32G 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 21, 1860. 
In Rotiens, Mr. Breavington maintained the position he has 
lately re-talcen. He was first not only with perfect feather, 
hut 201bs. in weight. Messrs. Braikenriclge and Fowler followed. 
The class for Black Ducks was well supported, and brought 
houour to Messrs. Fox and Pryor. The same report may now 
be made of all Duck classes. There are no longer bacl bills 
in Aylesburys, faulty feathers in Rouens, nor large size and pied 
plumage in Buenos Ayreans. It is a struggle for pre-eminence, 
and the victorious are the best among the good. 
Class 58, brought beautiful Mandarin and Summer Ducks, (fee. 
The weight of the prize Turkeys will speak for their merits. 
The adults weighed 59 lbs., the young ones 59§lbs. 
Here is the end of our report. It is a favourable one, and we 
are glad of it. One thing alone was adverse, and that was the 
weather. We are bound to tender our thanks to Mr. Houghton, 
who was, as usual, courteous and ubiquitous; and we also con¬ 
gratulate him on the continued success of his endeavours to make 
this Show one of the largest and most popular in the kingdom. 
It was attended by more of the nobility and gentry than we 
have ever.seen at any meeting. The sales were very numerous, 
and Mr. Teebay refused T20 for his young Spanish cock. 
Messrs. Hewitt and Baily were the Judges. 
EGGS IN WINTER-REARING DUCKLINGS— 
WARM NESTS. 
My experience of late bears out in a measure what you have 
been recommending to those who want fresh eggs in winter; 
three pullets and a lien having laid me during the last three 
months exactly eighty eggs, though I have not given them ale 
and hot-buttered toast. 
If “ W. R. E.,” Plymouth , wishes to make the most use of his 
hens, I would recommend him to rear his Ducklings without 
allowing them the hen. I found last summer that it can be 
done with complete success with the additional trouble only of 
putting them into a hamper at night for the first week or two. 
I also have had hens hatch before their full time was up, 
which I have attributed to my lining the nests well with feathers. 
It is worth the experiment.—G. M. 
AN ATTACK OF THE BLUES. 
Your correspondent is at present suffering a severe attack of 
the blues, or blue devils, as they are generally called (at least by 
me for the last fortnight), and am anxious that you should pre¬ 
scribe me a cure. Come now, don’t shrug your editorial shoulders 
so, muttering, “Poor fellow!—new year potations—not in our 
way.” I think decidedly in your way, and expect that from the 
recesses of your learned caputs I shall get relief. 
You must know, then, that my tormentors are not aerial 
phantoms of the brain, hut real flesh-and-blood little villains— 
feathered, too—commonly known in this quarter as Bluebonnets. 
I am sure I heartily wish all such “ Bluebonnets were over the 
border ” in double quick time ; but am doubtful if our southern 
friends would relish—the bee-keeping portion at all events—a 
flight of titmice, with half the pleasure they received that prince 
of the race, Samuel Warren’s immortal Tittlebat. 
But to the point. Observing little mincings of straw on the 
landing-boards, I concluded that mice had got into some of my 
hires ; and was about to satisfy myself on this head as I had 
done previously, by inverting the hive, throwing a piece of thin 
white gauze or net over it, giving a few taps all round, when 
Mr. Mouse would at once show himself by springing to the light 
to effect his escape. Seeing no other indications of mice I delayed 
disturbing the bees, keeping a sharp look out meantime. I soon 
discovered the real depredator. Down he came—alighting on the 
top of the waterproof cover of the straw thatch—chirping away 
with restless glee—a squint right and left—coast clear—down 
on top hoop—another glance all round—down second hoop— 
another squint—on to alighting-board—in he goes—tap, tap— 
no answer—another double knock—out comes a sleepy sentinel 
•to meet his fate—another double knock. I could stand this no 
longer—off to the house, vowing his life was not worth five 
minutes’ purchase—back gun in hand. My returning footsteps 
scared the rascal, which takes refuge in a trice within the well- 
trained branches of a young pyramid; hopping up aud down it 
with a quick, complacent, chirping chuckle, which sounded very 
much like “ Shoot me here if you dare.” The nearest stone dis¬ 
lodged him, when over the garden-wall he goes, and is lost in the 
wood. To the wood I follow, blazing away at every blue scoundrel 
to be seen, till I reached a belt, and found the young Spruce and 
Larch fairly infested with them. The more I shot the more they 
chirped, till, after having killed more than a dozen without any 
apparent diminution, I bethought me I should not get at the 
real culprit very readily after this fashion, as the most of these 
might never have crossed the garden-wall, so I gave it up. 
