maged pen of Whistling Ducks, sent by Mr. Yardley, took first in the Variety Duck class; and the Selling classes were replete with good birds at low prices, many of which soon changed

owners.

The divisions appropriated to the Pigeons and the Rabbits were equally meritoriously supplied with first-rate specimens, and did not lack admirers.

Although the weather proved very variable (changing from snow to sunshine, ofttimes in even the space of a few minutes), there was not any lack of company during the time the Show was open to the public.

PIGEONS.

THE entries at this Show were not so numerous as we expected, there being only 125 pens. This to a great extent is to be accounted for by our being at the commencement of the breeding season, still the majority of the birds were good, and we can safely say quality made up for quantity.

Pouters had a class assigned for each sex. In the cock class a good Black was first, Blue second, White and Yellows being the representatives in the hen class. Carriers also had two classes. A good Black was first; this bird also won the cup as the best bird in the first six classes of Pigeons. A Dun was second. In the hen class both the winners were Blacks of good quality. Barbs were a good class of nine pens; Black first, Yellow second, which was immediately claimed at £6. Tumblers (any variety), consisted of Almonds, Mottles, and Agates, the former taking both prizes, and good birds they were. In the Owl class, both foreign and English competed together. Blue foreign first, and Silver English second. Turbits contained three pens only; all were Reds. Jacobins were a nice lot; a very good Red was first, and also obtained for its owner the cup for the best bird in this and the six following classes. Yellow was second, a good hood and frill bird, though large and coarse. Dragoons were by far the strongest class in the Show. Good Blues were first and second; Yellow and Silver highly commended. Some exhibitors in this class seem to think length of bill is the only quality a Dragoon should possess. Antwerps were not of the quality we expected to find them, excepting the prize birds, which were Silver Dun and Blue respectively, and singular to say none of the crack Birmingham breeders exhibited. Fantails were a very good lot; White and Blue took the honours between them. Nuns were a mixed lot; all of them had the scissors freely applied to them.

In the Any variety class, Black Mottle Trumpeter (new type), first, Blondinette second and third. In the Selling class for Pouters or Carriers were some really good and cheap birds; White Pouters first and third, Black Carriers second. Sellingclass pairs were not so strong as the preceding class, Silver Dragoons, Black Trumpeters, and Barbs being the winners.

The arrangements were good, with plenty of light, the birds being in two tiers along the side and end of the Hall. Turner's pens were used, they were all well sanded down, and Carriers fed out of pans. We hope the Show was a success, then, doubtless, the date of the next Walsall Show will be altered so as not to fall at the start of the breeding season, as this appears to be the only fault the Committee have made. They are the most hard-working and energetic men we have met with for a long time.

DORKING.-Cock.-1, T. C. Burnell, Micheldever. 2, J. Watts, King's Heath, Birmingham. 8, A. Darby, Bridgnorth. Hen.-Cup, H. Lingwood, Needham Market. 2, J. Watts. 8. E. W. Southwood, Fakenham.

COCHIN-CHINA.-Cinnamon or Buff-Cock.-Cup. 3. R. Harris, St. Day. 2, W. Bayliss, Walsall. 3. T. H. Reaaman. c, H. Lingwood. Hen.-1, H. Tom linson, Birmingham. 2, W. Bayliss. 3, W. P. Ryland, Erdington. hc, J. Cattell, Birmingham; T. Barnett, Walsall. c, J. Bloodworth. COCHIN-CHINA-Partridge-Cock.-1, T. Aspden, Church. 2, A. Bamford, Middleton. 3, J. Stephens, Walsall. Hen.-1, J. Stephens. 2, Rev. R. L. Storey, Bedale. 8, J. W. Taylor, Ulverston. hc, J. Wood, Preston.

COCHIN-CHINA.-White.-Cock.-1 and 8, R. S. S. Woodgate. Pembury. 2 Mrs. A. Williamson, Leicester. hc, Mrs. A. Williamson; W. Whitworth, jun.' Manchester. c, J. Bloodworth. Hen. -1 and 8. R. S. S. Woodgate. 2, H, Beldon, Bingley. he, Mrs. A. Williamson; C. Bloodworth; W Whitworth, jun. BRAHMA POOTRA.-Light.-Cock.-1, T. A. Dean, Hereford. 2 and 3, Mrs. A. Williamson. he, Rev. N. J. Ridley, Newbury. Hen.-1 and 3, Mrs. A. William. Bon. 2, S. Sambrooke, Campden. hc, J. Bloodworth. c, T. A. Dean.

BRAHMA POOTRA.-Dark.-Cock.-Cup, H. Lingwood. 2 and 3, T. F. Ansdell, St. Helen's. c, J. Watts; T. F. Ansdell. Hen.-1 and 2, T. F. Ansdell. 8, E. Pritchard, Wolverhampton. hc, H. Lingwood; E. Fearon; J. Watts. c, Capt.

D. Lane.

SPANISH.-Cock.-Cup and 2, J. Boulton, Bristol. 8, J. Walker, Wolverhampton. hc, J. Pitt; T. Andrews. e, J. Walker; H. F. Cooper. Hen.-1, J. Walker, Walsall. 2, Mrs. Tonkin, Bristol. 8, T. Andrews, Wolverhampton. c, H. F. Cooper.

