120 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 22, 1859. 
bird could not be of a bad colour; and as pluck was above all, 
and only to be maintained by the judicious introduction of fresh 
blood, crossing was resorted to without regard to colour—so that 
we have an infinity of mixed colours or crosses, many of which 
have been long bred, as, for instance, the Piles, which in some 
parts of England were much prized. The Reds and Duckwings 
were most generally acknowledged as the staunchest, and a cross 
between them was extensively bred for purposes of the pit. But 
to distinguish these from the pure-coloured Duckwings, it was 
found necessary to give them a prefix to their names, and such 
red, or copper-saddled Duckwings, were known in the cock-pit, 
as Birchen Ducks, Berry Birchen Ducks, Ginger Ducks, &c., the 
pure Duckwings being frequently called Greys from the colour 
of the hens. Thus a cross between a White and any other colour 
produces a Pied, or Pile, and in time these will aiso breed true 
to colour, and so will many other mixtures. 
Few amateurs have the convenience to attempt the establish¬ 
ment of a variety, because it would require several distinct 
families of fowls to breed from to produce the same mixture, and 
by crossing their selected young ones to perpetuate the coveted 
colour without breeding in-and-in. For to do so for only 
three generations would entail the breeding from eight distinct 
pairs of fowls; by coupling their young the first year they 
would be reduced to four pairs ; the second year to two pairs; 
and in the third year the produce would contain the blood of 
the eight original first-crossed birds. At this point the birds 
would breed true to colour; but if allowed to degenerate by in- 
and-in breeding the birds would throw back, which will also 
happen from some other cause. Indeed, all poultry fanciers 
are aware that sometimes a curious-coloured chick appears 
among their broods, which they cannot in any way account for. 
While others can relate, that having taken a fancy to some 
colour, and having selected such for breeding purposes for 
several years, they, after a time, rarely have a chicken of any 
other colour, especially if it is a natural mixture; but if a fancy 
marking is attempted, as accurate lacing, or spangling, it will 
take the labour of many fanciers and a much longer period to 
accomplish. 
From the foregoing, I think it will be gathered that breeding 
true to feathers does not constitute either a pure colour or a 
distinct breed. 
A Pile, a Red Dun, or a Birchen Duekwing, may be so bred, 
and are bred, as to reproduce their like very constantly. But 
this only entitles them to be called a distinct sub-variety, and 
does not establish them either as a pure colour or a distinct 
breed.—B. P. Brent. 
CRYSTAL PALACE BIRD SHOW. 
The annual Exhibition of Canaries and British and foreign 
cage birds commenced on Saturday, and will be continued until 
Wednesday, in the tropical department of the Palace. We shall 
give a full report next week. Below we give a list of the principal 
prizes:— 
Canaries. — First Prizes, Class 1, Mr. F. Willis; 2, Mr. W. Aldis 1 
3, Mr. J. Pinnington; 4. Mr. J. Ilton ; 5. Mr. H. Marshall; 6. Mr. 0* 
Mcnolscm; 7, Mr. E. Hawkins ; 8, Mr. E. Hawkins ; 9, Mr. E. Hawkins ; 
10, Mr. It. Wilde; 11, Mr. J. Stevenson ; 12, Mr. J. Stevenson ; 13, Mr. F. 
Hook; 14, Mr. F. Hook; 15, Mr. J. T.ingard; 16, Mr. W. Arthur ; 17, 
(second), Mr. R. Wilde; 19, Mr. W. Minns. 
British Birds.— Prizes, Class 20, Mr. E. W. Major ; 21, Mr. E. W. 
Major ; 22, Mr. E. W. Major; 23, Mr. E. W. Major; 24, the Hon. A. 
A\ llloughby ; 25, Mr. E. W. Major ; 26, Mr. H. Hahly ; 27, Mr. E. Haw- 
kms; 28, Mr. E. Hawkins; 29, Mr. H. Havraan; 30, Mr. A. J. Moore; 
32. Mr. fL TTnft • 23 MV xr t:>„,-- ocLe. rr... * vw.-n _ 
Grey Parrots.— Prise, Class 50, Mr. J. Seeley. 
Green Parrots.— Prizes, Class 51, Mr. W. Ryder; 52, Mr. W. W. 
A\ esthrooke ; 54, Miss F. Croad; 55, Mr. R. M. Clark ; 56, Hon. A. Wil- 
tt M , r : A * ^ av * s ; Mr. A. S. Davey; G4, Mr. E. Hawkins ; 
65, Mr. E. Hawkins; 68 Mr. E. Hawkins ; 69, Mr. E. Hawkins; 78, Miss 
C. Bartlett; 79, Mr. E. Hawkins; 80, Miss J. Bartlett. 
HONEY SEASON AT WOODSTOCK. 
