THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, Juke V, 1857. 1G1 
to a distant trumpeting or drumming they derive their 
name. 
I am inclined to consider them as originally obtained 
from Egypt or Arabia, as some of the best trumpeting birds 
I have had were from stock imported from Egypt. They 
are well known in some parts of Germany, where they are 
sometimes called Russian Pigeons. 
The Trumpeters are rather larger than a common 
Pigeon, being of much Stouter build, the beak is rather 
shorter and thicker, the. neck fuller, and the chest and 
shoulders broader. They have handsome turned crowns, 
and are heavily feathered on the feet, these feathers, when 
unbroken, frequently measuring from five to six inches in 
length. Next to the peculiar voice, their most distinctive- 
property is the tuft of feathers growing over the base of 
the beak, the feathers of which open and spread out in a 
rose in the form of a Pink or Carnation, and the larger and 
more even this tuft is the more they are valued. This tuft 
is not found in any other breed, and only occasionally in 
some of the crosses of it. The principal plumage appears 
to be quite white, of which I consider there are two distinct 
varieties—the small white with dark eyes, and the larger 
with pearl eyes. Blacks ate also to be had, but black 
mottled are the most esteemed. The fanciers require them 
to be mottled with white only on the head, neck, and 
shoulders of the wdngs, and do not approve of any white in 
the tail and flights or under parts of the body. Blues, reds, 
and yellows are very rare. Pearl eyes are required in all the 
varieties except the small white, which are not so much 
esteemed on that account; but of whatever colour or 
marking, if it does not combine the peculiar tuft over the 
beak with the prolonged gurgling coo, it canhot be con¬ 
sidered as a Trumpeter. Much stress is laid on this com¬ 
bination. The voice should be deep, sonorous, varied, and 
the longer it is continued the more are they prized. 
They are merry Pigeons, very prolific, and good nurses, 
but on account of their feathered feet and heavy flight are 
not adapted to shift for themselves. 
* In Germany they have several varieties or crosses, which 
are more remarkable for their colour and marking than the 
purity of the breed. Some of these are red or yellow with 
white shoulders; others are white, with various-coloured 
shoulders like the Turbits, or with the addition of white 
bars, a few of which cross-bred birds have found their way 
to this country under various names. , 
The Trumpeter is regarded by naturalists as one of the 
purest varieties of our domestic Pigeons, and they affirm 
that if once crossed the breed cannot be bred back again ; 
hence these cross-bred birds are always deficient in some 
point—either the voice or one of the turns are wanting. As 
a case in point, my father many years back was very desirous 
of obtaining some Trumpeter Pigeons, and could then only 
procure one cock and his half-bred daughter, from which he 
bred, matching the cock again with his daughters of the 
second and third generations, without obtaining one young 
bird w r ith the tuft over the beak. At the fourth generation 
he reared a handsome, black-mottled young cock with the 
desired tuft; but, to his great disappointment, he did not 
trumpet, although lie was fifteen-sixteenths pure bred, and 
breeding so close stopped reproduction. Surely such ex¬ 
periments go far to prove the distinctness of what are some¬ 
times called mere varieties.— B. P. Brent. 
Spanish Cock with Scabby Face (S. II.).— Take the bird away 
from the hens. They have pecked his face, and will continue to do so 
as long as there are any spots on the white part of it. Keep him on the 
same diet as hitherto. 
Cochin-China Hen (A Subscriber, Edinburgh). —The symptoms 
may arise from many causes. Give her a dessert-spoonful of castor oil, 
and keep her on low diet—boiled potatoes, rice, and plenty of green 
vegetables. 
Duckwing Game Bantams. —“ I am sorry I cannot give “ Merry- 
legs ” the information he requires respecting the origin of Duckwing 
Game Bantams, and, were I not in possession of the breed, should be 
quite at a loss to know how to produce them. If “ MeIirYlegs ” can 
breed Duckwing Game fowls without the introduction of Duckwing 
blood I think he may succeed with Bantams. I should very much like 
to know the origin of the Duckwing Gama.”— Dandy. 
Game Pullets’ F.ggs. —“ I have been particularly unsuccessful this 
year in hatching my Game fowls’ eggs, which have been laid by pullets of 
last year. Is this likely to be a reason for their non-hatching ? ”—Higii- 
yield. 
[A pullet’s first eggs should never be set, not because they are un¬ 
productive, but because the produce from them is always weak. You 
will probably find you have only neighbours’ fare, and that the cold, 
dry weather has spoiled the eggs. Those who raise early chickens must 
study the weather. For some few years past we have had frosts in April 
quite severe enough to spoil eggs if exposed to them early in the 
morning.] 
LONDON MARKETS.— June 8tii. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
We have now a fair amount of business doing, and the supply good. 
The recent rains have greatly improved the condition of all garden 
produce. Green Peas of English growth have begun to arrive. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
bush. 8s. 
,, dessert, do.. 12s. 
