406 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION, March 10, 1857. 
in it a mare and foal excepting in tlie inclement season of 
the year. 
It is very objectionable to have rabbit hutches one above 
another in tiers, because the floor of each must be very well 
fitted, or the moisture will drop through ; and, after all, the 
boards may shrink, and then it would be a great trouble and 
inconvenience to have to take the floors up and refit them 
again. 
I will just quote a little of “ P. B.’s ” letter, where he says, 
“ I would earnestly impress upon the mind of the young or 
inexperienced fancier the great importance of strict clean¬ 
liness in the abodes of these animals.” How is this, then ? 
He says red deal is the best wood for the floor. Red deal is 
not a firm wood, and would therefore absorb the moisture, 
which would decay the wood, and cause a continual stench, 
which would not in the least agree with rabbits, which are 
naturally very clean animals. —Yigilans. 
Variety 2.— THE GERMAN FEATHER-FOOTED 
TUMBLER. 
This variety, which abounds at Coblentz on the Rhine, is 
rather larger than the foregoing. They are exceedingly 
gentle and tractable, good breeders, and fly and tumble very 
| nicely I once kept a considerable flight of them, and can 
! speak from experience that, notwithstanding their size, they 
would soar and tumble as well as the English birds; but, 
though they flew lightly and remained long up, yet their 
flight is not swift, and consequently they are frequently 
taken by hawks. They are most remarkable for the quantity 
and length of feathers on the feet. I have had some with 
feathers six inches long, which stuck out almost like a 
small pair of wings when the birds flew. The feathers on 
( the feet of all that I have seen were, from the heel or hock 
to the end of the toes, invariably white. Their chief plumage 
was black, with white flights and white slippers, as the 
I feathers on the feet are called; others are blue, red, or 
yellow, with the same white pinions and feet; some also 
having white tails, and many of the red have nice white 
beards. I have seen some black mottled, but always with 
white pinions and feet; but my especial favourites were 
entirely white, with beautiful pearl eyes. 
Variety 3.-TFIE OLD ENGLISH TUMBLER. 
These pretty Pigeons are now nearly extinct and rarely 
| to be met with. They were of small size, with good pearl 
eyes, a short beak, and pretty round head. They flew 
admirably, tumbled nicely, going over clean once at a throw, 
not leaving the flight, and soared very high. In colour 
they were mostly blue, but some black and others white. 
I—_ _ . _ 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Belgian Canaries. — In reply to C. C.’s inquiry of last week re¬ 
specting the principal points of the Belgian Canaries, I beg to say there 
are five features. 1st. Thigh long. 2nd. Shoulders high and pro¬ 
minent. 3rd. Carriage erect. 4th. Colour of the deepest yellow. 5th. 
Body and tail long —the latter indispensable. Birds possessing all the 
former points without length of tail we consider not up to the mark for 
prizes. The same applies to the coloured varieties only wanting uni¬ 
formity of markings.—R. Pike. [A breeder in this class for twenty 
years.] 
White Rabbits with Black Noses, &c. —“At the Crystal Palace 
Poultry, &c., Show, there was a pair of rabbits, in colour white, with 
black ears, nose, and feet. Mr. Baker was the exhibitor, and he did not 
give them any name. In a small work published a year or two ago it is 
stated that among our small wild rabbits white ones with black ex¬ 
tremities are sometimes found. In Leadenhall Market one dealer calls 
them Egyptian Smuts. At Brentwood a working gardener who has had 
them styles them Africans, and further down in Essex (where a pair some 
years ago was purchased from Mr. Baker for 4s.), they are said to 
have come from the mountains of India, and are called ‘ Himalaya 
Rabbits;’ and about eighteen months ago they were sold, at one of 
Mr. Stevens’ sales, and called in the catalogue ‘ Himalaya.’ But as Mr. 
Baker sold these rabbits into that part of Essex where they are called 
‘ Himalaya,’ it seems strange, if that name is right, in Mr. B. avoiding 
giving any name to them at the Crystal Palace Show, and only calling 
them, by a general description, as ‘ a pair of white rabbits with black 
extremities.’ They have red eyes, showing an unnatural condition of 
the pigment and its colour cells. Can you favour me with any informa¬ 
tion of what species (if a species), or variety of rabbit these are?”— 
Coney. 
