosphere. Amaryllis 
coming into bloom, water freely ; those going out of flower place in a 
close pit, and allow the heat of the sun to fully play upon them, to ripen 
the bulbs. Baskets, if any are used for drooping plants, should be 
taken down frequently, and dipped in tepid water. Climbers, attend 
to, tie on, keep within bounds, and syringe freely to keep down the 
red spider. Cuttings of stove plants: the plants will now be making 
young growths, and these make the best cuttings ; take them off, and 
pot them in sand in heat. Gardenias, remove out of hotbeds into 
the greenhouse to prolong the flowering; give less water; such as 
have done blooming place in a cold pit. Gloxinias and Gesneras, 
repot, and syringe every day. Ixoras, specimens, tie out; young 
plants, place in dung-heat to encourage rapid growth. Heat, keep 
up to the maximum, 70 ° by day, 60° by night. Moisture to the 
air, supply liberally, by flooding the walks twice a-day. Oleanders, 
place in pans of water, to cause the blooms to open freely, and en¬ 
courage growth. Syringe : use this instrument freely every fine day, 
avoiding such plants as may be in flower. Potting: continue to 
repot young stove plants, to bring them on in growth. Weeds; let 
none appear beyond the seed ; keep everything tidy, neat, and sweet, 
in order to render the stove attractive and agreeable. Winter-bloom¬ 
ing Plants, such as Justicius, Eranthernums, &c., cut down, repot, 
and place in heat, to start them into growth. T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Auriculas and Polyanthuses, shade, and keep well supplied with j 
water; pot seedlings, and sow, if not done last month. Carnations 
and Picotees, finish potting without fail; plant out seedlings to bloom ; 
sow seed. Chrysanthemums, rooted cuttings, pot off; old plants, 
divide and repot, use rich compost. Cinerarias, shade ; pot off seed- ! 
lings as they grow ; it is not too late to sow seed yet. Dahlias, harden 
off, and plant out towards the end of the month; cuttings of rare kinds 
may yet be put in. .Fuchsias, young plants repot twice during the 
month ; old plants, stop shoots, and repot for the last time; seedlings 
transplant, water with liquid-manure as soon as the foliage is abundant. 
Hollyhocks, stake, and water with liquid-manure. Pansies, in 
bloom, shade from sun ; water and stir the soil about them ; keep them 
clear of weeds. Pelargoniums, such as show flower, repot; tie out 
specimens; give plenty of air to, and water occasionally with liquid- 
manure; put in cuttings; sow' seed. Pinks, stir the soil between the 
rows, and apply a mulching of short dung. Ranunculuses, water 
freely in dry weather. Tall Lobelias, plant out where they are to 
bloom. Tulits, protect from frosty nights and heavy rains ; retard the j 
bloom, if too early, by shading during hot sun. Verbenas, stop 
cuttings, by nipping off the tops, to make them bushy; sow seed; plant 
out in large pots for specimens ; w'ater freely and shade. Look out for 
weeds, slugs, and various insects, and destroy them constantly and 
diligently. T. Appleby. 
FLOWER-GARDEN. 
Anemones, water w'ell between the rows. Annuals (Tender), remove 
into another hotbed : pot, if not done in April; w'ater gently, and give 
air as much as possible; prick out April-sown. Antirrhinums, plant 
and sow for late autumn bloom. Auriculas done blooming, remove 
to N.E. aspect, where they will not have sunshine after nine; offsets 
with roots detach, aud plant three in a pot; seedlings keep in the shade; 
water moderately in dry weather ; Auriculas to seed should be kept from 
wet, Awnings, or other shelter, continue over beds of Tulips, e., now in 
bloom. Bedding-plants, be not in too great hurry to plant out; the 
middle of the month is time to begin any of the half-hardy plants. 
Biennials, sow, b., in rows, thinly. Bulbous Roots, generally, 
directly leaves decay, take up and store ; seedlings shade through mid¬ 
day ; plant again after separating offsets, or else store until the end of 
July. Sow China Asters to succeed early, or supersede late annuals. 
Carnations; remove side-buds from flower-stems ; shade from meridian 
sun ; water in dry weather ; put sticks to, and tie stalks ; sow, DAll lias, 
old, part and plant, b. ; young, plant out, e. Dress the borders, ike., 
frequently. Flowering Plants require staking, &c., Fuchsias may 
be planted. Grass, mow aud roll weekly. Gravel, roll weekly. 
Hyacinths, take up and store as leaves decay. Mignonette, sow for 
succession, b. Mixed Borders, go over twice this month, and mark 
such plants as seem out of place. CEnotiiera macrocarpa, make 
cuttings of when the young shoots are three inches long. Prune and 
transplant Laurestinus when done flowering; also prune Berberis 
