HOMING PIGEONS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 34, 3 November 1933, Page 2

HOMING PIGEONS

Some Good Performances WEEK-END RACES The Wellington Homing Pigeon Society conducted a raeo from Porootoroa at the week-end, a distance of 199 miles. The pigeons were liberated by the t railway porter at 10 a.m. in showery weather, and with head winds, the birds had a hard fly, and did very creditable time considering the conditions. The following are the first eight birds timed in:—

Murphy and Sherwood’s On Top, 4hr. 5-lniin. 9sec., 1; B. Clements’ Best Yet, 4hr. blmiii. 33sec., 2; Croskery .and 1 Maid, 41ir. 55min. 43sec., 3; C, Haines s Buller Lad, 4hr. OGmin. Isec., 4; F. Couper and Sons’ Silver Wings, 4hr. sGmin. Slsec, 5; J. Perrett’s Cayenne. 4hr. 59min. 53sec., G: Webster and Sops' Checker, 4hr. 59mla. bSsec., 7; C. Egginton’s Newtown Lad, 4min. 59min. 26sec., 8. A race from Christchurch, 188 miles, was also conducted. The pigeons were liberated by the stationmaster at 8 a.m. in fine weather and favourable wind, and put up another good performance, having favourable conditions for good flying, Tho following are the lirst eight pliicings:— Murphy and Sherwood’s Lucky Girl, 41ir. 31mln. 40sce.. 1; Webster and Sons’ Lady Mine, 4hr. 33min., 2; J. Perrett’s Queenle, 4hr. 33min. lllsec., 3; B. Clements’ Pretty Boy, 4hr. 33min. OTsec., 4; F. Couper and Sons’ Lndy Pam, 4hr. 34miu. 30sec., 5; .1. MltohoU’s Nevay King, 4hr. 35min. 32sec., 6; A. Clements’ South King, 4hr. 38miu. 35set., 7; A. Croskery and Sons’ Lyall , Hero, 4hr. 41mln. Isec., 8. The following were the only birds to time in race time (Murphy and Sherwood's Aeroplane, 4hr. IDmin. 59sec., 1; C. Webster and Sons’ Paddy, 4hr. 4iinin, 21see., 2; .1. Mitchell’s Bonnie Doon, olir. liuin. 58sec„ 3; B. Clement's Improver, shr. 22min. 2fisee., 4; J. Perrett’s Sailor Boy, Ghr. 14min. 38sec., 5. Each bird was .liberated on Its own nt 10-mlnute intervals by G. Robertson, a Christchurch fancier, in good Hying weather. A meritorious was put up by Murphy and Sherwood's pigeon, which did the .188 miles airline journey In 4hr. 19mln. 59see. By winning this race, Murphy and Sherwood completed the hat trick of three wins on end. The winner received a miniature cup, donated by F. Sanders.

timely topics Advice for Beginners Pinch the dead blooms off the pansy plants. Ripening the seeds holds up the growth. * « * . Give the heuchera clumps a light mulching with old nianure to keep them growing freely.. After a hard flowering some encouragement should be given to the plants. Heuchera is now .one of the most popular of the lighter pink decoratives. The small Howels are like little pink bells, prettily placed on slender red stems. « « * Trim up the primrose plants and provide something in the way of food to help establish extra strength for pext season’s flowering. Primroses are easily grown from young stock planted out any time before the weather- gets too warm. Either in the shade or well out In the ppep, primroses pre able to hold their own, Thpy like rich soil aud plenty of attention. Try to please them.

Hydrangeas are now at the stage when weak liquid manure will help them along wonderfully. Give freely of anything that you know wi|l satisfy tlieir hunger. Hydrangeas seem to like tlieir toes almost jn the water. With the bufis opening nicely the plants are trusting to you. * ♦ * Pinch the strong growths on the voting or old fruit trees. Many of the peaches and plums are already carrying extra long growths, which if left alone will bo rather long and spindly by tiie time the next pruning has' to be done. With no crop to be sustained the fruit trees are making wonderful growths, The spell from hard work has given them new heart. Summer pruning must be practised t>o hold the strong growths in check. Pinching off as much of the fop growth as can be broken with your fingers will force a full flush of lateral breaks, and help in the development of the fruit buds, which are to do the flowering nest season. Decorative lines, like the brown prune and the flowering peaches and plums, will stand a light pinching and be all the better for it. Most of the prunes are at present carrying beautiful tips. It> seems a pity to disturb them. Still, shapeliness means something. . THIN OUT SEEDLINGS Moisten the Soil The thinning of hardy annuals at the right time and in the right way is a job of paramount importance. You must do it in time or early overcrowding, even though you relieve it later, will affect the display adversely. Thin from a moist soil; the surplus seedlings will then draw out cleanly. If you try to drag them out of dry soil, the stems will either break off at the ground line or, by tearing the soil they will tear the roots of permanent plants also. The ideal thinning time is the day following a night’s steady spring rain, But although such conditions are likely at this season, you cannot afford to wait for them if your annuals need more room. 'Water tliem thoroughly in the evening through a rosed can and tackle the job next day. Your alm must be to give every plant you retain a chance to develop properly. That Is only fair to the plant, and certainly vital to the beauty of your display. Following are the distances apart to which tho leading annuals should be thinned: Scabious, annual chrysanthemums, lupins and coreopsis, 15in.; clarkia?, godetias, cornflowers, sweet sultans, bartonias, annual delphiniums, uigellas, and urslnias, Ift; Californian poppies, candytuft, dwarf godetias, dwarf larkspurs, liuums, and dimorphothecas, 9in. KOHL RABI A Turnip Substitute Though this vegetable is not much used, it is, nevertheless, very useful. It is a species of brassica, but, unlike the ordinary run of its kind, is cultivated for its pulpy stem. Many growers seem to fail to recognise the fact that it should be used before it becomes too big, when it gets coarse and fibry or woody, Were the bulbs taken when they are not more than four Inches in diameter, they would be much more appreciated.

In flavour kolil rabi is a combination of the turnip and the cabbage, between which it holds an intermediate place. It is an extremely hardy subject, suffers but little from frost, and resists dry conditions better than the turnip, for which it is a good substitute in dry seasons.

Seed may be sown from September right on to December in small lots for succession, and this is advisable, as the bulbs should be used as they reach the proper size. Make shallow drills, sow thinly and cover with sifted soil. When big enough, thin out to ten inches between the plants. Kohl rabi transplants quite readily, and takes from nine to ten weeks to come to useful size, but best results are obtained from tiie crop that is left growing where sown. If transplanted, water must be given regularly till the seedlings have taken root. Though the erop is a fairly drought-resisting one, the tenderness of the produce is greatly improved when plenty of moisture is given.