124 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, May 26, 180/. 
draw up stringent rules, and to Lave one printed answer to 
all applications, to the effect that these rules will be un- 
deviatingly carried out. Judges should be chosen above 
suspicion, and their awards should always be final, l ens 
should be allotted according to priority ot application. 
Pregnant shrugs of the shoulders, Burleigh shakes of the 
head and mysteriously significant speeches should be 
avoided. If there be abuses, let them be openly and 
strictly done away with ; but let every man honestly weigh 
his motives and scan his feelings before he gives pain to 
others, or even diminishes their pleasure. Judgments are 
open to all, and points and qualities of birds are sufficiently 
understood to render it plain to any one if theie is an} 
deviation from the rules that should dictate them. 
Now, are Brahmas Cochins? It is an odd question. M e 
recollect one just as curious on the Western Circuit. It 
was an action for trespass by fowls and pigs. The counsel 
asked, “ Is there a sufficient fence between the two gar¬ 
dens ?” “ There was till the animals destroyed it.” “ Then 
you mean to swear—pay attention, if you please--that the 
fowls got under the fence, and the pigs flew over ?” “ Yes, 
sir.” “ Then stand down ; that will do.” Mr. Tegetmeier 
may find the frontal groove very plain in both breeds, and 
yet it may prove no more than the fact of Silkies and Dor¬ 
kings both having five claws. The same sort of skull may 
be found in all the Hawk tribes. The same may be said ol 
Pheasants. In many instances opinions are formed on in¬ 
sufficient grounds. To come to a correct judgment there 
must be a good opportunity for observation. If fowls are 
kept in semi-confinement use becomes second nature, and 
they are perforce content with what they have ; but any one 
who has been able to afford an unlimited range to his poultry 
will at once agree in the truth of your querist’s remark, 
“ Brahmas roam over acres, and fly over fences and gates with 
ease; Cochins never seem to grow tired of the same small 
piece of ground, and are confined by a three-feet fence. 
Brahmas roam till dark; Cochins roost early. Brahmas 
forage; Cochins have no idea of it.” 
We once kept Cochins, and a fence four feet high made 
our garden secure. We then kept Brahmas, and in a fort¬ 
night there was nothing left in it. We had sixty Cochins, 
and only ten Brahmas.. Our experience is, the latter eat 
less and lay more. They have more breast than the former, 
and their breast-bones are deeper. When these birds were 
scarce it was attempted to manufacture them: it was found 
impossible, and was given up. The fact is, some people, 
having started with a wrong opinion, stick to it, rather than 
admit that they were mistaken. 
Now for the Spanish. I am a great admirer of them, and, 
although I am a “Londoner,” yet in their defence I will be 
“the Cid, Don Ruy de Diaz, hero of Castille and Spain.” 
They are especially adapted for London. A back-yard will 
make them an excellent run. They will keep in first-rate 
condition and feather; they will always be healthy, and 
will lay what a figurative friend of ours calls a “power” of 
eggs. And then such eggs ! Some will tell you an egg is 
an egg; but ask the good thrifty mistress of the house, or if 
you keep a cook, and sponge-cakes are wanted, ask her, or if 
you eat eggs for breakfast, ask yourself, whether an egg is 
an egg. Two Spanish are equal to three of any others. 
Now, we must give you an account of some very valuable 
Spanish fowls and their walk. Let us first tell you that we 
offered T10 each for them in vain. 
In the suburbs of London many of our readers may know 
those small houses built without underground premises, 
and. composed of two rooms on a floor, with a small yard 
behind. They were doubtless originally built in the coun¬ 
try, but they have long since been built in “ fore and aft,” 
and now find themselves in the centre of London. We 
were directed to one such in search of Spanish fowls. We 
there saw some of the best we have ever seen. They were 
kept in a yard, or rather over one, for the space was required 
lor children, for clothes-drying, and twenty other purposes. 
It was about sixteen feet by twelve, but one corner of it was 
occupied by a water-butt. Now let me describe the Spanish 
run. 
