8 ; THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
June 1, 1907 
1322 GAWLER PLACE. 
Neuowsed fo: hix Watches Jewellery. and Repairs. _ 
ADELAIDE 
fifth toe is a distinctive feature of the 
Dorking, which but few other breeds 
have. Its utility has been sometimes 
questioned, on the ground that it is 
associated with an ailment- known as 
bumble-foot. but probably this ailment 
has its origin in the weight of the birds, 
and the consequent heaviness of their 
alighting on the ground from a high 
roost, than in the fact of their having an 
extra toe. ; 2 ; 
The general shape of the Doaking may 
~ be described as rectangular, the rectangle 
being oblong, the back and the keel of 
the breast forming the long sides of the © 
rectangle. Width of breast is an impor- 
tant point. The carriage of the bird is 
almost level, the shoulders only being 
higher than the tail, The legs are of 
medium length. 
The color of the colored Dorking is not 
of primary importance, so long as the 
birds fairly approximate to the true 
colors. The comb in this variety, as 
well as in the silvers, is single and fairly 
large, and should be eveniy serrated. The 
comb of the cock is upright, that of the 
hen is drooping. : 
The purity of the white color in the 
silver-grey cock, and the density of color 
and freedom from white of the black 
portions are important points. The hen 
is grey in body, with a salmon breast and 
silvery hackle, striped with black. 
The white and cuckoo varieties are rose- 
combed as a rule, though, just as in the 
case of the colored variety, an occasional 
rose comb is seen, so in the cuckoo and 
whites, a single comb is occasionally met 
with, but not approved and never bred 
from. 
The pure Dorking is undoubtedly a 
first-rate table fowl, but its laying qualities 
are not of the best. The average weight 
of the colored variety is from 11 to 12 Ibs. 
for cocks, and from 9 to 93 lbs. for heus. 
The Silver-greys were generally somewhat 
lighter, but exceptionally large birds have 
been known amongst them. A second 
prize cockerel, for example, weighed 12lbs, 
and now the silvers are very little less in 
body than the colored, but being a little 
longer in leg they do not look so massive, 
The Whites have improved greatly in 
size; they are also much sturdier in build 
than formerly, indeed two or three noted 
hens of this beautiful variety were models 
of true Dorking characteristics. This 
variety, never very common, has in recent 
years deteriorated in quality and number, 
and now it is only bred bya few of its 
old friends. Those who admire white 
fowls should bear in miid that some 
strains of Dorkings keep their pure white 
color all through the year better than any 
“other breed of white fowl; by careful 
breeding their feathers resist the tanning 
influence of the sun almost as well as the 
- feathers of a white Fantail pigeon, 
The Dorking is on the average an in- 
different layer. The calor of the eggs is 
white or very light shade of yellow. They 
are good sitters, and respond readily to 
artificial fattening. Dorkings do not 
thrive their best on damp cold runs. 
Feather Eating. 
This habit is most frequently to be 
found amongst birds confined in small 
runs without any occupation. It may be 
brought about by the fowls being infested 
with insects, and so the first care should 
be directed to freeing them by dusting 
the birds every other day with some 
insect powder or flowers of sulphur. 
Shortness of animal food may also induce 
the habit, which can be remedied by a 
regular supply of flesh It is extremely 
difficult to cure, unless the birds can be 
given their liberty, and it is best, if there 
are only one or two feather eaters in the 
yard, to get rid of them befoae they 
corrnpt the rest, rather than attempt to 
cure them. A little flowers of sulphur 
given in the soft food, say a dessertspoon- 
ful to a dozen birds, twice a week, fre- 
quently has a very beneficial effect. It is 
well also to give the birds occupation, by 
throwing a barrow of horse manure into 
their run, if such be available, or by scat- 
tering their grain amongst a bundle of 
straw, or amongst a heap of clean sand, 
so that they may find occupation in 
scraping it out. Tying their green feed 
in sueh a position that they have to jump 
a little from the ground in order to reach 
it is also advantageous. We have known 
cases in which the habit has been checked 
by applying some very disagreeable drug, 
such es bitter aloas, to the feathers of the 
victims, anda small gag fastened in the 
mouth, by tying it behind the comb, has 
also been used with good effect in the 
case of valuable birds which persisted in 
this habit. 
Hatching and Rearing Ducks, 
A large, quiet hen, with very few, if 
any, feathers on her legs, may be trusted 
with nine to eleven duck eggs. The period 
of incubation is 28 days, Make the nest 
on the ground, with a foundation of earth, 
and a bed of hay next the eggs. As 
moisture is very helpful to a successful 
hatch, sprinkle once a week with warm 
water—not the eggs, but round the nest 
and the nest itself while the hen is on 
the eggs. 
The eggs may also be hatched in any 
good incubator if the operator be mlndful 
that they require more moisture than hen 
eggs. Ducklings often chip the eggs some 
hours before they hatch out; do not inter- 
fere more than is absolutely necessary. 
Leave the ducklings under the hen for at 
least twelve hours; if twice as long, no 
harm will be done. Before placing the 
hen in the coop give her a good feed and 
drink, The ehopped-up egg and bread 
recommended for newly-hatched chickens 
is equally good for ducklings: a little 
every two hours may be fed for the first 
two days, every particle not eaten should 
be carefully cleaned up. Water should 
be given from the first in a shallow pan 
with some sand or gravel in it. The duck 
lings once started grow very fast and can 
be treated like chickens : a little chopped- 
up meat or suet mixed with the soft food. 
or mixing the flour with strong meat, 
broth, or milk is very helpful to sheir 
“Sowth. After a fortnight they will 
Manage without a mother, then there will 
be little difficulty in rearing them, pro- 
vided they are never overcrowded, that 
their coop is clean and well ventilated, 
and that they always have a clean bed ol 
straw to sleep upon. 
RR ence atcha i an 
Answers to Correspondents. 
“ Howl Cholora,’—Tho zase you men 
tion is decidedly cholera. The same ques- 
tion has just been asked in the * Australian 
Hen,’ and they assert that thére is no 
cure, while we say there is, and would 
refer you to page 5 of our Aptil numbe 
as the article is too long to repoat. 
“K.M.,” Kapunda.—The best means 
to get rid of tick in fowls is to make an 
ointment of 40z beef suet rendered do yn 
and loz. kerosene. Rub well into the 
feathers and under the wings. Paint the 
perches and all woodwork with kerosene 
until tick are exterminated. 
