310 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 14, I860. 
Game (Black-breasted and other Reds).— Chickens.— First, T. Stringer, 
Stapeley. Second. J. Parton, Nantwich. Highly Commended, S. Black¬ 
burn, Heath Side, Nantwich. Commended, W. Forster, Nantwich. 
Game (any other variety).—First, T. Burgess, jun., Burleydam. Second, 
W. Bott, Nantwich. 
Game (any other variety).— Chickens.— First, J. Parton, Nantwich. Se¬ 
cond, H. Cawley, Priestland. Commended, E. Liglitfoot, Nantwich. 
Bantams (Game, any colour).—First and Second, T. Burgess, jun., 
Burleydam. 
Bantams (any other variety).—First, D. Harding, Middlewich. (Second 
withheld.) 
SINGLE COCK3. 
Spanish.— Second, T. Wakefield, Wistaston. (First withheld). 
Doukings. —First, T. Green, Stapeley. Second, T. Burgess, jun., Bur¬ 
leydam. Highly Commended, E. Whittingham, Crewe Mills. Commended, 
W. Boote, Nantwich Arms. 
CocHiN-CniNA.—First, E. Ttidman, Whitchurch. Second, J. Dodd, 
Minshull Vernon. Commended, E. 'l'udman. 
Hamburgh.— First, T. Dale, Middlewich. Second, W. Forster, Nantwich. 
Polands. —Second, J. Brownsword, Betley. (No competition.) 
Game (Black-breasted and other Reds).—First, T. Hope, Nantwich. Se¬ 
cond, T. Iloilo wood. Beam Bridge, Nantwich. Highly Commended, J. 
Pedley, Nantwich; J. Parton, Nantwich. Commended, W. Sowerbutts, 
Nantwich; J. Wilkinson. Norbury; E. Bower, Broad Lane, Nantwich. 
Game (any other colour).—First, T. Burgess, jur... Burleydam. Second, 
J. Wilkinson, Norbury. Commended, W. Forster, Nantwich. 
Bantams (any colour).—First, T. Burgess, jun., Burleydam. (Second 
withheld.) 
Turkeys.— First, Mrs. H, Akroyd, Doddington Hall. Second. Mrs. Tom- 
kinson, Dorfold Hall. Highly Commended and Commended, VV. H. Hornby, 
Shrewbridge Hall. 
Geese (any colour).—First, Miss E Teasdale, Spurstow. Second, W. 
Furnival, Norton. Highly Commended, T. Teasdale, Spurstow. 
Ducks (Aylesbury).—First. E. Viggor, Over. Second, W. H. Hornby, 
Shrewbridge Hall. Highly Commended, T. Green, Stapeley; T. Parton, 
Chorlton. 
Ducks (Roycn). — First, Capt. Price, Stapeley House Second, T. 
Burgess, jun., Burleydam. Highly Commended, R. Ashley, Wistaston. 
Ducks (any other variety).—First, T. T. Mousley, Combermere (Call 
Ducks.) Second, T. Burgess, jun., Burleydam (East Indian). Highly 
Commended, E. Bower, Broad Lane. Nantwich (Wild Ducks). 
Pigeons.— Pewters. —Prize, H. Prince, Nantwich. Carriers. —Prize, H. 
Prince, Nantwich. Almond Tumblers. — Prize, T. Lovatt, Nantwich. 
Mottled Tumblers.— First, J. Hockenhull, Tilston, Tarporley. Second. W. 
Dudley, Nantwich. Balds. —First, W. Dudley, Nantwich. Second, J, 
Lewis, Nantwich. Tumblers (any other variety).— First, G. Peak, Shaving- 
ton. Second, E. Peak, Shavington. Dragoons. —First, S. Major, Cholmon- 
deston. Second, G. Garnett, jun., Minshull Vernon. Highly Commended, 
W. Thurshv, Crewe. Fantails. — First, II. Prince, Nantwich. Second, W. 
Furnival, Norton. Jacobins. —No entry. Nuns. — Prize, J. Peake, Sha¬ 
vington. Trumpeters. —No entry. Owls— First, J. Peak, Shavington. 
