302 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Februart 8, 1859. 
means of linings, you get enough of heat in the soil, and atmosphere 
above it. 
Renovatix-ci Vises (L. E. If. D.).—Wq expect the roots are either too 
deep, or starred. Raising, and more nourishment, would he the best cure. 
You have not said what width, if any, is between the Vine steins and the 
ground walk, or if you can sacrifice a part of the walk. Suppose you could 
manage two or three feet in front of these Vine stems, and nearly as high 
as the uncovered stem, place fine fibry soil lor that width against the 
stems, mixed with a little lime rubbish and broken bones. Surround all 
from the end of February until the middle of May, with some hot dung and 
leaves, taking care that the stems are not higher in temperature than from 
(15° to 70°. This will encourage the stems to throw out roots ; and when 
these begin to fill your two or three feet border, and you can give thcroots 
these rich dressings, and manure waterings, you will be enabled to take 
the state of the roots below your gravel walk very quietly and serenely— 
in fact, to leave them to themselves. 
Names of Plants ( It. I'., Red Hill).— Conifers are awkward plants to 
recognise from bits of spray, as they vary so very much in their young and 
old forms. 1. Cnpressus, certainly, and bears some resemblance to that of 
Goreninna (?) . 2. Jwniperus recurva. 8 . Juniper us, and apparently the 
young form of that of Chineasis. [J. Stafford). —1. Rondeletia odorata. 
2. Maranta bicolor. 3. Cytnbidium ensifolium. All three good stove 
plants. (/. J. Thomas).—i. Asplenntm tricomanes. 2. The sterile frond 
of Blcchnum boreale. 
THE MfJCTRy CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Ff.bruakv 9th and 10th, 1859. Ulverstone. See., Thos. Robinson. 
FerruART 16th and 17tli, 1859. Poui.ton-le-Fyi,dk. Sec., J. Butler. 
February 23rd and 24th. Bolton Poultry, Piof.on, and Canary Show. 
Sees., William Chester and Robert Greenhalgh, Bolton. Entries close 
February 17th, 
May 25th and 26th. Beverley. Sec., Francis Calvert, Surgeon, &c. 
June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1859. Bath and West of England. At Barnstaple, 
Devon. Director, 8. Pitman, Esq. 
N.B.— Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
DISC UR SI YE POULTRY PAPERS. 
(Continued from page 271.) 
“But do not your fowls suffer from lack of food in the 
morning ?” 
“ No. 
“And how often do you feed them, as you did just now ? ” 
“ Morning and evening.” 
“Is that all they have?” 
“ Yes, except a little whole corn, scattered among the grass 
at mid-day.” 
“ Yet your fowls are in high condition ? ” 
“ Like wild Pheasants.” 
“ I know nothing about Pheasants.” 
“ Come and see mine.” 
Three houses, very small, but lofty, were made against a high 
wall, which in his old-fashioned place, bounded one side of the 1 
lawn and flower garden, in front of the house. These houses \ 
were six feet long by three feet deep, made of boards, which were 
kept well painted. At one end of each house was a door, two 
feet wide, and perches were arranged inside, so that the birds 
could roost out of sight. The floor seemed to be nothing but 
dust. Their runs projected fifteen feet from the wall, and were 
six feet wide. They were made of wooden frames, over which 
strong wire netting was stretched. They were seven feet high. 
As they were kept well painted and clean, the effect of them was 
pleasing rather than otherwise. In the centre of each, was growing 
a small dwarf fir tree, and there was unmistakeable evidence 
round the roots they enjoyed it as a basking place. 
When they approached the pens, Mr. Taplin whistled, and 
clouds of dust at once announced the inmates were on the 
more. How handsome they looked! Gold and Silver at the 
two ends, and Chinese in the middle. Nothing could be more 
beautiful. In faultless feather, their plumage glossy, their eyes 
bright and prominent. The young lady was delighted ; but still 
one idea was uppermost—where was the food ? 
“ I see a fountain ior water,” said she; “ but where is the vessel 
for food ? I have heard of hoppers for pheasantries.” 
“ I disapprove of all,” said Mr. Taplin. “You will see how 
these are fedand, calling for some corn, he scattered a handful 
in each pen among the grass. The birds set about finding the grain 
immediately. “ I must tell you,” said he, “ these are pets, and, 
after every meal, I give them odd pieces of bread, or crumbs, 
that remain.” 
