September 23, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
751 
size. Closely allied to the Fekins are the 
Brahma Bantams, which, like Brahma fowls, 
-are divided into two families, and known as 
lights and darks. They are not very 
popular, and there are few breeders of them. 
Booted Bantams are somewhat like the 
Pekins except that they are not so profusely 
feathered and are longer in the leg. In 
colour we have white and black as the best 
known, the spangled and reds being seldom 
met with. It is a very old breed, but cannot 
be called a popular one. 
Prom Far Japan. 
Just now all things Japanese are fashion¬ 
able, but Japanese Bantams are old 
favourites with English breeders, and many 
of them are scattered throughout the 
country. Japanese Bantams are very short 
in leg, and look exceedingly comical, their 
little^ bodies almost touching the ground. 
In colour there are black, white, buff, black- 
red, cuckoo, grey, and brown. In shape the 
cock and lien are very similar, the comb is 
single and the legs are yellow. Closely allied to 
the Japanese are the Frizzles, which also come 
from Japan, and are to be found in the same 
colours. They are not, however, so dumpy 
in shape or squatty in carriage. They 
possess the strange peculiarity of their 
feathers all turning up towards the head 
instead of being fiat and close like those of 
other birds. 
The Poles. 
The Polish Bantams are very highly 
esteemed and largely bred by those who like 
to possess something quaint and unique. 
There are blacks, whites, buffs, cuckoos, 
blues, white-crested blacks, and white- 
crested blues. The great drawback to the 
popularity of the Polish Bantam is that its 
crest often leads to its being troubled with 
colds and roup owing to coming in contact 
with the water. 
Other Breeds. 
Other breeds of Bantams are the Nankins, 
now seldom seen, the Plymouth Bocks, the 
Scots Greys, the Minorcas, the Andalusians, 
the Leghorns, the Bumpless, the Sultan, the 
Silkie, the Burmese, but none of them is 
very common, and need not be particularised 
for the readers of The Gardexixg World. I 
have now' roughly sketched the different 
breeds, and in my next will have something 
to say about how Bantams should be bred, 
reared, and managed. 
Answers to Correspondents. 
Cat with Diarrhcea (Topsy).—Place ?, 
pinch of bismuth on the tongue four times 
a day. Boil all milk before giving it to your 
pet. 
Hexs xot Latixg (Brown Leghorn).—Your 
birds are doubtless dropping into moult, and 
therefore will not lay for some time. Feed 
well with middlings made into a hot mass 
and mixed with table scraps every morning, 
and use a little of Spratt’s poultry spice. 
At night feed on wheat. 
-*- 
Hop-heads for the Table. —In view of 
statements regarding the value of Bracken as 
an article of diet. Kentish' farmers are dis¬ 
cussing the possibilities of obtaining a market 
for another substitute for Asparagus, namely, 
the heads of growing Hopbine. Hop-heads 
are said to make a delicious dish. 
OBITUARY. 
Mil. David Prixule Laird. 
Much consternation was caused about Edin¬ 
burgh and district when it became known that 
the body of the late Mr. D. P. Laird was 
found in Loch Awe on Saturday, the 9th inst. 
Mr. I). P. Laird was the senior partner of 
the firm of Messrs. IT. B. Laird and Sons, 
nurserymen, Edinburgh. He had been on 
business in the west of Scotland, and 
travelled from Oban to Loch Awe on the 
1st inst.,'and arriving there in the afternoon, 
engaged a room in the hotel. When the even¬ 
ing train from the south passed he went to 
'the station to get a newspaper, and met one of 
his customers from across Loch Awe, and saw 
him off at the pier, shouting.as the launch was 
leaving to be sure and come to the Edinburgh 
flower show. That was the last time Mr. 
Laird was seen alive. The next morning he 
was missed, his room at the hotel not having 
been occupied, and on trawling operations 
The late Mr. D. P. Laird, of Edixbttrgh. 
being undertaken, the body was found in the 
water opposite the hotel. In the deceased’s 
left hand was a box of matches, and in his 
right he held his gold watch, which had 
stopped at 11.18. 
