THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 13, 1860. 
Claines, Worcester. Highly Commended, T. Keahle, Rowdefield Farm, 
Devizes. 
Malay Cocks.— Prize, C. Ballance, 5, Mount Terrace, Taunton. Highly 
•Commended, W. Manfleld, jun., Dorchester. Commended, W. Manfield. 
Ant Breed not mentioned.— Prize, T. H. D. Bayly, Biggleswade, 
Beds (Bantam). 
A Special Prize of Two Pounds, the gift of the Marchioness of Win¬ 
chester, for the best Pen of Two Cambridge Turkey Hens—Prize, Miss L. 
Crawshay, Caversham Park, Reading. 
DUCKWINGED GAME EOWLS — SILVER- 
PENCILLED HAMBURGH COCK’S COMB 
Are Duckwiuged Game fowls a distinct variety, or a cross of 
tlie White and Black-breasted Reds ? I am told by an exhibitor 
that they are a cross by a White Game hen and a Black-breasted 
cock, and that I cannot breed birds true to colour by Duckwinged 
only. I have a pen of the Duckwinged Game, and have some 
chicks from them ; some are much like the old birds, but not true 
to feather, they having striped hackles instead of white ; and some 
of the same hatch are very nice chicks of the Black-breasted, well 
marked in feather, which I intend to exhibit as Black-breasted 
Reds all from the same cock and hen. 
Also, should a Silver-pencilled Hamburgh cock’s comb be 
straight and the point turn up or not ?—J. B. 
[There is no doubt the Duckwinged are a distinct breed, 
more so than many. We could point out yards where they have 
been bred in purity, and in the perfection of feather for years. 
The Black-breasted Red and White would produce Piles. The 
facts you mention prove nothing unless you can show the birds 
from which they are bred are thoroughly pure themselves. This 
is important, because we know some Duckwing breeders cross 
with the Black Red at times for colour, and it is possible your 
fowls may be the produce of such. 
A Pencilled Hamburgh cock’s comb should be firm on his 
head, not too narrow, full of points, and the pike behind should 
turn upwards.] 
DIARIES. 
Diarv for the Dairy, Piggery, Potjltry-yard, Ac.*— 
We have on more than one occasion recommended this very 
useful and very complete Diary. It gives a monthly calendar 
showing each day when means are adopted upon it for obtaining 
produce, whether from mare, cow, sheep, goat, sow, goose, pea¬ 
fowl, turkey, duck, or hen, that produce ought to arrive. It 
gives, also, a calendar for the dairy in which to record each day’s 
produce of milk, butter, and cash. It gives a calendar for the 
poultry-yard for recording the number of eggs each day from 
each variety of fowd; eggs sold and price ; eggs exchanged, eggs 
used, broods produced, eggs sat upon, and number of chickens 
produced. It gives equally methodical and useful calendars for 
the piggery and apiary; columns for general cash account; 
monthly calendars of operations, and other useful information. 
Peat’s Parmer’s Diary. f— It is now the eighth year in 
which this Diary has appeared, and it has this great improve¬ 
ment over its predecessors, of having its pages ruled, so that all 
the accounts and memoranda can be kept with more clearness 
and neatness ; but we recommend next year that the lines be 
more visible. It contains an almanac, prominently noticing 
when quarter sessions occur, policies fall due, when notices must 
be given, Ac. Then there are breeders’ tables and cash-account 
leaves for each month; cropping or produce tables ; outlay 
during the year under separate heads of cattle, sheep, manure, 
Ac.; income during the year under similar heads; and at the 
end are many useful tables, recipes for annual diseases, list of 
fairs, &c. 
RABBITS WILL PAY EOR KEEPING. 
I have no doubt from the account I gave of my miniature 
warren that many of your readers’ situations will be found to 
offer suitable places for making the same. I had forgotten to bring 
to their notice the many unused places that might be turned to 
advantage. For instance: an old worn-out gravel-pit would 
make a first-rate place, the Rabbits would burrow into the sides, 
retain all their wild nature, still be in confinement, coming out 
* Diary for the Dairy, Piggery, Poultry-yard, Pigeon-house, and 
Apiary for 1861. By an Essex Amateur. London : Cottage Gardener 
Office, &c. 
