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TH£ COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 13, I860. 
mangold wurtzel, hay, straw, &c.; and when the weather was 
very hard I gave, now and then, some granary sweepings, con¬ 
sisting of different kinds of grain, which I had bought cheap. 
There are few persons who are aware of the nutriment contained 
in straw, wheat, oat, or barley. I gave wheat. When green 
food cannot be got in sufficient quantity to support the stock, I 
advise fresh ale grains mixed with middlings—not fine pollard, as 
some corn-dealers will try to palm on you. The grains must be 
sweet and rubbed well with the middlings. I give this food to 
my hutch Rabbits, and I find it much cheaper than oats, and the 
Rabbits make flesh faster. But their food must be varied : boiled 
potato parings, pig potatoes mashed with middlings, and occa¬ 
sionally barleymeal, will fatten Rabbits. To fatten Rabbits 
quickly, I have found grey peas soaked in water till they begin 
to sprout, a few given daily, say at noon, and the middlings at 
the other two meals. I find for fattening three meals a-day 
better than two; giving less at each meal prevents their blowing 
on it and taking a disgust to their food, which they will do when 
given in too large a quantity : it is better for them to leave off 
eating hungry than to be overfed. I have been told that oil cake 
will fatten Rabbits to an immense size; but that you have to 
starve them into the eating of it at first—of course, it must be 
ground or pounded fine. I think of trying it. Put two young 
Rabbits of the same litter and size, and feed one on oil cake, the 
other on the old system, and see which makes flesh the fastest. 
In feeding weanling Rabbits, the oftener you can do it the 
better, and take away that which is left from the former meal 
and give fresh—it prevents them blowing on it; and what is 
taken away will do for the elder ones which are not so fastidious, 
and by this means you prevent waste. Old Rabbits do not re¬ 
quire feeding more than twice a-day—early in the morning and 
late at night. I know fanciers who are much from home 
only feed once a-day—at night. Rabbits are naturally fond of 
feeding at night; but I think there is very little to prevent 
feeding twice. I can feed my stock, which is nearly one hundred, 
and most of them in hutches, in about twenty or thirty minutes 
when pressed for time. In my next I will give further particulars 
on feeding and management, and shall be pleased to answer any 
queries your readers may require.—R. S. S. 
EXHIBITION OF CAN ABIES AND OTHEE 
CAGE BIEDS. 
The third annual Exhibition of birds, under the patronage of 
W. T. Cox, Esq., Mayor of Derby, took place on the 3rd inst., 
at the Temperance Hall, Derby. The day, the reverse of a 
thorough November day, was very fine, the sun shining brilliantly, 
and having a charming influence over nearly 300 merry little 
songsters. The Canary portion formed the greatest feature of 
the day, there being shown fourteen distinct classes of this kind 
alone. The Mule birds (Canary and Goldfinch especially), were 
very fine. The number of other birds, besides British and 
Foreign, sent for exhibition was large, and were generally in 
excellent condition. The Parrots were represented by several 
first-rate specimens. A label on the cage of a Starling specified 
that its occupant could whistle “ The girl I left behind me.” 
On one of the stands with the larger birds was a pen of very 
small Golden-spangled Bantams, which excited much notice. 
The following is the list of prizes :— 
FOE. BIRDS HATCHED IN 1860. 
Belgians (Clear Yellow).—First, and the presentation of a bird, the gift 
of one of the Judges, G. Barnesby. Second, S. Bunting. Third, J Price 
Belgian (Clear Buff).—First, J. Price. Second, S. Bunting. 
Belgian (Variegated Yellow).—First, G. Barnesby. Second, J. Brodie. 
Third, E. Orme. 
Belgian (Variegated Buff).—First, G. Barnesby. Second, H. Beeston 
Third, R. Bond. Fourth, E. Orme. 
Lizard (Golden-spangled).—First, T. Carrington. Second, — M‘Conn ell. 
Third, E. Orme. Fourth, G. Barnesby. 
Lizard (Silver-spangled).—First, E. Orme. Second, G. Barnesby. 
London Fancy (Jonque).—Prize, G. Barnesby. 
London Taney (Mealy).—Prize, G. Barnesby. 
Norwich (Clear Yellow).—Prize, E. Orme. 
Norwich (Clear Buff).—Prize, H. Beeston. 
Spot or Cross Breed (Jonque).—Prize, G. Barnesby. 
Spot or Cross Breed (Mealy).—Prize, J. Brodie. 
Yellow and Mealy (Crested.)—First in each class, R. Bond. 
Goldfinch Mule (Jonque),—Prize, E. Orme. 
Goldfinch Mule (Mealy).—Prize, T. Carrington. 
Linnet Mule. —Prize, E. Orme. 
OPEN COMPETITION FOE BIRDS OF ALL AGES. 
Belgian (Clear Yellow).—Prize, A. Ufton. 
Belgian (Clear Buff).—First, T. Carrington. Second, E. Orme. 
Belgian (Marked Yellow).—First, J. Price. Second, T. Crooks. Third, 
J. Orme. Fourth, G. Barnesby. Fifth, E. Orme. 
Belgian (Variegated Yellow).—First, J. Fisher. Second, J. Wood. 