GAME-Black or Brown-breasted Red.-Cock.-Cup and 2. J. Fletcher. Manchester. 8. S. Matthews, Stowmarket. Hen-1, J. Fletcher. 2, H. E. Martin, Fakenham. 3, Mrs. H J. Bayley, Tenbury.

GAME.-Any other colour.-Cock.-1, S. Matthews, Stowmarket. 2 and hc, J. Andrews, Worcester. 3, E. C. Gilbert, Penkridge. Hen.-1, S. Matthews. 2, J. Forsyth (Duckwing). 8, E. Pugh.

HAMBURGHS.-Golden or Silver-spangled-Cock.-1, H. Beldon, Bingley. 2, G. & J. Duckworth. 3. T. Blakeman, Wolverhampton. Hen-1, H. Beldon. 2. J. Bates. 3, H. Feast. he, Capt. W. Coath, Walsall; W. M. Duignan,

Walsall; J. Freeman. c, T. Plant, Walsall.

HAMBURGHS-Golden or Silver-pencilled.-Cock.-Cup, G. & J. Duckworth, Church. 2, H. Beldon. 3, T. B. Smith, Bristol. he, T. H. Readman, Whitby.

Hen.-1, H. Beldon. 2 and 3, T. H. Readman. c, G. & J. Duckworth. FRENCH.-Cock.-1, Rev. N. J. Ridley, Newbury. 2, J. J. Malden, Biggles. wade. 8, H. Feast, Swansea. hc, C. H. Smith; G. W. Hibbert; Miss E. Williams, Montgomery; H. Feast; W. Dring. Hen.-1, G. W. Hibbert, Manchester. 2, J. J. Malden. 3, W. Dring. hc, G. W. Hibbert; H. Feast. ANY OTHER VARIETY.-Cock.-Cup, H. Beldon. 2, Rev. N. J. Ridley. 8, H.

Feast. he, J. Stephens. c, H. Matkery; T. H. Readman. Hen.-1, A. Darby. Bridgnorth (Black Cochins). 2. H. Be don. 3, C. Bloodworth Silver Poland) hc. S. R. Harris (Ancona). c, H. Feast; J. Freeman.

GAM BANTAMS.-Black or Brown-reasted Red-Cup, W. Adams, Ipswich. 2, A. Ashley. 3, S. Smith. c. T. W. Anns; T. Barnett; G. E. Small. Any other variety.-1, S. Smith. 2, J. Adkins, jun. 3, W. Adams, BENTAMS.-Any variety not Game.-1, H. Mason, Walsall. 2, J. Watts. 8, H. Yardley.

DUCKS.-Aylesbury.-1, T. Tomlinson, Burv. 2, Capt. V. Tongue, Aldridge. Rouen.-1, E. Kendrick, Lichfield, 2, J. Watts. 3, E. Smith, Timperley, Cheshire. Any other variety.-1, H. Yardley, Birmingham. 2, J. Waits. 3, Mrs. H. J. Bayley, Tenbury, he, Capt. W. Coath, Walsal

SELLING CLASS.-Cock.-1, W. Perrin, Nantwich. 2, D. A. Dean, Marden, Hereford. 3, S. Mills. c, J. Forsyth, Wolverhampton; J. Stephens, Walsall (2)}; H. Yardley; A. Darby, Bridgnorth; J. Cattell, Birmingham; Mrs. A. Williamson, Leicester. Hen.-1, J. Stephens. 2. J. Butterworth, Rochdale. 3, J. Bayley, Walsall. Extra 3, H. F. Cooper, Walsall. hc, J. Pitt, Wolverhampton. e, H. Yardley; J. Freeman.

ANY VARIETY OF POULTRY.-1, H. F. Cooper. 2 and he, J. Stephens. 3, J. Bates, Walsall, c, H. Yardley; J. H. Watkins.

PIGEONS.

POUTERS.-Cock.-1, H. Pratt, Lozells, Birmingham. 2, W. Nottage, Northampton. he, R. Fulton, London. c, H. Pratt; Mrs. Ladd, Calne. Hen.—1, Mrs. Ladd. 2 and he, R. Fulton. c, H. Yardley.

Walsall, Hen.-1, H. Yardley. 2 and he, R. Fulton. c. H. Beebee, Walsall
BARBS.-1, R. Fulton. 2, W. Massey, Spalding, he, H. Yardley; R. Fulton.
TUMBLERS.-1, R. Fulton. 2, H. Yardley. hc, R. Fulton; H. Yardley.
OWLS.-1, R. Fulton. 2, S. A. Cooper. hc, H. Yardley; S. A. Cooper (2). e,
W. E. Lee.

CARRIERS-Cock.-Cup and he, R. Fulton. 2, H. Yardley. e, S. A. Cooper,

TURBITS.-1. J. Watts. 2, H. Yardley. hc, R. Fulton.

JACOBINS.-Cup and 2, R. Fulton. he, R. P. Hickman, Upper Penn, Wolverhampton. c, R. J. Goodwin, Stoke-upon-Trent.

