THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 16, 1858. 
| are passed into the finisliing-room, where they are dipped for 
a few moments in water, that is nearly at the boiling point. 
The remaining down and feathers being taken off, the birds 
are washed in clean, cold water, and then taken to the drying- 
rooms, and laid on the shelves to dry. They are then care¬ 
fully laid away until the animal heat is out, and then packed 
for market. 
Boses are preferred to barrels for packing; but as the ex¬ 
press will not take large packages, and boxes are not always 
to be procured, we pack mostly in barrels, though they are 
not generally recommended. There is a way, however, for 
packing in barrels, which leaves the poultry in nearly as good 
shape as in boxes. We wrap all our nice birds in paper. 
We procure paper of the quality of the best tea-paper, of 
large size, with which we wrap each fowl, and put clean, dry 
straw between each layer. 
Fattening-.- —Turkeys will not fat as well in large flocks 
as in small; but as farmers labour under the mistaken idea 
that it is not profitable to fat them, and prefer to sell them at 
half-price rather than do so, we are compelled to do it our¬ 
selves, to get birds which we consider marketable. Turkeys, 
to fat well and fast, should have a variety of food, and that 
which is the most nutritious, as they are quite dainty. Corn, 
sometimes shelled, sometimes on the cob, and sometimes 
ground, forms something of a variety. When fatting, they 
should be able to get to the ground, and have plenty of good 
clean water. They will feed greedily off sawdust, leached 
ashes, and charcoal, and these seem to assist materially in the 
process of fatting. In fair condition, and the weather cold, 
they might fat hi two weeks; but as such is seldom the case, 
they require as much as three w r eeks. If shut up in a building, 
it should be light and well ventilated, and should have plenty 
of perches, easy of access. 
Christmas Sales. —Our stock for Christmas consisted of 
between four and five tons, which came in, and was sold on 
the 22nd and 23rd for 14 cents for Turkeys, -wholesale, which 
was the top of the market on those days. Had the quality 
not been superior, they would not have brought 12 cents, 
which is about what they cost us, delivered in the city. 
Profit of Raising Poultry. —Raising Turkeys is very 
profitable when they are made to go off to the fields, when old 
enough, to get their own living on grasshoppers, &c. When 
cold weather comes on, they should be fed sufficiently to keep 
them growing until about three weeks before disposing of 
them, when they should be fed all they can eat. 
Carpenter, Young, and Co., our commission merchants in 
New York, will sell about fifteen tons of poultry for us this 
season. 
It is to be regretted that there was not just such a poultry 
factory in every county in this and several other States, for 
two reasons : it would encourage the raising larger quantities, 
and be the means of giving the farmers greater prices, and the 
consumers better food. The great mistake of the whole poultry 
business is, that the great mass of the immense quantity that 
come to this city is not fatted, and the birds are prepared for 
market in such an abominably slovenly manner, that they 
often sell 50 per cent, less than others put up in the manner 
described by Mr. Beatty. We urge preparation for largely- 
increased productions, and we earnestly recommend the esta¬ 
blishment of poultry factories .—New York Tribune. 
PIGEONS. 
TOYS. 
Variety 15.—THE LAHORE, or MARTIN PIGEON 
( Columba Hirundo urbica). 
I HAVE to acknowledge myself indebted to Francis Worrall, 
Esq., of Knotty Ash House, for the account of the origin of 
this variety of Toy Pigeon. That gentleman informs me they 
were brought from Lahore, in the East Indies, for Lord 
Derby’s aviary; and that they breed well, and are quite true 
in the marking. 
Those that I have seen were exhibited by the above-named 
gentleman at the Anerley Poultry Show. They were about 
the size, form, and general appearance of the Dovehouse 
Pigeon: in plumage, black and white, curiously and regularly 
divided. The top of the head, back of the neck, back, and 
wings, were black; the rest of the body being white, as the 
throat, front of the neck, breast, under parts, and tail. Thus, 
in the divisions of colour, bearing a strong resemblance to the 
Martin, or Window Swallow, Hirundo Urbica; the only 
difference being, while the bird in question has a black tail, 
the Pigeon lias a white one; but even this difference will add 
to the delusion, when the Pigeons are flying at a little distance, 
as the white tail will closely resemble the white rump of the 
Martin, so conspicuous a feature of that bird while on the 
wing. 