Third, E. Limbert. F’ourth, — Winfield. 
Belgian (Variegated Buff).—First, J. Orme. Second, — Winfield. Third, 
H. Beeston. Fourth, T. Carrington. 
Lizard (Silver-spangled).—Prize, G. Barnesby. 
Norwich (Clear Yellow).—First, J. Orme. Second, S. Bunting. Third, 
J. Hodgkinson. Fourth, A. Ufton. 
Norwich (Clear Buff).—First, J. Orme. Second, H. Beeston. Third, 
A. Simpson. 
Norwich (marked Yellow).—Prize, R. Smith. 
Spot or Cross Breed (Mealy).—Prize, E. Bemrose. 
Goldfinch Mule (Jonque).—First, J. Orme. Second, S. Bunting. 
Goldfinch Mule (Mealy).—Prize, S. Bunting. 
Linnet Mule (Capped).—Prize, W. Holmes. 
The Judges were Messrs. T. Mason, Nottingham; W. 
Matthews, Radford ; and J. Widdowson, New Basforcl.—G. J. 
Barnesby, 132, Abbey Street, Derby. 
BEOKEN COMBS IN A HIVE—FEEDING BEES. 
This summer, for the first time, I became owner of some bees. 
Seeing in your useful paper that bees should be fed after such 
an adverse season, I offered syrup most conveniently by inverted 
bottles. Each hive had received from 3 lbs. to 6 lbs.'of food ; 
but, to my great annoyance, yesterday morning on visiting the 
hives I found one of them had evidently been lifted up from its 
board, and allowed to fall heavily down again, thus shattering 
the comb, which I see is now lying in confusion within the hive. 
Can I do anything to assist the poor insects in remedying their 
misfortune ? Will they he able to store up any more food, and 
do you think they can avail themselves of what they have already 
carried in ?—S. R. K. 
[An accident of this kind is not easily remedied, and having 
happened so late in the season will very probably result in the 
destruction of the stock. Nothing must be attempted until the 
occurrence of a fine, mild day, when the hive may be inverted, and 
the combs replaced and retained in their natural position by 
the aid of strips of old comb, about half an inch wide, inserted 
between each. Two or three similar strips of sufficient thick¬ 
ness to keep the combs in firm contact with the top of the hive 
should then be laid across their edges in a transverse direction, 
and the whole being covered with a floor-board may be steadily 
returned to its natural position and place in the apiary. As soon as 
this is accomplished the stock should be liberally fed, in order to 
enable the bees to secrete wax for repairing their combs, as well 
as to store sufficient food for winter consumption. An efficient 
veil and stout woollen gloves must be worn whilst re-arranging 
the combs. 
As to the mowing machines, buy any you fancy. They all 
work well.] 
OUE LETTEE BOX. 
Liverpool Poultry Show (J. !>.).—The Show will be advertised in 
due time, and will not take place until next January. It was on the 18th 
of this year. 
Canary-breeding (C anariensis ).—There is no good hook upon Canary¬ 
breeding and management. The way to make Canary-breeding profitable 
would he to breed a good variety, produce first-class birds, and get a name. 
Bullfinches, Goldfinches, and Linnets (Last Bose of Summer ).— 
These birds will occasionally breed in confinement, but, as they are so 
easily procured, are not worth the extra trouble of rearing them." Young 
birds caught at this time have already got their wild note, and it is not at all 
probable that they can at that age be taught to whistle a tune. We believe 
Canaries and Starlings have been taught to whistle a tune as well as Bull¬ 
finches. The price they will fetch must greatly depend on the proficiency 
of the bird and the length of the purchaser’s pocket. Birds are taught to 
pipe by whistling the tune to them often, and many times a-day, or by 
fiageolette or bird-organ. After each feeding cover them up and play the 
tune two or three times. The method of teaching is described bv Bech- 
stcin.—B. P. B. 
Feeding Bees (C. H ).—Equal parts of brown sugar and honey will do 
for bee-feeding. The flour of til we have never tried. It was a French 
suggestion ; hut, though it may be used to some extent by the bees as a 
substitute for pollen, we do not think it will supersede the use of honey or 
sugar for feeding them. Buy our No. 590, in that is a full essay on 
' Gladiolus culture. You do not say the kinds you have. 
LONDON MAEKETS. —November 12. 
POULTRY 
We have'little variation to note, 
hut the demand is not great. 
Each— s. d. s. d. 
Large Fowls. 4 0 to 4 6 
Smaller Fowls. 3 0 ,, 3 6 
Chickens . 2 6 ,, 3 0 
Geese. 6 0,, 6 6 
Goslings . 0 0 ,, 0 0 
Ducks . 2 6 ,, 3 0 
Ducklings. 0 0 ,, 0 0 
The supply is still below the average, 
| Each— s. d. s. d. 
\ Pheasants. 3 6 to 4 0 
1 Partridges . 2 0 ,, 2 3 
Grouse . 1 9 ,, 2 0 
Pigeons. 0 8 „ 0 9 
Hares. 3 0 „ 3 6 
Rabbits. 1 4 ,. 1 5 
Wild ditto. 0 8 „ 0 9 