I have taken of honey, in glasses and straw supers, from two 
of my hives this season, 51 lbs. nett. Our parish clerk and a 
lady of this place, seeing my annual success, have begun bee¬ 
keeping upon the plan I have adopted, and had a propor¬ 
tionate success this year. The clerk treated himself to a holiday, 
and took the greater part of his (and, I believe the lady’s) honey 
to London, and sold it very well, considering the overflow that 
was sent there this season ; though most of the samples I saw there 
were very thin. The greater part of our honey is annually dis¬ 
posed of at Eortnum and Mason’s, though this year I kept my 
best samples to exhibit the hives with at our Show. The rector 
goes to town for the Summer Crystal Palace Poultry Show, and 
then the honey is taken to Piccadilly, and unpacked under my 
own care. It always pays our travelling expenses to London and 
back ; and at the year before lasts’ Poultry Show it paid part of 
our expenses at the Queen’s Hotel, Norwood, where we stayed 
two days, into the bargain. 
Iam in my eighth year of apiarianship ; and my object for part 
of that time has been to carry out a system specially adapted for 
cottagers, which tends towards a minimum of hives with strong 
colonies, simple and easy of management, and, withal, inexpensive. 
I have had but two hives this year (never more than three) 
working for deprivation ; and I purpose to send you my practice 
next year, by which time I think my operations may he bene¬ 
ficially printed. It is tempting to rush to conclusions about 
these interesting little favourites, but invariably, in that case, 
much is said that has to be contradicted. And really their 
wonderful ways and workings do seem infinite— Upwards and 
Onwards. 
BEESWAX. 
I Made some remarks in the last volume on the decrease of 
wax in old combs. Since then I have observed the following 
statement, said to be from Dr. Dunbar, that “ the wax in a full 
hive of the current season is nearly 2 tbs. of the preceding year, 
perhaps 3 lbs.” I think there must be a mistake somewhere, for 
that good apiarian must have known that no wax is added to a 
full hive, except for slight repairs, sealing up the combs, and 
sometimes a little to lengthen the honey-cells, but never those 
for brood. Whereas, by that statement, a pound of wax is 
equal to half the quantity which filled the hive with combs the 
previous season. This is not only absurd, but the whole quan¬ 
tity of wax seems to be overrated. However, while on this 
subject, I may notice that I was taunted for having said that 
bees collect the materials from plants to secrete wax. It is now 
some years back since I made similar observations on this 
curious subject, and the following extracts from a paragraph in a 
newspaper shows that I do not stand alone, as “ B. & W.” 
stated:— 
“ It may seem marvellous that wax should be produced by a tree, 
vet it is not more so than that the bee should collect that lying 
like dew within a flower. The insect only elaborates the materials 
already in existence. A large portion of wax consumed in the 
United States is obtained from a tree, which is most plentiful in 
Pennsylvania.To extract, the berries having been 
collected in bags, are immersed in boiling water, when the wax 
exudes, and is skimmed off from the surface of the water. 
Analysis proves that it is almost identical with common wax. 
. . . The French have introduced the Myrica into Algeria, 
where with care it will probably furnish, in time, an important 
article of commerce.” 
Those extracts somewhat agree also with what I advanced on 
wax being found or extracted from Irish peat bog.—J. Wighton. 
OHR LETTER BOX. 
Supply or Egos (A. O. Z .).~As you only require eggs, and do not in¬ 
tend to exhibit, keep six hens—two Cochin-Chinas, Partridge-coloured- 
two Black Spanish ; and two Silver-pencilled Hamburghs. The roosting- 
plaee you propose will answer, and the run, though it need not be covered 
entirely, would he all the better if one end could he kept dry and well 
supplied with sand and limy rubbish. Buy our “Poultry Book for the 
Many,” the sixpence you give for it will obtain you all thie information 
you need. 
Gold and Silver Pheasants ( lVihnslow ).—Your birds must be kept 
separate. Alter the height of your house, and make it six feet from the 
flooring. They will breed in such a place as you describe. Let the bottom 
oj the house he covered with dust or line gravel three or four inches 
thick. It is good for the birds, and saves many eggs from being cracked 
when laid. One hen is enough for each cock; hut you may put more if 
you like, limiting the number to three. It is necessary to watch the cocks 
closely when fresh hens are turned down, as they often kill them. The 
eggs must he collected as soon as possible after they are laid, as from 
wantonness the cock will at first peck them, and, having tasted them not 
only eat them himself, hut teach the hens to do the same. 
Til Seed (T. P. Wimbornc).—T\ns went the round of the newspapers 
some months since, and we said all that need be said about it in our 
No. 473, page 40. Do notrely upon anything but sugar and honey for bee- 