[We cannot give any information relative to this variety, and, there¬ 
fore, shall be much obliged by any that may be sent to us.] 
Parrot Biting off its own Feathers. — A Subscriber wishes for a 
remedy for this propensity. It is a common habit, and seems to arise 
from irritability. We knew a cockatoo which used to pick himself bare, 
but no remedy could be found. A necklace, such as is put round a 
horse’s neck to prevent him touching a blister, might be effectual as a 
check, and break the bird of the habit. 
LONDON MARKETS.— March 9th. 
COVENT GARDEN 
A week’s fine weather has improved our supply, and also our trade (for 
we are proper fine-weather birds in Covent Garden); but we have nothing 
particular to report. Some new English Grapes are to be had, and there 
is, also, good Barbarossa offered for sale, that now fills up a vacuum we 
experienced in former years between the retarded and the new Grapes. 
Good Dessert Apples very scarce. Potato trade dull; prices somewhat 
lower. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, Ribston, per 
bush. 8s. „ 12s. 
t, dessert, do.. 12s. ,, 20s. 
Pears, each. gd. „ Is. 
Peaches, per doz. Os. ,, Os. 
Nectarines, do. Os. ,, Os. 
Pine-apples, per lb... 8s. ,, 12 s. 
Grapes, per lb. 15s. ,, 20s. 
Strawberries, peroz... — ,, 4s. 
,, Foreign, per lb. 2s. ,, 3s. 
Melons, Foreign, each 2s. ,, 5s. 
„ English, do... Os. ,, Os. 
Morello Cherries, per lb. Os. ,, Os. 
Oranges, per 100_ 5s. ,, 12s. 
,, Tangerine, do. 10 s. ,, 20 s. 
,, Seville, do,.. 8s. ,, 15s. 
Lemons. 6s. ,, 10s. 
Almonds, per lb. .. 2s,6d. ,, 4s. 
Nuts, Filberts.perlb. — ,, Is. 
,, Cobs, ditto.. ls.6d. ,, 2s. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 20s. to 24s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 14s. ,, 16 s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 10 s. ,, 15s. 
Chestnuts, perbushel l6s. ,, 24s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, each 9d. to Is. 6d. 
,, Red, each 3d. to 6d. 
Cauliflowers, each.... 6d. ,, Is. 
Broccoli, perbdle. Is. 3d to Is, 9d. 
Greens, per doz. bnch. 2s. ,, 4s. 
Spinach, per sieve .. — ,, 4s. 
French Beans,per hd. 3s.6d. ,, 5s. 
Carrots, per bunch .. 5d. to 7d. 
Parsnips, per doz.... 9d. to is. 
Beet, per doz. Is. to Is. 6d. 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 7s. to 10s. 
Onions, Y’ng per b’nch 4d. ,, 6d. 
,, Old, per bush. 3s. ,, 4s. 6d. 
Turnips, per bunch.. 3d. ,, 4d. 
Leeks, per bunch .... 2d. ,, 3d. 
Garlic, per lb. 6d. ,, 8d. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. 2s. ,, 4s. 
Shallots, per lb. 6d. ,, 8d. 
Lettuce,Cos,each,French 6d.,, is. 
,, Cabbage, do. do. — ,, l£d. 
Endive, do. do. — ,, 4d. 
Celery, per bunch.... 9d.to ls.6d. 
Radishes,Turnip, per 
dozen bunches .... — ,, 4s. 
Ditto, long, per hund.. — ,, 6d. 
WaterCresses, per doz. gd. to Is. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Artichokes, per lb. — ,j 2d. 
Asparagus, perbdl. .. 6s. ,, 10s. 
Sea-kale,per punnet ls.6d.,, 2s.6d. 
Rhubarb, per bundle 6d. ,, Is. 
Cucumbers,each. 3s. ,, 5s. 
Mushrooms, per pottle Is. ,, 2s. 
HERBS,. 
Basil, per bunch .... 4d.to 6d. 
Marjoram, per bunch 4d. ,, 6d. 
Fennel, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Savory, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Parsley, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Mint, per bunch .... 2d. ,, 4d. 
Green Mint . 6d. ,, 8d. 
POULTRY. 
The demand for good poultry is on the increase, and, as usual at this 
season of the year, it becomes scarce. The mild weather causes the 
winter birds to get hard, and there are no young to replace them. 
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 10, 1857. 
