/^ . . . ( '# m4- 'i^^ .1/ a ■ ^^^^ XJ .^9/^ ^ENEWrORKBOTANmOARpli rmu \ii^t; ■-^^':^*M immm-^ 04"^ ?''.^Witos^' mkkJt-M ;^&sm THE JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE, COTTAGE GARDENER, ^ AND COUNTRY aENTLEM^N. A CHRONICLE OF THE HOMESTEAD, POULTRY-YARD, APIARY, & DOVECOTE. CONDUCTED BY GEORGE W. JOHNSON, F.R.H.S,, and ROBERT HOGG, LL.D. THE FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDENS, by Mr. J. Robson, Gardonor to Visconnt Hohnesdiilp, M.P., Lintou Park; and Mr. J. Douglas, The Gardens, Loxford Hall, Essox. THE FLOWER GARDEN, by Mr. G. Abbey ; Mr. T. Record, Gardonor to tbo Marquis of Salisbury, HatHcId House ; aud Mr. E. Luck- burst, Old Lauds, Bu3:tcd, Sussex. GARDENING C.UI-ENDAR, by Mr. William Keane. POULTRY-KEEPING, by Mr. J. Baily ; E. Hewitt, Eaq. L. Wrigbt, Esq. PIGF.ONS, AVIARY BIEDS, &c., by "Willsliiro Rector;" Bhikstou, Esq., and others. BEE-ICEEPING, by "B. &W.j" and Mr, S. Bovan Foi. ; and W. A. tlBRARY NEW YORK BOTANICAL CiMiOEN. VOLUISIE XXII., NEW SERIES. VOL. XLVii., OLn SEraES. LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE PROPRIETORS, 171, FLEET STREET. /V) ^ ma. LONDON : PRINTED AT THE JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE OFFICE, 171, FLEKT STREET. JOUENAL OP iHOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. TO OUR READERS. (From an unpublished ivork.) " George, how many years have you driven ' The Success ?' " " More than twenty, my Lady." " Are you not tired of the occupation ? " " Not a bit, my Lady. You see, Kobert is always about the coach, and when I and my little woman want a holiday, he takes the ribbons. There is no end of change in coaching. Although we never turn off the old horses, and we drive steadily, yet they die off, and then we have to draft in new sound ones. Then opposition coaches start, and it 's pleasant to see how they sometimes are trying to run before us, and sometimes running behind us." •■■ But, George, they must take some passengers from you." " I daresay they do sometimes, my Lady, but we never miss 'em, for we are always full, thank God, and the old passengers come back after a time, and say they are sorry they ever left us. Some- times a new start, to make a show, takes passengers for nothing ; but that, my Lady, you know, won't fill the corn bin." " Your horses, George, go as well as ever ?" " Yes, my Lady, they are a well-bred lot, and plenty of 'em ; and they know who handles 'em ; and W€ give 'em a few beans occasionally, and the passengers know 'em and pat 'em, and horses like that. \Vh}-, my Lady, some of 'em have been leaders ever since the coach started, and go over then- ground as fresh as the first day they put their shoulders to the collar. Everyone says how fresh and gay ' old Bob ' and the ' Kentish Cob ' are still. "Wonderful horses they are. And the young uus, my Lady, how steadily they keep the pace ! Why, the box is as easy as an armchair. Neither Kobert nor I ever used the whip sLuce we mounted that box. Besides, my Lady, the team has travelled so long together, that they are used to one another, and Eobert and I made up our minds years ago never willingly to change 'em so long as we held the ribbons of ' The Success.' " lalj 18, 1871 ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. INDEX. ABnTILOS TEXILLAXIL'U ilARMOBA- TUM GBAFTINO.aiO Acacias, new, 249 Accrintfton Poultry Show, 433 Acor Necrmido propagation. 220 Achimencs, and their culture, i08 ; potting. 177 Acrozamia sclerocarpa, 286 Adiantum farleyense and culture, 508 .T^schjTianthus. 227 Agalmyla staminea. 327 Agave Bessenana, 62 Af;ri<-"iil'ural returns, 202 Air-gifinK and tirintf, 277 Alocasias, select, 389 Aloe suckers, 430 '■Alpine Plants," 203 Aniaranthus salicifolias seed germi- uatiDf?, 316 Amaryllis, bulbs plantinir. 155 ; cul- ture, 95; Belladonna culture, 300 Ammonia, appljing sulphate, 448 ; liquid manure, 2i0; r. red spider, Ammoniacal liquor for grass, 315 Andalusians. 492 ; -with iSrabmas, 320 ; chickens, 532 , with bedding plants, 261 ; .425 Annuals, hardy, 155; for clumps. 156; for early flowerins?, 156: select half- hardy. 109 ; for exhibition, 301 ; for late flowering. 90 Anthomyia Lactucre. 121 Anthnrium Scherzerianum culture, seeding, 523 Ants, exterminating, 372 Aphides, 385; and ihe-r enemies, 445; destroying. 177. 419; in conserva- tory, 352 ; on fruit trees, 31S, 468 Apples— Belgian. 316 ; for espaliers, 261 ; leaves blotched, 412 ; spurs, 384; pruning, 384; shoots pinching, S53, 430; fboot'* mildewed, 46S ; se- lection, 316; tree diseased, 110 ; Beauty of Hants, 198; Graveontein and Duchess of OldenbttTgh, 460 Apprentice, 893 Apricots, scale on. 431 ; training, 449, 468 Aquile^ia glandulosa, 498; culture, 483 ; hardy, 525 Arabis not thriving, 261 Araucaria imbricata.TO Arbor-Vitw, Chinese, dying, hedge treament, 261 Arbutus, removing old, 530 Areca, for greenhouse, 198 ; rubra, 78 ArisEEma speciosum,383 sal em, 448 Artillery plant, 4P7 vVrums, 48G Ashes, trees on subsoil of, 64; on- leached, 177 Asparagus, Amcricm. 431; planting, 431 ; slugs on, Sd:i : as a decorative plant, 439; bed-making, 41; forcing out of doors, 109; salt for, 177; Eale. 430; liquid manure for. 468; our first dish, 346 ; cutting small, 352 Asterostigma Luscbnathianum, 480 Astrocaryum mexicanum culture, 171 Aubrietia deltoidea cuttings, 317 Aucubas, licrried, 261; pollen, 220, 372, presor\-io'r. 316; frame. 373; seeds. 337. nut germinating, 353 ^^ Auricula gossip. 118 ^—^ Auriculas, Alpme,322: spring culture, ^Zr 208,269; shadmg. 392 22 Australia, February-blooming plants I South, 828; advice for South, 347 ; vO BeedB from, 179 ; adventure i .193 405 Aviary, birds dying, 378, 416; tempe- rature of, 116 Azaleas, after flowering, 109 ; flowers small, 64; propagation, 852; repot- ting, 316; sporting. 358 J35; Black, 262.301; pullets roupy, 304 ; Brown Red Game, 318 ; classes, 320; breeding Wheaten, 116: eega for sitting, 22f) ; breeding Duckwing Game, 226 ; Blacks' legs. 226 ; Game, 266:pri7es for. 374; Game cock's hackle. 396 ; prize for Black, 513 Barley after Potatoes, 300 Barometrical fall. 106 Barrow Poultry Show. 113 Basket, making, 290; plants for stove, 227,327.365,399,465 Baskets for poultry, 4S Bath and West of England Poultry Show, 305, 470 ; in rain and sun- shine. 488, 511 Bathgate Ornithological Show, 91 Bats, 472 Battle Abbey, 193 Beaucamea recurvata culture, 213 Beaudesert, 387 Keddinfr-plant house, 16 Bedding plants for autumn exhibition, Bedlington Poultry Show, 434, 450, 469, 489 Beech, 139 Bees—ants robbers, 4*32; apiary in 1871, 69 ; at Camberwell. 140 ; Con- vention of German keepers, 181 ; disturbed. 532; driving. 378: drones, number, 532 ; rearing, 435 ; slaughter, 532; what do they do? 265: dying 140; dysentery, 138; fighting, 340; fragments from hive, 304; adaptin'? frames to box, 320 : Hives, 471 ; de- serted. 378; large versus small, 163, 205, 377, 454 ; moving, 140. 320 ; queen- less, 340 : Sherrington bar, 47, 93 ; simplest, 266 ; straw, painting, 203 ; three-box collateral, 472 ; Woodbury, 206; wooden, 266; ventilation, 224: commencing keeping, 2'i6; Ligu- for, 374; management, 184; Meli- lotus for, 94 ; Mexican, 319 ; net for feeder. 454; notes on, 183; perish- ing, 184 ; pollen, earl^ gathering. 138: Queens, Are artificial inferior? 25 ; dead, 184 ; lenving, 115 ; Ligu- rian, adriing, 378 ; sellmg produce, 532; shading. 25,415; starting Ligu- rians, 206; starving, 378; stocks, removing, 378; sugar, brown, bad for, 245 : supers, adding, 266 ; leav- ing super, 532 ; swarms in chimney, 532 ; early, 357 ; strong, 4i5 ; third, 472; unitmg, 139; swarming threat- ened, 492 : unhealthy, 94 : unions, autumnal, 377; uniting stocks, 284; wintering, 24, 245; not working, 436; Woodbury, Mr., 138 Beet, Chilian, 220; for ribbon-borders, 90; in flower gardens, 269, 323; planting Red, 316 Begnnias, gossip, 296; damping, 156; after flowermg. 353 Berries. sowingVarious, 90 ' Pertholletia excelsa, 345 " Bible, Natural History of," 236 Bidens atropurpurea, 40 Birds, attacking buds". 19 ; frightening, 411; varying their notes, 489 Birmingham Columbarian Society's Show, 23 ; Philoperistcron Show, 223 ; Poultry Show, 163 ; Summer Poultry Show, 414. 531 Black beetles, destroying, 454 Blackburn Horticultural Show, 461 Blandfordias and culture, 403 BliEht in the air, 373 Boilpra, in9, 199, 200, 509; elevated, 4S7 : setting, 89, 300 Boiade Boulogne, 37 Bolbophyllum lemniscatum, 328 Bones, dissolving. 146, 177 Border flowers. 199 "Botany for Beginners," 4"il Bottom heat, excessive, 353 ; to out- door plants, 189 ; from pipes, 199 Bouquets, button-hole, 346 Bowood, 32 Box, edging, cutting, 509 ; edging and tree. 169 Bradford Ornithological Show, 223 Brahmas, as layers, and Cochins, 226 ; Light, 262; feathers, 266; keeping, 280: light cocks' points, 284; hens dying, 377; out of order, pullet lame, 378; marks of Light, 396 ; comb of cock, 416; points of Light, 48; pullet dead, 70; plumage of Dark. 358 ; Light, good and ill-shaped, 133; weight at Birmingham, hens, 139 ; roosts for, hen's abdomen swollen, dark and light, stock, 164 ; cock wheezing, 183 ; cock's defects, 206; Light, crop-bound, 304: pullet precocious, 514; washing Light, I weight, cross with Dorkings, 492; cross with Turkey, 531 ; keeping, 532 Brazil nut, 345 Breeds, pure versus cross, 511, 512 Bridges, rustic, 426 Bristol Poultry Show. 41,66 Broccoli, Cornish, 72 ; succession of, 98; Wall's Excelsior. 381 Bromeliaceous plants, 71 Bromelias, 198 Brompton Stocks spring sown, 430 Broods, uniting, 340 Buda Kale. 430 Bulbine Mackenii, 209 Bulbs from Italy, 178 Bullfinch diarrhceaed, 804 Burghley House, 11 Cabbages, scccessios of, 223; ta- BIETIES. 117 Cactus, culture, 509; not flowering, 392 ; propagation, 430 ; speciosus not flowering, -^61 Calceolarias, for bedding, &c., 279 ; culture, 240, 336; cuttings, 336 ; dis- eased, 530 ; seed, 261 Calico for Cucumber frame covering, 317 Californian fruit ranch, profitable, 497 Callas not flowering, 41 Camellias — buds falling, 41; buds not opening, 221 ; and culture, 230, 285; buds black and falling, 279; propagatine, 109 ; as hardy shrubs, 156; select, 193: repotting, 316; leaves spotted, 317 Canaries— among Clear Jonques, 357. 377: throats diseased, 378; and Mules. 395: evenly-marked, 803,318, 339, 355, 395, 415, 491, 513; Jonque. Canaeibb— Continued, ing and sneezing, 416; one-mandi- bled, 416; and Mules, 318, 339, 355; hen celibate, 320; food for young, 353 ; not mating with Goldfinch. 532 ; continually moulting, 492 ; mocking, 113: parasites oa, 138; matching, head unfeathered, 140; dead, 140 ; cannibal, 184 ; teaching to pipe, 184 ; classing Mules, 204 ; room for, 225 ; nesting, 225 ; wash- ing, 226; feeding, 226; breeding, 326: exhibiting, 244; Show, waiting for the Judge, 263 ; teaching to pipe, 69 ; characteristics, 48 ; Mule-breed- ing, 48; Goldfinch Mules, 94; un- well, 94 ; eye-blind, 94 ; husk in, 94 Canarj-'s song ceasing, 453 Canker in fowl's mouth. 531 Cannas, planting, 240, S72 Cannibalism in fowls. 26 Capillary attraction of soils, 497 Capunismg, 116 Capsicum culture, 249, 293 Carnation propagation, 352 Carrot, forcing, 6 ; manures for, 172 ; for showing, 155 Carter's & Co.'s seed farms, 334, 346 ; prizes, 34; challenge cup, 55 Carton, 405, 419 Caryota excelsa culture, 125 Castle Bromwich, 497 Caterpillars, destrojing, 262 Cats, eating chickens, 436; the Popa's, 45.1; new use of, 479 Cauliflowers, 508; forcing, 289; notes on, 33 ; succession of, 97 Celeriac culture, 321 Celery, for exhibition, 132 ; lifting, 89 ; for market, 221 ; storing, 99 ; suc- of, 248 Chamrerops excelsa culture, 108 Charcoal ashes, 109 Cheilanthes fronds browned, 316 Cherries, Kentish and MoreUo, 229; leaves blistered, 467 ; tree overluxu- riant, 4 • Chickens, deformed, 377; cramped, young, 320 Chinese fowls, 48, 140 Christmas Rose after flowering, 336 Chrysanthemums, noi fiowerinR, 155 ; select, 240 Cineraria, culture. 240; seed, 261; dying, 261; drooping, 177 Classes of poultry, regulating, 135 bouse, 509 ; for stove, 261 ; for north wall, 193 Closets, di-y earth, 109 Coccinellffi, 146 Coccus Adonidum, 271 Cochin- Chin as, ceck, 355; bens, 116; legs swollen, 436 ; points ofPifrtridge, 454 : weight of White, 358 ; winter- laying, 116 ; puUets ceasing laying, • 246 : hen lame, 246; washing Bufi", 26 : not laying, 70 ; Black, 90 Cocks, and hens, proportion of, 94 spur nail torn off, 454; breeding from wry-breaated, 454 Cockscomb culture, 841 Cocos campestris, 309 Coelogj-ne leutiginosa, 210 Colchester Poultry Show. 203. 222 Cold by radiation, &c., 73 Colour, ita influence, 529 Columbarian societies amalgamating, Bnff, and Mealy defined, 416 ; wheez- i Comb wounded, 164 JOtRNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEB. i July 18, 1872. Conifers, amonji the, 6, IS. 17'), 272 ; raised at Bicton and mode, 77 ; leader restorine, 252, 316 Conoclinium ianthinum for table de- coration, 883 Conservatory arrangement, 89, 132 : plants failing. 40 ; plants for cold. 157; climtcrs, 430; plants, 468; not thriving, 509 Coolayna, 368 Cordon trees, 156 Cork Poultry Show, 44 Corynostylis Hybanthus, 828 Cotinns americanua. 497 Covent Garden Market, 26, 48, 70. 94, 116, m, 164. 184, 206, 226, 246, 266, 284, 80i, 320, 340, 358, 878, 396, 414, 436, 454, 472.492,514 Covent Garden measures, 220, 284 Cows, fodder for, 472 Cramp in chickens, 266 Crates. 373 Creeping plant. 487 CrOve-Cceura, combs, 246: leg3 downy, 436; pointa, 320; cock's tail, 353 Crickets, destroving, 392; poisoning. Crocus stigma promment, 199 Cropping, continuous, 530 Croquet lawn lufty, 3^6 Cross-breeds always moulting, 514 Crotalaria He>-neana, 481 Croionfl, leaves falling, 40; green, 109 Crowing and cackling not a nuisance, 435 Crystal Palace, 269; Bird Show. 159, 181, 204; Cat Show, 414; Flower Show. 431 ; Game ami BantLtm Show,357.374; Fa'.il'^ T":..^. -) ■■■.v, 111 Cucumber, and M' I' ■ ' '<-■ 109; aphides on v' "-• 107,299; culture'. 11. , . . . . '-''■: leaves, 530 : houb',:.:; m. i/^' -n, 35-2: heat, 317; plant^i failin-. 372; with Melons, 372; planting Stock- wood Ridge, 411; seedy. 430; Mar- quis of Lome, 4i0 : culture of frame, 448 : Snoly-Qua culture, 220, 2lj2, 272 Cunningharoia sinensis, 57 CupressuB, heading, 89; Lawsoniana Currants, summer-pruning. 431 Cutbush's show of spring flowers, 251 Cuttings, hotbed for, 199 ; shading, 332 Cyclamen, after flowering. 261; not 'flowering, 27S; faiUng, 317; persi- cum culture. 367 ; seed sowing. 531 ; seed not vegetating, 178 ; not thriv- ing, 109 Cypripedium longifolium, 480 Dahlia, impehialis culttjee, 431; time for planting out, 435 Daphne indica, heading, 371 Dealf-rs exhibiting, 2i; with ama- teurs, 111 Dendrobium, amethystoglos8um,384; Dalhousianum, 495; tetragonum, 209 ; Lo-\vii. 498 Deodorising sewage, 109 Depreesaria depressella, 234 Dentzia propagation, 352 Devon and Exeter Poultry Show, 450 Dianthuses, 316 Diarrhoea in fowls, 48, 206, 353 Dielyira spectabilis culture, 171 Dinner-table decoratir.nB, 419,459 Dipladenia insignis, 329 Disbudding fruit trees, 276 "Dog, The," 319 Dorkings, chickens drooping, 358 ; deaf ear of "White, 320 ; early-laying pullet, 452; four-clawed, 226; hen's comb, 266 ; weight at Birmingham, 139; dving, 183; Cuckoo, 93 Dover Poultry Show, 394, 5J1 ; rule at, 242 Draining, a garden, 109; horticultu- Draias, depth of, 261 Dublin Poultry Show, 92. 112,158 Ducklings, eyes discharging, 514; for market, 473 Duck's egg abnormal, 164 Ducks— fgffs, not hatching, 304; un- fertile, 357 J moved, 340; fattening. __.; trespassing, 530; |Carolina, 94. 47i; Mandarin. 472; Kouen versus Avlesbury, 415 Dundee Poultry Show, 136 EaELT SOWIKG AND FHOST. 299 Eccentricities of plants. 475 Edging plants grub-eaten, 487 Edgings, iron, 391 Edwardsia grandiflora,442 Egg-pouch hard, 93 Egg. eating fowls, 64. 93 ; production, 858. 432. increasing, 432; exit end of, 414, S5S; producers, 265 Eegs— addled. 164; exhibiting, 353; chickens' exit from, 874; hens carrying, 377 ; home production of, 413; "by rail, 416; imported, 130; age for sitting. 454; shelMess, 116; keeping for sitting, 532 ; preserving. 246, 472 ; notes on, 279 ; duration of Titaiity, 284 ; weight of, 435 Entomological Society's Meeting, 80, 188. 211. 297, 363. 505 Epacrises, and culture, 333; after flowering, 178 Epworlh Poultry Show, 394 Espaliers, planting, 64 Eucbaris amazonica culture, 221, 273 Euphorbias, dwarf, 221 Evergreens, on grass. 317; pruning, 431 : for a screen, 509 ; under trees, 40, 260, 430 Exanthemnm palatiferum.209 Exhibitions, managemont of poultry at, 512 Explanation needed, 254, 269. 296 Exton Hall, 311 ; flower garden, 330 FiKEjmAM Poultry Snow, 223, 242 Falkirk Poultry Show. 137 Farms, profitable small, 28 ; to make small answer. 83 " Farms, Small," 365 Feather-eating fowls, 140, 164, 396, 514 Feathers plucked out, brittle, 26 Fermenting material in vineries, &c., 448 Fernery ventilation, 261 Ferns -for cases, 316, 397. 442: greenhouse, &c., 316; hardy and exotic, 207 : under yellow glass. 486 ; culture, 431 ; notes on. 165, 325, 360; not thriving, 65 ; for wall, 300 Ficus elastica, not thriving, 109 ; cul- ture. 198 Fi^s. pot-culture, 247 ; on vinery wall, 337 Flower, beds, 353, preparing, 261 ; gar- den, 147, additions to, 147, beauty of form in plants, 433, hints, 228 ; its parts, 402 Floweriuir trees and shrubs. 510 Flowers, obtaining double. 481 " Flowers of the Field,"' 425 Flue, beating, defective, 40, 109; iron pipe lor, 19.278 Foliaged (fine) greenhouse plants, 316 Forcing pit, 198 " Forest trees of Britain,"' 143 Fountain, self-acting, 421, 460; for poultry, 532 ountaine's fi i owl-house rOv-» ^.^^^^. — Fowls— dung, 89 ; dying mystenouslv, 396; which breed is best? 412,487; separating pullets from cockerels, 454; exhibiting, 221; catarrhed, 225 : at shows, 242 ; management. 242 ; for profit, 110. 200, 262, 281, 301, 469 ; feed- ing at shows. Ill ; breeding pure, 116; management at sbows, pure versus cross-bred. 157 : in confined space, 184; desired, 206: treatment md befo] --i-;>-;'-- "Or.. , 11 space, -king, 472 Frames, covering for, 110 ; glazing, 372; vi'rsus pits, 219; use of small, Freezing, plants endui-ing, 494 Fr jtiilaria tulipifolia. 384 Frost, late, 441; in D-eland in May, dressing, 177, 178, pruning newiv-planted, 279. newly-planted, 392, new -way to make, 34, training miniature, 486. buds. 431. insects on, 431, leaves pinching. 364. 871 ; pro- tecting, 41; in heated greenhouse, 530 Fruits, select list, 40 Fuchsias. 128; for bedding, &c,279; old and new, 81 Fungi, edible. 11 Fumigating. 177, 326, 363 Furze, derivation of names, 278 Game— COCK cross-bred, 94; fo'rxs, breeding Pile, legs of. 26; cock's eyes, ?58; fowls, age of stock, 189 ; hen not laying. 1^^3,225; birds and Bantams Show, 242 Gapes, curing, 472 Garden, labour, 393: letting, 220; levelling and plottinr.'. 53; nomen- clature, 344 Gardeners— examinations, 199; Gene- ral Association. 479 ; Benevolent In- stitution, 505 ; Unions, the best, 515 ; Self-supporting Society, :^28 Garrya, elliptica, 190, 194, 275 ; female, 314 Geese, keeping, 531 Genista propagation, 4r>.'^ Geraniums— colour of Tiii'lnr. 4'^iV select bedding, 510: cin;ir. _'j > ii n^ , 336: leaves spotted. •2r.i, :.., : nut if doors, 371 : gradation f <-m| nn , .n , : planting beddine. 3 198 : cuttings. 157 : room, 109; in vi-inter, 133; double- flowered, 156; scarlet bedding, 278 India, plants from, 372, 373; seed Gladiolus, culture, 15: disease, 494; does it degenerate ? 227 ; compost, 261 ; purpureo-auratus. 61 Glass, imitation of ground, 115 Glazingwithoutlaps, 90. 317 Gleichenia rupestris, 151 ; culture, 93 Goat feeding, 532 Gold fish in aquarium, 70 Gooseberries— caterpillars, 431, 510; showy-flowered, 353; summer-prun- ing, 431; for gathering green, 448; tree aphis, 392 Gorse. propagating double. 468 Grafting, 96. 120, 190, 2C9, 211, 252, 268, 310; splice, 480 Grape-room at Beltou, 86 393 ; why they fall, 95 : rusted, 411 ; shanked, 40; size of, 220; spotted. 411, 448; succession and merit of late, 59: supply of late, 172; thin- ning. 410; Hamburgh or Hambra? 188; Gros Colman. 102, 125: Royal Ascot, 10; Mrs. PincG Black Muscat, 17. 33, 106. 118, 273, 308. 430 ; Madi" Grass under Chestnut trees, 467 Grasses, twelve hardy, 155 Gravel walks, grass on. 352 Greenhouse— cheap. 5io ; climbers, 392. for f-hading, '■■■', . n- u ng, 166; culture, 63: ' ;■ ' ' iT- ing a sTian-roofeil. ■ i'- small, 156: paintiir.'. _ . ^ . ii;':;:-.H ; ; rafters, 156; Tem-'Sni-^, o-jo , ioof, 27S : small. 467 : small elevaied. 495 ; stove for, 502 ; a useful. 214 Grevillea rosmarinifolia, 480 Guano, 3C0 Guemsev Lily, not flowering, 240 ; planting, 392 Guinea Fowls, detecting sex, 94 Guinea pigs versus rats, 492 Gnm picking, 193 Gwydyr's, Lady, poultry establish- ment, 224, 264 .. .■: ^ 125 Cattk\:i . ii ; III . 31 Char.iitHNl.ik. 129 Chestnut avenue ul Minimes S3 Coccus Adomdom 271 Coolayna flower garden Creve-CiBurs' combs Cunninghr Cypripedium Lowii . Duck house . Edwardsia grandiflora Elaphoglosfium eonforme Exton Hall, pleasure grounds and chureh, 312, flower garden Ferniehurst cool Orchid house Fountain, self-acting 424, ,, poultry Fruit-tree leaves, pinching Garrya elliptica Gooseberry Sawfly buttress-i ching \ I bud I branch 97, „ English „ variousmodes 120, ,. Walnut Grapes, keeping in water 86, 212, Greenhouse shading Ground levelling and garden plotting .. 53, 54, G5Ticrium argenteum Hamwood 994, Hawkesyard Heating sp.an-roof ed greenhouse Hemionitea palmata Heracleum giganteum Ice storing Inarching 97, 120, Ingcbtric Hall „ gardener's lodge Jetd'eau July Lamport Hall flower garden Land measuring 54, Larix enroprea pendula Lilium Thonipsonianuni Lime-tree avenue at Minimes Lindsi-ea trapezifonnis ISIaidstone cemetery Maze ; Meniacium palustre Mouse traps 199,232, 370, PAOB. Muaa rosacea 9 Niphobolus lingua 8G0 rdontogloBsum citrosmum 30 Olfersia cervina 360 Oncidium hfematochilum SI Orchid-house, cool at Ferniehurst 100 Otiorhynchus Bulcatus 506 „ tenebricosna 506 Pea hurdles 468 Fears, Benedictine S „ Beurri- de Biseau 811 „ Edgarley Foundling 8 „ Esperine 8 Pear spups, pruning S64 Phalseonopsis amabilis 8U tigeon, Archangel 46 „ Magpie SS6 „ Nun 161 „ Trumpeter 451 „ Urallce 283 Pine Apple, seedling 101 „ „ houses and pita 456 Pipes, proportion of 329, 365 Poles 52T Pond-making 379 Poultry house. 281 Primula japonica 427 Protectors. Lloyd's wall and plant 46S Putteridgebury 444, 445 Ralegh. Sir Walter's birthplace 175 Sandringham, old house 6) „ church path— 61 „ flower garden 104 „ new house 10* Shading 74 Sirex gigaa 271 Solannm macranthum 148 Stoke Park poultry yard 225 eggroom 264 Stove, Amott's 510 Thermometer stand 4, 5 Transplanting 236,237,274, 275 Traps, flgure4 199 „ formice 232 Vale Royal 158 „ ,. flower garden 15S Vandasuavis 31 Vanessa Autiopa 52S Vulture hocks 26 Walnut grafting 170 Willow, male and female flow* rs 402 Window garden design 174 Woodstock 462, 482 Jaunary 4, 1872. ] .JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day Clook 1 Day J before of P Sun. 1 Year. 1 Montb Week. JANUARY 4—10, 1872. tnre near London. 43 years. Sises. Sets. Rises. sets. Age, Nigbt. Mean.' Days. m. h. m. h. m. h. m. h. Days. m. a. 4 Th 42.2 WR 35.4 17 8af8 3af4 17af 0 19 af 6 23 5 F 41.4 27.3 34.4 16 8 8 3 4 33 1 6 7 24 6 28 5 6 S 41.1 28.6 34.8 14 7 8 4 4 66 2 57 7 25 5 65 7 Sun 41.7 29.1 35.4 17 7 8 6 4 19 4 53 8 8 M 41.0 30.1 36.5 14 7 8 7 4 45 5 51 9 27 e 47 8 9 Tn 41.2 30.8 36.0 15 6 8 9 4 6 7 66 10 28 7 13 9 10 W 42.0 80.3 36.1 18 6 8 10 4 15 8 after. • 7 38 10 Fi'om observations taken near London during forty-three years, the averafce day temperature of the week iB 41.5®; and its Qight temperature 29.2°. The KTCatest heat was 54% on the 7th, 1846, and 9th, 1852; and the lowest cold 11^ below zero , on the 4th, 1867. The greatest fall of ram was | 1.00 inch. 1 IBRAS kewYC 0OTANI QARUi THE NEW YEAE'S PROMISE. ID yon ever tlirouf;;h an open door overliear a little cliild saying its lessons ? I do not mean one so far gi'own as to be dignified with the name of boy or girl, but a child, a httle child, a tnisting, fully-confiding httle tiling, such as the Great Master took on His knee and declared that " of such was the kingdom of heaven" — one that as yet its mother could not on any account allow any other one to teach ; and as to its lessons they are but half play, a httle verse or two, a merry run- ning i-hyme which is repeated and acted as well. Now, if through an open door, or window, you, unseen, have overheard such a httle one so doing, you have stood, and paused, and hstened with dehght unfeigned to the silvery voice so new, so clear, so young, and you have thought, ■Wliat a sweet beginning of hfe ! No child this cuffed by cruel hands ; no dirty, ragged, gutter-child, but all that should be. AVliat a sweet beginning of hfe ! what a fair promise of a bright and happy future ! Now such-like is the beginning of this year, not as last year, with war near us. No cruel siege of a gi-eat city, no stars-atiou within of woman and cliild, but all pleasant, all promising ; peace at home and abroad ; the nation's love roused to the nation's Sovereign and her son ; the old Enghsh Oak shown to be sound at heart stiU, the old herethtai-y in- stincts true as ever, and the national heart still human and hmnane. The year opens with all Englishmen having felt and feared together, and so now bound clo.ser together. The new year comes to us, and it seems to give a fan- promise of happiness, and like the httle child's voice, it is young, and new, and sweet. What it may prove none can know until its end, but this we may say, it promises well. Now let me note some current or recently ciurent matters which bear, or have borne, upon us as readers of " oiu' Jom-ual." There is said to be a tendency in this age for wealth to become centred in a comparatively few, and, on the contrary, the many to become very poor, so that rich men will grow richer, and poor men poorer. Of many som-ces of wealth I will not speak ; but of one, the old source — land, I wiU speak briefly. Thirty years ago, and fm-ther back, the poor man had a better chance, because commons were not enclosed, and each resident had " a common right." In the part of England I hved in when a boy (the fens of Cambridgeshire), commons were accorcUng to their name, common in number and in character, and on them the poor man could graze his flock of geese, and let his sow and her pigs take their nm. Commons are now tilings of the past, and the poor man is a loser. Tliis should be remembered by those who have landed property ; and if the best of the poor are to be kept either from emigration or from removuig to large towns, laud must be attached to each cottage. In Ed- ward IV.'s reign no cottage was without its fom- acres, and in Ehzabeth's reign no cottage had less than a rood of land attached to it. The owners of land are doing No. 662.-VOL. XXII., Nbw Sfiues, well, occupiers are doing well, for if a faixa be vacant there are a dozen who want it. I speak of my own neigh- bom-hood, where it is impossible to get a farm unless by interest or favom- of some kind, and often have I been asked for a recommendation. Tliis being so with owners and occupiers, I want to see the deserving among the lower class favom-ed with a few acres here and there, and a good garden always, and the land not let at what is called " accommodation price." These are times when mucli is done, in sickness especially, for the poor ; but charity lowers self-respect, and is apt to injm-e, whereas help a man to help hunself, and you benefit his pm-se and his character too. Of one pleasant day connected with benefit to the poor which I spent last year I must briefly prattle. The late Prince Consoi-t foimded an association for improving the condition of laboiu-ers and others Uving in Windsor and twelve sun-oimtling parishes. It helps in this way : Prizes of £1, £2, or £B to the labourer, or artisan, "or his wife who has brought up a family in sober, honest, and industrious habits, without parish relief, except in cases of sickness ; also to the widows of such. Prizes- of a similar kind to families distinguished for cleanliness: and tidiness of house and person ; also to weU-conducted servants who have hved longest in the same place. To- young persons who have kept their first place of service for the longest period (not less than tliree years). Prizes,, too, to the best cultivators of the gardens and allotments,, being persons of honest, sober, and good moral character. Prizes, also, for exliibitors of the best collection of vege- tables, or the best specimen of needlework, cottage handi- craft, and economy. Now, it so chanced that I was ia- vited by one who takes great dehght in " our Journal," and reads its pages evei-y week, to be present last July at the annual meeting of this Society, held in the Home Park, Windsor. No pleasanter and more ti-uly joyous scene can be imagined. The Home Park, which lies just beneath the grand old Castle and its ten-ace, was opened to aU. Crowds of healthy Berkshh-e labom-ers, thek wives and daughters, were present ; crowds, too, of ladies and gentlemen, mihtary uniforms, so Windsor-hie, and' music and tents fiUed with flowers and fraits, and works of needle, and knife, and tool. Right pleasant was it to see the prizetakers — 226 in all — receive the rewards of their good conduct, thi-ift, or skill from the hands of one of oiu- Piincesses, who gi-aciously stepped down fi-om the platform on which she stood, when an old woman of eighty-tlu-ee and another of seventy-seven received piizes for then- needlework, so thoughtfully spaiing their totter- ing steps. Then there were thi-ee huge Guardsmen who received prizes for their — mark it ! — needlework — bed- covers and patchwork tablecovers ! Wlien I saw all this, princes, nobles, clergy, mihtary men, all busy and happy ■svith doing good to the poor, I had two thoughts — one. Such tilings make England strong ; the other. Why should not such associations be in evei-y neighbom-hood ? There is also another matter connected with conferiing benefit on the poor which I must mention. I have noticed during the year the Children's Flower Show at No. 1211.- Vol. XL-Vn., Old Sekieb. JOT'ENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ JannaiT 4. 1872. the Victoria Docks, and Mr. E. Fish followed soon after with ail admirable article cnlitletl " Importaiice of an Interest in Gardening and Natural History to the Young." If that paper hapiienod to escape the eye of anyone interested in the im- prov.nu'ut of children, let "me fitate that Mr. Fish's remarks are to Ijc found in the number of our Journal for July '27th. But yet the other matter I was alluding to, I mean another Bcheme for tlie good of poor cliildren. It seems that Mr. Euskiii, England's great art critic, who has aho-wn in liis writing how marvellously pliant and powerful is the English huiguage, has given a small space of ground for a play-place. Our forefathers would have called it a pleystow, or' plestor, locHs luiluruin, for the poor children in one of the densely- peopled parts of London. It is but a small space, but when it had been cleared of rubbish in came the London children and, with as keen enjoyment as our rural ones, mounted the sea- saws, and held on at the swings ; and we ai-e told that gi-adu- ally the tone of the children was improved ; the maimers, bad indeed at first, grew better. The presence of ladies among them began to tell. Miss Hill says, "We took them flowers, acornt?, seaweed, pictures, beads, all marvellous new things to be seen and handed round. We taught them games, and they played them. Many an houi- have I spent teaching them to make dai.sy-chauis, or to thread beads. Our ground was in one of the worst courts of the neighbourhood, and the dirtiest, wildest children flocked in without restriction. Now, gi'adually, in- stead of destroying all that comes in their way, they actually dehght to watch and water our five trees which we have planted, and our creepers. The civihsing influence has partly been from the fact that the children are withdi'awn from the terrible influence of the streets and courts, and partly from the fact that they are gi-aduaUy placed amongst pretty things that want care." Miss HUl goes on to state that they have one annual gathering, on May-day, and a Maypole, and many friends are there to meet about four hundred cliildren. Here, surely, is a blessed work. Here are " sweetness and light " for poor things brought up in the midst of filthiness and darkness. Would that there were many such playgrounds scattered over London. The Parks are too far for many. Childien must play. John Wesley, good man as he was, made yet a great mistake in his arranging each hour's work for each day in his institution for children, and yet not to aUow a play hour. This may be excused in him, for he was a childless man. Children must play. Last summer I saw ragged urchins playing horses in St. James's Park, and if such have no whole- some play they become precocious, impish, little things, look- ing upon all people as their natural enemies, full of thief's slang, mocking in gesture, and filthy in converse. Whence aU the wUd ideas of the Communists? from the fact of their working all then' days in town workshops, shut out from the pure air of heaven, and from the sight of tree and flower. If we cannot take the town children to i)lay in the country, then the n.xt best thing is to provide, as Mr. Euskin has, play-places for them in the town. He has done a patriotic act, and a christian act as well. As to gardeners and gardening, and I hope gardeners are prospering, man's first trade is among his best still, so far as enjoyment goes, if there be in a gardener a true and loyal love for his profession. I have sometimes thought when passing through show tents of beautiful flowers, and fruit, and vegetables, that there is a higher aspect in regard to tak- ing prizes, which is, perhaps, too often forgotten. Not alone is there a wholesome rivalry, not alone do prizes keep men up to the mark, and striving beyond their present mark, but think of the patience needed to obtain a prize. Think of the care and forethought, as well as pains and patience ; and all these improve and raise a man's character. Look at that prize flower; it grew not like the Buttercups, without any tend- ing. Look at those Grapes, amazing in .size of bunch and berry, and rich and beautifiil in colour. TMiik of the hom-s out of bed in the cold frosty nights that the gardener had, and the skill he has shown, aud if sho^vn, the skill he is possessed of. In regai-d to prize birds it is the same. No idle, no imskiUed man takes the cup and the money. What patience a breeder has ! what management in crossing ! what disappointments, often at the produce being so different to what was hoped for ! Now, all this patience, . the outside of the thermometer, to which a cotton wick is to be attached to connect it with the water, and at about the same ■elevation as the ball of the thermometer, in order that the evaporation from the vessel of water may not influence the thermometer on the other side, which is to be the dry-baU thermometer ; for, in some careful experiments which I made •with a vessel placed beneath the balls, it was found that the dry ball was lowered from 0.2' to 0.3°, which, though ap- parently a small error, is a serious amount in the main dif- ference between the readings of the dry and wet-ball ther- mometers. " Fig. 3 is the view of the south side of the stand. No. 3 is iin index mercuriiU thermometer, with a black ball to give the greatest solar heat, r Is a rain gauge on Glaisher's con- struction ; and B is a measure into which rain is to be poured for measurement." For ascertaining the temperature of the soil at various depths, we recommend three tin tubes to be sunk in it in a place fully exposed to the sun, but far from a wall or other shelter ; each tube to be about 2 inches in (hameter, and of the respective depths of 2J feet, IJ foot, and 9 inches. These tubes should have in each a thermometer with the shank lengthened so as to correspond with the depth of the tube in which it is placed. These tubes should be covered over by a hand-hght glazed only on the top to exclude rain from entering the tubes, but entirely open at the .sides to allow of the free admission of the air. The thermometers should be well packed into the tubes with cotton to exclude the atmospheric temperature. The importance of ascertaining for a certainty that the soil is of a temperature correctly relative to that of the air above it is demonstrated by the fact, that naturally its average tem- perature is always higher than that of the au-. In other words, the roots on the average are kept warmer than the branches. From observations made at Chismck during six years (1833— 1847), Mr. Robert Thompson gave the following epitome of results : — " The hottest year as regards the temperature of the earth, 1846, afforded a mean temperature of 52.32" at 1 foot deep ; and 52.85° at 2 feet deep. In the coldest year, 1845, the mean temperature at 1 foot deep was 48.95° ; and at 2 feet deep 49.44°. The respective differences of the two thermome- ters in these hottest and coldest years were 3.37° at 1 foot JOUENAIi OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Jft mmrv 4, 1872. deep, and 3.41= at 2 feet. The mean temperature of the air was 51.45° in 1846, and 47.92" in 1845 ; the difJerenco l^^mg 3.53 " On the average of the Bis years the earth i« ''olJ'^^/ '"^/j" hrtiary, and warmest in July. The mean temperature " *•>« a^ is also highest in .July, but it is lowest in January. Through- out the nfonths the gradations of temperature are not uniform. The monthly progiessiou is as follows :— " Temperature increases. Feb. March. April. May -Ttma .Tuly^ 1 foot de^....(Lo*»Bt» 3.10^ 6.01^ 7.^= 'f/ ^^ iii°f.'!!^::::."'S:^a'"l.§ 5.I0 ?:S i:S I'S, " Temperature decreases. An» Sent Oct. Nov. Dec Jan. Feb. FOECING VEGETABLES.— Xo. 5. THE C.\RKOT. Cabbots must not he omitted from the Ust of the various sorts of vegetables that require forcing, as they are quite as much sought after in the spiing for making-up certain dishes as anv other vegetable sent to table. They are pai-ticukrly sweet: and have a tender transparent flesh, with a flavour peculiar to themselves, so that it is surpnsmg they are not more frequently cultivated. A crop of them can be easily grown by artificial means, since they do not require so much space as'many other sorts of vegetables. A large crop can be produced under a two or three-Ught garden frame, and will last a considerable time, as it is not, like the Potato, an every- day vegetable. To grow them successfuUy a mild temperature only is required, consequently there is much less trouble m applying dung linings to keep-up the necessary temperature. Unlike many other sorts of vegetables, the Carrot does not admit of being forced in a vaiiety of ways. The old method practised for so many years has not been improved upon, nor do I think it ever can be. By it we are most certain of pro- ducing what is requu-ed as inexpeusively as by any other plan. It is tliis : Make with dung or leaves, or both together, a hotbed of moderate thickness, and sweeten it in the usual way ; select an open, airy position for the bed, and place the frame upon it when the lieat begins to rise ; if the weather be frosty at the time, cover the bed with G or 8 inches of soil, which should be moderately warmed, or else it will so diminish the heat as to prevent it rismg again. I would advise that, after the frame is put on, sufficient manure be placed inside so as to bring the soil rather close to the glass ; this soil should be of moderate richness and not too Ught. Be certain that the heat is not likely to become too strong, then sow the seed, cover it with finely-sifted soil, and press the whole firmly with the back of the sipade. After the lights are on regulate the heat by ventilation, and when the heat deeUnes apply external linings of moderate heating capacity. WTien the plants show themselves admit air in favourable weather to prevent drawing, and continue this system of ventUatiou throughout the growth of the crop. As tlie plants grow, frequent thinnings wih be necessary, until, at the end of the final one, the plants wiU remaui not less than B inches apart. Water, of course, must be applied, but moderately at first. If the seed is sown hi the first week in January, which is, I think, the usual time, by the begimimg of March the lights of the frame may be removed entirely in the daytime and placed on at night; but if they are wanted for other purposes, a mat or canvas protection, properly constructed, will answer the purpose of the Ughts remarkably well. There is not a great choice of varieties for forcing, but those we have are really very good. They are the Early Short Horn and the French forcing Carrot. The latter, I find, comes in a httle earUer than the former, though the Short Horn is a better colour, and, I think, better in flavour. The Short Horn is the one I use, and it gives satisfaction. — Thomas Recohd. AMONG THE CONIFERS.— Ko. 1. Is no class of hardy ornamental trees is there so much real utility and elegance combined as in the Conifers. From the time they are a foot high until the time they attain to lai'ge proportions, they are as useful as ornamental. It is in some measure owing to the very early age at which young plants of this order can be turned tp account, that tliey are so much esteemed. A choice selection of young Conifers tastefully disposed about a flower garden m winter has an exceedingly agreeable effect, and offers many pomts worthy of study. Used for such a puri'ose, planted on lawns in smgle specimens or mised groups, distributed in wUd woodlands and over ex- tensive landscapes, thev arc equally satisfactoiy. There can be no doubt but that all the varieties worth grow- ing appear to the greatest advantage when cai-efully arrangei in a pinetum. This, however, can rarely be well done, as a. pinetum, to be worthy of the name, sliould he spacious, and. every part kept in tasteful order. Rather than a form^ pmetum in small gardens, I should like to see the Umited. number of Conifers either associated with other shnibs, or arranged in pleasing groups tending to alleviate the formal aspect of those Primrose-lined turf plats not unusually to be seen. My own idea of a thoroughly enjoyable pinetum is the total absence of all formality of arrangement, and the mter- spersion of groups of Rhododendrons, Roses, Azaleas, Heaths, Kalmias, Ledums, Crataegus, Cytisus, Cercis, Escallonia, Hy- drangea, Maguoha, Pceonia, Philadelphus, Ribes, Spuwa, Sy- ringa, Weigela, or Pyrus. In contrast with the best varieties of these species, the "Couif era; afiord a far more pleasing aspect than when seen alone, as the floweiing shrubs not only con- duce to enliven the scene with their blossoms, but impart greater charm to the " dark-hued Pines." The contrast presented by Conifers of the same kind growing in different soils, is very striking and worthy of attention- Even such hardy and common kinds as the Spruce and the Larch, exhibit tlie influence of soil and situation upon then- general appearance in a remarkable manner. Let the soil be light and sandy, or so close as to merge upon clay, but at the same time we'U drained, and the trees will flourish. The Spruces sending forth then- pendant branches in graceful curves, tasseUed with a profusion of luxuriant laterals, and tapermg in all the stateliuess granted them by Nature, compel our ad- miration and care. I have occasionally met with such trees, —notably at Maresfield Park— but perfect specimens are by no means common. A remarkable difference is frequently visible in large plantations, the Larch appealing to flourish much more vigorously upon slopes and elevated positions than it does m low-lying damp soU, where it is not at all a free grower. Its hardy nature does certainly enable it to mature a shght annual growth, even in such a position, but stunted moss-clad trees are an unpleasant sight. It is, therefore, highly important that those who plant such trees should possess a thorough knowledge of the soil and situation they require. The Welliugtonia mav be taken as an instance. It is a tree that should never be planted in a permanent position without an especial preparation of the soU. What it evidently re- quires is a very deep, cool, and tolerably rich soU, and without this it cannot be depended upon as a lasting ornamental tree. It is, consequently, not a desirable plant for poor or shallow soils, owing to the very considerable outlay that must be in- curred in preparing the stations. The many interesting ac- counts puhhshed during the last few years about the appear- ance of this forest giant in the woods of Cahfomia, have created a sort of rage for it, so that there is hardly a garden to be seen that does not hold a few plants. They are generaUy^ handsome and thriving, but it is very probable that as the trees gain size, instances of failure and bad health will mul- tiply among them, owing to the exhaustion of the too shaUow soil by the strong quick growth. It may be useful to give a few select varieties worthy of associatiiig with the Welliugtonia in its yonng state. Of the Piceas, the ver%- distinct and beautiful Pinsapo, one of the most hardy Conifers, stands first, and the elegant Nordman- niaua and nobiUs deserve to follow. Among Eetinosporas, pisifera is very beautiful when laden with its seed ; leptoclada, very symmetrical and distinct ; and the dense purple ericoides, so useful for combining with the various green varieties. The Pinuses afford us the striking macrocarpa, monticola, and Cembra, all distinct and good. Then there are the Thujas, of which Lobii and aurea are the best ; gigantea, or Libocedrus decurrens, is also valuable for its pleasing shade of green, but its pecuUar rounded top give it a somewhat squat and clumsy appearance. Thujopsis borealis is a great beauty, very elegant and symmetrical. Of other desirable varieties I may select the Deodar, the red and white Cedai's, Cupressus Lawsouiana, Abies canadensis, the Hemlock Spruce, increasing in beauty as it gains size, of which there are some noble specimens at Alton Towers, the elegant Taxodinm distichum, and Araucaria imbricata. There are, of course, numerous other varieties worthy of a place, but my object is to give a few very distinct Januaiy 4, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEK AND COTTAGE GARDENER. kinds for the guidance of amateurs, to wliom a long list is often puzzling and of very little service. — Edwakd Luckhukst. OLD PEABS WITH NEW NAMES. '' In your last number I was pleased to see au article from *' T. R." on " Old Pears and New Names," and that he has been able to fix the name of the Glastonbury Pear, which I hope will be retained, if it is sent out by the trade, as I beUeve it is stm mentioned in the French catalogues. In this neigh- bourhood it is first-class in every respect, both from pyramids and the wall, and where it succeeds should be extensively planted, as out of many varieties it is the best that I have grown. I have no doubt the Pear sent out the last two years by Mr. Sampson, of the Yeovil Nurseries, under the name of the Benedictine, stated to be a seedling and raised at Glaston- bury, is the long-forgotten Esperione. To prove the correct- ness of " T. B.'s" remark, "the great change brought on some Pears by the soft mild cUmate of the west of England," and the necessity of trying many sorts before you plant many trees of one kind, I wiU state that with me Louise Bonne of Jersey, which appears to be a great favourite, is almost worth- less, and does not even deserve that limited space which Mr. Bivers, iu his " Miniature Fruit Garden," recommends. — I. A. P. EsPEKiNE, of Van Mons (Esperione, Rivers ? Grosse Louise •dii, Nord, Decaisne). First to second size. First quaUty. Ripe November 6th, 1870, at Merriott, Somerset. ' Form obtuse pj-riform, drawn-in near the top, much bossed, irregular iu outline, and knobbed at the summit. Stalk strong, about an inch long, somewhat curved, and set a Uttle obliquely, some- times suuk or mserted level with the surface. Eye large and lialf closed, set in a wide and rather shallow basin. Skin very thin, greyish yellow, covered with small greenish dots, and spotted and netted with cinnamon-coloured russet, which becomes on the sunny side of a pale rose tint. Flesh wliito, rather fine, and somewhat melting. Juice very abundant, refreshing, sugary and vinous, with a nice deUcate perfume. The above description was made from fruit produced here iu 1870, and the following description was made from fruit pre- sented to me by Mr. Sampson, of Houudstone, near Yeovil, in November, 1871 , and No. 2 is a sectional figure of one of the fruits. Benedictine, Sampson {Doctor, of the Glastonbury gardens). First size. First quality. November. Pyriform, rather re- gular but somewhat one-sided, even and smooth on the sur- face. Skin very thin, yellow, suffused or nearly covered with Ijright cinnamon-coloured russet, which is brightest on the sunny side, pitted with brownish dots, and strewn with brownish specks in the shade. Stalk about 1 inch long, set in a narrow knobbed cavity by the side of a fleshy lip. Eye half closed, and set in an uneven, knobbed, and rather deep basin. Flesh white, fine, excessively melting, and somewhat gritty at the core. Juice very abundant, acidulated and aromatic, with a nice slight astringency and piquant flavour. A beautiful and delicious fruit, with somewhat of the appearance of Marie Louise, and much of the flavour and quahty of that sort. As above, I have given a true and faithful description of the fruit sent to me under the name of the Benedictine by Mr. Sampson who said that he obtained his grafts from a Mr. Lovel, of Glastonbury, and that the original tree grows in a garden, which had at some time belonged to the religious order caUed Benedictines. How old the tree is I have not been able to ascertain ; its age would help to determine whether or not it is or could be referred to the Esperiue, which was raised by Van Mons between the year 1820 and 1830, and was dedicated by him to Major Esperen. The fruit was figured by Bivort, in his " Album de Pomologie," in 18-19, and later by M. De- •caisne, of Paris, inliis beautiful work the " Jardin Fruitier," in 1865. M. Jules Liron d'Airoles iu his " Notice Pomologique," both figures and describes it. Neither M. Bivort's, M. De- caisne's, nor M. Liron d'Airoles' figures or descriptions agree with those of the Benedictine as made by me, nor do the fruit presented to me by Mr. Sampson under that name resemble the fruit of the Esperiue produced here in 1870, and of which I had about half a bushel, so that I had a fair view of the sort, and I made my figure from a medium-sized one. Mr. Rivers, at page 503, thinks the Glastonbury Pear the same }is the " Esperione." I suppose he means the Esporme? as I do not know a Pear caUed Esperione, nor can I find the name in any book or catalogue, not even in Mr. Rivers's own catalogues from 1843 to 1871, although it may be in them and has escaped my notice. I, therefore, from what Mr. Rivers lias written, and from what I know of the two Pears, must with- hold my decision until both sorts begin to show their leaves, a thing that wUl very soon decide whether the two sorts are the same or not. As to the Brockworth Park, I have compared its wood and leaves with many sorts, but have as yet been unable to identify it, neither do I know another Pear like it iu form and size, although the fruits I saw exhibited at the Inter- national Fruit Show in October were, no doubt, produced under advantageous circumstances. I doubted the Pear being a new one at the time it was sent out, and expressed myself so ; yet I have not yet been able to identify it with any other. I bought it when it was offered for sale, and have multiplied it considerably ; and I may state, as it takes well upon the Quince, a few years will sufiice to show whether I and others have paid our guineas for something that is something else. — John Scott. P.S. — The Brockworth Park was certainly amongst the finest if not the finest, of the specimens of Pears shown on October 4th. As most of our own pomologists and some of the best continental ones were at the Show, it is surprising that none of them recognised the Brockworth under its proper name, if it has another. The basket and splendid Pears were con- spicuous enough. [There is clearly some confusion or misapprehension iu regard to the Pear referred to in the above communications and the " Esperiue." On the 16th of November, 1865, we received from Mr. Porch, of Edgarley, a very handsome Pear with a communication, from which the following is an extract : — " Making inquiries from the oldest inhabitants concerning the tree, I can learn but very httle. From the situation one would fancy the tree must have been a wild one, as it is grow- ing in a hedge, north aspect, surrounded by Elms. From its great age I cannot find out whether it has been grafted." Be- lieving it to be a new variety, we named it in our notes " Ed- garley Foundling," and made the following drawing and de- scription of it : — Edgabley FonsDLiNG. — This handsome Pear was sent by J. A. Porch, Esq., of -Edgarley, Glastonbury. The fruit is very narrow towards the stalk, which is slender and woody. The eye is bold, stout, and open. Skin entirely covered with warm, pale brown russet, which has numerous rough scales of russet on its surface ; it is also speckled with grey and green dots, particularly on the shaded side. Flesh white, firm, but smooth and fine-grained, very buttery and melting, with a fine brisk, sweet, and very rich flavour, and delicate perfume. Ripe in the middle of November. On the 18th of October, 1864, we received from Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, a fruit of the Esperine Pear, of which the following are a drawing and description : — EsPEBiNE. — A handsome fruit, even and regularly shaped. Skin smooth, of a beautiful golden yellow colour, with streaks and a very pale crimson cheek on the side next the sun ; and round the crown, there are also some sprinklings of thin cinnamon russet here and there. Eye quite open, set in a considerable depression. Flesh coarse-grained, crisp, juicy, sweet, and half-melting, but without any merit. A second- rate Pear, ripe in the middle of October. Can it be possible that these two Pears are the same ? Much of the e\-ideuce for or against their identity will rest on the age of the tree at Edgarley. The Esperine Pear, which was raised by Van Mons at Louvain in 1823, does not appear to have been one of those sent by him to the Horticultural Society of London, and distributed at any period ; nor is it mentioned in any of the editions of the " Catalogue" up to 1842 as being in the collection at Chiswick. It has never appeared in any nurseryman's catalogue in this country, with the exception of Mr. Eivers's, and there for the first time only in 1855 and again in 1859, and there does not appear to be any evidence of its having been distributed among us. These facts and the age of the tree are against the probability of the Edgarley Pear being identical with the Esperine. So far we should have had no difficulty in the matter, and would have been disposed to pronounce them distinct, had we not received on the 7th of November last, from Mr. Sampson, of Yeovil, a fruit of Benedictine Pear, which is said to be identical with the Edgarley, but which appears to us to be distinct from what we have seen of that variety. The figure and description we made at the time, are as follows : — Benedictine. — This handsome Pear very much resembles Brown Beurre in form and colour. The eye is open, the stalk short and stout, and the flesh is very juicy, but also very JOURNAL OF HOETICTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDEKEB. [ ^-"""t 4, 1872. Edgarley Foundling. Jimuarj- 4, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEIl. Riitty, with a brisk, acidulous, refreshing flavour, ^ritbout I possible that the fruit we received may not have been a richness or aroma. | characteristic specimen, and the inferior quality may have Our own opnuon is that the Edtrailey Pear and Esperine aie I been due to the season. There can bo uo doubt whatever that (juite distinct ; and as regards the Benedictine, it is quite | the Edgarley Pear is a very excellent one.— Eds.] MUSA ROSACEA. This species is a native of the Mauritius, and is veij oina- I >oung pot them in about equiJ parts mental in the stove, but I am not aware that it has been tned decompnseil manuie, and leaf mould, ill the open air duriug the summer mouths, noi do I thmk the | oi sihti s.iud added'. After they hav result would bo " ' ' ' satisfactory if it were so used. M. rosacea, like the beautiful M. coc- ciuea, does not belong to that sec- tion of this genus which is prized for its fruit-bear- ing qualities. Its estimable features are a noble port, handsome flowers, and a growth from 10 to 15 feet in height. These plants are stem- less, although they are generally described by the majority of people as having stout and taU stems, which in reality are composed of the very long and compact sheath- ing bases of the loaves. The blade of the leaf in the species hero figured is dark green and oblong, with a prominent midrib. The bracts of the flowers — the special ob- jects of attraction ill this plant, are a beautiful, long- lasting, ro.sy pink, and, combined with the noble appearance of its leaves, produce a splendid effect in any group of lilants with which it may be ar- ranged. I would strongly urge upon every grower of stove plants jluiu who does not al- ready possess tliis Musa, to add it at once to his collection, if sufficient height can be allowed for its accommodation. The cultivation of these plants is extremely simple. When great quantity of the chignons which the fair sex are also derived from this terial being used for ships' ropes, itc— of good rich loam, well- with a Uttle sharp river e attained to some size a little less ma- nure should be given, for as frait is not expected of them, the with- holding of a little nutriment will only induce them to flower eai'lier. They enjoy copi- ous waterings, and in the case of the fruiting varieties liquid manure is extremely bene- ficial, though I have never used it for tins species. In a young state M. rosacea forms a beautiful object for the decoration of apartments, and even when it grows too large for vases in the drawing-room, it may be used with advantage for halls or staircases, or when any special decora- tions for grand parties are re- quired. I am not aware that the species here fig- ured is used eco- nomically in any way, but several of this genus ai-e extremely useful. One m particulai-, M. textiUs, yields what is known as the MauUla Hemp, and is largely cultivated in the Philippine and other islands for its fibre. The finest portion of this is used for shawls, and I am informed that a adorn (?| the heads of ■ource, the coarser ma- EXPEIIIO CHEDE. STEAWBEEKY CULTUEE. You have had several papers on the cultivation of Straw- berries, and about these I think there is still much to be learnt, especially with regard to the soils and localities suitable to the different sorts. Some years since the variety Dr. Hogg was so much praised for quality and hardiness that I discarded British Queen hi its f.ivour, and have been grievously disappointed. Last season, having planted it freely, I expected to gather a full crop, and a more ragged, miserable result surely never vexed the heart of a .;anguine cultivator. From a row of nearly ?0 yards in length I do not thmk I gathered a quait of Strawberries, and the plants are poor stai'ved specimens which merely exist. I thought this might be owing to the soil bemg too Ught and calcai-eons, but the crop and the plants are no better where the soU is more loamy and free from lime. La Constante is very httle better ; the plants seem more hardy, but the crop is very indifferent. I think if some uiteUigent cultivators were to publish in JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ January 4, 187i your Journal their experiences the information would be of great value, siiecifying at the same tune the character of the soil as regards the clay, the lime, and the iron, the sorts that grow best, and those tliey cannot gi-ow satisfactorily. In this way the ordinai-y grower would eventually ul.taiii -oine guide which would save liini much tunc and many disapjioiiitmcnts. The soil in mv garden varies from a hght allu\iiil to a stiff clay; in the fuiiuer 1 lia\-e found Eivers's Eliza, Eclipse, Keens" Seedling. !Sii- Jo>cph Paxton, and Due de Malakoff suc- ceed well. In the heavier soil the Roseberry, British Queen, Yates's Seedling, and the Vicomtesse Hcricart de Thuiy do tolerably well. Mimy years ago, in consequence of some iuformatiou {but whence derived I have forgotten), I dressed a worn-out Straw- berry bed with the refuse of a brick-ldhi, and the birrnt eaith and fragments of bricks were put ou rather thickly between the rows. The effect was very good, and the blooms and fruit exceeduigly tine. Eecollcct that this was a worn-out bed. Not ha\-iug access now to the same material, I have not repeated the experiment. — T. G. MADAME CHIRAED AND OTHER EOSES. 1 EECEIVED the following from Mr. AV. Paul : — " lu my judgment you ai'e right in recommending Madame Ghii'ai'd. With mo it is quite first-class ; and everyone who sees it pronounces it so. I first met with it iu the um-sery of Pemet at Lyons, the same year that I saw Baronne de Rothschild in the same uiusery, and I find that I marked them both as ' first-rate.' As I journeyed northwards I found at Orleans Madame Alice Dureau ; and this I also marked first-rate [It is so here — TV. F. E.j , with the additional note that I rather prefen-ed Madame Chuard." I do not think it equal to Per- fection de Lyon or Madame Ghirai'd, two grand Eoses, of ex- cellent growth and general good attributes ; but it is still a first-class Rose iu the line of Reiue du Midi, which does not bloom freely here. Reine du Midi is spherical and fine when it opens freely. There is no Rose hi the line of rose-coloiu' equal to Louise Peyronny alin^ Lielia, but it is not very strong iu constitution, although derived from La Reine. I thank Mr. Peach and the electors much. Their selections of Roses are good ou the whole ; but, as far as my experience goes, iu this exposed place, I make out two reluctant bloomers, six /»•(■«(/»(' ^j/ciHC, and six bad growers on the Manetti stock. Eoses which are jtreaiine-iileioe Eoses are valuable for the garden, as they bloom freely iu bad weather, and bloom late iu the season, but they are bad for travelling, and show early in simimer "a shilling eye." — W. F. R.U)cl\tfe. THE ROYAL ASCOT VINE. Eeferbixh to the Journal of September 2'2nd, 1870, page 221, respecting this Grape, I am very happy to say I am now in a position to speak most highly iu its favour. As a Vine for pots it is quite first-rate, being very refreshing to eat, and so black as to look well against the green leaf wheu used for table decoration, while for Grapes to cut in winter and eaily spring it stands without an equal. If strong selected fruit-eyes are stai'ted in January, and the green canes stopped in July, a nice crop cau be obtained in the beginning of the next yeai' and onwards from plants iu 15-inch pots. Thus in about twelve mouths from stai'tiug the eyes you have the reward of all the laboiu' and care. A small dung bed and a glass house without much fire heat are what is required. With a httle tact, from 1.5-iueh pots capital ripe Grapes coijd be obtained in July and January out of the same glass building. Wlien the Vines have frmted once I throw them away. I know that by such treatment it will do well, but as to its bear- ing perpetually I wiU say nothing. Tryhig to make a Vme, or indeed any plant, work on with little or no rest is an attempt to upset the laws of Nature, and from which I rather abstain. I advise those who have it not to obtain it. With me it is grafted for growing hi ground \-ineries, but I intend another season to try it also against a wall, wheu I will state the results, and the stocks I have used. Its hardihood and free bearing are unexceptionable. I send with this coinmmiication (De- cember 26th), a hunch of miniature Grapes obtained from a green cane of this yeai-'s growth in a 10-inch pot, wluch stood against an easteru wall ou which the sun ceased to sliine at 11.30. Here several bunches were produced. AATieu the nights became frosty, however, it was removed to au outhouse until I had time to write this. I removed it in order to see if in so low a temperature bunches could bo obtained from green canes of the same year's gi'owing. Had the Vine been removed to a glass house, slightly heated, all the bunches would have ripened. The failure I mentioned was totally owing to the Vuies which I received being from an exhausted stock, brought about in the eagerness to produce a quantity of Vuies in a veiy short time. The Golden Champion, I regret to see, is much written against. I have seen some grand bunches in Yorkshire grafted on Bowood Muscat, but I think a more hardy stock would suit me better. I shall tiy my best with several stocks, because so noble a fruit is worthy of some painstaking. — R. M. W., Fir Vivii-, ]\'am(ij, near Slicffiehl. LILIES. I have never found an}' difficulty m growing Liliumjapoiiicuni, which thrives with me in peat and leaf mould. I winter the pots of this and other LUies, plunged, like Hyacinths and such thuigs, in sawdust, anywhere out of reach of actual frost. I think the first, or slow-growing period, should be prolonged as much as possible, after which the wai'mer berth of greenhouse or con- servatory encourages development to a high degi'ee. A free ch'culatiou of air is, however, indispensable, and the contrary most prejudicial — to wit, anything of continued close and moist treatment. Much as I object to peat for general cultivation. Lilies un- doubtedly like it. They wOl, however, do well and healthily in loam, with leaf mould or very old hotbed manure. This is aU that is uecessaiy for the Maitagous and other hardy sorts, still I find myself giving a " bit of peat " to a favourite. L. longiflonim will flourish planted under a wall for years, and I have had beds of it in great beauty under peat treatment in a genial situation. It is apt, as my friend Mr. Wilson says, to suffer from eaily frosts. In this case gangrenous spots appeal' ou the leaves, and the plants are checked and injured. Even the common white Lily sometimes suffers iu the same way here. L. japoniciim sometimes lies dormant for a year, which I believe is induced by too dry a season of rest. L. Wallichii I never could induce to start at all. L. tenuifolium came up freely from seed, and thrived in absolutely pm'e sandy loam under a glass frame in front of my stove. L. testaceum luxu- riates with me out of doors in strong loam heavily maniu'ed. Lilies seldom grow or flower strongly the first season out of doors after transplanting. They sometimes, too, resent division in-doors. When a mass is broken-up for stock, rather small pots should be used, and the plants brought ou slowly. I should be glad to know what LUies are known to produce seed in England. I have only observed it upon the old Martagous, chalcedouicum, the old orange, and once upon L. testaceum, out of doors ; in-doors, L. tigrinum speciosum and giganteum have seeded, but L. japonicum and lougiflorum never. Your corresijondeut's autumn Daffodil might be Oporanthus luteus, obtainable from the niuserymen, perhaps even now. By the way, Lilium lougiflorum, which forces veiy fairly, becomes after that operation almost a perpetual, jumping up and flowering at all sorts of odd times, sometimes " In tempore quod reriim omnium est primum " — say just iu time for your Christmas ball. Cainliihim forces well. — E. T. Claeke. HOW TO DIVIDE A PIT ECONOMIC.