Second, G. Peak, Shavington. Highly Commended, J. Brownsword, Betley. 
Turbits. —No entry. Any other variety. —First, W. Forster, Nantwich. 
Singing Birds.’ — Yellow Belgian or Dutch Canary.— First and Second, 
W. Tomkinson, Wall Lane, Nantwich (Belgian). Highly Commended, C. 
Billington, Nantwich ; It. Lord, Nantwich. Buff Belgian or Dutch Canary. 
—First, R. Lord, Nantwich. Second, T. Ashley, Nantwich (Belgian). 
Canary of any other variety. —First. R. Wells, Nantwich. Second, W. 
Jackson, Burland (German). Goldfinch {BedLinnet).— First, W. Furnival, 
Norton. Second. J. Moulton, Nantwich. Commended, R. Pace, Nantwich. 
Wood or Skylark. —First, J. Singleton, Nantwich (Skylark). Second. J, 
Willett, Nantwich (Skylark). Second, J. Garnett, Nantwich (Bullfinch). 
Brown Linnet. — First, W. Griffiths, Nantwich. Second, D. Basford. 
Nantwich. 
Rabbits. — Length of Bars. —First, G. Forster, Nantwich (18^ inches). 
Second, Miss Bellyse, Shrewbridge Lodge (18 inches). For Weight.—First 
A. Forster, Nantwich (12f lbs.). Second, T. Murray, Acton (10) lbs.). 
Judge for the Poultry , Mr. E. Hewitt, Sparkbrook, Birming¬ 
ham ; for the Pigeons, Mr. C. Cotten, of Crewe; and for Singing 
Birds, Mr. Joseph Green. » 
LARGE PRODUCE OF EGGS. 
I am a subscriber to The Cottage Gardener. I have seen 
your remarks on the scarcity of eggs; and having a poultry- 
yard which is my hobby, I wish to give you an account of the 
success I have had this last year—I will not mention the three 
previous years during which time I have kept poultry. My 
stock consists of various-coloured Cochins, bred and crossed 
with imported birds brought by a friend direct from Shanghai. 
I have blackbirds, white birds, cuckoo-plumaged birds, partridge 
birds, and some with white and black feathers—all fine birds. 
My poultry-yard is at my stables (I do not keep horses), 
measuring 32 feet by 15 feet, bricked. The hen-house is a part 
intended for a harness-room, wilh a ceiling, and also bricked, 
measuring 15 feet by 9 feet. They have no more room. The 
nests are all close to the ground and the perches low. The 
place is swept out clean every morning, sanded, and well venti¬ 
lated ; the yard is also swept every morning. During the winter 
they have straw to lay upon. There are two sand-baths, gravel, 
mortar-rubbish, and sulphur under cover to roll in. The nests 
are also kept whitewashed, sprinkled with lime aryl sulphur: 
this keeps them free from vermin. 'They are well supplied with 
clean water, and fed three times during the day, food all of the 
best quality, with plenty of green food. It would take too great 
space to tell you all the treatment. The number of eggs pro¬ 
duced during the year 1859 amounts to 3593 from about thirty 
hens. The accompanying table will give you the particulars. 
During the month of August my family were away from home. 
On the 10th of October eight hens and one cock were sold. Up 
to this date there were thirty hens and four cocks. The latter 
end of December the pullets, late birds, began laying; making 
up thirty-three hens and four cocks. Allowance must he made 
for setting hens and bringing up the chickens.—W. F. Hopkins, 
Surhiton Hill, Surrey. 
[Mr. Hopkins has obliged us by a tabular return of the daily 
number of eggs laid by his liens during 1859 ; but we must not 
spare room for more than the monthly totals :— 
Jan 1 
Feb 
1 Mar I 
I Apl 1 
1 May 1 
Jun [ 
Jul 
1 Aug ] 
| Sep I 
Oct ] 
[ Nov 1 
Dec 
336 | 
311 
411 l 
| 393 | 
| 435 | 
343 j 
313 | 
1 189 
320 | 
196 ] 
166 | 
180 
Total.3593 
In January of the present year the produce of eggs was 352. 