About six feet from the ground, and projecting two feet 
from the wall, was a continuous cage extending all round 
the yard. It was about two feet high, made of common 
laths, but having a close bottom. At one extremity was a 
roosting-place rather higher than the run, and the whole 
was supported by posts at equal distances. On high days 
and holidays the side of the roosting-place was opened, and, 
a ladder being placed against it, the good fowls descended, 
and for a time enjoyed the privilege of the whole yard. They 
were guiltless of any knowledge of green meat save a cab¬ 
bage suspended by the stalk from time to time. Here they 
lived in first-rate condition, and laid merrily. Now, as 
to their moulting, they are then shabby, but so are all 
others. It is common to all hens to. have seedy combs and 
shabby plumage at that time, and such merits as I have 
stated may safely outweigh a temporary dull appearance. 
Well may the Londoner and all townsmen like the Spanish. 
-H. R. 
CROSS BREEDS.—MALAYS.— GAME.—FOOD.— 
MEDICINE TO INDUCE LAYING. 
I am going to trespass on the space of your capital paper, 
because I have something to say on two or three points con¬ 
nected with poultry-keeping. In your paper of the 12th of 
May “ A Hamburgh Fancier ” says, “ Why do not persons 
who do keep fowls keep only one sort, or have the different 
sorts separately?” Now, sir, nine-tenths of the poultry- 
keepers in this country keep fowls merely for eggs, chickens, 
and for the pleasure of keeping them, and do not care for 
showing them, and it is, I think, where one does not care 
about exhibition, a very excellent pdan. You keep two 
or three hens of each of the chief breeds, and two or three 
cocks, and thus you can compare the egg produce of 
the different sorts, and find out the best cross breeds. If 
you want pure-bred fowls for exhibition you shut up your 
liens wflth their proper cock before they begin a fresh batch 
of eggs. Great is the want now of a cross breed of fowls fit 
for the farmer or poulterer. We do not \pant in these 
colour, or beauty, or form, but plentiful layers , good hatchers , 
and large , quick fatteners. Yes, this is the great want now. 
Our pure breeds are perfect, but very bad are our common 
fowls, at least as an average. Very rarely do you find a good 
cross breed at any farmer’s. They go on in the old beaten 
track, and never introduce fresh blood into their stock. I 
think you will acquiesce in what I say. Crosses between 
Cochin and Spanish, Brahma and Spanish, Hamburgh and 
Malay, Dorking and Poland, are some of the best. 
Now, the second subject I wish to speak about is the 
Malays. How neglected is this breed! yet I consider them 
handsome, and, if well kept, profitable. Though not re¬ 
markably good layers, they are splendid sitters and mothers. 
Moreover, they are excellent to cross with the common 
Barn-door fowl, as they give size and height. They are of 
all colours, but cinnamon brown is the commonest. Their 
eggs, some people say, are richer and more full of yolk than 
those of any other fowls, but I wont say that. I wish people 
would breed them more, and introduce them to our farm¬ 
yards. 
And here, though maha-propos to my subject, let me say 
that Game fowls, as well as being considered beauties and 
show and fighting fowls, should be estimated as profitable. 
They are good layers, capital foragers, and beautiful sitters. 
Another thing I have to say is upon the growing liking 
for our old friends, the much-disputed-about Brahma Poo- 
tras. Will any fancier of these print an account of their 
laying and sitting qualities, as I want to know if they or 
Cochins are better London winter fowls ? Brahmas fetch a 
very high price at the sales now. 
By the by, let me recommend oatmeal, barleymeal, and 
Indian meal, mixed up, as a capital food for fowls. I find 
mine thrive very well on this, and on barley and boiled 
Indian corn; but generally speaking fowls are far too much 
pampered now, so that they sometimes refuse good plain 
food. 
For the benefit of those of your readers who wish to force 
their fowls to lay (but to destroy them at the same time, 
although the consequences do not appear till afterwards), I 
send you this receipt:—Mix 1 oz. of Glauber salts with meal 
of potatoes, and feed the fowls thereon for three or four 
days, and the fowls will infallibly lay. 
Now, can you tell me which are the best generally, Buff, 