\LLY. "A" HAS apit 60 feet long, -nlth hot-water pipes along the front and across one end. Now, could he manage to keep out the frost, he would make a hotbed at that end, but at present the heat, by diffusing itself, prevents his doing so. He would also like to use the bottom of the pit for standing pots from 12 to 15 inches in height upon, but he is told that tliis would necessitate the formation of brick divisious, which would seri- ously interfere with the existing aiTaiigemeut of his water pipes, aud entail au expense he does not wish to incur. The advantage of having the floor of the house di\-ided is that one cau so regulate the temperature in the one, two, or three lights fonniug a division, as to giow plants requiring the most different temperatures in each, keeping that compart- ment iu which the pipes meet at right angles, for those that need the highest. Now to effect a very temporary cUvision a clean, double mat would do well, a strong piece of calico on a frame better, and a piurtition made of three cross pieces aud half-inch boards best of all. The bottom should run from wall to wall at any depth reqiui-ed, and the top should be made to suit the slope of the rafter, leaning Ughtly against it seciu-ed by a nsul Jftnuni-y 4, 1872. ) JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 11 or screw, so that tlie sash could slide freely. We find these constructions very useful in a number of cases of which the following may he taken as an instance : — Four lights of a pit have been filled with cuttings, some are half-struck, others want a fortnight of attaining that condition. Place the struck ones in two lights, and the uustruck in the other two ; insert the wooden partition between them, and then you ^ill be able to give warmth and closeness to the one division, and air, so as to harden-off, to the other. — E. P. OUR EDIBLE FUNGI. That any of our indigeuoits Fungi, other than the familiar and fragrant " pink gill " of the pastures (Agaricus campes- tris) , are wholesome or fit to be eaten is a tiling wliich finds small credence even among those who might be supposed to know better. Now, nothing can be more contrary to fact than this mistaken idea, and it is desirable that it should be gene- rally exploded. There are many other species, almost, if not equally, valuable, which, through ignorance, prejudice, or both, are allowed year after year to spring up and grow and waste, when a little knowledge would cause them to be sought after, and converted into useful aud delicious articles of food. Let us take a case in point which the present year affords, as showing that no small advantage would be derived from even a very slight acquaintance with the more fnmiliar forms of iiur edible Fungi. AMiile the ordinary field ilushroom was this year almost a blank, and the supply for the manufacture of catsup all but nil, the Champignon, Marasmius oreades, a species equally palatable, and capable of producing a far supe- rior catsup, was allowed to wither and to waste unheeded, though it might have been largely aud profitably availed of for the production of this last-named article of ciiisiiif. Another case, for which, however, we must go back to last year — by the way, a real Mushroom year. In journej^-iug up aud down the Great Southern line we, as well as nianj' others, in passuig through some of the rich feeding grounds of Kil- dai'e, were struck with the marvellous patches of Mushrooms of all sizes, from that of a cheese-plate to a platter. Our astonishment was rather increased on the return journey to see these beautiful-lookuig " flaps " remaining ungathered. We at once concluded that the abundant supply was in excess of tlie demand, and that they were not considered worth the gathering. However, on since thinking over the matter, we incline to beheve that they belonged to the nearly allied and equally useful and palatable Agaricus arvensis, or Horse Mush- room, and that prejudice, not the consideration of profit, was the cause of their being left to bleach and wither. Some years ago we took occasion in this Journal to allude v;ith regret to the want in our public institutions of well exe- cuted models of at least the commoner forms of esculent Fungi, as also of their deleterious compeers. At Glasneviu Botanic Garden, where it could be seen by such numbers of the public, and specially accessible to gardeners, young and old, such a coUectiou would be of the highest value, in improving their acquaintance with, and enabling them readily to identify at least the most useful kinds. However, no models, no matter how beautifully aud accu- rately executed, can be so instructive as recently collected specimens ; and our reason for alluding to the subject to-day is, that we may inform our readers that in the course of the coming year there is a probability of such collections being for the first time placed before the Dublin public. The learned Professor of Botany in Trinity College, Dr. E. Perceval Wright, being anxious to familiarise gardeners and the public with their forms, and remove some of the prejudice which exists against theu' use, hberally proposes to offer prizes for the best collection of edible Fungi, correctly named and tastefully set up, to be competed for at the Special Fruit Show of the Boyal Horticultural Society of Ireland, to be held in the second week in October next. In order further to provoke spirited compe- tition aud an interesting tUsphiy, the -Society will supplement Dr. Wright's prizes with its silver gilt medal for the first prize, its silver medal for the second, and bronze medal for the third. We trust that not only will the call be responded to by our scientific and gardening friends at home, but that some of the many accompUshed gastronomic fungologists of England may be induced to come over with instructive collections. — (Irish Fanners' Gazette.) Tkaining on Walls. — As cottagers often find a difficulty in training trees upon a stone or other rough wall, a very good plan is to nail osiers or hazel 7 or more inches apart on the wall, and train t)ie trees upon them by tying-in the branches. This will save naUs, as a rod 8 feet will require but a shred Jit each end and one in the centre. — C'anooet Park. BURGHLEY HOUSE, The Eesidence of the Marquis of Exetee. In "Domesday Book" it is spelt Bui'ghelei and Burglea, and detailed as part of the endo-mnents of Burgh Abbey. In later archives it is described as " the manor of Burle, in the township of Burle, near PiUesgate." Racy and mteresting are the memoir's of many of its earlier tenants, but we must pass them over to note that it came into the possession of the Cecils on the suppression of Burgh Abbey, iu the reign of Henry VIII. The chief portion of the mansion was erected by the cele- brated Lord Treasurer Burghley during the reign of Elizabeth, and the dates on various of its parts range from 1577 to 1587. A residence had been erected on the same site by some of his ancestors, for he says in one of his letters, " I have set my walls on the old foimdation. Indeed, I have made the rough stone walls to be squai'e, and yet one side remauieth as my father left it me." The Lord Treasiu-er was the first to form a park around the ma)isiou, but it was much enlai'ged by the Earl of Exeter in 1665, and though we cannot precisely state its acreage, we believe its circumference is about eleven miles. In a portion of tliis park, as tliere probably is underlying the whole of it, uou ore has been found near the surface, aud this is now being worked. Burghley is no exception to the rule. No ancestral hall is without its romance. Burghley, in truth, hath its many romances, but we wUl only particularise, aud that very briefly, one versified by Tennyson. Henry, first Marquis of Exeter, retaining only his family name, retired to Bolas iu Shropshiic. Ho there wooed and won Swali Hoggins. " He is but a lontLscape painter. And a village maiden she." He represented that he was poor — " I can nmko no maniago pi-esout, Little can I give my wife ; Love will make our cottaj,'0 plcasont, Ami I love thee more than life." Towards tliat " cottage" they journeyed ; seeing " wlmtovor'H fair ami aplondiU Lay hetwi-xt his homo ami hers." At length they reached She wondered to see the deference with which he was re- ceived, £uid the freedom with which he passed " on from hall to hall," but the solution was at hand ; — *' For, while now she wonders blindly. Nor the meaning can divine, Proudly turns he round and kiiidly, ' .Mi "of this is mine aud thine.' " Slie was " The Lady of Burleigh," and gladdened should wo be if we could add that she sustained long and firmly her elevation, but tlie transition was too sudden; her spirit was not self-reliant— she feared that she could not worthily he the Marchioness — " So she di-oop'd and droop'd before him, FadinR slowly from his side ; Three fair childi-en first she boro him. Then before her time she died." Burghley House is about a nule to the east of the Stamford station of' the Stamford and Essendine EaUway — a railway made by the Marquis of Exeter; hence it has been said that travellers by it are the Marquis of Exeter's passengers. It need hardly' be remarked that when our great trmik lines were projected great opposition was made to them by the gentlemen through whose estates it was proposed they should pass, and originally it was intended to take the maui line of the Great Northern through Stamford on the old Great North Road, but the Marquis of Exeter of those days opposed its passage, and successfully. Stamford, great ui coaching days, suffered much from the iliversion of the traffic by road without receiving compensation in the shape of raUway communication with the great towns of the kingdom ; but now all that is changed. By the little line just referred to it is brought into connection with 12 JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. [ Joauoi-y 4, 1873 the Great Northern system, and the North-Westeru and the MiiUaud lines each have branches to Stamford, so that perhaps no town of equal, if not greater, population is so well provided with railway accommodation. It is not improbable that the opposition to this in the first instance was the best thing that could liave happened, for, the want being felt, the railway com- panies were all the more anxious to meet it. The principal entrance to the park is on the Great North Koail, but there ai-e others in different directions leading through avenues variously planted with Limes, Ekus, and Cliestnuts. The mansion faces a little to the west of south, consequently the other side has a north-easterly aspect ; it is on the latter side that the carriage circle is situated, but it strikes one that something is wanted to break the flat appear- ance of the wide circle of tuif enclosed by the broad gi'avel drive, say a statue or a fountain, wliich must, however, be of a character to accord with the building — not necessarily gor- geous, like the richly-gilt wTought iron gates which give access to the house on this and the west side — but noble in its appear- ance. Round the outside of the circle is a nairow border which in summer is occupied with Dahlias, Hollyhocks, and other flowering plants interspersed among the dwarf shrubs which are the permanent occupants. On the west side the most notable object is a small-leaved Lime tree planted by Queen Elizabeth, and therefore more than 300 years old; its trunk is about 7 feet in diameter, but though preserved with all the care due to so ancient and venerable a tree, its years are numbered, for its limbs, though chained together and propped up, creak ominously, and must eventually give way before one of those strong " sou '-westers " to which it is so much exposed. But there is life in the old tree j-et, and when such a catastrophe shall have occurred the stump, which will pro- bably be left, will doubtless throw out fresh branches, and ' thouglr then for many years the tree will be little better than a pollard, it will still remain as a memorial of the Virgin Queen and her far-seeing minister. On the south, or more strictly south-west front, of which we give a view, are a thriving young Oak — at le:ist, young as Oaks grow — planted by Her Majesty when on a visit to Burghley in 1844, and a Lime tree planted by the Prince Consort. Extensive views over the lake and park are obtained in this dii-ection, in one of which a bridge of tlnee arche.5 is seen spanning the water. Eight handsome standard Portugal Laurels in tubs are ))laeed along the terrace walk and sloping lawn in front of tlie mansion. On the east side is what is called the Orange Court, in which are several stone-edged oval beds grouped round rockwork, in the centre of which is a fountain with an oval basiu about 16 yards long by 12 in its shorter diameter. The bashi was empty, having been cleared out to be stocked with tish arti- ficially hatched. The orangery, like a great many others in this country, has been turned to other purposes than plant- preserving, though it contains a few Camellias. Bm-ghley has no conservatory, and the only plant houses are three substantially-built lean-to's, with stone shelves iu front and stages at the back. These are chiefly occupied with old plants and cuttings of Geraniums, by Azaleas, Cinerarias, and plants for house and table decoration, such as Draea;nas, Coleuses, Ferns, and a number of excellently -bloomed Chinese Primulas, of which Mr. Russell, who manages thi^j pai't of the garden, finds the double-white very useful for bouquets, as the petals do not drop so readily as those of the laigcr-flowered and more sho\^'y single kinds. The pleasure gi-oimds surrounding the house cover between thirty and forty acres, including a large extent of kept gi-ass, which of course involves a heavy amount of labour, and owing to then' situation being a breezy upland, it must be difficult to keep the lawns so free of leaves as they were when we saw them. There is an .American garden occupying a large circle under the lee of a mount, likewise a rosery ; and near the shores of the lake is a garden of 14.5 small geometrical Box- edged beds, wliich must be very difficult to plant, as the beds form complete designs from various points of view, and still more difficult to keep in order from tlieir small size, many angles, and exposed position. At the head of the lake there is also a series of long beds on one side of the walk along a bank probably artificially formed, and on the otlier the gi'ound rajiidly descends, and is densely clothed with Laurels and other shrubs. Laurels both Common and Portugal, but espe- cially the former, are planted iu great numbers b^- the sides of the pleasure-ground walks, as they thrive so well under the trees. Of these there are many noble specimens of the Cedar of Lebanon, one having a stem nearly 5 feet iu diameter at the base ; there ai'e several others almost as large, but not so handsome, having lost some limbs through wind and snow. There are good trees of the Hemlock Spruce and some other Pinuses, but the number of those not indigenous to tliis Jttunary 4, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 13 country is not large, nor is the soil favourable to them. The ' overflow of the lake forms a waterfall, descending into an old quarry now planted, and bears such a resemblance to that at Bowood, though it is ou a smaller scale, that one is led to suspect it is the work of the same hand, especially as the lake of thiity-two acres has probably been fonued iu a similar maimer to the one at the place referred to. One of the most beautiful views of the lake is seen in the aceompanyuig en- gi'a\Tng from a clever photogi'aph, but since it was taken the boat-house has been pulled down and a new one ha.s been commenced. In a gardening point of view, however, the gi-eat feature of Burghley is its kitchen garden, of which the ruling genius is Mr. E. Gilbert, whose name is well known as a successful ex- hibitor of fruit and vegetables, and that not in local compe- titions, but in such as have taken place at Kensington and Nottingham. The garden in which these products are grown, situated far to the south of the mansion, from which it is separated by a wide breadth of the park, is one of the largest iu the country, covering about fourteen acres within the walls, but there is also a large area iu outside slips, besides an orchard of four acres, in wliich are grown Sea-kale, Ehubarb, and Greens of various kuids, as well as fmit trees. We will first enter the houses, which are models of neatuesft and cleanliness, the walls fresh limewashed, the woodwork not long painted, the glass perfectlj' clear, and not an insect to be seen. The first vineiy is a lean-to, 60 feet by 1.5, and the Vuies are chiefly, if not exclusively, Black Hamburghs, which have been planted about forty years ; but by gi'afting Mr. Gil- bert is introducing Black Damascus, Ferdinand de Lesseps, and several new kinds. The scions worked on the old Vines are taking remarkably well, and are treated on what may be termed the bottle system, the lower end being inserted m a bottle of water. Between this house and the second vinery is Tlie Lull' lit Uiu-ld. a.lobby filled with Chinese Primulas, CaUas, Mignonette, and various other decorative plants, among which is the Borage, ornamental by its blue flowers, and useful for claret cups as well. Vinery No. 2 at present contains the MUl Hill Hamburgh, but Mr. Gilbert purposes plantuig it with Lady Downe's and other late kinds, makuig the border inside. It also contains a number of Pine suckers, Vicomtesse Hericart de Thuiy, and other Strawben-ies on the top shelf, both small and large Vines in pots for the dinner table. Peas, and Potatoes. The next two houses are each 30 feet by 1.5, and are occupied with pot Vines, chiefly Black Hamburghs and Sweetwaters, breaking very regularly, and Pines to be started at the beginning of February for fruiting. To prevent bleetling in the Vines a kind of varnish is employed, which sets hard and appears to answer the purpose effectually. Two Muscat houses come next, in which tine crops have been produced ; indeed an excel- lent crop still remains, though one-half has been cut. Treb- biano, which Mr. Gilbert esteems highly as a large late-keeping Grape, is to be introduced into these houses, as well as other kinds, which \vill carry the supply further on in the spi-ing. Vineries Nos. 5 and 6 are devoted to Lady Downe's, West's St. Peter's, Mrs. Puice, Trebbiano, and Alicante, of which the crops are excellent. A span-roofed house in two divisions comes next. This is efficiently heated by thi-ee rows of 3-inch pipes, with evaporating tanks, ou each side, and three 4-ineh pipes for bottom Iicat under the bed, which is 7 feet wide. One compartment is devoted to Cucumbers, which are trained on a trellis under the roof, and are bearing freely ; the other is occupied with Dwarf Kidney Beans, of whicli a large .supply is required. The next two houses are half-spans, each 40 feet long, and are filled with one of the healthiest stocks of Pine Apples which it has ever been oiu' lot to see. The varieties diiefly groflii are Thoresby Queen, Black .Jamaica, and Smooth- leaved Cayenne. These, wliich are intended for .July fraiting, are all planted out in a 9-feet bed of loam and bone-dust. The latter Mr. Ciilbert finds an exceUeut healthy stimulant. Two more lean-to houses (10 and 11), are the first and second Peach houses. The trees in both are in admirable health, and trained with the greatest care to curved treUises 3 feet from the glass. The varieties are Eoyal George and Noblesse ; the former was in blossom in the early house. Figs occupy the back walls, and Strawbenies the shelves at top. Another Peach house has recently been planted with Early York, Early Beatrice, and Victoria Nectarine, and is intended in future years to foiin the earliest Peach house. There is in addition a small Fig house, besides the hip-roofed fruiting Pine pit, which is amply suppUed with both toj) and bottom heat, and contains a large and remarkably healthy stock of plants, with excellent fruit in various stages. At the warm end there is a plant of Musa Cavendishii, which is now bearing a cluster of fruit, but to what size it will ultimately swell it is. JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE G.OtDENEE. [ Joimlr;- 4, 1872. of eom-ae, impossible to eoujectme. Some idea of the number of Pines grown may be formed from the fact that Mr. Gilbert is supposed to have a Piiie ready for table whenever one is required. We will not enter largely iuto the vegetahle-forcmg depart- ment, though heavy supplies are required and jiroduced, and that, too, of excellent quaUty. For instance, of Asparagus there are eleven Ughts, affording gathermgs from November until it is obtained from the open ground, whilst of Mushrooms the production, iu abimdance and excellence, is remai-kable ; indeed Mushrooms are quite a speciality with Mr. Gilbert, and he obtains them at all seasons with certainty and ease iu a weU-coustructed liouse with beds ou arches, under which Ehu- barb and Sea-kale are forced, and Endive brought on and hlauched. The mode of cultivation which Mr. Gilbert pur- sues was thus described by himself iu one of our former volumes : — " I procure two cartloads of good fresh stable manure, and shake out the longest of the straw. I am not, however, verj- particular about this. Then it is turned over in the open air once or twice to get rid of the rank steam. When this is gone the dung is taken into one of the sheds at the back of the houses, and about four barrowfuls of ordinary fresh soU mixed with it. The bed is then made up on the floor of the shed to a depth of about 12 inches, pressed rather firmly, and spawned when at a tempe- ratm-e of between 75° and 80°. A covering of about 1 inch of good strong loam in a rather rough state is then added, and beaten level with the spade. By using heavy loam as a covering, the Mushrooms produced are of a much more solid character than where light sifted soil is used; they are, consequently, more valuable, commanding a far higher price in the market. The whole is then covered up with at least 9 inches of straw or long litter. " I never use any fire heat, as I consider that a piece of use- less extravagance. Better Mushrooms can be gi-own without fire heat than with it, and a continuous supply kept up through- out the coldest winters. Then, if it is so, why should our em- ployers be put to so much expense in erecting and heating grand dungeons for this dainty, which can be so easily cultivated with- out their aid ? " Three ridge beds out of doors have just been spawned, and three more are shortly to be made, so that there is eveiy pro- spect of the ample supply of Mushrooms being continued throughout this as it has been in past years. In one of the outside slips is a very cheaply formed and useful pit for Carrots, Radishes, and new Potatoes. Instead of glazed sashes the glass slides upwards and downwards in grooves, m the same way as iu some veiy economical protectors which Mr. Gilbert has had made as a substitute for hand-glasses. The latter are of the best inch deal, thiice coated with x^aiut, and, glass and labour included, cost but .3s. 6d. each. There can be no doubt that as protectors they will prove more effective than hand-glasses, more durable, and cheaiJer m the long iiui as well as in their first cost. With regard to the houses, it should be added that there are but three boUers, the whole of the vineries and peacheries being heated by one of Weeks's tubular boOers, with a spare one iu case of accident, and some of the smaller house ny a saddle boiler. In the kitchen garden compartments, of which there are six, enclosed by 12-feet walls, with 16-feet borders, are all the usual crops in excellent condition, and nothing could be better than the condition of the trees on the walls — Pears, Peaches, Necta- rines, Apricots, and Figs. The first-named are horizontally trained, in stages about 18 inches apart, and consist of a selec- tion of the best kinds, ripening in succession ; and among the Peaches are several twenty-three years old, lifted and replanted last year, and looking none the worse of the operation. In one of the borders Potatoes were being planted for early use, the kinds being Coldstream Early, and Paterson's Victoria, which Mr. Gilbert prefers to kidney varieties ; in another bor- der is an excellent stock of Snow's Winter White Broccoli, sowm at the end of March, to succeed Waleheren, just over; and in a third a very fine stock of Brussels Sprouts, ranging from 3 feet high, with the stems densely set with fine large sprouts. These were the result of three seasons' selection, but Mr. Gilbert thinks a further selection uecessaiy to render the strain permanent. Extensive quarters of Gooseberries, well- managed pyramid Pears, and all the ordinary kitchen-garden crops are excellently represented. We have now only to add that the fruit -room, root-stores, and the other requisite stnic- tiu-es are conveniently and well arranged ; that in the young men's rooms the convenience and comfort of the mmates have been duly attended to; and lastly, that the order, neatness, and ability with which everything is managed, reflect the greatest credit on Mr. Gilbert, whom we have long known as one of the best gardeners in this countiy. HEATING BY HOT WATER. NoTWiXHSTAXDiNG all the elaborate essays that have from time to time appeared in the horticultural press on heating hothouses v.-ith hot water — not to say anything of the stin'iug controversies that have taken place on the subject — we have the best reasons for belie'i-ing that many wliom the matter intimately concerns have still but veiy vague and enoneous ideas regarding the principles upon wliich the proper adjust- ment of hot-water boilers and pipes depends. And from some cause or other, it is a notion very prevalent that the easiest and shortest way to get deeply immersed iu the disagreeable and undefined difiiculty figuratively tenned " hot-water," is to plunge iuto this heating question, in which are involved furnaces, boilers, pipes, fire, and water, besides that un- fortunate being who has to control the elements and condi- tions of combustion so as to have half-a-dozen thermometer- needles in as many hothouses standing at certain hair-like marks at half-a-dozen different times iu the four-and-twenty houi'S. It is our belief that, if those who have to do with fixing pipes and boOers were to make themselves acquainted with the effects of heat and the power of gravitation on water, it would be next to impossible to commit the blunders, and resort to the unnecessaiy and expensive precautionary measures, one so often meets with and has to deal with. It is no part of our intention to pretend to deal with that imponderable and power- ful agent called by men of science caloric, but which we shall call heat — h;vi3othetically regarded as a subtle fluid, the particles of which are to each other repellent, but attractive to all sub- stances, though iu various degrees. But the effect of heat upon water, an element composed of minute and distinct par- ticles that are supposed not to have the quality or power of transmitting heat the one to the other, as in the case of solid bodies, is one of tlie matters concerning which some knowledge is indispensable in the case of all who have anything to do with heating by means of heated water circulating iu pipes. The particles of which water consists, it need scarcely be said, have a capacity for heat from different sources, but most manifestly so to us in this case from combustion on the fire. Now the expansion of bodies is one of the most universal effects of increasing their heat. This exjjansion takes place to a greater degi'ee in some bodies than in others. Liqnids expand much more by the same increase of heat than solid bodies, and air more than either. With the expansion of the individual particles of water, their specific gravity becomes less; in other words, they become hghter in proportion to their size. Here lies the whole secret of hot-water circulation in pipes and boilers, and the well-known law which should regulate theh relative positions the one to the other. The heated particles of water bound upwards, and, as " Nature abhors a vacuum," then- place is taken up by a rash of colder and heavier pai'ticles. It is of very little practical use to cavil about the question as to whether heat or the greater specific gi-a\ity of the cold water which jostles up the warmer and lighter plays the gi-eatest part iu sending up and away the stream of hot water. Both have a hand in it, no doubt. This influence of heat upon water can be very manifestly shown by filling a tumbler with cold water, and mixing with it some coloured particles of matter, and then immersing the tumbler m a vessel filled with hot water. It \\-ill at once be seen, by the motion of the particles of coloui'ed matter, that at the sides of the tumbler there is an upward current of heated, and in the centre a downwai'd current of colder, water. And this goes on until the whole is of the same temperature. A glass of warm water immersed in cold has the current reversed in its comse — upwards iu the centre, and do^^•nwards at the sides, where the water is being cooled. Here we have the whole secret of the motion and course of heated water iu the boiler and pipes of a i^roperly-adjusted heatuig-apparatus. And one woiild suppose that the sunple understanding of tliis would prevent any from making mistakes. Yet, strange to say, many who undertake hothouse-building are entirely ignorant of these simple and well-established facts. Wherever the heat generated by combustion in the furnace acts most directly and powerfully, from that surface bound upwards the particles of water, and to that spot, simultanc- January 4, 1873. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 15 ously, di"op the colder particles of water, to be iu theii- turn seut bouudiug ou their errand of warmth ; and anything that attempts to contravene this law of gravitation will be rebelled against by the elements concerned with uumistakeable violence and persistency. Clearly, then, the outlet for the water, thus lightened and charged ^\-ith its freight of heat, should be at the highest part of the boiler ; and that by which the cold water is to ran in and dowii, to take its place, should be at the lowest point. Boiler-inventors and manufactui'ers recognise this important part of the matter, and always place the flow- pipe at the highest, and the return-pipe at the lowest, point of boilers. Great importance has been attached by many to the neces- sity, or at least the gi'eat desnabilitv, of ha\"ing the boiler fixed at a veiy much lower level than the pipes ; and also to the necessity of lading all the flow-pipes ou the inchne the whole length of the house to be heated. The importance, too, of having the .retirrn-pipes ou a considerable decUue, has, iu our opinion, been vei-y much over-estimated. It is eutnely un- necessary to form deep, damp stokeholes, in order to sink the boiler to a level below the main body of the pipes, as is so vei*!," frequently met with. And as to having the pipes nuauing at an incline after starting from so liigh a level, we consider it entu'ely unnecessary. Indeed, one of the most efficient heat- ing-apparatus we ever superintended, started from about a foot above the level of the boiler, and ran down a gradual decUne into the boiler. Iramediatelj' the water enters a hothouse it begms to part with the heat absorbed from the fire, gets colder, increases in specific gravity as it speeds in its way back to the boiler again, and a downhill career is most natural to it as soon as it leaves the highest point of action, where its heat is the gi'eatest. Practically, we have never found much ihffereuce when the pipes went the whole leugth of the house on au incline, or on a dead level all the way round till it came near the boiler and dropped into the return-opening of the boiler. Indeed there is httle fear of a good chculation, provided the pipes do not at anj' point descend and rise sud- denly, and most especially that at any point they do not dip below the level of the return-opening into the boiler. We have had the working of apparatus where pipes, descending perpendicularly, crossed under a walk and rose again perpen- dicularly to heat another range of 80 feet of glass ; but at none of the points were the pipes within a couple of feet of the level of the return-opening into the boiler. This im- desirable arrangement worked pretty well until hard firing became necessary, when the result was that the water was thrown out in plunges at the supply-cistern. Such an arrangement should always be avoided ; for if it start from the warmest part, it must be forced work for the hottest water to go downhill, and it is equally so to send it ujihill cold. There is another eiTor frequently committed iu arranging the route of the water. Suppose, for instance, a boiler fixed at one end of a house of say 80 or 100 feet long, as part of the work allotted to it. As m the case of span-roofed houses, it may be desuable to have three or four rows of pipes aU roimd the house. Now it is not uncommon to find two rows called the flow-pipes taken all round the house to near the boiler, and there to start back with other two on the same route into the return-opening of the boiler. This is gi™ig the water a long jom-uey, and the return-pipes will be found comparatively cold by the time the water gets back by the same route to the boiler. Now, if instead of this the whole four pipes be con- nected with the flow-pipe, and go round the front and end of the house on a level, and start along the back ou a decliue to the boiler, and there plunge do«-n the di'op-pipe into the return-openmg of the boiler, it wUl be found that wiule any portion of the pipes may not be quite so hot as at the be- ginumg of the two flow-pipes iu the former case, there will not be any portion of them nearly so cold as the last portion of the retuiii. We do not say that this is the best way to conduct the water ; but we have proved from experience that the aiTangement indicated is the better of the two named, when the pipes are, from any necessary conditions, laid all round the house in this way. The supply of waste water to the boiler and pipes is often placed anywhere that looks most convenient ; but the proper place is to attach the supply to the retm-n-pipe somewhere near the boiler. Fixed to the flow, it will be frequently plunged out by the upward tendency of the hottest water. It is also very uudesu-able to leave the supply cistern to be kept fuU either by pouring iu water from a pot or by turning a tap, which is often neglected. There should always be a cistern suppUed by the action of a ball-cock, and then the anxiety connected with the neglect of supply does not exist. A great many methods of supplying moisture to the atmo- sphere of hothouses in connection with the heating apparatus have been adopted — such as zinc troughs placed on the pipes, troughs cast ou the pipes themselves, a flow of water running in an open gutter, rising out of the flow at one end and drop- ping into the return at the other. We have tried all these, and more besides. The best we have tried is, first, to fix a flat-bottom open trough, 2i inches deep, and 6 inches wide, the whole length of the pipes iu front of the house ; this trough to have no connection with the hot-water pipes beyond resting on them at a level. In the centre of this trough is fixed a 2J-uich-iu-iUameter rain-water pipe, jointed with Port- land cement — the best of all joint-cement. This rain-water pipe is connected with the flow-pipe as it leaves the boiler, and with the retura-pipe at the other end of the house. I3oth ends of the trough are made water-tight round t)ie rain-water pipe. At the middle of the house a brass tap is fitted into the close-pipe which fills the trough, and can be adjusted to let water sufficient escape into the trough to just keep it full, and the small pipe neaii.y immersed m water. The supply to the boiler being of coiu'se ou the retm'u-pipe, is spoken of aheady, and by means of a ball-cock. This is the most satisfactory steaming-apparatus we have ever tried ; it is simple, requires next to uo attention, and the water heats regularly the whole leugth of the house. Iu open 'gutters without the small pipe, we have always found a glut of steam at one end, and next to none at the other, iu long houses. The arrangement, besides, is equal to another row of 4-inch pipes. Space forbids us to say much of boilers. We have worked couicals, cannons, single and triple retorts, saddles, upright tubulars, cruciforms, ifec. ; and we have some at work yet very much the shape of a butcher's pickling-tub. The last-named are perfectly absui'd, of coiu'se, holding nearly as much water as all the pipes. Some of the others named are good. The upright tubidars are very powerful, but expensive, and requu'e deep stokeholes. Upon the whole, for cheapness, efficiency, and safety of coustniction, we give the palm to Meiklejohn's cniciform. Various materials are used in constructing boilers, such as cast and malleable uou and copper. The latter is expensive, but marvellously effective, durable, and safe ; and in our own case, we are superseding others with them, and in simple single retorts, 6 feet long by 2 feet in diameter over all. For amateiu's, who only requhe to heat small houses, we know of nothing so efficient and cheap as Meiklejohn's amateur's retort. Foiuteen years ago we lieated a late vinery 63 feet long with one of these, and it is yet doing its work well. As to valves for stopping and regulating the flow of water, we have had numbers in use, but we consider Messenger's patent valve the most efficient, simple, and least likely to be out of repau' of auy we have tried. — |T7it' Gardener.] THE GLADIOLUS. JrsT a few words in respect to the queiy put by " Stiff Soil," page -185, and the answer it has called forth. It appears to me that the main fault does not he in the HI- health of the bulbs, although I admit that it is impossible for diseased roots to produce good spikes of bloom. I should ima- gine that "one of our gi-eatest EngUsh growers" would avoid sending out bulbs that were unhealthy, and, if such were the case, it is possible that he was not aware of it. It seems that the uiexperieuced, and the experienced as well, have got hold of an idea that the Gladiolus is subject to au incurable disease, and this idea being strengthened by some of oiu' piincipal writers, I fear it will be a long time before it is eradicated. I do not beheve such is the case. My experience tells me that bulbs planted iu soil which has previously had thick cb'essings of manure, decay and die prematurely ; but that when planted in a moderately rich soil, and when coming into bloom, stimulated with wealc liquid manure, they rarely show any unhealthy symptoms. The Gladiolus is like any other bulb, the older it gets the more exliausted is it, and the quality of the flower of course decreases with the degeneration of the plant. Let this idea of hereditary disease be destroyed iu the minds of the pubhc, and this genus of plants will yearly become more popular, and be much more extensively grown. I expected the price of the Gladiolus bought by " Stiff Soil " woirld be questioned, but not one single word do his advisers say about it. Probably the bulbs grown were low-priced varie- ties, and if so, how is it possible to expect them to throw up 16 JObENAt 6F HOEtlCULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAtlDENEE. [ January 4, 1&72, fine spikes? But if " Stiff Soil" did have show varioties, for which, of course, he must have paid good prices, he did right, after all his care and attention, to look for some decent spikes amongst them. I have alwavs observed tliat the bulbs for which 3s. 6(/. and upwards is paid, invariably produce the best flowers. " First get the goose, ami tlien cook it." I wonder what sort of spikes " Stiff Son. " expected ? Wonderful spikes, perhaps, after his gi-eat liberality tc-., 171, Fleet Street, London, E.G. We also request that correspondents 'will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Books {R. D.). — 'We do not know the publisher. ■We should probably be able to aseertain if you said who was the author. . Self-acting Fountains [J. i?.). — "We ai-e iufonned that they ai-e manu- factured by Messrs. J. Brooks & Son, Sheffield. They would pay for fully advertising. 'Vine Grafts (J. M. 0.).— Thanks for your obliging offer. 'U'e have not the ■variety you name. Eoyal MnscADiSE 'Vine— S-U.T as a Manttbe IU. Foy).— Doubtless jour Vine suffered from being shaded by the Black Hamburgh ; but a young Vine seldom does well when planted in a border already occupied -with othejr Vines. You would succeed better were you to inarch the Royal Muscadine on the January -l, 1872. J JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. Hamburgh, and Kee that tbo yuuug rods ai-e fully exposed to the light to ripen the wood properly. Salt applied at the rate of half a peck to a rod of ground -will he of "much benefit to vegetables, and also to your flower border. Planting Vines {Ignoramita). — You purchased fniitiUR and not planting Vines. Canes such as you describe would carry a crop of fruit nest season. If you plant them as permanent Vines, cut them back to 3 feet at ouce, aud plant them out in March. When the buds are fairly started rub off all except two or thi-ee at the base ; these you must train up to the apes of the roof. Pinch all lateral shoots at the second leaf. As your house is span-roofed, why ut)t plant on both sides ? If you cannot do this, then you must train the yoiing rods over from one side to the other. The second year, if the Vines have done weU, they will hear a light crop of fruit — from two to four bunches on each rod. As soon as the leaves have fallen the cones should he cut back, the weakest to 3 feet, and the strongest to 6 feet from the bottom of the rafters. If your house is used as a greenliouse in smnmer, the Vine rods should he 5 feet 6 inches apart ; if used only as a vinery, 2 feet 9 inches is the proper distance. Planting Vines and Making Vine Border (Philip Barker).— Vk'e would not moke an outside border the first year, and only half of the inside one, making' up the other half inside at the end of the second year ; two years after this we would add 6 feet to the outside. " A hanier of slates" would not prevent the roots from running through to the back wall. It would require a brick wall on a Boiid foundation. You could manage it by raising a wall of turves as you filled- in the new border, and leaving an open space between this aud the old soil. Vines will do no good on the back waU after the roof is covered with bearing wood. Six plants will be sufficient for a house 30 feet long, two rods trained up from each plant ; it will leave them 2 feet 6 inches apart, which is as close as they ought to he. Iron Pipe for Flue {Flue). — Wo are sorry wo cannot help you much All iron pipes used as flues are apt to havo this dark stick-y fluid formed on them in exact proportion to the dampness of the weather and the fuel. Some- times, but not 60 often, it appears on brick and earthenware tube flues. We advise you to hum some dry wood in the fm-nace to diy up the condensation, and then use fuel in a drier state than usual. It would also be well to have a short pipe at the lowest level to slip over the ends of the other two, and by taking this off or shpping it along you could clear out the matter by a pole or small hoe. Pit Converting to Propagating House (A Young BegiiiJier). — We have no doubt the plan you propose would answer well, but you must have means to let the heat rise to worm the air of the house. If you have tanks on the flue, you would need corks attached to small rods to show when the tanks were full. " We have very lately described the modes of doing all this with a flue. As yon mean to retain the flue, this is the way we would do it : — Instead of the pit of 7 feet in width, 7 feet high at back, and 3 feet high in front, we would sink the pit 6 inches more, run a 4:-inch wall, with piers of 9 inches, 2i feet from the bock wall, raising that to within 3.J feet of the gloss. That would form your pit. Then take a 9-inch flue thi-ough the middle of it ; brick-on-bed for a yard from the furnace, briek-on-edge the rest of the dis- tance, and carry it back in the pathway, the top of the flue forming part of the pathway. You would thus command bottom and top heat without any trouble. All round the flue in the bed we would pack clinkers and brickbats openly, aud cover them and a few inches over the flue with smaller stones, and then fijie gravel. On each side of the flue have upright drain pipes, so that you con damp the stones and rubble, not the flue, and have plugs of wood for these upright pipes. Four or five of the uprights should stand on each side, and the base end should rest on a slate, so that the water might be dispersed over the stones. Adiantum farleyense should seldom be in a temperature below 60". Where to Move to (A Yorkshiremait).—A.s you have spent four years at nursery work, we think that yoxi had better remain at that than prepare for hoUling a place as a gentleman's gardener, in which case you would have a good deal to leam. Much, however, depends on youi- own feelings with regard to the subject. An intelligent temperate man will conunand good wages in a nursery when his character and capabilitie-; are fully established, and he may ultimately set up business for himself. At all events, he will be able to act more independently than if he were a gentleman's gardener. Nevertheless, in the latter case, though not free from drawbacks, he will have no trouble with money affairs — one of the most disturbing circujnstauces to many when they first commence business. CuouMBER (Vegetarian). — ^Write to Messrs. Rollieson, Tooting. Distinctive Characters of the Eose Classes (An Inquirer). — Your query is not easily answered. Many florists place a Rose in different classes, and many would be puzzled if asked to state the characters of some of the classes. If any of our great Rose- cultivators will furnish us with the dis- tinctive characters of the Provence, Bom-bon, Noisette, Hybrid Perpetual, aud other classes, into which florists divide Roses, wo and many of our readers will be much obliged. Colour of Peas (H. C.).~The colour of Peas is reckoned from their con- dition in a dry state, the white, as a rule, being the smiUlest, and of a paler colour when boiled than blues, which are also of better flavour. The green ore good in colour when cooked. The blue and green are generally better croppers, but this does not invariably hold good, as some of the whites are excellent both as regards cropping and quality. Stopping Pelargoniums (A Young Exhibitor).— Tor flowering in June stop them early in February, and the Fancy sorts at the same time. Your treatment is correct. Small Birds Attacking Buds (Constant Reader). — Dress them with a mixture of lime and soot, brought to the consistency of paint by adding 2 ozs. of soft soap to a gallon of water. This should be done about February, and is also a good preventive of insect pests. We have found it also desirable not to prune until the buds have begun to swell. We have found black worsted or cotton stretched from branch to branch, so as to form meshes about 3 or 4 niches wide, keep off birds when other means failed. Strips of glass about 3 inches long and 2 wide, blackened on one side, suspended from the shoots, are useful for scaring them. Electricity (J. Wilson). — It will not make plants grow without warmth' &e., nor con we without diagrams explain how you could moke a galvanic battery. Names of Fruits (J. D. GiZ/Tn/;ftflm).— 2, Chanmontel; 2, Beurr^Langelier; 4, Feom's Pippin; 6, Cowame Queening; 7, PUo's Russet. Names of Plants (A Ten-years Su &5 c-r i be r).— Your Oncidimn sent last week appears to be 0. altissimum. (Mi: H. Dwrit/i).— PeUtea adiantifolia. It is not a climbing species. The frond sent is quite exceptional in having its rachis curved. POULTRY, BEE, AND PiaEON CHRONICLE. THE OLD AND THE NEW YEAB. We have somewhat varied onr routine. Formerly we ad- dressed our readers on the last number of the old year. The retrospect is not so cheerful as the anticiijation. We had to do with the past, and now we are disposed to draw on the future. The latter is always gilded, the former has suffered from wear aud tear. The past is somewhat stale, flat, and un- profitable ; the future " Hails in its heart the triumphs yet to come." Tet we would not discard the past ; it tells us of another pro- sperous year, of old ties still unbroken, of constantly-recurring names that are " familiar in our mouths as household words," and wo trust that they, like ourselves, are grateful that we are spared to hail the advent of Eighteen Hundred and Seventy- two. We have had halcyon days. We have glided down the past fifty-two weeks with few, if auy, storms, and our bark enters the port with canvas undamaged, and with a tried and trusty crew. Some remarks on the past may be expected, and we shall not withhold them. As faithful chroniclers we will briefly notice those things with which we have been brought in con- stant contact. Dorkings have remained stationary as regards weight, but it must be recollected there is a limit to everything. In the last few vears they have iucreased (we speak of exhibition bh-ds) froin 2 to 3 lbs. each. They stiU form one of the largest classes at shows, aud they sell readily. The fault we have to point out is the prevalence of spurs outside instead of inside the leg. This should be avoided. lu this, as in mauy other breeds, although size is a great desideratum, it must not be gained by the sacrifice of other properties. Spanish make no progress either in numbers or quality. They are not equal to those we had years ago, nor are they so distinguished for those merits that amateurs look for. We should be sorry to see a marked decadence iu these beautiful fowls. They are the townsman's birds. Their constitution is of iron; they will live iu auy space however confined, and when eggs are sold, as they should be for general purposes, by weight, they wiU tell their tale m the balance-sheet. It is trile they are not sitters, but few dwellers iu towns have conveni- ence for rearing chickens. Our good old friends the Cochins iucrease aud prosper ; they deserve it. No fowl has kept the word of promise more than these have. They never ail anything, theu- chickens are hatched as hai-dy as young crocodiles, they are not wanderers, and they do not easily take offence. The pullets lay at an earlier age than almost any fowl ; and as it no longer costs a good hunter, or a six-roomed cottage replete with every con- venience, to buy a cock and hen, we are not surprised that they are extensively kept. Viewed as show bu-ds, they have not been kept to the standard of former years. The hideous vulture hock has been overlooked, or allowed to be palliated by a Uttle extra feathermg on the leg or middle toe.^ A mealy wing iu a cock has been declared an abomination, while stained hackles in pullets have been allowed to pass unquestioned. It was the work of years to get rid of the marked hackle, but the vulture hock was unknown tUl recently. Many thousands of birds, faultless save for the hock, have been, and stiU are, killed every spring. These remarks will iu some measure apply to the next re- view, that of the Brahmas. These birds have at last outlived all opposition, and now form the large class at most exhibi- tions. They are truly valuable fowls, ridiculously hardy, care- less of confinement, moderate eaters. The facility with which they are bred to resemble each other in every particular point, has long since cUsposed of the idea they were a composite breed, or an offshoot of the Cochms. If we were asked for a, fowl calculated to live and do well iu any place or under any cu-cumstances, we should certainly name the Brahma. The beautiful Polands have been shown in larger numbers during the past veai-. The Sdvers h.ave been especiaUy re- markable for their high merit. Game have been everj-where perfect. Some critics complain they ai-e now bred too long m the leg, but we cannot help thinking they are very perfect, and 20 JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. [ January 4, 1872. we shall, -we believe, be in strict order when we express our opinion that no other class shows so many faultless birds. The exliibitors seem to understand their birds, and the condi- tion in which they are sent proves it. Many of the old varie- ties that were commonly seen thirty years ago have almost disappeared, and the large entries are made up of Black Beds, Brown Eeds, and Duckwmgs. These last are the weakest, and do not keep pace with the others. Hamburghs barely hold their own. The Silver-pencilled have certainly deteriorated. The Golden in both Pencilled and Spangled classes have been 8 iperior 1 1 the Silver. The French breeds may have some- t'.iing to do with this. They lay almost as many eggs, and they lay them much larger. The Houdans and Creve-Cteurs are good birds. They are excellent for the table, and are very hardy. Their fellow breed, the La Fleche, finds few admirers. We are not surprised ; they have not good constitutions. Vi'e believe the two former ynii make large classes, but we do not think the latter will ever bring a sufficient number of entries to pay for the prizes offered. A revolution has almost taken place in Bantams. The once- popular and numerous Sebrights are fast disappearing. It is rare to see a dozen pens of them, even at the largest shows, and unless some one come to the rescue and keep up the ma- nufacture of them, it will be difficult to keep them fair speci- mens of these beautiful birds. The Blacks and Whites, taken as a whole, have hardly been as good as formerly, although some very good pens have been shown. All the energies of Bantam-breeders appear to be centred in the Game. They not only show in large numbers, but their quality leaves nothing to desire. We have the Black Eeds, Brown Eeds, Duckwings, and Piles. They do not confine themselves to feather, but they faithfully produce the Game cock in all his points. In the varieties of Bantams, some introduced from Japan a few years since show in tolerable numbers. The Cochin Bantams would appear to be difficult to breed, for although a ready sale at very good prices awaits them, yet they do not increase in numbers. There are also Cuckoo Bantams, and we are promised some Dorkings for next year. If we may believe the entries at the different shows, the Aylesbury Ducks are losing ground, compared with theEouens. These latter are heavier an 1 far more numerous. It would be a great mistake if the former were allowed to degenerate. They have properties few others have, they lay very early, and they fatten at an age when others are only beginning to grow. Geese have been shown well, and the birds have been very heavy. We have no average increase to mark as compared with last year, but it must be borne in mind that the weight of these birds has more than doubled in the last twenty years. Everywhere the increase m the numbers of Turkeys entered for competition has increased, and so has the weight of the birds. The Americans have lost somewhat of the beautiful plumage they had, but they have gained largely in weight. It has been a harmonious year. There have been no great questions of division among the followers of this healthy and humanising pursuit. Judges have been indulgently treated by those who judge their awards. They are only now and then attacked. It is admitted by many that at even some of our largest shows they have little Ught and less time. Some of the critics remind us of Mr. Boatswain Chucks, inasmuch as they begin by aU sorts of little amenities, and end by an on- slaught. " To every man his opinion." We have endeavoured, and we shall continue to do so, to practise the strictest im- partiahty. We rejoice to believe that the hue we have adopted meets with the public approval and support. We are not un- mindful of the obligations we are under to our many readers. We tender them our hearty thanks. Endeavouring to realise the ties that bind us to aU interested in our weekly issue, we say to every one of them in the fullest sense of the words. May they have A Happy and Pbosperous New YEji.B. To prevent poultry being sent at the date originally advertised, a printed post card could be sent to all those who entered up to 25th January, which is the date given for entries to close. I am aware that this will cause trouble and expense, but I think the entries would be far more numerous and so make up for this. I feel sure the Committee will not mind that, as long as they can bring the Show to a successful issue. If anything in the matter can be done, it must be done at once. — Ose that WOULD LIKE TO EXHIBIT AT BOTH. WOLYEEHAirPTON AND PORTSMOUTH SHOWS. I OBSERVE that the Wolverhampton and Portsmouth Shows clash with regard to date, or, at least, exhibitors cannot exhibit the same stock at both. Now that is to be regretted, as both schedules offer liberal prizes, and I have no doubt they would each have a very good show if it were not for their being advertised to take place at nearly the same time. I should think that the Portsmouth Show could be held a week later, and the date for entries to close could also be later. A special advertisement might be inserted as to change of date. SELLING CLASSES— A SELLING SHOW? The remarkable success of the selling classes at the Crystal Palace proves to my mind that they supplied a want keenly felt by both breeders and buyers of good poultry ; and the quality of many of the birds also demonstrated conclusively that moderate prices do not forbid the entry of really fine specimens. But, in common with many others, I confess I was strongly struck with the absurdity of the whole affair as at present managed, and especially as it bore upon the character of the judging. I conversed with both the Judges, and both fuUy agreed with me as to the utter impossibihty of awarding any moderate amount of prizes in such varied and immense classes. Even with regard to mere numbers, it may be suffi- cient to state that one class numbered 126 entries, sufficient for three classes at least; but beyond this, when all breeds are thus jumbled together, how is it even possible that anything in the shape of judging can be done amongst birds in sueh ludicrous variety ? As one of the gentlemen upon whom the enviable task devolved remarked to me, "When a man comes tome and complains, ' Why haven't you given me a prize? Arn't my Bantams as good as Mr. So-and-So's Cochins ? ' What can I say to him? Perhaps they are as good, but how can I compare two breeds so totally dissimilar ? " Anj'one can see the reasonableness of this complaint ; and considering how these giant classes swell the coffers of the Show, not only through entries, but from the commission on sales, it becomes absolutely necessary in common fairness to all parties that a remedy should be found. I would suggest that each class might be subdivided as follows : — Large Asiatic breeds — to include Malays, Cochins, and Brahmas ; table breeds — to include Dorkings, French fowls, &c. ; other breeds not Bantams ; and Bantams to have a class to themselves. Other general classi- fications might be substituted ; but I am well convinced that without some such remedy as I have suggested for a really crying evU, this interesting feature of the Crystal Palace Show will " go down." But the success of these classes has suggested to me whether even they have supplied a want, which is so evidently felt, of procuring on the spot birds of really good quaUty at moderate prices. I do not think they have, and I do not think they ever will whUe the prices are so low. As a rule, I know by experience, that reliable stock birds cannot be bred and sold for two guineas — they cost more than that to produce. At all events the question set me thinking, the consequence of which has been a new idea, on which I should like the opinions of some readers of this Journal. It is, that it would be a good thing to have a Great Selling Show, some time near the end of the season, at which the hmit of price should be five guineas for single cocks, and six guineas for pairs of birds ; the prize birds to be sold by auction, and any excess divided as usual ; the other pens to be claimed, with the usual precautions against owners claiming their own. I beUeve whoever first takes up this plan will make a good profit by it ; and I may suggest that it would accomplish many desirable ends. In the first place, while these prices would, in my judgment, be quite low enough to meet the views of fanciers, I have no doubt there would be no want of good birds. In the second place, at the end of the season owners would have a good chance of clearing off much stock, without the " alarming sacrifice" our present seUing classes often involve; and the classes would be filled by real breeders sending good birds. In the third place, such a show would provide the field, which a recent correspondence seemed to desire, in which fairly good birds might make a good fight without the dread of being out- distanced by the champion birds of the year ; and this object would bo obtained without the evils of handicapping or the other plans then suggested. Lastly, at a price moderate, and yet enough to repay breeders for producing them, really valuble stock might be secured. I may, perhaps, say that I have named this idea in private to many experienced fanciers, all of whom have received it Januan* 4, ISl'l. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE G.ARDENEK. 