126 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 27, 1830. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
December 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Birmingham. Sec., Mr. John B. Lythall, 
Offices, Unity Buildings, Temple Street, Birmingham, Entries close 
November 1. 
December 6th. Hum, and East Biding. Sec., G Bobson, 25, Water-work 
Street. Entries close November 22nd. 
December 12th, 13th, and 14th. Northern Counties (Darlington). 
Sec., J. Hodgson, Darlington. Entries close Nov. 19th. 
December 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th. Crystal Palace. (Poultry, Pigeons, 
Babbits, Ornamental Water Fowl, and Pheasants). Sec., Mr. W. 
Houghton. Entries close November 10. 
December 18th and 19th. Lord Tredegar’s, at Newport, Monmouth¬ 
shire. Sec., Mr. C. H. Oliver, Commercial Street, Newport. Entries 
close Nov. 21st. 
December 21st and 22nd. Halifax Pigeon Show. Sec., D. B. Edgar. 
Entries close December 8th. 
Decemeer 27th, 28th and 29th. Kendal. Hon. Secs., G. C. Whitwell 
and T. Wilson. Entries close December 12th 
January 30th and 31st. Ulverston. Secs., Mr. T. Kobinson and Mr. J. 
Kitchen. Entries close January 10th. 
February 6th and 7th. Liverpool. (Poultry and Pigeons). Sec., Mr. 
A. Edmondson, 4, Dale Street. 
June 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th. Bath and West of England. 
CHESTERFIELD POULTRY SHOW. 
Your correspondent, in Ills letter “ On the Management of 
Poultry Shows,” mates several remarks on the Chesterfield 
Show ; which, as it is the only one in our county, I do not like 
to see treated so very cavalierly, especially as what lie states is 
quite at variance with wliat passed before my own eyes. 
If your correspondent, in saying it is a rural Show, intends 
conveying the idea that it has many country visitors, lie could 
not well pay it a greater compliment ; but if lie means being 
purely local exhibitors, let him examine the prize list or catalogue. 
He will then find that out of a Show of more than four hundred 
pens only one hundred were from the immediate neighbourhood. 
The notice that no person would be allowed to touch any fowls 
being a mere oratorical flourish could not have been as lie states ; 
for during the whole time the Show was open there was always 
present one or both of the Secretaries and several of the Com¬ 
mittee, assisted by three policemen, to enforce that rule—in fact, 
I caused four or five persons to be expelled for breaking the rule, 
which is in itself enough to prove that it was no “ oratorical 
flourish.” Of the good points of the Show he sings small. He 
forgets to say that the whole of the four hundred pens were 
despatched and everything cleared away by ten o’clock tlie 
morning after the Show ; and last, but not least, that the whole 
of the prize money was paid within a week of the Show—a fact 
which it would be well if many larger Shows would hear in mind. 
I must plead a love of fair play for thus troubling you. I 
enclose my card and remain—A Derbyshire Poultry Fancier 
and One of the Committee of the Chesterfield Show. 
P.S.—The Show is, I believe, postponed from January to May 
next year. _ 
PROFIT FROM RABBITS. 
In reply to a letter from a correspondent signing himself “A 
Rabbit-keeper,” in which he states lie is quite puzzled to 
understand how a profit of £600 was made by breeding 2400 
Chinchillas and Himalayas. He does not understand, because 
he is evidently quite ignorant of their value. If he refers to the 
Editors’ reply to “ Jemima Wilhelmina,” lie will find that they 
do not state Is. each is the average price for Chinchillas. As 
in Ho. 627, they inform the same correspondent that 20s. to 26s. 
per couple is the price, and that is a very moderate price. I 
doubt if full-grown pure-bred specimens could be obtained 
under 40s. per couple. At the time I liad my warren, I made 
50s. per couple of large quantities. One furrier in London had 
a hundred full-grown Rabbits, and paid near £100 for them ; 
and even the Rabbits I sent abroad realised more than the price 
he mentions.—R. S. S. 
RICE AS POULTRY FOOD. 
In your answer to a question respecting blind chickens you 
say feeding on rice is not the cause, but that “ rice is an abomi¬ 
nation in poultry feeding, and that it breeds vermin we know.” 
Yow, all this summer I have fed my poultry at least twice 
a-week upon rice boiled and unboiled—that is, alternately with 
barley and Indian com, and finer fowls for the table I never had 
and they are certainly quite free from vermin. Perhaps you will 
kindly inform me from what cause you know rice to he injurious 
to poultry. I believe a low condition in fowls will be sure to 
bring vermin, hut I am yet to be convinced that rice is the cause, 
and believe it to be an old and strong prejudice ; for we are at 
great disadvantage here with our poultry—our soil being heavy 
clay, and neither sand, gravel, nor chalk to be found in it.— 
A. W., Sydenham. 
[Your note contains its own answer. Harley and Indian corn 
alone would be too fattening for your poultry, and the alternation 
of rice acts as a corrective; for there is no more reducing diet 
than rice —it is pure starch and incapable of producing fat in any 
animal. Fowls kept upon it become thin and low in condition, 
and then vermin always occur. Since we wrote the answer to 
which you allude we have remembered a voyage from India, 
unusually protracted, when the fowls on board were supplied 
with nothing but rice. They became mere hags of bones, and 
almost all became blind in one or both eyes.] 