DRAGOONS.-1 and 2, H. Yardley. he, J. Watts; H. Yardley. c, D. Mitchell, Moseley.

ANTWERPS-1, H. Yardley. 2, T. Edwards, jun., Wolverhampton. hc, J. Cox, Wolverhampton.

FANTAILS.-1, J. Walker. 2 and c, H. Yardley. hc, J. Walker; J. F. Loveridge, Newark.

NUNS.-1, Rev. A. G. Brooke, Shrewsbury. 2, D. Mitchell. hc, J. Watts. c, S. A. Cooper.

ANY OTHER VARIETY.-1 and vhc, R. Fulton (Trumpeter). 2 and 3, H. Yardley. c, J. H. Watkins, Hereford.

SELLING CLASS.-Pouters or Carriers.-1, Mrs. Ladd. 2, H. Yardley. 3, W. Massey, Spalding. hc, H. Yardley; J. Watts. c, W. Nottage; J. Watts: W. York. Any other variety.-1, 2, and 3, H. Yardley. hc, J. H. Watkins. c, W. Bennett. RABBITS.

LENGTH OF EAR.-Cup. J. Cranch, London (231 in. by 5 in.) 2, F. Banks,

London (224 in.) 3, H. Attwood, Birmingham (21 in) hc, W. H. Webb, jun, Coseley, Bilston (214 in.); E. Bruerton, Darlaston (214 in.).

WEIGHT.-1, J. N. Gilbert, Walsall (15 lbs. 12 ozs.). 2, W. M. Duignan, Walsall (12 lbs. 10 ozs.).

ALL PROPERTIES.-1 and 8, F. Banks. 2, J. Hume, York. hc, W. Whitworth, jun., Longsight, Manchester (2); T. Millington, Wednesbury; H. Attwood (2). c, W. Cox; W. H. Webb, jun.; G. Philps, London. SELLING CLASS.-1, J. Cranch. 2 and 3, C. King, London. he, W. H. Webb; G. Philps; D. Maybury, Darlaston.

Martin, Worcester; Pigeons: Mr. J. Siddons, Aston, and Mr. JUDGES.-Poultry: Mr. E. Hewitt, Birmingham and Mr. J. H. Allsop, Birmingham; Rabbits: Mr. H. Yardley, Birmingham.

THE PIGEONS AT THE DUBLIN SHOW. ALLOW me, as one of the Judges of the late Royal Dublin Society's Show, to object to the inaccuracy of your correspondent's report. He remarks in Pouters, "second-prize bird was far better but a little out of plumage," had he looked more closely he would have seen something else. Mr. Yardley's first Carrier cock was an excellent bird in head, although small. The cup hen Carrier was worth far more than £5 as he states, being a really good bird, and in head far before the Dun hen he mentions. Next, "The Tumblers were all Long-faced." The first and second Reds and Yellows were Short faced, also a pair of Blue Beards in the same class. In Fantails, Mr. Walker's winners instead of not looking worth half the £8 claimed at were considered by many fanciers (who really know the value of prize birds, and not only pie rubbish) to be cheap, being a wonderful pair, far above any hen in 294. In Jacobins the first and second were better in cowl and chain than 298, although all extremely good. There were some excellent Turbits, which have shown their claim to the title of prize-winners-i.e., having been mentioned at first-class shows. These are designated "great rubbish." Next, three out of four pens of Dragoons had nothing of the Carrier about them, the winning Silvers and Mr. Yardley's Blues being very good.

I object to the rule of "limitation," and am glad to hear it will not be repeated, but undervaluing any good bird that happened to be shown is not the way to cure it.-C. F. STAUN

TON.

[We have other letters criticising our correspondent's too severe notes on the Pigeons, but the above is all that need be published.-EDS.]

AN INDEFATIGABLE HEN.-I have a Silver-spangled Hamburgh pullet hatched on the 6th of October last, that commenced laying the second week in February, and laid twenty-seven eggs in succession without missing a single day. She has now seven chickens a fortnight old, and commenced laying again yesterday (April 21st).-H. A. MANN.

REASONABLE REFORM.-A reform which has been long talked about has at last been effected in Massachusetts. The Great and General Court has ordered that hereafter eggs shall be sold

by weight. It is fixed that a dozen eggs shall weigh 1 lb. 8 ozs. -New York Tribune.)

LIMITING THE PRICE OF PIGEONS AT THE DUBLIN SHOW.

