THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
Sa Ane me rabies Saag semen 
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The Orpington in America. 
The progress of the Orpington in 
America is seen in some statistics pub- 
lished in the ‘Reliable Poultry Journal.’ 
In 1901, it is stated, there were 37 Orping- 
tons exhibited, at. Maddison Square 
Garden Show, whils last year there were 
496, made up of 223 Buffs, 144 Blacks 
and 70 Whites, the remainder being other 
varieties, The same pape> points out 
that even the old school market men are 
beginning to tell us that ‘one of the 
prettiest carcases that goes on the table 
is that of this new English. breed, the 
Orpington.’ The American public it 
coming to realise that a white skin may 
cover meat that is just as tender, just as 
juicy, and just as fine in flavour as that 
covered by a ‘yellow skin. When we 
come to the real test of general popularity, 
every breed or variety must stand or fall 
upon. its valuation as a market or table 
fowl. Cncea breed or variety wins public 
favor as commercial fowl, it will soon 
come to the front as an exhibition fowl. Its 
popularity will cause more breeders to 
make it up, and then competition will 
become stronger, which leads to the show- 
room, and results in larger and still 
larger exhibitions, 
A Useful Recipe. 
Tincture of iodine is very beneficial if 
painted on the inflamed or swollen joints 
of limbs of fowls. It is quite harmless, 
and should be applied daily, by means of 
acamel hair brush. It is also useful in 
sluggish wounds or ringworms. For 
internal purposes, the soluble salt of 
iodine-potassium iodide is generally used, 
It may begivenin the drinking water in 
the proportion of one grain to the ounce 
of water. Glycerine of iodide is made by 
using one part of iodine to fifty parts of 
g'ycerine. The advantage that this has 
over the tincture is that it does not harden 
the skin. It may be used for similar 
purposes to that mentioned for the ordi- 
nary jodine. 
Indian Runner Ducks. 
Breeders of Indian Runner ducks will 
be interested in the following criticism of 
the classes at the International show 
(London) in the ‘Feathered World’;— 
‘Many of the birds are still a good way 
from the standard, and there is room for 
a good deal of improvement in form and 
carriage. Tho position of the legs requires 
March, 1910 
attention ; in very fewspoci mens are they 
far enough back, and conseqently the birds. 
do not assume the characteristic erect 
attitude which is desired unless they are 
startled or touched up. Most of the birds. 
are more or less defective about the neck 
and shoulders. There is too much avgle 
atthe junction of the neck and body 
causing a hollowness behind the neck and 
also. throwing the wings out of place. 
Until this defect is remedied, and both 
the body and neck carried more in a 
line, the standard type cannot be attained 
The heads and bills are quite long enough, 
and the aim should beto improve the- 
shape and formation, and atthe same 
time get a deep olive-green colour, espec- 
ially in adult ducks. Both sexes young 
and old, are getting too yellow in bills. 
The drakes are fairly good in color right 
through, and the two first prize dueks 
stood out well ahead for color, and were: 
warm, sunny fawns, quite clear of the dark 
dusky shade often sees. There were very 
few birds seriously defective in markings. 
Poultry Brevities. 
Show! 
Visit the shows. 
Watch for red mites. 
Green feed is salvation. 
Strive for autumn eggs. 
Push the pullets forward, 
Work is better than worry. 
Cull heavily, but carefully. 
Treat your fowls as friends. 
Lousy hens will not thrive. 
Success 1s not for the fickle. 
Keep the youngsters growing, 
Have you tried the dry mash. 
Don’t let rats eat your profits. 
Aim for stayers —not sprinters. 
Introduce first blood this season, 
Burn all carcases of diseased birds. 
To err is human—to criticise more 89 
Time to get ready for hatching table 
stock. 
Why not make astart with purebreds 
right now ? 
Shortness of the leg may mean vigor 
and staying power, or it may be simply 
under-size, and lack of developmen. 
