91 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 9, 185S. 
dition to take a pi’ize : they will be dull and sleepy in their pens, 
and are loose and soft in hand. 
Feed them moderately in the morning with ground oats, or 
oitmeal, mixed with water: throw it on the ground so long as 
they will run after it,—not one morsel after they cease to do so. 
Scatter some whole corn in the daytime among the grass, that 
they may have to seek it. Feed them in the afternoon as in the 
morning. They may be fed with little pieces of bread, or any¬ 
thing of that sort, at any tune; but they must always be hungry 
enough to be on the look out. This treatment is quite as essential 
for plumage as for flesh. A fat bird is never in good plumage: 
its feathers are soft and loose. They should have a grass run, 
and some dry place, where they can bask, and roll themselves in 
dust. The only fowls that improve by a short confinement arc 
the Spanish: they should be kept for some days in rather a dark 
place. In Ducks and Geese, provided every other point is 
perfect, weight is more important than in fowls. 
The cock and hens that are to appear together in the pens 
should be thoroughly accustomed to each other, or the cock will 
very likely beat one of the hens : this is mostly fatal to success. 
Not only should they be used to each other while running about, 
but they should be shut up together in a pen of about the same 
size as those used at exhibitions. Many a hen is disliked and 
beaten by the cock, but shows no marks of it, as when at liberty 
she can always escape. The same hen put in a coop, and finding 
she cannot get away, will stand still while the cock eats her. 
They should, also, sometimes be fed in such a coop, or pen, that 
they may be accustomed to come to tne front of it, otherwise 
they slink to the back, and remain there. As it is not easy to 
win with everything in favour of the birds, it stands to reason 
that any defect of quality or management diminishes the pro¬ 
bability very much. 
They should be sent in round baskets, high enough for the 
birds to stand up in them ; and a canvass covering is better than 
any other. They should be well fed before they start, on sopped 
bread, given very wet. They should have no whole corn. In 
every pen the combs must be alike. 
Exhibitors are sometimes deterred from sending their birds, 
on account of some trifling accident to one of them. That which 
i9 visibly an accident is not a disqualification, unless it is like one 
one of those seen years ago, when Cochin cock’s tails were con¬ 
tinually meeting with them. 
POULTRY IN A VERY CONFINED SPACE. 
I have no doubt that the letter of your correspondent “ White 
Game Cock ” will interest many, who either have no run for 
their poultry, or who, with a limited run, wish to keep more than 
one variety. I confess to being one of the latter class. I have a 
very fair space for one set, but every show makes me uncertain 
which breed I prefer for beauty, though I have no doubt which to 
prefer for eggs. 
I should like to know from “White Game Cock” how he 
cleans his light sandy soil, or, if the manure sinks into it, how he 
prevents it from becoming sour ? I should also like to know how 
often it should be either wholly changed or partially removed and 
renewed ? and how many birds he would expect to keep healthy 
in a space of twenty feet by forty feet, or any other space ho will 
name as a standard ? Moreover, though Spanish and Cochins 
bear such confinement, will Dorkings, ns he says, do so ? If they 
will, Ilia experience controverts all the axioms ever laid down in 
The Cottage Gardener. As to Cochins, I cannot help ques¬ 
tioning the answer given to a query of mine last ■week, about the 
influence of a grass run. I think it must preserve the bright- 
yellow colour of the legs, and 1 think I have found it do so. I 
have certainly but a limited experience, but I never found my birds 
fail in this respect, where they had such a run. This year, I 
brought up one brood as an experiment, hatched out of doors, 
without any forcing, or special care, and never under a roof since; 
and though their growth was much slower than that of the others, 
the leg colour in particular was perfect ; which I take it, shows 
hardiness as well ns genuineness of breed. And, therefore, I 
suspect that old birds may hatch broods less perfect on this point, 
though improving in other points, as, for instance, size. Does 
“ W. G. C,” find they keep a good colour under cover ? Is sand 
better than mere dry dust as a soil ? or, again, if sand were laid 
down some inches deep, would it contain any insects, or breed any, 
for the birds to feed on ? or would an occasional sprinkling of 
common earth be beneficial in this way, as giving them a scratch, 
and chance of natural animal food ?—A. S. B. 