YOUR correspondents on this subject should bear in mind that this is strictly speaking an agricultural Show, and it is only through pressure being brought to bear on the Committee that they have permitted Pigeons to be included in the schedule. Not knowing anything about the birds, they permitted three exhibitors, resident in Dublin, to draw up the schedule. The classes were arranged fairly enough, except that (as neither of the three exhibitors keep them) they struck out Magpies, and put in a class for Jacobins to suit Mr. Seale's birds (this is the only class in the schedule in which colour is mentioned). They then made up the price rule, which has been so much discussed. When I got the schedule I at once wrote to the Committee and pointed out to them, that whoever made the list of prices must have intended the classes for himself or his friends, as the prices were fixed without any reference to the recognised value of the birds, and would exclude most of the leading exhibitors. I had a reply that my letter was too late for this Show, but would be considered next time. Mr. Seale, who is responsible for the rule about price, wrote through your columns, not avowing his position, but defending the rule, and saying there was a large entry. He was right as far as number is concerned, but of the 132 lots shown, forty-four, or one-third of the entire number, were the property of Mr. Seale; the two other advisers had respectively twenty-seven and eleven, a total of eighty-two between the three of them, leaving fifty lots to be divided between seventeen exhibitors. One of your correspondents said the framers of the rules had limited the price with one hand and given special prizes with the other. We now see the result in Mr. Seale winning the cup for Pouters, given by himself. I have authority for saying the Society will have no such rule again, so I will let the matter rest.-JOHN DOWLING, Blackrock, Cork.

GUINEA PIGS AS MEAT PRODUCERS. THE Guinea Pig is extensively used in Peru as an article of food, not merely by the higher classes as a delicacy, but mainly by the poor from its cheapness and abundance. It is an entirely herbivorous animal, and a clean feeder, being there chiefly maintained on green lucerne or trefoil; but it would, doubtless, thrive equally well on cabbage or lettuce leaves, and most sorts of green garden stuff-in short, on the same food as the Rabbit, to which it has many points of similarity. Its only similitude to the rat is, that after the hair has been scalded off, it presents an appearance not unlike what a large rat might do if similarly

treated-minus the tail.

For cooking it is not skinned, but the hair being scalded off, it is split open and cleaned, and is generally fried entire in a fryingpan, or sometimes grilled over the coals. Thus prepared it is savoury and delicate, the flesh being white, succulent, and nutritious, very superior to the Rabbit, and it makes a most excellent dish. The cost of rearing and keeping them is next to nothing, and their introduction into this country as an article of food would prove an excellent and inexpensive addition to our materials for the breakfast or dinner-table.-W. MACANDREW, Westwood, near Colchester.

NEGLECTED BREEDS.-I will join "BLACK JACOBIN," in subscribing towards a class for fowls for table purposes; all birds to be hatched in 1873, and either pure bred or the result of a first cross. I am quite of opinion that the single-bird system is preferable to that of showing pairs, especially for the large breeds. -C. L. SHARMAN, Church End, North Finchley.

POULTRY AND OSTEND RABBITS.-An immense annual trade is carried on in the importation of foreign poultry and Ostend Rabbits. This year already the value amounts to £77,679, being a great increase on the preceding year.

NADIRING.

PRACTICALLY, I think, your correspondent "A RENFREWSHIRE BEE-KEEPER "and I are agreed; and yet, it seems to me, he misapplies the term "nadir in his remarks on this subject at page 273. Surely he is speaking of an eke, for that, and not a nadir, is "merely an extension of breeding space." The nadir is something different; at least I have always understood it to mean a distinct box placed under a stock, not for breeding pur poses, but with a view to obtaining honey. Therefore it is obvious I am speaking of something quite different from your correspondent; and so I hold to the advice I gave in your Journal of March 20th as both sound and intelligible.

I object to the use of nadirs altogether. The only occasion on which I would make use of a box as a nadir is with a view to tempt when we often cannot "compel" bees to "press up into a super." My so-called nadir, therefore, is nothing more than a super placed temporarily under a stock-box in order to induce the bees to work comb in it, to which they may adhere after its removal to its proper place over the hive. If your correspondent had not confused the terms I should have agreed with all he has said. Nothing can be more excellent than his advice, when once bees have fairly taken to a super to eke (not nadir) the stock, both to prevent swarming and to augment the population, so as to complete that and succeeding supers. Shallow supers, too, should always be used.-B. & W.

BURGLAR AND FELON BEES.

You may remember last year you kindly telegraphed me in the autumn, in reply to a telegram of mine stating that civil war had broken out in my bee-house of ten stocks. I then asked for advice as to how I could stay it, and you recommended moving did with those that were fighting, and think it was the means the skeps to different parts of the garden, which I accordingly of saving some bees, though I lost four strong stocks by it. I never saw bees fight so desperately. In a very short time they had killed all the bees and taken all the honey out of a very large and strong stock. I tried all sorts of means to stay them, and was constantly driven back by their fury, though carefully guarded by dress and gloves. A friend of mine had his bees similarly disaffected, and he resorted to the brimstone pit with most of those that were being attacked, and saved an immense quantity of honey. I wish I had done the same. But my object in writing you now is to tell you of a curious circumstance which happened to a large strong stock in my apiary this day. It was a thick straw skep with a flat top, 16 by 10 inside measure; and when weighing my skeps this spring I found it so heavy that I did not think it worth while to give it any syrup, as I did to all the others, though some were nearly as heavy. At noon to-day I found the skep was being attacked. I had noticed the previous day or two that the bees seemed rather sluggish, though previously they had looked well. I immediately narrowed the entrance, but, finding it of no use, I determined to drive the bees out without further delay. After driving for about ten minutes I looked to see the result; but no bees having gone up I examined the combs, but could see only a dozen or two of robber bees in the hive. Upon this I immediately cut the combs out, thinking I should find them partly full of brood, which would not keep till I could get a swarm; but I found not a single piece of brood comb, but lots of capital honey -I should think at least 30 lbs., and plenty of bee bread. On looking over the combs I found the queen alive, but she seemed injured. I killed her with chloroform, and send her for your inspection, as it seems a curious occurrence and one which I cannot account for, unless the queen was old and unprolific and the bees would not put up with her any longer, but left for better quarters, though where they went I am not able to ascertain. If you feel inclined to insert this and reply in your Journal I should feel obliged.-B. B. ALEXANDER.

