Japanese Chins

THERE are several beliefs regarding the origin of this Toy breed. Some say that the ancestors of these dogs first appeared in Japan around the year 732, as gifts from the rulers of Korea. Others attribute their ancestors to breeds of Chinese origin.

It was some Portuguese sailors who introduced the breed to Europe in the 1600s. They were given as a gift to Catherine of Braganza, Queen Consort to King Charles II of England.

Commander Perry, an American naval officer helped make this dog famous in England in 1853 when he presented Queen Victoria with a pair of Japanese Chins. This was the first canine gift given to the Royal family.

Japanese chins are about 20 to 27 centimetres in height and weights up to seven kilograms. They possess straight, silky, profuse long hair. They are often found in colours black and white or red and white and less often in black and white with tan points.

They have feathered tails that curl up over their backs. Their faces have what can be called an "oriental" appearance: a short upturned muzzle and large, wide-set eyes that have white visible in the inner corners, creating an astonished expression.

These dogs commonly possess a white spot or blaze in the middle of their foreheads known as Buddha's thumbprint.

This designation can be attributed to the Buddhist Emperor Ming of Han China, who owned many of these dogs.

This breed is alert, intelligent and independent by nature. It often uses its paws to wash its face and thus is quite cat-like. It is loving and loyal to its owner, but is distrustful of new people.

Chins prefer familiar surroundings. They are generally a quiet breed with a deeper bark than the high-pitched yap commonly associated with many of the toy breeds and are naturally clean.

The Chin's coat needs more than average brushing to maintain its appearance. They shed fur all year round.

The oversized eye orbits of the Chin contribute to moisture about the face and the skin folds in and around the nose and flattened facial area can trap moisture and cause fungal problems. The face should be occasionally wiped with a damp cloth and the folds cleaned with a cotton swab.

This breed is ideal for those living in apartments. However the Chin is a bit tough to house train in the first 4 months of life. But it is a dog which is a quick learner.

These dogs may become the victims of breathing and heart problems. They can be affected with eye infections easily due to its large eyes. The Chin also has a risk of hypogylcemia under the age of six months.

Always yearning to please, seeking affection and loving, the Japanese Chin is a perfect pet for a single or elderly person.

Flower of the week: Spectacular Dahlias

DAHLIAS (Dahlia Variabilis) are considered as one of the most spectacular of garden flowers. It is believed to require a great deal of care.

Of Mexican origin, this beautiful flower is considered as the country's national flower. It was introduced to Spain in 1789 and named after the Swedish botanist called Dahl. However this plant is known as "Georgina" in Germany.

There is a great variety of form in Dahlias; from the showy dinner-plate size to the bright, little single ones. The categories of the plant can be divided as Single Dahlias, Pompon Dahlias, Cactus Dahlias, Show Dahlias, and Fancy Dahlias.

Dahlias require special care for them to bloom in their fullest. Firstly, they should be planted in a sunny location. The soil should be rich and well-drained.

Bedding Dahlias can be planted 9 to 12 inches apart: the smaller flowering types, about 3 feet tall, should be spaced 2 feet apart while the taller, larger flowering types should be spaced 3 feet apart.

For healthy growth, dig the plant hole slightly larger than the root ball of the plant and mix some compost into the soil. Plant the bulbs so that the crowns are just above soil level.

The Dahlia is naturally a moisture-loving plant. Therefore make sure that an abundant supply of water is near at hand.

The principal enemies of the plant are earwigs, slugs, caterpillars, ants and frog-hoppers. The cultivator needs to devote a little time and trouble to keep such pests under control by using general purpose systemic spray. Diseases are rare but two such diseases, Mosaic and Spotted Wilt, are due to viruses.

These viruses are incurable.

GARDEN GUIDE With Dr. Fazal Sultanbawa PhD, Director Research and Development CIC

Logs, both natural and artificial, make attractive media for mushrooms to grow on. Natural logs are the most convenient, but getting a good-sized log with the necessary aesthetic features can be a matter of luck.

Look for ones with unique features such as bends, crooks, forks, grooves etc. The required size will vary with the manner of display - if it is to be kept erect, a thick stump with a height of 1-1 1/2 m will do.

You can also suspend it from a pergola or rafter, in which case it better be light, around 1-2 m long and fixed securely. Remember that the log will decay with time due to growth of the (mushroom) fungus and therefore it must not hang directly over places where people move around.

First, make some holes in the log by drilling or using a large nail. Then take some mushroom spores or the soil under which mushrooms were growing and plug the holes. Keep the logs moist. The fungus will soon grow into the log and eventually produce mushrooms.

You can try inoculating different types of mushroom, but often, one type will predominate.

The period for 'blooming' will depend on the wood, the softer the wood, the sooner mushrooms will pop up. Mango wood is soft and is fairly easily obtained, as is wood from fast growing trees like Ipil Ipil, Glyricidia and the Jam Fruit tree.

Also, in a freshly cut log, it will take longer for the process of decay to start and therefore it will take longer for 'blooming', therefore an aged log is preferable.

If you are imbued with a creative spirit, then making your own logs is the best for you. The principle is simple, you need a suitable medium for the fungus to grow and then something hard and firm to hold everything together.

As growing medium, you can use sawdust, compost or straw and as a binding agent, cement or plaster of Paris works well. You can use a mold of PVC gutter or even a thick gauge polythene sleeve to obtain any shape you want. The best ratios of different components must be experimented with, but you can try the following.