21 favourably ; and I believo that if faii'ly carrieil out such a show would be a feature of the year. But it is because I think it would serve a really useful purj^ose, that I propound it to the f lucy at large. — L. Wriodt. EXCLUDING DEALEES FROM EXHIBITING. I HAVE been waiting to see an answer to Mr. J. Ashworth's letter in your number of December 7th, in which he advises secretaries and committees of poultry shows to exclude all dealers, but no one having answered it, I ask space for a few lines. There are many societies formed, and many forming for the purpose of comparing birds, and for friendly competition amongst members only, and I believe in all cases the rules are very strict against admitting dealers. Now, if Mr. Ashworth will join these, it will do away with his objection to compete against dealers. At the same time I should be very sorry, and 1 am sure many others would be sorry, to see them ex- cluded from our large shows, as by doing so we are robbed of half our victory when we win, for we could not but feel that our success was only partial when all were not allowed to compete. The object of all large shows, such as Bhmingham, the Crystal Palace, Manchester, is to bring together the best birds in the kingdom ; this would be frustrated were Mr. Ashworth's advice acted on. He says, "Fanciers may buy the best birds dealers have at very high prices, and at the very next show the same dealers beat them completely." Considering he WTites in the interest of real fanciers I think his letter a con- tradiction. Real fanciers do not buy birds to win. What credit is it to give, say, £20 or £30 for a pen of birds to win ? The great pleasure and credit is when you can say, " I obtained those birds by careful breeding, and did not buy other people's work and experience to win." I am sure Mr. Ashworth does not object to be beaten with better birds than his own. I always feel pleasure in seeing birds superior to what I possess. It is a very difficult matter to say who are dealers and who are not. A dealer is one who buys and sells — do we not all do so ? — Frank Graham, Birkenhead. AMALGAMATION OF COLUMBARIAN SOCIETIES. Fob the last ten or twelve years I have taken a leading part in getting up Pigeon shows, but latterly have been inclined to give them the cold shoulder, from a doubt arising in my mind whether open competitions were productive of good or very great harm. Wlien Pigeon shows were first introduced the committees were formed of enthusiastic fanciers — business men, as a rule — glad to have a little relaxation from the worry of warehouse labour, and perhaps indulging in their youthful fancy, when the memory of boyhood and their "first pair" reproduced a pleasure they would fain reahse again, by giving themselves and other fanciers an opportunity of meeting with each other, and in a friendly and houom'able spirit innocently competing their birds. Now we find that this sort of compe- tition has greatly verged into a complete mercantile speculation, and accompanied by all sorts of trickery and deception, by combinations and other unfaii- means, so that every society must now feel their labour, theh time, and their money, is worse than thrown to the dogs. Changes have been made year after year in the hope that a better spirit of competition would ensue, but again and again the same sickening reflection after it has passed; and we find, as before, the bulk of the prizes have been carried off by some exliibitor, who, making it his business, enters one hundred birds, or may be more (though not always in his own name), and gives his whole time and mind to making it pay. We too frequently find an amount of deception practised, so artistically executed that from *>ur best judges, not having the time necessary to detect it, the money goes. Medals, cups, and such like, are not wanted ; ■" Money I want, never mind the medal," is the invariable request of the speculator. Can there be no alteration made to prevent our competitions going down altogether ? for assuredly they wiU if carried on in this way, when the continual cry of these exhibitors is, " Give us larger prizes." " Do not charge so much entry money." " Those who get up shows should not exhibit, at all events, should not compete," and so forth. Again, however, the old feeling returns when a new idea is suggested by " A Columbarias " — the amalgamation of Colum- barian Societies. This, I firmly beheve, would answer the purpose, and I have no doubt " A Columbarian " will secure he gratitude and co-operation of all true-hearted fanciers to carr^' his new idea into effect, which having been seconded by "West Riding," I trust will be innnediately acted upon; and if a prehminary meethig be requested of all secretaries who favour such a scheme, I have no doubt a very warm response would be the result. — A Willing Helper. MANCHESTER POULTRY SHOW. For eleven years past the Manchester Show has been held at the Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, aud annually increasing in public estimation, has now become one of the most important meetings in the kingdom. The hall it which it takes place is not to be surpassed by any other building in the country. Though warmed artificially, the ventilation is perfect, the Ught amply sufficient and well-diffused, and the feeding of the birds aud general attention such as must give entire satisfaction to even the most fastidious exhibitor, whilst it is impossible to speak too highly of the unvaried attention paid to the poultry. The Messrs. Jenuison, who are the proprietors of the Gardens, having had a hfetime's experience in keeping in perfect health valuable animals among their own large collection, feel quite at home in all that relates to the proper attention necessary to a potdtry show, even in case of any unexpected illness or mis- adventure arising to any of the highly esteemed birds entrusted temporarily to their care. There is not a doubt that a consider- able number of the best pens of poultry on view, evidently almost exhausted from over-exhibition, will leave the Manches- ter Show in far better condition to that in which they were received at the time of admission. Indeed, it is very probable, not a few pens that actually were sent on from the Edinburgh Show to Manchester, would have succumbed altogether to this overtax on their powers but for the prompt and efficient treat- ment adopted by the managers at Belle Vue. It is long since we saw so splendid a collection of all the lead- ing descriptions of poultry as that exhibited on the 28th, 29th, and 30th of December. Orey Dorkings were an immense entry, many being shown in beautiful condition ; but beyond question the hens and pullets were, as classes, superior to the male birds. Silver-Grey Dorking cocks were not true to feather, having partially white tails- partially pulled, to prevent the eyesore being visible. The hens were excellent. Never were better classes of Cochins seen than on this occasion, but very many were quite beaten by continuous travelUng and consequent hardships. The hens appeared, however, to struggle through these difficulties better than their male companions. Buffs, White, and Partridge-feathered hens of the highest character were abundantly shown. As to Spanish fowls, most certainly there has not been so good a collection as this brought to- gether during the recently-ended year. Buyers for the best of these classes purchased extensively, and we have httle doubt their speculation will prove a most remunerative one. The Dark Brahmas were really good, but many had been too much shown previously to hold their own in competition with birds fresh from the breeders. Light Brahmas, on the contrary, fell behind in quaUty aud style, aud excited but httle pubhc interest. Game fowls, Brown Reds and Black Reds more particularly, were one of the great features of the Show, and it will be seen by the prize hst new names are becoming prominent. The Game fowls, almost without exception, were in exquisite condition. It is a remarkable fact that the Game Bantams were shown iu very inferior health and plumage, or as a visitor verj* graphically observed when looking at them, " they seemed all worked out." The Houdans and Creve-Cmurs were most important and well-filled classes, far surpassing any previous show held iu this district. Hamburghs were best in the Spangled varieties, and perhaps the Black ones are equally worthy of mention. All the Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys were of the most perfect character, and the fancy Waterfowl class embraced three pens of Whisthng Ducks, as many Mandarins, and the like number of Ruddy Shell Ducks, CaroUnas, as well as a variety of other interesting breeds. In cases where great merit was general the Messrs. Jennison, with their customary hberaUty, permitted extra prizes to be awarded, and no doubt iu such cases an improved prize schedule in future years will result. DOBKING3 (Coloured except Silver-Grey).— Cocfc. — 1, J. White, Warlaby, Northallerton. 2, Miss Daries. 8. W. Haryey, Sheffield, he, Hon. W. H. W. Fitzwilliam, Eotherham ; T. Slalter, Mancheuter; H. Yardley, Birmingham. c. RcT. J. G. A. Baker, Biggleswade, Beda. Hrni —1, W. W. Rultlidge. Kendal. 2, J. White. S, J. Martin, he. Rev. G. Hustler, York ; W. Arkwnghl, Chester- field ; W. Copple, Prescot, Lancashire : G. Whitcombe, PufBey, Gloucestershire, c. J. Copple, Prescot, Lancashire ; J. White. ^ „ „ « „ ., DoHKiNGSlColoured except Silver-Grey).— Cocl-crf(.—l and 3, N. RusseU. 2, J. White, he, W. Arkwrinht (21; N. Russell (2); Rev. J. G. A. Baker (i); J. Martin, e, N. Russell, Bryngiryn, Oswestry : Miss Davies, Chester ; J. Robm- Bon.Garstang: J. Copple; W. Copple; W. W. Ruttlidge Pu(M< -1 and 2, W. Arkwright. 8, Rev. J. G. A Baker, he. Miss Danes (4); A. Darby, Bridg- north ; J. While ; J. Copi)le; W. W. Ruttlidge. „ , T T Dorkings (Silver-Grey).— (3oc/t.—l. T. Raines. Slirling. 2, J. L. Lovrndea, Avlesbu.y 3. R. D. Holt, Windermere, he. T. L. Jackson. Hens or Palletl. — 1, R. D.Holt. 2, T. Raines. 3, W. W. RuttUdge. /u:, J. C. Cooper, Limenok; R. D. Holt. _ . „ -,. „ ■ V » DoBKLVGS -Bo$e-combed. — l, D. Parsons, Preston. 2, Miss Fairhurst, Ormskirk. 3, J. Robinson, he, Hon. D. H. Finch, Leamington bpa ; H. Frank- land, AccringtoQ. JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ Jaunary 4, 1873. „.. „ _ ^^. _.. hc,W. Wbs i).*IVnDant. Ponrhyn "CBBtle^'^BotiKor ; W. K. Ball, New-port Papnell. Bncks (2) r, E. Teebay ; J. Mantcll: Hon. Miss D. I'tcnant; ^■. E. Bull. PulleU.—h Hon. Miss 1). Pencant. 2, E. Ttebay. 8, BuuUon & ehddon. he, T. P. Wo«d, Cbestcrflcld. , , CcicniN-CHiK* ICinivamon and Buff).— fori— I. W. A. Taylor, ManohMlcr. 2, H. Lacy. Hebtlen Bridpe. S, T. f^tretch, Ormsltirk. he, H. Lloyd, jun., Bir- minRham (2) ; W. A. Tavlor ; H. Yardley ; J. Sichel, Tirapcrley. c, T. Bracc- Eirdle, Sale, Chesbire. Ern^.—l, H. Lacy. 2 ands, W. A. Taylor, he, H. loyd,jun.(2); H. Lacy (2); A. Bamtord. rulMs.-l, W. A. Taylor. 2, Mrs. Allsopp. S, J. Sichel. he. W. Sandy, Radcliffcon-Trent, Notts; T. Stretch; W. A. Bnmell, Southwell, N«tt«. e, T. Braceiiirdle. CocHlx-CniKA (Brown and Partridge-feathered).— Cocfc.—l, T. Stretch. 2, Mrs. Allenpp. 8, J. K. Fowler, Avlesbury. c. E. Tudman, Whitchurch, Salop : J. A.' Taylor, Manchester; E. White, Shir, brook, Sheffield. Beiu.—l, J. A. Tavlor. 2, C. W. Brierley, Middleton. he, E. Tudman : J. Friar, St. Helens. l^iVflK.—l, W. A. Taylor. 2, T. Stretch. 3, E. Tudman. he, J. K. Fowler. CocniN-CHiXACWhitc)— Corfc-l and 2, J. Sichel. e, R. S. S. Woodgate, Tnnbridge Wells ; Rev. H. Lucas, Stamford : J. Meshiter, Ulverstone. Hens or Pullets.-— 1, J. SicheL 2, J. Mashlter. he, R. S. S. Woodgate; E. Fearon, Whitehaven ; Rev. H. Lucas (2). . , „ BRiHMi-PooTiu (Dark)— Coct— I, H; Lacy. 2 and Extra <. T. F. Ansdell, St Belens. Lancashire. 3. W. A. Taylor, vhe, J. S. lainton, Gloucester. he, W. Arkwrieht; Mrs. Baiiey, Longton, Staffordshire (2) : S. Bum, Whitby; J. Walker, Staffordshire; M'. Harpreaves, Manchester; Hon. Miss D. Pen- nant. Sens or Pi/ficfu. -1, H. Lacy. 2, E. Pritchard, Wolverhampton. S, W. Arkwright. Extra 4, T. F. Ansdell. he, T. F. Ansdell (21; J. S. Tainton; E. B. Wood, Dttoxeter; J. Watts, Birmingham; Hon. Miss D. Pennant; E. Alder, Derbv ; W. Wbittaker, Belper (31 ; H. Lacy ; J. Sichel. e, E. Leech, Rochdale. BBiBlii-PnoTHA (Light).— Coclt.— 1, |W. T. Storer, Breircod, ^ta£fo^dBhi^e. Sand 3, M. Lcno. he, W. Hartley, Halifax; E. Fulton, Deptfo>d. r, Capt. Downman, Kingstown. Bens or PulUts.—l, J. B. Rodbard, Bristol. 2, J. Pares, Guildford. 3 and he, M. Leno. Polish (Anv varietv).— Cock.— 1, G. C. Adkins, Birmingham. 2, H. Beldon. S, J. Seotson, Newton-le- Willows, he, W. Silvester, Sheffield; G. C. Adkins; W. Harvey; W. Peamley, Newton-le-WUlows. Bena or PuUel3.—l, G. C. Adkins. 2. H. Beldon, 8. W. Harvey, c, G. Speedy. CBEVE-CtF.UR.— I, J. Sichel. 8, W. Blinkhom, St. H«lens. 3, R. B. Wood. he, Mrs, J. rrosSj Erigp, Lincolnshire; C. H. Smith, W. Blinkhom; J. K. Fowler, c, W. Dnng. Favershain, Kent. HotjDA!fs.— 1 land 8, R. B. Wood, i, Cross; W. Dring; Mrs. E. Wilkinson, Fowler; D. Lane, Hardwick, Gloucester. Game (Black-breasted Reds).— CocJ:.— 1, J. Forsyth, Wolverhampton. 2, C. Chalonor, Chesterfield. 3, G. Bapncll, Dravcott, Staffordshire, he, Hon. Mrs. Colvile, Bnrion-on-Trent; G. Bagnell (2). e, J. H. Salter, Kelvedcn, Essex. Bens.—l, T. P. Lyon. Liverpool. 2, W. J. Pope, Biggleswade, Beds, he, W. Ormerod, Tonnorden ; G. Bagnall; J. H. Wilson, Whitehaven, c, E. Brough, Leek. Game (Black-breasted Reds).— CocJrjre I.— 1, S. Matthew, Stowraarket Suffolk. 2. C. Cha'oner. 3, J. Douglas, Worksop. Notts he, S. Matthew : W. Higgins, Clverstonc; S. Beighton, Southwell. Notts. Pullet.— 1, C. W. Brietley. 2, S. Matthew. 8, E. Clavev, Burton-on-Trent. ftc, W. Ormerod ; J. Forsyth ; W. J. Pope (2) ; C. Chaloner ; G. Bagnall. Game (Brown and other Beds, except Black-breaBtod).— Cocl-.- 1, J. Wood, Wigsn. 2, G. F. Ward, Wrenbury. 3, C. W. Brierlev, jun. he, J. Bowness. Manchester; J. Hodson, Bradford, Yorkshire: C. W. Brierley; Galley and WiUelt, Nantwich. c, T. Statter. a^n.-l, C.W. Brierley, jun. 2. C.W. Brier- ley, he, J. Wood ; T. Mason, Green Ayr, Lancashire ; E. Mann, Manchester ; F, Sales, Doncaster. Game (Brown and other Eeds. except Black-breasted).— Cockerel— I, J. Bowness. 2, C. W. Brierlev, jun. 8. W. Sowerbutts. Nantwich. ftc, W. Dun- ning, Salop ;tj. Wood JE. Mann ; C. W. Brierley. Pullet.— 1, J. Carlisle, Skipton. 2, W. BnultoD, Dalton-in-FumcBS. 8, J. Bowness. he, G. F. Ward ; T. Mason ; C, W. Brieriey ; E. Mann, c, T, P. Lyon ; J. Mashiter (2.) Game (Duckwings and other Greys and Bluesi.— Cocfc — 1, Morris & Woods, Accringlon. 2 nnd 8, S- Matthew, he, C. Chaloner : J, Frith, Chatsworth ; J, Mashiler. Coel-erel.—l, C. W. Brierley. 2, S. Matthew. 3. C. Travis, Shef. field, he, W. Ormerod; E. C. Gilbert. Penkridpo, Staffordshire, e, S- Matthew: Htii. and Eev, F. Dutton. Ben or Pullet. -1 and 2, E. Hall, Chesterfield, he, J. Douglas ; Hon, and Rev. F. Dutton ; G. Noble, Dewsbury ; F. Sales. Gamf (Anv other vsriolv).— Cocl-.— 1, C. W. Brierlev. 3. C. W. Brierley, jun, Ac. Capt. W. G. Webb, Tamworth; T. Tl-ompson. Lancaster, Ben or Pullet. —1, C. W. Brierley. jun- 2, W. S. Bickershaw, Wigan, he, C. W. Brierley ; N. EuBseU : J. Stabler, Driffield, e. G. Draycott. Decks (Eouen).— Drake— 1. T. Wakefield, N< son, Whitehaven. 3, T, Bums, Wigan. he, I _ _ T.Wakefield; T. Statter (3), Ducts.— 1 and i, T. Wakefield. 3, T. Statte vhe and ' - ■" ■ DrcKs Fowler. DtTCKs (Black East Indian).—!, G. Sainsbury. 2 and he. S Burn. Ornamental Waterfowls. — 1 and 8, M. Leno (Mandarins and Viduata Whistling Ducksl. 2, Rev. H. Lucas (Ruddy Shield Ducks), he, N. Russell fMandarinsi; H. B. Smith, Preston (3); M. Leno (Carolinas); C. W. Brierley (21. Geese IWhitc).-e-ne. 2 and 3, N.-Marlor, Manchester, ftc, J. Rollinson- J. Buckley ; J. Ogden (2). Hambttrohs (Silver-spangled).- Cock.— 1, J. Fielding. 2 and 3, Aehton and Booth, ftc, N. Marlor; Aahton & Booth (3). Hem or Pullets.— 1 and 3 J Fieldtng. 2, Ashton & Booth, ftc. W. H. Robinson, Keighley, Yorkshire - Rev. N. J. Ridley; Rev. W. Serjeantson; J. Lancashire, Manchester- w' McMellon, West Glossop. HAMmTRGFS (Golden-pfncilled).— Cork.- 1, W. 51. Mann. Kendal. 2 J, Walker, Ripley. S, T. Wriglev, jun., Middleton. ftc. W. H. Eolimson • W M Mann; T. IWngley, jun. : H. Beldon. iifn» or J>i(ll<(«.—1, J. Walker. 2, T. Wngley. ftc, J. Walker; J.Rollinson, Hamdurohs (Silver-pencilled).- Cock — 1, W, M, Mann. 2, .T.Walker, ftc, J. Robinson. Hcn«orPii»<:(».—l and 2, W. M.Mann, ftc, J, Robinson: J. Walker. I Game Bantams (Black-breasted Reds).- Cock —1, J. W. Morris, Rochdale. * 2, W. Adams, Ipswich. 3. J R. Robinson, Sunderland, tiftc, E & .T. T. Hudson, i XJlverstone. ftc, J. Blamires, Bradford, Yorkshire; Morris A Wood : H. J. Nicholson, Holbome Hill, Cumberland; J. Oldfield, Bradford, Yorkshire; ,' T. Sharpies, Rawtonstall ; W. Hodgson; J. Ewing, Tupton Moor, near Chesterfield; E. Fearon ; J. Mashiter. c, W. Hodgson. Hem or Pullets.— 1 and 2, T. Sharpies. 3, J. W. Morris. i'ftc,G. Smith, Siavelcy, Derbyshire, he, J. R. Robinson ; H. Hollih, Bulwell, Notts ; W. Hodgson ; ,1. Mashiter. GiME Bantams (Brown-breasted Rodfll — Cock.- 1, W. Adams. 2, J. Blamires. he, H. P Leech : J. Frith- Hem or Pullets.— I, T. Barker, Burnley. 2, W. , Adamfi. ftc, H. P. Leech ; J. R, Yates, Manchester; J. Ewing. | Game Bantams (Any other varietv).— Cock.— 1,H. J. Nicholson. 2. J. Frith. ' rftc. J. Ewing. ftc, J Douglas; Rev. C. J. P. neeue, Ormskirk; G. Smith; Bellingham and Gill, Burnley ; J. Ewing. c, G, Smith ; J. Mashiter, J. Frith. He>i»i>rPu(/c(8— 1, J-Frith. 2, G. Smith, he. Rev. C. J. P. Keene ; Belling- ham 4 Gill ; Mason & Aehmore, Chesterfield ; G. Smith. Bantams (White).— 1,S.& R. Ashton, 2, W. Arkwright. ?ic, H. Beldon. Bantams (Anv other variety).—!, J. Sichel (Pekin Bantams). 2, W. H. Robinson (Black Bantams). 3, M. Leno (Laced Bantams). Extra 8. F. H. Paget, Leicester (Cuckoo Bantams), he. Ladies E. 4 C. Moreton, Falfleld, Gloucester (Black Bantams). M. Leno (Laced Bantams) : W. A. Taylor (Black Bantams) ; H. Dravcott, Humberstone. Leicester (Black Bantams); S. 4 R. Ashton (Black Bantams); H. Beldon ; E. Walton, Rawtenstall (Sebright Bantams.) PIGEONS. PoHTEES (Blue or Bed).- Cock.— 1, W. Harvey. Sheffield. 2, J. Hawley, Bradferd, Yorkshire. Ben.—l, R. Fulton, Deptford, 2, W. Harvey, he, E. Homer, Leeds, c, J. Hawley. PorTERS (Any colour).— Cock.— 1 and- c, Mrs. Ladd, Calne, Wilts. 2, F. W. Zurhorst, Dublin, ftc, J. Hawley. Hen,— 1, J, Hawley. 2, Mrs.Xadd. ftc, K. Fulton. (ARBiERs (Black).- Cock.— 1, J. Chadwick, Bolton. 2, E, Homer, c, B. Fulton. Ben,— I and c, E. Fulton. 2, E. Homer. Carriers (Dim)— Cock.— 1, R, Fulton. 2, E. Homer, c, F. J. MaoLaren, Pendlebury. Ben.—1. R, Fmton. 2, J. B. Buckley, Soutbport. Carriers (Any colour except Black or Dun).— Cock.— ! and 2, E. Fulton. Hen — 1, E. Fulton. 2, J. Watts, Birmingham. Dragoons (Yellow).—!. F, Graham, Birkenhead. 2, J. Ashworth, Blaokbum. he. J. Holland. Manchester, c, G. South, Bond street, London. Dbaohons (Anv other colour).— 1 and 2. J. Holland. Extra 2, G. South, ftc F. Graham ; C. E. Duckworth, Liverpool ; W. Hill, c, E. Horner. Antwerps.- 1, W. Arkwright. 2, C. F. Copeman, Birmingham, ftc, R. Kevzey. Stockport: W. Boume. c, W. Harvey; L. B.irom, Blackhum. Jacobins.-! and 2, J. Thompson, Bingley, Yerks. ftc, J. Taylor, Rochdale- c. G. South. Babbs. — !, J. Dowling, Cork, 2, E, Fulton, ftc, S. Holrcyd, Oldham ; R. Fulton. Fantait-s (White).—!, H. Yardley. 2 and c, J. F. Loversidge, Newark, Notts, ftc. Rev. W. Serjeantson. Fantails (Any colour except White).—! and 2. H. Y'ardley. ftc, F H. Paget. Tumblers (Almond).— !. J. Ford. Monkwell Street. London. 2. J. Fielding, jun., Rochdale, ftc, R. Fulton, c. J. Peace, Burton-on-Trent ; R. Fulton, Beards or Balds.—!, J. Fielding, jun. 2. G, South, he, G. South ; J. Field- ing, jun. e. W. J. Woorthouse, Lynn, Norfolk. Tumblers (Any other variety).—!, J. Fielding, jun. 3, F. Moore, Burnley. Nuns.— 1 and c, J. Dowling. 2, E. Homer. Magpies.— I and ftc, E. Homer. 2, J. Baily, jun., Mount Street, Groavenor Square, London. TuRBiTB-- 1, J. Dowling. 2, W. Croft, Ripley. Yorka. rftc, G. South, c, R. Fulton. „ „ Swallows.— 1 and 2, E. Homer, he, H. Drayoott, Leicester, c, F. H. ARCHANGELS.—! and e, H. Yardley. 2, E. Kitchin, Whitehaven, ftc, J. Thompson. Owls (Blue and Silver English).-!, J. Chadwick. 2, A. Mangnall, Manches- ter, ftc. A Magnad : Master C- Gamon. Chester, c. Master C. Ganinn. OWLS(Foreign).—l, J Fielding, jun. 2, E. Homer, ftc, R. Fulton ; J. Field- ing, jun. c, A. Maguall. EuNTS.— ! and 2. D. T. Green, Saffron Walden, Essex, ftc, W. Taylor. Trumpeters.-!, E. Homer. 2. R. F^ton. Aw OTHFR Varietv.-I, F. H. Paget 2, J. Thompson. 8, S. A, Wylhe (Ice Pigeons), ftc, W. C. Dawson, Ollev, Yorkshire (Ice Pigeons); S. A. Wyllie, East Moulsey; W. Harvey, c, W. Lamb. Rochdale (Black Priests); J. Baily, jun. ; W. R. Tegetmeier, Finchley, London (Florentines.) Judges. — Poultry : Dorkings, Spanish, Cochins, French Breeds, and Ornamental Waterfowl, Mr. Ed-ward He-n-itt, Sparkhrook, Birmingham ; Game Fowls and Brahmas, Mr. Richard Teehav, Ful-n-ood, Preston ; Game Bantams, Ducks, iX:c.> Mr. John Douglas, The A-riaries, Clumber Park, Worksop ; Hamburghs, Polands, Extra Stock, and Bantams, except Game, Mr. J. Dixon, North Park, Bradford, Yorkshire. Pigeons : Dr. Cottle, Cheltenham ; Mr. Peter Eden, Cross Lane, Salford. SCOTTISH COLUMBABIAN ASSOCIATION'S EXHIBITION. This -n-as held on December 28th and 29th in the Music Hall, George Street, Edinburgh. The classes from 1 to 18 inclusive -svere for birds bred in 1871- A gold medal, value £2 2s., was given by- William Volckmau, Esq., as a special prize for excellence of form and carriage, open to all the cock Pouters in the standard Pied classes, irrespective of age, of not less measurement than 19 inches of feather, and 6i of Umb, fair colour and marking indispensable ; and a gold medal, value £2 2s., by George Ure, Esq., as a special prize for excellence of form and carriage, open to nil hen Pouters of the standard Pied classes, irrespective of age, of not less measurement than 17J inches of feather, and 6S of Umb. Pen 518 held a Pigeon engaged carrying despatches during the late Franco-Prussian war, and -which fle-sv on board Capt. Wilson's ship, two days' sail from land, -with a message attached, and was brought to one of the members. YOUNG BIRDS. Pouters (Black) — Cockj.— 1, G. Ure, Dundee. 2, J- Wallace, Glaago-w. 8, J. Millar, Glasgow, ftc, W. Rutherford, Edinburgh. Hem.—l and 2, J. Millar. 8, G. Ure. ftc. E. Horner, c, R Fulton. Poutees (White).— Cockj.-l, J. White, Aberdeen. 2, J. Macaulay, Edin- burgh. 3, R. Fulton, New Cross, London, ftc, J. Wallace ; R Inch, Liberton. c, J. M'Gill, Elie. Fife. Bens.—l, W. Duncan. 2, J. Grant, Edinburgh. S,D. Stewart, c, R. Inch. Jannary i, 1872. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICXnLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 23 Pouters (Blue).— Cocfc*.— 1, G. Ure. 2, J, WftUace. 3, T. Duncan, Dalkeith, ftc, M, Stuart, Glasgow ; W. Rothertord. c, D. Stewart. Perth ; E. Horner, Leeds. Hfiw.—l, E. Homer. 2 and 3, J.Mitchell, Glasgow, fic, G.Ure. c, G. Ure; J. Porteous, Edinburgh ; M. ^kinuer. PoOTEES (Red).— Cods.— !, J. Montsomery, Belfast. 2, B. Fulton. 3, E. Homer, o, J. Huie. ifeiu.—l, M. Stuart. 2, J. Wallace. 3, J. Grant, /ic, K. Fulton, c, a Ure. POOTEBS (Yellow).- Cocl-J.— I. G. Ure. 2. E. Horner. 3. J. Huie. c, H. Mitchell, Edinburgh. Heim.—l, K. Fulton. 2 and he, J. Wallace. S, Capt. C. Thomson. Broughtv Ferrv. Carriers (Black)".— Cocl-s.-l, E. Homer. 2 and c, H. Heritage, London. 3, G. C. Holt. Lawton. Hem.—l, T. Colley, Sheffield. 2, H. Heritage. 3, M. Stuart, he, H. Heritage ; E. Horner. CiJiRiERS (Dun).- Cocfcs.— I. G. C. Holt. 2, W. Maasev, Spalding. 3. H. Heri- tage. Hf n».— 1, W. Massej-. 2, G. C. Holt. 3, H. Heritage, c, G.C.Holt; E. Homer. Tumblers (Almond Short-face!).- 1, J. Ford, London. 2, W. R. & H. O. Blenkinso[i, Newoastle-on-Tyne. 3, R. Fulton. BiRBS.—l, J. Wallace. 2, W. Masaey. 3, W. R. S: H. O. Blenkinsop. Fantails — 1, J. Sharp, Johnstone. 2, G Ure. 3, J. Huie. Thumpeters.-I ana 2. T. Rule, Gilesgate, Durham. 3, E. Homer, he, J. Wallace; J. Bruce, Dunfermline. OLD BIROS. Pouters (Black). -CocA-!.—l and Extra Gold Modal, J. Mitchell 2,3. ti/ic, and kc, G. Ure. flcTH.-l, J. Montgomery. 2, J. Huie. 3, R. Fullon. /ic, E. PoDTERS(White).—foc<[«.—l, J. Wallace. 2, M. Skinner. S.J.Montgomery. he. J. Wallace : M. Sanderson, Edmbureh. Hcjw.— 1, J. Montgomery. 2, E. Homer. 3, J. White, he, W. Moon. Edinburgh ; J. Huie (2). Pouters (Bine).— Cocks. - 1, J. Wallace. 2, M. Stuart. 3, J. Morrison, Edin- burgh, ftc, J. White: G Ure: W. Rbtberford ; J. Masaulay. c, D. Stewart, flcn*.- 1 and Extra Gold Medal, R. Fulton. 2, J. Montgomery, 3, G. Ure. e, M. Skinner; J. Huie. Pouters (Red).— Coct,t.— 1 and 2, F. Fulton. 3, J. Montgomery, he, A. Wright, Momingside, Heng.—l, J. Millar. 2, J. Montgomery. 3, M. Sander- son, he, A. Wright. Pouters (Yellow).- Cocfcs.- 1, : IFnlton. 2, A. Wright. 8, G. Ure. Pouters (Any other colour) —Coc^.—l. J. Lohoar. Larkhall. 2. J. Morrison. 3, J. Sproull, Glasgow, e, J. Mitchell. Bem.—l, A. Wintour, Edinburgh. 2, J. Millar. 3, J. Huie. he. J. Bruce. Carriers (Black).— Cocfcs.—l and Extra Go'd Medal and 2, R. Fulton. 3. Mi«B A. Anderson, Trinity, he, E. Homer (2). Bins.— I and Extra Gold Medal, R. Fulton. 2, G. White. Paisley. 3, E. Homer. Carriers (Dun).-CocA:».— 1, W. Massey. 2 and 3, R. Fulton. liens.— 1,R. Fulton. 2, T. Colley. 3, J. R. Rennards. Helensburgh. Short FACBD (Almonds).— 1 and 3, J. Ford. 2 and e, R. Fulton, he. J. Wallace. Short-faced (Any other colour).- 1, J. Ford 2, E. Homer. 3, W. Lumb. Barbs (Black).— 1 and 2. R. Fulton. 3, J. Wallace. Barbs (Any.other colour).- 1 and 3, R Fulton. 2, J. Montgomery. Fantails.— 1. J. Sharp. 2, G. Ure. 3, A. Lockhart, Kirkcaldy. Jacobins.— 1, J. Lohoar. 2 and 3, R. Fulton, ftc, T. Rule ; R. Fulton. c,J. R. Kennards. Trumpeters.— 1 and 2, J. Montgomery. 3, E. Horner, he, T. Rule ; J. Wallace. Owls.- I and 2, W. Goddard, Stanhope Street, London. 3. W. Lumb. TURBITS.- 1. J. G. Orr, Beitb. 2. Miss M Anderson. 3. E. Horner. Ndns.— 1, T. Imrie, Bourlrec Park, Ayr. 2, W. Crolt, Ripley. 3, R. B. Heggie, Kirkcaldy. Magpies.— 1, W. Br.vdone, Dunse. 2 and 3, E. Homer. Tumblers (Any variety not Short-faced).— I, J. Sharp. 2, D. M'Naught, Kil- maars (Beards). 3, Capt. C. Thomson. Ant OTHER ViRiETy.-l, T. Imrie (Swiss). 2, W. Goddard (Ice). 3, E.Horner (Swallows). Judges. — Mr. Joseph Frame, and Mr. E. L. Corker. BIKMINGHAM COLUMBARIAN SOCIETY'S SHOW. {From a Correspondcni .) This Society's seventh annual Exhibition was held on Decern- ter 28th last at the Athen^um Rooms, Temple Street, and was a decided improvement on last year's Show, there being 332 pens, as compared vrith 217. The quahty of the birds was good, for not more than one or two pens conld be pointed out as inferior ; the condition in which the o"«mers sent their specimens was also good, every bird being in perfect feather. The Show was divided into two sections — birds bred in 1871, and old birds. BntDs OF 1871. Carriers (Black) were a good and strong class. First came a very good bird, so forward that many breeders declared he was an adult : such was not the case. This bird obtained the third prize at the late Palace Show. The second prizes went to good specimens that promise well for the future. This class num- Tsered nineteen entries. TVe may also add that the Birmingham cup bird only received a high commendation. Carriers (Dun). — First was a grand bird, good in evei*y point, and promising well. This bird '^'ill most probably always stand in the front rank ; the pride of place in all the young Carriers must be accorded to this bird. Second came a very good hen ; third a nice stylish bird, strong in bill, good in eye, rather do'v\'n in face. Carriers (Any other colour). — First a good Blue ; the second and third Blues promise well. Pouters. — First and second came very stylish Whites, of good length of feather and leg, narrow in girth, and sho^Ti in splendid condition. Almonds. — Fine birds, possessing every essential property for an Almond, were first and second. Atvj other Short-faced. — First came a Eed Whole-feather hen, perfect in head, eye, and bill, of grand carriage, and of a deep sound colour. 'This bird also obtained the cup for the best bird in this and the foregoing classes ; she well deserved her reward. Second came a fine Yellow, and the same exhibitor was also highly commended for a Red Mottle cock, sound in colour and feather, and with only half a dozen white feathers on his butts. The third prize went to a good Kite, which looked as though he had come from the same loft as the other winners in this class. Jacobins. — In this class the first and second prizes went to Red, and the third and a high commendation to Yellow, all of which were good birds in every point. Mr. Waitt Hkewise obtained the silver cup for the best bird in the young classes of Jacobins, Turbits, Barbs, Nuns, and Owls. Turhits. — The first-prize bird was Silver, the second Blue; both were snake-headed and good ; the third prize went to a deep-coloured Red, but shell-capped. - Nuns. — AU the prize birds were Black. A very good class. Owls. — All the prize birds were Blues. This was a good class, in fact the best young class we remember having seen for many years. Dragoons (Blue). — We rather thought the third-prize bird should have been placed first, and the first-prize bird third. AU were good, and of a deep sound colour. Dragoons (Silver). — This was a good and strong class, number- ing eleven pens. Dragoons (Any other colour). — All three prize birds were Yellows, of a good sound colour. Several good Whites were also shown. These classes were judged by the Society's standard, which, by-the-by, is not " as thin as a bodkin." Antwerps (Dun). — First was a good specimen, fine in head, bill, and style, though rather deficient in colour. The second and third-prize birds were promising, and good in coloiir. The first-prize bird also took the cup, as the best young bird in the Dragoon, Antwerp, and Any other variety classes. Antwerps (Blue). — A good class. Antwerps (Blue-chequer). — This was a strong class, all the specimens were good in head and beautifully marked. Antwerps (Red-chequer). — The first-prize bird was very fine in eye, head, and colour — in fact perfection. This bird was iu the cup pair at the last Bingley Hall Show. Swallows. — The first and second prizes went to Blues. Birds of Any Age. Carrier Cocks piack). — First came a bird good iu every point. It also obtained the cup as the best single old bird in the Show. Good specimens — in fact, birds that are fit to mn at any show, were second and third. Carrier Cocks (Dun). — The first and second prizes went to birds good in bill, eye, condition, and carriage. Carrier Cocks (Any other colour). — First a good Blue, very stylish — in fact, the best Blue seen for some time. Second a very nice bird. A promising Silver was highly commended. Carrier Hens (Black). — First a hen in gooti condition. The second-prize bird in this class was by far the best hen, and should liave obtained the first place. A good hen, rather red iu the lash, was highly commended. This was a good class. Carrier Sens (Dun). — First a grand hen, good in all points, hough iu bad condition. Second a good hen, of sound colour. Carrier Sens (Any other colour). — This was not so good a class as we generally see at this Show. Pouter Cocks. — The first prize went to a very showy White, good in length of feather and limb. Second came a good Red. Good Whites, very sho\\-y, and narrow in girth, were third and highly commended. Pouter Sens. — The first and second-prize birds were in splendid condition, showy, of great length, and narrow in girth. All the three winners were Whites. These classes exhibited a great improvement ou the previous year's Show. Almond. — The cock bird in the first-prize pair had a perfect head and biU, good eye, colour, and carriage, and well broken ; in fact, he may be considered perfection. The hen was also very fine, possessing a real Almond ground and well broken, a good heati and carriage. This pair obtained for their owner the cup for the best pair of old birds in the Show. Any Variety Short-faced. — Red and YeUow Whole-feathers, Red and YeUow Agates, and Kites carried off the honours. This we think was the best class in the Show. Every bird was per- fection, in splendid condition, not a feather soiled. It is doubt- ful if any other fancier could produce such a lot of birds as the exliibitor of these. Barbs. — The first prize went to a pair of Blacks that will hold their o■s^^l at any show ; the second also to a pair of Blacks. Owls. — A very good pair of Silvers possessing good heads and wen throated were first. Blues second, good Blacks third. This was a very good class. /acoiins.— Blacks, Reds, and Yellows stood in the prize list in the order named. They were all good. The Blacks well deserved their place ; they were a perfect pair, well matched, good in hood, frill, and mane, not a white feather to be seen below the mandible, and perfectly black to the thighs and vent. .N'uHS.— This was a good class, all Blacks. The scissors had not been so freely used as is generally the case with this variety. Trumpeters. — A good pair of Black Mottles were first. Second came a pair far too gay to be called Mottles. Both these pens of birds are good in hood, rose, and muff. Tumblers (Long-muffed). — A good pair of Eed Eosewings wero jouenaIj of hoeticultuee and cottage gaedener. [ January 4, lft72. first. Three pairs of good clear Blues were respectively second, third, and highly commended. This is a colour seldom seen. Blues are very pretty when they are as good as these. Tumblers (Clean-legged). — The first prize went to a pair of Eed Mottles. Pleasant-faced Yellow and Black Baldheads were second and third. A pair of Self-coloured Yellows were highly commended. Dragoons (Blue). — A good and sound-coloured pair of well- matched perfect birds were first. Both second and third-prize pens consisted of good birds. In a highly-commended pair the hen was good, but the cock was far too coarse for its mate. Dragoons (Silver). — This was a good class, and numbered six pens. Dragoons (Yellow or Red). — Yellows first ; good for head and bill, though bad in colour, being slaty in back, tail, and thighs. Ct lod Reds were second ; Yellows third and highly commended. We preferred the third to the first and second-prize pairs. Dragoo7is {Any other colour). — The first prize went to a good pair, the hen perfection. Most of the other pairs in this class were not up to the mark. Antwerps (Dun). — This was a good class. Good birds fuUy up to the standard were first, second, and highly commended. A very good pair came third. Antwerps (Blue). — First, the Blues that were first at the late Bingley Hall Show. This was a good class. Antwerps (Blue-chequered). — The prizes went to good birds splendidly marked. A highly commended pair were very little inferior to it. Antwerps (Red-chequered). — This was a good and strong class. The Antwerps as a whole were good, and such as only can be seen at Birmingham. Any other Variety (Pairs). — Brunettes, Turbiteens, and Black Swallows were respectively first, second, and highly commended. Ice were third. Several good pairs of Satinettes, Turkish Rollers, and other new varieties were shown, and included many varie- ties that hiive been imported from the East. Any other Variety (Single bird). — Blondinettes, Satinettes, and Brunettes took the prizes. This was a very strong and pretty class. Antwerps (Cocks). — First was the standard cock, which well deserved his position ; the second was a Dun cock very little inferior ; third a good Blue-chequer. A good Dun was highly commended. This was a good and strong class of fifteen pens. The Judges remarked that twice the number of prizes could easily have been awarded. The attendance was not up to the average. This was to be accotmted for by the weather, as it rained hard all dav. Through illness in his family Mr. Easten, of HuU, was not able to send any birds, although he had entered twenty pens. We never saw any show better carried out, and are pleased to find that the Society is gaining ground, having now upwards of sixty members. The whole of the 323 entries were contributed by twenty-six exhibitors. Too much praise cannot be acceded to the President, Mr. Allsop, to the Hon. Sec, Mr. Ludlow, and to the Committee for the assiduous and courteous manner in which they worked. Mr. Allsop, Mr. Child, and Mr. Careless were the Judges. The former gentleman refrained from judging in the Dragoon classes, as he was an exhibitor, and entirely -n-ithdrew his birds from competition for the cup in the young Dragoon, Ant- werp, and Variety classes. YOUNG BIRDS. CiERiEiiB.— Btaefc. — I, H. Hallam, Lozells, Birmincham. 2. Eqnal 3, and 8. J. A. Cooper. Walsall. Equal 3, ti. HodRkin- r. _j,_ „ y Hallam. S an.l he. J. Isaac. Keuil- 2 and S, J. Watts, King's Heath, ftc, G. Gordin, B: sou, Erdinaton. Dun.—l, G. Gordin. -, ■worth. Any other Colour.— 1, G. HodgkinSi Birmingha: -1 and 2, — Pralt, Lozolls, Birmingham. -\ and 2, T. Hallnra. Lozells. Birmingham. 3, J. Watts. Any ALHON _, ^„^^,..o i^.,i^iu«u»,u o(/i. H. bi\ Ai,Lo\\ s.— 1 and 2. J. Watts. Aki other Vabietv.-I, 8, and he, J. Watta. 2, J. W. Ludlow. „, , BIliDS OF ANY AGE. CAEBirn3.-Bfacfc.-Coc4j.-Cup and 1, F. Smith. 2 and 8, H. Hallam. he J. Isaac. SfrM.---l, G. Gordin. 2 and 3, F. Smi'h. Ac, S. A. Cooper r„,'..?"^?'-rr""~'!,'"i'-:7.' .'"'* '■ H. Hallam. 3. J. Watts. Hcn.,.-I, G. GordiD. 2, J. Isaac. 3, H. Nightingale, he, .-i. A. Cooper ■ ', ^■ .„'^dT".f "Itr.l"" °o'*."- '5V,'<'"'-W.e?'^*'-T'v.H-.Nigh>ingale. Birmingham. 2 Fiye Silver Cups, as Special Pr 2 3 giTen by this Society. DBAGOON PIGEONS. I AM glad to see Mr. Frank Graham's remarks respecting this breed, as there socms to be a great difference of opinion as to the proper standard of a Dragoon. In my experience of fifteen years as a breeder of this class of Pigeon, I have found some difficulty in producing the birds stout in the bUl, a property which represents the only true-bred Dragoon, pro- vided alwaj's the bird is perfect in head, carriage, and markings. I have bred Dragoons of almost every colour except Black, which I maintain does not exist in this breed. The bars of a Silver Duu Dragoon cannot be too narrow, and must be raven-black. These markings are a very great point of ex- cellence. Blues also require narrow jet-black bars. I have for years bred spindle-beaked birds which never obtained me a, prize in a show pen except once, and had I been Judge they would not have been placed. Fanciers of the spindle-beaked. Dragoon are fast dying out, and many Judges are changing in favour of stout-beaked birds. Dragoons should be almost free from wattle, and in size nearly as large as a Carrier. — John G. Dunn, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. ""po'lf;^- "^"^I'J' ^- "!."„»• J^'"'--l' H.'N.ghtingale 2 ind 3, J. Watts. roDTERs -C'ocJrs.- 1 and 2, W. Crook, Swansea. 3 and he. — Pratt Eens and 2, -Pratt. 3, W. Crook, ftc, J. Watta. ^ »"" "». "an. ains. ALHosns — Cup. I, and 2. T. Hallam. SHoRT-rACEn.-^iiK varieti/.-l, 2, 3, and he, T. Hallam. Barbs.— 1, F. Smith. 2, J. Watts. » »"■• WINTERING BEES. I NOW resume my remarks on the wintering of bees, referred to in last number. This, as I have already said, has always been a fertUe theme of discussion among apiarians, and various have been the modes suggested as the best. Some, like old Bonner, the celebrated Scottish apiarian, plastered the skirts of the hive all round the board with lime, covered it over with a large quantity of pob-tow or straw, and placed a divot, or turf, upon the top, to hold it close down and keep the bees dry and warm. The only apertures for air were two small holes cut in a piece of wood which formed the entrance, and these were so small in size as scarcely to exceed a quarter of an inch each. During snowstorms even these small apertures were loosely stuffed with tow also to keep the bees prisoners. Some, again, like the Swiss apiarian, Jonas de Gelieu, who also wintered out of doors, having been equally careful, with Bonner, that the hives had ample provisions, covered them with matting, an old blanket, fern, or other similar substance, in order to preserve the bees from rain, frost, or cold ; the entrances also being contracted, so as only to admit the passage of a single bee at a time, and closed up every crevice by which the external air could penetrate. To prevent internal moisture, however, Gelieu placed small caps on the top cemented all romid with mortar, by means of which " the moisture ascending evaporates through the opening as by a chimney." To attain the same end, Taylor, Richardson, smd others, place bell-glasses, " well covered with flannel, over the aperture on the top of the box or hive, removing it from time to time, and carefully wiping away from its interior the damp formed by condensed vapour." Again, some apiai-ians, to prevent internal dampness, like Miner, the American apiarian, do not resort to top ventilation at all, but allow a free current of air to pass underneath the hive, by openings at front and rear during all the winter, and only shut these when breeding commences in spring, or when snow is on the ground, by using perforated zinc sUdes. According to Mr. Langstroth, Mr. Quinby, who is said to have probably the largest apiary in the United States, winter* his bees with great success within-doors,in a special repository fitted up for the occasion ; and to get rid of the damp " he inverts the common hives and removes the board that covers the frame." The Rev. Mr. Scholtz, of Lower SUesia, a German apiarian of considerable celebrity, is said to ■winter his bees in what are called clamps. The hives are piled in a pyramidal form, and January 4, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 25 arranged in tiers in a circular pit bedded 'n-ith straw. All is covered over with the same material, and completely boarded tind protected from the influences of the weather by layers of earth surrounding all. Ample provision is made by flannels and other means for the circulation of air, and prevention of damp, by upward ventilation through the apex of the pyramid, &e. In this clamp they are shut up from November to April, and " jjass the winter (says Mr. Scholtz) uninjui'ed from damp and moisture, and with less consumption of stores." The celebrated Dzierzou usually winters some of his weaker colonies in a dry cellar, and " they alwaj's do well." "Universal experience (writes Dzierzon) teaches that the more effectually bees are protected from disturbance, and from the variations of temperature, the better will they pass the winter, the less wiU they consume of their stores, and the more vigorous and numerous wiU they be in the spring." Notwithstanding such testimonies, however, to "in-door ■wintering " and to burying in clamps, I am not inclined to think that there is any necessity for apiarians in this country having recourse to either of these practices. They are attended with au amount of trouble and constant supervision which contrast unfavourably with the simpler methods adopted in our own land ; and De Geheu, who has tested the different modes of " out-door and in-door wintering " m his country, most decidedly prefers the former. " The following winter (he writes), I left out the one half of my hives, and moved the other half into a cold room, according to my usual custom, when all the pains I bestowed upon them did not altogether keep them aUve, nor preserve them from damp and infection. In vain I swept and cleaned the boards, or placed them on dry hay to absorb the moisture ; in vain I gave them capes or joinings. With all my care there was not one of them free of diseases and infection. The winter was long and severe ; and they could not be returned to the ah- before the last week in March, by which time they were feeble and languid, and far less prosperous than those that had passed the winter out of doors. From that time I have never taken one into the house." I am not inclined, therefore, to recommend either of the methods adopted by American or German apiarians of wintering our bees, either in cold, dry, dark cellars, or in clamps, alias burjing pits. Far less should I be disposed to approve of the new mode of wintering bees by the American apiarian Mr. Hosmer, brought before our notice in the Journal of 14th December, by your esteemed correspondent, " B. d- W." In cases of necessity we might, with Dzierzou, try some of our weaker colonies within-doors, or such as are domiciled in uuicombs, adopting a constant supervision over them, but to purposely divide our strong hives in autmuu for the sake of a questionable economy in the mere consmnption of a few pounds of honey, is, in my opinion, the very reverse of good management. " Experience, in this matter, is the best school- master," for we all know that a weak hive in autumn is, as a rule, a weak hive in spring. On the principle, therefore, that " union is strength," in the case of the bee as of man, and believing, with Bonner, that " one (really) good hive is worth four bad ones," I cannot approve of the breaking-up or division of strong families in autumn. Although I perfectly agree with Mr. Hosmer in the desir- abihty of encouraging late breeding in autumn, with the view of securing a preponderance of the youthful element in every stock hive, having directed the attention of apiarians to this subject some years ago in the Journal, yet I should not, like " B.& W.," desire to get rid of their elder associates. Even upon the assumed hypothesis that the old bees, " which have consumed honey all the winter, die after their first flight in spring," I would not wish to discard them if I could, for I reckon their presence of the utmost value to the colony during the rigour of winter, as well as the commencement of breeding in spring. But is it a fact that all the old bees die during the first flight in spring, as Hosmer supposes ? Certainly not. Pray what bees are these that are called "old bees?" Are they what your experienced correspondent " B. & AV.," inad- vertently perhaps, terms " summer-bred bees," and which he, too, I am sorry to see, thinks it desirable to get rid of before wintering ? I venture to say there are, as a rule, few or no " summer-bred " bees in any of our hives in winter. All have perished, and our stocks are almost, if not entirely, peopled by autumn-reared bees. Such being the case, I thmk that Hosmer's theory is erroneous in principle and entirely delusive — independently, too, of the error of holding the older bees in a hive as worthless, the practice of weakening his strong stocks in autumn by division, for the assumed advantage of a few pounds saved in stores, is one which will never be followed bv experienced apiarians, as it is alike irreconcileable with the known winter habits of the bee, as it is opposed to all sound and enUghtened management. — J. Lowe. ABE ARTIFICIAL QUEENS INFERIOR TO NATURAL QUEENS? Mr. J. M. Pbice, writing in the American " Bee Journal," asserts that he has proved, beyond doubt, that queens raised artificially are worthless in comparison with those raised naturally. From my own experience I am led to differ from him most decidedly. Out of twenty-five stocks, the largest number of colonies I ever possessed at one time, I had not a single queen that was not either artificially raised in a small nucleus box, or was not the descendant of one who was so raised, but I could never discover that my queens were deficient in breeding powers, or, barring accidents, in longevity. In fact, the fecundity of some of these was frequently a subject of surprise and remark. One queen, in particular, seems to stand pre-eminent in these respects. Soon after the first introduction of Ligurian queens into this country, my own double venture having proved unpro- pitious, my friend, the late Mr. Woodbury, gave me a royal ceU, which he cut out of a small nucleus box, from brood of his best yellow queen. This cell I, inserted in a brood-comb in a nucleus box with a few adult bees. In a few days she was hatched out, and I was struck with her size and beautiful colour. Soon after she had commenced breeding I transferred them into an eight-frame Langstroth box, and gave the bees another sealed brood-comb. The stock was not particularly strong at the close of the autrmin, and barely managed to hold its own through the winter ; but by the end of April it had become so populous as to present the appearance of being ready even then to send off a swarm. A large super was given to the bees, into which they at once ascended, and were so crowded as to make it seem almost impossible for them to work at comb-building. In about three weeks from that time, considerable progress having been made in that respect, and the bees again crowding outside the entrance, a second super was slipped in between the first and the honey-board of the stock box, which also became at once crammed with bees. Early in July I removed the doubled super, containing 54 lbs. of honeycomb. The following year this stock also distinguished itself in spring and early summer by the possession of a teeming population, and gave a splendid glass box super of 75 lbs. weight. The next season seemed equally propitious ; a super of 50 lbs. was taken, and an inunense swarm thrown off, which also the same summer gave me a super of 26 lbs. weight. The following spring I examined the queen which had come off with this swarm, and was convinced in my own mind, from her peculiar markings and appearance, that she was the same queen which had been raised in the nucleus box. That season this swarm became excessively crowded, and I put on a larger super than I had ever before used, and it contained when full the large quantity of 86 lbs. of the finest possible honey- comb. The following spring the old queen showed symptoms of having become almost worn-out, and was, I believe, soon after- wards superseded by the bees, as I discovered a queen of a very different character at my next inspection of the interior. At the time of the old queen's death she must have been at least four years and a half of age. I mention but this one instance out of many which have come before my notice, but it is quite sufficient, in my mind, to establish the truth of the assertion, that artificial queens may and do prove equal in every respect to the best of those raised by the bees for the purposes of natural swarming. — S. Sevan Fox. Shading in Winter. — Mr. Taylor says : — " Where the hives stand singly, I have always seen the advantages of fixing before each a wooden screen, nailed to a post sunk in the ground, and large enough to throw the whole front into shade. This does not interfere with the eoming-forth of the bees at a pro- per temperature, and it supersedes the necessity of shutting them up when snow is on the ground. The screen should be fixed a foot or two in advance, and so as to intercept the sun's rays, which will be chiefly in winter towards the west side." JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ January 4, 1872. OUR LETTER BOX. GoLDEK-PENCn-rjiD HAStBrRGU Hks (p. C). — Wo do not say we have never seen one with a clear hackle oiul pcucilled tail, but it is ft very rare oc- corrence, luid we sliould not know where to find one at any price. Top-knot Plvcked Off (fl. K.).~lt is more than likely the ointment you require would he injurious to the feiithors growing in the top-knot. The beet ointment you can use will bo strong sulphur. The hens only eat the feathers while they are growing ; alter they are formed they leave them alone. There can be noobjection to Boparate them for a time, or, if neccssaiy, to allow them occasional nms in company, being watched all the time that the liistiry may not be indulged in.; It is not for any purpose necesfiary they should always bo together. YAKiors (Af. H.).— La Fleche fowls are never strong, and we believe they Intk . un>titution. They will bear rich food very well, but they ore never well if supplied with water. " Wc allow them to drink only morning and evening. The cock you speak of has cither outgrown his streni^rth, or was not sufli- cjently well fed when young. If he is not essential to your yard, do not attempt to save him. He is not worth it. He will never be fit for a stock bird. "Washtng a Buff Cochin (E. C. T'.).— Wash the plumage with soft soap and water, the former in small proportion. Use a sponge, and !» content to wipe the feathers gently down without moistening the under plumage, which is always clean. Wipe them afterwards with flannel, and put them in an open basket with some soft straw before a fire. They will dry clean. Be sure you wash the fowl's legs as well as the feathers. Ground oats miied with kitchen scraps will put on weight very fast. Brittlentss of Feathers (H. B.).~Tour Hamburgh cock is changing his hackle, and the feathers only look as if they were broken. They will come right if they are let alone. Tour feeding is very bad. Indian meal once per day is enough. You may give it in the morning ; give good ground oats or oatmeal midday, and whole Indian com in the evening. The tendency of Indian meal is" to cause extreme fatness, and that is not favourable for health. Brkbding Pile Game Fowxs (H.). — You con breed Piles either from the birds you name, or from a Black Red cock and \STiite hen. You can breed Piles irom a Brown Red cock and '\Miite hen, or between a %\'hite cock and a Ginger hen. They would not be faulty, but if you have any fixed ideas as to what you want, you must remedy the failings in the produce, by mating birds possessing the properties you require with those of the first cross that comes nearest to your standard. Legs of Pile Gaste Fowxs {An Old Gnme Brfedfr, ffr.).— We cannot agree with yon about the colour of the legs of Pile Game. Nearly fifty years ago we had much to do with Cheshire Piles, and there were Willows among them. Many years ago we shipped a main of Piles to the West Indies, and many of them had willow legs. We are heterodox enough to believe that the colour of tho legs is immaterial; that whether it be a Derby Bed with white legs, or an old Red with yellow, or a modem Red with willows, we should in the pit make choice of the bird without looking at the colour of his legs. If you can find us any county, or even large district, where Game fowls prevail, and whore lege of only one colour are to be found, we shall ask ourselves a question, but at present we side with the judge or judges, and think ** in re Game fowls," it is necessary all legs in a pen should be alike, but no colour in itself is a mark of greater or less purity or excellence. Price of Cochtn Cockerel [Devon Rector)). — Such a bird asyou describe, between gentleman and gentleman, should moke £1. Fowl's Hofse (G. A.). — Tour fowls have cold, stimulants such as strong ale are required. Hambnrghs are more prone to roup than any others. Wash the swollen eyes witli vin^ar and cold water. Give Baily's pUls. Get rid of the Hamburghs, they are " messing." Pullets Pickikg a Cockerel's Flesh {E. JMiitf). — You must separate the cock from the hens till his top-knot is grown. It will then be safe from attack. In these matters cocks somewhat resemble gentlemen, they stand quiet while they are put to pain, looking for the *' compensation balance " in the fact it gives the ladies pleasure. A cock or a cock Pheasant will stand still to be eatru alive by the hens. Bruce's tradition of the Abyssinians cut- ting a rump steak, day by day, out of the li%-ing ox. is nothing compared to a Spanish or Houdan cock standing still, the one while hie head is eaten, and the other while his face is being pecked. Selecting Stock Fowls {Hanis Hcntci/c ).— No. 1 should have gone into the Btock-pot_ last year. How is it you hatched no cockerel till August ? g; 5, 6, 7, should go with an J are your own seeing, and if and have more faulty i too old. Because No. 1 early bird of last year. Tour failures of last you breed as you propose, you will hatch fewer birds. Vulture Hocks {Inqti We republish the woodcut. Vulture hocks arc long, straight, quilled feathers protnidiug from below the knee. Silver-pencilled Hamburgh Cock (G. Caithmssl—Ji good Gold-pen- cilled Hamburgh cock should have no \isible black but in the tail, and those feathers should be edged with bronze. Plymouth Show {J. i^onj;).— We hope you are correct in stating that it was ' a success in every sense of the word.'' ^\Tiat vou state about another party s misfortunes is not suitable for publication. (iV. jBar(^r).—There i^ no need to moke further inquiries. Let us see what the present year will bring Edinburgh Poultry Show (.7. RoUiiison). — It was very careless of the Secretary not to Bond your prize Golden-spangled Hamburghs to Manchester as was undertaken by the Society. It was the more vexatious because yon travelled to Manchester. "An Exhibitor,'' Cambridge, was similarly badly attendee! to, and at a cost of 3m. Canajiies (H. G.).— If your letter was received the query was answered; but we have too many questions doily to be able to remember each. Send your query again. Spratt's Cat Biscuits {Anthony). — As you cannot obtain an answer from the factory we cannot advise you. Buy Meyrick's little book on dogs. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, Camden Square, Lokdon. Lat. 51" 32' 40" N. ; Long. 0' 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feet. Datb. 9 AJtl. In the Dai. 18VI-2. HyRTome- ter. Direc- tion of Wind. Temp, ot Soil at 1ft. Shade Tea- peratnre KadiaUon Tempera- tare. a In On Jan. aS'~ Dry. Wet. Mai. Min. RTRSS i'g- de?. ieg. Acg. deir. dec. deg. In. We. 27 29.556 45.0 S.E. 4-2.3 4S.4 41S 0.020 Th. 28 29.483 47 2 45.2 S. 42,3 43.1 41.4 51.4 36.3 0.IJ41 Fri. 29 2if.fa9 49.4 42 4 W. 4-2 8 47.1 4S.n 42 0 29.874 446 42.6 S.SW. 41.8 47.0 35.8 49.0 29.7 ■0.»7S S0.074 85 7 34.2 W. 41.7 43 0 33.2 6S.1 29.3 O.flO Mo. 1 S0fT9 88.8 36 4 S.E. 89 9 43.8 33.2 50.0 284 0.130 Tu. 2 29.830 43.3 43.0 S. 40.3 47J! S8.2 58.) 34.6 0.010 Means 29.791 42.3 41.3 41.6 46.3 S8.5 59.4 1 34.7 0.284 REMARKS. 27th. — Bright sunshine with showers in the morning, fine i ;the€ 28th.— Dull, overcast with slight showers, sunshine for a short time about noon, but dull day. 29th. — Kain in the night and tiU 9 A.M., then a fine day and beautiful moon- light night. 30th. — Beautiful moonlight in morning and splendid sunrise, wind rather hifjh, clouded over soon after 8 a.m., and a damp uncomfortable day. White aurora between 8 and 9 p.m. 81st. — Slight white frost in morning, fine day, bright sun but rather cold wind. 1st.— Veiy fine all day, wind gradually rising after 6 p.m., rather high at night. 2nd. — Dark and wet in morning, slight showers during the day. Several meteors at night, mostly radiating from near Gamma Urs» Minoris. The temperature continues unseasonably high, with southerly winds and continued dampness. — G. J. Symons. COYENT GARDEN MAREET.^antiabt 3. As usual at the close of the year, business transactions ore limited to actual wants, and have no marked "features in them. It has seldom been our lot to see a better or larger supply of roots and green vegetables than has been offered during and since the Christmas week ; certainly the million have been amply supplied. Potato trade is heavy with large stocks ; the Dunbars and East Lotluans rule highest in the market. FBriT. Apples jsieTe 3 Apricots doz. 0 Cherries lb. 0 Chestnuts bnshel 10 Currants i i Filberts lb. Cobs lb. Grapes, Hothouse.... lb. Gooseberries quart Lemons ^100 Melons each Mulberries lb. 0 OtoO 0 Nectarines doz. 0 0 CO Orancea ¥^100 4 0 10 0 Peaches doz. 0 0 0 0 Pears, kitchen doz. 2 0 4 0 dessert doz. 3 0 6 0 PineAppIes lb. 4 0 7 0 Plums isieve 0 0 0 0 Raspberries lb. 0 0 0 0 Strawberries lb. 0 0 0 0 Quinces doz. 0 0 0 0 Beans, Kidney per 101 Broad bushel Beet, Red doz. Broccoli bundle Brussels Sprouts. .J sieve Cabbage doz. Cap-icums %*lf>0 Carrots bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Coleworts.. doz. bunches Cucumbers each pi ckling duz . Endive doz. Fennel bnncfa Garlic lb. Herbs bunch HorBeradisb bundle VEGETABLES. 8. d. B. d 1 ^ X. ' 0 OtoO 0 I Leeka bunch 10 0 I Lettuce doz. Orions bushel pickling quart Parsley per doz. bunches Parsnips doz. Peas quart Potatoes bu&htl Kidaey do. Radishes., doz. bunches Rhubarb bjndle Savoys doz. Sea-Kate basket Shall'.ts lb. Spinach bushel Vegetable Harrows.. doz. 0 0 0 9 POULTRY MARKET.— Jani;aby 3. It is impossible to give any account of the market for Christmas, or for some days afterwards, Tiithin the limits of a market notice. Should space permit we will give an article on the subject. Very choice poultry made good price - throughout the CSiristmas week. That of inferior quality was unsaleable, and TTiTiftVi of it remoiuB tinRnli^ now . Jannary 11, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICUXTURE AKD COTTAGE GARDENER. WEEKLY CALENDAR. JA>"CAEY 11—17, 1872. Th Hilary Law Term begins. F S I Cambridge Term begins. Son I 2 Sunday atter EpiPHAifT, M Oxford Lent Term begins. Ni(!ht. Mean. 30.1 36.8 29.5 35.8 29.3 36.2 29.9 36.0 28.9 35.8 Sl.O 36.5 28.7 35.6 5af8 I 11 al4 Sal 9 9a£ 5 46 9 1 36 6 18 10 I 2 8 89 10 21 9 67 10 41 10 14 11 56 11 81 11 ! mom. Clock I Day before ' of Son. I Year. 9 33 9 54 10 15 oear London dnring forty-three years, the average day temperature of the -week is 42.1= ;aiid its night temperature 29.6^. 1 the 12th, 1862 ; and the lowest cold 3', on the 13th, 1867. The greatest faU of _rain wm 0.86 mch. PEAT SOIL. t T is a generally received opinion that Heaths, Azaleas, and other plants with delicate hair- hke roots cannot be grown without peat soil. Such a conclusion, however, is often a mis- taken one, and leads not imfrequently to failure ; for, acting on the impression that peat soil is indispensable, soil bearing that name is procured, and proves whoUy unsuit- able for the plants for which it was intended. Some, too, knowing that peat is required for gi'owing a certaiu class of plants, trust the selection of them to some as ignorant of the soil as they are of the plants themselves. There is a great difference iu peats — some being of great importance to the gardener, others whoUy unsuitable, and, indeed, hurtful for most of the pui-poses of floriculture. Whilst admitting turfy peat soil to be the best for hard- wooded plants, such as Heaths, Azaleas, and others with veiy delicate roots, my experience nevertheless leads me to the conclusion that it is not, as is commonly supposed, indispensable. Peat is a deposit of vegetable fibre, the consequence of a long-continued gi'owth on the same spot, and the dark colour of the soil we term peat is given by the plants. Proof of this may be found in the fact than an Azalea or Rhododendron, planted in a hght- coloured sandy loam fuU of fibre, will within a quarter of a century change the soU to a dark brown peat, and the sand that was formerly the colour of the loam, is then as white as the finest silver sand. Heath on our moors foiins the same deposit of dark-coloured soU, and if evidence were needed that the soil was not originally what ■we call peat, we could produce abundant proof of it. Here on the Ught-coloured loam springs up the Heath amongst the turf overlying sand or stone, and so close does its growth become that the grasses give way, and the Heath spreading out forms first a clump, and eventuaUy a peat moor, which was once a hght-coloured loam inter- woven with a tough tbick-gi'owing turf. It is the property of plants to effect an alteration in the colour of sods, and even to enrich them -n-ith their own decayed parts, which enable the subject to exist on the same spot — for every plant in a state of nature supphes itself with the elements of existence — and fit the soil for a higher or grosser- feeding tj'pe of vegetation. The moss on the rock forms a rooting-ground for the Fern, just as the Uchen on trees forms a lodgement for the epiphytes. So whilst culti- vated plants take from the fertility of the soO, those in a wild state enrich it and add to its depth by their decaying parts, being generally succeeded, and often accompanied, by a higher and deeper-growing class of vegetation. Peat, then, is a deposit of vegetable matter, consisting of a " sharp sandy soil mixed with the dead fibrous roots of Heath, and is usually of a dark grey colour." There are, however, brown and black peats, due, I consider, to the colour of the loam prior to the growth of the plants. I think the term peat is an inappropriate one for the soil of such value to the gardener, as we give the same name to No. 663.- Vol. XXTT., New Series. every kind of dark spongy soU, whether it be that over- lying rock or diy elevated gi-ound in a thin strata ; or that on a wet clayey subsoU of considerably less elevation, thinness, and lightness ; or that fi-om ground moderately dry, but moist "enough to produce sphagnum— in which case the peat is brown in colour, verj- spongy, and not of more than a few inches thickness— or that from low ground, where, fi'om the decay of sphagnum or plants aUied to it, a deep layer, generally wet to the roots, is foi-med ; aU these, with many others that I could name, are included in the designation of peat. Heath mould would be a better name for the soil that is used for what I consider to be the finest plants of the garden. The heath mould or peat, generally used for deUcate hair-like rooted plants, is the soil which occm-s in elevated well-drained moors, exposed to the witheiing blasts of ■winter and scorching heat of summer. The sod, usually less than a foot, and often only a few inches in thickness, lies on a layer of sandstone, Umestone, freestone, or grit, being so thin, and the subsoil so sterile, as to forbid pro- fitable tillage, but yielding a thickly-woven tough turf of vei-y fine grass and good close-gro-wing Heath. The top sod taken off 3 or 4 inches, or as far as the deposit of vegetable matter extends, is highly fiiable and dark- coloured, containing a considerable proportion of fine grains of white sand, and if laid up in a stack for a few months, it vsdll ultimately foi-m the peat so valuable for cultural purposes. It cannot be too fibrous, provided it be full of white sand, in fact the tougher the better. Never take it off so deeply as to biing away any that is close and devoid of fibre,* and avoid that which is of a soft spongy texture. It may be black, brown, or dark grey, but the main consideration is texture, though colour shows the advanced state of the decay of the vegetable matter and the thickness of the deposit. The sooner a deposit is formed the less time is there for decay, and the Ughter is its colour; whilst the slower the deposit the more complete is the decay, and the greater the blackness of the soU. Now let us compare this heath mould ■with a fight loamy soil covered ■nath a thickly-woven turf, and what is the difference ? Is it not in the decomposing vegetable matter and the smaller quantity of clay in the peat to what there is in the loam ? Mr. Johnson, in the " Science and Practice of Gardening," page 96, tells us that " Peat of the best description is constituted in 400 parts." PEAT. Fine siliceous sand 156 Unaltered vegetable fibre . 