186 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 20, 1859. 
it will add most materially to the amount of entries in coming 
seasons. 
In Spanish many of the birds were most excellent; hut not a 
few pens lost all hope of winning from the cocks being “lopped” 
more or less in the comb. It is surprising amateurs are not more 
careful in selection. The Chickens of this variety were really 
worthy of any meeting. 
Although so far north, the Grey Dorkings, both old and young, 
mustered in large numbers, and of first-rate quality. In the 
White Dorkings the entries were limited, but very good. In 
this variety one of decidedly the best pens, if not actually the very 
best, was disqualified altogether from containing a cockerel , 
though in the class for adults. Wrongly-entered fowls must 
always lose; their chances are always overboard. 
In Cochins Darlington stood very high, it is almost impossible 
to hope for better—the Chickens more especially; but we cannot 
refrain most favourable mention of the first prize Partridge 
chickens, although it might appear invidious to select among so 
many first-rate birds of all varieties of colour. 
The Duck wing and Red Game classes were unusually good; 
indeed, as before said, with the exception of Whites and Piles, 
the winners had hosts of close competitors to beat off that at 
most exhibitions would have readily succeeded in taking pre¬ 
miums. 
Many of the Hamburghs were a credit even to Yorkshire; the 
perfection of breast-markings in Mr. Adams’s old Golden-spangled 
cock was most praiseworthy. 
The Polands, though few in numbers, were creditable specimens. 
In the class for any variety of Ducks were some well-plumaged 
Mandarins, and a trio of the best-feathered and most familiar 
Shell Ducks we yet remember seeing. These proved most at¬ 
tractive to sightseers, not only on account of their peculiar beauty, 
but also for the eccentricity of their habits. 
The Turkeys and Geese strongly suggested the idea of approach¬ 
ing Christmas; they, without a solitary exception, were most 
noble birds, and did the highest credit to their respective breeders. 
The Pigeons were a most attractive collection; and throughout 
the whole, competition of the highest character existed. The 
arrangements for this interesting portion of the Show were ex¬ 
cellent, and visitors seemed quite to appreciate this section ; for 
among them were many amateurs who travelled long distances for 
this especial purpose. 
Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, Birming¬ 
ham, fulfilled the duty of arbitrator on this occasion. 
Before concluding we may state it is a pleasure to see the 
wonderful improvement of late in the Exhibitions of our northern 
counties ; and certainly, if the Show at Darlington is to be taken 
as a fair criterion, even the most favoured localities must keep 
moving to maintain precedence. 
CHESTERFIELD AND SCARSDALE POULTRY 
ASSOCIATION. 
Its prize list is now before us, but seems chiefly intended to 
encourage the Game and Hamburgh kinds; for Dorkings, Cochins, 
and Polands have only one class each into which “ any colour ” 
is admitted! There is one variation which is good. In the 
classes for “ Single Game Cocks,” the Black and Brown Reds 
compete in one class, and “ any other colour” in a second class. 
There is also a sweepstakes for Game Bantam Cocks. Not even 
the owner of a pen is to be allowed to take a fowl from it during 
the Exhibition, unless by permission of the President or Secre¬ 
taries. This is a good rule, and is to be strictly enforced. It 
will prevent many suspicious occurrences. 
GAPES IN FOWLS. 
Yotr state, in reply to “A. B. C.” (Letter Box), that there is 
no known cure for the gapes. An experiment of my own has 
been attended with some success; and if others will venture to try 
it, I should like to hear the result of their operations. My plan 
is to extract the red worm. My instrument for the purpose is 
simply this : I put a piece of thinnish wire in a vice, hammer a 
small portion of it flat, file the edges of the hook smooth, insert 
this into the windpipe, and you may draw out the worm with it. 
Great care, of course, is requisite that you do not force the worm 
down the windpipe, when suffocation might take place. I have 
lost one chicken in that way; but thou those I have operated 
upon have been quite young, when, of course, there is much 
more danger. A crowing cock I would fearlessly take in hand. 
Can you or any of your readers describe to me an artificial 
chicken-mother that has been proved to answer the purpose 
well?—G. Montague. 
BEESWAX. 
The statement which Mr. Wighton attributes to Dr. Dunbar 
probably refers to the actual weight of combs, not the wax which 
they contain, and, therefore, means no more than this: that old 
combs when empty are heavier than new ones, owing to their 
being thickened by breeding aud the other uses to which they 
are applied. The actual quantity of wax would, undoubtedly, 
be much the same in either case; although from its being, as it 
wore, entangled by the impurities with which it becomes so in¬ 
timately connected, it is impossible to make old combs yield their 
full proportion. 