The greatest number laid in one day was 18.] 
LIGUEIAN BEES. 
We request the attention of bee-keepers to the following 
offer:— 
“ The Devonshire Bee-keeper ” is desirous of assisting 
in the extended culture of the “ Ligurian Bee” ( Apis Liyustica), 
and with this object in view, is willing to devote his apiary 
during the approaching season to the multiplication of queen 
bees of this species. 
He intends charging half a guinea for each impregnated queen, 
and sending them, a la Hermann, in small boxes, accompanied by 
a few hundred workers, to any part of the country. At this 
price they will cost little more than a third, as compared with 
those sent from Switzerland, and afford but a poor remuneration 
for the trouble and expense ; but his object is to get them into 
general cultivation. 
It is especially necessary that orders should be given at once, 
as this is the time for making arrangements to meet the demand. 
If “A Devonshire Bee-keeper” has sufficient notice, he 
thinks he can manufacture a sufficient number. 
The orders will be executed strictly in the rotation in which 
they arrive. 
“ The Devonshire Bee-keeper ” has requested us to allow 
the orders to be sent directed for him to our Office. We have 
great pleasure in permitting this, and will take care that every 
letter is forwarded to him without delay. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Dark Burr Cochin Cock (W. J. H .).—He is, probably, what is called 
a Cinnamon-colourerl bird, and the bens ought to be of the same. If you 
mate him with white hens, you will have some black chickens, and many 
mealy. If you wish for lighter huff chickens from him, have some light 
huff hens ; but many of the chickens will he dark even then. 
Poultry Sent by Railway {G. M.). —We know of no particular pre¬ 
cautions requisite for fowls travelling by railway. We send them in a 
round basket, covered with canvas, and head the direction “ Live Fowls.” 
Every Exhibition has its fixed charge per pen, varying usually from 
2s. 6 d. to 5s. If you write to the Secretary and say what you wish to ex¬ 
hibit, he usually sends you a printed form to fill up, a direction label, and 
all needful particulars. 
Partridge Cochin-Chinas ( W.B.E. ).—We see nothing wrong in the 
feathers you have sent up ; but the back is generally right. The difficulty 
is on the breast, where there is too often a tendency to a yellow tinge, and 
to the comb, which often twists. You want small, fine heads, and straight 
combs ; together with plumage all over as much like the feathers you have 
sent as possible, and then you will have bird3 free from the prevailing 
defects of this breed. 
Crystal Palace Poultry Show" ( Coz , Bristol). —A letter directed to 
“ Mr. Houghton, Secretary(of Poultry Show, Crystal Palace, Sydenham,” 
will be sure to reach him. 
Winter Layers. —I shall be glad to know what your correspondent, 
“ Fkekfolk,” in your Number of January 10th, considers proper food for 
poultry. I have Black Spanish pullets hatched last May, and Silver- 
spangled Ilamburghs of the same date, not one of which has laid as yet, 
while I have hens nearly two years old laying six days out of seven. Your 
correspondent says, ‘‘If properly fed, pullets will lay in winter,” par¬ 
ticularly of the above-named breeds. I, therefore, must suppose mine are 
not properly fed, as they do not lay. I shall feel much obliged to “ Free- 
folk ” for any information he can give me as to the best mode of feeding 
poultry.—A New Subscriber. 
Honey [H. Moore). —Whether it is pure honey we cannot take upon 
ourselves to say, without previously analysing it; but there is no doubt 
that it will do admirably for feeding bees. 
Bf.es Dying [A Bee, Darlington). —It is impossible, unless we know all 
the facts of the case, to determine the precise cause of the death of your 
bees. We never had any partiality for glass hives, which are much too 
great conductors of heat for safety in winter. Wooden boxes, moreover, 
ought not to be less in thickness than a full inch; but an inch and a quarter 
is still better. As the untenanted hives contain honey, they may be placed 
over other stocks in the spring, as you propose. 
Ligurian Bees ( Aberdeenshire ).—Your question relative to M. Hermann 
and the Ligurian Bees, would, doubtless, he answered on application to his 
agents, Messrs. Neighbour and Sons, 149, Regent Street, London. 