2 Decomposing vegetable matter 110 Silica (flint) 102 Alumina (clay) 16 Oxide of iron 4 Soluble, vegetable, and sa- line matter 4 Muriate of lime 4 Loss 2 LOAM. Fine sand 120 Decomposing vegetable matter 100 Silica 130 Alumina 1& Oxide of iron 10 Carbonate of Ume 12 Sulphate of Ume 1 Soluble, vegetable, and sa- line matter 5 Loss * 400 400 Now let us compare this ■with an analysis of loam of a No. 1215.— Vol. Xl.'vn., Old Sebisb. 28 JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Jaunary 11, 1872. light sandy nature, in a dose herbage that has accumulated so as to form a thickly-woven fibry sui-face of turf, taken off 1 to IJ inch thick, and laid up for three months to decompose. The diiffercuce is not vci-y great, and the only objection that can be urged against a soil of this description is the excess of lime and iron, in which there can really be no serious draw- back, as the excess of iron is probably decomposed by the lime. There is also a slight excess of clay that may be over- come by the addition of sand, and the deficiency of vegetable matter may be compensated for by adding some old cow dung or leaf soil, with a large amount of sand. This soU should be laid up a few days or weeks, according to the period of the year, less time being needed in summer than winter, and finely chopped-up for small plants, and moderately so for large ones. If used rather rough, let there be a good proportion of finer particles, so as to fill up the interstices and allow of firm pot- ting, adding to it one-sixth of silver sand, and a twelfth part each of charcoal in lumps from the size of a pea to that of a liazel nut, and broken pots that will pass a half-inch sieve ; max this thoroughly, and what is the plant that will not grow in it ? I am not prepared to say that it wUl suit the most delicate of plants which require heath soil, but it will grow such subjects as Azaleas and Ehododendrons much better than any peat, and is especially suited to Camellias. So-called American plants require vegetable matter and plenty of sand ; indeed, most, if not all, Cape, New Holland, and American plants need decomposing vegetable matter in the proportion of one to two of sand, a small proportion of clay, and very little lime or iron. In such a soU they will thrive, and by the de- composition of organic material and their own decaying pai'ts, will give origin to the soil we term peat. I have been so often disappointed by peat, that I have no hesitation in giviug preference to the top inch of an old com- mon, the soU of which is stony, rocky, or sandy underneath, and the old tm-f at the surface very tough, sandy, and partially decomposed. I use it for the pui'poses of peat in the culture of pot plants, but for American plants out of doors I do not consider peat needed. For plants in beds I prefer compost formed of the first 2 or 3 inches of an old pasture, chopped-up rather roughly and enriched with leaf soU from a wood, or from where Bracken and Foxglove grow, and the whole top-dressed with cow dung and plenty of sharp sand, to make the soU Hght and porous. This soD will grow Ehododendrons, Azaleas, Kahuias, Andromedas, and hardy Heaths much better than the majority of jjeats. It should be stated that some peats are so ferruginous as to be wholly unsuitable, and some contain iron in such quantity as to be actuaDy poisonous to plants, and yet the soU beai-s a very good gi'owth of Heath. On examination, however, it will be found that the layer of peat is very thin, the ferruginous substance being immediately under it, but none of the fibres of the Heath entering it. Those ferruginous peats are also vei7 deficient of sUica, though the subsoil is frequently a com- pound of 150 sand, 120 silica, with as much as 50 of alumina, oxide of iron 35, water not entering but running off by the surface. If the ground has not a sharp LncUne, the Heath is often covered with hchen and sphagnum. Even the surface of these soils is of no use, as they are so largely impregnated with iron and so deficient of sand. There are peats, again, that overhe limestone, and are so impregnated with it as to be wholly unsuitable, especially those on the maguesian formations. It'is remarkable, however, that even those formations on which there is but a thin deposit of vegetable matter, will grow plants which need peat well if un- distm-bed, but this, if removed, is destructive to plants in pots or in a cultivated state. It is also necessary to make some remai-ks on the kinds of sand used for mixing with loam intended to be employed in- stead of peat. There is the sand rock, which is a compound of lime, and when burned forms the finest silver sand. In its natm-al condition it is simply poisonous to plants, and when washed it renders the water milky. There are also pit sands veiy full of iron, and nearly useless. All sands should be washed m a very fine sieve, skimming off the top. This frees them of loam or aluminous matters, and also of what those persons who use sand for cement or Ume term " blacks." These spoil the work, and if not removed will also destrov the roots of plants. Peaty turf, such as is used for fuel, is of no value for plant-culture, being almost destitute of silica. It consists of sphagnum and allied plants, frequently forming a deposit to a great depth, but it is also often found in only a thin layer. It usually occurs in low ground and saturated with water, where the subsoil is very clayey and almost without stones. This is only useful for the growth of bog plants or for fuel. — G. Abbei. SMALL FAEMS— HOW THEY CAN BE MADE TO ANSWEE.— Xo. 5. By Bev. Willlim Lea, Vicar of St. Peter's, Droitwich, and Hon. Canon of Worcester. Vegetables. — I have now exhausted the usual varieties of fruits with the exception of Filberts {Strawberry cultivation comes more nearly under the category of vegetables) , and not- withstanding the very tempting accounts of the profit of Filbert-growing which I have seen in print, I cannot say that I have found it successful. It is stated in a pamphlet which I have before me that Cob FUberts are readily sold at £7 for 100 lbs. weight — that is, about 1». id. per lb. My experience was not so fortunate, as the crop produced the odd fourpence without the shilling, so we will tlismiss them from our con- sideration. And the point I now wish to come to is this : When a field is planted with fruit, it will be some 3'ears before the trees fully cover the ground, or there may be parts of it left open for vegetable cultivation — what will be the most profitable vegetables to grow ? I mentioned the Strawben-y above ; and where the ground is weU suited for the growth of this fruit, and sulBciently near to a market, probably few kinds of produce will bring a more profitable return. The difficul- ties are, that it carries very badly, and requires to be netted over where birds are numerous. I have never made an experi- ment as to the market value of Strawberries, but after many years' experience as a grower I may be able to thi'ow some light on the subject to those who may wish to begin. First, double-dig your ground and manure it heavily ; then put in your runners, being careful to select first runners — i.e., those nearest to the parent plant ; put them in as eai'ly as you can, and not later than the middle of August, or you will not have much of a crop the first yeai'. Plant them in rows 12 inches apart, and 12 inches between the plants. Directly the fruit is gathered hoe up every alternate row, so as to leave for the second year rows 2 feet apart, with the plants 12 inches from each other. Directly the fruit is gathered the second year, hoe up every alternate plant in the rows, so as to leave for the third year rows 2 feet apart, and plants 2 feet from each other. Clean your beds by the end of August ; in No- vember hoe them over, and put on a good surface-dressing of manure, and at the end of May, when the plants are just going out of blossom, give them a good watering with liquid manure — this will materially increase the size of the fruit. Some prefer to let the plants run all together, so that the ground is completely covered. The advantage of this plan is that the bh-ds do not see them so j)lainly ; the disadvantages, that the fruit is smaller, less abundant, and in a wet season worthless. The vaiieties of Strawberry to be grown must depend upon your soil. TVliere the British Queen will succeed it should always form a part of the plantation ; but it will not grow on all soils. I have never been able to do any good with it myself. The eai'hest of aU sorts is the Black Prince, but it is hardly a Strawberry, and would not be looked at when once Keens' Seedling has been seen ; stUl, on account of its eai'liness it may be worth a trial. To succeed this I should recommend Keens' Seedling and President, which last, as far as my expe- rience goes, is the hardiest, the longest-hved, and the most pro- Ufic of all StrawbeiTies, and one which will carry well. Then come Sir J. Paxton, where it will grow La Constante, and of later sorts Filbert Pine, Frogmore Late Pine, and Stirling Castle ; but the king of all is Dr. Hogg, unequalled in size and flavour, but I fear a short-Uved variety, and of a tender con- stitution. These are the varieties which I have found to succeed best on a Ught loamy soil, and on such a soil I should say that nothing would beat the President for mai'ket puri:)oses. I now come to the questiou of vegetables ; for if a field is planted with fruit (trees such as Plums, Apjiles, or Cherries, in rows 24 feet apart, and bushes, such as Gooseberries or Currants, between them in rows 6 feet apart) for the first six or eight years, there will be room for vegetables between the rows, and also between the bushes. What varieties can be grown to the greatest profit ? In the first place I should put Onions, Garlic, or Shallots, because they interfere less with the roots of the trees than any JannaiT U, 1872. J JOUENAIi OF HORTICULTURR AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 29 other Tegetable ; and the last especially, if the soU is in good heart, will produce a larger profit per square yard thau any- tliing else. Carrots and Parsnips may also be gi-own, and the latter will hold their own, and produce large roots, even if quite overshadowed by the bushes, when nothing else will succeed. But the most profitable crop for the first few years will probably bo the Potato, especially the early varieties which do not make too much haulm, such as the Ashleaf , Early May, Alma, The King, and other kidneys, which are always in demand before the later Potatoes come in, and even then seem to be preferred before them. Of the later sorts the best and the most prohflc (but this again is a question of soil), are the Red Regent and the Victoria, both of which will keep perfectly sound tUl Potatoes come in again. But if a part of a field is left open, and not planted with trees, nothing, probably, will be more profitable than Asparagus beds, if the farm is near to a good market. With regard to manures, there is none which can be com- pared with farmyard manure, more especially if the crop is to be planted among bushes and fruit trees. Some persons have a prejudice against " green " manure ; but I would say, When you are planting, put on eveiy bit of maniu-e you can scrape together, rotten if you have it ; if not, green. I have seen just as good and healthy crops of Potatoes, if not better, grown from manure full of soakage wheeled straight from the pigstye, as from the well-matured heap which had accumulated during the previous year. I say, then, there is nothing like farmyard manure. It lasts for two or three seasons in the soil, while artificial manure is exhausted in one. But among artificial manures there is a difference. I have tried experiments with many varieties, and have found nothing so efficient for Potato- gi'owing as Peruvian guano, if it can be procured unadulterated. A httle goes a long way, if dropped by hand upon the set when it is planted iu the ground. AJad this mention of manure leads to a consideration of the sources from which it is to be derived. A fruit-farmer )m(.5( have it, and as it is not always to be pur- chased, he must keep a certain amount of stock to produce it. What that stock should be we will consider in another paper. (To be continued.) ELECTION OF BOSES. Mk. RiBCLYFFE, in your last, after commending the hsts of Roses on the whole, thinks there are two shy bloomers, six bad gi'owers, and sis. prcsqtu p?t'!Ht', iu the thirty-six. With regard to the presque pltine , I think that not only some of the very best garden Roses, but some of the very finest exhibition Roses belong to this division ; and though some of them are dangerous friends, in a stand, as in a hot tent, they are apt to open too rapidly and show an eye, yet, as a rule, their constitution is better than the very double ones, many of wliich, Uke La Heine, Reiue du Midi, Alpaide de RotaUer, and others, at times utterly refuse to open, and others, agam, open flat and rough, like Thyra Hanunerick, Souvenir de Poiteau, Baronne Prevost, &a. What Roses can be finer than Duke of Edinburgh, Xavier Ohbo, Pierre Notting, Victor Verdier in their half -expanded state ? There are very few Roses that wUl bear, as I sometimes see done, a .Judge's pencil stuck into the middle to poke in and see if there is a yellow eye, and then they are condemned, because they say, " Oh ! that Rose wo'n't do, it will open directly and show a yellow eye, very likely by the time the public are ad- mitted." There are some of the Roses which have incurved petals, like Prince Henri de Pays Bas, Fehx Genero, and Louis XTV., which keep their shape longer, but many of these Roses have quite as much a yellow eye as the presque pleine, only on account of the incurved petal they do not show it so much. I am induced to write this, as I am myself a great admu-er of that section on account of the beauty of the bud and half and three-parts-opened flower, as instance General Jacqueminot and La France. In my opinion, as a general rule, they are the most useful Roses that can be grown, and I should be sorry to have them discarded as exhibition blooms on account of then' tendency to show, not the cloven foot, but the yellow eye when past their best. — C. P. Peach. have about sixty Hybrid Perpetual Roses which may be relied upon with perfect confidence as really first-rate. Those Roses which have only had one vote are, I beUeve, mostly excellent, but so far- scarcely sufliciently accredited. Now, I propose that this election be carried a little further, and that the same able rosarians be canvassed again for then- opinions as to what other Roses, besides those aheady elected, are really worth growing either for the garden or for exhibition. This woiHd enable the public to understand, once and for all, what Roses are reaUy ww. Placing Hyacinths in Heat {An Old Suhteriber).—The Hyacinths which you have had out of doors, covered two months with coal ashes, we should remove at once, and place near the glass in a house -with a temperature ol from 4(r to 45" at night, and 45= to 50^ by day from fire heat. A stove -with a temperature between 65= aud 70= would bring them forward too rapidly, but on a shelf near the glass they would not be so liable to become drawn, and might flower fairly, hut we behove they would only do moderately well. They would flower much better without heat if the roots were merely pro- tected from frost. Sj-ringing with very hot water wiU not kill thrips, and il warmer than 140= it -wU] injure the Azaleas. Syringe them with tobacco water, made by pouring half a gallon of boiling water on an ounce of the strongest shag tobacco. Cover over closely, let the Uquid stand untU cool, then strain, aud sj-ringe the plants on the under sides of the leaves. Instead of using this you may dilute the tobacco water of the shops -with six tunes lt» volume of water, and syringe the plants. Callas not Flowering (Papanini).— "We are not surprised at the plants not meeting your wishes, lor you expect too much. They will not flower agam imtil from March to May, and we should now keep them rather dry, not allow the foliage to suffer, aud place them in a temperature ol not more than 43 to 50= for six weeks ; then encourage them with plenty of water, and a tem- perature of from 50' to 55', and we think yon wiU have as fine a sprmg as you appear to have had an autumn bloom. Uses of S31.1LL Frames (C. L. X).).— Your frames S feet wide, 2 feet Binchea high at back, and 1 foot 6 inches in front, with glass tops, fronts, and ends, the backs and bottoms of wood, will be useful for many purposes ; but we do not see any necessity for a ghiss front or glass end. -Wood would be better, as it is not so liable 'to be damaged as glass, and there is no necessity for a bottom of auv kind. Such a frame would be useful for placing over a gentle 1 hotbed intended for raising half-hardy annuals as Ten- week Stocks and Asters, for hordening-off bedding plants pre-vdous to planting-out, for placmg over Lettuce or Cauliflower plants in winter, or for anything needing protection; and in summer you might grow Cucumbers or Melons on a gentle hotbed, nuttin" out a plant at every 6 feet of length. Achapesnorrischer Me'.on is a good sort to be sown in a hotbed, planted out on a little bottom heat, and to be corered with glass at least up to July. In every respect it requires the treatment of ridge Cucumbers and is the better of glass, which may be raised so as to allow the Vines to come under it, elevating the frame or glass at the comers which will protect or throw off heavy rains from the collar of the plants. ' They arc impatient of wet on their stems. The flavour is good. Evergreens under LmE Trees {Inquirer}.— Xs the Lime trees are so very close together, we fear the ground will be so matted with roots as to prevent any undergrowth. The Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) would give a close green covering, and the common Ivy (Hedera Hehx) will grow where scarcely anything else will. Common Laurel pegged down might answer, and the Aucuba -will grow where Laurels faa. Butchers' Broom and Spurge Laurel are also good. Period of Resting Vines (J. B. Jones).— From the time the leaves laU untU the Vinos start into giowth, two months should be aUowed. Prune as soon as the leaves are off. They are the better of three months rest. Muscadine Grapes not Ripening— Appli-ing Salt (IT. Fov).-The most UkelT cause of the fruit not ripening is the shade of the Black Hamburgh , it is useless to try to grow Vines under Vines. Give them equal advantages and the Muscadine -nlll ripen its fruit as well as the Hamburgh. Twelve bunches are too many for a Vine just commencmg beanng. Ten bushels ol salt per acre will be a sufficient dressmg. cstab- This -will be exactly two quarts Tt will be of no use now, except to save the plants from frost, aud we do not advise it to be apphed until March. Tar on Hot-water Pipes (.4 Constant Reader).— H your hot-water pipes are painted with tar, your only remedy is to take them out, moke up a fire of brushwood, and buii the tar off. The scum on the ram-water tank is uu- nbtldTy owing to the gas tar. No plant wiU thrive in the house «» long «B the tar remaini on the heated pipes. If the pipes have been coated -with a mixture of tar or varnish and oU point, you may dip cloths m a »olji''on OJ ^ft soan 8 ozs. to the gaUon, and wrap them round the pipes for forty-eight hours keeping t^^m saturated with the solution, and the pamt may peel off; but we think your only remedy will be burmng it off. r.„„„.„ii ERRATUM --At page 16, sLvth Une from the end of "ExPERTO Ckede 3 remarks on the Gladiolus, for "improved" read unprot'eii new. OVER-LUXURUNT REINE HOBTENSE ChERRY {E P.).-AB yOf .^'^f^J^^fi soms freely it would do it no good to lilt it. Keep the tree nailed_ :to_ Jb?,':^ the usnal i do all the traming aud thinnmg of the young shoots i lished-and-then kTep-the-fumace door' shut, and aUow just as much air'ai ^^C^- -"^'^t "^iYsucc'eed'^S^yo^rJ^tof'of ttf^ ^° the ashpit door as wiU support sloiv combustion. Of course until you get the I shy bearer. If it will not succeed wiiu you, ome Jannary 11, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. Fmch as May Duke or Ai-chtluke. In the Bisaireau oinl Heart class the two following are always to be depended upon— Black Tartarian and Elton. Asparagus Bed Making {An Amateur Gar den/- r).— The plants you have saved will not be suitable for a new bed, but you may force them, directions for which were given bv Mr. Eecord a few weeks ago in this Jouraal. The gi-ound where you intend to make the bed should be trenched not Ies8 than 3 feet deep, if it will admit of that, and a 3-inch layer of dung placed between every laver of koU. If the soQ be heavy put in plenty of sand, and before turning' on the next layer mii up the manure and sand with the soil. In this way proceed to the bottom of the soil, taking core not to bring up more than a few inches of subsoil. The earlier this is done the better, so as to let it have frost. For a single bed a width of 7 feet should be trenched to ailmit of 4 feet for bed and 18-inch alley on each side. In Maaxh place on a 3 to 6-inch coating of well-decaved monuie, with an inch of shai-p sand— sea sand if possible— and fork the ground over twice to mix the dung and sand tho- roughly with the surface soil. Leave it until the early pai-t of April, and then put in three rows of plants— two outside ones 9 inches from the sides of the bed, and one row in the centre. Take out a trench as in planting Bos edgings, lay the roots against the side 1 foot apart, with then- crowns level with the surface, and fill up the trench neatly, ^\'hen all are planted cover up 1 to l.J inch deep with soil from the alleys. The plants should not be older than t-wo years, but we prefer one-year-old plants. After May water as much as you lite up to September, and as often as you can with liquid manure. Haerothamntts elegans {Idem).— It is a greenhouse plant, and would not succeed as a climber against a west wall in an eastern county. It is a native of Meiico. CrcTTMBER Cdltttre (K. H. B. L.).— You must at least have a house with a temperature of from 50- to 55^ at sis o'clock in the morning, and capable of being raised to 10- or 15^' more during the daytime, to succeed in gi'owing Cucumbers in winter. A night temperature, ranging from 65^ to TO'^, with an increase usually of from 5" to 10"^ in the day, but from 15' to 20^ in bright weather, is also' essential. Ton may, however, begin to raise the daily tempe- ratm-e, by means of a hotbed, as early as the beginning of March, if you feel so inclined. Telegraph, Long Gun, and Blue Gown ai-e all good Cucumbers, but we would select more particularly the first of these, Cos's Volunteer, Marquis of Lome, and Master's Prolific, an early sort. Starting Vines in Pots {Jd^m).— Weak Vines raised from eyes last year, and cut back to the second eye, should be placed in a heat of 50" to 65^, and left there until June, when they may be removed to the cool vinery. Camellias Casting Buds (Irft-m).— Let the plants remain in the house with a temperature of about 45^ untU the growth is complete and the buds set ; then remove them to a cool house. If they, as we think, need potting, the roots being evidently in an unhealthy state, do it at the eoily part of Mai-ch. (E. M. itf.).— We do not attribute this to be due to the change of temperature in consequence of the existence of a few broken squares, but rather to the condition of the roots. The small insects are most likely mites, and are often plentiful in a soil containing an excess of decaying vegetable matter. Kepot the plants immediately after flowering or early in March, carcfiilly picking out as much of the old soil as comes away freely, so as not to injure the roots, and pot them fij-mly in a compost consisting of the top inch of a pasture of a light sandy loam, chopped up small. Keep the point ■where the root and stem join level with the rim of the pot, and di-ain them weU. Pine Apple Cttltfee (fl". O.).— The plants potted last September in 12-inch pots we would not shift into larger ones now, but as the pots are filled with roots you may remove a few of the lower leaves, top-di-ess them with rich compost, and place them in the Cucumber house. Here they must have light and not be far from the glass. If you can afford bottom heat all the better. The temperature will be suitable. Vine Cclture {T. H. T.).— The Vines that have been phmged for a year we should lift cai-efully, taking up all the roots that have extended beyond the pots, and then by breaking the pots disentangle the roots, and lay them out in planting. Tou may do this when they have hegrin to grow, to the extent of an inch or two. To have Grapes early in July the Vines should be started in the second week In January. A great deal depends, however, on the kinds. Muscats will be three weeks later than such kinds as Hamburghs. Oranges will do well in a heated vinery. The wires in an orchard house, or against any wall, should be more than three-quarters of an inch from it; better if so c:ose as only to admit of the string for tying the shoots. You would do well to dig round the Oak in Maixh, which you con- template moving in November. Soil for Ehododendrons {T. T.).— To yoiu- deep black soil, which we think would grow Rhododendrons well with admixture, you may odd in place of peat as much sandy turf as you lite, leaf soil, and sand, two-thirds of the former, one-third of the second, and a sisth of the latter. This is a capital soil for them, and a fourth part of old cow dung or well-rotted hotbed maum-e might be added with advantage. Material for Protecting Fruit Trees {Black Edge). — Of the materials you name for protecting fniit-tree blossom from frost, we prefer tiffany. The protection is not a needless expense, but very often results in securing a crop By all means use the protection you describe, taking care to keep it from brushing against the blossoms, and making safe from winds. Put it on when the blossoms are expanding, and remove it in all mild weather, using it only in fi-osty weather. 2. The Scarlet and Pink Thorns attacked with blight and catei-piUars will not communicate the pests to other trees, but you should syringe them just before coming into flower, and again afterwards, with a solution of soft soap, 2 ozs. to the gallon. 3. We do not know of anything that, sprinkled around shrubs, will keep dogs from them, and we think your only remedy is to enclose with wire netting. 4. By ha\-ing hoses made as you propose, draining them well, and filling them with soil, you would suc- ceed in growing cUmbers against your house. If you had a width 2 or 5 feet there would be no necessity for changing the soil every year, but merely to remove the surface soil, and top-dress with rich soil. The main difficulty would be in keeping the frost from the roots in winter, but that difficulty you will, no doubt, overcome. Larkfield RrvAL PelargontttiI, &c. (A TtcaderX—The plants you mention can be obtained of any of the chief florists and seedsmen who advertise in our columns. Names of Plants (Alban Goodman). — Myrsiphyllnm asparatjoide^, native of South Africa, and a plant we hold in high favour. {W. B.I.— 1, Sida my- frorensis, a generally-distributed weed in the western peninsula of India; 2, Polystichum Richard!^ ; 3, Very young, in all probability a Diplazium, most likely to be D. japonicom. POULTEY, BEE, AKD PIGEON CHEONIOLE. BRISTOL POULTRY SHOW. In spite of the prohibitory Buhscription, the Bristol Show this year just exceeded one thousand entries ; but it is worthy of re- mark that the number of exhibitors feU off matenaUy, so that the amount gained was by no means what had been anticipated. As usual the bii-ds were shown in single tier, which gives this Show a gi-eat advantage over even the Crystal Palace as regards seeing and judging the birds. We regret to say that again bad weather interfered with the attendance, and it is only fair to state, m reply to some of the glowing calculations which have been made, that the receipts at the doors are always considerably under ^100. Last year they were about X'70, and it is this unaccount- able apathy of the general pubUc which causes the Committee such embarrassment. , , , j DoRKrNGS.— Cockerels were rather poor on the whole, and we regret to say that iu our opinion the first-prize was a case of deception, being an old bii'd ; and we believe this was the judg- ment of all present. We can only say the spurs were perfectly hard and perfectly sharp, and there was an amount of white rarely seen in a chicken's tail. The head also showed evidence of age. PuUets were afair average, but therewereno birds of marked exceUence save the first-prize pen. The second-prize pen con- tained a "veiy early" chicken. Cocks and hens were better classes, and the first-prize cock an enormous bird, which fairly beat Mr. Martin's Rose-comb. The hens formed the best Dor- king class seen this season, and we are not sure we should not caU the cup pair the best pen in the Show. Nearly every pen in this class was mentioned. SUver-Greys were very poor,_ the first prize in cocks being withheld, and no commendations givea in either class. White cocks were good in shape, but aU very yeUow ; the hens, on the contrary, were very fine though tew, and the winning pen was unusually so. Cochins.— There was some difference of judgment about the first and second-prize Buff cockerels, the second being the Palace cup-winner, which has left the Stoke Park yard. It was a nice point, and we believe the Judges were in some doubt. The first bird was rather the best in feet, wings, and perhaps colour generally ; the second in size and shape, but decidedly gone off in condition, and heoughtnotto have beenshovni. ihird. came a good bird too. When we say only f oirr others were named. it will be seen the class was not of startUng exceUence. In piillets, we thought the first-prize a mistake, and that the second should have held that position, giving the second to the cup Palace pair, which were neariy as good as ever, though now only highly com- mended. Among the old cocks were several rare birds but nearly all were somewhat rough, which certainly threw out tha cup-winner of last year; this bird has grown to such an enor- mous size that at our request he was weighed by one ot the officials of the Show-he scaled 2 ozs. short of 15 lbs. Of hens we Uked Mr. Taylor's second-prize pen better than tus fii-.st, Buo aU three were rather evenly matched. Partridges disapjDOint us more and more; the decadence is not confined to one breeder but is general, nearly all the cocks getting clumsy and round- backed. They were out of condition, which injm-es a bird s carriage ; but we did not see a reaUy first-rate bird in the class. Pullets and hens were better, perhaps, but far from what they used to be. White cockerels were better m colour than usual ; the pullets also a nice lot, and owing to the late date more deve- loped than at other shows. The first-prize pair were really beautiful, the old cocks yeUow, as usual, the only White bird being the commmended, 212. In hens, the cup pair had one gi-and bird, and another vei-y fine. Mr. Sichel s birds lost for want of a washing. Except in the colour of the cocks, it strack us Whites are improving. „ , . . ■ a. ^ Beahmas.— Cockerels were the finest collection m point of quaUty ever brought together. The Palace cup-winner was a-'ain to the fi-ont, and though recklessly overshoiSTi, had reaUy improved since Edinburgh Show. Second came a very fine bird in shape and coloirr, but with heavy hocks. The thu-d- prize bird was of good colour, but had no other redeeming pomt, and this award should have been given to the highly commended pen 242. In this class an unusually conspicuous case of plucking was properly visited by the Judges and Committee with dis- quaUfication and publication in the catalogue. PuUets also were a gi-and class, the Palace pen, fourth at Birmmgham, being again to the front. Their fine marking was as good as ever ; but; the wings of both birds being displaced or " shpped " as it is termed (as they were also at the two previous shows), should, we considered, have thro-n-n them out altogether, giving the third prize, vacant by promotion, to Mr. Artmright s pen 2dS. The second prize went to the Bii-mingham winners. ^ In old cocks, Mr. Taylor's bird, which was first at Birmmgham and degraded at Manchester through overshowmg, was here out altogether, having quite gone off his legs. Very possibly he is ruined, and we would suggest to the Judges that they might witli 42 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ January 11, 1872. beuefit meet this gi'owing evil by i-efusinR to a-n-ard prizes nearer the commenceraent of the poor bird'e sufferings. The cup bird was fine in nearly all points ; the second we did rot like much ; the third-prize bird very' fine in head, shape, and plumage, but too long and rather white in the tail. Among the hens were several good pairs, the second perhaps the best. In Lights the cup bird was fine in shape and size, but had a badly slipped wing. Second, medium shape and size, but no colour; third rather small, but best of the three in our judgment ; we considered pen 311 to be the best in the class, being beautifully marked, of fair size, and nearly perfect shape : he was not noticed, no much do people differ. Pullets were poor as usual, the cup pen clean, but bare of feather, and pen 362 must have -won, as we believe they have before, but were in filthy condi- tion. Cup cock, fine shape and size, but again no colour. Second better, and with more leg feather he must have won. The win- ning hens were the usual pair, which have changed hands. Spanish were the best classes of the whole season. The cup cockerel was a beautiftil bird, in first-rate condition ; the third- prize bird had a fine face and comb, but a slight redundancy of earlobe, stiU we think he ought to have been second. The pullets were well placed, and the cup pair were the gems of the year ; in fact, the whole class was the best of the Spanish .collection, and a treat after the mediocre lot seen at previous shows. The first-prize cock was very fine, but we fear has joined the early-closing movement. Hens were poor, except the first two pens. The whole season seems to have been strangely against this breed. Fbench Fowls. — The cup cock was a grand Creve-Coeur, and second another worthy his place, but the third was a very poor Houdan, entered by an experienced exhibitor at four guineas, and up to Friday night at least not claimed. lu this class a pair of hens were sent in mistake by such a veteran exhibitor as Mr. Fowler, and were necessarily disqualified. In hens, the first and ■third were fine Creve-Cceui's, the second rather middling Houdans. Hamburghs. — The cup Gold-spangled cock was a fine old bird. The second prize went to a bird hardly matured, but in the best condition of any in the class ; the third, on the contrary, was not in good feather, a circumstance which lost him at least one place. The hens were a poor class, few of the birds being good, and good matches were conspicuous by their absence, most of the prize pens having one good bird to one bad. In SUver- spangled the winning cock was very fine ; none of the others -perfect in the bars. The cup hens were a first-rate pair, except Ihat one had rather a shady tail. The second-prize hens were also good : the others below par. In the next division both cups ■went to the Golden-pencilled, and the whole cock class was very good. The first-prize hens were a beautiful pair ; those second ■were not perfect in tail, but superior in body markings to the third. These two classes were perhaps the best of the Ham- burghs. Silvers were not so good by far, -with the exception of the -winning pen in each class. In Blacks Mr. Serjeantson won easily ; the condition in which he shows his birds is wonderful. Throughout this gi'oup of classes the effect of the December shows was plainly seen in a fearful loss of condition compared ■with what many of the very same birds had exhibited pre-viously. Gamx. — In the Game classes this remark will apply even more. Many really good birds had gone quite "soft" with the repeated confinement and course of soft food they had had, and the awards were e-vidently chiefly guided by the handling. Black Beds were both large and good classes ; and, as usual where there are so many experienced breeders, it was easier to find fault than to pick out "winners, but the prizes all went to good birds. Bro-wn Red cocks were few, two out of eight entries not teing sent. This made it easy to select the pens, the few other good birds having sadly gone back. In hens no pens beyond the three were mentioned. Duckwings were also small and poor classes. The -winning cock was a fine bird, but too dark in colo\ir. The next class contained only three Pile cocks, which shared the List between them ; and in hens only one bird put in an appearance, which, being a very good oue, was awarded the first prize " to encoxrrage the rest." On the whole, perhaps, the Game were the most unsatisfactory classes in the Exhibition. Polish. — In the cock class every pen but one was highlv com- mended. Silvers being first and third, and Gold second. In hens Mr. Adkins was first again, and apair of Golds third. No Blacks were shown, the first time, -we think, this has ever occurred at a Bristol Show. Malays.— These were the best entries of the year, eleven cocks and sixteen hens being entered. Cocks were a fine class, Mr. Brooke being beaten at last by a young cockerel, which was at once claimed at two guineas and a h.alf. Hens, on the con- trary, were poor in quality, or rather in condition, though more numerous. Several of them showed that the o-wners did not know what a Malay is, being quite destitute of that peculiar- shape which enables a fancier to know one even in the dark. Mr. Hollis won again, and fairly in our opinion. Some thought Mr. Brooke's bird best, but slie was not in good order by any means, and the rev. gentleman's really best bird was in worse, and only highly commended. Ant Vabiety. — Here we -were puzzled by the judging. In ccks, the first prize went to a Silky, stated by the Judges to be the best they remembered, yet absolutely destitute of feather on the legs, and much too long in the tail in our opinion. Second was a Pekin Bantam, and third a really miserable so-called Black Cochin, almost bare-legged, and exactly the shape of a leggy Brahma. A very poor Leghorn, with very short and nearly white legs, was highly commended ; while a young cockerel, the finest yet sent to England, and perfect in every point, having been selected by the Treasurer of the New York Poulti-y Society as a standard bird for portraiture, was unnoticed. This and the folio-wing class were remarkable for two pens, stated by Mr. Moor to be a " variety of Brahma," and put in at a high figure. The colour of the pullets was a bluish pale grey or drab, rather sickly to our taste ; but we heard an old lady re- mark she had never seen " such lovely-coloured fowls," and possibly if bred to a decent shape they might be popular. In hens, first came unusually good White Minorcas ; second, the best pair of Sultans we have yet seen ; and third, rather poor Black Cochins. A reaUj' good strain of the latter variety would carry all before it, but in our opinion not a single pen in either class of this variety was pure bred. Ducks. — Ayiesburies were only four entries, but all good. In Kouens a pair that would not disgrace Birmingham were first. The second-prize drake was nearly as good, but the Duck was by no means equal. The Black East Indians had a class to themselves. There were several good pairs, but Mr. Sains- bury's -winners were worth the lot, both for smallness, colour, and style generally ; in fact, they have never appeared in equal condition to what they here showed. The "Any variety" class contained two pairs of the Black Cayuga, new to this country, and very erroneously stated by one of the Judges to be similar to the Black Ducks so common in Lancashire. It sur- passes any other large Duck in flavour, requires very little water, and. has the gift of getting and keeping fat on much less food than any other Duck of its size. None of these are shared by the Lancashire breed. First and third were Mandarins and Carohnas, as usual ; the third being deservedly given to a very remarkable pair of Whistling Ducks, which drew much attention by their peculiar notes. Both sexes are similar in plumage. The sides of the breast are beautifully pencilled, something like a Grouse in colour, but quite straight across the feather ; back and -wings something like the Rouen female, but very dull- marked ; head white to one-fifth of an inch behind the eye, where the white ends in a straight perpendicular line ; bill black, breast claret, and carriage Uke a AVoodcock. The Cay- ugas were only commended. Geese only showed five pens for six prizes. In the " Any variety " class, besides Embden and Touloase, the first prize went to a fine pair of Chinese, which were firmly believed to be Swans by many of the ladies present. Turkeys. — These were the finest ever seen at Bristol, the winning pair being fit to compete anywhere. This class con- tained a magnificent pure wild American cock, also sent over by Mr. Simpson, but which was unfortunately out of com- petition through ha-ving no partner. He only arrived from Liver- pool three days before the Show, but even as he was, the splendid plumage in which the -wild breed surpasses all domes- tic varieties attracted much notice and commendation. Game Bantams. — In the Reds, nearly all the birds had gone more or less soft from repeated sho-wing, but the cup pen stood grandly out, and no judge could have decided otherwise. In the " other variety" class the first-prize pen contained a beauti- ful young cock, with a hen far from worthy of him. Mr. Eaton's second were also a good pair, not having been showTi before; but to the rest the same remark as to condition will fuUy apply. The Single cocks (any variety), was the treat of the Game classes. The cup bird was simply perfect : where he comes from we do not know, but he was the counterpart of Mr. Eaton's exquisite Palace Duckwing (which has changed hands for twenty guineas), and he fairly beat Mr. Eaton's own bird, -n-inner at both the Palace and Birmingham Show, which was put third. Second was a good bird, but -with a squirrel tail, and every Bantam- breeder allowed that second and third shoiild have changed positions. But of this we are certain — that the lot were the three best Black Reds that we have ever seen together at one show. In Black Bantams the cup went to Bristol, the pair being very fine, and in fact ten guineas were offered for them almost im- mediately the Show was opened. As to the other prizes, there were about four pens so nearly equal that they might have cast lots for second and third. Mr. Maynard's pen, 799, was much admired, but the hen was too gamey for a Black, and her dark gipsy face, together with her shape, might cause suspicion of a Brown Red cross. The cup Whites were beautiful birds. In Sebrights Mr. Leno swept the whole list, as usual of late ; but we must say, looking at these birds year by year, we do not think they are impro-ring. Mr. Teebay judged the Game, Hamburghs, and Game Ban- tams ; Messrs. Hewitt and Teebay the Bralimaa (both varieties) ; Januarj- 11, 1873. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 43 the Rev G. Hodson all other Bantams, French Fowls, and we think the Any variety class; Mr. Hewitt, PoUsh, Geese Ducks, andTMkeysf and we beUeve Messrs. Hewitt and Hodson the nokuiKGS fColourecI) -Coclerd.-l. W. Arkwrislit. Sotlon Scarsdale, Cheater- fl«M ^Sd 3 L Pi>l on Hillmore, Taunton, he, E. Barton, Truro ; A. Darby, MdsnoSfj.'B, wSers, Taunton: R. W Beachey. Flude^ IX^Sgr""; B. Burton ; M>;-,E.WheatleyInpte|tone;E.W Beach y ^ •artiS^i.'Lieur. BoEKiKOS (CoIoured).-CMfc^^^^ J- W. Will. Brrol. Col. Lane. he. O. E. ^^«"»'"^"'„*'|" V BeaiheyT he, E. Barton ; J. Walts, f S^rHea?£; IS^ln^hrm rj:- mUu T H^n? h!'w. Fitzwilliam, Wentworth ^^o^KZV(Si.ye^'^?eV^S^^-P rc%%l!-l. Withhe^ S E BaSSn pldM/ofHens.-l and 8. O. E. CresBwell, 2, W. E. George. •Von^'lf rmitel-Cockerel or Cock.-l, J. Robinaon. GarBtang 2 and 3, M?a M A Hij^e, Fordington. Pulkts or Hem.-l, J. Robmson. 2, Mrs. M. A. Hayne. 8, 0. E. Cres3%yeU. , , tt t i j ,-«« o T w Will 0?icFnvs (Cinnamon and Bum-Cockerel— 1, H. Lloyd, jan. 2. J. W. vviu. 3 W. A Taylor, Manohester. he, Lady Gwydyr, Stoke Park, IP™f '':'■, K- linw Br Avfesbury • Mrs. Allsopp, Hindlip Hall, Worcester: W. A. Taylor. luil'I'-l W A. i-aylor. 2. Lady GwydVr. 3, C. Bloodworth, Cbeltenham. ^, W' A. Cneli, Southwell; J. K. Fowler; Mrs Allsopp Chelt™ham; A. Darby ; Henry Lingwood, Barking, Needham Market, c, J. Pares, Posttord, •* CoSs (Cinnamon and Bum.-Coek-l and Cup W. A. Taylo"-. Man'^iester ?iZd^- V.?-l ihl^i W.'"Taylor'.%!*k"Kd;iun\=;:?;^wX.''Ba^^ '•c'J™^Mfe?o'^'and Parlridge).-Cocfer,i -1 W. A. Taylor. 2. Mrs. Allsopp. 3, J. K. Fowler, he, E. Tadman, Whitchurch, Salop: W^ A. Taylm, J. N. i.. Pope, Stoke Bi*op. e. J. N. C. Pope^ PaZIeb.-l and c, W. A. Taylor. 2, J. N. c Pone 3 J K Fowler, he, C. F. Wilson ; E. Tudman. „ _ , „ ^^CocHiVs (Browi and Partrldse).-Coc«.-.-l, J. K. Fowler. 2, E. Tadman. 3, J N C Pope. HcM.-l and 3. W. A. Taylor. 2, E. Tudman. Cochins (White).-Coc*ereI.-l, J. N. Whitehead, Gna.ton. Torquay. 2, E. S. S. Woodsate, Pembury, Tnnbridge Wells. . 3, Mrs. A Wimamson. '«:, «:»•=• Woodgate; R. Chase. Wylde Green. Birmingham; A. J. E. Swindell, Kmver, StSurbrtdg'eVC. Bloodworth. e, P. Collins. Daventry; J Bloodworth, "lelten- hain ■ E. thase. Pullets.-l, R. S. S. Woodgate. 2. R. Chase. 8, Mrs A wSiam on. he, E. S. S. Woodgate; gapt.^'. G^ Colendge^argrave ; J. Sichel, Lark Hall, Timperley. c, Capt. F. G. Colendge ; J. N. Whitehead. COCHINS (White).-Cocfc,-l and 2. J. Sichel. 3, R. S. S. Woodgate. c J. N. TOitehead! Hens.-! and Cnp.R. S. S. Woodgate. 2, J.N. Whitehead. S.Mrs. %™M™?S-ark)':-^CoXrf.-l. Hon. Mrs. A. B. Hamilton 2 E Ensor. 8, Mrs. A. Vigor, Southfleld, Oxbridge, he. Lady Gwydg; J. K. Fowler. K. Ensor. Bristol 2) ; E. Burton ; J. W. Will ; W. Arkwnght; Howard & Nicholls (2) A.Rigg; G. F. Whitehonse. e, W. E. George, Stoke Bishop.. P''"''«--l "* Cap, Hon. Mrs. A. B. Hamilton, Ridgmont, Woburn. 2, L. Wright, B"8to'. S, H B. Morrell, Cae Mawr, Clyro. he. J. Watt, ; W. E George: .L- Wright g), W Ark\yright: E. Ensor: Hon. Miss D. Pennant; J. W. Will : G. F. White- hoafe,Kin|'8 Heath, Birmingham; A. Eigg; J. S. Tamlon, Gloucester, c, ^BLn^sIu^^n-Coek.-l and Cap. T. F. Ansdell. Powley Mount, St. Helen's. 2 W. Adams, St. Clements. Ipswich. 8, L. Wnght. (ic,T. t. Ansaell,, W. A. Taylor ; E. Barton, e, Hon. MiaaD Pennant P^^'-hyp Castle Bangor , Hon.Mra. A. B. Hamilton. Hfnj.-l, T. F. Anadell. 2. Lady Gwydyr 3^ W. Arkwrighl. iK. H. B. Morrell (3) ; T. F. Anadell ; J. Watts, c. Rev. J. Bowen, Talgarth : .T. Siohel ; Hon. Miaa D. Pennant. „ „ 4 r,„„^m,,, BEiHiaAS (Light).— Cocteri't. — l and Cup. M. Leno. 2, Capt. Downman, Beech??oye, KlSgstown. 3, F. Crook, he. Aev. J. D. Hoyatead Bradenstoke, Chfppfnham; H M. Mayn'ard. Holmewood, Ryde : J. Long, Plymouth; Rev. J D Hoysted: J. R. Rodbard, Wrington, Bristol; W.E. George; J- Long, c J Pares. Pidlets.-l, Cup, and 2, Mra. A. Williamaon. 3, M. Lens, Markyate Street? (w, W. E. George (2); Rev. J. D. Hoyated. c, J. R. Rodbard; Mra. T. ^"Sfn'Mtrrii^trCo'c^:.-! and Cup. Mrs. A. Williamson. 2, Mrs, A. Worth- infton. Barton-ln-Trent. S, H. Dowsett, Pleshey^ Chelmatord. Hcrw.-l, Cup, Sid 2, J. E. Eodbard. 8, J. feloodworth. Jic, F. Crook, Forest Hill (2; ; Mra. A. ^i^ms^-Cockerel-1 and Cup, Mrs. Hyde. Bedminster, 2, Eev-.E. Lascelles. S Howard & Nicholls. he. E. Jones (8) ; H. Beldon, Goitstock, Bmgley : Mrs. AllBonp • Mrs. Hyde, c, E. Jones. Clilton ; F. James, Peckham Eye. Pullets. -land'cnp Mrs Hyde! 2, Hon. Miss D. Pennant. S.E.Jones, ftc, E.Jones; Howard & Nicholls ;F. James; T. Bush, Bristol ; Hon. Mias i>. Pennant, c, E. Jones ; T. Bamfleld, Brandon Hill, Clifton ; Mrs. Allsopp. „„..,„, SPiNiBH--Coclc.-l, J. R. Eodbard. 2. T. Bash. 3, A. Rumbolds, Bnatol. Hf^ -1, H. Beldon. 2, E. Jones. 3, T. Bamfleld- he, Miaa E. Brown, Chard- ^"FWSNCH.-Coctorf! or Cock. -I and Cup. W. R. Park (Creve-Cceur). 2, J. Siohel (Creve-Cceur). 3, J. C. Cooper. Cooper'a Hill, Limerick. (ic^^J. K. Fowler Hon. C. W. Fitzwilliam (La Fleche); H- Ferris, Cleye (La ^Fleche). Pullets or Hens.— I and Cup, J. J. Maiden, Biggleawade (Creve-CCEur). A w. Dring. 3, R. B. Wood, Uttoxeter. he, J. Sichel (Oreve-Ooeur); W. E. Park, '^HlMBraGHrfo^l'd'-tpansledl.-CoeSerc! or CocS. -1 and Cnp, C. P"aona, wXerhampton. 2. Mrs. Hyde. 8. H. Beldon. he and c, W. A. De Wmton, Durdham Diwn, Bristol. PuUffs or HeM.-l. C. Parsons. 2, Mrs. Hyde. 8, J. Forsyth, Wolverhampton, iic, W. A. De Winton ; J. Watts. HiMEOROHS (Silver-spangledl.-CocfcereJ or Cock.— I, 3. Robineou. 2, H. Beldon. 3. C. Parsons, he. Miss E- Browne. Pullets or Eens.-l and Cup, H. Beldon. 2, C. Parsons. 3 and ho, Miss E. Browne. HiKBOBGHS (Gold-nencilledj.-Cocfcerfi or Coek. — 1 and Cup, C. Parsons. 2 N. Barter. 3, 0- Bloodworth. ftc.H. Beldon : J. Robinson, c, C. Blood worth ; J Walker, Biretwith ; F. Piltis. Pv,UeU or Bens.—\ and Cup, C. Bloodwjrth. 2.J. Walker. 3, N. Barter, ftc. J. Walker : H. Beldon. „ ^ ,^ „ t t> v.- HAMBHEaHS (Silver-pencilled).-Cocfceraor Cocfc.-l, H. Beldon. 2, J. Robin- son 3 F Pittis, inn., Newport, Isle of Wight. Jic, J. Walker; N. Barter. PnUc(«'orHfn.5.-l,H. Beldon. 2, N. Barter. 3, (J. Parsons. HiMBORGHs (Black).-l3octere( or Cocft.-l and 2. Rev. W. Serjeantson Acton Bumell Rectory. 3, C. Parsons, he, 0. F- Wilson; C. Parsons. Pullets or Serw.-LRev-W. Serjeantson. 2, T. Bush. 3 W. A. Taylor, (ic, H. Beldon. Game (Black-breasted Relsl.-Cocfcerei or Cock.-l and Cap. J. Forajth. 2, J. Fletcher, Stonoolough, Mancheater. 3, G. E. Smith. )ic, W. H. Stagg, Netheravon; S. Matthew, Stowmarket: J. Frith, Chatswortb; W. Boyes, Beverley: P.P. Cother, Salisbury, c, W. H. Stagg: J. Forayth; G. Bagnall. Pullet or nen.—\ and Cup, S. Matthew. 2 and 3, W. H. Stagg. ftc, J. Fletcher ; W-H. Stagg; G. Bagnall, Draycott,Cheadle; H. Beldon. Game (Brown-breaated Reds) — Cocfcerei or Cock.-l and 8, W. Boyes. 2, S. Matthew, he. J. Fletcher. Pullet or Hen.-l, S- Matthew. 2, J. Fletcher. 3, J. Frith. Game (Duckwinga and other Greys and Blues).— Cockerel or Cort-.— 1 and 2 S Matthew. 3. E. Martin. Jic, W. Boyes. Pullet or Hen.— 1. S. Matthew. 2, T. West, St. Ann's, Eccleston, St. Helen's. 8, J. T. Browne. St. AnsteU. Gajie (Any other variety).-Coc»rcreI or Coek.-l, J. Frith (Pile). 2, J. Fletcher( PUe). 3. J- Bird, Bristol (Pile). Pullet or Hen.— 1. J. Frith (M?)- Game Bantams (Black-breasted and other Reds). — I, Cup, and 3, J. w. Morris Rochdale 2. W. Adams, he, J. R. Robinson,Sunderland (2); J.Frith; ^■^Sh'':.f.i?i&.fSl% Vlri^?^°-l,%' hS!°-2, J. Eaton. 3, J. Frith. "Vam^ BANiAMsliny variety).-Coel- -1 and Cup, G. HaU. 2. J. R. Robin- =°S;N?lif (mack fe^ein^egS:-!^ a'tld^orE^Tambridge, Cotham. Bristol. 2. JIrs! A Worthington 3, H. M. Maynard. "^he. H. M. Maynard ; T. Bush. e. '^B^ArTAMS^(White^cTean-legged).-l and Cap, Rev. F. Tearle. 2, H. Beldon. 3, Ladies Moreton, Tortworth Court. ■, „ „ t BiSTAMB (Gold and Silver Sebnghts).-!, 2. and 3, M. Leno k^,a„„ PoTian — Cocfcerc! or Cock. — i, Cup. and 3, G. C. Adkins.. 2, H. Beldon. ;ie J linton Warminster; G. C. Adkina, Lightwooda. BinninKham; H. Beldon Pa!"efao?He7W.-i; Cup. and fte, G. C. Adkins- 2 and 3,H. Beldon. ''M\S!-CoctereJorCoefc.-l,Cup,and c, T.Hc,llis, Twyford,^^^^^^^ ^fn':ih.%%''.TeA^tT^f^!'l:G%'ooZ:'hrw%^^^^ «rNv'^o?H?rv11.;E-'x^I:J'o''e"Jre!''i/b?e?.-LR. S, S. Woodgate. 2 J- Siche, (PAin): 3, C. M. Hole. Tiverton. )«, Rev- N. J Ridley. Newbury (Leghorn) , W Boyes (Sultan); J. Siche! (Sultan . c. E. Burton (Mmorca). ^'"«'» o' Hens-l and Cup, R. WilkiuBOn, Guildford (White Mmorcas. 2, W. Boyes (Sultans) 8 Mrs. P. Taatte, Castle Plunkett (Black Cochms). he. R. S. S. wiodSe ; W. Ja^rett, Bristol; Rev. F. Tearle, (Sazeley Vicarage, Newmarket (Cuckoo Dorkings) : Godfrey & Reeves Cochm-Chinas direct from Shanghai) , J Sichel (PeU5T;J. Bird (Slack Minorcas); F.Wilton (Black Cochms). c, J. Watts ; H. Beldon (MafBers). tt ^ i. < i„.i,„,» n r w pooRs (White AyleBbury).-l and 2, H. Jones, Hartwell, Aylesbury. 3, L. H. ^SocKs (Rouen).-l and 2. L. Patton. 8, J.N. C- Pope he, R Gladstone, jnn^, Broadsreei;°LiverpooL c, J- K. Fowler (2) ; Rev. J. J. Evans. Cantreff Rectory. ivcL (Black Bast Indian).-! G S Sainsbury J-'i'^JL^F'^PUtirfin i"^ S S. Woodgate- he, S- Bam, Whitby (2)- c, W. E. George ; F. Pittis, jun. (.) , ""D'^KS^Sy^other variety).-l anl 8 M. Leno (Oarolina and Vm ,u Whistling. 2, S. Bum (Mandarin . he. J. Smnott, Bedmmstcr Down ( Man- S): J Watts ; M. Leno (Mandario). c. W. Simpson, Westchester Co., New York (Black Cayuga, from America) (2). waita q I r Cooner Geese (Embden and Toulouse).-!, J. K. Fowler. 2;J- Watts- 3, J- C- Cooper. Geese (Any other varietyj.-l, W. E. George (White Chmese). 2. J. K. ^T"RKi°1S7variety) -!. F. LythaU, Banbury (Amerioan and Cambridge). 2 aXsTl. Mton (Cambridge), he. Rev. N. J. Ridley (Cambridge), c, W. Simpson (Pure American wild breed). PIGEONS- „. . ,, . T, Caeeieks (Blue or -White)--! and Cup, H. Yardley, Birmingham, c, E. ^cSmB^lS^'iVDun).-!, Cup. and 2, R. Fulton, ttfte. E Horner. hc,3. YardTe^E.Home^HaSwood. Leeds, c. H. M. Maynard ; E Fu"o°; „, PoVTEis.-Cocto.-^l, Cup, and 2, F. Gresham, Sheftord i-ftc K- M^™-j 'g' B Homer- E. T. Dew. Weston-super-Mare, c, E. Fulton (2). Uerus. l, c. Homer. 2 and i')i«. F. Greaham- he, R. Fulton. Ti,r„or lieJFord- TOMBLEES (Almond).-!, J. Fulton. 2, J. F»rd. n/ic. E. Horner- he, J. torn, J. Fielding, jun., Rochale. ir-„„.. j> vnitnn he H M Jacobins.-I and 2, E. Fulton, vhe, Mrs. A. Vigor; E. Fulton, he, a. m. ''bIms*-^! and Cup, W. B. Van Haansbergen, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 3, vhc, and "fI'ntmL's"-! and Cup, H. Yardley. 2, W. B. Van Haanabergen. vhe. Eev.W. ''Si^l?l"'^;;ml'r^t" a; g?r ifa^Iln.'nelr'ilTr^e^o'r-d. e, F. Wilton ; W. B. Van Haansbergen ; E. Homer. /i„„„j.^„ /> v T Ttpw ?^MSI;A^^^^&^;fH^r^an''d^"c?p.'^^|ieS?ruu.^•2^■R"•F^ 4ES°-^"nl^'e''r'faome^r.-' i^-lra^hlm^'S^^Srd- e. H- Yardley E- Gamon : H- Yardley. ,. Gamon: n. xaraiey. . . ANT OTHER DiaTINOT VAEtETY.— 1, J- Fieldmg, JO (Malteae). ha, W. C. Dawson, Otley (Ice). 2. Eev. A. G. Brooke WISHAW ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. The Wishaw Ornithological Association held their annual Exhibition of poiUtry, Pigeons, and Canaries on January ist. DORONOS.-I. J. Anderson CljcWiiminu- 2 and 3, W. Good fflia^elhall. Chiekens.-!. J. Henderson, Cleokhimmn 2, G- foolt, ^i^"^"'^- J^^' 3, Mrs. H?SlS?rrh'.''chl?S:-'i:"^l.tite,^'w'atarv;lfe -tz'iiipljoori'^rtrr'^^^^^^^^ GiUhead. (Jolrfeii-jpnniiietJ.- 1, .J. PoUooK, Jather. '•„''-^'°vj ' stewarlon. ^a^i 3^\"^SIon°'^aSI?i^- .r/.»i^^^^^^^ ^S^'^n'SttTn, c'i^w'a?t\^.-frfcn, Wishaw 3D. waa CMekeW! -1 A. Gray, GiUhead. 2, D. Wardrop, Crofthead. 8, H. Walker, 'HiSIS^^^fctcg^^'SSS. V^^Si^TTGavin, %TNT'.«s:-OoWorSiI.er.-l,Mrs.Houldsworth. |- R- Bvy/e^ Lochma^en. 3 A Johnstone, BothweU. Any other Colour.-l and 2, H. L. Hour, Andrie. '■ Ei^Kt'-Iyle,hury.-l and 2, J. Crawford, Hamilton. 3, G. Scott. Any other ^SJ'"o7iE5'St?S?x li^r-Ta'nd l;^.^Sibi>, Cambusnethan. 8, J. ''llTi,a''SlIs".-l, J.Watson, Lanark. 2, W. Stevenson. Chapelhall. 3, G. ^^pllk OF Poin.TEY.-Prize. R. Mackie, Stewarton, Ayrshire. PouTEES.-Biaefc.-l, J. Orr, Wi^*y''.° 2.^^^^^ ^^l^.^^ iifi7^: k^/i?i!.'^*Sdsiyf°r J?'FoS.'?,^'aT5S'X a!' Brown, Wishaw. Any °'riiMS?El."li!;4&-l"-'^^e,'f ^^.'Tw. Anderson. Glasgow. 8. W. '|=li?^ilr?^nl'3fj?SI&ra«.n _ ANY OTHEE Vaeiett.-I. W. Andersou. 2 and 3, A. Brown. JOURNAL OF HOETIGULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. t JanuaiT 11, 1872. gate. i Class.— 1, J. Scott, OvertowD. 2, J. Grey. 3, A. Johnstone, Bath* Paib of Pigeonb.— W. Lindsay, Wiahaw. C*GE BIRDS. CiSAnrp.s.~TeUoii\—Cnek.—l, J. Lonzhran, Lanark. 2, M. Gilmour, Glaacow, 8, T. Lindsay. Buff —Cock.— \, J. Smith. Coatbridge. 2, J. Graham, Rnthtr- glen. S, J. Walljin'-h^w, Lanark. Yellou\—Hen.—\, J. London. 2, R. Petii* grew, Carlnke. S, T. Lindsay. Buff— Ben— \, J. London. 2, D. Gibb. S, E. Hnnter, Kipside. Yellow Piebald —Cock.— 1, K. Pat^rson, Wishaw. 2. T. VaUcns, Glasgow 3. J. Stewart, Carluke. Buff Piebald.— Cock.-l, M. Comrie, Lannrk. 2 and 3, J Smith. Yellow Piebald— Hen.— I, R. Bryden. 2, W. Moclirie, Lanark. 3, E. Hunter. Buff Piebald.— Hen— I. J. Graham. 2, .1, Smith. 3, E. Hunter Pirbald.—Buff Cock and Yellow Hen, or Yellow Cock and Buff Hen — 1, T. Lindsay. 2. J. Watson. Model Grres.— Yellow or Buff.— Cock.— 1, J. Johnstone. 2. A. Paterson. Glasgow. 3, T. M'Dale, Auchanheath. Hen.—l, J. Johnstone. 2. J. Taylor. 3, M. Comrie. Goldfinch MuLK.—YclUnp or Buff —Cock.— \, 2, and 3. A. Hamilton. Scotch F^acY.—Yellow Cock ami Buff Hen, or Buff Cock and Yelloiv Hen, — l.J London. 2. T. M'Millan. 3. 1). Watt. Cavart Bird.- J. Smith, Coatbridge. Piebald.— R. Bryden, Lochmaben. Judges. — Poultry : Messrs. W. Smith, Wishaw ; Tuille, Chapelh.tll ; Purdie, Ablngton ; Logan, Camwarth. Pigeons : Messrs. D. K. Mackay, Glasgow; A. Young, Carluie. Canaries : Messrs. G. Grant, Glasgow ; J. Brown, Pollockshaws ; J. Lind- say, Hamilton ; J. Rennie, Wishaw. CORK AND SOUTH OP IRELAND POULTET SHOW. The trn-elfth annual Exhibition of the South of L'eland poultry, Pigeon, and Cage Bird Association was open ed on the 3rd mst., in the Assembly Rooms, South Mall, Cork. The Show was larger than usual, and the quality of the birds far superior to any speci- mens hitherto exhibited. The Judge, Mr. Jones, stated that he had not seen better poultry and Pigeons at any of the shows which he had judged in England lately. A small number of Brahma Pootras were exhibited, hut of excellent quality. The Cochin fowls were an excellent class. The Creve-CcBurs attracted much attention, and the Spangled and Pencilled Hamburghs were particularly good, the prize- winners in both classes being birds of especial merit. There was a small entry of Polish fowl, but the quality was very good. The show of Turkeys was not as large as was expected. Not- withstanding the inducements of class prizes and. the offer of a silTer cup by Mr. WiLson, Victoria Hotel, the entries in this class were fewer than in former years. The collection of Ducks was large and the quality good. A pair of Black Swans were exhibited by Colonel Stawell. In the Pigeon department the Pouters were especially good ; and the Carriers, though small in number, were of excellent quality. The Barbs exhibited were as usual very good. Mr. Dowling has not been as successful as usual, as his best birds were away at Manchester, where they took the first prize, and were sold for fifteen gydneas the pair. The Owls were far better than any before exhibited, and the prize pair were perfect gems in their way. The Tnimpeters were of a class superior to any ever before exhibited in Cork. The entries in Jacobins, which were an extremely good class, were unusually large, and gave the Judge considerable ti-ouble in deciding which was to carry off the blue ribbon. The Nuns were small in entry, but of very good quaUty. The Turbits were largely represented and were specially good, nearly every bird in the class being commended. The Magpies were far- better than any previously shown, but the Tumblers were few in number, and those shown but middling. In the Variety class the first prize was won by a magnificent pah' of White Dragoons ; and the Society's silver medal for the winner of the greatest number of prizes was awarded to one of the local exhibitors, Mr. John DowUng, of Blackrock. The show of Cage Birds was remarkably large and good. There was a magnificent collection of Canaries. The Bullfinches, Goldfinches, and Linnets were tolerably good, and these classes seem to be improving. The Bhickbirds, Thrushes, and Larks were of a fair class, and a good number were exhibited. In the Variety class a very handsome pair of Cockateels took the first prize, and a cage of ornamental birds were, on account of their extreme beauty, a principal attraction for the ladies. In consequence of an incoxTect entry, Mr. Perrin was dis- qualified in the class for Single Game Cocks, and the cup was awarded to Mr. Cramer, the second prize to Mr. Ducrow, and the medal for the greatest number of prizes in poultry to Mr. J. C. Cooper. Spa.\-ish — 1, W- H. & 6. A. Perrin, LingWinstown. 2, J. C. Cooper, Limerick. e, T. A. Bond, Tullygarden ; S. Mowbray, Mountrath ; W. H. i G. A. Perrin poEKisos (Greyl— 1, J. C. Cooper. 2, S. Mowbray, c, Capt. Downman. Kingstown. Chiekcns.—\, 3. C. Cooper. 2, S. Mowbray, he T O'Gradv Rochestown. c, rapt. Downman : T. O'Grady (2). Coloured.— 1, Mrs Hav Qneenstown. Chicken.'.— 1, S. Mowbray. White or other.— 1 Mrs Hay CWhite). 2. J. Perry, Cork. c. Countess of Bandon, Caslle Bernard, Bandon. Brahmas.— Dare —1, Lady A. Lloyd, Villierstown. 2, J. C. Cooper Chickens —1, J. C. Cooper. 2. L. F. Pemn. Longhlinstown. c, Lady A. Lloyd. Li/iht — 1, 2, and c. Mrs. Hay. he, Capt. Downman. Cocm,sa.-Buffor Cinnamm.-l and c W. H. & G. A. Perrin (Bufn. 2, Mrs. Hay. )ij,Capt. Downman (Buff). Chickens.-l.Vl. H. & G. A. Perrin Bnffl. 2, Mrs. Hay (Bnffl he. Capt. Downman (Buffi ; Mrs. Hav (Buff), c, W. H. and fa. A. Pemn (Buff); Mrs. Hay (Lemon). Paririioe or Brown,—!. W. H. and _ _Hay (Partridge.) (White )"' HocDANs.- 1, J. C. Cooper. 2, Viacoontesa Doneraile. Doneralle. CRBvE-C v rf„™ GOLDFINCH Mole (Yellow or B"ufI).-Cocfc-l, W. Kirk. 2 and 3, J. Robertson. The first eighteen classes of Poultry were judged by Mr. E- Teebay, Fulwood, Preston ; the last nine classes, and Pigeons, by Mr. E. Hutton, Pudsey, Leeds ; and the Canaries y mx. Jam.es Eobertson, Burntisland. H«i.— 1, W Sinclairslown, Kirkcaldy. I |BANTAMs(Any other variety).— 1, Master A. Frew. 2, T. Waddingt^ cowles, Blackburn. 3, J. Archibald , Fenis- Any OTHER Vamety.-I, W. R. Park. 2, A. Pratt (Black Hamburghs). 3, T. Waddington. c, A. Wylie. Johnstone (Polands); G. W. Bot.thby, Louth (Polands); Earl of Rosslyn (Cuckoo Dorkings). , . , . DncKs.— 1. R. Dickie. 2, R. Lockhart. Kirkcaldy. 3. J. Grieg, Kinglassie. Sellino Class.- Coc).-.- 1. J. Rutherford. 2, Mi.ss G. Morrison. 3, J. Nairn, Levan. lu:, A. Campbell, Kirkcaldy ; J. Haggart ; J. Rutherford ; R. B. Heegie. Kirkcaldy. Bem.—l, R. Stewart. 2, A. Haggart. 3, Miss G. Morrison, he. A, Small, Glasgow, e, S. Greenwood, Locbgelly. Haansbe'rien. NVwca9tTe."8, J. M'Gill, EUe. Bens'.— I, W. B. Van Haansbergen. 3,J. M'Gill. 3. M'Gill Skinner. „ „ ,. ,. Fantails.-L J. G. Spence. 2, A. Crosbie. 3. W. B. Van Haansbergen. he, A. Lockhart (2) ; J. G. Spence, Broughty Ferry. NORTHEEN POULTBY SHOW. The sixth annual Exhibition of poultry and Pigeons opened at Aberdeen on the 5th inst. The entries were about equal to those of last year, but the quality of the birds, m general, superior. Year by year, as poultry-breeders gain experience, the quaUty is being more and more equaUsed, few inferior birOS being now sent for exhibition. The classes were, almost with- out exception, well represented. Dorkings, Brahmas, and Gatne were most conspicuous. Indeed, we beUeve the show of Game fowls both as regards the number of entries and quaUty, naa never been equalled at any Aberdeen Show. Geese were a very good class, although not numerous. Turkeys and Ducks tigniea. weU, there being in the former class some very superior birds. The show of Pigeons was scarcely so successful as that ot last year so far as numbers were concerned. The quality was, how- ever, equally good. Some fine specimens of Carrier Pigeons attracted no little attention. The following is the prize Ust : — TloniiiNos (Silyer-Grey).-1. Mrs. M'Donald, Forres. 2, M. Edwards. Hilton AUoa TS Black. ^! W. Meff. Aberdeen ^4.A.Diyorty Aberdeen Hcns.- 1 i-iin and 1 W Meff 2 M. Edwards, ic, T. Raines. Stirling. Cockerel.— -Sol,!?N"J^?Slo^eWMf-C%"S^tfp|^'^on Til^^^^ %'"kfi'^tTnne'i:.tTt'i^infrT i: i?Xnson': l' I'l^X^i ''lVl'S-is^''-iran"d3TrSUrS'l;^S=.hc,W.W^^^^ Coekercl.-\ and Cup. A. Shepherd. 3 and Jc P. H. MTherson. e, A. Allan. Udt.y. /'uiWa.-l srnd'i A.'Shephcrd 3, W. Meff. ^'^■J;, ,"",''!°'"l''> ^earon 3 J. Wadlell, AtadJie. he, W. D. Fordyce : R. Brownlie, Kirkcaldy ; H. WhUe ; J.Mai:kie, EUon,.c, Mrs_.. Keith, '^::''i:::^^Bf-^ ^^^^Ci-Sil'.^' FerryhiU Lodge, . Mrs. M'Do , Aberdeen. Mrs. Keith, Aberd 2 E Fearon. 3, Mrs. Hunter, he, Mrs. I HouDANS-l. -T. Mackie. 2. Mrs. Bam. terryniu i^ooRe. Au«i.u^i.. ^. ^tS-/e^"»'^s-.-i. i-'^^^rr^^Tk. %^±^. "'hambubgh; (Gold or Silver-pencUled).--Cocfc.^-l R MeUia NewbiUs 2 A- rh'a^!^'r»^lVtrhlrmers!H°al^SSan!