646 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 12. 1905. 
are models of order, carefully compiled to 
assist the amateur and to remind tlie gar¬ 
dener on those points which aid selection 
either for a few beds or a grand terrace 
garden. Those who have had comparatively 
little experience with bulbs will probably 
lind one or more of the admirably selected 
collections suit the requirements of home 
and garden. 
It is one of the special merits of bulbous 
flowers that although they are worthy of 
conspicuous positions in conservatories, halls, 
and drawing-rooms, they are equally suc¬ 
cessful in small town gardens and on the 
lead flats of houses in populous centres. 
Even in the windows of cottages their beauty 
often challenges the attention of passengers 
in the streets. 
Such superb flowers as Begonias, Cycla¬ 
mens, Gloxinias, and a few other subjects do 
not belong to the category of Dutch bulbs. 
They are among the specialities for which 
Messrs. Sutton have won a high reputation. 
Those who have seen their matchless strains 
in the extensive range of glasshouses at 
Reading, or at any of the leading horticul¬ 
tural shows where Gold Medals have been 
awarded to the firm will never forget the 
magnificence of these exhibits. 
Nearly every page of Sutton’s Bulb Annual 
is illustrated with reproductions from photo¬ 
graphs, many of them suggesting modes of 
treatment that will be valuable to lovers of 
horticulture. The work can be obtained from 
the publishers, Messrs. Sutton and Sons, 
Reading, and those who secure a copy will 
find it full of interesting information, con¬ 
veyed in language free from the technicalities 
which often perplex the amateur. 
-♦-■ 
Early Bred Pullets. 
Just now early bred pullets of some of the 
quickly maturing laying breeds, such as Leg¬ 
horns and Minorcas, will be commencing to lay, 
and should be given plenty of room. Overcrowd¬ 
ing and keeping too long on one piece of ground 
are great hindrances to early laying. The 
great value of pullets which are bred early in 
the season is that they come into laying form 
at the time when the old hens drop into the 
moult and cease filling the egg basket. In 
some districts, such as those near seaside 
resorts, eggs are now in greater demand than 
at any time of the year, and the cottager who 
can supply them during the months of August 
and September will find that the extra care 
and attention lavished upon his early bred 
chickens is more than repaid. 
I am no believer in forcing stock, but there 
are times when to meet the exigencies of 
one’s particular circumstances one has to force. 
Poultry keepers residing near fashionable 
resorts, either seaside or inland, should make 
a practice of breeding very early chickens; 
push them along for all they are worth during 
the early summer months by feeding them very 
liberally upon plenty of soft food containing a 
large quantity of meat. There are several good 
brands of meat foods for poultry on the market, 
such as Spratt’s “ Crissel ” and Brand’s “ Meat 
Meal,” whilst a most excellent food for promot¬ 
ing early development is “ Liverine,” this is a 
fish meal, prepared from the bones and flesh of 
fish. I do not favour its use, however, once 
the birds have commenced to lay, because it is 
apt to flavour the eggs ; but for puslrng young 
stock along, making them grow, .and causing 
them to feather easily and quickly, I know 
nothing better. 
When the pullets are laying there is nothing 
superior for the first meal of the day than a 
warm feed of Spratt’s “ Poultry Meal'” with a 
handful of “ Crissel ” mixed with it. If the 
birds are on a grass run they will not require 
anything else till night, when they should be 
given a feed of corn, this should be varied, oats 
being given one night and wheat the next. 
Where the birds have a free and extensive 
range Maize may be given in place of the wheat, 
but in confined runs Indian Corn is too heating 
and fattening, especially in the South of 
England. Birds in confinement should be 
given a mid-day mSal of fresh green vegetable 
matter of some kind. Just now there is no 
lack of garden refuse, and it should be given to 
the fowls liberally. During the warm weather 
great attention must be paid to the drinking 
water, which should be renewed at least twice 
a day, and the drinking vessels should be kept 
scrupulously clean. They should be well 
rinsed out every time fresh water is given, and 
at least once a week should be scalded out with 
boiling water and soda. 
As they drop into moult all hens which are 
entering their second moult should be killed. 