The deceased gentleman, who was fifty-two 
years of age, was one of the most prominent 
figures in the Scottish horticultural world. 
A native of Edinburgh, he was at the time of 
his death head of the firm established by 
his father, who died some years ago. In 
arboricultural, as well as agricultural affairs, 
he took a keen interest. He was a vice-pre¬ 
sident of the Royal Scottish Arboricultural 
Society, president of the Scottish Horticul¬ 
tural Association, and a vice-president and 
councillor of the Royal Caledonian Horticul¬ 
tural Society. In the affairs of the latter 
body he was one of the leading spirits, and 
greatly assisted the management by the beau- 
tilful displays which his firm from time to time 
made at the shows. He was greatly missed 
at the International Exhibition, held in the 
Scottish capital last week, and as an im¬ 
portant exhibitor, his loss will be sorely felt. 
Mr. Laird’s business brought him into close 
touch with Scottish and English growers and 
arboriculturists, and his happy disposition, 
his ready assistance in every good cause, and 
his sterling qualities as a business man com¬ 
manded for him a large measure of popularity 
and respect. 
Air. Laird is survived by a widow and a son 
and daughter. 
Supplementary Replies 
BY OUR READERS 
To Answers in the “ G. W." En juire Within 
Cactaceous Plants. 
Perhaps “ G. H. K.” would care to know the 
“ Cacti and Succulents ” catalogue and descrip¬ 
tive list, price 7d., issued by Mr. W. C. G. Lud- 
ford, F.R.H.S., Fern Lea, Four Oaks, Sutton 
Coldfield, near Birmingham. It is a most 
interesting pamphlet, and if still obtainable 
quite worth having. It contains many hints 
and illustrations of great use. Interesting and 
instructive articles appear from time to time in 
the annual issued by the Agricultural and 
Horticultural Association, called “ One and All 
Gardening,” all back numbers being still obtain¬ 
able and quite worth the modest twopence per 
volume that is charged. Having a small collec¬ 
tion of Cacti, etc., I speak from the experience 
I have had of the use of these works, and for 
the price I consider them invaluable. 
D.Y.E. 
Grass Seeds for Lawns. 
In reply to your correspondent “John 
Berry,” page 719 of the “G. W.” I should not 
seed down my lawn at the present, if I were him. 
Some are in favour of autumn sowing, but from 
my own practical experience I prefer spring 
sowing. But in the meantime, that is to say 
during the next two months, a lot could be 
done towards getting the ground level. If the 
soil is poor, I should dig in a good coat of 
rotten manure, leaving the surface rather 
rough for the winter. Then about the first 
week in March I should think of sowing my 
seeds, choosing a nice quiet day. Get good 
seed and sow not less than four bushels to the 
aci'e, avoid thin sowing, and the thicker the 
better, to get a good lawn quickly. Before 
sowing get ground just right with the rake. 
Sow the seeds evenly, rake in with a wooden 
hay rake so that you can see the seeds out of 
sight, and roll well. After about six weeks it 
will be ready for cutting ; do this with a good 
sharp scythe for a time or two, and afterwards 
with a good machine. If “ John Berry ” 
follows these instructions he will have a good 
lawn next summer. W. Moore, 
Bavenswood, Hale, Farnham. 
Large-flowered Single Roses. 
“ F. Wilson ” should include in a collection of 
single flowered Boses Rosa bracteata. The 
Macartney Rose, with beautiful large white 
flowers and lovely cluster of golden stamens, is 
a bit tender, but when well established is a 
belutiful subject. Another gem (almost the 
same treatment would suit) is B. berberifolia 
Hardii, having large yellow petals with a deep 
crimson spot at the base of each. Slightly 
protect during first two months, and do not 
plant in an aspect too much exposed to cold 
winds during the late spring. More beautiful 
subjects for a cold and well ventilated green¬ 
house could not be found. Many of the hybrid 
Briers are very fair size, and most good growers 
keep the best in stock, aud a list nearly always 
obtainable for the asking from one of the many 
Bose specialists. The Penzance section are 
too well-known now to need specifying. Bosa 