«^r^|^^ "oJt.NewPitsligo,_H.ii..-l and^Cup.G.^Lain^, Aberdeen..^2,JC. ^owles. pencilled). - G. Campbeir.TiUina ,.-i'and"Cup.'G. Laing, Aberde •, P. Campbell ; Miss E. Taylor, H;MBDKOH»(Goldor SUver.spangled).-CocJ«--I, E R/Wn^^S-S^faylo?." ^^.^ cVifoSon'; ^.■M^crn'es.^Sf.^i a'Sfd l^^l^l^^M Z, ''g^S (Sac&7e-a^trd"|d).-Cocfc. -1, W. Meldrum, Fogar 2, C. Jami^^^^ 3 J Thom. he, J. Scott, Broughty Ferry. Hens.-l, J. Dick, i, u. uaiiey. '• ^A^rdti" o^hef 'ya"r"iet;).-cSSi°.";b. Harley. 2, f ^addeU S A Dewar. Abotdeen L, J. Logan, [c, W. Hendry. Hc-^-l and Cup, W. Hendry. 2, J. Waddell. 3. D. Harley. he, 3. Dewar. c. W. Meff. Any OTHER Variety,—!, MiSB D. Fordyce, 2 and he, Mrs. M. Anderson. 3, J. . Watson. ^i^^rT'rMs:-L"MfsTE.'^'c^-/rr>,/. waddell, AirdriehiU. '=%'i?c'K?-^i^«.i?^,-T"^'lorf'Hun-'t?e'';:'^ Log^S! ),o, i Co^'e. -Any oth.r Tarict!/.-! and he, W. M'Knight. 2, H. S'S?.^-r°^An^dIc^'w"ASw'!'"?S\^VtS7i%y^ - - 3, H. Stephenson, he. Mrs. Hunter, Gefse.- nd 2, J. Logan. (ic, H. Stephenson ; W. Fra'ser,' Aberdeen^^W^D^Fordyce P0CTER3.-BIU.C Pied.-Coek,.-\ and 2, W, Meff. Aberdeen. 3^J.wmie, ^'^Z^-.^ili-oT^llo.. PM.-Coeks.-l, 3. CO... Aberdeen. Hens.-y,^. ^fJllIiB^-White.-Coek.,.-h3. White. 2 and 3, W. Hendry. Ben4.-1 and Medil^jf White. 2, G. Schaschke. 3, W. Hendry. JOCRXAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ Jannary 11, 1872. PouiEE8.-^r.i/ ontr Colour.-Cock!.~l,F. M'Crae. AJerdeen. 2 and 3. W. HenS. Hc^.-l and 2, J. Tongh. Aberdeen. 3, V, Hendry, ft^. F M Crae Poutrhs — Jnu of/icr Colour— Cockerels— \ and Medal. W. MeS. i. J. wmie. IFM'Rae /," J \Vhile. PuJ!«(*.-l. W. Meff. 3. J. White. S.F.M'itae. '•c^1^?1-CocJ:j:-1,S, and Medal, G. Schasehke. 2, W. Hendry. Bim.- 1 and 2. G. Schaschke. TuMBLEBS.— fiftort-Zaccii.— 1, J. While. Co .—I, F. M'Crae. 2 and S, J. DUI1.-1, 2. and 3, W. Meff. ^ny other Colour.-l, 2, and 8, 3 and he, J. R. Michie, Cowe. Bakes.— Blacfc W Meff Fi-viiiLs.— 1 and 2, W. Symon, TalUch, Dafli Stonej"wood. JicoBixs.-l.J.White. 2, W. Meff. 3, J. Cowe, Trumpeters.— 1. 2, and 3, W. Meff. TuKBils.— IjJ.Tongh. OwLS.-l. W. Hendry. 2, J. Taylor. Monlrose. l'^i;ilr-\\^^-i.'^?nJirl- tw. Meff. Hc. J. White ; W. Meff. .. J. ^^'oTHEK ViRiiTY.-l, 3. and Medal, W. Hendir. 2, J. Cowe. c, A. Covrie. Sii-I-ING CLASS -1, W. Hendry. 2 and 8, W. Meff. Judges.— Pou^iry : Mr. Alexander Paterson, Airdrie ; Ptgeom : Mr. J. Millar, Glasgow. THE ARCHANGEL. This variety of domesticated Pigeon is not one of the general I have paid especial attention to its culture, consequently it is favo^tir^ongst fanciers; indeed, there are but few who | not usuaUy seen m this country. Ai'changels are not attractive either in colour or habits, and from the casual observer probably no word of praise would be ehcited, yet they are a meritorious breed of Pigeon. Their colour is sombre and unattractive ; their shape and peculiarities differ somewhat from other breeds, and in many ways they are dissimilar to others more numerous about us ; they are naturally very shy and wild, and this in some degree may account for their being disregiirded as " pets." It is a matter of considerable doubt and speculation when the breed was first imported into Great Britain, and from whence it came. These Pigeons are supposed to be natives of EuEsia, and have been designated Archangel from the fact of the breed being found in great numbers at that Eussian seaport. It is certain that Eussia and Germany are accredited with having the Archangel in far greater numbers than ourselves, and in Eussia we believe the breed was originally propagated. The Archangel, as we have said, is not particularly attractive in appearance, but its beauties, as we become familiar with the birds, and as we see them in various positions moving about in the bright sunlight, increase our admiration of them more and more. Archangels, in size and general outline, much re- semble the Eock Dove ; the head is somewhat of the same form, though the beak has not quite so much of the " spindle " chaiacter, and, like the Eock Dove, the Archangel when caged displays that wild uneasy disposition so characteristic of alE birds not accustomed to close confinement. Archangels, though wild and shy naturally, are easily tamed by the common usage of the aviary or dovecote, and when in association with many bold httle companions, their retiring disposition is not then so noticeable, as they gradually adopt the habits of their fellows, although they rarely become so tractable as most others ; and if proper nesting places are arranged for theii' use in dark secluded comers they will thrive, breed well, rear well, and Uve at ease and contentment. Few words will suffice for detailing the points and peculi- arities of this breed. The birds are of moderate size, and though not possessing symmetry of form in a marked degree, BtUl they are not at aU ungraceful in appearance. Their body is usually carried in a horizontal position, though the balance is well sustained, and the head inclines a Uttle forward. They are easy in their movements on foot, and rapid in their flight. Their wings are large, the secondary fhghts being more pro- minent than usually seen in most other varieties. The head of the bird is narrow, possessing a crest or peak, rising from the back of the skull in continuation of the line of neck, and terminating in a perfect point, inclining forwards. The beak is rather thin, dark-coloured, and somewhat doveshaped. The wai't, wattle, or nostril cover is smaD, smooth, and rather January 11, 1373. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 47 flattened. The eye should be of a red colour, but many splen- did'specimens have come under our notice having pearl eyeg ; the'red, however, 13 far preferable, being more in unison with the general colour of the bird. The upper part of the neck is narrow ; the breast full, though not too prominent ; the shoulders wide, but closely fitting to the body, and not out- spread at their sockets. The colour of the birds in a subdued light is a sombre unattractive black ; the head, neck, breast, and thighs a reddish chocolate-colour. But in a bright hght and under the influence of the sun's beams, this Pigeon becomes all aglow ; its sober garb is illumined with varied and brilUantly shining colours from head to tail, from beak to thigh. This chameleon-like peculiarity is an important feature in the breed, and is absolutely necessary in a matured and perfect bird. The head,'neck, breast, belly, and thighs as far as the vent, should be of a rich dark coppery bronze ; the back, tail, sides of wings, and flight should be black and enlivened by iridescent hues. It is in a strong light that the real colour-merit of the specimen is fully realised. The young of the Archangel at first are much Ughter in colour tliroughout, but as they pass through each successive moult the richer and more conspicuous does their colouring become. A mistake too often made is to discard young stock too soon — and this remark fanciers of all kinds would do well to consider ; therefore our warning is. Do not condemn them at an early period of their existence, see them at least through their first moult ; and if then they are not of a bluish tinge or dappled upon their wings, do not condemn them nor hasten their doom ; give them time for nature to crop out. — Bieming- HAM CoLniiBiKiiN SOCIETY — .J. W. LuDLOW, Secretary. SHERRINGTON BAR HIYE. Since the'time when Mr. Gelding said " "Without bars there I not been satisfactory, in that the bars of one hive would not is something wanting, something wrong," everyone must have always fit the nitches of another. I have, therefore, schemed desired a bar hive. I have used for some time frames let into a square straw bar hive, and I am glad to be able to reoom- round straw hives, somewhat after Mr. Taylor's plan, made | mend it, as combining three great advantages, cheaply enough by the village carpenter, but the resiilt has | 1st, The frames will with ordinary care last a lifetime, and A, Top frame, b. Straw work, c, Bottom frame, D, Square board with centre hole. Lid, straw work — bars beneath it. The black line under the lid is a half-inch-thick frame attached to the lid to make it fit airtight, o o Two screws which keep the lid in its plai the straw work, being that of the ordinary straw hive, can be renewed from time to time at an expense of 2s. dd. or 3s. by any local worker in straw, the hive becoming indestructible. 2nd, The hives can be used in the open air as well as in a bee-house. .3rd, The price of the hive is only 10.9. It is impossible in a few words and without drawings in detail to describe the Uttle contrivances which make the whole so complete, but no one, I am sure, will regret the ex- periment of procuring one from King & Son, Stoke Golding- ton, near Newport Pagnel, who make them. I hope this will help to bring bar hives within the reach of cottagers, for whose instruction alone I was some j'ears ago induced to keep bees. — A Bee-keepee. PAISLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION'S SHOW. The eighteenth annual Exhibition, under the auspices of this Association, was held on the 1st and 2nd inst. in the Drill Hall. It compared favourablj' with previous years, both in the quahty of the birds and the number of the entries. There was a re- markably fine show of Spanish, old and young fowls, and the first prize was well merited. The special prize was awarded for a handsome young cock bird. The first prize for a pair of Golden-pencilled Hamburgh hens, only five months old, was justly won. The class was an attractive feature of the Show. The Pigeons were very superior. The Canary and other bird department had nirmerous entries. The prizes awarded were : — Spanish.— 1, J. Dunlop, Paisley. 2. Miss Hodgart, Paisley. 3, A. Yuill Airdrie. 4, G. Archibald, Paisley. Chickfwi.—l, A. Robertson, Kilmarnock. 2. H. L. Home, Whiterigs, Airdrie. 3, A. Yoill. 4, W. C. Hardie, Carron. H^m.~l, H. L. Home-. 2 and 3, R. Paton, Kilmarnock. DoBKiNGS.— Co/ou7-cd.— 1, (i. G. Ncilson, Glasgow. 2, Z. H. Heys, Barrhead. 3. W. Scott. Blantyre. 4, Mrs. Alston. Craighead. Hamilton. Cliicktns.—l, Z. H. Heys. 2, Mrs. Alston. 3, T. Smellie, Kilmarnock. 4, M. Henderson, Ardrossan. DoBKiNos.— TT'Va7e.— 1, J. Bell, Dalmellington. 2 and 4, K. Farrow, Dalmel- lington. 3. Mrs. W. Arnot, Dalmellington. Hem.—l, Mrs. Alston. 2, Z. H. Heys. 3. Miss Hodsart. Cochin-Chisah. — 1. J. Pollock, Busby. 2, T. Brace, Busby. 3 and 4, J. Drennan, Woodhall. BKAnuA PooTRA— 1, Mrs. Gillison, Milngarie. 2, Mrs, Alston. 3, A. Cars- well, Larbert. 4. H. L. Home. Scotch.— 1, J Meikleham. Hamilton. 2, R. Blair, ThomhiU, Johnstone. 3, . Dunlop, Broomlanda, Paisley. Hambuieghs.- GoWen-8f(in^!c(i.— 1, A. Gibb.Ayr. 2. A. Frisken, Irvine. 3, T. Love. 4, J. Crawford, Beith. Goltien-pcncilled.—l, R. Macnab, Gardonald. 2, J.'Smith, Stewarton. 3, A. Crosby, Melrose. 4, J. Howe, Paisley. ^AMBVBQHS.— Silver-spangled.— 1, Ashton & Booth, Mottram. 2, J. Brace. 3, J. Moodie, Broomlands, Paisley. 4, A. Crosbie. Bilver-peneilh'd.—l, A. Can nell, Stewarton. 2, J. Clark, Paisley. 3. K. F. GemmeU, Glasgow. 4, P. Barr Hamburghs.— Go/rff n or Silver-spangUd.—Hens.—l, J. M, CampbeU. Bonny Kelly. Van Dur. 2-, J. Moodie. 3, M. Ourrie, KUpatrick. pencilled.— Hens.— 1, Miss Taylor, Aberdeen. 3, Miss Hodgart. PoLANDS.— Toppfrf.— 1, R. Macnab, Cardonald. 2, W. PatersoD, Airdrie. 3 and 4, A. Wylie, Johnstone. Game.— 1. D. Harley, Edinburgh. 2, W. Nelsen, Johnstone. 3, J. Mlndoe, Grahamslon, Barrhead. 4, Z. H. Heys. Black Bcds.—l. S. M'Coll, Stialhblane. 2, G. WiUiamson, Johnstone. 3, J. M'Lachlan, Charleston. 4, H. L. Home. Cross, or Any other Variety.— 1, R. Masson. 2, VP. A. Orr, Kilbimie. 3, J. M. Wilson, Lochwinnoch. 4, W. Linton, Selkirk. Dvc&s.— Aylesbury.— 1, J. Meikleham. 2, J. Kerr, Glencart. 3. Z. H. Heys. 4, S. Hunter, Arkleaton. Bouen.—l, W. "Wilson, Johnstone. 2, M. Henderson Ardrossan. 3, A. (jray, Beith. 4, J. Meikleha Game Bantams.— 1, J. Mitchell, Perth. ■ Kilbirnie. 4, T. Weir, WiUiamsburgh, Bantams.- Blacfc.- 1 and 3. H. L. Home. 2, S. Sc R. Ashton. Any other Colour.— 1, A. Robertson. 2, J. Dunn, Galston. 3, G. W. Boothby, Louth. 4, 5, 4 R. Ashton. Selling Cuss.- 1 and 3, J. Kerr. 2, W. White, Paisley. 4, Miss J. Leitch, Cross Arthurlie. Speclal Prizes.— Spani^ft.—Cocfccrc/.— a. Robertson, Kilmarnock. Cochin- China.— 3. Pollock, Busby. Brah ma Poofra.— Mrs. Gillison, Milngarie. Scotch. —Cock.— A. Dnnlop, Broomlanda, Paisley. Samhurghs.-Silver'pencilled.—A. ConneU, Stewarton. Game. — Black Beds. — S. M'Coll, Strathblane. Game Bantams.— Gow & Walker, Kilbarchan. PIGEONS. Pouters.— Bfue.—l. J. Murray, Glasgow. 2, J. Millar, Glasgow. 3, J. Lohore, Larkhall. Blark or Red.—l and 2. J. Millar. 3, J. Murray. Any other Colour. 1, J. Murray. 2, J. Millar. 3, H. Thomson, Glasgow. TOMBLERS.— .Siort-fai-f (f.- 1 and 2. J. Murray. 3, J. Paton, Rigg, Stewarton Any other Variety —1, J. Sharp, Johnstone. 2, W. Wilson, Johnstone. 3, W M'Kinlay, Kilmarnock. , Gow & Walker. 3, B. M. Knox JOUEX.Ui OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ .Tannai7 11, 1872. Carbiers.— 1, G. Whyte, Ladyburn, Paisley. 2, J. Murray. S, J. M'Kae, Kil- marnock. Fantails.— 1, J. Sharp. 2, J. Gait, Kilbimie. S, A. Crosby. Melrose. Jacobins.— 1, J. Lohore. 2, J. B. Reynards. Helensburgh. 8, A. Ycndal, Galston. 1, "W. MTvinlay. 2, A. Yendal. 3, T. Imrie, Ayr. Selling Class— 1, J. Gait. 2, G. "White. 3,J. Moodle. Special pRiZEs.—Pouterg.—Blug.—J. Murray, Glasgow. Black or Bed.— J. Millar, Glasgow. CANARIES. Cleax.— J, M. Barr, Paisley. 2, R. White, Paisley. 3, D. Halden. Yellow— CocA-.—l, A. CuDimine:, Rutherglen. 2. W, Wrifiht, Greenock. 3, D. Dick. Kilmarnock. 4, J. M'Pherson, Paisley. Bens.~l, T. Femie. Paisley. 2, J. M'Alli8ter, Glasgow. 8, J. M'Cane, Kilwinning. 4. J. Wilaon, Beith. BjTFT.—Cock.—l. H. PinkertoD, Rutberglen. 2, J. Ualziel. Paialey. S, J. Pettigrew, Carluke. 4, J. Sievewright, Partick. Hens.— I, M. Todd, Paisley. 2, J. M'Lean, Greenock. 3. W. Love. 4, R. Honston, Kilbimie. PiFBALDs. — 1, IViBs M. Houston, Paisley. 2, H. Jobnstone, Johnstone. 3, J. MTVilliam, Den. Dairy. PtEBKL.i>.— Yellow.— Cocks.— I, J. PettlErrew, Carluke. 2, J. Allison, Paisley. 3, A. Wilson, Greenock. 4, C. Aird, Kilmarnock. Hena.—J, J. Scoullar, Kil- marnock. 2. T. Scott, Carluke. 3. J. Pettigrew. 4, R. Houston. Piebald.— B»#.—Cocfcs.—l, A. Kelly. 2, T. Scott, Carluke. 3, J. Pettigrew. 5, J. Glasgow, Beith. Bens.—l.'W. Hunter. M.D., Kilbirnie. 2, A. Crawford, Johnstone. 3. A. Kelly. 4, G. Dmmmond, Renton. Goi DFiNcH Ml LE8.— 1. G. Goudie. Ayr. 2, Miss J. Paterson, Airdrie. Goldfinches.— 1. T. Conn, Kilwinning. 2. A. Mitchell, Stewarton. Paroqlet.— Home or Foreign.— 1, J. Campbell, Greenock. 2, W. Brown, Kil- marnock. Judges. — Poultry : Messrs. W. R. Farquliar, Alesaudria ; R. Calderwood, Kilmarnock ; J. M'Lachlau, Paisley ; J. Sharp, Jolmstone; J. Steven, M.D., Ai'drossan ; C. Jomistone, Barr- head. Pigeons : Messrs. J. H. Frani, Overton, Carluke ; J. Cochran, Glasgow. Small BircU : Me.ssrs. J. Fulton, Beith; J. Lyle, Wishaw; W. Taylor, Glasgow; A. Mitchel, Paisley; J. Gibson, Paisley; W. Weir, Paisley. OUR LETTER BOX. BrRMiXGHAji CoLTjMBABiAN SOCIETY'S SHOW. — "Tour rcpoi-ter, speakm^ of this Show, says the yoimg Carriers of 1871 were a good class, and the cup bird at Eirmingham received but a high commendation. This is a great mistake, for my bird was not there. — W. Siddons." fWe have another note on the same subject from Mr. Nightingale, which we cannot publish.] Dlieehlespn,iijul of castor oil; indeed, if the bird is not weakened by diaiThcea we slionW \v^n with the oil. We believe the dis- order is caused by some in-itating sul>stance that has been swallowed, and cannot be got rid of by ordinaiy means. Alter the oil give bread soaked in ale, and no other food for two days. Baskets ron Sendixg Poitltry by Eatl {A. ^.).— Ton need only have round wicker baskets made, and cover them with canvas instead of a lid. The height and diameter must be regulated by the number and size of the fowls you wish to send. The basket should be high enough for the cock to stand up without touching the top with hie head. You should have no difficulty in having such made, but if you have, apply to Baily in Mount Street. Fowls' HooSTiNG-PLACE [A. C. C. H.).—As a rale, you may safelv allow your fowls to choose their own roosting-place, and if they are healthy we do not see why you should interfere with them. If the place they prefer is well protected overhead from snow and rain, and beneath fiom draught and wind, their choice is not a bad one. Let them have access to their house if they desire it, and they have instinct enough to use it if necessary.' DncKs(^nat., fine till 1.30 p.m., ^rinily with heavy rriin during the night. Bajometer falling' very rapidly till midnight. 5th. — ^Windy till 9 a.m., when it modei-ated and the rain ceascil, fine day but wet evening_aud night, lightning at 9.30 p.m. 6th. — Dry and fine, rather windy, heavy shower with hail at 0.30 p.m., showery daring the remainder of the day. 7th. — Wet early, fair thoagh cold from 10 a.m. to S.30 p.m., then rain. 8th.— Fine and frosty early, and moderately fine sXi day, at some times heanti- fally sunny and bright. 9th. — Veiy dark, though not cither foggy or wet at 8 A.ir.. but cleared off rapidly and soon became very fine, rain between 4 and 5 p.m. AlthoD^ the temperatiu-e and pressui-e have been lower, and the rainfall greater than in the previous week, there has been warm sun on several days. — G. J. Symons. COYENT GAEDEN MAEKET.— January 10. We have not much change to notice hete. The general features of the mai-ket denote very limited sales, and a lai-ge supply of out-door produce keeps the prices from advancing. Sea-kale, Asparagus, Dwarf Kidney Beans, and Cucumbers ai-e ample for oil comers. Continental x>roduce is limited generally to salading, as far as green vegetables are concerned, with the exception of a small consignment of Asparagus. FRriT. (■htstiiuts bushel 10 Curr^ints J S'eve 0 Black do. 0 Figs doz. 0 Filberts lb. 0 Cobs lb. 0 Grapes, Hothouse.... lb. 4 Gooseberries quart 0 Lemons ^100 7 Melons each 2 lb. 0 0 0 0 Mnlberriea lb. 0 Nectarines doz. 0 Oranges %nm 4 Peaches doz. 0 Pears, kitchen. doz. 2 dessert doz. 3 PrneApples lb. 4 Strawberries lb. 0 0 VEGETABLES. , Kidney.... per 105 3 0 4 0 Broad bushel Beet, Red di Broccoli bundle Brussels Sprouts.. i sieve Cabbage doz. Capsicums T>100 Currots bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Cnleworts.. doz. bunches Cucumbers each pickling .....doz. Endive doz. Fennel bunch Garlic lb. ;. 1 0 3 0 Leeks bunch L^'ttnce doz. Mushrooms pottle Mustard & Cress, .punnet Onions bushel pickling quart Parsley per doz. bunches Parsnips do Peas quart ;. 0 9 10 Radishes., doz. bnnchea 0 6 10 Rhubarb bundle 10 16 Savoys doz. 10 16 Sea-Kale basket 16 3 6 Shalh.ts lb. 0 6 0 2 Spinacb bushel 3 0 4 0 Tomatoes doz. 0 0 0 0 Turnips bunch 0 3 0 6 Vegetable Marrows.. doz. 0 0 0 9 POULTRY MAEKET.— Jantart 10. The market has at last seen the end of Christmas. After the rash of goods there is a cessation. Senders as well as buyers are caiTied away by a spirit of Christmas, and as Paterfamilias will at that time deliberately justify an expenditm-6 that at any other time he would deem the height of extrava- gance, so senders send all they can under the influence of the excitement : hence a factitious scarcity. We will begin our quotations nest week. January IS, 1S72. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTlTxE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. WEEKLY CALENDAF Day Day Sun Moon Moon Moon's 1 ?°± 1 Day | Month Week. ture near London. 43 years. Rises. Sets. Rises. Sets. Age. Sun. Year. | Dave. m. b. m. b. m. h. m. h. Days. m. s. 18 Th 42.6 81.3 36.9 18 59 of 7 22 at4 48atll 6af 1 8 19 F TwUight ends 6.25 P.M. 4S.1 30.6 86.9 20 58 7 24 4 after. 17 2 9 10 53 19 20 S 42.4 30.6 86.5 15 67 7 25 4 80 0 27 3 10 21 3 Sunday after Epiphany. 43.9 82.0 37.5 20 56 7 27 4 67 0 35 4 22 M 43.1 32.S 37.7 18 55 7 29 4 33 1 39 5 23 To 42 6 82.4 87.5 18 54 7 31 4 19 2 36 6 24 W 43.1 32.1 87.6 19 53 7 83 4 11 3 25 7 14 12 16 From observntions taien near London during forty-three years, the average day temperature ot the weei is 42.8° ; and its aight temperature 31.6°. The greatest heat was 68^, on the 19th, 1828; and the lowest cold 4|-' below zero, on the 19th, 1838. The greatest fall of ram CUCUMBER AND MELON CULTUBE. r N important con.sideration in most gardens is bow to insure a supply of tliese for the longest time ; and, indeed, where proper ac- commodation is afforded, the first-named can readily be obtained in eveiy month of the year. The form of the structures in which they are grown is of prunary unportance, and of these ordinary garden frames with moveable hghts do veiy well for summer work, but for early and late supplies they are altogether out of the question. I have had a good deal of experience in this matter, and would unhesitat- ingly recommend the half-span foim of house as being the most useful and best adapted for our purpose. Those at Loxford Hall are of tliis form, 11 feet wide, and 10 feet from the path to apex of the roof, with front sashes made to open outwards. All the top hghts slide, all the back lights are fixed, and ventilators are placed in the back wall. The beds are 5 feet wide, and receive bottom heat fi'oni two rows of 3-inch pipes. The internal atmo- sphere of the house is warmed by four rows of 4-iuch pipes, with which we maintain during severe frost a night temperature of G5°, without overlieating the pipes or using any outside covering. Our supply of Cucumbers from Christmas onwards is obtained from plants sown or raised from cuttings early in September. These grow on until they fairly cover the trelhs, but they do not bear until the days lengthen, when they commence to fruit and continue to do so until Cteist- mas comes round again. The old .shoots must, of course, be thinned-out, and young fraitful ones allowed to re- place them, and rich surface-dressings must be given when the plants show signs of exhaustion. I do not know a better variety to afford a continuous supply than that known as Eolhsson's Telegraph. I have gi-own Dale's Conqueror, Hamilton's Invincible, Pearson's Long Gun, and Blue Gown, and have obtained handsome fruit from them ; but these, though certainly very showy and well adapted for exhibition, do not keep up a supply all the year round in the way that Telegi-aph does. Of course it is not necessary to gi-ow Cucumbers in such a lioiise as this during the summer and early autumn mouths, if dung frames are available, as a three-hght frame wUI help to bring forth suf&cient for a very large family. The houses may be used for growing Melons. These, I think, do much better in a house of this description than in fi-ames, the fruit being at aU tunes of better quality. The first lot of Melon seeds should be sown early in January, and under favourable circumstances fruit may be ex- pected from them early in May. Should, however, cold cloudy weather intervene early in the year, it is uphill work for the young Melon plants, and under such circum- stances I have had those sown a month later come in as early as those sown first. The details of culture may be summed-up in a few words, and is the same in each case. From the brickljats, which are placed over the hot-water pipes for l)ottom heat, to the siu'face of the bed, the depth No. 664.-VOL. XXH., New Seeieb. is 1 foot 6 inches ; and over the brickbats there is first placed a layer of turf with the grass side under to prevent the compost mixing with the substratum, and thus filling up the air spaces. Only half the border is filled up at first, and a wall of turf erected parallel with the path seri'es to keep the compost in its place. The other half of the bed is filled with fermenting material, wliich not only warms the compost, but creates a gentle bottom heat,, and by so doing gives an excellent opportunity for raising young Melon plants or Vmes fi-om eyes, striking cuttings,, and many other purposes. I generally sow about a dozen Melon seeds in a 5-inch pot, and as soon as the young seedlings are sufficiently strong — that is, when the tv/o seed leaves have grown to their full size — pot them off, one each in the centre of a 5-inch pot, and keep them in the bottom heat until they are ready for planting-out. The bed wUl by this time be well warmed and ready to receive the plants. Place them about 15 inches fi-om the front wall, putting a stick by each plant to wliich to train them until they reach the trellis. , The material and fomi of this latter is important. I know a range of most excellent Melon and Cucumber houses wliich were built regardless of expense on the most modern principles ; one fault only was apparent to me on seeing them, and that was in the treUis employed to train the plants to. This consisted of a series of wooden frames which were made so that they could be fixed at 9, 11, 1.3, or 15 inches from the glass. This was so far right, but the fault lay m using laths an inch wide, fixed in a longitudinal direction witli others crossing them at 6 inches apart, wliich I fancy vei-y much obscured the light so deficient in January and Febniary. Here we use the same sort of moveable frames, except that stout wire is used instead of laths, and the trellis is moved close to the glass in winter, and withdrawn to the fiu-thest point in the summer months. Wlien the young plants reach the trelhs, the leading shoot is not stopped, liut trained up untd it is about 1 foot 6 inches from the top of the trelhs, when the point should be pinched-out. Side shoots will form rapidly after tliis, on most of winch will be one or two female fiowers, and when four or six of them are open at one time the pollen of the male flowers should be apphed to them. Tliis is essential, because if one or two flowers are set before others that are tliree or four days in advance in point of development, those which are set will take the lead, whilst the others will faO to make satisfactory progi-ess. As soon as the young Melon plants are pinched, the fermenting material should be removed, and its place supplied with suitable compost. Cucumbers are treated in the same way as soon as they reach the top of the trellis. Melons managed on this plan seldom canlfer close to the surface of the bed when the fruit is on the point of ripening; and most growers know the trouble they have with them from tliis cause if trained to the surface of the beds. A\aien the plants are attacked by this pest, dry freslily-slaked lime should be apphed to the affected parts umnechately, and will arrest it. The Cucumber disease mentioned by Mr. B. Fish and others has not, I am truly No. 1216.— Vol. XLVII., Old Semes. 50 JOUENAJD OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ January 18, 167: thaakful to say, appeared in this locality as far as I am aware. In houses such as I have described a stage is fixed in a space at the back, which should always be occupied with a varied assortment of useful plants. Ours is used for pot Vines, Figs, and Oranges grown for dessert, of which the Tangerine, St. Michael's, and Maltese Blood are the best. I am now gathering the last-named two, and am told that the flavour is distinct aud very superior. They require much heat to ripen them, and if the fruit is set in March, the plants must be con- tinned in the temperature of the Cucumber house until Christ- mas, when it will be ripe. Tomatoes in pots are also grown on these back stages. Sown about the first day in February their frait will be ripe about the end of May. They are grown in 12-inch pots in a compost of turfy loam and pulverised bones, and when the proper sorts are chosen it is astonishing what a large crop a pot of this size will carry. Six pots of them are sufficient for my employer's family, and a margin is also left to give away to friends. When growing they require much water at the roots and syringing freely overhead twice a-day. Orangefield Dwarf Prolific is the best I have yet tried for pot-culture. Hepper's Goliath I tried last year. It is said to be .similar to the American variety Trophy, but as it grows too tall and carries a croj) of very small fruit with one of immense size, it is discarded for pot- culture. Barley's Defiance promises to be an excellent variety for pot-culture. It is said to be fully two weeks eai'lier than any other kind, and the fruit is large, nearly round, and con- tains a large proportion of pulp. Gardeners who compete in collections of vegetables early in June will find a good dish of Tomatoes a strong point in their favour. — J. Dooolas. OLD PEAKS UNDER NEW NAMES. BBOCKWORTH PAEK. Me. Eivers seems aggrieved because we have in our adver- tisements attached our name to the valuable Pear we discovered at Brockworth Park. He says it is pomologieally incorrect to do so, untQ it is proved to be a seedling. Mr. Eivers is an authority, we bow to his decision, and express our regret at having transgressed pomological laws. In our catalogue we call it simply Brockworth Park (without our name), and in future we will do so in eveiy instance. The important question, however, remains — Is it a new variety, or an old one under a new name ? 'We have known of the original tree some four or five years, and each year have tasted the fruit. During this time we have made inquiry as to its history, and hear that it was received from Cheltenham witot hua name. Mr. Anthony Bubb, of Witcomb Court (the agent to the Brockworth Park estate), knows Pears well, and has a good collection, but he does not know any name for this Pear, although he knows the tree, and we believe had some- thing to do with planting it. It has been exhibited two years consecutively at the Eoyal Horticultural Society's Fruit Shows, recei%ing a first-class certificate in September, 1870 I'last October at the International in competition with hundreds, if not thousands of dishes of Pears, both continental and EngUsh, an(l no one could recognise it, though very critical aud knowing eyes surveyed it). 'We believe it was utterly unknown in com- merce at the time we brought it out. It bears more resemblance to Louise Bonne of Jersey than to any other sort, but is much larger and handsomer than that variety ; it has every appear- ance of being a cross between it and Williams's Bon Chretien, but this is only surmise. We can only say, he would be a very rash man who would attempt to palm oS an old Pear under a new name before such men as Dr. Hogg, Mr. BaiTon, and the Fruit Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society. — J. C. ■Wheelee & Son. ESTIMATE OF STRAWBEERIES. As " J. G." desires a few words I wiU endeavour to gi'atify his wishes. I am surjjrised to hear the account he gives of Dr. Hogg. In the chalkv- land at Bushton and in the strong sandy loam here I have "always found the plants do weU and crop well. The crop of this Strawberry, and indeed of all the sorts I keep — namely, Eivers's Eliza, Dr. Hogg, Mr. Eadclyffe, Wonderful, and Galande, Bed Alpine, were grand last season. Cockscomb, the only other Strawberry here, was kept from bearing last year in order to afford early runners. The runners of this and Eliza were planted July 7th, and are now fine plants with several crowns each. '• J. G." would find Trol- lope's Victoria, Empress Eugenie, and Marguerite good useful sorts, which wDl do well with Eliza, Eclipse, Sir J. Paxton, Cockscomb, and Wonderful. I should think the above would succeed well in all lands ; and, if properly planted in July and well looked after, would overburden " J. G." with fruit. Cockscomb sets every flower, is very large, hangs a long time witnout injury, is Pine-fla- voured, but not very good in its coloirr. 'Wonderful is very hardy, an immense cropper, Pine-flavoured, colours well except at its points. To effect this the leaves must be penned back. It is one of the best for jam, being so firm after cooking. Much fuss has been made about Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury ; it is the same as Marquise de la Tour Maubourg and Duchesse Trevisse. They were all raised by Jamain and Du- rand. I had it under the second name. It is a good plant, aud the fruit is of a nice crimson colour and of good flavour, but it is not so good nor so much to be relied upon as Eivers's Ehza. The British Queen likes strong irony clay that requires a pickaxe to break it up. La Constante does well in the same stiff clay land. It is hardy as regards cold, but burns in light land, and the crop gets stewed. It is a tufted (the same form of plant as Ehza), dwarf-habited plant. The form of the plant and the form and flavour of the berries arc first-rate ; moreover, its flavour is quite distinct. Mr. Eadclyffe is like the British Queen in leaf and flavour ; but it is much hardier, does well in chalky soil (the British Queen likes iron but not chalk), and also in sandy loam, and bears well here. In the last most severe winter I gave my plants of it no mulching whatever. The leaves were less affected by the frost than any other Strawljerry here. The others were all mulched. As regards miilching, beware of excluding air from the crowns for any length of time. A little loose straw put over them during the intensity of the frost may be of service, but it must be removed as soon as tlie frost is over, or the crowns will be softened. For the many years I have had Eivers's Eliza I have never known it fail. — ^W. F. Eadclttfe. GEEEN PEAS. I AM venturing on a vexata qutvstio when I touch npon the subject of new Peas, there are so many and such conflicting accounts. New sorts come out with such an unmistakeable character, and are so guaranteed to be good, that it seems to be downright heresy afterwards to question them, whUe one must expect charges of " not knowing anything at all about it," etc., from those fi'om whom one differs; but as dear old Lord Pam once said to Spring Eice, " Ton ought, if you want to be a pubhc man, grow a rhinoceros hide." My cuticle has become so hardened that it will take a good thick birch of pea haulm, by whomsoever administered, to raise a blister, and so I must have my say. Now first of all -with regard to earhness. Some one said he had made a computation of the statements made on this point, and that there ought to be no difficulty in having them by the first week in April. Now I must confess this is a point about which I am tolerably indifferent — that is, I do not care to meet my neighbour, the Eev. Smith, and say, " Had any green Peas yet ?" " No." " Dear me ! what a muff your man must be ; I had a dish three days ago." If I can get them in tolerably early time a few days make but Utile difference to me, and thus a recommendation of three or four days in a new variety is of no moment, especially when one recollects how much soil, situation, the very time of putting in the seed, whether it be favourable or not, aud climatic influences, mLl affect Peas in this point. Then with regard to what constitutes the real value of a Pea. We must place — at least I would — flavour first and pro- ductiveness afterwards. In a large estabhshment, where the servants' hall has to be considered quite as much if not more than the dining-room, and Jeames is often more particular as to the amount of his provisions than his master, of course productiveness is a great element to be considered, and a Pea hke the Cook's Favourite will doubtless win fame with aU gardeners whose circumstances require them to furnish large quantities of vegetables, but where flavour is considered it wiU hold a low place. New Peas are derivable from two sources — those which are really and genuinely sent, the results of careful hybridising and patient sldll, and those which are merely selected strains of some well-known variety, which has been carefully grown on good soU, and then by constant selection improved. Take, for example, Daniel O'Eourke; imder how many aliases has January 18, 1872. ] JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. be made bis appearance, eacb contending for superiority, and eacb only owing its fancied superiority to some exceptional cause ! To tbose at all conversant witb catalogues or witb tbe endless varieties of Peas, many instances of a similar cha- racter will suggest tbemselves. Two raisers of Peas bare distiugnisbed tbemselves, eacb in their several ways, and both of them from the eastern counties — the late Dr. Maclean, of Colchester, and Mr. Laxton, of Stamford. The Peas raised by tbe former gentleman occupy a very high place in the estimation of all who prize this fa- vourite vegetable. Little Gem, Advancer, and Princess Royal are highly esteemed ; in fact I question if, taken aU in all, we have a more general (and most deservedly so) favourite than Little Gem. It is dwarf in, habit, prolific, and excellent in flavour. Of late Peas the largest number of really new Peas have come from Mr. Laxton, of Stamford ; and when we mention Alpha, Cook's Favourite, QuaHty, Quantity, Supreme, without counting tbose coming out this season, we see his claim to being a large raiser of new Peas is just. Through the kind- ness of Messrs. Carter & Co. I bad tbe opportunity of trjing these this last season, and as far as my taste goes (and we must remember that in Peas as in other things tastes vary) , they are inferior to tbe Colchester seedlings. Indeed, I have reason to believe that Mr. Laxton's first attempts were not in tbe direction of quahty, but of size and appearance, and in this be has unquestionably succeeded, while in Alpha we have certainly an early Pea witb a considerable amount of flavour ; and if be works now in this direction, and can superadd flavour to tbe great size and appearance of such Peas as Cook's Fa- vourite and Supreme, be will have conferred a boon on ail lovers of good vegetables. One stands aghast at tbe guinea packet of seeds advertised by Messrs. Hurst & Co. containing five new varieties ; but there seems to be a good deal of cha- racter about them, and they may give us, perhaps, that for which we are looking. There are some Peas which in everj- locahty assert their superiority, there are others which are favourablj- regarded in only a few localities ; and I think that a boon would be conferred on all who love good Peas if some of your correspondents would tell us what sorts suit them best, and at the same time say what tbe soil and situation of their gardens are. I have found Easte's Kentish Invicta in my warm and alluvial soU a very excellent Pea, early, and of good flavour. — D., Deal. EOTAL HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. Jasuaky I7th. The opening meeting of the year is generally looked upon more in tbe Ught of a pleasant reunion than as an exhibition ; but in the Council room at South Kensington yesterday were brought together what formed in reabty a charming Uttle show for the season, affording, too, a pleasing augury of tbe success that may be expected in spring. suiTimer, and autiunn, when Flora and Pomona bring their gifts more plentifully. Tbe first class in the schedule was for nine I\'ies in pots. Messrs. Lane & Son, Great Berkbamp.stead, took tbe first place witb well-clothed pyramids trained on wire, ranging from 3 to 4J feet high. Among the varieties were Caenwoodiana, with small narrow-lobed leaves ; Gold-blotched ; Maculata ; Digitata ; Rsegneriana ; Argentea rubra, with small leaves edged with white and rose ; and Canariensis maculata, witb small leaves mottled witb cream colour. Mr. Turner, of Slough, was second with smaller plants. Tbe best collection of nine hardy Conifers was exbibited by Messrs. Standish & Co., of Ascot, who bad a first prize for ex- cellent specimens of Cepbalotaxus Fortune! robusta, a fine vigorous plant ; Cupressus Lawsoniana fragrans, and Taxus fas- tigiata aurea, exbibited at tbe pre\'ious meeting ; Thujopsis dolabrata ; Retinospora obtiisa peudula, very handsome ; R. fiU- fera, of an extremely graceful drooping habit ; R. lycopodioides, one of the most handsome of the Japanese Conifers ; and Juni- perus japonica albo-variegata, strikingly splashed witb white or cream colour. The second prize went to Messrs. Veitchj-and Messrs. Lane had an extra prize. Prizes were offered for the best three dishes of kitchen Apples, also for tbe best three dishes of dessert Pears. For Apples Mr. Parsons, gardener to R. Attenborough, Esq., Acton Green, was first witb excellent fruit of Blenheim Pippin, Golden Noble, and Dumelow's Seedling. Mr. Miles, gardener to Lord Carrington, Wycombe Abbey, was second with Dume- low's SeedHng, Alfriston, and Prince of Wales. Mr. Frisby, Blankney Hall, Mr. Eoss, "VN'eltord Park, Newbury, and Mi'. Parsons, Danesbury, also competed. For Pears Mr. Miles was first with Uvedale's St. Germain and CatiUac, fine, and Vicar of Winkfield. Mr. Parsons, Danesbury, was the only other exhibitor in this class. Fruit Committee. — G. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair. This being the first meeting of the year, the question of certificates was brought under consideration. There have hitherto been two certificates granted by this Committee, tbe first-class cer- tificate being awarded to novelties or improvements in races of fruits and vegetables, and the special certificate for meritorious cultivation of existing kinds. It ha^ been found, however, that a use has been made of the special certificates which was in- tended only for that of the first-class certificates, and to reiuedy any disadvantages arising from such a practice, it was decided that in future there shall be but one certificate issued, and that to be a first-class certificate for new kinds or improved races of fruits and vegetables, and that for meritorious culture a cultural commendation shall in future be issued, and the special certifi- cate abolished. Messrs. Stuart & Mein, of Kelso, sent specimens of a very good variety of Scotch Kale, very finely curled. Mr. Taylor, gardener to W. R. H. Powell, Esq., Maesgwynne, Whitland, South WiUes, sent some specimens of a good variety of Six- weeks Turnip. Mr. Bray, gardener to W. A. Sauford, Esq., Nynehead Court, Wellington, Somerset, sent a very splendid bundle of Asparagus, which was of so great merit as to obtain the fii-st cultural commendation. Mr. Cryer, the Gai'dens, Sneyd Park, Bristol, sent specimens of a seedling Onion, said to be a cross between Nimeham Park and Blood Red, but which was considered to be tbe same as Brown Globe. Mr. Piccii-eUo, Wigmore Street, exbibited a very interesting collection of foreign fruits and roots, the most attractive portion of which was the wonderful specimens of GarUc, which for size and colour are rarely seen. There were also in the collection Onions such as have been exbibited at former meetings and have been Hoticed in our reports. Melons, Oranges, Lemons, pre- served Chestnuts and Figs. A letter of thanks was awarded for this collection. Mr. Wilson, gardener to Earl Fortescue, Castle Hill, South Molton, sent two remarkably handsome and large specimens of Charlotte Rothschild Pines, weighing 1.3£ lbs., from plants seventeen months old. They were awarded a cul- tural commendation. Mr. Batters, the Gardens, Cbilworta Manor, sent a box of Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, but they were too far gone ; also two bunches of Black Alicante. Mr. Clarke, gardener to W. Vivian, Esq., Roebampton Lodge, sent a dish of Glou Morpeau Pears which bad been well kept, but were deficient in flavour, ilr. Dancer, of Chiswick, sent a dish of Benrre d'Aremberg, excellent in quahty and in flavour. A_ seedling Apple, called Beechwood Foundling, came from Mi-. J. Freeman, gardener to Sir John Sebright, Bart., Beechwood, but it wa-s not considered superior to varieties already in ex- istence. Another seedling from Mr. Ross, gardener to C. Eyre, Esq., Welford Park, Newbury, was considered good, but not of siifiicient merit to justify its being cultivated as a new variety. Messrs. Harrison & Son, of Leicester, sent a seedling Apple,, small and round, of a greenish-yellow colour, called Lady Berners, which was not approved, and another called Prince of Wales, of good size and striped, but it, too, was not of sufficient merit. Messrs. James Backhouse & Son, of Tork, sent two dishes of the Galloway Pippin which received a first-class cei-tificate last year, and tbe variety maintained the same high character which wa-s formed of it when tbe certificate was awarded. Mr. William Paul, of Waltham Gross, exhibited a collection of six varieties of Apples . A report on the system of keeping Grapes in bottles was read by Mr. Moore, gardener to Earl Brownlow, Belton, which we shall publish next week, and furnish illustrations of the room and the method of keeping tbe Grapes. Flobal Committee. — W. Marshall, Esq., in the chair. Mr. Denning, gardener to Lord Londesborougb, Grimston Park, Tadcaster, sent a fine collection of Orcbid!s, including Lycaste Skinneri, Onciditmi aurosum, with a branching spike of numerous rich yellow and reddish brown flowers, 0. nebiilo- sum, Ada aurantdaca, Sophronites grandiflora, with very large flowers, La;ba autumnahs, Odontoglossum cristatum, Zygo- petahim Mackayi, fine ; the white-flowered Saccolabium Har- risoni, Lycaste lanipes, Ljeha anceps, and L. autumnahs grandi- flora. A cultural commendation was awarded for Pbalaenopsis- Porteana, with two fine spikes of lovely white flowers, with a^ rosy purple Up tinged with orange at tbe base, and dotted with crimson. This was very handsome. A first-class certiflcate was also given to Mr. Denning for Odontoglossum Denisora". of the same race as 0. Alexandras, of which it appears to be a large-flowered variety ; some of the flowers of this had seven sepals aoid petals, the others only five ; hence there seems to be a tendency towards producing semi-double, or, it may be, double flowers. Tbe spike of this handsome plant had eighteen flowers. Mr. WiDiams, of Holloway, sent a group of his new yellow- berried Aucuba, called luteo-carpa. The plants were heavily JOURNAL OP nOKTICULTUEE AXD COTTAGE GAEDENEB. [ January 18, 187'2. loaded with berries, which are ornamoutal as affording a con- trast to the red-fruited kinds. A certificate was awarded to the variety at a previous meeting. Cattleya Walienana, in fine bloom and colour, had a commendation. Oncidium cheiro- phorum, with a branching spilie of canary-coloured flowers about 9 inches in length, and Odoutoglossum gloriosum majus, were also shoivn by Mr. Williams. Messrs. Staudish & Co., of Ascot, exhibited a collection of plants, such as Geraniums, Cinerarias, Bouvardia jasminoides, Cyclamens, Lily of the VaUey, and Poinsettia pulcherrima. Mr. Wiggins, gardener to W. Beck, Esq., Isleworth, received a commendation for a well-bloomed collection of Cyclamens. Mr. Clarke, market gardener, Twickenham, exhibited a numerous and excellent coUectiou of the same flower, as did Messrs. Veitcb. Messrs. E. G. Henderson hkewise sent a small collection of selected varieties. Mr. Wiggins also sent half a dozen plants of kinds with the foliage more oruamentaUy marked than is usually seen. From Mr. Turner, Slough, came fine baskets of Tricolor Pelar- goniums, for which a commendation was given. Mrs. Head- ley, Achievement, and Reynolds Hole were remarkable for their splendid colouring. Mr. Turner likewise exhibited a dozen ber- ried Aucubas of different varieties, grown as standards of from 2 to 3J high, with great masses of bright red ben'ies. From Mr. George, gardener to Miss Nicholson, Putney Heath, came a box of cut flowers, including Camellias, Cypripediums, Dielytra, &c. Messrs. Dobson it Sons, Isleworth, sent a coUection of white- flowered Chinese Primulas in good bloom. Messrs. E. G. Hender- son, St. John's Wood, likewise exhibited a number of seedlings with double flowers. Of these the following had first-class certificates :— Princess of Wales, very double, white ; Exquisite, delicate peach; Magenta King, magenta rose; and Emperor, one of the Fern-leaved class, with- fine, very double, mac flowers. Messrs. Veitch sent a gi-and collection of white and red Chinese Primulas, as well as the white-flowered Fern-leaved variety ; also forced Persian and Charles X. Lilacs, and a box of Lily of the Valley in fine bloom, Hippeastrum pardinum, Ehododendron Princess Eoyal, a fine specimen of Coelogyne cristata, Barkeria Skinneri, Cypripedium Harrisianum with one very fine bloom, Odontoglossums, fine specimens of Lycaste Skinneri superba, Saccolabium giganteum. Messrs. Veitch likewise exhibited Oncidium cheirophorum from Chiriqiu, ah-eady noticed, and a Dendrobium with white sepals and petals and a purple Up. . , , -u •» Mr. Bull sent Dracsena conciima, a plant of graceful habit, with the old leaves of a dark oUve, the yoimg shaded yellow and purplish crimson ; Crimim amabile, a very showy plant, silvery rose streaked with lilac, and brilUant purplish crimson exter- nally; Maorozamia coraUipes and plumosa, and Dasmonorops palembanicus, the last a very handsome Palm ; Cjin-ipedium pardinum, with the slipper much veined with green ; and an Odontoglossum. Mr. Lee, Ai-uudel, Sussex, again sent his tree Carnation, Mars. From Mr: Edgerton, gardener to the Countess of Waldegrave, Strawberry HiU, Twickenham, came Cyclamen persicum splendidimi with f oUage of immense size ; one of the four plants had white flowers, the others were not in blossom. Some plants of the Roman Hyacinth were exhibited in excellent bloom, but the name of the sender was not stated. Messrs. Backhouse, of York, had a commendation for Lselia autumnalis grandiflora, on a block, with eleven large blooms, lovely in colour. From the Society's garden came a nice panful of Ada aurantiaca; and from Mr. Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, Hford, an Odontoglossum, said to be new, but not so ornamental as many others of the genus. . Commendations were awarded to Messrs. Veitch for their collection of Orchids, also for their Lilacs, Primulas, and Cycla- mens ; to Mr. Turner for his Aucubas, also for Tricolor Pelar- goniums ; to Mr. Clarke and Mr. Wiggins for Cyclamens ; to Mr. Demiing for his coUection of Orchids, likewise for Phaltenopsis Porteana ; and to Messrs. Standish for their group of plants. The Victoria electric thermometer, an ingenious instrument for indicating and giving notice of changes of temperature in plant houses, was also exhibited. This is the invention of Mr. Eothnie, and has been brought into public notice by Mr. WiUiams, of Holloway. SOME PBEDATOBY INSECTS OF OUK GAEDENS.— No. 25. The effects, immediate or secondary, which are produced upon the trunks and branches of trees by the insects which penetrate the wood, or reside in or under the bark, are very variable, depending upon such causes (beside the habits of the particular insect) as the characteristics of the tree, the soil and situation, and the treatment which it receives from the weather and from man; so that the wood-devourers and wood-borers have furnished a most fruitful theme for many a discussion, and with all our modern researches we are yet in the dark (and likely to be so) on some important points in their economy. The gardener is apprehensive, sometimes too apprehensive, of the injuries he may sustain from species which carry on their work in ambush, and like crafty enemies beleaguering a town, only allow their mining operations to be detected when the victory is already in their hands. The owner of a goodly orchard well stocked with choice trees, may be excused if he heaves a sigh sometimes, when he thinks of the insect enemies which defy fumigations, and syringing, and other expedients he puts in force against the common run of grubs and caterpillars. What can he do to protect himself from the inroads of those larva; which are not satisfied with inflicting a temporary injury to the leaves, hut seek the life- blood of the tree itself ? Woiild it be any good to visit in turn the trees and tap the wood with a hammer, as certain employees are seen on railways operating on the carriage wheels to ascertain if they are " all right?" To carry on a rigid examination frequently, and remove every piece of loose bark, besides absorbing much time, is not a thoroughly efiective remedy, for the troublesome creatures frequently contrive to get" under bark that is not loose. If the gardener now could manage to give fuU credence to the theories of those who assert that the wood-feeders form a branch or division of Nature's host of scavengers, and remove only what is de- caying or becoming useless, what a relief it would be to his mind ! It is, however, a fact almost certain, if we are to take the opinion of men capable of pronouncing with some authority, that the number of injurious species amongst the Coleoptera is not so numerous as was formerly supposed. Especially is it so with regard to those in the genus Scolytus ; and of a species very well known to us near Loudon Mr. Newman writes confidently thus, as he alludes to it while giving the history of the really destructive Goat Moth. " This," he says, " has caused the death of many valuable Elms, and a beetle (S. Destructor), breeding abundantly in the bark of the dying trees, the injury has been erroneously attributed to this beetle, and not to the true cause, which, feeding and carrying on its work of devastation out of sight, has escaped the notice of superficial observers." It may be stated, however, in passing, that the ravages of the Goat Moth do make themselves obvious in several ways, after the caterpillars have attained some size. In their mining operations they wUl occasionally come close to the bark and run along their galleries so near it as to render them observable, and, moreover, the odour which the creature exhales is sufficiently perceptible in some conditions of the weather. But the statement for the moment surprises us, if we are at all read in early entomological literature, where such fearful accounts have been given of the injuries done to several species of trees by the Scolyti, and to counteract the ravages of which various expedients in the way of washing, tarring (not feathering), have been proposed. Destructor, as it is called, and rightly enough, though whether it is justified in destroying is a question not finally settled, is one of the largest species in the genus. It does not seem to occur in orchards, but visits trees in pleasure gardens and parks, having a very decided partiality for the Elm, though these httle beetles will also be found busy sometimes on the Ash and Lilac, having been preceded in their labours by the huge Goat larviE already spoken of. Indeed, wherever felled Elms have been left on the gi-ound for some few months, whether sound or imsound previously, they are sure to become the resort of swarms of these beetles, which soon dispose of the bark. The habits of S. Destructor are singular and interesting, and we are indebted to a very accurate entomologist (Dr. Chapman), for some recent valuable information on the subject. The female beetles busy themselves during June and July in pre- paring for the continuance of the species. This is done by the construction of burrows or galleries, which are 3 or 4 inches long, and a job of about three weeks. Along these the eggs are deposited, never less than one hundred in a burrow, and occasionally half as many more. They are covered with what the Germans call ' frass," principally consisting of the particles of gnawed wood. Whether these servo as food for a time for the newly-hatched larvEe, imtU they have gained sufficient power to carry on excavations for themselves, I am not pre- pared to sayj but it is possible. The burrow runs near the wood of the tree, and the female, says Dr. Chapman, begins " by making her way along the bottom of some crack iu the Janmij 18, 1872. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 53 bark, often bj* widening it for a little distance before com- mencing to burrow, so that the real opening of the gaUery is some distance from where the little heaf) of out-turned frass lies, which marks its orifice." But what is a sort of nursery for the progeny is a tomb for the parent, for, her life's labour thus completed, the female Scolytus dies at the end of the gallery. The larva; hatch in a few weeks, and form along the inner bark (and also upon the wood sometimes), those curious tracks which have been named " tj-pographs," but are scarcely ever seen quite in their natural form, from the pro- pensity which the different broods have to cross each other's tracks. Some might compare these " typographs " to a map in miniature, on which are delineated a number of rivers and streamlets flowing from a common point. The tracks being filled-up with excrementitious matter as the larvaj proceeds, it is unusual for one to turn round and work back again, though these channels not uncommonly run across each other. The more usual coarse of things with these larvjB is for them to become full-grown in the autumn, when they eat into the «olid wood, and construct each a httle chamber where the Tvinter is passed. And Dr. Chapman points out, that owing to this habit they escape being devoured by birds, for as the bark is loosened in the winter by the effects of rain and wind, any exposed larva; are quickly seized and devoured. In most years, however, a moiety of the brood passes through the course of the larval and pupal states in autumn, and apparently these neither live out the winter as beetles, nor deposit eggs. One instance amongst many others we find of what seems a kind of superfluity in Nature, and like the poet we are half inclined to think sometimes that she is not sufliciently " care- iud of the tj-pe." Dr. Chapman is strong in bis couvictious that females of S. Destructor have nothing to do with healthy trees ; and, therefore, he imagines that the attacks of other insect enemies, or disease in the tree itself have always prepared the way for the inroads of these beetle.s. Felled trees, how- ever, the species will find out, even while they are in the act 'Of putting forth shoots ; healthy trees which are rooted in the «oil have a mode of defending themselves from such attacks by pouring out sap into the burrows while they are yet being formed. On the question as to the injuries committed by both sexes of Destructor while visiting trees in search of food. Dr. Chapman does not enter. I should not be stating the case fairly unless I add here, that in the opinion of Professor Andouin and some othert, much harm is done by the attacks of the species upon bark when it as in search of food, so that in this way (as is supposed), through the loss of sap, and the mischief done also by the rain enter- ing through the holes which have been gnawed, the trees are prepared for the ravages of the larvte. Two species of the Scolytus which are of some interest to the pomologist, are S. Pruni and S. rugulosus. During last sum- mer a correspondent of this Journal forwarded specimens of bark and wood which had been infested by the former ; many of the larvaj were dead, proving that the species is rather delicate, as had been already noted by observers. The burrows «f this species are to be found in Apple, Pear, and Apricot, and in all probability in other fruit trees. Dr. Chapman has found no proof of its having ever committed any positive mischief in our orchards, though it, doubtless, accelerates the ■decay of some trees which, as far as our judgment goes, we shoiild consider healthy, yet some decomposition has secretly set in and is destroying the vitality. In one instance a strip of iealthy bark was found to contain a few incomplete burrows, but the beetles had been annoyed by the presence of a fluid which was manifestly sap exuded from the tree. One marked peculiarity in the burrow of Pruni is, that it often begins in a ■squarish chamber ere it lengthens in a shape like that of Destructor. The males in the latter species make a ver;- short stay in the burrows. In Pruni the males continue in them for some while and devour the excavated material. When of full size the larvie bore into the wood of the tree to the depth of several lines, and the matured beetles do not emerge until the ■end of the June following. The other orchard species, rngnlosus, is hardier, and therefore rather more common, and is curious as burrowing occasionally in very slender branches. The opening into the burrow made by the female is not at all hidden, as in some of the other species. This burrow is not much more than an inch in length, and it is lined with comminuted particles taken, not from the bark, but from the wood, so that this " frass " gives an appearance to the gaUery which is not observable in that formed by the Ei>ecie3 previously described. The eggs are laid very evenly. and the larvas are irregular in their movements, the tjTpograph being quite distinct in its tracery, except in any case where they are unusually crowded. This species is silent. Destructor and Pruni are able to give a vocal performance, in which the abdomen and wing-cases are concerned. Though not exactly quarrelsome, all the Scolyti are in the habit of giving each other a push with the head, should they como into contact. Perhaps it is a mode of friendly recognition, Uke the custom of rubbing noses which is found amongst some primitive races. On the supposition that these beetles are hurtful Loudon and others have suggested deaUng with them as foUows ; but the advice should, I think, be taken cum grano salis. The advice resolves itself into three particulars. To begin, let us say that you have before a number of suspected trees. With a spokeshave or some fitting tool you pare away the outer bark ; and if on examination there are no traces of burrows or small holes in any tree, then it may be pronounced sound, so far as this insect is concerned. Secondly, assuming that ou' inspection you find traces of larv£E and burrows of the females, then cut down to the wood to make sure, then have the tree feUed, and the bark stripped off and burnt. But allow me to add here, that if this is done during the period of hybernation, unless something is done to the wood itself, there will be an emergence of beetles next summer. Thirdly, trees, especially young ones, which have seemingly been visited by the beetles only for food, must be brushed over with coal tar, which is highly displeasing to the olfactory nerves (possibly) of the females. This may be repeated more than once, and is best done in the spring. Instances have been cited by authors, EngUsh and continental, where the life of many a jn'omising tree has thus been saved. — J. R. S. C. GBOUND LEVELLING AND PRACTICAL GAEDEN PLOTTING.