+ Peat's Farmer's Diary and Account Book for 1SG1. London : Simpkin 
and Marshall, &c. 
into the pit to feed. I know of one near London that is pro 
gressing famously. The pit covers an area of about 200 square 
yards, and is about 10 feet deep. The proprietor has had large 
sloping mounds, and ridges of gravel and clay, thrown up to 
the height of about 6 feet in different parts, which brings the 
Rabbits nearer to the surface, yet, being in the centre, affords 
them no chance of escape. This pit is in a large field partly 
under grass and vegetable cultivation. Around the edges, to 
prevent cattle falling or vermin getting down, there is a gal¬ 
vanised wire fencing. The bottom of the pit is reached by a 
ladder; and the field in which it is situated supplies them with 
nearly sufficient fodder. Readers must not misunderstand me. 
It does not require that these miniature warrens should be in 
a vegetable-growing district to make them pay, as any kind 
of green food will suffice. All kinds of grasses, the trimmings 
of trees and hedges, the refuse of the garden, the litter of a 
stable—all will feed Rabbits. There is one thing worthy of 
especial mention, because I do not think it is generally known— 
that is, rushes being a first-rate food, and of which the Rabbits 
are very fond; and it is very fattening, and in marshy districts 
large quantities may be got without trouble. In the pit I have 
just mentioned the Himalaya is the kind kept, on account of 
their skins being so very valuable, of which the gentleman in¬ 
formed me they make imitation ermine. It was a pretty sight 
to see them all out feeding: their silvery white coats, and their 
black ears, nose and feet, gave them a handsome appearance—in 
fact, I think they are the prettiest variety we have. 
About eighteen months since the “London Journal” gave 
a series of articles on Rabbit-keeping, and one of them contained 
instructions to make a Rabbit-pit. From that account a friend 
of mine, living at Paddington, with a walled garden only 180 feet 
deep and 40 feet broad, made one. The opening was 6 feet 
square, and pit 5 feet deep. To prevent the sides falling in, it was 
faced with one inch boarding like a square frame, and the bottom 
of the pit paved with twelve-inch fiat tiles. At each side were 
three holes made in the board which was at the bottom, and 
at each hole was a sliding door which could be opened or shut 
from the top of the pit by means of a cord. Over the opening of 
this pit was erected an ornamental zinc roofing sufficiently high 
from the ground to serve the purpose of a summer-house as 
well, and at the top was a pigeon-cote. He put down four 
Himalayan does about four months old; and when they had 
been there about six w r eeks, he thought they had sufficient time to 
burrow and make their way into the ground through the holes 
to be able to form their nests when required. He had accustomed 
them to assemble at the sound of a whistle whenever he fed 
them, which he always does very regularly twice a-day. On their 
coming out to feed he lets the doors down, and then can catch 
any if he wishes. He put the buck down and left him there all 
night, and in the morning took him up, and opened the doors 
for the others to go about their work of burrowing. At the 
end of the month he saw plainly they were thinking about 
their nests, from their picking up bits of hay, &c., in their 
mouths. He then made a practice of putting the buck down 
every six weeks for two nights, taking him up every morning, 
and opening the doors for the does to go to then’ nests. The 
above has now been made about twelve months, and has been very 
successful, and he finds they increase surprisingly—often having 
to send young ones to market, besides supplying his own table 
and one or two dealers, to keep down the stock. They have 
never yet made their appearance at the surface, but their runs ex¬ 
tend all over the garden. The expense of making the above was 
very trifling, having done all the work with the exception of 
the roof himself. 
I think now your readers will see there are many ways of 
keeping Rabbits without occasioning the trouble of cleaning out, 
or the smell so generally complained of in hutches, and the 
time in feeding a large stock is considerably lessened. Besides, 
Rabbits kept in a court or pit are so much more amusing 
animals; you see their little gambols, their jealousies, trying to 
master each other, and many other little antics which add to 
their attraction. I advise where there is room, a court or pit for 
Rabbit-keeping; in towns you are of course obliged to be content 
with the hutch. A friend of mine is having a large court made, 
and when finished I will send dimensions and all particulars of 
improvements introduced. 
And now as to the feeding of them. Rabbits in miniature 
warrens, pits, or courts do not require the same care in feeding 
as in hutches. In my warren they had little else but green food 
and straw in summer; but in winter I gave Swede turnips, 