[Your queen did not reach us. No doubt, as you suppose, she was in a feeble condition and the bees deserted her. But this is not the most usual course. Ordinarily they remain and fight off all intruders so long as their life or their honey store lasts.]

SPRING FEEDING IN COLD WEATHER. LET me give a word of warning to all bec-keepers to see that their bees do not starve during these inclement east winds, when honey is nowhere in the flowers. It would be a great pity to lose valuable hives that have survived the winter, for want of a pound or two of sugar syrup at this season.-B. & W.

PREVENTING HENS EATING THEIR EGGS.-If hens are put in a dark place to lay, where they cannot see their eggs, they cease from egg-eating.-EXPERIENCE.

OUR LETTER BOX.

BOOKS (W. Hay.).—Our "Poultry Book for the Many," price 6d., we think would quite suffice for your poultryman. The best when completed will be Mr. Wright's "Illustrated Book of Poultry." Fourteen shilling numbers have been published, and eleven more are to follow. (Ramalho).-The "Poultry Book." You can have it free by post if you enclose seven postage stamps with your address.

CHILDERDITCH.-We are much obliged by your letter and enclosure. We will answer it in full in a later number.

DUBLIN POULTRY AND PIGEON SHOW (0. P. H. T., and others).-Besides the letter we publish to-day we do not think more need be stated.

BANTAMS AT DIPTON SHOW.-In the prize list given at page 347, the names of Messrs T. & J. Robson, of Bishop Auckland, were accidentally omitted as taking the first prize for "Bantams, any other colour."

GAPES IN CHICKENS (Birdie).-In our last number but one (April 17th) we stated all that we know on the subject. The origin of the worms is a dis puted point. They cause the gapes, and many (ourselves among the number), believe they come from stagnant and impure water. No medicine is of any avail, because the worms exist only in the trachea, and the medicine does not touch it. They are, nevertheless, easily curable. When the chickens are old enough give a pill of camphor the size of a garden pea. Camphor is the strongest vermifuge, and its odour pervades the windpipe while it lies in the crop. Give the chickens only water strongly impregnated with camphor to drink; this is a certain cure, and we have never known it fail.

POULTRY IN PADDOCK (C. A.).-Enclose seven postage stamps with your address, and order the "Poultry Book." It will be sent by post. In it you will find all the directions you need.

HATCHING FAILURES (R. H.).—The present will long be remembered as a trying time for hatching. There have been more failures than we ever recollect. We can only attribute it to the bad weather. It must also be borne in mind that early eggs do not hatch so well as later ones. The clear eggs that had not changed were not impregnated. The others had at one time had the germ of life in them, but it had died, and they became rotten. Where an egg has the white and yolk mixed, it is generally the result of frost. The failure of many of your eggs was doubtless from chill in the early days of incubation, arising either from the hen being off too long, or from her sitting hollow, or from being exposed to the cutting east wind. During such weather as we have had the hen should never be off the eggs more than a You may give up eggs quarter of an hour, and she should always be shut in. if, when you feel them, they are cold. When eggs are put in tepid water a few days before hatching, the good ones will wobble and be full of motion; those that remain quiet on the top of the water are failures.

TWO-YEAR-OLD BRAHMAS (H. E. C.).-You may keep the Brahma hens, but not the cock. Our experience is decidedly against thrce-year-old cocks for breeding. If the old bird is clean on his legs, good in comb, and bright in plumage, he is worth keeping or selling as a show bird. If not, he must go to the kitchen. Sitting hens require to be well fed. Warmth of body is increased by it, and the chickens are consequently stronger. We always give ours barley, maize, and barley meal. Millet is not good; it has only fattening properties. A sod of growing grass is always beneficial to hen or chickens. The rip may be put on the grass. We never have any bottoms to ours, but while the nights are cold, and when the chickens are very small, they are covered in with a board. We would sooner have the earth covered with grass, or a gravel walk, for chickens than any artificial flooring. Grits are such as are used for gruel.

SPANISH COCK'S FACE SWOLLEN (Amateur).—We expect your cock has a cauliflower face, and that which you call a swelling is simply natural growth. In many cases it closes the eye entirely. It is sometimes washed with alum and water with benefit. In other cases the lids are fastened back with sticking-plaister, but they are only temporary expedients, and the exaggerated beauty becomes at last an incurable defect. There is an excellent Pigeon book published at our office.