— No. 26. Befoke a design is drawn to suit a piece of ground it is necessary to find the superficial dimensions and the general outline of the ground on which the design is to be executed, observing accurately at the same time the exact position o f 54 JOUENAIi OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Jonuaiy 18, 187a any object, either natural or artificial, that may stand upon or be included in it, such as an ornamental tree, a statue, a piece of water, or a hillock. To do BO correctly it is necessary to have a cross staff. A cross staff can be made in the following maimer : — Take a piece of board 6 inches square, and cut two grooves in it at right angles, as A, b, c, T>,fig. 51 ; fix a circular iron plate, as E, to the under side of the board by means of three screws. The circular iron plate has a tube attached to it. The tube is dropped on to staff F, and fastened by means of screw g. It is also necessary to have some station staffs 5 or 6 feet long, and a measuring tape. The means employed for finding the dimensions of the piece of ground in /iff. 52 win be suffi- cient to illustrate the manner in which to survey accurately any piece of land for general use. Fig. 52 is an irre- gular piece of ground, the outline of which is required, and also the exact position of the circles included therein, and tire space they occupy. Insert a station staff at each angle, as at a, e, c, d. Prom A to E is a straight line 57 feet long. Let the assist- ant take one end of the tape, and also some pegs 12 or 14 inches long. Let him start from station b, taking care to keep in the straight Une between stations B and c. At the distance of 13 feet 6 inches from station E insert a peg. At that point there is an offset of 1 foot. At this point it will be seen that it is neces- sary to find the exact position of circle a. Take up the peg at 13 feet 6 inches, and set the cross staff in its place ; look through each end of the groove running in the line E c, as, for example, groove A B in fg. 51 ; if sta- tions B and c are seen through the groove, the cross staff is in the right position to erect a perpendicular. Look through groove c D in the direction of the object, as in circle a. Send the assist- ant with a staff,: and direct him to put it into the proper place (as near the object as it is necessary or expedient) ; measure the distance from staff to staff, which in this instance is 9 feet" 4 inches, at a right angle with line e c. Find the square of the circle, as hereafter ex- plained, in eh-cle c. Let the assistant take the end of the tape and go towards station c, keeping in the straight line between the two stations e, c. At a distance of 33 feet from the point where the staff is inserted at 13 feet 6 inches from station e, on line B c, measure the offset, as at point 3, which is done by placing the cross staff at the point on hne e c, taldug the sight of stations b and c as before described. Look through the other gi'oove, and direct the assistant to place a staff on the boundary line, as at point 3. Measure the distance from BSyfoeC- Scale 24 feet to the inch. staff to staff, which is 3 feet. From the staff at point 33, on line E c, measure 17 feet, this being the spot at which the boundary line diverges most from the visual Hue b c, and measure the distance of the set-off as before described, which will be found to be 4 feet. Place the cross staff on line b c (iu all cases observing for accuracy through groove a e the stations e c) in a position that the Une seen through groove c D shall cut the centre of circle c, as at point d. The dis- tance required on line b c, from point 17, is 7 feet. Place the station staff at points 7 and d ; remove the staff at point d, and place the cross staff in its stead. Look through groove A B, obsers-ing point 7, and through groove c n. Direct the assistant to place the staves at any points, as in « c, which, will be parallel to line B c; place the cross staff at point / on line e e, and thi-ough the other groove erect i^ perpendicular, as in 7i, and insert a staff. Place the cross staff in g, aud in the same manner erect a per- pendicular as in k. Place the cross staff on one of the perpen- diculars thus found, as at m, observing through groove A n the points / ft; and through groove c i> direct the assistant to place station staves as in points .s, s, which will be parallel to line e e. The circle c is thus enclosed in the square / g n m, the side of which is 8 feet, being equal to the diameter of the circle. The distance between point 7 on line e c and point d is 24 feet. From the station staff at point 7, on line B c, measure 16 feet 6 inches ; place the cross staff and mea- sure the offset, which is 2 feet, as before de- scribed. From the staff at point 16 feet 6 inches measure 13 feet 6 inches, and measure the offset (1 foot). Find the circle o as described in circle c. From the staff at point 13 feet 6 inches to the staff at angle c is 22 feet 6 inches, making the total length of the visual line E c 123 feet. The points thus found on the boundary line (e 1 3 4 2 1 c) will be sufficient to indicate the curve of the line throughout. When the staves are removed for the purpose of taking observations with the cross staff", they must in all cases be replaced. Enter all measurements and observations in the note book in the following manner, commencing at the bottom of the page and working upwards. The page of the note book must be divided into three columns, the middle column being used to set down the distances from the starting point, as station B, and also the distance of the point to be denoted from the point last named, as shown in the annexed table. Commenc- ing at the bottom hne — thus, e is the station point. The first point at which an observation is made is at a distance of 13 feet 6 inches from station B. The second point is Jmii»iy 18, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 55 c 123 0 0 1 •22 6 100 6 P. 12 ft., c d 3 13 6 87 0 IG 6 70 6 P.24tt., S.S. 8(t. 4 7 63 6 3 46 6 1 83 13 6 P. 10 ft., c a 0 j IB P. 148. 33 feet from the last point, which, added to the 13 feet 6 inches, gives the total of i6 feet 6 inches from station B. Set dovna 46 feet 6 inches in the next division of the coliunn, and above it the dis- tance to the next point, as 17 feet, add the numbers together, carry the product (which is the distance from station b) to the nest division above. Measure the distance to the next point, add them together, and so proceed until the whole of the gromid is measured. The columus on the left and right sides are used to denote the offsets and insets respectively, and the position of any object that may occur. They must be filled in as the measure- ments on hue B c (denoted in the middle column) are taken. Thus, the first point on Une E c being, as before described, 13 feet 6 inches from station B, it will be found that there is here an offset of 1 foot. Set down in column 1 the offset 1 foot in a line with 13 feet <) inches in column 2 ; again, at the distance 46 feet 6 inches, set down ia column 1 the offset 3 feet in a line with 46 feet 6 inches in column 2, and so proceed. As there are no insets on the line given by way of illustration, the first observation made in column 3 is the position of the circle a, this being at a distance of 10 feet perpendicular to Une e c. At the point 13 feet 6 inches set down 10 feet in P (perpendicular) in column 3 in a line with 13 feet 6 inches in column 2, and pro- ceed with other objects in the same manner. In taking the dimensions of a piece of ground it is neces- sary to measure the length of the diagonal line as shown in dotted Une .4. c, the distance in this case being 140 feet. The lengths of lines a b and b c having been already found, the length of the diagonal line connecting them will at once denote the angle at which they stand to each other. The pupil wiU find that it wiU be of great assistance to him if, when taking measurements, he makes a rough sketch of the ground on the spot, taking a note of any object that may be included in it ; it wiU act as a guide, and greatly assist his memory iu drawing a correct plan. — M. O'Donnell, Gardener to E. Leeming, Esq., Spring Grove, Richmond. IBON IN SOIL FOE EOSES, AND AUTUJfN PEUNING. In November, 1870, 1 planted three Margchal Niel Eoses ; one in a bed about 4 feet from a south waU, another in a more exposed site, and No. 3 outside the south-east end of a iean-to greenhouse. AU grew pretty much alike, rather slowly, «ntU the middle of April, when a sheet-iron flue from the greenhouse had to be replaced Dy a cast-iron one, the former Having crumbled away into rusty laminfe, which were scattered around and over the mulched roots of No. 3. Very soon after this strange top-dressing I found that four strong shoots had issued from the base of the plant, one of wliich grew so rapidly that in about three weeks it had reached the top of the green- house, although trained obUquely, and has now several branch- lets ; the other shoots lawfully deserve a "vig.," though in- ferior to the leading one. I cut away the slowcoach to make -way for such railroad progress. Attributing, rightly or wrongly, this sudden start to the accidental mixture of iron with the soU, I collected the frag- ments of the flue and other iron, old hoop, etc., and strewed them over the roots of three Hybrid " Perpets " (the name I give to my pets), planted in 1870, but not robust with me — viz., Marquise de Mortemart, Madame C. Wood, and Xavier OUbo, and the effect was very visible in the growth and in the colour of the foUage, which became dark and rich ; but the experi- ment was not made until the early part of June; too late, I think, to obtain the same favourable results. I hope next spring to get a ferruginous Uquid by steeping, and to try its effect, with and without guano in the mixture, on all sorts of Roses, Teas, Perpetuals, ilc. The results noticed may be owing to a deficiency in my soil of properties which may exist or even be present in excess in other soils ; but a cautious trial can do no great harm in any, and may do good in some, cases. I should be very glad to get a lesson about pruning Eoses iu autumn for the second bloom. — H. N. 0. [We think your system of pruning quite right, and sufliciently hard. Last season was an exceptionaDy bad one, and even the finest growth in many cases did not give good blooms, as the buds, owing to the cold and wet, were too long in develop- ing, and many of the petals were rough and unformed. If you erred you erred on the right side, though, perhaps, owing to the season, you gave too much guano. Your cultivation may certainly be fairly caUed high cultivation, and we have Uttie doubt but that with a favourable season you will suc- ceed. We should advise, as the young growth from the base last year was so strong and healthy, to cut away the old wood freely, and to shorten the young wood to good sound buds, but not to prune them too closely, alio wing the shoots on the same tree different lengths, and leaving the stronger shoots the longest. This gives more room for blooms, and prolongs the blooming season. Manetti stocks do not, as a rule, require such hard pruning as the old Briar system, where it was necessary to cut back freely to reduce the size of the head to a sj-mmetrical shape, and where old wood could not be cut out ; whereas on a Manetti stock, where young wood pushes freely from the base every year, the older growths can be re- moved, and there is no necessity to cut the yotmger wood too severely ; but stUl they ought to be cut back to weU-ripened stiff wood. Your postscript is very interesting, and we fhaU be glad to hear the results of your further trial with iron as a manure. There is Uttle doubt that yeUow loam and clay soils which are rich in iron are good for Eoses. In the case you name, the iron being corroded by the action of the smoke would be in a very soluble form, and then would be both carbonate of iron and sulphuret of iron, as weU as oxide. The soot adhering to the sides of the old pipes would also contain sulphate of am- monia, which would act at once as a powerful stimulant. Sul- phate of iron applied in a very diluted form is a good remedy for mUdew, and in our opinion often acts as a tonic (if we may use the expression), and this also may be the action of iron iu soils which form so great a proportion of the colouring matter of earth, it may help in many instances to strengthen the plant ; but we fear the chemical effects of many substances on the growth of plants is as yet but Uttle understood. — Eds.] THE PEICE OF VEGETABLES. Some Uttle idea may be formed of the necessity of a reform in our greengrocery arrangements by the following passage, which occurs in the report of Mr. H. J. Morgan, on the culti- vation by means of sewage irrigation of the Lodge Farm, Bark- ing, for the year ending August 31st last, which has just been pubUshed. " The average price," says Mr. Morgan, " which our best Potatoes last year reaUsed was from £6 to £7 per ton. This year we have obtained no more than £2 to £2 10s. Onions, wliich sold last yeaj for £43 per acre in the ground, and reaUsed a great deal more by marketing, have tliis year been sold by us at £28, the highest price I have heard of being £30 per acre. Iu the autimin of last year cut Cabbages (Col- lard's) fetched from Is. to Is. 3d. per dozen, wlule this year there has been a difficulty to obtain 3d. and 4(7. per dozen, some having even been sold, I hear, as low as Gd. for five dozen. Scarlet Runners, which made 8s., 10s., and lis. a-sieve last year, only brought 3d. and &d. and Is., until lately, when they have made 2s. and 2s. 6d. a-sieve. Bunching Greens have not paid us to market, and we have hitherto fed cattle on thern. I have been told by several farmers that they have ploughed-in their crops, as it would pay them better to use them as manure than to market them. Strange to say," adds Mr. Morgan, with refreshing natt'cfe, " that in the face of aU this the retail prices are as high as ever, a cut Cabbage orcUnarily costing lid., and a small dish of Beans id. and 6d., with everything else in proportion." — [Pall Mall Gazette.) THE CAETEE CHALLENGE CUP. This Cup, of the value of fifty guineas, is offered by Messrs. James Carter & Co., the Royal Seedsmen, 237 and 238, High Holborn, London, for competition with vegetables at the great provincial Shows of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, commenc- ing this year at Birmingham. The ChaUenge Cup is to be in the possession of the employer, not of the gardener, and when. JOURNAL OF HOETICtJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Jannmy 18, 1872. won three times (not necessarily consecutively) it is to become I A prize of £10 is anntiaUy given to the gardener \rinning the property of the competitor so winning it. | the Cup, and a second prize of £3 is offered. The foUowing are Bkt^rii'C'on^VnnrS'^ 'V°. commence at I Vegetables (24 dishes), to inclnde as foUows :-HaH a pect JJinmngham on June 25th-viz., For the best CoUection of | each of Laxton's Alpha, Laxtoa's Quality, Laxton's SuprimeT January 18, 1872. ) JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 57 Carter's First Crop, Caiter's White Gem, and Carter's Hun- dredfold Peas ; Carter's Coveut Ciarden Garnishing Parsley, Cox's Golden Gem Melon, Naseby Mammoth and Miirzagole Onions, French Breakfast Radish, and Carter's Champion Cu- cumber. All Vegetables to be grown by bcniijide gentlemen's gardeners or gentlemen amateurs, and in the open gi'ound, excepting Cucumbers and Melons. The following to compri.'ie dishes : — Of Onions, 12 ; Badifh, 3 dozen ; Melons and Cucum- bers, 1 brace; Lettuce, 2 ; Beet, 3 ; Potatoes, 18; Savoy, 2; Kale, 2; Cauliflower, 2 ; Parsnips, G ; Carrot, C; Leek, 6 ; Celeiy, .3, This, which we noticed last week in " Les Promenades de Paris," is a plant but little known in the horticultural world, nevertheless it is extremely ornamental when sufficient space can be given it to develope its beauties. It is sometimes to be CUNNINGHAMIA SINENSIS. found in collections under the names of Cunninghamia lanceo- lata, Belis jnculiflora, and Finns lanceolata ; to the latter genus it is nearly allied. The Cunniughamia is a native of the southern parts of CiuuiiugliaQiia slueiiciis. China, and although too tender to withstand the severity of , the Aiaucaiias from the American continent. It succeeds our winter unbanned, it is nevertheless exceedingly beautiful best planted in a mixture of peat, loam, and shall) river when grown as a conservatory plant ; and I have no doubt in sand in the proportion of three paiis of loam to one of each the southern and western counties, if a proper position were of the others. It may be increased by cuttrugs, but they do selected, it would be found to stand out of doors the cntue not make such handsome plants in a young stats aa seed- season, or at least with but slight protection. liugs, but seeds are by no means easy to be obtained. — Expekto In its gtoeral appearance C. sinensis somewhat resembles ' Cbede. THE ESPEEINE PEAE I SHOULD much like to know why Mr. Scott fathers on me Esperione as the name of a Pear. I am Cjuite certain I have never employed it or thought of doing so. The name in youi' paper I judge is a misprint, bui of that I have no concern. I feel tolerably sure that your Edgarley Seedling, the Bene- dictiue, which Mr. Porch suspects was raised from grafts from his tree, and the Coalpit Heath Pear will he found the Espeiiue. As to the Esperine Pear you have figured, I re- JOUBNAIi OF HORTICIXTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDEXEE. [ Jannory 18, 1872 ceivcd it nearly tweuty years since from my old frieutl autl pupil, M. Jaraiu, of Paris, but not lildug it I discontinued its cultivation. The tree is here still, and I must say differs widely from the true Esperiue in its shoots. About ten years since I received another tree from France under the same name. The shoots of this and its fniit are identical with the Pear name d by you the Edgar-ley Seedling. M. .Jamin evident'y sent me the wrong sort ; he still has it in his catalogue as a second-rate Pear. M. A. Leroy figures it, and describes it and its shoots with great accuracy, making it of first quality. Its shoots — and I place much value on their evidence — correspond exactly with M. A. Leroy's description. Us lenlicelles (freckles), are large and very plain, so that its shoots may at once be distinguished from any other kind. Such are the shoots on my tree, and on those of trees received from Mr. Porch. I should add that Mr. Porch saw this Pear, or what he supposed to be the same, on some old French trees in Mr. Young's nursery at Taunton. There is, therefore, no doubt but that the Ed- garley Pear is French, and the true Espeiiue. The Benedic- tine may at once he distmguished by attention to its shoots of one year old. Mine (veiy young and small), I confess have not the freckled character. As to the size of the Edgarley Pear, Leroy says of Esperine, " It is above the middle size, and sometimes larger." With regard to the outUnes of Pears, they often vary so much. See numerous instances in the Dic- tionnau-e, and more particularly in page 280, in Henriette Bouvier, two figures, one of which has a long stalk, and the other a short stout one, one round and the other " turbinee obtuse," so that no one would think them to be the same. If there is any doubt as to the Benedictine Pear, it maj" easily be solved. The present tree cannot be very old. An honest good judge like Mr. Cramb could at once tell us if it is a seedHug or not, and thus put the question at rest. Let it, therefore, be done. — T. Eivees. [The fog thickens. We have received a handbUl issued by Mr. Sampson, of Yeo^-il, in which he states that the Benedic- tine Pear " was raised from a cross between Huyshe's Prince of AVales and A'an Mons Leon Leclerc, by WiUiam LoveU, Esq., of Glastonbm-y." Now, this settles the question at once as to its not being identical with the Edgarley Pear. Huyshe's Prince of Wales was not distributed till 1859, and Vim Mons Leon Leclerc was not known in this country till 1844, and we leave others to say if a seedHug raised from these newly- introduced varieties, could in 1865 have produced a tree of which the oldest inhabitant of Edgarley could not remember the age. We ought to state that on reference to Mr. Eivers's manusei'ipt we find that Esperione is a misprint. — Ens.] A SOJOURN IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND. We have long had a desire to visit the Highlands of Scot- land. So much has been said and written about Ben Lawers that there are few botanists who have not had a desire to see that fine mountain. All the British botanists of note, and even some Continental ones, have paid their respects to Ben Lawers. The early part of September is a favourable time for making a botanical trip, the heat of summer has somewhat moderated, and the days are sufficiently long to afford time for a mountam ascent, and enough work can be done to tire much younger persons than ourselves. The beginning of last September was somewhat showeiy and unfavourable for excursionists, but became more settled about the 6th and 7th of the month, and there were satisfactory indications of a spell of fine weather. This being so, and other cu'cumstances favourable, Mr. T. Mitchell and myself determined to visit the Highlands, making for KUlin, the very heart of them, as head-quarters iu the first instance. After arriving at KOlin on the third day out we travellers, after breakfast, went out with the view to ascending Craig Curich, the nearest mountain, something over 3000 feet, and a fine feature in the landscape. As the weather seemed some- what doubtful, we consulted certain of the natives who were hanging about. The men said it woijd be fine ; but a fat damsel said we would not get to the Craig, as it was going to be wet. Wishing it to be fine, we heeded not the fat lady's predictions, and pushed on. For about a mile the road was level, but then it began to rise up a woody steep, partly follow- ing the course of a small stream. Here we saw many fine trees, chiefly coniferous ones, and passing through immense quanti- ties of Brackens, with the Sweet-scented Mountain Fern (Las- trea montana) everywhere plentiful, up and up we went to the height of lUOU feet. Here we left the woods and Bracken, and entered upon a large tract of Heather, miles iu extent. The margins of the stream began to show alpine vegetation, the Cloudberry (Eubus Chama;morus), and the yellow Mountain Saxifrage (Saxifraga iroides), behig abundant, and succeeded by the Alpine Lady's Mantle, AlchemiUa alpina, and Oxyria reniforme. The opposite-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifi'aga oppositi- foha) , the Alpine Meadow Eue (Thalictrum al))inum), and the rare Tofieldia palustris also presently came to view. After much toO we reached at the base of the cliffs the " talus," which consists of immense quantities of material that has fallen from the cliffs above. These eUffs are nearly perpen- dicular for 800 or 1000 feet, but can nevertheless be traversed and explored at certain points here and there. Before we had fairly anived at the foot of the cliffs the clouds came drifting down upon us, and the wind roared among the rocks above like the sound of innumerable railway trains moving about and around us all at once. The rain began to come down, and we were compelled to take shelter under a projecting rock. At times the clouds iu which we were enveloped were so thick as to make it almost dark, and " The wind blew as 'twould have blown its last," roaring and howling most fearfullj-. Now and then the rain abated somewhat, and iu these iuteiTals we sallied out, and managed to get some thii-ty to forty good plants of the rare Holly Fei-n (Polystichum Lonchitis). For nearlj' three hour's were we confined in this den on the moun- tain ; after which the wind subsided, the clouds rose like a curtain, and the rain ceased. Evening was, however, drawing on, it was growing dusky, and as the descent the mountam in the dark, with no roads, would have been more difficult and dangerous than its ascent, we hastily quitted our den, waded through the dreary tract of bog and Heather, and reached our quarters before it was absolutely dark, not much worse for our journey, with the exception of a thorough soaking of the legs and feet. On the fourth day we rose in good time. The morning was fine, and there was every appeajrance of settled weather. We breakfasted, and then started for Malgurdie or Mealgurdic, a lofty mountain about 3400 feet in height, six or seven miles to the north-west of Killin. We had leamt from some of the KUlinites that tins mountain was an excellent one for plant- hunting, and was seldom visited, as most people contented themselves with Ben Lawers. We passed up the valley of the Lochay, and after proceeding about four mUes up the valley we came to the falls of that name. Here the valley contracts, and the waters of the Lochay are precipitated over a series of rocky escarpments of no gi'eat height. The stream at first roars, froths, foams and bubbles, and then silently, sleepily, and sluggishly steals on to Loch Tay. The timber in this part of the valley was very fine, the Larch and Spruce Firs being as straight as needles, and of gi'eat height. It was very pleasing to watch the squirrels running up the trunks, then along the branches, and then jumping from tree to tree with then- usual agUity. Soon after leaving the falls Malgurdie came in -view, a fine old fellow, but still far away. It was perfectly appalling to think of climbing up his huge breast and shoulders, and we did not think ourselves equal to the task. But, oh ! those rocky cliffs, which we could indis- tuictly see near the summit, were so tempting that we could not resist. It was in vain to wish for wings, or a balloon, or any other possible or impossible means of ascent. For some tune we vacillated between hope and despau' ; on the one hand there was the mountain of Heather piled up to the sky, ■with a rocky corona, and we somewhat fatigued by our six-miles walk from Killin, and laboming, moreover, under the burden of years, although possessing the spirit, wanted the physical strength and energy of youth. On the other hand, the day was gloriously fine, neither cold nor hot, temperatme about 60°, lower than which it should never be if we had the thermal control. Not a breath of air disturbed the .slender Birchen spray, not a cloud streaked the mountain ; it was as it the ruder elements held holiday. Then that cro-wn of rock on the summit was worth a severe struggle to reach — such a concur- rence of circumstances rarely occui's, and, very probably, never would occur to us again. If the day had been made for our exclusive benefit it could not have been better devised, and to neglect so good an opportunity would be almost a crime. Accordingly we scanned the moun- tain, narrowly noted the difficulties of the various routes which might be taken, and finally laid down our plan of attack. At this moment a toiuist from Edinburgh, with map in hand. Jaonary 18, 1872. J JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 59 overtook us, aud iuquii-ed if the mountain before us was Mal- gurdie, to which we replied in the affirmative. Were we going to ascend it ? We were thinking of it. Would we accept his company ? Yes. We started. The first half-mile or so was land pai-tly en- closed, then nearly a mile of Grasses, Bents, aud Heather, aud then we know not how many miles of Heather before we came to the rocks which had tumbled down from the cliffs. Li the ascent we took a short rest about every 500 feet, and these rests, together mth suncb-y ckaughts of the Scotch beveriige, enabled us to ascend with less fatigue. We met with four Lycopods — Lycopodium Selago, L. selagiuoides, L. clavatum, aud L. alpiuum ; also the Scotch Crowberry (Empetruni scoti- cum) , which we here saw for the first time in its native habitat. We now set about exploring the rocks, met with A^accinium uhginosiun, and then Coruus suecica. Oar joy at seeing this' iilpiue gem in situ, for the first time in our' lives, was almost xinbounded. Then Pseudathyrium alpestre, Lastrua dUatata alpiua, and the HoUy Fern in plenty. We shouted ■' Bravo ! Bravo ! " The Least Willow, Salix berbacea aud S. reticulata, wore both there; then the Sibbaldia procumbens, Rhodiola rosea, and a host of other alpine gems which it would be too tedious to detail. We lingered among these rocks till after the sun had set, and if we had possessed the power of the sou of Nun his solar majesty would have stood still on the western mouutaius for mauy an horn'. It was quite dark before we got to the foot of the mountain, and we had some difficulty in fiuiling the road, aloug which we had to tramp in the dark to Killiii. We rdti- mately arrived at our quarters a Uttle before ten o'clock. — I Extracted from Mr. Stamjield's notes read before the Todmorden Botanical Society.) (To be coatmued.) THE SUCCESSION AND COMPAEATIVE MERITS OF LATE GEAPES. Is common vrMi most gardeners, I am much interested in the discussion of the merits of the newer late Grapes, and pleased to see Mr. Donaldson biingmg Mrs. Pince so well forward. Mr. Freeman's remarks will assist in fixing the position of Madresfield Court Grape. Both are gi'aud Grapes and late ; but there ai'e late, later, and latest Grapes. Now, for late Grapes to ripen and be in plump condition after the Hambui'ghs, I should prefer Muscat Hamburgh and Madresfield Court, both with about the same consistency of skin, the former the smaller aud better flavoui-ed, the latter the larger, and keeping its flavour longer. Each is in season until the 1st of Januarj- — the Matbesfield Court even later. Of later Grapes I put Alicante first, and accompany it with Mrs. Pince ; both will bridge over February well. The tirst-uamed is the better-looking for bloom and colour, aud carries its bloom persistently. Mrs. Pince, however, echpses it in flavour, and is also lai'ger in berry. It is rather amusing to bring to mind that on its debut Mrs. Pince was represented to be of the size of the Black Prince. The latest section must be filled up with Lady Downe's, without any other black Grape. It has a pai'ticular merit of its own, which, with its other qualities, strUdugly fixes it as being the best of the latest kinds — namely, its quality of improving in flavour' with age. The keeping properties of the thi'ee sections mentioned above do not seem to depend on the amormt of the saccharine matter which they contain, as has been attempted to be shown — the idea, no doubt, being taken with much plausibUity from the results of the confectioner's ai't — but upon the compa- rative thickness of the skin. Indeed, one of the demerits of Lady Downe's, in the estimation of those who have most to do with eating the berries, is that the skin is too thick, but its keeping qusdities quite make amends for that. We may say of it in the words of the old song — " Some say its beauty 's but skin dtep. Its skill's so thick 'twill always keep." I have a late viueiy planted with a Vine each of Madi-esfield Court and Muscat Hamburgh, three Vines each of Alicante, Mrs. Pince, aud Lady Downe's, all with their roots entii'ely inside, aud all in the rudest health, aud I think there is an excellent opportunity for making a comparison of the sorts. By far the largest hemes iu the house are on ilrs. Pince, mauy of them being li inch long by 1 inch wide, the flavour excellent, but they are deficient of eolom- about the stalks. It sets iJer- Jectly, quite unlike the Muscat Hambiu-gh. The finest-looking for colour and bloom, and perhaps shape of bunch, is the Alicante. The strong point iu tire Mathesfield Court is its adaptabOity for late autumn. For flavour I turn to the Muscat Hambm-gh, leavmg out of account three Viues of Bowood Muscat in the same house. This reminds me of white Grapes. I should like much to hear something about the White Lady Downe's, whether its properties are indeed equal to those of the black. I think it deserves a thorough, and it must have an extensive, trial to prove it. — W. D. C. PEACHES AND DEYING FEUITS IN DELAWARE AND MAEYLAND. I iLLDE a visit in company with a few friends through a portion of these States, and saw large orchards, from one hun- cbed to over one thousand acres each. The quantity of fruit was so large that the growers received but a small amoimt for theii' labour. We visited one orchard of over one thousand acres where all the fruit was canned, between five and sis himilred hands were employed. They canned fom- thousand baskets per day, and kept seven waggons employed carrying the Peaches to the house. The cans were made on the place, and all the workers, half or two-thirds females, were lodged and boarded on the premises, the men and women iu separate houses. The skins or peelings, and the poor and refuse Peaches, were distilled on the place into brandy, making about forty gallons per day on the average. At one of the 1 3wus there is a drj-ing estabUshmeut on a new plan by steam. It is simply t;iking out the water, leaving the fruit with its good flavoiu-, aud when wauted for use, add water and sugar sufficient to be palatable. It takes four hours to diy the fruit, eight bushels can be lUied in an hour by one machine. They had two set of hands, one for the day and one at night. All kinds of fruit and vegetables can be dried iu this way. They commence with Strawberries and Raspberries, and continue on mth other fruits until Peaches are ripe, after they are done. They finish off with Tomatoes, green corn, and Sweet Potatoes. A bushel of Tomatoes or Strawberries can be pressed into a space of 6 or 8 inches square, which makes it convenient for the ai'my and navy, aud for travellers. — C. D. SANDEINGHAM HOUSE.— No. 1. A FEW weeks ago were centred on Sandi-ingham the fears and hopes of England, aud not of England only, but of England's wide dominions, and of all the English-speaking race. Now, happily, the cloud which overshadowed it and us is passing into sunshine ; those fears which were of the darkest have given place to hopes which are of the brightest, aud in his return to health the Heu' Apparent wiU find himself the most popular, the most valued man iu England. And the sjTnpathy of all classes aud all creeds for the affliction of the Prince, his amiable Consort, and his Royal Mother was so wide- spread aud heartfelt that no one who had not mingled with the masses of the people at the time could realise its fuhiess and sincerity. Then Sandringham was in all men's mouths, then everj'thing pertaining to Sandiingham was of keen interest, and now that the danger is past we may mthout impropriety give an account of a place of which the name wiU never be forgotten iu om' generation. " What has been shall be again," was the utterance of an old fortune-teller, who certainly had never heard the adage, " Histoiy repeats itself." Sandringham is an illustration of the two sayings, for this estate of the heir to the throne was once the possession of Harold, King of England. When he died on the field of Hastings, his conqueror bestowed Sandi'ing- ham on his Norman follower, Robert Fitz-Corbon. It is named Saint Dersingham in the " Domesday Book," and the name is compounded of Saxon and old British words, sand; ((cr, water; i hi/, a meadow ; and /in hi, a dweUing — that is, a residence in a sandy wet meadow. We will pass over various possessors until we come to WiUiam Cobbe de Sandiingham, in the reign of Hemy VII., who by will directed that his body be buried in the church of St. Mary Magdalen of Sandiingham. It remained the property of the Cobbes until about 1686, when it was sold to Sii- Edward Atkins, Lord Chief Baron of the Coiut of Exchequer, from whom it passed to the Hoosts and Henleys. In 1829, Hemy Hoste-Henley resided here. Subsequently the estate passed to the Hon. Spencer Cowper, and was purchased by the late Priuce Consort shorily before his death. CO JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. nJanimiy 18, 1871 The estate is sitiiateJ on the uorfhern side of the county of Norfolk, about eiglit miles from King's Lymi, and on one side is baunded by the broad estuary of the Wash. The nearest station to it is Woolferton on the Great Eastern Railway — a remote station between which and London there are three trains a-day each way. It is a wild-lookiug road in winter that from Woolferton to SaudrLugham, over a hill, through Ferns, through young plantations of Conifers, through a wild heath, passing liot a house till one reaches that of Sir William KnoUys but a short distance from the Norwich gates. These were the work of Messr.s. Barnard, Bishop, & Barnard, of Norwich, and ex- hibited at the International Exliibition of 1862 ; afterwards they were presented to the Prince by the county, and now form an appropriate and dignified entrance to the grounds. But before entering these we must pause to remark that on the estate a peouhar sort of carr or ironstone is largely dug out of the heath, where it is found close to the surfaca. It is .soft and crumliling when recently dug out, has the appearance of, and often is called, " brown sugar." Sir Robert Walpole used it for constructing the walls of his stables at Houghton, and the same material has been extensively employed in build ing the boundary waUs of the pleasure grounds, the offices of the mansion, and many of the cottages. Thin pieces of this stone are held together by mortar which, however, does not extend to the face of the wall, and the latter, consequently, has a somewhat rustic appearance. Where employed in the offices of the mansion and other buildings, stone facings at the corners give a finished appearance. Saudriugham is in a county celebrated more than others for its productions of botanists and fruit trees, and, as we shall'. presently show, the garden at Saudriugham f uUy maintains the' reputation of its county for fruit trees. The county's prolificacy of the latter may be traced, probably, to its former exuberance in monastic establishments. Monks were celebrated for their old Saaidi'uigliam House — We-st frout. attention to gardening, and how they superabounded in Nor- folk may be appreciated from the fact that of 1148 monas- teries sequestered by Henry VIII., seveuty-nine were in Nor- folk. Confining our attention to Apples only, the following have this county for their birthplace : — Col. Harbord's Pippin, Caroline, Winter Colman, Winter Broadend, Harvey's Apple, Loudon Pippin, Baxter's Pearmain, Belle Boune, Hubbard's Pearmain, Winter Majetin, Fonldou Pearmain, Horsham Russet, White Stone Pippin, and Winter Quoiniug. Whether the Beefing originated in Norfolk is doubtful, but it wa« so early and so largely cultivated there as to be usually caUed the " Norfolk Beefing." Knowing the reputation of Saudriugham tor fruit-production, — a reputation Boon gained and well upheld, as witness the lead Mr. Carmichael took on more that one occasion in competitions for in-izes offered by this Journal against some of the most skilful gardeners iu the country — the fruit and kitchen garden was that part of the place which first engaged our attention. But iu passing through the pleasure grounds on our way thither we could not but remark the great changes which have been made. The old house, of which we give a representation, has been pulled down, and a handsome new mansion, only com- pleted last autumn, has been erected in its place from the designs of A. J. Humbert, Esq., of London. The greatest drawback is that the site is so low ; and although the old pond which was in fiout of it has been replaced by a lake further removed, still there is more of mist in the early morning than is either desirable or healthy. A better position might have been, and would doubtless have been, chosen had it in the first instance been settled that au enthely new mansion should be erected, but only a reconstruction was at first intended, and the result has been a new house on the old site. There are many pretty views, especially from the terrace, whence every here and there one obtains glimpses of the church to which a path leads through an avenue of Scotch Fir's, with a breadth of turf on each side of the gravel, a portion of the undershrubs having been removed to give place to the grass. We will now pass ou to the kitchen garden, the main object of our visit, deferring till a future occasion a notice of the new mansion and its surroundings. The kitchen garden at Saudriugham forms one grand pa- rallelogram of 900 feet by 31-5 feet within the walls, or rather more than 6J acres, besides which there is more than 8 acres of ground in outside sUps, bringing up the total area to 1-5 acres. It wUl thus be seen that it is one of the largest kitchen gardens in the kingdom ; and that it is also one of the most complete as well iu its broad comprehensiveness as in its small details can likewise be affirmed, '\^^len it is considered that only six years ago this was a Tunii]i field, and that in a few months afterwards the walls were built, the groimd prepared, the trees - janunry 18, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 61 planted, and that uow these walls are covered almost to the top with trees excellent in kiud, m health, and in fruitfnlness— it must be admitted that even with the great means at com- mand the result obtained is a marvel, not only of^expedition but also of completeness, yet this result is a sohd and perma- nent one, not one of Mushroom growth, spriuglngup in a night and decaying as fast. The story of the gardener and the farmer is worthy of the attention of the brethren of the plough, who too often look down upon him of the spade, and despise the lessons wliich they might gather from his practice. One day Mr. Cannichael set his eyes on the Turnip field, satisfied himself it would suit his purpose, and told the farmer he considered that the best place for the new garden. It is a pity we cannot give the vernacular, but great was the farmer's amusement. " Make a garden of that !" the idea was prepos- terous— only the farmer did not use so long a word, considering the gardener less wise — to putit in the mildest form — than he should be. But the garden was made on that same field, and instead of indifferent Turnips, grow, and flourish, and frait Peaches and Apricots, Plums and Cherries, Apples and Pears, as well as every kind of vegetable crop. The means by which this success has been attained is inteUigent high culture. InteUigence and high culture, then, are the moral to the tale. The site of the kitchen garden is a httle to the north-east of the mansion, near it yet perfectly concealed from view by high trees, which also shelter it from sea-sweeping wiuds — for the sea and the long low line of the Lincolnshhe coast can be seen as one drives over the lull from Woolferton station. The ground within the walls is laid out so simply that the arrangement con be understood without the aid of a diagram. Within the oblong is a long straight-sided oval skirted all roimd by a 15-feet-%vide drive, and at the corners quarters of Gooseberries and Currants at one end, and of orchard trees at the other, follow the sweep of the oval on one side, and a line parallel to the walls on the other two. Further, a broad walk passes through the centre of the garden lengthwise, and another crosses it at light angles also in the centre, and at the intersection of the two is a circle with a large basin for water. This arrangement, as just remai'ked, is vei-y simple, and it is as effective as it is simple ; indeed we know no gai'den which so strikes the visitor with its greatness of extent on first entering it, for most large gai-deus, partly from necessity, partly from choice, are cut up into comi^artments by cross walls. The south-aspect wall on the north side of the garden — in other words the principal south wall — hke all the others, is 14 feet high, except where the vineries and Peach houses ai'e placed, where it is higher in proportion to then- various heights. This and the other walls, which ai-e only 12 feet liigh, are 14 inches thick, and biult in *EngUsh bond as being stronger than Flemish bond — that usually employed. All the copings are of Arbroath pavement, project .3 inches, are grooved to thi'ow off the drip, and give a good finish to the walls. In front is a border 40 feet wide, then tli? 15-feet drive, next loO feet of ground between the cMve and 8-feet central walk, then another 100 feet of ground, the drive, and the north-as])ect waU and border. The central ai'ea is crossed at every 75 feet by alter- nate lines of Apple and Pear trees, the former gi-own as large bush trees, the latter as pyramids with the branches trained * The differeuces between these modes of laying biicks, as well as much in- • formation on the coustniction of walls wUl be" found in vol. siv, New series I downwards to uou cii'cles 3 feet in diameter fixed to oak posts, I rising 6 inches above the surface of the ground to allow of the ! hoe being passed beneath. Many of these Pears have already attained the full height to which they ai'e to be allowed to grow, and the whole form handsome trees, and productive as well. These have 8 feet of border kept free of cropping, and being placed so far apart it is easy to cart manure on to the ground, which would not be the case if the trees were planted in lines parallel to the south wall instead of at right angles to it. The conversion of such an extent of ground from farm land to a weU-ordered kitchen garden must have been a work of great labom-. Fortunately the surface was tolerably level, so that the task of reducing eminences and fiUiug up hollows was not so great as in some cases ; still towards the east end tha ground rose about (i feet, and this elevation had to be reduced. The subsoil, being iu this part chalk, was taken out and used for bottoming the walks and drive. Generally the soil is a Ught free sandy loam Ijong on carr, but in this part of the gar- den it is rather stiffer and may be described as a chalky loam. The whole of the ground was trenched from 2J to 3 feet deep, a layer of manure placed at the bottom of each spit, and another layer over every subsequent spit, the last layer being covered with the shovellings from the bottom of the trench. Having now given some accoimt of what may justly be termed the rise of Sandiiugham, and described the laying-out of the kitchen garden, we shall iu our nest enter into the way in JOURNAL 01* HOBTfCULTURB AND COl^TAGE GARDENEE. [ Jwiuiuy 18, 1871 which that garden is cultivated, aud the improvemeuts eiiected in other pai'ts of the grounds. PORTBAITS OF PLANTS, FLOWERS, AND FRUITS. Ckinum beachynema. Nat. ord., Amaryllideaj. Linn, an:, Hexandria Monogyuia. — A fine sweet-scented plant, a native of Bombay, whence it was sent to Kew in 1870. The bulb is large, conical, and straw-coloui'ed ; the leaves neaa-ly 2 feet long, entire, smooth, unfurrowed, and bright green. Spathes somewhat red at the points. Flowers white, drooping, and fragrant.— (iJof. Map., 5937.) SPH.EEALCEA MiNiATA (Vermilioned Sphreraloea). — Nat. ord., Malvaccfp. L/hh. an'., MonadelphiaPolyaudria. The " Painted Mallow " was introduced into England by the Marchioness of Bute in 1798, and was growii both for purposes of greenhouse decoration and that of shrubberies in October and November. Its habiUty of succumbing to frost, however, led to its discon- tinuance as an out-doors flower. It is a branching undershrub, covered aU over with white down, having vermilion-red flowers in cymose racemes, and obcordate petals, somewhat purple at the base.— (Bof. Mar/., 5938.) GiLiA ACHiLLE^FOLiA (Achillea-leaved Gilia). — Nat. ord.,Vo- lemoniacea!. Linn, an:, Pentandria Monogynia. — A native of Caiifomis., disiiovered by David Douglas in 1833. An erect ^annual, with the habit of the Scabious, but more pubescent ■ and woolly at the nodes. Flowers globose, of a fine cobalt- T)lue, covered with large projecting stamens. Style exserted. Stigmas thi-ee.— (i3o(. Map., 5939.) Agave Bessewana (Besser's Agave). A'«(.oc(i., AmarylUde^. Linn, an:, Hexandria Monogynia. — Leaves m a dense rosette, each one ending in a hard brown spine, and having a contrac- tion towards the base, where the leaf again expands so as to form a semilunar sheath ; upper surface slightly, lower very convex ; marginal spines uptm-ned, brown. Perianth-tube long, narrowly pitcher-shaped, six-furrowed at the top, dark green ; lobes green on both sides and brown at the ends. Filaments yellow-green, longer than the lobes ; anthers orange-yeUow. —{Bot. Map., 5940.) Ophb\s LUTEA (Yellow Ophrys). A'lif. oi-rf., OrchideEe. Linn, "an:, Gynandiia Monogynia. — A native of Southern Europe, extending from Crete to Smyrna, and along the coast of Africa from Morocco to Tunis. Petals yellow or yellowish green. Lip nearly quadrate, golden yeUow with a purple disk ; disk velvety, maroon purple, with a poUshed blue or violet centre. — {Bot. Map., 6941.) LiTHOsPEEMUM PETE^EUM (Rock Lithospermum). Nat. ord., Boraginese. Linn, arr., Pentandria Monogynia. — A native of Dalmatia, small, much-branched, with short close-set haiis. Flowers in revolute termmal cymes, dense cymes, deep violet- blue. Stamens mth large exserted anthers. — (Bot. il/dfl., 5942.) Maceozamia coE-ALLirES (Coral-footed Macrozamia). Nut. ord., Cycadeff!. Linn, arr., Dioecia Polyandria. — The genus to winch this jjlaut belongs is pecuUar to AustraUa, where it ranges from the tropical to the temperate zone. Trunk sub- spherical with a truncate base, 8 inches in diameter. Leaves •forming a very contracted crown, pinnate ; puime about fifty pairs. Male cone 7 inches long, narrow-oblong, bearing a small sharp point on the lower scales, and an erect spine on the upper. Female cone shorter and stouter than the male, being about 4J inches by 3 J when in fruit ; the lower scales with a triangulai' point, the upper with an erect spine. Seeds orange- red.— (Bo«. Map., 5943.) Gladiolus puepueeo-auratus (Pm-pled-golden Gladiolus). Nat. ord., Iridefe. Linn, arr., Triandria Monogynia. — This plant came from Natal, where the genus seems to be particu- larly varied and handsome. Stem 3 or 4 feet high. Leaves 6 to 9 inches long. Flowers arranged on a spike ; the perianth nearly regular, pale golden yellow with a large purple blotch. —{Bot. Map., 5'dii.) Senecio pteeonecea (Winged-nerved Senecio). Nat. ord., ' CompositiE. Linn, arr., Syngenesia superflua. — A native of rocky and sandy hiUs on the Moroccan coast. It was only introduced into England last spring. Branches articulate- cyHndiical, with tlu-ee longitudinal ridges running down from the leaf-scars. Involucral scales green, brownish red about the middle. Flowers about thhty, spreading, pale straw- colom-ed. — (Bot. Mag., 5945.) Kniphofia caulescens (Stalky Kniphofia). Nat. ord., LUi- acea. Linn, arr., Hexandria Monogynia. — A native of South Africa. Trunk G to 10 inches high, with short fleshy roots. Scape 6 to 10 inches high, erect, green, with many scattered bracts. Flowers pendulous, numerous. Perianth yeUow when young, deep blood red after expansion. — (Bot. Map., 5946.) Salvia EUBESCENS (Ruddy Salvia). A'df. ord., Labiatffi. Linn, arr., Didynamia MonogjTiia. — A native of New Grenada. Shrub clothed with a pale hoaiy pubescence. Leaves ovate-cordate. Panicle studded with glandular viscid hah's. Flowers scarlet. —{Bot. Map., 5947.) WORK FOB THE WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEX. Peoceed mth trenclung, draining, aud all alterations sug- gested preidously for the ground. Asparapus, make a bed to succeed that in use, and on fine days draw off the Ughts to allow the heads to acquu-e their natural flavour and colour. Plant Early Mazapan. Beai>s in a warm situation. Protect Lettuces in bad weather, but expose them freely on all other occasions. Sow for an early crop. Prepare horse droppmgs for Mushroom beds to succeed such as may soon become ex- hausted. Continue the introduction of Rhubarb aud Sea-kale into warmth, to obtain successions of them as plants in use become worn-out. A few Strawberries may now be pushed forward, but do not drive them too fast, or the blossoms are apt to become " blind." Those in frames for succession should have plenty of air in the daytime during mild weather, but at night the Ughts should be put on in order to secure them against frost. FEUIT GAEDEN. While the weather keeps mild new fruit trees may be planted ; and where old trees, too, are not growing well a portion of the soil may be carefully removed from then- roots and replaced by better material. Old gardens are often crowded with fruit trees, and suice light and an- are requhed more particularly than shade for the important products of the garden, take measures for removing all that ai'e objectionable in this respect. The present is an excellent time for eradicating insects, espe- cially those of the scale family. Where the young wood has become firm, the best of all apphances for this pm'pose are the sponge and s.-^Tiuge, with water from 110° to 130° and soft soap. Let every tie be unfastened, as these are then- favourite hiding- places during winter, and where wh'e treUises are used they should also be thoroughly washed with this mixtme. FLOWEE GAEDEN. Dig and supply flower beds with fresh soil, attend to the edgings of your walks and beds, reset flints, repau' Box edgings, and rake wormcasts from your lawns with a daisj'-rake. Where grass has failed under trees in the pleasure ground, rake-iu strong manure, or apply manure water to prepare the soil for grass seeds, to be sown later in the season. Collect all sorts of soils, and store-up as many leaves as possible. Owhig to the late mild weather Polyanthuses are throwing-up trusses of flowers. This is not a matter of so much import- ance in seedhugs as in the varieties retained for exhibition. When the plant is strong it often happens that several trusses will show themselves at once, in which case it will be better to remove them aud run the chance of having a side blooin that will often prove most excellent. These flowers, if in frames, should be protected from severe frost, and even those in the open border, though not so liable to suffer, will be better for a few fir branches, 12 or 18 inches long, stuck in the bed at intervals. There are great opportunities for improvement open in this class of flowers, and we trust that our readers generally will during the coming spring endeavour to hybridise and seed those nearest to the standard of perfection — rotundity of outUne added to correctness of marking and beauty of colour. Our continental friends have done much more than our own florists in raising fresh varieties, but then' energies have been directed to obtaining a diversity of colour without reference to form. Keep Auriculas from drip. Beuig alpine in their character, the close confinement of a frame is wholly unsuitable for them, and they therefore requh-e all the air possible. Seed may be sown now in a cold frame, but covered very sUghtly, and when the frames are infested with woodlice we would advise a covering of clean and sweet moss, which keeps the surface secure from the changes of temperature, and will be of service to the germinating plants. It may be gra- dually removed as the young plants spring up. Tulips will only require keeping from severe frosts. Carnations aud Picotees should have abundance of ah, and the amateur will Jannoiy 18, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. G3 ilo well to secure some of the best varieties early in the spring, iu order that he may he enabled to raise seedlings worthy of his name. Dahlias may be started iu moist heat where a great stock is required. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERV.iTORT. WhUe the weather continues mild and fine, allow the plants iu these structures the full benefit of it by admitting abund- ance of air, and fumigate on the first appearance of green fly, to which the late mUd weather has been particularly favour- able. See that the worms do not remain in quiet possession of then- lodging in pots, and remedy any defects that exist in the drainage of these. We are inclined to recommend au increased and more general use of peat for ordinary potting. The best is fouud in old woods, and is preferable to strong, loamy, and rich soils, which we believe are too much employed. In the majority of cases the object required is not a plant grown to a large size, but a small compact specimen exhibiting the best characteristics of the plant. A few of the most advanced Azaleas, intended for blooming early, may now be planted where they can have a temperature of from 50° to 55°. Water carefully wlien necessary, and iu mOd weather ventUate freely. Some of the Camellias mil now be in flower, so water must be liberally supplied, and ah- given tolerably freely during fine weather. Cinerarias will requii-e careful attention in the way of watering.- Do not place them so close together as to touch one another, and be sure to keep them secure from frost. Chinese Primroses in bloom should be introduced into the greenhouse or conservatory, and others brought on to suc- ceed them as theu' beauty fades ; but take care not to let them suffer from want of water. Jasmiuum nudiflorum — the bright yellow Primrose-like blossoms of tliis hardy Jasmine have such a cheerful look at this time of the year, when flowers are scarce, that a few plants of it should always be kept iu pots for in-door decoration with green-leaved plants. Pelargoniums intended for flowering in May should be placed as near the glass as possible, and have a temperature of about 50° at night, though for the later-blooming plants it should not be above 40°. Solauum capsicastruni, together with Solanuni pseudo-capsi- cum, and other sorts bearing small, round, bright-coloured fruit, are very useful at this season for purposes of decoration. See, therefore, that these iu conspicuous situations do not suffer from want of water, especially if unavoidably placed in the neighbourhood of hot pipes. STOVE. Still be cautious iu the application of more heat, as it is far better, the season being young, that plants should start some- what later with a free growth, than make a premature and stunted one. Take every care that a due proportion of mois- ture is maintained in the atmosphere. Although the majority of Orchids requne to be very dry at the root during the rest season, yet they, nevertheless, enjoy and require a somewhat moist atmosphere, more especially if in a state of constant and lively motion. FOHOING PIT. The flowering of the Dutch bulbs, as Hyacinths, &c., is a most interesting part of the gardener's art. Some prepare to conunence forcing them the moment they are purchased, or nearly so, but this can never answer, as it appears that in all cases several weeks of root action are necessary before the application of heat. When their pots or glasses are full of roots, then, and then only, can forcing really take place with advantage. Much care is necessary iu removing them from the plunging material, as if they are suddenly exposed to light a premature development will be the consequence. They should be placed iu a somewhat dark part of the stove for a few days, and abundance of atmospheric moisture provided. Continue to introduce flowermg plants to the forcing pit. The dwarf-flowering Oranges might be more generally forced, as under such treatment they may be easily covered with their fragrant blossoms. Keep-up successions of Azaleas, Rhodo- dendrons, Kalmias, Daphnes, Epacrises, Roses, Lilies, Deut- zias, etc. Let the forcing pit be supphed as the plants are taken from it. Bottom heat is of great assistance iu advanc- ing plants. — W. Keane. , DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. fhuit depaetment. Grapes will set better without sun than Peaches. The present weather is dreadful for the latter. All that can be done is to maiutaiu a temperature some 5°-10° lower than iu sunny sum- mer weather, and give plenty of air on mild days. Straw- berries should be carefully watered, so that the .soil may be neither too dry nor too inoisfc. All who contemplate setting vineries and Peach houses in action, should see that the roots, if out of doors, are protected from cold and excessive moisture. ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. All soU for potting should be well aerated and warmed be- fore being used. The ball of any plant that is to be trans- ferred to another pot should be well soaked with tepid water, allowed to staud before being finally moved, and should receive an additional watering after being potted. All plants taken from a warm sheltered place should be returned to it as soon as Acacias, although generally suitable for a cool house, are subject to being encrusted with a white scale insect. In such thick-foUaged kinds as A. armata and grandis, where washing the insects off is out of the question, the best remedies are glue water, or water thickened with clay. The plant is syringed with the latter, and placed aside to dry. After this the clay, carrying the insects with it, can be rubbed off in flakes by drawing the hand over the branches. The insect is, however, difficult to eradicate completely. Azaleas. — On these insects, and especially thrips, must be looked for. Smoke them repeatedly and moderately with to- bacco, wash well with weak soft-soap water, and afterwards with clear water, it being in both cases about the temperature of 100°. This can only be done when the plauts are out of flower. Camellias. — Keep these well drained, and apply a cool solu- tion of water and cow dung. If the buds swell early they do not requii-e forcing in spring and early summer. Calceolarias. — Keep moist, cool, and any if you wish to save tobacco-fumigating. Large-flowering herbaceous kinds which it is desirable to have in large plants, may have a little more heat at the risk of inducing green fly. The benefit of a some- what low temperature for keeping plants free of insects is not yet thoroughly understood. Cinerarias. — Vtlien they are in bloom, or opening their bloom, a more airy place and a sUght rise in the temperature are de- sirable. Dryness at the roots is very injurious to them. Da2)hiies. — The common or pink Indian kinds do best budded or grafted on the Spurge Daphne, and treated as Camellias. They must not be diy when in bloom. 'WTiat can be more splendid than their rich Violet-hke odour ? Ericas. — The ■n-inter-blooming lands are now truly valuable, and may stand opposite the frout-au- opeumgs. Give enough of water at a time to reach every fibre, and then wait until the surface of the soil is becoming dry. Tap the pot to see if it rings clear before you give it more water. See what was said lately about keeping water from the stem and collar of the plants. This more especially applies to this tribe and the Epacris, though it is generally apphcable. Epacrises wiU stand a good deal of direct an-, but they mU flourish with less than the Ericas, and are more suitable to a mixed house, as they never or rarely are troubled with mildrew. Fuchsias, if now beginning to break, should receive what little pruning they need, and ere long be repotted, so that with the fresh growth there will be fresh rooting iu fresh soil. After growth commences the plants must have the benefit of the light ; use loamy, moderately rich soU, with surface-di-essings and manure waterings. Ferns. — From now is a good time for dividing and potting. Even the best and most tender of our hardy Ferns do aU the better for the protection of a cool liouse. Even those from warm tropical countries will often flourish as well in a comparatively low temperature of from 55° to 60° hi winter and early spring. They are less subject to the attack of thrips or other msects. Ferns of aU kinds are rather impatient even of smoking, unless given very mildly. Weak washings with soft-soap water, followed in a day or so with clean water, both fully 100' in temperature, are safer than smoking. Fresh painting of woodwork and water pipes, and placing sulphur on hot-water pipes above 160° in temperature, will often uijure the young fronds. A close atmosphere and a moderate temperatiu'e, with a fan amount of vapour, will suit the most of them better than a warmer and more airy atmosphere. Geraniums, or rather Pelargoniums, with the exception of the Scarlets that are in bloom and need plenty of water, should be kept dry rather than wet. Florists' Pelargoniums should have a medium state of moisture, and be frequently rung to judge of the state of the soU. The most forward have been JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Jauaaiy 18, 18T2 potted into larger pots, and will receive no more stopping ; but a second lot has been left unstopped to come in after the first, and other lots have b«en stopped to come in later. Small plants of last season have also been repotted, and the terminal buds nipped out. This, in many cases, is much better than taking away the points of shoots, as there is less check given, and it is not advisable to give any plant two checks at once. It is well to defer the picking-out of the buds for a week or so after repotting. We potted singly those florists' Pelargoniums, that had stood thickly in cutting pots during the winter. Cyclamens showing bloom freely will now requu-e a fan- amount of water, and an aii-y sunny position. Large old plants are stiU a great treat, but they will become less so when the practice of sowing in the spring and bloomuig the plants from this sowing in the following winter becomes more general. Violets.— Vfe wished we had put more under protection. Those out of doors, owing to the frost and so much wet, have not yielded their usual crops, but we shall get the usual supply when the weather is better. Meanwhile we should have been badly off if we had nothing but those out of doors to go to. All kinds, if potted early in the autumn, bloom well in windows or anywhere under glass where severe frost is excluded. Buibs coming on need a good deal of water, and those plunged in a hotbed are lifted out and gradually hardened before being taken to house or window. — R. F. TEADE CATALOGUES BECEIVED. R Parker, Exotic NurseiT, Tooting, Snn-ey.— Catalogue of Aqricultural, Flower, and Vegetable Seeds, Fruit Trees, d-c W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, London, N.— Catalogue of Select Vegetable, Flower, and Far,n Seeds. ,,,,., T Bunyard & Sons, Maidstone, Ashford, and Allmgton.— Descriptive Catalogue of Vegetable, Flower, and Agricultural Hogg&Wood, Coldstream andDunse, N.B.— Sprmjr Catalogue of Veaetable and Flower Seeds, £c. Little & BaUantyne, C&rMsle.— Catalogue of Forest and Orna- mental Trees, Shrubs, Fruit Trees, Ac. ^ , ,„„ -r, X ^ James Dickson & Sons, Newton Nurseries, and 102, Jiastgate Street, Chester.— Caia^ise of Vegetable and Floioer Seeds.— List of Gladiolus. ,, , , „ ^ , Charles H. Dickson, 23, Market Place, Mavchentei.— Catalogue of Vegetable, Flower, and Agricultural Seeds. J Scott Yeovil, Somerset, and Meniott, Crewkeme.— Cafa- logue of Seeds for the Kitchen Garden, Flower Garden, and F. & A. Dickson '& Sons, 106, Eastgate Street, and Upton Nurseries, Chest&r.—Catalogne of Vegetable and Flower Seeds, cOc. W. Eollisson & Sons, Tooting, London.— Genera?. Seed Cata- logue, and List of Seeds of Subtropical Plants. PLANTrsG WiLL TREE3— S0APS0D9 FOE TREES (T. H. T.).— You may plant the waU as proposed, but on the principle that the standards are to be pruned-in to eive the dwarlg room, as two dwai't Peaches a^amst a waU will soon cover ''I feet in len^-th unless the roots are curbed or pruned. In that part Tvhich"tho sun leaves at noon, you mi«ht, as respects fruit, Rrow Plums and Cherries very fairly. A little soda in your soapsuds will do no hai-m in wateriu" at the roots. Such a mature may also be used for syrmprlng trees freely when they are in a dormant state. When In fuU leaf we prefer weak soap water that has not been used for washing and other purposes. Trees for Bank with Ashes for Spbsoii, (.Suimvl.— On a similar kind of bank we have found the Austrian Pino and Elm thrive, with Coto- neaster microphyUa and Ivy for undergi-owth. If the ashes are m a tlnck layer— say 3 feet or more— and if there is only a thin layer of soU, your chance of gettmg anything to grow is estremoly small. Azalea Flowers Shall (.SI. Honori).