Variety 16.—THE MAGPIE {Columba Pica). 
This well-known variety of Toy Pigeon derives its name | 
from its pied plumage, bearing a fancied resemblance to that | 
of the common Magpie {Pica caudata). They owe their origin j 
to the German Magpie Tumbler {JElster Tummler) ; but, I am , 
sorry to say, the English fanciers have quite disregarded their ; 
humbler origin, and have paid attention to plumage only, 
having bred them very coarse and mousey. Thus, while Toy 
Magpies are comparatively plentiful, the fancy Magpie Tumbler 
is scarce—a fact I much regret, as a very trifling amount of 
extra care would have given us a very pretty fancy Pigeon in 
place of a Toy, whose only property is feather. As to plumage, 
the head, neck, crop, the scapular feathers, and the tail, are 
coloured,—as black, blue, red, yellow, &c. The rest, as the 
wings, the lower part of the breast anct thighs, are white; and 
in the accuracy of their marking their value consists. The 
scapular feathers, being dark, overlay the upper part of the 
wings, which cause them to appear somewiiat narrow. They 
are called according to colour, Black Magpies, or Red Magpies. 
—B. P. Brent. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Preston Poultry Show (J. II .).—Any one attacking the decision of i 
Judges must send us their real names, or we cannot insert their letters, j 
If decisions are glaringly wrong, the effective course is for the exhi- i 
tutors to memorialise theCommittee, attaching their signatures to the j 
memorial. 
Diseased Cochin-China. —The symptoms are as follow :—Enlarge¬ 
ment of the body so as to nearly touch the ground, and he waddles in 
walking, like a duck, hut with much greater difficulty.—W. C. 
[We should think, from your description, the Cochin cock is either 
ruptured, or dropsical. In either case, we advise you to kill him, as he 
is incurable. Birds of this breed are seldom roupy. It is likely the 
cold weather, and especially the bitter winds we have had of late, have 
given them colds ; but, we have no doubt, a little ex tra feeding, and 
stimulants, will restore them. If that fails, give them Baily’s Pills.] 
Management op Young Chickens ( Subscriber ). — A boarded floor 
is always bad for chickens. Let them have a sheltered shed, or out¬ 
house, the floor of which is covered with dry dust and gravel. The 
causes of their falling off, and death, may be many. If the hen is 
allowed to run about, if she has more than five or six chickens, if the} 7 
are allowed to fast long, [if they are not fed at day-break—all these 
would be sufficient reasons. Your feeding is good, add to it chopped 
egg. Chickens kept on boards are often lousy, if so, that will kill 
them. Supply them freely with dust, and mix a little black sulphur 
with it. Barleymeal and egg boiled hard is the best food for young 
chickens. 
LONDON MARKETS.— March 15th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
Notwithstanding the late inclemency of the weather, our market has 
been well supplied for the season. Among forced vegetables, we have 
Asparagus, Sea-hale, Rhubarb, and French Beans. From Cornwall, a 
good supply of excellent Broccoli, at moderate prices; and from the 
Scilly Islands, a fair sample of new Potatoes. The Continental pro¬ 
duce comprises Lettuces, Endive, young Carrots, Globe Artichokes, 
Radishes, and Asparagus. Apples have much fallen off in supply, 
and are now considerably advanced in price, good sound sorts realising 
10s. to 12s. per bushel. A large quantity of Potatoes still come to 
hand; but good samples find a ready sale at £8 to £9 per ton. 
POULTRY. 
There has been a decided falling off in the trade this week. The 
growing scarcity, common to thi 
from suffering from it as much as 
Each. 
Large Fowls ... 
5s, 
, 0 d. to 6s. 6 d 
Small ditto. 
3 
6 
4 
6 
Chickens. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Goslings. 
7 
0 
7 
6 
Ducklings . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Guinea Fowls . 
3 
0 
3 
3 
s season of the year, prevents prices 
they otherwise would. 
Each. 
Wild Ducks ... 
2s 
. (hi 
. to 
3s, 
. 0 d. 
Teal. 
1 
9 
2 
3 
Pigeons . 
0 
8 
0 
9 
Rabbits . 
1 
5 
>> 
1 
6 
Wild ditto. 
0 
9 
J J 
0 
10 
Larks, per doz. 
2 
0 
2 
6 
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.—March 16, 1858. 
