293 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 12, 1861. 
most things in our busy country, and becomes marketable ; but 
it bas a common fate in other respects—it has charms for people 
in every walk of life, and of both sexes, and there are those who 
take as much interest in the breed of their three or four score of 
tame Pheasants, as others who kill their thousands in the three 
days’ battue. There are also those who will be glad to hear about 
Pheasants and Partridges, and who will after a time ask ques¬ 
tions on the subject. We have known sisters who had their 
pets in the shrubberies, the produce of a nest that had been 
“ mown out,” and reared under a hen afterwards ; and we have 
known such a one to keep watch and ward all day when the 
brother and his friends were shooting. That day no message 
would take her from home—no sight, no visit had temptation or 
attraction sufficient to induce her to give up “keepering,” as l^er 
brother’s friend called it. 
Wc do not wonder at it. It was a beautiful sight when, at 
the sound of the breakfast-bell, the Pheasants came from laurels 
and shrubs racing across the smooth lawn to the breakfast- 
room window. It was an anxious moment that first inspection 
lest there should be one or two short in number, or a broken 
leg or wing among them. 
While we do not for an instant aspire to the distinction of a 
sporting paper, we must believe that notices of Game and notes 
on Natural History interest a large class of readers ; and circu¬ 
lating as we do among a very numerous country connection, we 
are anxious to give them all the pleasure and information we can. 
The mutual communication of interesting facts in Natural His- j 
tory of things that at first appear unworthy notice soon acquires 
importance. Such have formed the foundation of delightful 
books. Take, for instance, the late Bishop of Norwich’s work 
on birds, take Gilbert White’s book, you will find in both 
numerous anecdotes—indeed, the first is composed of them, 
and the other show's the charms such trifles have even for minds 
of the highest order. To some it will seem childish if not 
ridiculous to note the first arrival of many of the warblers, of 
the Swallow', or of the Nightingale ; yet the same person has 
during the last three months noted the barometer and thermo¬ 
meter twenty times every day. It is not straining the term to say 
that the most careless person would soon become interested, and 
the advent of the spring visitors would be as well understood as 
the appearance of certain bulbs and flowers. As soon as they are 
known they are looked for; there is not one of these visitors 
that has not a tale to tell. They are the harbingers of summer, 
just as we look for frosty mornings when we hear the Robin’s 
clear, bold note, and they are often telling lessons to the younger 
branches of a family. 
Many pleasing facts and much useful knowledge are lost be¬ 
cause some who have never ventured to do so fear to rush into 
print, and others think that, although these things interest them, 
yet they must of necessity be known to every one else, and 
readers will wonder at their simplicity in imagining there can be 
either freshness or importance in their observations. This is a 
mistake. The link that has connected the discoveries of science 
has been often due to a child, or an uneducated person; and it 
is as true of knowledge as of money, that possession and loving 
go together. 
We, therefore, invite all our friends and readers to contribute 
to our stock of these interesting facts. We insure them much 
and pure pleasure from it, and we promise them instruction of 
the most delightful kind of a nature that never palls. We hope 
many will have to thank us for a new pursuit, and will wonder 
hereafter how they were able to see the habits of birds without 
observing them, and how r they have neglected pleasing and in¬ 
structive friends for so many years. 
Our subject has led us so far that that which began it must 
be reserved till next week, when we will notice the extraordinary 
Game season of 1860 : and we propose in the course of the next 
two months offering some little instruction about Pheasants, and 
the way to keep them at no expense beyond that they will 
repay, even if they do not become a source of profit. 
Fattening Turkeys. —Much has been published of 
late in our agricultural journals in relation to the alimentary 
properties of charcoal. It ha3 been repeatedly asserted that 
domestic fowls may be fattened on it without any other food, 
and that too, in a shorter time than on the most nutritive grains. 
I made an experiment, and must say that the result surprised 
me, as I had always been rather sceptical. Pour Turkeys were 
confined in a pen, and fed on meal, boiled potatoes, and oats. 
Four others of the same broods were also at the same time 
confined in another pen, and fed daily upon the same articles, 
but with one pint of finely pulverised charcoal mixed with their 
meal and potatoes. They also had a plentiful supply of broken 
charcoal in their pen. The eight were killed on the same day, 
when there was a difference of one and a half pounds each in 
favour of the fowls which had been supplied with the charcoal, 
they being much the fattest, and the meat greatly superior in 
point of tenderness and flavour .—(Germantown Telegraph) 
BRAHMAS KNOCK-KNEED. 