— Forcing is no doubt tho cause of the flowers being small. If the plants liad been brought fonvard less rapidly the flowers would have been larger. You might have increased the size ol the flowers by giving a Uttle weak liquid mannrc two or three times a-week. Hai-in" had the plants in bloom at Chilstmas, it is not remarkable that the flowers were smaU. Caladiums to winter safely require a temperature ol from 60° to 65", and cannot be kept satisfactorily in a greenhouse. Ihe roots are much better left in the soil— in fact, in the pots, and should be set on a floor or any place that will communicate to the pots a kttle damp- ness. If they must be kept iu a diy position, give a sprinkUng from a syrmge overhead once a-week. This keeps the rhizomes plump, and prevents then: becoming fai-maccons and decaying when wateiing is resorted to to mduce fresh growth.l Sewaoe (T. H.).— We can haidly adrise you about yom- tank. Our im pression is, that the water from the scvUlery, washhouse, and slops from hea- rooms n-ith merely the water that falls from a washhouse to dilute it, wui, as a rule, be too string to water Vines in pots with. We have used common house sewage for such purposes, but then there was a considerable amount of tolerably clear water mixed with it. It is much safer to give three clear weak manWwatei-ings than too strong a one. Try it on Cabbages and Catdi- flowers, and if the water snit them, give it to the Vmes c^onsiderably '™JBe^'; It would be an advantage if your tank were divided '" " ge and the other for roof water. Though to have one part for a-.e aiiu me uiiici lui luu^ ,.„.v.. *~>...o_ such sewage ourselves, always tiT and regulate its strength according to the fitness of the plants for receiving* it. UquU Manure.— U you have such a difficulty in gettmg liquid manm-e, sm-face-dressing the pots would answer as weu, il you are afraid of the sewage. The safest and cleanest way would be to scatter oyer the sui-face ol a 15-inch pot about 2 ozs. of supeiThosphate of hme, and repeat the operation in two or three weeks. It guano is resorted to, use a quarter ol an ovmce to a pot at a time. A half-inch dressmg of ' horse droppings after it has lain for a week fermenting in a heap so as to have just lost its rankness, is much reUshed by Vines, and acts as a mulching, lendeimg the necessity of watering less fi-equent. Soot Water (/ticm).- Qear soot water is a good Uquid and every plant that does not prefer a cooler clear barrel, and use only TO CORRESPONDENTS. ViKE Cbiture— Black Gr.ipes [A ,Su6scn!>d1.— The best Black Grapes are Black Hambmgh, Black Muscat of Alexandria, Black Pi-ince, Madresfleld Court Black, Lady Downe's, and Alicante. For yom- other quertions on cul- ture we refer you'to one of our numbers of last year, No. 553, page 831. PLANTrNO Espaliers- Pears on QnixcE (IrfliinJK-Pcars on the Quince and Apples on the Paradise stock, trained to espaUers, should be planted from 12 to 15 feet apart. Of the sorts you name, Jai-goneUe, Beunc d'Amanlis, and Louise Bonne of Jersey do well on the Quince. We do not know whether the others you name will succeed. The following are recommended: WiUiams s Bon Chretien, BemTi Superfln, Doyenne du Cornice, Eeurre Hardy, and Winter Nelis. SrOGESTlOKS (W. JoiHMon).— Thanks for yom- suggestions. Garden Plan {J. ITatson).- We cannot Im-nish plans, we only criticise those proposed. In " Gai-den Plans," which you can have free by post from om- office for 5g. id., there ai-o numerous drawings of beds, borders, &c., how to plant them, and how to cultivate the plants. Questions (i?. C. W. S.). — Any questions you send -will receive the best replies we can obtain. We make no chai-ge. Compost for Vine Border (^n OU Stilscrilcr). — The veij best materials for an outside Vine border is turfy loam from an old pastm-e. To evorv tivf r;ii-tl..!irls ..f this add one hundredweight of crushed bones. Should th.- I t I I L.-y nature, add one cartload of mortar rubbish to every tin • 'I. Li ,1 1- FRriTiNG {Cleveland). — Yom* Lemon trees ore, no duuljL. >rL.ui,i:-. 1 licy requfre the same treatment as Orange trees, but being of a very much more robust growth they are much longer in coming intolieai-ing. Do not repot if the plants are in good health, and they -will soon form fruitful spm-s. Ribbon Border [A Beriintter). — We do not plant borders ; but with a row of standard Roses in the centre, you cannot, unless yon use very small plants, have lorn- rows all round— that is, eight rows besides the Roses iu a 08-inch- wide border. We would sow at the end of Febi-uary Pei-illa, use that for the centre row in the same line as the Rose stems and between them, then a band of yellow Calceolarias, next a biind of Tom Thumb, and an edging all round of a mixture of white Cerastium and Lobeha Trentham Blue. If you had cuttings, the Iresine Lindeni would be better than the Perillo. The centre filled would give relief, and then thiee rows round would be ample. for Vines Azaleas and Cine- •y plant mub uvva noi. pic»i:i a v,ju.vi — .... — -. "'.,„„ . ,-« ,i„, A bushel of good dry soot will be enough for fr-om 100 to 150 gallo of water. We like to have it without dust and lumps, and ■■- "i»-- -■ best brandy. To secure this place the soot in a tub or barre little water at a time until you have beaten it all up into a thick P^f «, then it with the water, and add one large shoveUulol quickhme; on the to;™oon of the day after remove the surface scum, and on the followmg day t."e>f ™ be a powerful clear Uquid manure. For tender plants it wou^d require to he reduced. Such clear liquid is invaluable for synnging, ^t if you have a doubt, use it weak. The use of such water overhead wiU save many a tobaccc- fumigating. Stage or Bed foe Orchids and Stove Plants (A ^'^"''f' ^''.f"""'--; There can be no doubt that some plants do better with a little bottom h^t, but in your case we would be perfectly satisfied with the u:on-grated platfonn, and evaporating-pans on the flow-pipes beneath them. .There is a double Buogestion we would make. As the fron-gratmg is there, it woiild be bettei to galvanise it, and for tender plantsyou might have thru round pieces of wood or date to set the pots on, as iron is apt to get too hot or too cold 'o' ^ome plants. To do this well you must add two more 8-mch pipes in *'« P?;»™[- If ever you should make a sort of chambers in yom- two pit^s, ^^ich you could easUv do even now by having sufficient rough cocoa-nut reftiae on ^c grating to partly plunge the pots in, then we would recommend two Pipe>^tli evapo"atto%ansaUroiid the sides andendofthehouseaboye^the^^tmgpl^^^ foi-is. With voM present aiTangement and the addition of pipes, y™ may do wonders, it is a mistake to Ihuit piping with a view to e="n^n>y; J "" much more firing is wanted, and because heat li-om vei-y warm pipes is always unhealthy. . If you wish to.,giye^ a ht£e bottom^bcat, _aU_th^^^^^^^ Mmd, need do is to shut-in part of cocoa-nut fibre, which does not however, it is one of the best i it chiefly for keepmg the hf at \ well if you covered the giatm you wished to attempt gi-ow ui perature and an additionally of one of the pits, and plr Uttle bottom boat, aU thatyo • pit -with a wooden dirtsion audi hiiboui WTjtUiif -.r ninth as tan 1 , 1 should r httle box ' The and prove! ,aSy'moVerandTevers"ed''th7l™er side te™- 1 ' \ ' LTr„mmc' cs exceedingly useful m such smaU houses With the extii piping, to;^e7,?ou'm:rSo'%ery weU without these addition, , P'-'--P-„^-^;, flora does best on a log of soft wood as the Caiaba-h tiee, oi even on woou covered with cork fixed with a Uttle sphagnum. LirRcsTrNtrs not Flowering (Black Edi,e).— "The sprig you enclosed to us^snTtlvJin^dry frost, and the Aowei-buds would have expandedwheu the weather became sufficiently mild. They are late '" fl°7™; !^L\". the cold and wet season. The cause of the waU plants in pots hanging then heads we sboidd SOT is injury fr-om the late November frosts. Are the po s protctld^ n not [t'is pSble the roots bave pei-ishcd J^e^Po's should be plun"ed m the ground over the rim, or be protected with ashes m H'tei i i wdnteT All^-on clfl do is to protect the plants with mats in cold weathe . ■What you want is mild weather. The HoUics cast «Y"f iT %'on can sequence of their removal, change of position, and the early frost. You can do notbmg to prevent such occuiTences. „„,i„rately sun- TJRCEOLINA ABREA AFTER FLOWERING (6. H.).-Keep »' ""f^™™^ ™r ulied with water, give it a light airy position, and contmue this tieMm™' CtSXut Ipril- then aftei reducing the <"^Vjlr 9i v. aierkeevth^ vl^nt dry for three months, when it may be again started mto gro-wth The Afhe iSdra aurantiaca IloeM done flowering should be kept 'i=,7.1f ' ■^'1°"'"; ' BO as to cause the leaves to shrivel, and in about three weeks it should be cut- January 18, 1672. ] JOXJBNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. C5 in : or if it is only a yonng plant, merely '^-f, '^^^elc^urlle"^ "tht?? it has made shoots ^ 'ew mcheslong epot ^t and ™c»jr^^^ plenty of moisture and heat. Having securea ago | j ^ f jj^j, g^est fully to Ught and air to ^f '^'"^ ff "^'"^6^^" ^CTs for table decoration of Wer-flo^ering P'f^^'t' ^^'^^t,''"^^ Tnl^^SiSt'^or Adiantum farleyense ought to grow It in quantity. "<= I"™ ;,";' ° _„, nvp Afford more moisture, losing its fronds by the dry heat, "'"'^'j '' f ^' fwyT indVe have no doubt it and Si the ''^■"P"^'™ ^^ "^V^nbem °s toldu"s,ToBing its leaves in ^do so m spnng. M-H^"^^ •'^^.g^'Se ends of the branches ivhilst the i;-LM;rs°tfgf£Bfog^^^^^^ a large tree, and so needs more room tnan can uo ».-.- it ought to he 3 ^^^^^:f'^\'^:^:^ir^^X t ^ameter at 3 inc^hes apart, at the bottom with holes a quarter ol an ^'^ ^^ ^ ^„^ „, the and beneath this should be \';^"'y °'J' Jl.^e'tacle shoSd be water-tight, ;:t«X s"un 2ld\°he fTiS ™se wm p'r°e"elft the light proving too powerful '"^.oiTx: or H0X.W...1, P1..S i^^rpY^^tz\tiz:Xit^:cm;'^ssi ^:°'-^'lnT'nla«^£id*?SorrS-ou^? U' p?e u^cr^yo^ne against .it. ^•er.^ S • tre^trrselves «j™>2jf ,^,,''>fjr£l'gol^g the usual tempen^am made firmjnh a htt^e red ead.^^^ ^^^^^= Med to Se ouWde thai stood the wear of some thirty years, and are as good as the day they were made. . . j D.™ .i^ATrvr (rrf,„il_\Ve fear we do not quite understand vou^'^ouTpeS of"?^^g a c m ntta^in t?e centre of thl winery and the Tou. Xou spcaK oi naxuifc ^ continuation and then as ought to be sufhcient to !'<'=;' "l J""™™. Y^^t^'^J, iron. Secondlv. what Uttle I ^^tL^^tv^td^ rtlT^:?tirwot^le°:d u to hesU^^^^^^ hy a T-i^ctton Sect from the boUer, rising a little t°^y/'^"^^'=f^^rlT* o^^-LlCS:" Thatendwewouldhave afewmchesb^ T^:'^:::^oS'iiT^Zel^:f^Z'^S:t' °By\'Sg^e';;^-e on the flow-pipe SSris:s^oA;^c?.::rr^^s;LS^^i?^ ouier. We do not see how otherwise you can attam your object. By this plan all is easy. i . »v ErFECT ON Pl,ANT6 OF NEW Pawt (W7)--U'itJtte sceut has tho- roughly goue it will injure "^ jj^f j/*»8^;„^^JeTir^l%L top Si ^ght Sa^^wSTee^trbudito/vS^s^bTci^™ ere fongV will Jd the sfent Sa'gone It w?,id ^ advis'able to leave a little air on ;» the ^ for^a fort^ nighl even if yo-i"'^'"-;^ 'tironcrwf SI™ So^ tof plant: lilt ,\^^e\"S?wh:^Ch";e^Ldrpo^tLrrooTar?^\gauist our iud^ent^ Bear ^3, too, that a week of fine weather at midsummer wiU do more to ^e"tm a newly painted house than a month will do at Omstmas. As to Mtotbig h?t-water pipes, there is a black paint generally used by tradesmen For tWs^puJpose. Dried Unseed oU and lampblack or blue-black make a good naint In either case, however, the pipes should be heated and the house S open, so as to get the fumes from the paint off before such tender p'ants S Ferns are placed in the house. Of course you know that tar pamt is ruinous when placed on pipes. Shbubs roR Hedge (Far W^sD.-VTe do not think Gorse would be suit- able as it requires an open situation, and in your shaded spot would grow too we^^^ti keep back "intruders. We should plant Holly ^dBerbms Saiw4ii-two Hollies, and one Berberis per yard 5?"; Thorn and HoUy make a very good hedge if planted at the rate of five Thorns to one HoUy pel TfSd Eithe? of those combinations would answer your purpose. We would nW the w-ound as a shrubbery in such a position, for shrubs succeed better Fh^floweS^rplants. We should bave Khododendrons.Chmese A^tor-Vite Aucubas; Berberis AquifoUum, B. Darwmu, B. japomca, B. stenophjUa, Tree Box; Cotoneaster microphyUa, C. Simrnonsu ; Cydonia japonca ; Euonymus japonicus, gold and silver-striped. Holhes, the gold and sUier variegated, aSd plain-leaved, as Hex HodgUnsu ; Common and Portugal ISs; Laurustinus, common, and bla^k-leaved ; ^f JT'^'^I' Skimmi^ iaponica. Yucca filamentosa and lecurva, Enghsh and Irish Yew Vmca elSgantissima, Azalea pontica. Broom of sorts, Deutzia gracilis, Forsytlna .rslensa, Hypericum calycinum, S)-ringa, Eibes, Thorns, ■« eigelas. Lilacs, and the others become full of roots ; and the -t^^^^^^^^ glass without ^ouchmg it the stronger tlgy^vmi oe^ j^^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^^ lower in the soil at each potting, 1°' '"f "~°™ , j^ within 1 inch of the stem; but at the last potting the ^'«?^^''°"|*X w^ The buds should be seed leaves, We .»on«4er 9-.nch pots suttcienUy^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^ picked oft the mam stem mita there are^uas^nt ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ soil is most suitable. U the r_^ants '''0 '"'« •» t j^ave buds thr- themtodoso,continueto pick OS he buds, only jou ^^^^ of peas a 'ortoight betore^^ou «sh t" Ji^'^^^J ^^^ j^^^ ^^^^ ^ combs must be sown early m ^i^^^'. "'.'*„,_ „-h.„ they are fit, and kep, should be kept near the B^ss, pot edsmgly when tney ^^ ^^^^ ^^_ in small pots until the crowns show; then f '«" Xjt ^^o^iinl a good tern -sSis^Mats3^Sii±Ss« l^iJsrsW^^S^-Hng^^^^ fine it to removing irregulwnties of Bl-owtll. Alter P^|' ^^^j^ j^ota. In taking away most of the old soil. Use pots that wiU '"^"if ,? °^r!j flmeo after M.,™» or FnriTS {G. T. M.).-YoUT Apple is Flower of Kent. {W- A.). 'You^Tpple is KerettrGrise. It is tit for dessert from November to ApriL ToiEs OE P.AKTS (Be'''•«-'«^'"d'^eTl79u"^d°'is^l?a'r ^dte" ?-?-S>BSSHS£-a^^^^S; Phytolacca purpurascens. 5 after ..^ Ten and it should BiisiMs AND Cockscombs to Feoweb in Jcet Uin .-Imalcur).— April is soon enough to sow Balsam seed. We should sow early m the month ma Bweet hotbed, with a temperature not below 60-\ The pots should be near the glass; and when the seeiUings can be handled, pot them smgly m smaU pots, Ind soThat the seed leaves may not be more than 2 inches above the surface They should be continued in the hotbed, and be shifted mto larger pots as POTJLTEY, BEE AND PIGEON CHEOMOLE. A PLEA FOE JUDGES AT POULTEY SHOWS. Iv trenching itpon this delicate question I desire at once to sav thlt it in no way interests me personally. I am not a, pon£ jndg^, nor have I ever suffered from incorrect judging have oiJy exhibited tlu-ee or four times, may never exhibit aoIL and have never exhibited without bemg d^core. My vok^isrled alike in the interests of judges, exhibitors and managers of poultry shows. It is an unpleasant thmg for ^ WlgeTo have his judgment questioned, to an exhibitor to feel She is wronged, *« =^ ^0°'-^"'=^*° ^'of XK s is to vet I cannot see how in the present state of things this is lo be avoided? A show is announced, some five hundred entries perhaps are made, and one judge is appomted-a man who Cws'urwork (although I «l^°-l'i. ^'^^^^^^f *°/™^t^f comnlete knowledge of one man m Pigeons and poultry). Wdf le? it be presumed he does. He is admitted to the room he has three or four hours to decide on the ^a"°"^. «lf ?f^^,' *^ look at examine, weigh the bh-ds, and he has jiist half a mtute to ea™h pen. Now I ask, in the name of common "re how is It possible for any man to do this ? more espe- cially whin, as we, alas ! hear too often in the columns o the JournaTtrhnming, and paintmg, and tricks of ^1 kmd« "e nractised by some exhibitors. And is it any wonder that the S glaring mistakes are made ? I do not speak without book. Wehfvehad lately two shows in this county one at A—. and the other at M ; at both of them a Mr- G exni Mted a DorHng cocker 1. The ^^''f ^TuTil fr :^ryZt experienced poultry-fanciers, a i^^m^l^^^'^Vl nt A tto who knows anytMBg of fowls. In the ^^f ^ »•*/— *7 cockerel was very properly passed by-it ^l'^;^,^™^ * w'eases mirabile dictu, at M it obtained a first prize Other <=ases of a simUar character have come before me ; but this is one ^LnXch there can be no question, and so it will suffice to Xuceit Nowlput it to the managers of shows whether they cannot make ^some alteration. Curtail the expenses m some way Let no judge go single-handed, there ought always He Two and give them less to do. The taste is so widely spreadTow tha?I think it would not be difficult to obtam amateurs to act with professed judges, one m each division. M there not be a conference held (as these are all the fasMon now-a°days), of the secretaries of pou try shows o de^se some pUn fir improving their management ? Evidently sometMng is wanted as to the changing of clauned bnrds, &c. iHact there seems to me an amount of roguery connected ^th poultry exhfbitmg, which, were it not that tl^ey appeared m vour columns, I should not have credited. I ha^e had mu^ to do with flower shows, but the cases of dishonest showing that I have hear^l of or -- ^-^^^'f^ S/uiS ^:^^'t\::V^r^luf^^^^eTounry Chronicle bHstle. wUh them One is, a as ! prepared to hear about cheatmg in horseracSg and dealing, but that it should come m amongst 66 JOUENAl OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. [ Ja°°a^ 18, 1872. the poor cocks and hens is too bad. I beheve one way m which it can be checked is by a more rigid system of judgmg ; and I tlnnk all honest exhibitors ^ill hail auythmg that tends to make esMbitmg something different to what it now is.— D., Deal. DOEKINGS-HOW SHOULD FOWLS BE FED AT SHOWS? Some few weeks back I receiTed two letters from different quarters, each written in the same strain " The Dorking cockerel of yours which I claimed at the Crystal Palace is dead," said one correspondent. " The two Dorking cockerels which I showed at the Crystal Palace are dead,' said the other. " I have also heard that the cup cockerel, you will remember the grand black bird as sooty as the king of the sweeps may be supposed to be, is also dying." Here was a fine catalogue, but worse was to foUow. I had been foolish enough to buy a pair of pullets which had won high honours at Birmingham, and gave £10 for the two, although I had bu-ds at home nearly if Sot enuaUy good. ^Yhen they arrived I, of course, expected something grand ; £10 wiU do a great many things. It wiU take you to Paris ; keep you ten days there, and bring you back a-'ain. It will take you up the Ehine almost into Switzerland, and bring you home again with enough left to pay your railway fare first-class to your house if you only know how to manage matters. It wiU almost keep you in clothes for a year, if you are not too particular about the cut of your coat and the colour of your gloves. It wUl insure the payment of £500 after your death, if you will only begin in good time. In fact, £10 will do a vast deal more than most people imagine. Well, my precious pullets I found to be very dark (I had bought by deputy and desired dark birds), a very good match with very good feet, but theh- weight was nothing compared with what I have seen described in the "Journal," as neither of them weighed, 1 believe, over 7 lbs. Their Ught weight reminded me of a friend of mine who gave £10 for a first-prize cockerel (I thmk he was first) at the Crystal Palace, in 1870, and found when the bird arrived home that he weighed only 7i lbs. He, how- ever, who deals in Dorkings must be prepared for any amount of disappointment, so that I was not much concerned. But, then, the wretched creatures would not eat ! They were not actually roupy, but roup or something worse seemed certain to ensue. My careful hen^'ife, however, fed them noJens volens, or more strictly speaking, nolentes volentes, with warm bread and milk, gin, port wine, and raw meat, so that they have survived to be highly commended at a large show, and adorn the triumph of others. Now my chief purpose in writing this is to ask some of your learned correspondents to state what they consider the best method of feeding fowls at shows. I am told that at Birming- ham they strew the pens with a quantity of sand, which is consequently mixed with their soft food, and so cannot do them much good. At a show recently where I happened to win two first prizes and a £5 5.5. cup, I found the attendant feedmg the bu-ds in the most reckless and profuse manner, while this abominable sand was thrown down as at Birmingham and else- where. He seemed to know nothing of what was done at other shows, or what ought to be done, and I could not undertake to teach him. Some of your readers, however, are certain to have opinions on the subject. I, for one, should be glad to hear them. — A Winner of Fouk Cups. Yellows from Mr. F. Graham, of Birkenhead, and Mr. Betty ; Beds, Blues, Whites, and Silvers from such well-known names as Te'getmeier, Jones Percivall, South, Martin, Feltham, Green- field, and Jones. Barbs were well shown by Messrs. Hedley and Jones. Mr. Tegetmeier had a beautiful pen of Piping Pouters. EngUsh Owls were shown by Messrs. Esquilant and Jones, and the latter gentleman had two pairs of charimng little foreigners. Blue and White. Mr. B. E. M. Eoyds, of Manches- ter sent a pen of Jacobins, which fuUy sustained that gentle- man's reputation. Mr. Jones had a beautiful pen of Black- and Mottled Trumpeters, including two or three of great excellence. Mr South and Mr. Jones had good pens of Turbits ; Mr. Teget- meier and Mr. H. Little a very fine collection of Antwerps, showing aU the characteristics of this famous class of birds. Magpies, Nuns, and various other Toys were shown by Messrs. South, Jones PercivaU, P. H. Jones, and others, and the Show- may be described as fairly representing most of the usual ' We are pleased to hear that the Society is very floiu-ishing, several new members having been recently elected. The place of meeting now is the Covent Garden Hotel, King Street, Covent Garden, instead of the Freemasons' Tavern as heretofore. BRISTOL POULTEY AND PIGEON SHOW. Pbior to the holding of this Show last week, a somewhat general opinion was expressed that the newly adopted rule of enforcing in all cases a twenty-sHlUng subscription, independent of entry fees, would so much limit the numbers at the Bristol Exhibition as to make it comparatively a failure compared with those shows that preceded it. We are very glad to say, that not only was there an entry of nearly a thousand pens, but also that a very strong feature of the Show was the general exceUejice oj the birds on view ; and the meeting was equaUy remarkable for the very few empty pens compared -with those on foi-mer occa- sions The result, therefore, appears to be this : the number of individual exhibitors is considerably lessened, but the quahty of the birds shown in the aggregate is vastly improved. Wo may safely add that the Rifle Drill HaU is admirably calculated to show such specimens to the greatest advantage. "The only drawback was that many of the very best pens of birds were quite oversho-wn, and instances were not wantmg m whion Urst- class well-known birds could scarcely stand at all. . . -, There was a very grand display of Dorkings, the principal winners being birds that had not been shown for many months nast CertaiSly one of the best collections of Buff and White Cochins ever seen were present, the hens being particularly fine, and ako the younger birds of both sexes ; but the old cocks were as yet barely through their moult. Dark Brahmas were exceedingly good, and there were also a few superior ones among the Light sort; but the faUing-off in quahty among the majority of these classes was very apparent. The Spanish classes were as might be anticipated at Bristol, of first-rate character ; and the whole of the Game fowls were equally worthy of the highest praise. Twenty-six pens of the best Malays we have seen for some years past were ou view, and proved a very interesting portion of the coUection. Ducks, Turkeys, and Geese were capital throughout; and the Buenos Ayrean class was as near peifection as possible. The Cayniga Ducks, shown here as a novelty, have been generaUy known, and that for a long -series of years past, in both Lanca^shire and Yorkshire. ThI Committee were evidently determined individually to pay every possible attention to the wants of the poultiy exhibited, and they certainly left no cause for complaint by anyone. The meeting of 1872, therefore, augurs weU to insure a long suc- cesssion of similar annual reunions. THE ANNUAL SHOW OF PIGEONS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL PERISTEBONIC SOCIETY. This was held on the 9th inst., in the tropical department of the Crj-stal Palace, and comprised nearly one thousand choice birds, and almost every variety. Pouters were not numerous, Mr. P. H. Jones being the only exhibitor. Almonds were many and good; the pen shown by Mr. Merck was deserving of special mention for the beautiful colour and the natural state in ■which the birds were sho-wn, proving that it is not necessary to manipulate and deform the beak to produce a beautiful bird. Mr. Jayne and Mr. Ford, as may be supposed, showed splendid pairs of birds. Mr. Esden's Black Mottles were much admired, as were Mr. South's and Mr. Ford's Beards. Carriers were a fine show, including some magnificent birds from Messrs. Ord, Hedley, Greenfield, Martin, Tegetmeier (Blues), Feltham, W. B. Ford, of Weymouth, and Square, of Plymouth. Dragoons were a show in themselves, and it is quite impossible to do justice to this variety in a short article ; nearly two himdred of this rapidly impro-ring pubUc favourite were penned, including splendid THE PIGEONS. Once more m dear, dirty, interesting Bristol. Dear, because long known-not dear, certainly, in regard to purchases that can be made, for there is no cheaper shoppmg-placein England, dirty in summer often, in winter always ; and interesting from its history and associations. Bristol and Chfton-curiously con- joined to-Jvns, Crissy-MiUie fashion, but one dark, the o her fan This singular combination gives to Bristol a speciahty. In its streetrtmlike Bath streets, heavy-laden business waggons ostlint against CUfton well-appointed carriages. It is a mingle if fashion and business aU through. After a tX?^r,' ^^sence I mark a great improvement the moment after I leave the station. Instead of crawUng along narrow, ^f ^«"tv.^^"^^^[^°S Temple Street, there is a new, wide, straight shaft-hke^ street riS2ig direct from the station to the bridge, hke Victoria StieVt Westminster. This cuts through two or three narrow streets, up either end of which we peep in passmg-a cunous proof o'f the march of improvement. .But what do I^ee there ? A new spire in progress ! Is it possible that can be St, Mary BedcUffr? 'Tis^soSutthe St. Mary RedcUffe of long associ- ation no more. Generations of Bristol boys have watched the broken or stunted spire as they saUed to make their fortune Jmnajy 18, 1872. ] JOUBNAL OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. G7 from tlie harbour. Now a spick-aud-spau lofty spire, but not the St. Mai-y EedcUffe that all the -world knew. Past Bridge Street — so named, perhaps, because it does not lead straight to the bridge, and past Broad Street — surely ironically so called, for it is narrow indeed. Soon I reach the Eiile Drill Hall and hear its annual inhabi- tants. I dare say the worthy and gallant Bristol Volunteers would fight as well as their temporary guests, but they would certainly crow less. Involuntarily I exclaim with the circus clown of my yputh, " Here we are again." Not a refined ex- clamation certainly, but it just describes one's feelings. All is just the same — the Hall the same, the pens the same. There comes Mr. Cambridge, the first to shake hands, looking just the same ; there in his office pen in hand is Mr. Eou6, as he always was ; there the rest of the Committee ; there in a glass case the gorgeous silver cups, three different kinds ; there, not far off, is Mr. Eodbard and other well-known Bristol breeders of Spanish. But before going straight to the Pigeons let me compare last year's Show with this. Last year 1300 pens, this year 1000 — only 300 fewer, owing to the one-pound subscription required. But "list, oh! list." Last year 440 exhibitors, this year only 167 — a falling-off owing to said pound of 273. But clearly many exhibited under the name of one, as the comparatively small difference in the number of pens shows. There was no rule against this, so it was not absolutely unlawful, though not abso- lutely correct. Now let me just say a word — a well-intentioned word — both to the Committee and the exhibitors. It is not right that every year a committee should lose money by a show. They give time, often precious ; they give gi-eat labour, they show pluck and energy ; but after all to have to put their hands into their pockets and pay out heavy sums is — well, is too much to expect, indeed what ought not to be. Perhaps, as the one-pound sub- scription was so much objected to, a graduated scale would answer and be less disliked ; say, for instance, the exhibitor of one pen pay as entry money 15.^., of two pens lu.s., and then if more than two a lower sum for each pen. Perhaps this plan would answer. But no more of this, but to the far pleasauter work of inspecting the Pigeons. Carriers (Blue or White). — The word white seemed to be un- necessary, as no white birds appeared, but seven pens contested for the cup, which was won by pen 846, containing a pair of Mr. Tardley's birds, the cock too wide in the skull, and the blue by no means free from a smoky tinge. Mr. Ord showed in pen 840 a well-matched p.air unnoticed. Mr. Fulton's (841), were a grand pair and commended. Money prizes in this class there were none. Carriers (Black or Dun). — Sixteen pens. First and cup, Mr. Fulton's Black, he also second. Mr. Ord's Duns, pen 849, were a nice pair, and the hen in his pen 854 was very good. Also the hen in Mr. Maynard's commended pen was good. Fouler CocJts (Any colour). — This was deservedly marked " An excellent class." The cup bird. Black Pied, is thicker than I like. Mr. Dew's highly commended, pen 870, is a remarkably neat bird, but the gem of the whole class was Mr. Fulton's very highly commended Yellow Pied, which reminded me of the Glasgow Yellows. Pouter Hens (Any colour). — First prize. Bed and somewhat coarse. Mr. Gresham's very highly commended, a neat Blue and better to my mind, and no doubt to his, than the bird with which he won second. Almond Tumblers. — A good class, and very evenly good. Jacobins (-Ajiy colour).— The fault of this class was the height of the hood from the head ; some looked, instead of neat and close, ragged and wide. Mr. Haansbergen showed both a "nTiite pair and also a Black pair, both a treat as to colouj-, and good too. A treat as to colour, for the Beds were so predominant, and the Whites were unusually good. Barbs (Any colour). — This was certainly a good class. Both the first and second-prize birds were excellent, and must have puzzled the Judges, but the very highly commended Duns were to my mind as good as either, but their condition was against them. I asked the Committee to let these birds as well as the Carriers have saucers for their food, as they cannot see grains of food on the ground. Fantails. — A good class. The cup-birds were dirty in the extreme. The same owner, Mr. TardJey, showed a good pair of Blues. Out of the ten pens six were noticed, and the first-prize birds at Southampton and Wilts were unnoticed. This a proof of the great merit of the class. Trumpeters. — Four pens only, and good ; but^ Mr. Horner's second-prize birds I preferred to those of his which took first. English Owls. — Very few, and among them one pair, pen 927, which were not English. In the first-prize pen the cock is the best. Nuns. — Numerous. The first-prize birds well deserved their place, they were Mr. Homer's. Mr. Haansbergen had a pair of Yellows commended. It is pleasant to see that colour, as all the rest were Blacks. Turbits. — Surely in this class condition must have ruled the Judge's mind, as both prize pens contained long-faced birds. Mr. Eoper's very highly commended were very good, also pen No. 94.5. Tumblers (Any other variety). — Mr. Fielding's cup birds were far from clean. The second-prize birds were real Black and White, clean and good. Dragoons (Any colour). — A large and good class, there being fourteen pens, and not Carrier-Hke, but thorough Dragoons. The first prize. Blue ; second, YeUow, but not so good as the same owner's pen. No. 974. But Mr. Graham may well be proud of both pens. Antu-erps. — Marked "A very good class," but I own I am utterly unable to see why they were so denominated, save, perhaps, as they exhibited every variety of head, from the lean and mousey, to the thick and Barb-Uke. There seems to mc to need a standard shape in this class. The one figured in this Journal, contributed by the Birmingham Colunibarian Society, being evidently not followed. Ally other Distinct Variety. — A pretty pair of African Owls first ; a pair of Maltese, more valued by the Judge than their owner, as they were put at a low price, second. A very pretty pair of Frillbacks were shown by Mr. Arkwright ; a well-matched pair of Archangels by Mr. Yardley ; and a good pair of Bed Magpies by Mr. Haansbergen. Also, I must notice a pretty pair of Ice by Mr. Dawson. This is a class which deserves en- couragement more than it gets, for to very many visitors it is the most attractive of any, and I would there had been thirty pens instead of ten. I do not know whether there is much to add. I would advise the Committee to have cage birds next year. The late census proved there were more ladies in proportion to gentlemen in Clifton than in any other place in England, and ladies are pro- verbial for their love of cage pets. I msntioned the advantage in having the food in saucers, or better still, in tins, such as contain water, as it would not be wasted by the birds; and the heavy-wattled varieties would be sure not to starve. The water-tins might also be hooked up higher, so that the water would be kept purer. The Drill Hall is, as is well known, one of the best exhibition-rooms in England, the Committee most energetic and persevering, and I hope that every year they -n-iU lose less and less, or better stUl, not lose at all. We, in the west of England, could not do vrithout the Bristol Show, and may a long reign of success be in store for it. — Wiltshire Eectoe. The new regulation put in force by our Committee had the effect of thinning the ranks of Hamburgh exhibitors immensely, as your readers will see by the annexed figures : — Pens in 1871. 187-2. Goia-srangled 89 .. 21 Silver-Bpangled' 29 .. 11 Gold-pencUled 47 .. 19 SUver-penciUed 21 . . 16 Blacks 14 .. 15 About one-half the entries of last year. We missed the names of the majority of our leading Hamburgh breeders. Buckley, Ogden, May, Hyde, and Walters did not send their spangles ; Mann, Pickles, and Ashton their Silver-pencils ; Preston, Tick- ner, Speakman, and Smith their Golds ; nor Kilvert, Sidgwick, and Marlor their Blacks. Hence the disappointment of Ham- burgh breeders who visited the Show. If the entries were few, the quality as a whole was also very- much below that of last year with one exception, the Black Hamburgh cocks. Mr. Sergeantson's first and second-prize pens contained unquestionably the best birds of the Show (I am speaking of Hamburghs only). And why the cup allotted to Pencilled and Blacks went to Mr. Parsons instead of Mr. Ser- geantson is an enigma not easy to be solved, for the Golden cockerel in point of tail, earlobes, carriage, and condition would not bear comparison -with the Black. The rev. gentleman's hens were very small, and gave me the melancholy foreboding of a possibility of this new and beautiful variety dwindUng do-wn to the level of Pencilleds in point of size. Pray, Messrs. Judges, if you admire, and very properly, lustre of plumage, neat comb, beautiful ears, and a sprightly carriage, do not forget size ! In the Gold-pencilled cocks, the ingenuity of a TTorksbirs exhibitor was somewhat freely commented upon. Every breeder of this variety knows how to appreciate beautifully-arched sickle feathers. What Nature here lacked Art supplied, the barrel of the long sickle feathers of the cockerel in question being very dexterously bent (a fi-iend of mine very wickedly suggested with a curling iron), to give the desired sweep ! The Gold-pencilleds throughout lacked the beautiful ground colour which has been so often insisted upon, and justly so, in your columns. In other respects the Pencilled hens -were fair as a whole, and I was glad that the Judges recognised the value of a penciBed breast, even at the expense of a cloudy hackle, by giving the cup to Mr. Bloodworth's hens. The Silver-penciUed cocks were the worst class in the Show ; whUe in the hens the JOUBNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ January 18, 1872. fine peneillinfj but rather dark neeks of the second and third pens had to frive way to the clear hackle of Mr. Beldou's paii-. Spangles were a long way behind those of last year as a whole, although the prize birds deserved their positions. In conclusion, Mr. Editor, allow me on behalf of a large num- ber of amateurs, to express the hope that the Committee of the Bristol and Clifton Show will not rejjeat their blunder of 1872. If a preliminary subscription be considered necessary, let it be on the same footing as Birmingham, four pens for every 32s., instead of two pens for the same amount. Last year we had 433 exhibitors, this year 163. I leave this fact to speak for itself.— P. It must now be clear to the Committee of the Bristol Show that their obnoxious 20,5. subscription is not at all relished or supported by the exhibitors in general, as evidenced by the number ot exhibitors in 1871, against those of 1872. They may say. We have not incurred any pecuniary loss by the altera- tion, thanks to large exhibitors (or at least forced large exhibitors) ; but the fact that there are only 163 exhibitors this year against 426 last year speaks for itself, and will caution the Committee that they must study the small as well as the large exhibitor. I trust the Committee will endeavour to make some altera- tion for the better so that this hitherto first-class Show may redeem its lost supporters. It is not to be expected that the Committee can carry on the Show at a loss, neither would any one that had the least love for the fancy expect them to do so, hut let all be placed on the same fair footing, whether great or small exhibitors, and then the Committee will be large and successfully supported. — Well-wishek. KENDAL POULTEY SHOW. The following awards were made at this Show, held on the nth, 12th, and 13th inst :— Game (White iind PUes).— 1, O. W. Brierley, Middlelon, HiRher Greaves, Lancaster. 3, F. Sales, Crowle, Doncastei Game (Black-breasted and other Rede).—!, H. M. Juli; Brierley. 3. T. Mason, Green Avre. Lanca-Jter. he, F. Sale Town, Nantwich; J.Wilson, Rigmaden, Kirkby Lonsdale, c, Miss Graham, Kendal. CMckcM.—l, C. W. Brierley. 2, G. F. Ward, Wrenbury, Nantwich. S, E. Aykroyd. Eccleshill, Leeds, he, J. Jones, Nantwich ; T. Burgess, Whit' - Thompson, - Thompson. 3, F. Sale chnrch, Salop ; J. Chester. Game (Any other yarietyl. — 1, — Brierley. , __ __ _„__ he, H. M. Julian, Hull ; J. B. Cockerlon, Cartmell Fell ; E. Winwood. Wor- cester, e, H. M. Julian, Hull. Ben.—', C W. Brierley. 2, E. Wells. Kendal. 8, T. Mason, Lancaster, he, G F. Ward. Wrenbnrv. Nantwich : — Brierley. G«ME.— Coci-.— 1, G. F. Ward, Sprosting Wood. Wrenbury. 2, H. M. Julian, Hull. 3. J. Bowness, Manche-tcr. he. G. Clements, Birmingham : — Brierley. Cockerel — 1 and Cup, — BrieHey- 2. J. O. Rigg, Ulverston. 3. W. Barnes, Blcnnerhasset, Aspatria. he, J. .Tones, Nantwich ; T. Burgess, Whitchurch ; T. Mason, Lancaster ; J. Mashiter, Ulverston. Game Bantams.— Coffc. — ], T. Sharpies, Forest Bank. Kawtenstnll. 2, G. Todd, Sunderland, 3, J. Oldfleld, Bradford, he, J. W. Morris, Rochdale; W. Caton, Kirkby Lonsdale; —Noble. Staincllffe, Dewsburv; H. J. Nicholson, Cumberland ; J. W. Brockbank, Kirksanton ; A. Ainslie, Ulverston ; T. Barker, Bnmley; J. R. Robinson, Sunderland: W. Adams. St. Clements. Game Bantams (Black-breasted and other Reds).— Cup and 2, T. Sharpies, Bawtenstall. S. G. Todd, he, — Noble, Staincliffe ; H. J. Nicholson : J. S. Butler, Poulton-le-Fvlde ; J, R. Robinson. Game Bantams (.Any other variety).—!, G. Todd. 2, — Sharpies S, Belling. tam A Cill, Burnley, ft/:. Rev. C. J. P. Keene. Halsall. c J. Goth Windermere. Bantams (Any other variety except Game)— 1, J. Sichel, Timperley (Pekin). 2 and 3, — Leno, Dunstable (Laced), he. J. Walker, Birstwith. Ripley (White) ; W. W. Boulton, Beverley (Cuckoo); R. H. Ashton, Mottram (Black); —Walker, Halifax (Black); E. Jackson, Bolton.le-Sands ; F. Powell, Knaresbrough pointed the local committee. He said the names had been Scarefidly selected, and therefore the meeting could not do Tter than adopt the list in its entirety. F-"- -^^t ^^^^."^^ hear the gi'ound^ upon which the exhibition would be held would offei a better opportunity of display than any site the Eoyal Horticultural Society had yet occupied. The motion was carried. j t ■!,„ "st,- t tj On the motion of Mr. C. J. Peeey, seconded by Mr. J. E. Mapplebeck, it was resolved feat the Earl ?,* Bradford be re- snectfuUy requested to accept the office of President L^Lhisne Ms done^, and his Worship the Mayor of Birmingham that of Vice-President of the committee. On the motion of Mr. Cabtlanb, seconded by Mr. y^fTEGANS Mr. Councillor Lows was unanimously appointed honorary ^'^ MrTJwE proposed that Mr. E . W. Badgerbe appointedhonorary se^etary to^he local committee. He ^-^'^ ^r. Badger had taken up the business in an earnest manner and being a lover of hortFculture and floriculture, he was the most valuable assistant they could have. SS^'haTlIm 'sTid, that notwithstanding the vei-y excellent appointment thev had just made, there would be much work to be done, which would require the services "f "^ P^-^^^^^f ^^Z and he therefore begged to propose the appointment of Mi. Alexander Forrest, which was carried. . ,7, Mr Councmor Lowe moved that a subscription be entered into for the purpose of raising a special fund to suppl^ent he prizes offered bv the Society, and it being important that the list should be prepared without delay, the secretary be authoiised to issue a supplementary circular. He said a g^'eat deal would depend upon this resolution, inasmuch as it had hitherto been the practice to raise a very considerable sum for the purpose of giving special prizes. Th'e people of Nottingham managed to raise between ^700 and i;800. In Birmingham they had alw-ays been able to raise' a good sum when it was requu-ed, and he hoped in the present case they would prove themselves at least equal to Nottingham, which they looked upon as a httle viUage compared with Birmingham. He hoped that the amount sub- scribed would be so substantial as to render the invitation whicli ■would be given to exhibitors a strong one. There would be no difficulty, in his opinion, in obtaining £700 or .4800, and he was equally certain that the committee would distribute it wisely. HebeUevedhe was correct in saving that not a halfpenny of any money which might be raised would go towards defrajiug ex- penses, and that the whole of the money would be given m special prizes. He trusted that a leading prize of *50 or AlOO which had a decided Birmingham character, and which would be a. novelty, might be given. Binningham was noted for successfuUy carry- ing out great exhibitions of a national character, and he behevect if the town and neighbourhood acceded to the proposal contained in the resolution they would have a thorough goodprizelist, and a successful meeting. Mr E W. BiPGEB seconded the motion. He said that with a lar<^e special prize Ust there would he no difficulty in making the ?isit of the Eoyal Horticultural Society a successful one. Indeed, had it not been the general impression of those who knew the feeUng of residents in this locaUty that a large special fund would be raised, he did not think they would have enter- tained the idea of in^dting the Society to come here at aU. On all occasions when a good object had been properly put before the people of Birmingham and the district it had always been •well supported. An Sbject, Uke that connected with the visit to a town which is the central point of a large population resident in the counties of Warwick, Worcester, and Stafford, must neces- sarily be of importance to those who thought that horticul- ture had anything to do with the welfare of a people. The benefits attendini a knowledge of horticultm-e and floijcid- |-^4rSc|hib^ oTcfrlinTit.'^t w^ tLt^nden duty oi aU^^^^^^^^ did about the matter to give the S°"5=ty tti^,^,^'"'5^^^t°™^£ He was satisfied they would do so m Birmingham ^^^ "^^.^^'^^^^ which was first excited by t\« PJ-P-^^i^^^^^k ^-Uc^ TiiPiit tbnt of the Society. They ought at least to raise in r>u. m ngh\m\s much rs wa^; contriLted by the N^^^^ There J;750 was raised, and was subscribed ahno.st entuely 11- that the sub-committee who would draw up the special list 01 homogeneousness m the prize list. At tne '=''""=''. . where^donors particulariy wished to decide the ^le^t^^ataon ot .u subscription, their wishes would be carefully attended to. resolution was carried. j „,„ t nr,fln-n siid him- ' bSer^TLfh*:d\Teat°dl.l o^ t™nble ^-^e outse^^^ that had been got over m ^;^^«[y ^^^^^f^^^^^^^ shows having appeared to P^l^.^g^^J^^ineteri^Lied to visit all sary to make a stride, and so the Loimcii ^lewrmiii bis^ijsiSdt^i^s'^g^'^^ show, and so the l;itter Society dete^ned last year^^^^^ up ^^ -c^cSat^Bir^SfnVatl^Xfm^^ not the sHghtest doubtthat ^.-^^fP^^^.^ltottouble the local ■of the Eoyal Horticultm-al Societj would noi ' ^ ^ committee to do much m connection ^itti tne ^^^f^fe j \^^ they would look to that themselves J ^^'^^ *^^i.Y'!:'ri^e fSid. Of. committee would be the formation of a "P^"^ P'^f ^jj, i^eal course the committee were far better =''^1."^™™'' „,|. „*„„„. iXi?sts and requirements than persons coming ft"?? %'^~: 'and therefore the coUection -^ appropriation o^the subscnp^ Tthat would interfere with the^-rangement of t^^^^^^^^ ^omiTtreThelwcfbTbefe^lhL^^^^^^^ Tt^l -i^^^rS^Sme^ ;:|^ ^^^X hminary meeting to decide upon t^^ X*"*^™ the charge for the show, and they thought of 6^? 10s U. ^ tbe c g ^^^ the first day; 2s^ 6d or the ^ec™'^ J,^^?;^ ^^'^^l l,\ reduction fourth days ; and 6d. for the fifth, l^e^^ woiua of .3.. on tickets purchased beforehand for t^e hrst ' 3 ,^^^ ^^^ rfSt^;!s^i^|«SiS^get:kt- ^^^^::^:S=«i^3£««^Sa^f: I single ticket of admission available o^/^d^^^ ^^but^^^^^ ferahle, would be given pickets for tne tuira ^^^^ should be sold to manufactnrers for the 1 workreop^e P of not less than fifty, at a ^^ductaon o^30per cent^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ result of the meeting at >'«ttu^Sham w a| very ^^^^ s^^^^IttlSfffaSrpit'h^-BtrS'^ ^ttrr;:^t=: Mr. Q-™ - - ^-s^ bimself -^^e^took the who e expe-^^of fte ^how.^^Af ^^^^^^ JftBuory 25, 1872. ] JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 77 supported him in the manner they had done. Haviug attained the position which he had done, and his place having been honom-ed so far as to be selected for the show, he was veiy anxious it should be kno™ that he did not embark m th s undertaking^ for his own benefit He intended to give to the ' charities of the town half of his share of the proceeds. He did so for the reason that the town shoiild not only give a heaity and united support to the Society, as no doubt they ^^uld and send it back ^th a good round sum of money to be devoted to the advancement of horticultui-e ; but at the same ti^PJ'^J^ that they had not forgotten those noble chanties of which they were iustly proud. He wished this to be distinctly understood, because some persons thought the speculation was simply a moneY-maldng one with him. lu answer to Mr. Cartland, Mr. Richards said the proposal as to admissions which he had read was merely a sketch, aud at -present in embryo only. * , .-, Mr. Wright, alluding to the regulations with regard to the tickets, said he thought the Council of the Cattle Show had adopted the wisest plan, after studying the regulations of every society in England. They had had experience of the advantage of promoting the sale of tickets beforehand. The subscribers of i'l received six single tickets, aU of them being available for the first day, when the charge for admission was 5s. ; but it was •found that not more than half went on that day, the other halt ^oing in on the Is. days. He thought the same principle should be adopted at the forthcoming show, and that a very hberal xeturn for subscriptions should be given. For a guinea sub- scription three tickets should be issued for the first day ;fom- forfhe second day; aud for the Thursday and Friday thirty tickets for £1, and fifteen for 10s. Looking at the extent of the pounds and their gi-eat popularity, and the advantage of being v,-ithin easy reach, he thought they had better go on a hberal " Mr* WriCxHT next moved a resolution to the efiect that every ■encouragement be given for the exhibition of horticultural im- plements and appUances, garden ornaments, and articles gene- Tallv which are appHcable for use in the several branches ot rural economy. He said that at previous shows this depart- ment had not always been successful, as it had been found that when the meetings of the two great Societies wei-e held togetlier manv of the implements used in horticulture were m bhe show- vard of the Royal Agricultural Society. Now, however, that the shows were held independently of each other, there would no doubt be a good coUection, the more so as he beheved the promoters of the department intended to act very hberaUy to- wards the exhibitors, remembering the old saying that if tliere wereno exhibitors there would be no exhibition." The regula- tions had satisfied Mr. Lowe, who, he might say, ^^s an ■authority on such exhibitions ; and, therefore he hoped that other manufacturers would combine and make the show not •only one of large extent but also one of great interest. ^ Mr J CuiTLAND seconded the resolution, which was carried. It was proposed by Mr. Quilter, and seconded by Mr. H. . W . Badger that a memorial be presented to the Directors of the Xondon and North-Western Railway, asking them to erect a -temporary station at Witton Bridge for the accommodation of the show. This motion was also can-ied. At the close of the meeting subscriptions to the amount ol tbout ^130 were announced— (Midland CounUes Herald.) tion in sandy loam. They should be transplanted annuaUy for two or three years, after which they should be planted out iu selected spots where the soU has been properly prepared ion their reception. « t • -u ^^^.^ Conifers of which large quantities of seeds ripen here every season-such as Picea nobilis, P. cephalonica, &c.-are sown in prepared beds in the open air, and grow freely m this way ; they remain iu seed beds for twelve mouths, after which they are planted in nursery lines as before stated. CONIFEES THAT HAVE RIPENED SEED. Ajaucaria imbricata ^'^^^ calabrica Abiea excelsa taurica nendula Pallasiana P- Hon. F. Strangways CONIFEES WHICH HAVE SEEDED AT BICTON, AND THE MODE OF RAISING THEM EEOM SEED. The plan we adopt here with rare Conifers is to have clean 7^ot3-or pans well drained, and filled with sandy loam or other smtable soU, to cover the seeds carefully and not too deeply, nud to finish with fine soil, which we firm equally. We then plunge the pots or pans near the glass in finely-sifted cmder ashes under cold frames or pits. The surface of the soil is kept in proper condition as respects moisture, neither too wet nor too dry; we also keep the pit or frame close until the seed- iincrs appear, after which we gradually harden them off, and in due time remove the hghts altogether. By the 1st of July, if the seed has been sown in March, the seedlings may be trans- planted into boxes, after which we shade them for a few days, and then inure them to light, attending to careful and regular v.-atering during the summer and autumn months. The pots or boxes should be protected from frost during winter ; this can be done in a cold frame or in a sheltered ur des Anges ; Prince Leopold, a fine pole Rose ; Black Prince ; Glory of Waltham, a fine pole Rose ; Le Lion des Combats, lake ; John Keynes ; Frederick Biborel ; Lord Herbert, very fine ; Monsieur Noman. Ticoitii-fonr o/'th,' Best Sidnmer Hoses. — Paul Eicaut, Paul Verdier, Madame Soetmans, Charles Lawson, Coupe d'Hebe, La Volupte, Kean, Queen of Denmark, Boula de Nanteuil, La Ville de Bruxelles, Grandissima, Triomphe de Jaussens, Na- poleon, General .Jacqueminot (H.C.), Tricolor de Flandre, MadeHne; Quillet Parf ait, beautiful, but dwarf and delicate; Juno, William Tell, Transon Goubault.Gloire des Mousseuses, Vandael, Crested Moss, White Bath. Ttcelrc Good Summer Roses.—Viincease Clementine, Common Moss, Laneii, Felicite Parmentier, La Seduisante, Charles Duval, Paul Perras, Persian YeUow, Blauchefieur, Frederick II., Chenedole, and Breunus. The last three, Mad.ame Soetmans, La Ville de Bruxelles, Madame Plantier, Fulgens, Triomphe de Bayeux, and Laneii make good pole Roses. Summer Roses are good for long walks arid glades, but should not be put with the autumnals. Tricolor de Flandre, OEillet Parfait, and JIadeline are the only good variegated Roses we have, and they are beautiful. Surmner Roses are very hardy, suitable for the north, give a grand but short-lived season of bloom, and are very sweetly scented. You may back them for bouquets without injury. — W. F. EADCLVrFE. MAKING A JIUSHROOM BED. The old-fashioned ridge system of cultivating the Mushroom is an excellent one, and I have often obtained good and plen- tiful crops from beds formed on this principle. They should be 3 J feet in width and of the same height if intended for winter or early spring, and from '20 inches to 2 feet in width and height if meant for summer use. The great drawback is the long time that must elapse before the bed becomes ready to receive the spawn, and can be earthed-up and protected. I therefore choose for this purpose rather dry filmy material from old linings and hotbeds, which costs no time in pre- paring, and when firmly beaten into the proper form heats mildly and regularly, so that the spa-mi may be with safety inserted very shortly after the formation of the bed. The only drawback to beds of tliis kind formed out of doors, is the abundance of covering they require to keep in the heat, and the necessity of remo-^'ing it at the risk of admitting the cold air whenever the Mushrooms are to be gathered. For these reasons I would recommend that the beds be formed under a shed where less covering is necessary, and where they can be examined at leisure. For shallow beds in a Mushroom house, I prefsr two parts of horse droppings, one of short litter, and one of dry fibi^ loam, but the materials mentioned before will also do for this purpose. I used to turn over the manm-e and let it get dry before mixing the loam with it, but now I think the object is attained just as well by throwing them together outside in a somewhat conical-shaped heap, and covering it with litter to keep off the wet. This, when it has so heated as to be white and dry in the middle, has the exterior removed, and is mixed with some fibry loam to make it firm. By this means a good 82 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTIAGE GARDENER. [ Janoary 25, 1872. 0 .'op ii3 obtained without a tithe of the trouble required in tha other case, as less of the richness of the dung is expended than t'lere is by the repeated turnings of the manure. A thatched shed shaded by trees is veiy desirable, but I have seen good returns, even in summer, from small ridged beds under the shade of trees. Mushrooms do best between the temperatures of 50° and CO", but without these limits good crops may reason- ably be looked for. — E. F. 'LES PKOMENADES DE PAEIS." In resuming our- notice of M. Alphand's great work we now I well known to those who have visited Paris as being on the come to that portion of it treating of the Bois de Vincennes, | east, as the Bois de Boulogne is on the west side of the city. The Bois de Vincennes forms part of what was originally the great forest of Lauchonia, extending from Melun to Paris along the right bank of the Seine. In thi seventh century this was severed into three parts, which are now respectively represented by the Bois de Bondy, the Bois de Livry, and the Bois de Vincennes. This last is said to have been the first forest ever enclosed in walls, and the occasion of its being so was to pre- serve the stags, fallow deer, and roe sent by Henry II. from England to France. The history of this, as of most forests near the capital, is that the Sovereign and the Court preserved it as chase or hunting-ground. A chateau was built there in the twelfth centm'y, and from that time to the present it has been utilised to the varied requirements of the age and of the Court. It continued in the hands of the French Sovereign till 1792, when it became part of the national property ; but in 1810 it returned to the Sovereign, and after undergoing many changes and vicissitudes it was in 1852 included in the civil list of the Emperor Napolf on III. In 1860 it became the property of the city of Paris, and then were begun those great works which, 'under the dh-ection of M. Alphand, have resulted in an illus- 'tration of landscape gardening seldom to be met with, and the Jami(ii7 35, 1872. ] JOUENAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. production of oue of the most unportaut and beautiful public promenades of the French metropolis. Unlite the Bois de Boulogne, the Bois de Vincennes has the advantage of a stronger and moister soil, and was covered with large timber, which enabled M. Alphand to take advantage of the opportunity thus offered of cutting avenues and vistas so as to produce imme- diate effects. The two illustrations now given furnish repre- sentations of the manner in which this has been carried out, one being the Avenue of Limes, and the other the Chestnut Avenue at Miuimes. uE:'A'^iQf,^. J-K^U7~^~^^. SMALL FARMS— HOW THEY CAN Bu Jiev. WiLLiAir Le.v, Vicar of Sf. Peter's, D STOCK FOR A As I am writing for the express purpose of advocating small fruit farms sufficient to employ one family with a little oc- casional help, this point must be borne in mind when the question of stock is considered. My ideal small farm, where it is to be had, is a mixture of grass and tillage — sufficient grass to keep tliree cows, and from three to five acres of tillage planted with fruit. Five acres should be the greatest extent ; if it exceeds this it implies more hired labour than such a ciiltivator can afford. BE MADE TO ANSWER.