172 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, June 12, 1860. 
6ary amateurs of sucli things should exist: they inculcate taste; 
they help to advanco civilisation; they aro the missionaries of 
refinement. Many important discoveries are clue to them, and 
the knowledge of our day, the sciences of which wo aro so proud, 
are merely the results of the combined and concentrated know¬ 
ledge of men who have been deemed, if not maniacs, at least 
enthusiasts in their clay. Except in pursuit of trade, we think 
the popular estimate of the Dutch character is one from which 
anything like enthusiasm is excluded; yet these solid business 
men are maniacs in tulips. It is, then, part of every man’s 
nature to have a hobby ; and, in most instances, he is doing well 
and rightly when ho follows it, provided ho do so reasonably. 
With the hobby, however, there comes the desire to excel, and 
excellence can only be proved or settled by competition and by 
the judgment of acknowledged authorities. 
This is no longer confined to individuals or to private life. The 
Great Exhibition of 1851, and the numerous meetings of a 
similar character that we have had since, aro all competitions; 
and not only the gigantic and almost omnipotent steam-engine, 
but the wooden shaving covered with blue paper which holds tho 
farthing’s worth of lucifer matches, has effigies ol medals and 
crowned heads indicative of the triumphs achieved at the peace¬ 
ful tournaments. No mau would accept the best or most valu¬ 
able thing of any kind if the gift were shackled with the condition 
that it should be hidden from public gaze. The men who were 
sailing their little cutters and schooners were enjoying their 
regatta themselves; and friends watched the craft as they toiled 
against, the waves—they were competing. The flowers grown on 
the top of the house in London would have possessed no charm 
unless they had been shown ; and the Hollander would hardly care 
for his tulips if he could not compare them with his neighbours. 
If, then, they had no real utility, the love of competition would 
always insure duration and stability to Poultry Shows. But 
they have utility. We are in a position to assert, that so far as 
we can judge, there never was a time when poultry excited so 
much real interest as it docs at present. It is followed us a 
hobby and as a business pursuit. From what we have learned, 
we believe in many-counties it is receiving that support, at the 
hands of those engaged in agriculture, which it always deserved, 
but which has been but tardily granted. Shows are increasing in 
numbers ; and those who from habit and position are enabled to 
judge, declare their conviction, that through their instrumentality 
a remarkable improvement has taken place in the size and quality 
of poultry now taken to the country markets. Gentlemen are 
also coming forward with special prizes ; and at the Summer 
Exhibition of the Crystal Palace, Mr. Kerr, of Worcester, has 
intimated his intention of giving a handsome china vase for the 
best pen of White Dorkings. If it be like that gained by the 
Hon. W. W. Vernon, at Worcester, in October last, it will, 
indeed, be a work o£ art; and we trust this public announcement 
will stimulate amateurs of this breed, so that the competition 
shall be a worthy one, both in quality and entries. The Show 
takes place on the 25tli, 27th, 28th, and 29th August. 
MALT-DUST AS POULTRY POOD-CATARRHS. 
I shall be much obliged by your informing me what your 
opinion is as to malt-dust as food for fowls, of course mixed with 
toppings, or oatmeal, or some other meal; and whether it is best 
soaked in water which has been poured on it boiling. This is how 
I manage it: I put about enough to last a week in an earthen jar 
with a lid, and pour boiling water in sufficient to cover it. In a 
few hours this is all absorbed, when I add moro till it is moist 
enough to mix with other food without any more water being 
required. It makes my kitchen smell like a brewery for a time, 
and I have not found it turn sour or bad in any way. Eowls 
will not eat it alone, but are fond of it mixed with ground oats. 
My Spanish chickens appear to thrive on it.—A. H. 
[We have never tried malt-dust in the way you mention ; but 
we have fed hens with malt, and found them extremely fond 
of it. The result was very high condition ; but after a few days 
the flavour had so entered into the system of the fowls, that the 
eggs tasted strongly of it. We consider it good food, but too 
stimulating. It would, we think, be proper feeding for the hen 
you mention. Too much pains cannot be taken in watching the 
first appearance of roup, and a neglected cold will unquestionably 
end in that disorder, as it will in consumption in the human 
being; but when the weather is as changeable as it has been of 
late, colds will be common, A stimulant will in most cases work 
a cure. The best we know of is stale bread soaked in st rong beer. 
As a rule, we should consider malt-dust too stimulating for food ; 
but in very damp or cold weather, or when fowls are flagging, we 
should think it valuable.] 
THE CANARY AND THE BRITISH FINCHES. 
(Continued from page 122.) 
Vaeiety 4th.—T he Lizahd. 
The Lizard Canary, so named from a fancied resemblance of 
its green plumage, spotted with yellow, to the colour of a lizard, 
is one of the oldest-established varieties of the domesticated 
Canary, and is held in high estimation by Canary fanciers 
generally. 
They are stout, short, rather thick-set buds. In plumage, the 
top of the head in a line from the corners of the mouth, across 
the eyes, and evenly round the back of the head, must be clear 
yellow or mealy, and this is designated the cap. The rest of the 
plumage is green or grey, t he feathers on the back, the wing- 
feathers, and the larger wing-coverts, as also the tail-feathers and 
tho upper tail-covert feathers should have a spot of yellow, or 
mealy, at the extremity, which spots are called spangles. 
The Lizard Canaries are divided by fanciers into three sub- 
varieties— viz., Goldcu-spangled, Silver-spangled, and Blue 
Lizards. 
Tho Golden-spangled has much green in the ground colour, 
the spangles and cap being a rich yellow or Jouque. The 
brighter the green, and the more golden the colour of the cap and 
spangles, the more they are prized, provided they are evenly and 
regularly marked. 
The Silver-spangled have a more sober colouring. The ground 
colour is grey, approaching that of the wild birds, and the cap 
and spangles are mealy or white. Where the ground colour is 
much grizzled with mealy, so as to present a general bluisb-grey 
cast, they are named Blue Lizards. These three sub-varieties are, 
however, merely variations of the same breed, and not distinct 
sorts. 
Mr. P. Warren gives the following twelve fancy points of the 
breed: — 
“ 1st. Head. Large, wide, and flattisli, the crown being as 
wide in front as behind. 