Since, they have gone on from bad to worse. Two of my 
straw hives are in a fair way of having a second entrance imme¬ 
diately over the first, as that band is more than half through, 
and a wooden hive all round the entrance is pecked into as many 
small holes as the comb within. A bit of zinc will mend that 
matter more easily than restore at this season my lessening bees. 
I have thought of sticking up a couple of dead birds before each 
hive, or netting over the entrance, and on the net fastening a 
number of hair snares, their fluttering struggles might bring out 
the bees. Birdlime would trap more bees than birds on a mild 
day, I airi-afraid. You may suggest something better still: by 
so doing you will oblige—A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper. 
[Your locality is unfortunately infested with those little arch-; 
enemies of bees, the blue tomtit, titmouse, or blue devils, as you 
term these cunning marauders. In speaking of this bird, Purchas, 
an old bee authority, says, “ She will eat ten or twelve bees at a 
time, and by-and-by be ready for more. When she cometh to 
the hive and findeth none, sheknoeketh with her bill at the door ; 
and as soon as the bees come out to inquire the cause, she 
catchcth first one and then another until her belly be full.” 
When disturbed at her work, the little rascal hops about, aud 
tells you as plainly as chattering can do it that she shall not be 
long away. A solitary bird or two may be trapped or shot, but 
it is not so easy to see a remedy where these plunderers are 
numerous. We should be inclined to advise that bee-houses be 
entirely boarded in at the front, setting the hives a good way 
back, with but a small opening for outward exits, and little or no 
alighting-board. If this plan be pursued, care must be taken 
that sufficient ventilation reaches the hive by removing the front 
board occasionally, or opening the back doors ; otherwise dysen¬ 
tery might ensue. We have seen the good effects of a winter 
screen placed a little in advance of the hive, as represented in Mr. 
Taylor’s “Bee-keeper’s Manual,” which entirely hides from 
view both hive and bees; the latter, moreover, not being attracted 
to the entrance by a glare of light injurious at this season.] 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Large Produce op Egos. —In my letter published in your last number 
I omitted mentioning that my fowls pay the whole of their expenses in 
feeding, &c., and at the end of the last year there was a balance on the 
right side. The eggs and chickens that are not wanted for the house are 
sold to pay for this amusement. I seldom have a sick bird.—W. F. 
IIopkins. 
Poultry in a Confined Space (If. Nixon). —It is not only possible to 
keep Cochin-China fowls in an outhouse six feet square, but they have been 
so kept as stated in the “ Poultry Book for the Many,” and this is not at all 
inconsistent with what we stated in answer to a correspondent—“ We never 
advise fowls to be kept in so confined a space.” It may be done, but it is cruel 
to the fowls, and profitless to the owner. By extreme attention to cleanliness 
and diet the birds may be kept free from disease ; but they are never in that 
vigorous health which characterises those birds which have an extensive run, 
and an unlimited supply of green and insect food. Your space is treble the 
size above mentioned, yet it is not such a run as can justify the expectation 
of profit. Unless you have a separate place where a hen could be put with 
her brood, we would advise you to aim at producing eggs only. Have three 
Spanish pullets, and three Cochin-China pullets, but no cock. 
Work on Poultry ( Trafalgar Goods Station).— That with coloured 
plates is “The Poultry Book,” by Messrs. Johnson and Winkfield. A copy, 
second-hand, may be purchased for about 12s. No second edition has been 
published. There is no reliable work upon Canaries, nor any at all upon 
the Game fowl only. 
Consumption in Fowls (A. E. IF.).—There is no cure for this disease 
when so far pdvanced that its nature is unruistakeable. When in its very 
earliest stage, half a grain of sulphate of copper, in powder, given daily, in 
powder mixed with a little soft food, might be administered advantageously. 
Kef.fing Rabbits Profitably.— “ I shall be obliged by your opinion 
and advice as to whether I could keep Rabbits to pay a liberal return for the 
time bestowed on them and the food they consumed by breeding for the 
poulterer. Also would you advise keeping in hutches in a greenhouse, which 
I thought of turning into a rabbit-house? or would you advise turning them 
loose in a piece of ground 150 feet long by 50 feet walled in? What sort 
would be the best—the common half-lop, the double-lop, or Chinchilla Silver 
Grey ? It will be a better guide if I tell yon I am a small market-gardener, 
and wish to increase my income. I have been thinking of the above some 
time, and I am now ready to commence. I have heard that several authors 
have guaranteed large incomes by keeping Rabbits, hut I never could get one 
of their pamphlets. There is one which I should like, if you could tell me 
where I could get it—that by M. Dcspuny, “ Le Lapin Domestique.” Paris. 
1838.—G. W.” 
[We shall be much obliged by any of our readers stating their experience 
in attempting to keep Rabbits profitably.] 
