420 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION, Mabch 17, 1857. 
regularly marked, and to be judged by the best Belgium 
properties. 
In the Mealy Variegated birds an allowance to be made 
for the colour of the green. 
This specimen is always considered the most beautiful, 
and generally preferred. 
LIGHT OR BUFF OF THE FOREIGN BELGIUM VARIEGATED 
CANARY. 
The points in this, approved as before stated, are— 
1st. The head to be very regularly but lightly marked on 
the front, but not on the back, and upon each side of the 
cheeks, with green. 
2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th rules of this class correspond with 
the second, third, fourth, and sixth rules of the dark speci¬ 
men above mentioned, making an allowance in the fourth 
rule in colour for the Mealy specimens. 
5th. The tail if totally white preferred; but a bird with 
one, two, or three feathers dark, provided the number is the 
same on the outer side of the tail, to be always considered 
a show bird; and the same to hold good as to regularity of 
number of white feathers in the wings. 
Jonque and Mealy Goldfinch Mules and Jonquf, and 
Mealy Linnet Mules are judged for the best resemblance 
to the Canary properties. 
The foregoing points and properties are those which the 
eminent Judges at the late unrivalled Exhibition of Canaries 
at Nottingham considered to be necessary to constitute a 
first-class bird. Although few were quite up to the mark, 
yet the merits of those birds which were the fortunate com¬ 
petitors possessed the nearest approach to this standard of 
perfection. 
The admiration this department of the Exhibition com¬ 
manded, and the generous patronage it received, will, I 
hope, encourage the fancy in this country to persevere, 
create in them a love for these harmless pursuits, and make 
the study of Nature more popular. 
The second general concourse of the Canary bird fanciers 
of the United Kingdom will be held at Nottingham, I under¬ 
stand, in the month of January next; and I trust that this 
first effort to introduce so novel and highly interesting a 
feature into Poultry Exhibitions will merit the approbation 
and support of the community.—A Fancier, Nottingham. 
MARCH PREPARATIONS FOR CHICKENS. 
Have a shed, sheltered from cold wind and open to the 
sun, ready for the chickens that will now be coming out. 
The floor of it should be covered with dry, fine dust. It is 
most important, if possible, to have no old fowls with the 
chickens. They often give them unkind pecks that tell in 
after life, and they steal the dainty food prepared for the 
young broods. The mother being under her rip is unable 
to protect them. For winter exhibitions the April and May 
chickens are preferable to earlier ones. Let your chickens 
be on the grass when it is dry and the sun is out; but do 
not expose them to the unkind easterly winds. 
As usual at this time of the year, amateurs are beginning 
to ask themselves why their eggs hatch badly, and we think 
we can give a word of comfort. 
Recollect it is very early—long before the natural season 
for hatching. If left in a natural state hens would no more 
have brought out chickens yet than other birds have young 
ones. 
You may also console yourself by remembering that, for 
all winter shows, your April chickens will beat your earlier 
ones; for some breeds even May is soon enough. 
“FEATHERS AND FOOLERY.” 
Some short time since a paragraph, with the above title, 
went the round of the London and provincial papers, con¬ 
taining a statement that at a certain show, which was named, 
there was a pen of birds valued by the owner, who was also 
named, at TlOOO. This was evidently intended to throw 
ridicule on Poultry Exhibitions generally, and, doubtless, 
was not altogether an unsuccessful attempt with those who 
were not acquainted with the arrangements of Poultry Shows; 
but poultry amateurs would at once know that the price 
simply was meant as a prohibitory one, the owner not wish¬ 
ing to sell his birds. It is difficult to conceive what object 
the Committees of Poultry Shows have in making exhibitors 
thus stultify themselves by placing ridiculous prices on birds 
they have no wish to part with, or what objection they can 
have to the more truthful and honourable statement of, 
“ Not for sale.” As a continuance of the plan may very 
possibly lead to a repetition of the paragraph, I beg to 
suggest that a slight addendum be so made to it to signify 
that the feathers only belong to the exhibitor, and that the 
foolery, which gives rise to such a ridiculous statement as 
A1000 for three fowls, is entirely the property of the Com¬ 
mittee.— Excelsior. 
ANTIQUITY OF NAMES OF POLISH, 
HAMBURGHS, & DORKINGS. 
I seldom pass a book-stall without inquiring for old books 
on my favourite hobbies, viz., poultry, pigeons, or bees, 
inasmuch as I hope to render my collection in these subjects 
eventually a complete one. 
In an old work on “ British Housewifery,” published in 
1748,1 found the following names given as those of varieties 
of fowls, namely, Polands, Hamburghs, and Darkings. There 
was not any description of the first two, but the Darkings 
were evidently in high estimation at that period, as, in addi¬ 
tion to a chapter on fattening and caponising, there was a 
letter from an inhabitant of Parking who had been requested 
to furnish particulars respecting the breed. The writer de¬ 
scribed them as being large and short legged—did not allude 
to their toes — and stated that those who were most choice 
in breeding for colour bred from a white cock and speckled 
hens. I mention these facts to show that the name of 
Polands, as applied to fowls, is not so recent as has been 
supposed; that Hamburghs existed at that period; and that 
there were then, as at present, White and Coloured Dorkings. 
—W. B. Tegetmeier. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
PULLET WITH HALF AN INCH BROKEN OFF THE BEAK (G . S. S.).— 
The broken beak will grow again; but, during the time of its being 
imperfect, the fowl should be fed on soft food exclusively, which should 
be placed in a small, deep vessel, and in small, crumbly masses.—W. B.T. 
Floor of Passage for Poultry (C . L .).—A concrete, or stone, or 
brick, or boarded floor are all unexceptionable for your purpose, which¬ 
ever is cheapest. We do not like the concrete made with gas tar for 
fowls until it has been laid a long time. 
LONDON MARKETS.— March IGth. 
COVENT GARDEN f 
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 Barbarussa 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. 
POULTRY. 
Good poultry is becoming scarce, but there is an ample supply of an 
inferior quality. The London season already feels the effect of political 
excitement, and the trade is dull. 
Large fowls.. 6s. Od. to 7s. Od. each. 
Smaller do.4s. to 4s. 6d. „ 
Chickens.4s. to Os. Od. „ 
Goslings .. 8s. Od. to 8s. 6d. ,, 
Ducklings.. 5s. Od. to 5s. 6d. ,, 
Guinea Fowls 3s. Od. to 3s. 3d. ,, 
Wild Ducks 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. ,, 
Widgeons.. Is. 6d. to Is. gd. each, 
Teal. Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. ,, 
Pigeons .lOd. to lid. ,, 
Rabbits.... Is. 5d. to Is. 6d. ,, 
Wild ditto.lOd. to 1 Id. 
Hares .... 3s. Od. to 3s. 3d. ' ,, 
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 17, 1857. 