FOWLS FEATHER-EATERS AND ELEPHANTIASIED (F.).-You do not tell us whether all your poultry are similarly affected, or only those that are shut up for pure eggs for sitting. We have suffered from both the complaints you name, but never among our birds that are at liberty, only among those in confinement. The elephantiasis is comparatively a modern disorder, dating seven or eight years back. The feather-eating is as old as poultry. We have cured the first in its early stages by keeping the legs constantly oiled. We are at present free from it, and never have it till the end of the season, when the birds are naturally out of condition. It is also much worse in old than young birds. The feather-picking can only be cured by giving the birds their liberty and removing any that are really bare. We have seen them with only their tail and wing feathers left. Your feeding is unsatisfactory. You may give meal in the morning, Indian corn mid-day, and meal in the evening. Thus you will give three meals instead of two, and above all discontinue the potatoes. The feather-eating arises from a diseased and disordered stomach, craving for something the bird cannot get. Potatoes create much internal fat; this impedes the action of the gall and liver, causes maladies in both, and probably induces the habit of which you complain. Cannot you manage to let each breed have a separate run, or to divide the day, each having six or seven hours' run, and thus do away with the necessity of shutting any up? DETECTING THE SEX OF CHICKENS (E. R.).—At a few weeks old the sexes are easily distinguished. The cocks show a distinct comb, and in many breeds the plumage differs.

CHICKENS DYING IN HATCHING (J. Y. C., Acton).-We have no doubt your chickens die in the shell from the eggs being too dry. For a week before hatching they should be wetted every morning, or at any time when the hen is off the nest. Failing this assistance the inner membrane of the egg becomes as hard, tough, and brown as Indian rubber. Few chickens can get through it. When the hen is off, dip your hand in water and wring it over the egg freely.

PROMOTING FEATHER-GROWTH (New Ross).-Rub the Dorking cock's neck with compound sulphur ointment. He must be put by himself. It is probable the hens have picked out the feathers. All eggs should be damped frequently towards the end of the period of incubation.

YOLKLESS EGGS (R. W. C.).-All such occurrences as you mention are the results of derangement of the egg-producing organs, and are sure to come right. The only exception we ever knew was a hen that laid double eggs. She did so two years in succession, and we were obliged to kill her. Men said more than a thousand years ago they could tell the sex of the chicken by the shape of the egg, but they never did so. Men are still under the impression they can pick them out, but they never make their experiences public. We do not believe anyone can do it. We have given professors the opportunity of choosing among any number of eggs, on the condition we were to be made acquainted with the result. They never accepted our offers, nor will they. EGGS UNPRODUCTIVE (J. G. A. B.).—Under the circumstances we think a sitting at half price sufficiently liberal.

PIGEONS PARROT-BEAKED, &c. (J. L. Jones).-We have known excellent straight-beaked birds throw Parrot-beaked young ones, and the opposite, so that we should breed from such a bird. There is no cure for the beak itself. Good beans and tares are the best food for Pigeons.

DANDELION INSTEAD OF HOPS -Some years back you inserted a letter from Mr. Abraham Hardy, of Maldon, recommending the use of dandelion. He said that a friend was making beer from it. I shall feel obliged to any correspondent who can inform me how it is made. I am told that beer from dandelion and nettles is quite common in Liverpool.-C. E.

23rd.-Rather dull morning; hail at 1.20, and again at 2.10 P.M.; but fine afternoon and evening.

24th.-Fine morning, snow at 11 A.M.; heavy rain for a short time at 1 P.M.; sunshine and showers in afternoon; fine evening. 25th.-Fine, but cold morning; heavy snow at 11.30 A.M., and at 0.15 P.M.; very cold all day, but frequent bursts of fine sunshine. 26th.-Fine morning; very cold all day, alternate sun and showers, sometimes of rain, sometimes of hail, and sometimes of snow. 27th.-Rain in early morning, the fine heavy shower at 3.15 P.M., showery after occasional hail.

28th.-Fair all day, but very variable, sometimes very dark, and sometimes very bright.

29th.-Early morning wet and dull, showery before noon; but fine afternoon

and evening.

Mean temperature nearly 8 below last week; repeated showers of snow, hail, and soft hail, dry northerly winds, and three successive nights with frost.-G. J. SYMONS.

W

AURICULA CULTURE.

ITH the permission of the Rev. F. D. Horner I forward you his letter, which, without any view to its publication, he so kindly wrote me.-BEAUCHAMP STANNUS.

"I will answer your inquiries on the Auricula in the order they arise, and in what I write I simply give you what I know, by long practice, to be successful. "The Auricula undeservedly has a bad name for being of difficult culture, and for requiring mysterious treatment, but it is in truth a flower very simple in its habits.

"I. "What mixture of soil suits it best?' Loam, leaf mould, and very old dung in equal quantities, with rough sand enough to keep it open. The best loam is a fibrous kind, yellow or darker, but not peaty: if you could procure the top 4 or 6 inches of a pasture where Cowslips grow, you could not do better for Auriculas. There is no objection to the loam being rather heavy, but it must be mellow and full of fibre. Dung to be so old as to be a black earth. I have used both cow and horse; they do well in either. Frequent turning over of old hotbed dung, where wet weather cannot reach it, soon mellows it down to earth. Dung so fresh as to show any crude material is not safe. Do not use silver sand, but some rough clean-washed sand from a brook side, or, better still, charcoal the size of split peas.