“This,” said the young lady, “is just what I should like;” 
and she looked fit her father, fto said something about expense. 
“ What,” said she, “ would it cost ? ” 
“ The pens cost £13 5s. complete, and the three sets of birds 
£13. I reared many young formerly, but I prefer now to sell their 
eggs, which I can do readily, especially the Chinese. I consider, 
after the first outlay, I have my hobby for nothing.” 
“But you must,” said the young lady, “tell me more about 
fowls.” 
“ Willingly,” said he. “ I have shown you mine and my 
Pheasants ; I will teach you how to keep yours in the same con¬ 
dition ; and every bird should be equal in feather and health to 
one that is wild in the woods. I will visit your yard to-morrow ; 
but if you and your father will walk round by a small covert at 
the back of my house, you shall see how birds feed naturally, 
and how they should feed when domesticated.” 
He led them to a hedge, where they could see without being 
seen. It was a wheat stubble, by a covert, side, and, being to¬ 
wards evening, the birds were coming out. One by one they 
stepped proudly out, and, after casting a look around, they began 
their evening meal. 
“But,” said our young friend, “ they will find nothing there.” 
“ Yes,” said Mr. Taplin, “ they will fill their crops. This field 
was carried the second week in August; it w as carefully gleaned 
afterwards. These birds—and they are tolerably numerous— 
have fed here ever since; and they will, till it is ploughed. But 
observe them closely.” They wander about, looking keenly in 
all directions ; but they seldom take two steps without picking 
up something, and are evidently getting all they want. But list! 
Be very quiet! There is a covey of Partridges, and they are more 
easily frightened when, at feed, than Pheasants. Look at them. 
There are fourteen. They are tolerably close together, and their 
motions are quicker and less dignified than the Pheasants; but 
they seem sharper at the work, and peek every minute. “ There, 
young lady,” said Mr. Taplin, “ you have learned your lesson ; 
be sure yon profit by it.” 
“ If this is all your game has to eat, I am sure it must be very 
thin.” 
“ I shall shoot this covert next week, and will send you some 
Pheasants, that you may try them.” 
“ Oh ! I do not mean that,” was the answer. 
(This would not be a bad peg to hang a flirtation upon, and 
try our hand at something tender, and so on ; but what would 
Tee Cottage Gardener say ?) 
On the morrow the visit was paid that was to be productive 
of proper poultry knowledge. The fowls were as dull and listless 
as ever. The food remained untasted—their combs were getting 
black, and they had never looked so bad. They had to bo driven 
out of their house. Tiresome, was it not ? 
Well, when Mr. Taplin came, he asked the young lady to call 
her fowls together. She did so; but they did not come. A 
boy was sent into a small shrubbery, and they tottered out. 
Their feathers were loose; and when the boy ceased to drive, 
they settled their heads well down, closed their eyes, and appa¬ 
rently went to sleep. 
“ What is the matter with them ? ” 
“Nothing, that I can see, except over-feeding.” 
“ But they have eaten nothing.” 
“ I daresay not for the last three or four days. Let me see 
their house.” 
Now, if there were a place of which this young lady r was proud, 
it was her poultry-house. It was a small red brick building, 
rather low. It was not ventilated in any way ; but, by way of 
compensation, it had two very smart windows, that would "not 
open. The floor was bricked, and had just been washed down 
when it was inspected. The perches were ns high as they could 
be. There was a pan of water, a trough of barley, and a plate¬ 
ful of bread and suet chopped up together. The latter had been 
there 9ome days, and was very musty. 
“ There, is not that a nice house ? ” 
“ Yes, for the gardener’s tools, barrow,” ke. 
“ But is it not a nice house for fowls ? ” 
“ No.” 
“ What is the matter with it ? ” 
“ The flooring is the worst it could have, the perches are too 
high, and it lacks ventilation.” 
“Well, I suppose I must pull it down.” 
“ Not so. I dqre say I can find a substitute. Let us look 
round the premises. Here, what is this house? ” 
“ Oh, an old wood-house.” 
“ Well, this will do well.” 
“ I should be ashamed to show it to a friend.” 