Get some sawdust (5 kg), garden litter compost (1 kg) and raw rice (1-2 kg) and mix them well. Chop about 1 kg of straw to a length of around 15-20 cm and mix as evenly as possible into the sawdust mixture.

Then add about 10-12 kg of dry cement powder and mix it into the saw dust/straw mixture. Wet the mixture with sufficient water (it should be fairly moist, but not dripping wet) and pour this mixture into a 10 cm diameter polythene sleeve, about 1 m long.

Then place the polythene on the ground and mold it to any desired shape. If you need a constriction, tie a string at a suitable point; if you want a flatter portion, place a weight on the polythene at the desired position.

You can even use a flat polythene sheet, arrange the mixture in a linear direction and then fold the polythene sheet to any desired shape. Leave it overnight to set. Then cut or peel off the polythene and allow to dry.

The strength of this artificial log will vary with the wetness of the ingredients and the amount of cement used. If you find the log is too hard, you can reduce the amount of cement for the next log you make - conversely, if it breaks up, you need to increase the amount of cement. Therefore, handle it with care until you are sure of its strength.

In any case, suspending such logs is not recommended and it is best if these logs are only kept upright on the ground. After gaining more experience, you can attempt thicker logs.

After the log has set, it is recommended that you apply a slurry of cement ('kolappu' in Sinhala) or plaster of Paris on the surface and make necessary markings to simulate a natural log.

However, do this only on the sides, because it is necessary to keep the ends soft and porous to facilitate 'feeding' the growing fungus with necessary nutrients.

Also, remember to keep openings on the sides so that the mushrooms can emerge from these openings. There are many variations on this theme, such as first wrapping the log (soon after setting) with strips of mosquito netting, bandage gauze, gunny (jute) or even coir rope, prior to applying the cement slurry. The latter practice imparts more strength to the log.

For thick logs, it is necessary to insert a perforated plastic tube in the centre of the log before the mixture sets - this will enable feeding and watering for better penetration into the central parts of the log, to ensure better fungal growth and frequent 'blooming' of mushrooms.

It is now time for inoculation or introduction of the fungus into the log.

Before doing this, just soak or wash the log well to remove any caustic substances from cement, much like you condition a new cement aquarium.

Then inoculate as described for natural logs. You can also introduce the fungus from the bottom or top, since these are not sealed with cement slurry.

Another possibility is to introduce the fungal spores into the saw dust mixture, wrapped in a clod of soil at the time of making the log, prior to wrapping with polythene.

After care is very similar to that with mushrooms in conventional media - keep the medium moist and feed with regular (fortnightly) doses of a 1% urea solution. Ants and termites are sometimes problematic, so be watchful and try to prevent entry as much as possible. Most household insecticides are effective and will not affect mushroom growth.

Readers are informed that the Export Development Board operates a Mushroom Development & Training Centre at Raja Mawatha, Ratmalana.

This is an excellent resource centre for literature and expert advice and you can even purchase spawn of edible mushrooms by placing an order in advance.

Looking for a meeting place for dog lovers?

Step into "The Ceylon Kennel Club":

THE Ceylon Kennel club was founded in 1899 by the British. Several of the British planters were enthusiastic dog breeders and thus they formed the club.

Consequently the club grew from strength to strength and when it was formed, the head of the state was the president. However the chairman of the committee conducted all the activities.

The Club's annual activities included at least three dog shows held in Colombo, Galle and Nuwara-Eliya. The shows consisted of many varieties of dogs in large numbers so much so that it continued on for two or three days.

The Ceylon Kennel Club follows the rules and regulations of the Kennel Club of England. It was granted affiliation with the Kennel Club of England at the end of 1952.

After a lapse of nearly 10 years the Ceylon Kennel Club had begun their activities with new strength. An enthusiastic band of dog lovers, all of whom own pedigree dogs, make up the club's members.

The secretary of the club, Lucille Dahanayake, stated that they had to reject a large number of applications purely because some of the previous members did not take part in activities of the club.

"We accept pedigree dogs into the Club. A pedigree dog is one that has its ancestry recorded. The number of generations required for joining the club is of five generations and all pedigree dogs have papers from their registering body that attests to their ancestry.

Even if a dog is not registered abroad it must have a registration number of the parents. If the kennel club number is there we accept the membership," Said Dahanayake as she stressed the importance of obtaining a dog with the necessary documents.

In the past it was said the "August Week" started in Sri Lanka with the Ceylon Kennel Club show. Prime Ministers, Governors and several eminent personalities have patronized the club and the late S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was amongst one of its key exhibitors and supporters.

The Ceylon Kennel Club brings along prominent visiting judges mainly from the U.K. and India. Judges from Australia have visited the island too. Leo Wilson, Viscount Chelmsford, Bill Siggers, L. Mc. Donald Daly, H. H. Jaideep Singh of Baria, Nazeer Yargung were among those who have been judges of the dog shows.

The club has plans to hold its hundredth dog show in January. "We distribute certificates and the winners are allowed to take pictures with the trophies.

The trophies are very valuable since they are made of pure silver. They have been donated by well wishers, dog lovers and companies throughout the centuries," remarks Dahanayake.

"The dogs are judged according to the characteristics of their breed group. Each type of dog had a specific attitude. For example, a hound should be very alert since he is used for hunting prey."

From time to time, dogs from Sri Lanka such as Pomeranians and Bull Terriers have been purchased by Indian breeders. In the near future it is hoped that several Sri Lankan breeders will look forward on purchasing their stock from India. The club hopes to launch several new programmes as well.