"II. Is pot-culture recommended?' There is no other method in use for the high-bred varieties. The Auricula is a plant peculiarly adapted for this. Though a strong rooter, it does not care much for pot-room. Then, again, in the dormant periods of its life it requires careful protection from wet and damp, and this is best afforded by pot-culture. In June and July-the summer rest-they require a diminished supply of water, and hardly any at all in November, December, and January. "III. What sized pots?' A 5-inch pot, inside measure, will grow almost all full plants: very few will require more, though when in full foliage the plant will well cover this. I have a few very large plants in 6-inch pots; younger plants in 4-inch. I do not care for less than 3-inch pots. Plants too small for 3-inch pots I place at the edge of that size, and two or three to the pot.

OverIn No

"IV. Water, much or little?' Never much. watering is the most fertile source of mischief. vember, December, and January keep them, not indeed dust dry, but certainly dry; a little water round the rim of the pot once in three or four weeks is generally enough. If the foliage is flaccid, it is a sign of thirst. Do not let this occur if possible. In February the heart begins to look fresh and unfurls, then give them a moist, but not wet, soil, and top-dress them with rich old cow dung and a little leaf mould, removing an inch of old soil till you come to the fibres; be careful to hurt none of these. In March, April, and May keep them in full growing moisture, but not sodden wet, and not watered with manure water. A good watering to go through the ball

No. 632.-VOL. XXIV., NEW SERIES

will last some time. Drainage to be as perfect as possible. Crocks plenty, covered with long moss, or, better, rough, flaky, decayed leaves.

"V. 'Is a north wall of use?' It is nothing less than necessary. They may even be grown the year round in a north aspect, George Lightbody's plants were; mine are under a north wall in frames from the middle of May to the middle of October. From the middle of October to the middle of May they are in their blooming house, which has a south aspect. Shade is required from strong sun from the middle of March to the middle of May. They must never be exposed to sun that causes them to flag.

"VI. Removing offsets?' These are fit to remove as soon as they have lost a few leaves, and have therefore a neck, and the best time to remove them is just before the spring growth. Wait till you see the old plant stir, at the end of February or just before, and then remove any offsets with neck, rooted or not. August, just before the autumn growth, is another good time; this is the time for the offsets not fit in the spring, as spring is the time for those not fit in the autumn. Cut them off the parent at their connection, which is often slight, rub the wound of both with charcoal dust, as styptic and antiseptic, and pot the offsets, keeping them in a close frame and moist till they get roothold; give air in quiet warm weather, and freely when rooted.

"Do not plunge Auriculas. The plant is by no means liable to disease under a common-sense treatment. Bear in mind it is an Alpine plant, fond of pure free air, and delighting in a sweet open compost moderately rich, free from nostrums, and made firm in the pots. Its wants are few-sweet soil, sweet air and plenty of it, sweet water, but never much of it, and never much sun. Damp is its worst foe. The Auricula can bear any cold of our winters, but none of our heavy wet. Frame treatment is but to secure artificially what Alpine winters give naturally-a dry rest under the snow. There is, of course, something to be said for the delicacy produced in cultivating the Auricula up to types that do not occur in wild nature, and would not long survive in a struggle for supremacy on a mountain side. Our modern specimens will not bear what wild ones will, but it is safest to follow nature as far as possible.-F. D. HORNER, Kirkby Malzeard, Ripon.”

FRUIT TREE BLOOMING-SUPERFETATION OF PEAR BLOSSOMS?

I WISH to ask whether there is anything unusual in the blooming of the fruit trees, especially Plums, this season? In this neighbourhood (Clitheroe)-I am now more especially referring to my own trees-the usually abundant bloomers Victoria and Prince of Wales have scarcely a bloom upon them, whilst on seven Damsons, four of them of large size, I have not been able to discover a single blossom. On the contrary, the Purple Gage, which seldom blooms profusely with me, and Coe's Golden Drop have been covered with bloom, and almost every bloom

No. 1281.-VOL. XLIX., OLD SERIES.

seems to have set; if no further severe frost occur, these trees will require very severely thinning.

Pears on walls are full of bloom; standards not yet opened out; indeed, some of my trees in the orchard had all the blossom buds cut-off by the severe frosts of February. I may specify Beurré Clairgeau, Seckle, and Beurré d'Amanlis as having their bloom buds entirely destroyed.

Whilst on the subject of Pears, I may mention what seems to me to be a subject of some interest as touching on seminal varieties. Some fifteen years since I noticed a fruit on a tree of the Seckle of three or four times the usual size, and I saved the pips, and raised two trees, which have now been bearing two or three years. The interesting point to which I wish to call your attention is, that although both these trees were raised from the same fruit, they are completely different from each other in flavour and appearance. One is an enlarged Seckle rather coarse in flesh, but improves every year over the quality of the preceding one, and this year I hope to be able to speak of its quality double-worked on the Quince, and grown in the orchard house. Hitherto it has only been grown as a standard in a locality where the original Seckle has never been anything better or larger than a small Crab. The other Pear is a medium-sized melting Pear of high flavour, ripe in October, having no resemblance to the Seckle whatever. The tree from which these two were raised grew in close proximity to a Beurré de Rance; but as other Pear trees were growing on the same wall, the blossom from which the fruit came may have been fertilised by the bees from some other tree. The singular thing, as it seems to me, is that there must have been two distinct fertilisations in the same blossom, as there is no resemblance in the leaf, mode of growth, appearance and quality of fruit, or in anything else between these two fruits raised from the same Pear.