It does not pay to keep hens after the second 
moult. During her first laying season a hen 
lays more eggs than at any other period of her 
life ; in her second season she will not lay so 
many eggs, but they will be larger, and thus 
what is lost in numbers is compensated for in 
increased size. This fact must never be lost 
sight of, that the longer a hen lives her egg 
producing capacity decreases year by year. 
Thus although the second season is less than 
the first in number the difference is not 
sufficient to warrant us in only using pullets 
for layers, because the increased size and 
weight compensates for the smaller number. 
This, in fact, is the best argument which can 
be used as to selling eggs by weight instead of 
number. 
If the hens are killed off now as they drop 
into moult more room will be given to the 
young growing pullets, and the cost of feeding 
the old liens all through their unproductive 
months will be avoided, whilst there is no 
gainsaying the fact that a well cooked fowl is 
much better eating than butcher’s meat at this 
time of the year. 
--b 
OUR PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
SPECIAL COMPETITION 
For Members of Local 
Horticultural Societies. 
Prizes. — (1) Three guineas. 
(2) One guinea. 
(3) Ten shillings and sixpence. 
Open only to members of local Horticultural 
Societies. 
The above prizes are offered for the best article 
or essay on the following subject:— 
“ How to extend the membership 
and usefulness of local Horticultural 
Societies.” 
The length of the essay should be about 1,000 
words, and it must be sent in before the end 
of August next. Mark envelopes in left-hand 
corner with the words “Society Competition.” 
(Ufie d>o£our ®ure. 
M. U. de Parville, in the Journal des Debats, says that 
the moral and physical influence of colours has been studied 
in Europe only during the last twenty years. The system is 
employed in Continental asylums. Persons of defective 
energy are enclosed in a red room, red, as is well known, 
having a great exciting effect. Those of a violent frame of 
mind are shut up in a yellow cell, yellow being a calmative 
colour, which induces, at last, a feeling of melancholy and 
sadness. Blue and green are also hues that provoke feelings 
of a pacific sort. 
It has recently been proved in asylums Con¬ 
tinental, 
That some colours take effect in a way that’s 
detrimental, 
And M. H. de Parville in a Paris paper 
says, 
That the French physicians prove it in a 
hundred curious ways. 
For instance, if some patient loves to linger 
long in bed, 
This shows defective energy—the surest cure is 
red; 
Then if these French physicians treat a mad 
and furious fellow, 
They find the way to cure him is to calm him 
down with yellow. 
Then blue and green are gentle, and produce a 
peaceful feeling, 
While violet rays in various ways are used for 
cancer-healing. 
In future one will furnish—’tis Science’s pre¬ 
diction— 
One’s rooms in colours chosen per a medical 
prescription. 
The flowers within our gardens, as you can 
thus suppose, 
According to their colours must bring us joys 
or woes ; 
For if we’ve patches brilliant with bright and 
radiant red, 
Our tempers turn too touchy, and one might 
go off his head. 
For, oh, there is more madness in the redness 
of the rose, 
More passion, more perverseness than in any 
flower that grows ; 
To exorcise this fierceness, to make one’s 
manners mellow, 
Avoid these ruddy roses, and grow them always 
yellow. 
The peacefulness of pansies, of yellows mixed 
with blue, 
By contemplation calmly imparts itself to 
you; 
And a sort of gentle sadness emanating from 
such hues, 
Quietly steals across your spirit till you feel 
you’ve got the blues. 
W. F. DE B. M. 
To Keep the People on the Land. —“ Such 
teaching,” continues the “Echo” contributor. 
“ might not only be interesting, but profitable. 
For fifty years I have striven to bring this 
matter before the public, though without 
much avail. Had the labourer been taught 
when, years ago, at school what the land 
might produce under proper cultivation, lit 
would have stayed on it. But the land laws 
and landlords, and to a great extent the 
farmers, have all been against this ; whilst 
the tendency of the education provided ir 
rural schools is to give him a distaste fob 
work in the land and drive him into the 
already crowded town.” These are wise words 
and deserving of serious attention. 