Pears, over 
Pine-apples, per lb... 8s, 
Grapes, perlb. 10s. 
Peaches, per doz. Os. 
Nectarines, do. Os. 
Strawberries, per oz... 6J. 
,, Foreign, none 
Melons, Foreign,none 
,, English, do. 
Morello Cherries, per lb. Os. 
Oranges, per 100- 4s. 
,, Tangerine, none 
,, Seville, do... 6s. 
Lemons. 6s. 
Almonds, per lb... 2s,6d. 
Nuts, Filberts,none 
,, Cobs, per lb. Is. 6d. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 20s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 14s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 10s, 
Chestnuts, per bushel l6s. 
,, 12s. 
,, 20s. 
,, 12s. 
,, 20s. 
,, 0s. 
,, Os. 
„ Is. 
91 0s. 
,, 12s. 
„ 12s. 
,, 10s. 
,, 4s. 
,, 0s. 
to 24s. 
,, l6s. 
,, 15s. 
„ 24s. 
Beet, per doz. Is. to 6s. Id. 
Potatoes, per cwt.. .. 7s. to 10s. 
Onions, Y’ng per b’nch 4d. ,, 6d. 
,, Old, per bush. 3s. ,, 4s. fid. 
Turnips, per bunch.. 3d. ,, 4d. 
Leeks, per bunch .... 2d. ,, 3d. 
Garlic, per lb. 6d. ,, 8d. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. 2s. ,, 4s. 
Shallots, per lb. 6d . ,, Sd. 
Lettuce,Cos,each,French 6d.,, Is. 
,, Cabbage, do. do. — ,, 
Endive, do. do. — ,, 4d. 
Celery, per bunch.... Qd.to ls.6d. 
Radishes,Turnip, per 
dozen bunches .... — , ( 4s. 
Ditto, long, per hund.. — ,, 6d. 
Water Cresses, per doz. 9d. to Is. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet... 2d. ,, 3d. 
Artichokes, per lb. — ,, 2d. 
Asparagus, per bundle 4s. ,, 8s. 
Sea-kale, per punnet.. Is. ,, 2s. 
Rhubarb, per bundle 2d. ,, 4d. 
Cucumbers,each.... 9d. to ls.6d. 
Mushrooms,perpottle Is. ,, 2s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, each 9d. to Is. 6d. 
,, Red, each 3d.to6d. 
Cauliflowers, each.... 6d. ,, Is. 
Broccoli, pei bdle. Is. 3d to Is. 9d. 
Greens, per doz. bnch. 2s. ,, 4s. 
Spinach, per sieve — ,, 4s. 
French Beans, per hd. Is. ,, 2s. 
Carrots, per bunch .. 5d. to 7d. 
Parsnips, per doz.... 9d. ,, Is. 
HERBS. 
Basil, per bunch .... 
Marjoram, per bunch 
Fennel, per bunch .. 
Savory, per bunch .. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 
Parsley, per bunch .. 
Mint, per bunch .... 
Green Mint ........ 
4d.to 6d. 
4d. ,, 6d. 
2d. ,, 3d. 
2d. ,, 3d. 
2d. ,, 3d. 
2d. ,, 3d. 
2d. ,, 4d. 
6d. ,, Sd. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Food for Balnaclf. Geese. — “I have some young Barnacle Geese. 
I keep them on a small piece of grass in the front of my house, with a 
good-sized basin of water sunk in the ground, so that they are able to 
go in and out as they please. I have fed them with eggs, barleymekl, 
and wheatmeal mixed. Yesterday one of them died ; it had a sort of 
croaking noise in the throat; it would not eat like the others. The 
goslings are a week old. Will you kindly inform me if I treat them 
| right?”— Trallwyn. 
[Your goslings would have done better if they had been kept from the 
water altogether the first fortnight. Oatmeal is very good for them. 
The favourite food of Barnacle Geese is grass, and, as the young of a 
few days only cannot pull it, we should advise you to put a sod of 
growing grass in a shallow vessel, cover it with water, and then put 
in some oatmeal, and after a few days some whole corn. They are very 
fond of lettuces, and they are good for them. The fact of one dying 
does not indicate improper treatment, as one dies of almost every nest 
of birds of every sort.] 
POULTRY. 
There has been a considerable increase in the demands, and the supply 
has not kept pace with it. 
Large fowls.. 7s* 0d. to 8s. Od. each. 
Smaller do.5s. 6d. to 6s. ,, 
Chickens .. 3s. Od. to 4s. 6d. ,, 
Goslings.5s. 6d. to os. ,, 
Ducklings.. 4s. Od. to 4s. 6d. ,, 
Guinea Fowls 4s. Od. to 4s. 6d. each) 
Pigeons. lOd. to lfd. ,, 
Rabbits.... Is. 5d. to Is. 6d. ,, 
Wild ditto.... 10d. ,, 
Leverets.... 3s. 0d. to 4s. 6d. ,, 
London: Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published for the Proprietors 
at The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—June 9> 1857. 