Notwithstanding the excellence of its quality, I cannot recommend the propagation of the high-flavoured one, at least in this neighbourhood, as it is not very hardy when in blossom, and does not hang very well in a wind; but, as even the Beurré de Capiaumont is little better here than a Crab if grown as a standard, this might be well deserving of cultivation in a more genial locality.

The other Pear, the enlarged Seckle, is a prodigious bearer, about four times the size of the old Seckle when grown-in the orchard, and I hope it may prove of value when doubleworked and grown in the orchard; and as to its bearing under glass, I have a small tree double-worked on the Quince which had nine bunches of bloom upon it, on which nine bunches sixty-three Pears set. I hope, therefore, to learn what doubleworking and glass will do in improving the quality.

The small fruits (Gooseberries, and Red and Black Currants), are so far promising, as the frosts of last week do not seem to have done any damage to them.-T. G.

SEEDING OF MYOSOTIS DISSITIFLORA. MR. ROBSON, in his interesting and instructive notes on dwarf hardy edging plants (see page 333), remarks that he has failed to discover this plant propagating itself naturally by seed. I am happy to state that it seeded freely here last season, and I have now a stock of strong self-sown plants, but as yet they show no sign of flowering. I may add that the soil in which the plants seeded has not been disturbed in any way since the flowering period last year.-WM. GARDINER, Lower Eatington Park, Stratford-on-Avon.

HOES AND HOEING.

I SHOULD think it is well known that the hoe is one of the most useful of garden implements, and I wish it were not necessary to say that in many places it should be more frequently made use of. To recommend that the hoe should be frequently used among all garden crops is nothing new, and I feel sure if this recommendation were fully carried out it would be esteemed as sound advice as any handed down to us by our ancestors. To use the hoe only as a weed destroyer is not to realise its full value, for, to quote Mr. Johnson's "Science and Practice of Gardening," hoeing facilitates the access of air to the roots of plants by rendering the texture of the soil easily permeable." The truth of this remark is easily proved by the comparative progress of a crop that is frequently hoed and one that is not. Some gardeners in practice rake the soil after every hoeing; this, I think, is not wise, for it reduces the value of the hoeing by making the soil too fine, and it binds or

cakes on the surface more readily, and air is excluded. If hoeing be properly done the surface may be left even enough without raking. The above are a few facts which the oldest practitioners were acquainted with from the beginning of their career, and which, I think, were regarded by them as of more importance than the rising generation of gardeners appear inclined to assign to them. The ornamental department of gardening attracts the young gardener, and he is too apt to leave a knowledge of the cultivation of the soil to be pickedup piecemeal and imperfectly.

As regards hoeing and stirring the soil, I purpose giving illustrations of some of the best and most useful implements for the various conditions of the soil and the crops. I will commence with the draw hoe.

Draw Hoes (fig. 1).-Of these there are several varieties and sizes. That illustrated, and which is known in Norfolk as the Bloomfield hoe, is fastened into the handle by a strong spike having a long narrow neck, terminating in a broad head, to which the steel blade is attached by three rivets, whilst the handle is kept from splitting by a deep ferule. Another form of draw hoe has a socket for the handle, which should be about 4 feet long. It has a crane neck, to which is attached a plate of iron and steel 6 inches long and 3 broad. These cranenecked draw hoes may vary in size considerably for different purposes, and are most admissible for hoeing between crops, as the small neck allows the soil to pass freely over the plate, as well as between the foliage of any crop without injury. A cheaper sort of draw hoe, but with the iron socket or eye closely attached to the blade or plate, is often used; these are liable to clog in wet weather, and take much of a man's time in cleaning; nevertheless, they are useful for drawing earth to plants as well as for loosening the soil before the rake is ap plied. It is, however, best to have several sizes of these on hand, as a large hoe is not at all times the handiest tool to apply to the job.

Fig. 1.-Draw Hoe.

The Crane-necked Hoe (fig. 2) is another form of draw hoe. There should be several sizes, for they are very handy tools to

Fig. 2.-Crane-necked Hoe.

use in seed beds or for thinning crops. The largest size is not more than 18 inches long, with a short wooden handle of about 6 inches. The handle and neck are made of iron, and the blade of iron and steel, about 3 inches wide. They are to be used with one hand only. An active man will take one of these tools in his right hand and roughly thin-out the bulk of a row of Turnips or Carrots, and complete the thinning by means of his left hand with remarkable speed.

The Adjustable Hoe (fig. 3) is a draw hoe and thrust hoe

Fig. 3.-Adjustable Hoe.

combined. The plate is deep and strong, very similar in shape to what is made by local blacksmiths for use in heavy soils, but this tool it possesses the great merit of a contrivance to set the plate at an angle to go deep or shallow. It is very con