I Sham be much obliged for your advice in the following diffi¬ 
culty. I have some Brahma fowls now about six months old, 
three cocks and a pullet, and the cocks are all more or less 
knock-kneed, and I cannot account for it. The largest of the 
cocks is so bad as seriously to injure his appearance and interfere 
with his walking. Their toes are also considerably bent. Can 
you suggest any means of cure ? Also, do you think, supposing 
the fowls had been stunted in their growth during the late severe 
weather, that they would start afresh when the mild spring 
weather comes ? I cannot but think my Brahmas have been 
stunted, as they are so small of their age. They ought to be 
good birds, as they are from eggs bought of a well-known 
breeder of Brahmas.— Brahma. 
[The knock-kneed birds have not been strong enough to beat- 
growth or to carry their weight. They have not been fed well 
enough. They were, probably, late birds, and they require 
more food in autumn than they do in summer. It is very diffi¬ 
cult to strengthen birds after they are four months old. Meal 
mixed with new milk, chopped egg, and crusts of bread, are the 
best things. But do you say the toes are also someway affected ? 
We are disposed to think the floor of your house is at fault. If 
it is, that is the cause of all your troubles. Stone, brick, or wood 
will cause it, and no food will counteract the effect of cold and 
chill arising from these floors. It is that affects the feet and 
knees. Remove the floors, or, if that be difficult, cover them six 
inches thick in gravel, and you will soon find an improvement 
in your birds.] 
NANTWICH POULTRY EXHIBITION. 
This was held on the 8th and 9th instant, and the following 
is the list of prizes awarded by the Judge, E. Hewitt, Esq., of 
Sparkbrook, near Birmingham :— 
Spanish.— First, Mr. Woolley,-Bunbury. Second, J. Grocott, Nantwich 
Third, T. Trevitt, Wistaston. ’Highly Commended, Capt. Price, Stapeley 
House. Chickens. —First, T. Trevitt. Second, S. Forster, Crewe. Third,. 
T. Bowker, Nantwitck. Commended, J. Grocott. 
Dorking (White).—First, C. B. Davies, Ilerdswick Hall. Second, 
T. Burgess, Burleydam. Third, J. Pimlett, Norton. 
Dorking (any other colour).-—First, Mrs. E. D. Broughton, Mistaston 
Hall. Second, T. Burgess, Burleydam. Third, Mrs. W. Tollemache, 
Dorfold. Highly Commended, E. Tudman, Ash Grove, Whitchurch; 
T. Burgess. Chickens,— First, T. Burgess. Second, E. Tudman. Third, 
Mrs. E. D. Broughton, Highly Commended, Mrs. W. Tollemache. Com¬ 
mended, E. Tudman, 
Ducks (Aylesbury).—First and Third, E. Viggor, Over. Second, H. Ac- 
royd, Doddington Hall. Commended, W. H. Hornby, Shrewbndge Hall; 
J. Grocott, Nantwich. 
Ducks (Rouen).—First and Second, T. Burgess, Burleydam. Third, 
Ashley, West End. 
Ducks (any other variety).—First and Third, T. Burgess, Burleydam 
last Indian). Second, E. Bower, Broad Lane, Nantwich (wild). 
Geese— First and Third, T. Teasdale, Spurston. 
rton. 
Second, W. Furnival, 
Turkeys.— First, H. Acroyd, Doddington Hall. Second and Third, 
H. Hornby, Shrewbridge Hall. 
Sweepstakes eor Game CocK.-First, T. Burgess, Burleydam. Second, 
Bower, Broad Lane, Nantwich. Third, J. Evans, Crewe. Highly Com- 
jnded, J. Heath, Nantwich. Commended, J, Kitchen, Over Lane, Wrns- 
rd; J.’ Wilkinson, Norbury. 
Silver Cup, value three guineas, presented by the Licensed I ictuallers 
Nantwich and neighbourhood, to the best Game Cockerel of any colour, 
Silver Cup, T. Burgess, Burleydam. Second, T. Eaton, Bagiley Lane, 
idlem. I bird, A. Heath, Winsford. Fourth G. Hollmshead Mmshull 
-nion Highly Commended, S. Edwards, Nantwich: J. Bebbmgton, 
oad Lanf; J. Parton, Nantwich; R. Ashley, West End; E. Bower, 
-oad Lane; W. Sowerbutts, Nantwich. Commended, J. Barton, Nant- 
ch • J Edwards, Nantwich; J. Capper, Nantwich; R. Ashley, Mest 
id ;’C. Lewis, Canal, Wharf, Nantwich. 
Dale, Middlewieh. 
Dorking (any colour).—Prize, J. Heath, Nantwich. 
Cochin-China. —Prize, E. Tudman, Whitchurch. 