STINGLESS BEES. 
Your last publication alludes to the desirableness of intro¬ 
ducing into this country the stingless bees of Guatemala. Now, 
I have been informed that some years ago this was clone at 
Ivnowsley by the late Lord Derby—I suspect with no satisfactory 
result. You remark, “ Even if they are not such good honey- 
harvesters, yet their unarmed condition would more than com¬ 
pensate for that.” This position I take leave to doubt, and quite 
endorse the opinion of Dr. Bevan, “that tlie fruits of their 
labours must very soon become a prey to the wasps and bees of 
the country. The stiugless bees, having no weapon of defence to 
enable them to cope with armed assailants, would soon be 
exterminated. In their native clime, where sweets abound, no 
temptations to predatory attack may occur.”—H. T. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Ground Oats or Barley {H. T. J.).— As we do not know where yon 
live it is impossible for us to say where you can purchase these. But you 
might have them crushed or ground at any corn-mill; or any corn-dealer 
would get them for you ; or you might buy a small hand-mill and crush 
them at home. 
Bantam’s Legs Useless ( J. Carr). —The probability is, that the spine 
has been injured during the railway conveyance. In that case time only 
can restore the nervous influence over the legs. But the cause may be 
pressure on the brain from the rupture of a small blood vessel, in which 
case, quiet, and soft low diet, such as boiled potatoes and fine bran or 
pollard scalded, and plenty of green food, will give the best chance of 
recovery. In either case it must be a work of time. 
Rabbit-keeping ( One that always lost by Rabbits). —A garden with 
“ a very hard soil ” is not well adapted for Rabbits burrowing in it, but if 
you were to throw the soil up into banks in various parts it would probably 
answer. Tame Rabbits will breed in such a place. Turn them down at 
anytime of the year. You will see what “R. S. S.” says to-day about 
Himalayas. You had better advertise for what you require. 
Himalayan Babbits [Lapinus).— The Himalayan Babbits are small, 
hardy, and good breeders. They have white bodies, red eyes, short black 
ears, and black noses, tails, and feet. The Patagonian Rabbits are not as 
hardy as the commoner sorts, nor are they as prolific. The Himalayan 
are easily to be procured at prices varying from Is. Gd. to 12s. each. The 
Patagonians are rare and but little known, and if purebred fetch long prices. 
Loss of a Long Tail-feather (5.).—This in a Game cockerel is a dis¬ 
advantage, but by no means a disqualification. Accidents are never made 
fatal to success if it can be avoided ; but if they constantly happened to 
those parts of the plumage where defective colour would at once insure 
defeat, they would be looked upon with suspicion. At present such is not 
the case. 
Costiveness in a Canary—Breeding and Cross-breeding (A Notting¬ 
ham Header).— For costiveness, a little sopped bread sweetened with moist 
sugar, or a little treacle in their water may be found beneficial. To effect a 
permanent cure, the cause should be removed when discovered. Itapeseedl 
do not consider good for cage birds. Twohens maybe put to one cock if the 
cage is large enough. The hen should be first acquainted. Four hens may be 
put to one cock if tu’-ned in a room or aviary. The Goldfinchbreeds freely 
with the Canary. The hybrid produce are called Goldfinch Mules, and are 
good singers. Their general colour is a mixture between that of a Goldfinch 
and Grey Canary. Occasionally they are pied, when they are more esteemed. 
I consider Canary-seed the best food for Goldfinches,' with an occasional 
addition of groundsel, plantain, dandelion or thistle heads.— B. P. Brent. 
LONDON MARKETS. —November 26. 
POULTRY. 
There is that lull in the trade which generally precedes Christmas, and 
as the supply is good, prices are hardly maintained. 
Each- 
Large Fowls. 
—s 
. 4 
d. 
0 to 
8. 
4 
d. 
6 
Pheasants... 
Each— s. 
. 3 
d. 
0 
to 
8. 
3 
6 
Smaller Fowls. 
G „ 
4 
0 
Partridges 
9. 
0 
2 
3 
Chickens . 
. 2 
G „ 
2 
9 
Grouse . 
. 2 
0 
2 
3 
Geese. 
0 „ 
6 
6 
Pigeons. 
. 0 
8 
0 
9 
Ducks . 
6 ,, 
3 
0 
Hares. 
. 3 
0 
3 
0 
Ducklings. 
0 
0 „ 
0 
0 
Rabbits . 
. 1 
4 
1 
5 
Turkeys . 
G „ 
9 
0 
Wild ditto... 
. 0 
8 
>> 
0 
9 