If Mr. Wighton had been much behind the editorial scenes 
he would not attach so great importance to a mere newspaper 
paragraph. There is, however, little to object to in the one 
quoted by him. The writer simply enunciates aphorisms which 
are well-known to every schoolboy. Neither the bee nor any other 
animal can produce or secrete any substance the elements of 
which are not to be found either in the food it consumes or the 
materials it collects. There is, also, no doubt that many plants 
furnish a substance “ almost identical with common wax.” On 
the other hand, T have already shown Mr. Wighton that chemical 
analysis proves vegetable wax to differ essentially from beeswax 
in the proportion of its elements ; whilst the secretion of wax by 
the bee from saccharine substances has been so clearly and re¬ 
peatedly demonstrated, that it now takes rank as one of the best- 
proved and most undoubted of scientific facts. 
My only reason for controverting the crude theories advanced 
by Mr. Wighton (which being, as he says, “impossible to ex¬ 
plain,” he appears to find it equally impossible to support either 
by experiments or facts), i3 the fear that being put forth with 
the semblance of authority, they might raise unnecessary doubts 
in the minds of the inexperienced. No practised apiarian is likely 
to embrace Mr. Wighton’s fallacies ; and a very small amount of 
observation will be sufficient to enable the veriest tyro to decide 
for himself between Mr. Wighton and the great lights of apiarian 
science, whose views have been imperfectly enunciated by— 
A Devonshire Bee-keeper. 
P.S.—Should Mr. Wighton be desirous of penetrating my 
incognito, an inquiry addressed to the Editors of The Cottage 
Gardener will readily enable him to do so. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Devizes Poultry Show.— The entries for this positively close on Saturday 
the 24th inst., andthe exhibition takes place on Wednesday, Januarv 11th. 
Food for Turkeys {Rose ).—Barleymeal and pollard', in equal pro¬ 
portions, with cabbage-leaves and onion-tops chopped small and mixed 
with them, and made into a stiff paste, should be given to Turkeys every 
morning and evening, and oats or barley in the middle of the day. 
Hess for Laying (A Constant Reader, Shefford ).—As you only require 
eggs, and have a space twenty-four yards long by three yards wide, buy 
four Brown Cochin-China pullets, and four Silver-pencilled Hamburgh 
pullets. Sell them all in the autumn and buy fresh pullets, for these are 
better layers than hens. 
Rabrits [J. V .).—From nine months to two years old is the best age for 
a breeding doe. They do not need either barley or oats. Green food, 
especially chicory, clover, chaff, and bran, are the best diet. In our Vols. 
XVII. and XVIII. are many papers on Rabbit management. 
Hybrid Cagf. Birds ( Curious). — I beg to refer “Curious” to the 
hybrids or mules exhibited at the late Crystal Palace Bird Show, where five 
hybrids from a cock Goldfinch and hen Bullfinch, were exhibited ; as also 
two hybrids between a Goldfinch and Greenfinch. I have also heard of 
hybrids produced between a Greenfinch and grey Linnet; and the common 
Sparrow and mountain Sparrow are said to breed together in confinement. 
“ Curious ” might try almost any two of our British Finches probably with 
success. The birds intended to cross with would be best reared by hand 
from the nest, and together, so as to become quite tame and familiar with 
each other. Those intended to pair should be kept in the same cage all 
the year till breeding time arrives ; then, by separating them for a few davs 
and putting them together again, they will most likely couple. They should 
be fed on plain, wholesome food; but just at coupling time a little hemp- 
seed might be given. A few pairs of steady Canaries should lie in readiness 
to rear the eggs, as it is very rare for the undomesticated hens to sit and rear 
their young in cages. Hence the reason the hen Canary is usually used 
for mule breeding. The cock Sparrow has occasionallvj though rarely, 
bred with the Canary.—B, P. Brent. 
Errata in Rf.port of Crystal Palace Bird Show.— Page 135, line SO, 
from bottom, for “ bunched-backed,” read “liunehed-backed.” Page 
130, second column, line 14, for “Mr. II. Bayman’s Wrynecked Cuckoo’s 
Mate or Snake Bird,” read “ Mr. II. Bayman’s Wryneck, Clickoo’s-mate, 
or Snake Bird.” At line 42, for “ Scrim Finch,” read “ Serin Finoh.” 