[We publish some notes on the same subject from another 
correspondent, but “ White G ame Cock ” will oblige by replying 
to the queries of “ A. S. B.”—Ed.] 
Reading an article in a recent number of The Cottage 
Gardener, on this subject, I feci disposed to send a little of my 
own experience, for the benefit of your readers. 
I keep three sorts of fowls in a very confined space. Black 
Spanish, Silver-spangled Hamburghs, and Cochins. They have 
each a small space penned olf, which opem into a rather larger 
space; but the whole would be considered a very small run for 
poultry. The aspect is north-east, slightly open to the south; 
therefore, a very cold aspect, although they have the morning 
sun. Each lot are, generally, allowed to run in the outer space 
some portion of each day. 
Now, of these three sorts, although I consider all do well and 
thrive, yet none equal the Hamburghs for eggs, and their pen 
does not exceed six feet square. 
I have a cock and five hens. The latter commenced laying the 
13tli of January, and have continued to lay, without intermission, 
until the present time. For many months I had four or five 
egg3 almost every day,—occasionally three. Now three of these 
hens are moulting, yet I have one or two eggs daily from the 
other two. To day (October 27th) I have had two eggs. 
I think this worthy of notice, as Hamburghs are considered 
especially to require a good run. They have a variety of food, 
and a good deal of green meat. Their food oonsists of barley, 
oats, soaked peas, buckwheat, specks, malt) dust, and rice, with 
potatoes and any other odd bits from the kitchen. 
Their roost is very small indeed, with fine cinder ashes and a 
little dry lime strewed at the bottom, and raked over once a week. 
If Hamburghs thrive under such disadvantages as these, 
surely they will thrive anywhere.— Silver Spangle. 
NATIONAL COLUMBAIIIAN CLUB. 
The monthly meeting of the above club was held on Tuesday 
last, at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, when some good specimens 
of Almond Tumblers, Jacobins, Tuscans, Runts, Owls, Ac., wero 
shown by Messrs. Harrison Weir, J. Anstcd, Towse, Griffith, 
Percival, Esquilant, Ilall, and Southwood. 
It was arranged that the grand Annual Show should be held 
on Tuesday, the 8tli of February, 1859, when tlio public will be 
admitted between the hours of one and five, on the production 
of tickets, to bo obtained gratis of any member. Some other 
business was transacted, and Mr. Ridley, of Brighton, was no¬ 
minated as a candidate for election at the ensuing meeting, to bo 
held on the 23rd of November. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Requisites in Silver-pencilled Hamburghs (./. 7?.). —We will take tlie 
cock from head to tail. Full double comb, spiked behind, the spike turning 
upwards, full of erect points. No hollow in the centre. White hackle, 
saddle, and body. Perfectly white, and not over large deaf ear. Blue legs. 
Four claws only on each foot. Foundation colour of the tail and tail 
coverts glossy black, every feather being edged with a silvery white. The 
comb must sit firmly and straight on the head. A little spotting on the tips 
of the wing feathers, and the suspicion of a shade in the saddle, arc not 
considered disqualifications. A tail where the silver predominates over tiro 
black is a decided fault, and if the feathers be entirely grey the bird 
should be discarded. 
Scouring in Poultry. —“I have heard that boiled milk is good for 
curing any tendency to scouring. Is it so ?”—II. S. B. 
[Yes. A mixture of chalk in the food is also good. A thorough change 
of iliet will cure scouring. F’eeding much on rice will cause it, as will 
cold, damp, and dirt.] 
LONDON MARKETS.—November Sth. 
POULTRY. 
There will probably be little difference in quotation for the next three 
weeks, save what is caused by the weather. If cold and dry, prices will 
slightly improve; if close and damp, they will decline. 
Each. ■ Each. 
Large Fowls. 4s. Od. to Is. firf. Hares. 2s. Orf. to 2s. Oil. 
Small ditto. 3 0 ,, 3 3 Partridges. 0 8 ,,12 
Chickens. 2 3 ,, 2 9 Grouse. 2 0 ,, 2 G 
Geese . 6 0 ,, 0 G Pigeons . 0 8 ,,0 0 
Ducks . 2 0 „ 2 9 Rabbits . 13 „ 1 4 
Pheasants . 2 3 ,, 2 C i Wild ditto.0 8 ,, 0 9 
