FANCIERS’ 

JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
243 

and looked with extreme satisfaction on the numerous med- 
als and cups which they brought him at the close of the sea- 
son; but sighed withal like Alexander, because there were 
no more worlds to conquer. With such an one you see at 
once that you will not be thanked for adverse criticisms, 
and if you do, you are told that Mr. (naming high 
authority), said they were splendid, and worth more than 
the cost. So they are, no doubt, but then for what do we 
buy fowls, to breed, or to exhibit? For both you say, but 
it is rarely ever you can have both, and I think it is better 
to breed your fowls, after you are fairly started, than to buy 
them ‘ready made.’”? Now, the main objection I had to 
all the above runs was, that they were not mated for breed- 
ing. The result was worse even than I anticipated, for on 
visiting the same yard in the fall, the produce of one run, 
almost to a chick, was vulture-hocked; another had scarcely 
any leg feathering ; were mottle-breasted, where they ought 
to have been black; and the spangled birds were marked 
like Sebright Bantams. Now, the sellers of the above birds 
were not to blame altogether. They sold exhibition fowls, 
and if they had them in their own yard, could probably 
mate them to advantage; but, as it takes ‘‘ three genera- 
tions to grow an avenue of oaks,” so I think it takes three 
seasons to know something of the points, and how to breed 
one variety of fowls, let alone six different kinds. One 
thing is always sure, and tells no tales, and that is the pro- 
geny. Comment is unnecessary. I have no doubt we would 
be surprised, if we could get an accurate description of the 
progenitors of some famous fowls. Many of us have birds 
which nobody wants to buy, and, at the same time, we are 
not eager to part with; and why? because they have been 
tried, and have given great satisfaction. The grand thing 
s, to study each bird, balance point with point, note down 
results; if we fail with one pen, another may succeed ; but 
one thing is certain, nature will not leave us long in the 
dark, and sooner or later the progeny will tell. 
Gexo. CO, ATHOLE. 


(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
‘WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ROUP.” 
I am well aware that roup is frequently the result of ex- 
posing fowls to cold winds, and dampness, yet cannot fully 
agree with Mr. Lamb’s article in No. 9. It was very for- 
tunate for him that his fowls were not of the tender or deli- 
cate kind, or they would not have been so easily cured. The 
various causes of roup are well known to most experienced 
breeders, yet, as the wide circulation of the Journal will 
bring his article before many who are unacquainted with 
this terrible pest (long may they remain in blissful ignor- 
ance on that point), I wish to give them the benefit of my 
experience’ In my opinion, most. cases of roup are the 
effect of contagion, disseminated through the flock by one 
or more affected fowls. Seven years ago I became thor- 
oughly acquainted with it. I had a choice lot of fowls ina 
large room, which was kept dry and clean, with no chance 
for cold wind to reach them; a south door was opened dur- 
ing fine weather to give them sunshine, which is very de- 
sirable to promote animal health and vigor. My first 
‘(chicken fever’? was then fast developing, and 1 must 
admit, that, although I have tried many remedies, the dis- 
ense still has as firm a hold on me asever. But my chick- 
ens, I doted on them, and enjoyed their society till I 
discovered something was the matter with them. The 

noise attendant upon their hard breathing, and their fre- 
quent chorus of ‘the youk,’’ were doleful sounds to me. 
Although I had neighbors who delighted in my misfortune, 
and told me that my fancy fowls would always be sick, while 
their common ones would not. I have often smiled since, 
when interrogated by the same persons with ‘What shall I 
do for my fowls? they have got the pip.” An investiga- 
tion disclosed the fact that they had the raup, the effects of 
roosting over pig-stys or other filthy apartments. Time 
and perseverance, however, conquered the disease. In my 
first experience with roup overcrowding was the sole cause. 
To the inexperienced let me say, keep your coops clean 
and dry; do not expose your fowls to cold winds and 
dampness, and be especially careful not to overcrowd them. 
Coal ashes, dry earth, or any deodorizing substance fre- 
quently strewn over the droppings will be sufficient, with- 
out often removing them. If you discover a fowl whose 
breathing is attended with labor, and the throat distends at 
every breath, remove it at once, and apply some remedy, 
many of which are given in all poultry books and journals. 
Roup is easily cured in the first stages; I have often cured 
it by one application of kerosene oil to the head and throat, 
after giving one teaspoonful internally. Always give a dis- 
eased fowl all the sunshine you can. Roup is often accom- 
panied by canker in the mouth and throat. In cases of 
canker I remove the white substance and apply pulverized 
alum with perfect success. I had a case not long since, 
where the tongue, mouth, and throat, were completely coated 
thick with canker, and a frothy substance issued from the 
mouth. Such cases I had always before considered incura- 
ble, and, had not the bird been a valuable one, I should 
have used my old and sure remedy, the hatchet. In five 
days, however, he was entirely cured, the only remedy 
being a daily application of pulverized alum. I hope to 
hear from others on this point. J. Y. BICKNELL. 

——— ee 
HEAD OF DOMINIQUE COCK. 
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| fs a ih ie a 
Ma Oi 
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Drawn from life by T. P. Chandler, from the bird which 
took first premium at the last show of the Pennsylvania 
Poultry Society, held in this city. It was exhibited by 
Thomas Mayne, who took first, second, and third premiums. 