— No. G. roitwich, and Son. Canon of Worcester. FEUIT FARM. I mention three cows, for I am told, knowing nothing of the subject myself, that cows are in inverse ratio to boys — we have a proverb in these parts, that one boy is a boy, two boys half a boy, three boys no boy at all. But witli cows it is the reverse, one cow is no cow, two cows are half a cow — a doubt- ful advantage — but three cows are a cow, a very profitable in- vestment. We will take, then, an ideal case, and suppose that there is sufficient grass land to keep three cows. How much this will be, will vaiy according to the soil ; from three JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. ( Jamiai7 25, 1872. to four acres of rich land to nine or ten of inferior land will be required. The wife will manage the dairy, and after making a good profit by the sale of butter and milk, will have plenty of this last produce left for her own children, who will grow'on this diet to stalwart lads, able to do good service on the farm long before they are old enough to leave school. I have an idea that this milk question is an important one. It did not requii'e the sad experience of the siege of Paris to^ prove how essential milk is for young children. Formerly it was readily obtained from the farm houses in country parishes, but now, i am told, there are but few at which it can be purchased ; and where there is a difficulty on this score, I believe one of the most useful kinds of charity w-hich any person could adopt, would be to keep cows for the purpose of selling milk to his poor neighbours. It would do far more good than any amount of money distributed in gifts or doles, which, as far as I can see, only tend to pauperise and destroy that spirit of self- respect and self-reliance which is so essential to the upward progress of a people. In addition to cows a few head of sheep should be kept on such a fann as I have described. They will eat the herbage which the cows have passed over. But cows and sheep can only be kept where there are some acres of grass, and as this will not always be the case, we will inquire what stock can be advantageously kept where the fruit farm is only tillage laud from three to five acres in extent, and what buildings will be required to house it. But before we house the stock we must consider how the owner of it should be housed. This is a very important matter; the character of the house has no inconsiderable in- fluence upon that of its inhabitants, and where a whole family — parents, sons, and daughters — are huddled together in one sleeping-room, as is too frequently the case, all feelings of decency and self-respect are destroyed, and with them the fulcrum on which the lever for the upheaving of the family must rest. It is true that the cottager hunself is often satis- tied with his present accommodation, and in many cases if he were supplied with three bedrooms, would only see in this pro- vision a reason for " taldng in a lodger;" but we may hope that in a few years the Education Act will have produced a change of feeling in this as in many other respects, and that the labourer will not be contented with the wretched hovel in which he is now often obliged to live, but will demand, as a condition of his labour, a cottage in which the decencies of life can be observed, and a good-sized garden to counteract the attractions of the beershop, aiKl to give employment for the spare time of the f amOy. In building a cottage certam well-known prmciples must be home in mind ; good drainage and proper ventilation are necessities, so is the provision of a certain number of cubic feet of ail- in proportion to the number of inhabitants. This last point is, I thuik, sometimes exaggerated, when it is main- tained that the country cottage should contain the same number of cubic feet as the town dwelling or the prison cell, forgetting that the countryman and his family pass much of their time in the open air, and use the cottage principally as a sleeping-place. The point which I should consider as the most essential is, that there should be three separate bedrooms, or, at any rate, the means of providing them when required by the increase of the family — one for the parents, a second for the girls, a third for the boys. They may be small and rough, if you please, but they should he separate if any feelings of modesty are to be retained. My idea of a cottage for a fruit farm of from three to five acres would be this : — On the ground floor one hving-room, about 18 by 1.8 feet (including the stair- case), with a wash-house and back kitchen in one, 18 by 9, containing furnace, oven, &c ; and on the upper floor tliree separate bedrooms. I think two good rooms below ai-e better than tlu-ee smaller ones, as I find that where there is a parlour, as it is called, it is seldom, it ever, used. If grass laud is attached, a somewiiat better description of house will be re- quired ; a small parlour may be added on, and a dairy of a similar size. I do not say tliat such cottages can be buUt to pay a high per-centage in the way of rent, but the extra money spent upon them will do far more good than if it had been given in doles. So much for the cottage itself ; the building to which the next point of honour should be given is the pigstye. The pig, as in Ireland, will be a material help in paying the rent ; more than this, he will consume all the refuse vegetables, and tread the weeds and Potato haulm into manure, which is essential for_ the success of the farm. On such a take as I have de- scribed, one or even two breeding sows might be kept, and the young pigs which are not wanted for stores for the next winter sold off as soon as they are able to leave the mother. Let us see what buildings will he required for this purpose. There should be two or three styes under one roof, either of wood or brick, each of them 7 by 6 feet, and 4 feet liigh to the wall- plate; a good-sized pound, 7 by 12 or 1-1 feet in length should be attached to each. The fence of the pound should not be made of brick but of slabs of wood placed sufficiently near together to prevent the little pigs creeping between them ; the building should face the south, and the bed should be raised 6 mches above the pound, and slope giaduaUy towards it. Close at hand should be a cistern for wash, sufficiently large to hold at least a truckload of grains of 150 bushels, as it will sometimes happen that it will be necessary to keep the young pigs on hand longer than is recommended, or, it may be desired to feed them off as porkers. As to the sort of pig which is most profitable, I mcline after several experiments to a half-bred Berks. High-bred pigs, though they feed on less than others, are apt to be deUcate in constitution, and are not such good or prolific mothers as the half-bred sorts. What a poor man wants is a sow which will bring on the average ten pigs at a Utter, and this twice in the year, and bring them up herself in good condition without the assistance of the cow ; and as far as I have been able to see, a half-bred Berks will answer this description better than any other. In some parts there is a prejudice in favour of white pigs. Wherever this is the case a half-bred Yorkshire may be preferred ; but the point I wish to iiisist on is, that a high-bred pig is not a poor man's pig, uuless he can buy one at six or eight months old as a store — in that case it will answer his purpose better than any other, especially if he likes his bacon fat, with a very slight admixture of lean. It is astonishing what a large bury of manure may be produced by a small number of pigs, if only care be taken to put by everything fur the pound. Potato-haujm when dry, weecfs of every kind, dead leaves, or grass, fern, or heather where it can be had — all should be care- fully collected, and, after being well trodden by the pigs, moved to the heap, and in due course passed on to the ground. There is no doubt about the profit of this part of pig-keeping, though some authorities have questioned whether a pig is ever fed by a cottager to a profit ; but to say nothing of other con- siderations, I am of opinion that this may be done. If all money paid out of pocket for the purchase of the pig, for grains, flour, and food of every kind is calculated, I think a pig may be fed for Ss. a-score ; and this, when the pig is killed and salted, will give a cottager his bacon at less than Grf. per pound — no slight advantage, be it remembered, when he cannot buy butchers' meat under 8(1., and when it is also remembered that one pound of bacon will go as far as two of fresh meat. Then there are all the incidentals to be taken into account — the pig's company, the refuse he consumes wirieh would other- wise be wasted, the manure he makes, last and not least the air of comfort and contentment which he gives to the cottage when he is suspended from the ceiling in the shape of flitches. ^Vhen all these points are duly weighed, I think I shall not be far off right in saying that every cottager ought to feed a pig, or two if he can, for pigs are sociable animals and thrive best in company; and if two are not required for the use of the family, one of them can be readily sold. Next to the pig comes poultry, another very useful adjunct to the kind of farm we are describing. At some seasons they will require to be kept away from the fruit trees, but it is astonishing how soon they learn what they may do, and how far they are permitted to go. With regard to their dwelling- place, if the pigstye is ceiled with boards about 4 feet from the gi-ound, the vacant space above will make a very good roostmg-place, and the warmth from the lower storey will make the hens begin to lay earlier than they otherwise would. Here again, as with pigs, I believe the most profitable sorts will be found to be half-bred. The cross between the Dorldng and the Cochin, or the Dorking and the Brahma w ill be ready for the table at three months old, and as they will begin to lay in January, and the chickens are remarkably hardy, there will be two or tlu'ee hatches ready to send to market at the end of May or beginning of June, when they ought to be worth Gs. a-couple. If these half-breds are allowed to grow to theu' fuU size they will weigh 7 or 8 lljs. each. But the best cross for the table I have ever meet with is between these half-bred hens and a Game cock ; so much so, that I should recommend it for that purpose in preference to any other cross, or even to pure-bred bu'ds, for the pure Cochm is an ugly bird for the table, and is also too fond of sitting. The Brahma is much the same in iamiiuj 25, 18^2. ] JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 85 these respects, the Dorkmg is too tender in constitution, the Game requii'es a h^rge run, and does not do well in confine- ment ; but if instead of chickens for the table, eggs are reijuired for saie, the Hambm-gh, Spanish, or Houdau wUl be found the most profitable breeds. But is there any profit in keeping poultry ? From my own experience I can say that there is ; not a large one, but still a fair profit after paying all expenses of food, and charging the chickens thi-oughout the year at 4s. a-couple, and the eggs at fourteen for Is. Ducks are a more questionable Idudof stock for profit ; they ought to be sold otf when young at dd. or Is. each. They wiU then pay well to the grower ; but if he keeps them on and feeds them for the table the profit will soon disappear, for a batch of young ducklings wUl eat as much as a pig. Nor should I recommend either Turkeys or Geese, unless there arc special facilities for keeping them. There is one kind of stock for a fruit farm which I have not yet mentioned, because I have no fancy for it myself and have never tried it. I mean a hive of bees. They cost nothing to feed, for like Pigeons they live upon your neighbours, and bring then- produce home ; but I expect that bee-keeping is a specialite which is only to be attempted where there is a mutual attraction, and this does not always exist ; for bees, I am told, have then' likes and dislikes to particular persons just as theu' betters have. There is generally a good demand for honey, and if this should not be the case it is an article which may bo profitablj' consumed at home, and will be very popular wherever there are children. I have heard that in a good year the profit on a hive of bees is reckoned to be as higli as 15s. or £1. I am conscious that one serious objection may be raised against what has been hitherto said in these papers : " You have gone in entirely for what is profitable, and neglected the beautiful, umniudful of the French ilictum ' that the beauti- ful is often quite as useful as the profitable, and sometimes more so,' " and as I fully acknowledge the truth of these last words, I win make what amends I can, mindful of the old adage : — " Omue tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci." I will go so far as to say that the fruit farm will not be perfect unless it is enlivened by flowers, among which their queen, the Rose, should hold a prominent place. The gable wall of the cottage will probably be covered by an Apricot tree, which in good seasons will furnish no inconsiderable item towards the rent, but the front and other parts may well be given up to climbing Roses, such as Marechal Niel with his golden blossoms, which he will give forth in abundance against a wall, however coy he may be of displaying them unless provided with this protection, and the Gloire de Dijon, the most pro- lific of all Roses. But in speaking of the Rose, I have a shrewd suspicion that by growing it the fruit-farmer may vmite the utile dulci very mirch to his own advantage, and may turn it into a profitable crop. I once gave a basket of Roses to a Manchester salesman as a present to his mfe, and the next time he paid a visit to my farm he confided to my man the fact, that his wife, being of a practical turn of mind, sold my Roses to a lady for the sum of 7s. iid. I have also discovered that another who sometimes visits the black country, and comes before he starts to beg a Rose for his button-hole, generally selecting a full-blown specimen, has an eye to business as well as to personal adornment, for he never brings the Rose back with him, as he can sell it readily to some of his customers for (id. These facts lead me to imagine that the fruit-farmer may do worse than put in a few dozen Briars to be budded with Roses ; and if he has a road or path tlu'ough liis plantation, he may make it much more '• eyeable," as they say in these parts, by erecting some rough rustic arches across it with oak poles, and covering them with the Gloire de Dijon Rose. In addition to the Gloire, which will seldom be with- out a blossom from the middle of June till the frosts set in, he should grow as standards Senateur Vaisse for a dark Rose, and John Hopper for a pink Rose. I mention these varieties as being good croppers and having compact blossoms, which will bear the transit well ; and if the fruit-farmer will follow my directions, I think he will find that a pot of Eoses will not be the least profitable or the least appreciated produce which he can send to the mai'kets of the great smoky towns of the north. I hope that I have carried my readers so far with me as to convince them that a working man may make a very good living from a small fruit farm, planted and managed as I have described. If a man has a small freehold of liis own in a suitable situation, I do not think he can turn it to better account (to say nothing of the pleasure and interest derived from this kind of cultivation), than by planting it with fruit ; or if a man has laid by sufficient capital, say £100 or more, I do not think that he can make a better investment of it than by taking a lease of four or five acres of suitable laud for fourteen or twenty-one years, and planting it with fruit at his own expense. But my principal object in writing my experi- ences on this subject is the hope that they may induce large landowners to take the matter into their consideration, and establish a few such farms ou their properties as inducements to thrift and industry, and as steps in the ladder to enable the deserving labourer to rise in his own profession in life. In this case the landlord should plant, at any rate, a portion of the ground with the best varieties of fruit, and those most suitable to the district, leaving the tenant to till up the rest in time with grafts or cuttings taken on the spot. The rent for the first two or three years should not be above the agricultural value of the land, but it may be raised as the fiiiit trees come into bearing, till ou a good soU it reaches £o per acre or more. In such a case, where the landlord is at the expense of plant- ing, I do not think that a lease should be given, as if the trees are neglected the occupier should have iuimei.liate notice to qirit. The laud selected should be of a fair quality, suitable for the growth of fruit, and within reach of a good market, or of a raUway station, to which tho produce may be sent. If these conditions are observed, I think a few such farms held out as rewards to deserving labourers would help to raise the tone of the whole district, and be a benefit to the community at large. I have a strong feelhig that iu tho present day we want every means that can be devised to pro- mote the growth of that self-rehant independent spirit which is tho cause of a country's greatness, and to ai'rest the spread of pauperism. This last evil must be cut-at at both ends if the quality of a population is to be maintained — at the lower end by checking the indiscriminate system of out-door relief, which is simply a premium on improvidence ; and at the higher end by offering every aid to thrift and industry, and every inducement to hardiness and independence, for wherever these qualities are dying out among the bulk of a people, that country, whatever its wealth may be, is not far from a fall. I believe that the estabUshment of such farms as I have de- scribed would have some influence for good, and if these papers should have the effect of iuducmg anyone who has it in his power to make the experiment, their purpose will have b3:;u sufficiently answered. GOOD PEAS. I USE Ringleader, Little Gem, Advancer, and end with Veitch's Perfection. The three sorts first named do not re- quhe sticks ; the last requires a stick hero and there. I do not Uke Peas that require sticks. The birds make more havoc with staked Peas than with those uustaked. Moreover, you can net uustickcd Peas better than sticked ones. A dish of King of the Mai'rows was sent to me by our clergy- man ; they were large and of admirable flavour. I believe the stems grow 5 or 6 feet in height. If Peas are not sticked or netted, the birds can only make havoc on the exposed side.— W. F. R-idclytfe. EEMONTANT HYBRID EOSES. De Pokquet's French dictiouaiy is by no means a first-rate authority to consult for terms not iu frequent use iu ordinary conversation. Being a compilation made in and for tho pre- ceding generation, it is at the present time an imperfect one also. Remontant is a French word with every probability of becoming an English one too. It is purely and simply the present participle, answering to the English participle in in;/ of " remouter," which in Spiers' dictionary, now the standard work for literary and other reference, is given with some twenty different shades of meaning, besides idiomatic phrases iu which it is used ; its general meaning is to re-ascend, to rise, or ascend again. " Hybride" will also be found twice in the same complete work, first as adjective, hybrid ; second, noun mas. or fern., also hybrid. Peduncle is a botanical tei-m in frequent use, explained by Dr. Lindley (" School Botany," p. 11) thus, " The stalk of the flower is its peduncle, and if the latter is divided into many smaller stalks its divisions are called pedi- cels," sometimes written pedicles. One of the greatest of living scholars, Archlsishop Trench, deprecates strongly the 80 JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ January 25, 187'2. insertion of purely technical terms in the dictionaries of com- mon use — a principle adhered to in the main by the best com- pilers. It is not profitable, therefore, to be searching for words where they are not to be found, especially in what the Ajch- bishop terms " that absurdest of all books, a pronoimciug dictionary," whether of Walker or of anyone else. — A. H. Kexi. BELTON GRAPE BOOM. [The followhif; is the report on the system of keepiug Grapes pursued by Mr. Moore at Beltou, referred to at page 51' . The Grapes were cut on November 9th, 1871, and the stems put into bottles of rain water with a little charcoal m each bottle. Soda-water bottles were used, and filled a little more than half full of water ; when placed iu the rack the water stood the 2-lb. bunch was found to have taken up 1 oz., and the smaller one thr-ee-quarters of an ounce. The room was kept cool with closed shutters in consequence of the changeable but for the most part severe weather, the heating power being only used to keep out frost. In this way a very steady temperature of about 38' was maintained in the room, and only on two occasions did it fall below that point — namely, on the 19th of November, when the thermometer stood at 37°, and on the 8th of December, when it tell to 36'. The temperature never rose above 43' at any tune. The Grapes appeared to be keeping perfectly up to December 19th, when a few mouldy berries were obser\-ed and cut out ; on the 20th they were again closely examined, when it was foiind that many of the berries were cracked ; these were at once taken out. The 21st being a drier day the windows and door were opened, and the heat turned Bottle Rack. rt. Ledge fixed to wall. 1 d, Iron bracket 1 inch by { inch. 6, Tonfjued and beaded board lining e, Top bar. to Tvall. /, Anyle block 8 inches long r. Clear spa-^c. 1 fT, Bottom bar. Bottles 3 feet 6 inches apai-t in the horizontal line, the rows 1^ inches apart Section a, a. Boarded floor. b, Air-grating over hot-water pipes. c, c, Air-gi-ating below board floor at an angle, which it was thought would prevent its evapora- „„....,, tion. Two bunches were weighed when placed in.the room, and I verticaUy. were ticketed 2 lbs. and IJ lb. respectively, in order to test if j ^^ . ^t this time a large number of the berries had burst ; the ' stems were then di'awn out of the water, with the view of checking the bm'stmg of the berries. On the 22nd and 28rd, the weather being very wet, the room was kept closed except the top ventilator ; still more berries kept cracking. The 24th being a dry day the room was again fully opened ; the berries were rapidly bui'sting. On the 2Cth and 27th 11.5 lbs. of berries had to be cut out, and the stems were inserted into Mangold Wurt- zel, and all the best bunches removed into the vinery. The remainder were inserted in Mangolds and kept in the room. On the 28th 4^ lbs. of hemes had to be cut out. On the 29th and 30th the cracking was to a great extent checked, as on those two days sixty-three berries only had to be taken out, and these chiefly iu the room. The above remarks apply to the Black Ahcante Grape. The Muscat of Alexandria did not crack, but the berries discoloured, commencing at the footstalks. The Grapes when cut in November were all perfectly ripe and highly coloui'ed. It is desired to know what is the tnie cause of the failure. The accompanying are a plan and section of the Grape room. — W. MOOBE. NOTES AND GLEANINGS. Mk. M.iETiN SrTTOX, the head of the weU-kno^Ti firm of Sutton & Sons, Beading, to whom was lately granted the special warrant of seedsmen to H.E.H. the Prince of Wales, invited the numerous hands emi)loyed in the warehouses and offices to his residence, Cintra Lodge, where the convalescence of the Prince was celebrated by a display of fireworks and illuminations. A military band was in attendance, and re- freshments were pro'sided, of which about 300 partook. the berries had the power of taking up the water in the absence of leaves. On December 21st these bunches were agiun weighed ; Junnary 25, 1872. ] JOXJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 87 Gaedesees' EoTAi Benevolent Institution. — The Eev. S. Eeynolds Hole is to preside at the next anmversary dinner. Mr. John An-dkew Henderson died on the 13th inst. at Hamilton Terrace, St. John's Wood, aged 77. Such is the brief announcement we have to make of the departui'e of one ■whose name in former years so intimately associated with the Pine Apple Place Nursery, from the management of which, however, he had for mauv vears retired. "WORK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. The time is at hand for beginning operations herein earnest. One of the first steps is to plan out every inch of ground for the whole year, and to put laths, descriptive of the manur- ing, the kind of crop, and what it is to be succeeded by, at the heads of the quarters. It is also necessary, in order to follow up a systematic rotation of crops, to keep a croppiug-book con'esponding with the labels. Most people will be laying in their stock of seed for the year. A little Caulifloufr and a pinch of Brown Cos Lettuce should be sown in boxes placed in a forcing house. Slopes should be forthwith formed, about 3 feet 6 inches wide, running east and west, and attached, if possible, to the framing ground, as such crops as Horn Carrots, Early Lettuces, and Radishes will require occasional covering with Utter. Slopes of this kind, after having borne their spring and early summer crops, will be free for autumn ones, as Endive and autumn Carrots, or for raising a stock of winter Lettiices. The sooner Asparagus beds are manured and earthed the better. Plant Jerusalem Artichokes, Horseradish, and Sea-kale as soon as possible. Plant a few early Potatoes 8 inches deep, and draw off 2 or 3 inches of soil in the first week of April as a cleaning process. Sow Parsley, early dwarf Cabbage, Bound Spinach, and Early Dutch Turnips on a warm" slope. Select some small Onions of last year's growth, plant them a few inches apart on the surface of the soil, and cover them with earth ; many of these can be drawn early in a green state, whilst others can run on for early kitchen use. The true Two-bladed Onion is the only one fit fir this purpose, as it does not run to seed, but the very smallest should be selected for this purpose. Now a small patch of this kind, for producing young Onions early, should be sown in a warm comer very thickly, and protected as directed for Radishes. A weU-prepared situation should be chosen for Shallots, over which some charred refuse should be thrown, and the bulbs placed on the surface. FBUIT G.VKDEN. The thinning and pruning of orchard trees should be pro- ceeded with, and liberal dressings of manure given to ex- hausted soils. Prune and remove the suckers from Filberts, which rarely, except in Kent, get the management they re- quire. Recently-planted orchard trees should be securely fixed, by using a little hay or moss at the tie to preserve the bark. Fruit-tree borders, particularly for the finer kinds against walls, should be made with fresh, turfy loam ; so let that be prepared. Where the loam is heavy add road scrapings for the Peach and Apricot, but for Cherries and Plums use loam itself. Pears require a small quantity of cow dung, but not if the loam is rich. Dust over on damp mornings, with soot and lime, Gooseberries and plants which are attacked by birds, for preser\'ing the buds of which two or three dressings will be sufiicient. Raspberries may have the old wood re- moved and the new shoots thinned, the shortening of them being deferred until another time. FLOWER GARDEN. ■Wlierever there is a large extent of mixed shrubbery some care is necessary to prevent the stronger-growing bushes from overgrowing the weaker ones, and it wiU be found better every few years to lift and replant the former than to prune them severely, as this, by inducing the gro-svth of luxuriant wood, prevents the habit of blooming profusely. Never allow a margin of bare earth to intervene between the grass and the plants, but cover it with such low-gi-owing plants as Periwinkles. The pruning of the more common kinds of Roses may now be done. Should, however, a part of the Provence, Moss, and others of the summer-flowering kinds be required to bloom late, reserve a portion tiU AprU for that pui'pose. The pro- duce of Auricula seed sown last autumn wiU now need atten- tion. If they have been planted out in sheltered beds it wiU be advisable to stu- the soil with a blunt stick, remove the dead leaves, and to clean the beds thoroughly, after which a top-dressing of a compost of decayed horse manure and leaf soU should be applied to the depth of half an inch. It^wiU be necessary to begin the destruction of snails by setting baits, such as bran, &c., to decoy them. Flowering plants in pots must be very carefully attended to, accorcUng to the directions lately given. Phosphoric poison will be found an effectual means of destroying mice. Polyanthus seed may now be sown in pots. Many of the Tulips are now so forward that, unless protected in some way, serious consequences may result to the embryo blooms. I would advise that some sandy peat be put in small cones over the rising plants just as they emerge from the ground, which will greatly protect them ; this would, however, be detrimental if it were deferred until they opened. Pinks and Pansies wUl stUl require protection as previously recommended, but Carnations and Picotees in frames must have aU the exposure possible. Ranunculus beds may te thrown up in ridges of about 4 inches, so that the lower pait of the bed is allowed to remain undisturbed. By this means advantage can be taken of a fine day, about the 14th of Feb- ruary, to rake them level, as when suffered to he in the ridged state the surface soil becomes sooner dry. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. Some of the conservatory climbers, as those on pot trelHses, win soon want dressing. The time for doing this must, hov- ever, depend in some degree on the time at which they e e- required to blossom. Cinerarias which are cramped in their pots should have a shift, as should also Chinese Primroses for spring work. Frequently examine Heaths and other plants which suffer from damp at this season. It is often necessary to keep a little air on at night, when a slight fire should be maintained, which, with sulphur efficiently applied, wiU greatly help to keep plants free from disease. Shift all greenhouse plants frequently to prevent their growing one-sided, and see that no decayed leaves are allowed to remain on them. Keep- up a succession of blooming plants from the forcing pit in the conservatory, and do not let the temperature fall below 40°. The larger kinds of Fern and some dwarf Palms have often a good effect when skilfully introduced among mere forced flowers. STOVE. Potting may be proceeded with from this time onward, but it is not necessary that this should be the case with Orchids^ except to facihtate the dispatch of spring business. Extirpate insects when you have any leisure. The snails may be baited for by laying a slice of fresh-cut Turnip on the spot, examining it about nine o'clock in the evening and again the following morning. The Blatta or cockroach may be destroyed by sper- maceti and arsenic, say "2 ozs. of the former to 1 oz. or less of the arsenic. This may be done by dipping sticks in the com- position and pushing them into the pots. Woodlice may be caught in a variety of waj's ; they will resort to a corner that is kept dry, and may there be scalded. Thumb-pots with dry- paper, hay, or rags wiU entrap them. FORCING PIT. Introduce into the forcing pit bulbs, Roses, Pinks, LUacs, and plants of a similar description for succession. Take care that the roots of plants in plunged pots are not burned ; no portion of the plunging material in the vicinity of the roots should exceed 7-5°. Maintain an average atmospheric tem- perature of 60° at night and 70° by day, admitting air on aU favourable occasions. — ^W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. Gathering vegetables, trenching, and digging were our only occupations of importance during the last week, as no very deUcate operations could be proceeded with on account of the damp condition of the soU. The Incomparable White Celery is still looking well, but it has suffered more from the long-continued wet weather than the Red, which stands out clean and fresh, whilst the other shows signs of damping and decay at the points. Notwith- stantUng the advantages of the bed system in economising space, I think in such linfavourable weather the plants are safer in single rows. Our beds of Sea-kale; each of which has two rows, we covered to the depth of 0 inches with ashes, placing some hot leaves in the trenches between the beds, and also upon the top of th^ ashes. When treated iu this way the heads generally come stronger than when the plants are taken up and placed in a Mushi-oom house. JOUEX.VL OF HOBTICULTUEE AUD COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ Jaunaty 25, 1872. Prepaie for planting Asparagus, Sea-kale, Ehubarb, and Artichokes, and turn over the ground intended for Carrots, Onions, and Potatoes. Made mild hotbeds for CaiTOts, Ea- dishes, and Potatoes, and placed manj' of the eai'liest of the last-named in shallow wooden boxes. In this position they make a very free growth, but if early-ripe tubers are desired they are produced better in 60-sized pots. FKUrr GAEDEN. Kept the fruit-room well aired by means of fire heat and ■ventilation during the early part of the day. On foggy days keep the Tentilators shut and give a little air at the top ; on sunny days do not give much heat for fear of making the air too dry, and thus causing the late Grapes to shrivel. Straw- berries should be brought on very gradually, and watered very carefully. Inesperieuced persons should not use saucers for early crops unless they take care to see that these are empty shortly after watering. Fruit trees intended to bear in pots may be raised, replunged, and mulched or surfaced with rich compost. It is too late to repot should fruit be wanted at aU early, under ordinary "treatment ; that is best done at the end of summer, in order that the pots may become full of roots before the tops break into growth. Good results may notwithstanding be obtained by potting now and placing the pots in a mild bottom heat, whilst the head is kept as cool as possible until the fresh roots are near to the sides of the pot. To have ripe Strawberries in March, the plants must be well estabhshed by the middle of September. Plants taken up even now would make httle progress if put in a forcing house, however gradual the increase of temperature. Those lifted in March and April and placed where there is heat will do very fairly, particulai'ly if bottom heat suiBcient to encourage the roots a little more than the 4op, can be given them at first. Preparations for the planting of fruit trees may still be proceeded with. AU hardy fruit is scarce. In a good fruit season Apples and Pears would not bring much until after midwinter, but tliis season half a peck of Apples has often brought more money than a couple of bushels did in more plentiful years. OKNAIIENTAL DEPARTMENT. Box-edgings may now be cut, but the best time for doing "this is in spring, when the frost is" nearly gone, or early in autumn. If cut in winter or too early in spring they are apt to "have, for a time, a stubby halt-dead appearance, instead of the rich fresh green. Transplanting. — Trees from 4 to 7 inches in diameter of bole Tnay be moved advantageously, even without preparation, by tracing the roots and by means of a timber gig. This consists of two wheels, an axle between them, and a pole, to which Taorse-power is appUed in proportion to the weight. We would rather have done the work early in Kovember, as when the soil is too wet it is difficult to pack the fine saved fibres properly, -and on this packing much of the success depends. Hyacinths and Tulips peeping up out of doors woiild be ■safer it Uttle cones of ashes, rough cinders, sand, or, best of all, fine charcoal, were placed over them as a protection from frost and excess of moisture. A Uttle litter would be an equaUy good protective against frost, biit unless carefully removed in mild weather, the damp which accumulates about the top of the plants vriU injure them. It is not even advisable to use a shading or protecting cloth to the finer kinds too early, as the flower-stems are thus apt to become drawn and weak. "When the bulbs are planted regularly over a bed, each forward iiUb, as it pushes through, may be protected by an inverted 4-inch pot, the hole of which is stopped. Many years ago we used to protect TuUps, Hyacinths, and the earUer Narcissus of the good sorts in this way, adding mats or Utter in severe •weather, and taking off the pots in bright warm weather. Heartsease, Pinks, a.ni Carnations, especiaUy if young plants out of doors, wiU reqiure to be examined and fixed firmly in their places after such changeable weather. In fixing them "with the fingers, a Uttle dry sandy soil with some smaU char- •coal wUl be of advantage, and wiU prevent future frosts throw- ing the roots bare. Atiriculas can scarcely have too much air in this mild wea- ther, but the sash over them must be tUted back and front to prevent deluges of rain from inundating the pit or frame. Shruhhy Calceolarias. — The first cuttings inserted in the cold pit at- the end of October are now matted with roots, but those inserted in November are merely beginning to strike. We would have liked better if the earUcr had been Uke the later. as we must do everythuig to keep the more forward back untU the weather wiU permit us to plant them out more thinly. Though they stand damp well, we do not want them to be wetted by the heavy rains, and therefore take the sashes off only when there is no prospect of rain, merely tUting the sashes on wet drizzling days. Without being in fire heat or in pots, it is rarely that our bedding Calceolarias are ever troubled with the nibble of an insect. Chrysanthemums. — We have now only a few of these flowers left. The tops should be cut down, and the plants turned into the soU to set the pots at liberty. By-aud-by cuttings, suckers, or bits of the old plants may be grown on for next season's blooming. For beds out of doors, or for waUs, large masses of this plant are more suitable. For flowering in pots, cuttings and rooted suckers have their special advocates. We never saw much difference in the results, if equal attention was given to potting, and especiaUy watering. We used, after the plants were fairly started, to turn them out into rich soU in May and June, and pot them with baUs at the end of October. These and the winter-flowering Salvias do weU under this treatment, and much watering which would be necessary for pots in summer is saved. We used to pack four or five plants in a vase, as closely as possible, leaving an open space m the centre, on which the bottom of an 8 or 12-iuch pot was placed. The shoots of the side plants hid the central pot, and a fine pyramid of flowers was obtained. To save frequent watering, these plants were in summer plunged in a bed of half-decayed leaves, and the pots were moved frequently to prevent the roots going much beyond the pot. Camellias. — If the soU is weU drained, plants swelling and opening their buds should be rather freely suppUed with water at least as warm as the temperature of the house. Weak Uquid manure will also be acceptable, and especiaUy if instead of being of a hot it is of a rather cool nature, as that made from cow dung which has been dried somewhat, and is at least a twelvemonth old before it is added to the water. ■ If good guano is used, 1 oz. to the gaUon is enough. It is weU to re- mind those who wish to have CameUia blooms early in winter, that it is not advisable to apply any extra heat for that pirr- pose then ; but whatever extra heat or forcing is given should be appUed so as to excite early growth in spring, and the early setting of the bloom-buds in sununer. When these conditions are secured, the buds wiU sweU in autumn and open at the beginning of winter in a moderate temperature, such as 45' at night. A lugh temperature appUed to make the buds sweU and open wiU often cause them to f aU. The true time to force is when there has been a rest of a few weeks after blooming. Deutzia gracilis, with its sjjray of white flowers, is very useful at this season for reUeving flowers more briUiant in colour. Very little heat soon brings it into bloom. I have flowered it well along with LUacs, Ehododendrons, etc., by lifting the plants with baUs, potting them, and plunging in a sUght hot- bed six weeks before any increase of the atmospheric tem- perature was given. Bulbs. — Hyacinths, TuUps, &c., may be flowered early if the bulbs are potted early in autumn. No forcing can weU take place untU- the pots are fuU of roots. When I have had my supply of bulbs late in the season and wanted some in flower by Christmas or the New Year, I have plunged the pots in a mUd hotbed out of doors, and put little over the bulbs, the object being to have the pots weU fiUed with roots before the tops moved. The heat beneath is of no use except under such circumstances and for early b oom. In taking the bulbs to a hotbed after plenty of roots have been made, it is desirable to shade the yeUowish growth above the soU either by an in- verted pot, which helps also to draw-up the flower-stem, or by a thick mat over the glass, especiaUy in sunshine, untU the top growth acquires its natural green colour. When the flower- stems are rising strongly they wUl often begin to open their blooms sooner if placed on a shelf nearer the glass, bat other- wise in the same temperature. Before the plants are taken to a room, window, or cool house, the pots should bo moved out of the hotbed, and then the plants be graduaUy hardened off, so that the change of cUmate may not be felt. Once I had to keep up a succession of Hyacinths in flower with a Umited number of glasses, the same glasses having to be supplied ■n-ith bulbs in bloom as long as they could be had. I grew the whole in pots, turning the plant into the glass when a few of the lower flowers on the spike had expanded. The baU was turned out of the pot, and the whole of the soU washed away in a paU of water at from 65° to 70° without injuring a root. The roots were then put carefuUy into the glass, sup- January 25, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. plied -with soft watc-r, aud, if the glass was coloured, some charcoal aud pieces of manure were added. — R. F. TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. Stuart & Meiu, Kelso, N.B. — General Catalogue of Vegetable and Flower Six'ds. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden Market, London, Yi^.C— Gar- dening Guide and General Catalogue. W. Bull, King's Road, Chelsea, London, ^y^ .—Retail List of Select Flower, Vegetable, and Agricultural Seeds, and New Flants.—List of Gladiolus and New Plants. TO CORRESPONDENTS. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Character (W. Taylor). — It is a satisfactory testimonial; and on what ground you could have thought it neediul to consult a lawyer we cannot discern. ^ Setting Boilees— Kaistng Flow-pipes— Evaporating Tanks (M-). — In fixing a. saddle boiler two plans may be adopted according to the size of the boiler. If the boiler is email raise it at the sides the thickness of a firebrick or tile above the furnace-bars; leave an open space of 6 inches at the farther end; build with brick a flue C inches wide round the sides of the boiler, and bring it as near the furnace doors as you can. This flue may be made of bricks laid across from the cur\-e of the boiler, or by an iron plate so placed. The opening at each side near the fiunace door allows the heat and smoke to go round the outside of the boiler, then to pass along the top and up the chimney, the farther end being blocked up. In a large boiler we should prefer having two flues at the sides by using two iron plates as dividers on each side. The heat would then pass round the lower part of the side of the boiler, return near the upper part of the side, and thence go along the top up the chimney. Iron plates 7 or 8 inches wide are very good for this purpose. Soot-doors must be pro%'ided for all these flues. Like the writer at page 15, we have made water circulate in all modes, even to going downhill ; but it is much bettei- that the pipe should rise from the boiler, and then go and return on a level until it dips down to the bottom of the boiler. It is still better, in our opinion, when there is a sHght rise to the further end, with an open air-pipe there, and then a similar decline to the bottom of the boiler; and we say ths after ha\'ing been under the necessity of wt rlring many plnns. The most interesting part of the article at page 15 is that relative to the im- portance of hairing hot-water pipes ou a level, and having as fev returns as possible. Not lon^ since we heated a smaU house by taking round three i-ipes on a level beneath a stage, so as to leave a pathway free in front and at back. The boiler was placed at the north-west comer. There was one flow and one return. "When the flow arrived at its right position it was joined in the usual manner to thi'ee pipes, and these went round the west end, the south side, the east end, and the north side to no great distance from the boiler. In that space the ri.se all round would be about 3 inches. At the highest point, just ■where the three pipes were changed into the one to retxmi again to the boiler, an open air-pipe was inserted. With the exception of this short piece visible that joined the return, all the pipes were flow-pipes, and nothing could answer better, the chief advantage being the uniform heat in the pipes all through. The steam or evaporating-pipe alluded to, page 15, we think you will understand better if you suppose that the flat iron pipe is merely an open level tank, and the 'ij-inch pipe that goes through it from end to end is intended to heat the water in the pipe or tank. All that is necessary is to connect that 2^inch pipe in the tank with the flow-pipe near the boiler, and with the retum-pipe at the other end. The circulation will then be as com- plete in that pipe in the trough as anywhere else. FLo^^-ER Beds [An ^maft ur).— Both your plans No. 1 and No. 2 would look well if suitably planted. No. 1 is the more proportional of the two, but the ends of your square figures should be curved-in to correspond with the curve of the circles. Notwithstanding this, we much prefer No. 2, and chiefly because it breaks in on the stiff monotony of the outline. In No. 1 you have a 4-feet walk all round, and a band of turf between the walk and the beds. In No. 2 this regularity is broken in upon. The grass all round is, wider, and round the centre, especially, the widthis unequal or diversified, which of itself will be a great advantage. The fault of No. 2 is the want of balance in the Bize of the bed>;, and the narrowness of the turf between the beds at places. We would have none less than 4 feet. We would alter it thus: Reduce your centre circle to 6 feet in diameter, and add a foot to the grass and a foot in width to the four beds round it. Reduce your four circles from 6 to 5 feet in diameter. We do not agree with you as to substituting an oval for the two end figures. We do not think you can better the outline, but we would lessen the size by placing the two cuned inside lines from 2 to 3 feet nearer the boundary. Pencil a group as thus suggested, and you will see you will have more room for turf, aud the beds will be better balanced. Geranium {D. F, J. K.). — We cannot attempt to name the varieties of florists' flowers. Waste Lands {A Constant Reader). — We know of no wort on their culti- vation exclusively. Arthur Young's "Agricultural Survey's" of various coun- ties give information on the subject. Garden AncHiTECTrRE — Emigration {A Novice). — We think "Garden Plans " and " Greenhouses for the Many," both pubhehed at our office, would supply the infomyition. Wc are told by a good authority that Victoria in Australia is the best new home for gardeners. Planting a Span-roofed House {A Market Gardener). — We would advise planting both sides of your span-roofed house with Vines 4 feet apart, as thus yi)U would have the house furnished sooner, even if afterwards you took the Vines across so as to fiil both sides of the roof. We would in general only take one stem to a Vine instead of two, but if one became very strong you could give it more room. Planting at 4 feet apart, the stems on crossing would thus ultimately be 2 feet apart; at that distance a great weight of Grapes can be cut, but you can expect nothing to grow under the Vines. The Vines you name are gui'd late sorts. We are not so sure of Mrs. Pince and Madresfield Court hanging so long. We have no doubt you will succeed veiy ■Well with the trees as bushes in the orchard house, if the roots be curtailed at times; but after trying such modes largely we think that for economy and profit we would plant the trees on each side, and train them on a slope 18 inches ir m the glass. Vines may be grown 7 feet apart; but even then the shade will injure the colour of the Peaches. Celery Lifting {A Lady in C lie shire). —It is not a good plan to lift Celery and store it in a potting shed, for it parts with a considerable amount of moisture, and on that account loses crispness and flavour. It ought to be left in the ground, and protected with litter in severe weather, but remove the covering when it is mild. Pigeons' and Fowls' Dung (Aspire). — As both are powerful icanures they should not be applied in such great quantity as stable or farmyard manure, A dressing just sufficient to cover the siurface is enough, and shcaild be pointed-inwith a spade. We have given with advantage a dressing haU an inch thick to Onion beds. Both are valuable manures for every de- scription of vegetable crop. Hotbed of Dcng and Tan (G. A. S.).— We do not approve of mixing dung and tan together in forming hotbeds, not but that the mixture answers well enough for bottom heat, giving a steady heat, but the tan spoils the manure. We would, therefore, make a shell or lining of the stable manure, say IS inches wide all round the bed, carrying it up to the required height, which at this season will be 6 feet at back, and 5 feet in front, and fill up the centre with fresh tan. The oily cotton waste you may mix advantageously with the manure in the proportion of one part to four of stable manure, and if you have sufficient to raise a bed 5 feet high at back, and 4 feet high in. front, we should dispense with the tan. Heading-back Maiden Apple, PE.AJi, and Plum Trees {5i>fro).— We would not head back the trees more than 3 feet, as we presume you wish them to form pyramids or bushes, and this will give you shoots sufficiently near the ground. These side shoots should be encouraged, not stopping the lowest ones until they have grown a foot, nor the leader until it has made that length of shoot ; then take out their points. If, from the top, strong shoots start besides the leading shoot, stop them at the third leaf ; this wUl induce the lowest side shoots to push freely. Cutting the Leading Shoots of Cupressus and Thuja— Peach TiiEE Gumming (Amattur). — ¥ou may cut off the leading shoots of Cupressus and Thuja without disfiguring them, and remove irregular growths. There are no shrubs that will bear pruning better than Thujas and Cupressus, We have some that are cut into close pyramids. We do not know what you can apply to the stem of a Peach tree badly gummed. There is no remedy. It is probably a consequence of the tree being on a foreign iPlum) stock. The belt of old Fir trees just outside the north comer of the garden cannot do any harm if the branches do not extend over the wall, or shade the giound. On account of the shelter they afford from north winds, we would not cut them down. If the branches extend over the wall and cause shade or diip. it may be desirable to lop, and perhaps cut down the trees. Remember that it is easier to cut down trees than to rear others that will afford the shelter of those removed. Border for Climbers— Liquid Manure {Black Edge).—'SVe highly ap prove of your taking upthe concrete. We would make the width 2feet, and il possible 3 feet, take out the soil, put in 9 inches of drainage, and then 3 or 3 feet of soil. The border would be far better than the boxes. A M^Ttie trained to the wall would thrive if protected fiom frost in very severe winters. We would remove the offset at once, and place in the water two or three pieces, of charcoal about the size of a nut. Bedroom slops are useful as a manure, if diluted vrith six times their bulk of water. They may be poured betweeii the rows of growing crops of vegetables, or used in an undiluted state od ground before cropping. Double White Violets, &c. (B. FiTicent).— Write to some of the princi- pal florists who advertise in our columns. Treatment of Vines (A. D.).— Remove any loose bark from yoxu: Vines, and paint the stems with a mixture composed of 4 ozs. of sulphur, 2 ozs. of soft soap, and a small portion of soot, to half a gallon of water. The vinery started at the end of Janhary should have a night temperature of 45'- to begin with, gradually increasing it, so that by the time the shoots have giown an inch, 60° may be attained. Increase it in two weeks to 65*=. In all cases allow a rise of 5 by day from ai-tificial heat, and of 10- to 15° from sun heat. Syringe the Vines twice o-day until the buds break, when syringing should be discontinued. Vines in Pots (Essex). — Your young Vines had the proper treatment until you say that in May, " they were much shaded by the permanent Vii^es." They would not be likely to form fruit-buds under such highly disadvanta- geous circumstances. The position to which you removed them, " the ironfc stand of a plant house," was not good; they required more heat than they obtained there. We obtain fruiting canes of the strongest description from eyes inserted the same season, growing them ou in a temperature of not less than from 60*" to 65=" at night after they are fairly started, but they must not be xmder shade. You should have shifted them into their fruiting pots by the end of July. As you have placed the Vine eyes on pieces of tm-f upon a Pine-bed, you will find full instructions how to proceed in No. 513, page 131, of last year's Journal of Horticulture. The Vines which did not show bunches try in both ways, but grow the largest portion from a single eye at the base of the cane. The fruit-buds must be formed and thoroughly ma- tured before the leaves fall in autumn. Peach House (A. r.).— Your trellis should be from 12 to 15 inches from the glassj instead of 6 inches. Have from 18 to 24 inches of good soil above the concrete. We prefer the saddle- boiler and 3 or 4-inch pipes, but we like conical and tubidar boilers very well, the simplest the best. A boiler with furnace fittings for such a long house would cost about £8, and two rows of pipes on each side would be necessary. Good 4-inch pipes will tost fi-oni 2s. 3d. to 2s. Gd. per yard, without the workmanship. Pipes may be pur- chased at any price ; we lately heard of some put up very cheaply, but they proved to be poor rain-water pipes, dear at any price when used fur hot water. We cannot recommend tradesmen. If particular, have a clear specificatioii and a contract, and any of our advertisers wUl do the work well. Conservatory (Leamside). — The best arrangement we can think of for such a house, 14 feet wide, would be a border all round, except oppcsite the plate-ghiss window, of 18 inches in width— ■wide enough for climbers— with a shelf or trelliswork all round of the same width, at about 3 feet from the ground, except opposite the window. That window we would take to the floor as a door, unless you can walk at once from the drawing-room into the central outjut of the conse^^•atorv. Then with a walk 2 feet 9 inches all round you will have a base for your central stage of 5A feet. If you will be satisfied with a 30-inch path you will have a G-feet base for your stage. Many would prefer a 3-feet pathway to give room to the ladies, even if thus they curtailed either 93 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ January 25, 1872. tie side shelves or the central platform. This platform we would either have fli', 3i feet from the ground, or, ii a stage, have two or three shelves on each Bide, the slope facin- eari,r - . I . .-i,i_fs, Melksham (Biaik Hamburgh); W. K. L. Clare. Twy- «io.;» ,lii lAii G .1. . i: J. L. Hinton (.-ilver Poland); Horace Lingwood (Par- Iriage t uchm). I'ulUt—l, Lady Gwydyr. 2, H. Lingwood. he, J. Threbh (Bbick Spanish) '" .0) —1 a t. Edm_. .. SnndeiUi.d ; W. A laras, Ipswich: W. B. Jeffries, Ipswich (2). Bantams (Any other variety). —1, Eev. F. Tejrle. Gazeley Vicarage, New- market (White). 2, B. S. Lowndes, Stony Stratford (Pekin).~ he, J. H. Paget, Loughijorougb (Cuckoo); Hon. Mrs. Paget (Japanese); S. & E. Ashton, Mottram (Black); M. Leno (Laced). Seeling Class.-I and Cup. Lady Gwydyr (Cochin). 2, W. Boyes, Beverley ff.—\,5. Mortimer. 2. J. Jeffea. vhc, E. W. Lnlham, Bnehton (2). c, O. i J. Mackley ; . Nichols, Norwich, ■LiZi^.-Golden-ipangUi.-l, R. N. Harrison, Belper. 2 and rdc, G. 4 J. Mackley. (,i!i;er-»paii!7l.G-£.s.— Poultry : Messrs. Beldon and Adams. Pigeons: Mr. J. PereivaU. Canaries and other Cage Birds : Messrs. Woou- house, Fenn, and Clarke. BATHGATE OENITHOLOGICAL SHOW. The Bathgate Ornithological Association held their fourth annual Exhibition and competition of poultry, Pigeons and Canaries, on the loth inst., in the Corn Exchange and the weather being aU that could be desired, a great number of the pubUc visited the Show. The different classes were well represented, and never smee the Show was estabUshed have we seen such a collectaon ot really good birds. Dorkings in both the adult and young classes, though not numerous, were very good, the first-pnze birds m both classes having secured similar honours in nearly aU tlie shows they have visited. The adult Spanish were a poor class, but of the voungthe first-prize pen was very fine, and never have we seen such fine faces and combs at Bathgate. This pen also secured the special prize for the best pen in the first three classes, ffamburghs were the largest class ; many of the birds would not have disgraced a metropoUtan show. The hrst-prize Golden and Silver-pencilled Hamburghs were really fine birds. The Golden-pencilled secured the special prize, but a good many thought it should have gone to the Silvers, as they were better matched than the Goldens. Game were not a numerous class, and aU the birds appeared rather soft, excepting tne Duckwings shown by the now famous Mr. Harley, Edinburgn, which also rightly se'cured the special prize mthe Game depart- ment. Game Bantams, though numerous, were not so good as those shown here last year, many of them not bemg m a fit con- dition for competing. , Pigeons were w-eU represented in nearly aU the classes ; tne first-prize Tumblers and Carriers were remarkably fine. Una great feature was an absence of dressing in the Toy classes. The Canaries consisted of the finest birds m Scothiud. Most of them had secured similar honours at the different open shows they had visited. DoRKiNGS.-l. J. Malcom.Langton. 2. D.Forrester, Linlithgow. 3- J- Y^nng, Batbwite. 4, J. Stepbenson. Chapelhall, Airdrie. C/..cA:fr«_-l, J- Malcom. 2. J. Waddell, Airdriehill, Airdrie. 3, A. MDonald. Easter Moffat, i, 3. Brand, "Vr^iss.-! and 5, J. Young, Crai=neuk. Motherwell. 2, J. Waddell. 3 J. Peat. Bathgate, i, M. Young, Blackburn. Chickena.-l and Special, J. Waddell, 2, J. YuUl, Airdrie. 3, D. Forrester. 4. Mrs. Gi-aCic. Colinton. Scotch Gbeys.-1, A. Hastie, WU'on. Carluke. 2. A. Duulop Pjirfey. 3. J- Meikleham, Thicacre, Hamilton. 4. W. Gibb, Armadale, thickenn.-l, w. Gibb. 2and3. J. Meikleham 4. E. While. Bathgate. f.,,„i„,„„„„ HAMBCR..HS.-GoWeii-ji<-nci!^d.-l and Special, H. Ra«e , Clackmannan. 2. P. Hamilton. Gillhead. Wishaw. 3. H. t'''.»'"'"'''8- Batliuate. 4, J. trame, Motherwell. *ih-.r.ji,„ci».d.-l and 2. J- .Young. 3- «,^Fergnsoii. Kirkton, Batheate. 4, H. Chalmers Goldenr,paml'd.-l, 3.V.^'iiiier.»j)an<;itd.-l, J. Moodie, Paisley, .ianas, l>. ^'"(ScBS.ii,"A.°Crrw?o°rdI Airdriehill, Airdrie. 2, J. Stephenson. 3, J. More. *■ Pounds -I. W. Patcrson, Airdrie. 2 and 4, W. Gibb, Cambusnetban. 3, A . '^GlS'E'!-l"'and"special, D. Hariey, Edinburgh. 2, J. WaddeU. 3, E. Gray, '^S^I-BlsrJ^-iXo^\ 2 Miss J. M. Frew Kirkcaldy. 3, G^Smclair. Bathgate. 4, K. Eodgers, Bathgate. Any other Variet;/.-!, 3. vmaell. ., Master A. Frew. 3,.l.Moodie. 4. J. Muirhead, Airdne. „ „ . DccKS -1 and 2,'j. Meikleham! 3 and 4, K. S. W. Durham, Btithgate TCHKEVS.— 1, J. WUson, Riccarton. 2, J. Hamilton, N\ est Cjlder. 3, D. Prec- "seJllso'cSss.-I, H. EusseL 2, W. Good, Airdrie. 3, J. WaddeP. 4, W. °""'- PIGEONS. P^CTfRS.-l, 2.and Medal, J. Waddell. 3, E. 4J. Anderson, Newcastle-on- '^ciiEiEss.-l, 3^ Special, and Crystal Fountain, J. Bro-n-n. 2, M'GiU Skinner. *'tu2b1.ee8.-1. A.Johnstone 2,J.Brown. 3. E. i J. Anderson. 4,D Roberts. Jacobins, Ncis. English Owls, a.nd Turbits.-I, A Johnstone. 2, Miss B. ^-F^^x'iLl'.-l'iS'spliaaW.'Baillie. 2, F. W. Christie. Liberton. 3, Miss B. "'roiBBi'V^TTf-lland3,R.4J.Anderson. 2, Miss J. M. Frew. 4, T. ^ELLtsoCLA6S.-I,J. Gray. 2, M'GiU Skinner. 3, E. 4 J. Anderson. 4, A Johnstone. cAfE BIRDS YELLOW.-Cocfa..-land2,W. Mochr.e, Lanirk. 8 »°:;„t' T- ^f "'J- C'''''''^- Hem.-l. T. Scott. 2, J. Pettigrew, Lanark, d, D. Duncan, Carrou. 4, 1. "BL'^.-S.'-r-and special, J. Pettigrew 2 and *.D Duncan 3 W. Mgchrie. Hen^.-l, J. Watson, Linlithgow. 2, T. bcott. 3, W. Mochrie. 4,D. JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. t January 35, 1872. ,?=^s^s?^s?or^a^4i--^-^^""'' ^GnrEl' *,;ri-o'rF?]iBk!rD.-l ■ W MocSle!'''!. T.' Scott, i, J . Pc^t-d.r. 4. P. M'Gtuley, Coatbridge. i j . TtTDGES -Poultry ■ Mr. J. M'Nab, South Axthnrlee, Barrhead, M^.TM'Infes P Jsier Pigeons .Mr. James Hm«. Glasgow. C^»a7ies .• Mr. John Smith, Coatbridge, and Mr. EohertForsjth, Edinburgh. DUBLIN POULTRY SHOW The foUowing is the list of awards made at this Show, held on themh, mh?!nd 20th inst. We must defer till nezt week our critique. _ ^ „ „„„ ,. D0BK,N3S (Colourea).-! and 8 J. Martit,, ClameB ^"^^^^^J^^f'^^'eJ, De C. Drevar Blackrock. S and he, Mr-. Warburtoii. ^ Hon •'^Ma'isy;t,ti„„. Hindlip Ball, Woroes er. 8, H. Lu.yd, jun., HandhTforth. M, W. a. reriiu, ^"c"ofiT,^r^. ,^rt-^^'o?pX;|ir 'M&er.ey, Md^.ton, Man cheeter. !, T. Slretch, Ormakiik. he, H. Lloyd, 3un.; W. H. Pernn. c, u. a. ^'c?cS?-Cm''f iwhite) -1 and 2, J. Siohel, Lark Hill, Timperley. c. J. F. ^?Sl^'.!'Cx°B^,Dark,.-l, H. Lacy. .. T- S ,*-f,'";,C°^J'^HjJ,''MLD. ford, Guildford; Capt.Doivnman; J. C.Cooper. Ridler • J C. CuEVE-CffitiEs.-l. J. Sichel. 2, J. 0. Cooper, he. Eev. N. J. KiOley, J. c. •^ l! Tleche.-I, G. a. Stephens. 2, Key. N. J. Ridley, Maccleefield. he, Capt. ^°Hr.?l?s-'i,'F.'^.''pSH'arS54'cr?stbo. Dublin. 2, J. Sichel. he.l. C. hampton; J. Barlow, Chapelizod ; Mrs. Allsopp; P. H. JonCB t uinam , l,. «. Brierley.cMlBsDeC. Drevar ; HBeldon.GoitslockjBinpley. HiMBnEGks (Gold and ^UT6r-pencmed).-l and 2, U. Beldon. c, L. Stoney, Sandymotini; CoonleBSof Tankereille. , ,, i t T)iiekwortb Church, "^ p'.Tn'iVhi.e.crested Black).-!, Mrs J. M. Ptocter Hull. 2. Miss De C. Dre-rar. he, P. Dnsworth, Newton-le-Willows ; K. P. -Williams, Glasunu, cion tarf; N.Cook. Chowbent I Mrs J. M. Proctor. . „ Tjnswortli (2) ; ^^Tifcl\ti?artfy?iTa'n^i^2.%^^.'|?er«:w':iohnson,Stanley. ^SrH's&t;e';?ltk/rBUS'sr^&^f.p!-J.^.M01?^.H0^ fccB. ReXlor : G, A. Stephens; H. C. Cullin, Galway; G. A. Periin, J. K. ^bS,'°Ss^ramtany other Tariety).-!, EeT. F. Cooper, A„,pney Cruris. 2, ^B^tSs (Any other variety).-!, B. S. Lowndes, Strny Stratford. 2 a Perrin; S. Mo^vl5ray. t^. Mrs P. Taaffe, Castle Plunket. .^v-illiams. Decks (Aylesbury).-!, S. Mowbray. 2 J. C. Cooper he, ^^ P *"'^ ." y^ g nTrRQp—i ivlrs VVarburton. 2, J C. Cooper, he, K. P. ^J(,'^J**^'^°' ■*• *t Perrin; Mrs. WaiburtouT k°ss C. Chichester, Kunnamote, Koscommon. e. Mrs. M'Donnell. Glasnevin (2|. . „ „ „ .jn;,,,™. 7,^ K P Tf illiams ; H. OENiMEKTii. WATtKFOWi,.- 1 and 2, K. V. Williams, nc, it. f •J'iy'J""; -H\^s"-!^irv.'?,'.^/^dfer"iS«^^^ J. C. Cooper; Couniess of Tankerville^ e. h. Mowbray^ Grefham. 8, J. Wallace, Glasgow. H-ns.-l and S, J. Montgomery. 2, F. Gresham. he, E. Horner. , . i... .i „ i MnntanTnerv '' J.Wallace. , ??"H^?r^?^i£^''iT? Wa;iicl''2 a'^^dt'/'Mo^t^olSry'^c, e! joiner. '•^OUTERS lYeUow- Pied).-Coc/:,.-l and 2, J. Montgomery. Btn,.-1. S. MontgomeiT. 2, J. Wallace. 8, E.Ho'"" fc'^-Stj. Moo^«rme?y:'^rE; ^riJ!"^y^i.'^^^^'. "c, F. W. ZiirhorBt. , , ■ „\ r/i/.i-«_i J Lobore. 2, F. W. Zar- ho^r^r%",=j'.^^o^So=mrrr'H,riri*a-n?c,'F. ^vl'z^ufhorst. 8, T. Kule. ' ""^^i^ (B>ack..-Coc..-! and2 J-^Mc-ntgomery 8 J C Ord^^hc, Col. ^cfor^ks'^srrr^s.T^^.-cTpXfii"- ^' ^^-^ '• "■ ^■ Whealand. he. Col. Hassard. /• 0-n;7l Si''s°Street, Pimlico. 2, E. Horner. 8.''G^»rThfal£itSrk^--Jif J?Mrtg^rr; ;"i'ot'-Ha.sard. H.-.-l and !Sirfa^-l'fcofH^'S''.■2TX'^^h°ea?^^^^^^ ton. '''^.■'■»'™'S°™f,''-l"'cSn''a'Sf3 J. Ford, MonlmeU Street, Londom 2. ^&tr(fe?a%^or"SmW cup 2 and he, J. Montgomery. 8, J. Dowling. lSS^'SSH'J:.l^^rt%. A. Whealaud. S3^^:%^^:i^S:r:::ie.:::i JiCKS (Any other col.urj.-l, W. B. Van Baansoerfce^ Haafsbergen. =. =• *■ ^,f,'!:i 'j-'sha*TTand s'^Ei^A.^sfare'.*- 'hJ, k A. .eale ; E. Homer. ""t'-bS? -nn^slt A.lefl"'tH. L. Tivy. he, J. Fielding, inn. e, P. H. '''Swlk'(F?;e'tS.-f and ,, J. Fielding, iun. 8, E. Horner, he, P. H. Jones. '■S>.Ssfrng?£h).-! and CnP,T M^DonneU ^^^^^■J-^TUnoru:^i^!^ M.oP.ES.-l,J.Do,ling^ .^•l-gjtth New B^nti^et, London. 2. P. H 7„''nen°¥-G 'b^a^'he'l: l^-ntbC;' P H. Jones. e,E.Horner; S.Holroyd. ^°A\^Twl;Js.°ra'iiT8F.WZurhorst. 2 E^Horner. . g,,,.,^. ,.,. Ant (iTHEB VaKIXTT. — J, &• HUrutJ. f, v. w Thompson, e, T. M'DonneU ; H. Beldon. ^^^^^^^ , and i, E. A. Scale, vhe, E.^W-:St£"e:=i:^: M'^-Si'^Ef f c\^B^iE?^;S'^iMBn^B;.^L!Sp, W. B. FoUrPaIRS, EICLOSIVE OlPOt-TEKSjCiBBIEBS, _. , ^ .„ Van Haansbergen. 2, P. U. Jon Morton. 13, C4BBIERS, AM, V »", T, ^l,-,,/ 3, E. A. Scale, he, J. Dowling. ^uuu loojj. *" ^J "r "Brooke Shrawirdine. 2. H. Beldon. S, Mowbray. he^P.^nne, jlni-. ; Miss Brinkley, Cas.lenockj^ J.^Kchel, Jta- An K. Haxvkin, Seaham. e H, n J Massiy^ FmpCs 3, »• Mowbray. Iw, J. K. :SSSilr^vSo^'^:K^5^.M5^Sr^K^=; C. DiUon, Chapelizod. e, P. Smith ; Miss Marmion. SINGLE COOKS. , „ „ iTS-'irVr-s'^ASp.- l^on.^MS;"rieS^'/nt!^-S,°?fon. Mis. D. '"G^^'-il^c'wSrfey. 2,W. Johnston, he, C. A. Perrin (2); G.F.Ward, I, Hon. Miss D. Pennant, he, Hon. J. Massy ; Mrs. Warburton ; L. F. Pernn. e. Mrs. P. Taafle. Beaiimas (Light).-l, Capt. Downman. 2, J. C. Cooper. HovDANS.- 1, J. C. Cooper. 2, Withheld. '■— - ■'— ES.— 1, E. J. Poer. 2, J. C. Cooper. 3 (Penci!lea).-1,H. Beldon. 2, L. Stoney. 3 Spangled. -1,H. Beldon. 3, No competUion Bami GA^ Ba.xa^s '-iTud'O: W. Mo"rns-, DubhnTTc: G.;Maples^ jun , Waver- tree •^. Fn^ss, Rawtenstall; J. K. Robinson; Ashley & Maitland ; W. ^A.ToiBE''B'vAT.E4v?^lfj.\.MUner. 2, H. Beldon. he, Capt. Downman- A. B. Dick ; S. Mowbray. piQEONS PooTEBS (Blue Pied).-Cne!«..-!, J. Wallace. 2, f • G«? J™- '!„f : »J°^' ^■po™Ejf-(B!i?i=Prar-Coc^.-l, cup, and c, J. Montgomery. 2, F. ~AM.el,ow,._l,«,Sheria'it^Tf^orris. he,P.Smyth.Dublin^ " ZlfcUK (Bui) -L m' feh.rldZ'fcublin. 2, G. Young.Dublin. he, W. Done- Ni?wSYeliow o?Buff).-l, W. H. Culverhouse, Dublin. 2, J. Belton. he, P. Keari.8. «. F.Wrjsht, Dublin. j, F. W. Znrhorst. t>hc,3. LiZAEns(Green .-1 »"* <^' ^A.^Sj',. w H Cu iVerhouse. Morris. Dublin, he, J. Belton, Dublin (i I, vv .n v. CEESTED.-I, M. Sheridan. 2. ? ^'"S.^/' ns 2, Miss Millar, Monkstown. IZlrlluol S;^E"x^MurEn-Ind^», j!Morris. he, F. Wright; P. Quinn. ''p^^Si'/lGr^vO -l',^j'M?;ris. 2, Mr.. Staunton, Cappagh, Clondalkin. e,^pTM«un^n,°D\?lSr/o»ln-^Du^.,n ■ PAE4IEET3 OE OTHEB VaBIETUS.- 1, J. MorriS. BLACKBiBDS.-!,J^W.Kirwim 2,P.l!^«™^j Dalkey. he, P. Kearns. SEs"-?p'KeaSiT"il.'MriiublS"\"j,Missl«rin. e.M.M.DUU rorE'io^.IiTorh'ef^arTSy^^Tp^'K^a^ns". 2, T. Beatty, Dublin, e, P. ""™;BS.-r.^Edward Hewitt, Mr. E. Teebay, M.-. ^. B- Tegetmeier, Mr. J. Frame^ ^^^^^^ SELKIKK POULTBY SHOW. A. regards mimbers and quality t,his was the test Show ever ^Bt^i^M^iV^nwiii'^fhrg-&t?:n^^3^tfii^^ iliilsiiHii *^^E:"iV'i:S' wire"" fir'on -the whole, and both classes of n^ ,„f ^Pre vli^ good. The special prize was won by an ex- S«L Th fatle^tlreTf tie Dar-k variety. The Mme, fociereUn this class was very good and m excellent condition. Of the Silver-pencilled Samburghs only one pen was good, the rest being worthless; but the Golden were much better, and thetimeliecewas awarded to the tecond-pnze cockerel. Tto qnaueles of both colours were exceedingly good, and the special Januaiy 25, 1872 : JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 93 the most perfect that has been seen this season, and the pen was entered at the low price of £5. The Creve-Cceur cock which was first in the Variety class was awarded the special prize against Spanish ; and in Ducks the Aylesbury carried off the palm. The Selling class oSered an excellent opportunity for purchasers. If the classification was well canied out in poultry, it apphed much more forcibly to the Figeons. Tumblers, FantaUs, and Jacobins competed for the first special ; Carriers, Pouters, and the Variety class for the second; Nuns, Owls, and Turbits for the third ; and for the awards we refer to the hst In Tumblers Almonds were first and second, Piles third, and the quahty of head, beak, and eye was very good. There were but four entries of Carriers, but the first-prize pair were of high character in all points. Fantails, as may he expected across the border, were very good in style and carriage. Mr. Park won with a pair in the highest order. Those of Mr. Loversedge appeared to be considerably overshown and out of condition, doubtless pai-Uy owing to their long j om-ney. The first-prize Jaoobing were Red, veryioodin hood and chain; the second White a httle too open in chain, but otherwise perfect ; and the third good Reds. Nuns were good and the competition close : and the Owls one of the best classes in the Show, the first being Black Foreign, the second Whites, and the third Blue Enghsh. Of Turbits Blues were first and Reds second, both pairs being perfect, in the Variety class the first were Black German Letz, the second Ice Pigeon's, the third Black Barbs. Excellent Blue and White Dragoons, Ice, and Frillbacks were highly commended, and the ■Selling class was exceedingly well filled. . , , , -.v ti. Unfortunately the wetness of the first day interfered with the receipts at the gates. Spinish -1, J. Threahy, Bradford. 2 and 3, D. W.iugh, Melrose. 4 and c, J. ^l5o™1»«r-t Special, and 4, P. Hardie. Priesthangh. Hawici^ 2. J. White, -Warlaby. 3. H. Stephenson, Tillyfour. Aberdeen, he 3. M^thison ?<='^'I^- CMckem.-\. J. White. 2, D. Hardie. 3. W. Swann, Be-lhngton. 4, F. L. Koy, Nenthora. Kelso, c, J. Folheringham. DalVattie; A^nglis. i>„i,„„i, CocinN-CHiMi.-l and Special, J. White, Wh,tley, \^l'\^!'*-T,^i.'!o|S ° ' -Glasgow. 3. J. Brown, Hull. 4, R. H.nd. Morpeth, ^'t »;'J'„I- f'^S'"-, D BsIb«» POOTRI.-1, R Brownlie, Kirkcaldy. 2. R. Shield, Sf-lweU 3. D. Annan, Moonzie, Cupar, FUe. 4, J. Stuart, Helensburgh, he, H. Stephenson, ■"HlMBrRr.H^'-rtriWfTi-CfncifJfd-l, W. R. Parli, Abhotsmeadow, Melrose. 2?nd S^eSU pS"ScalSy. 3, R. Dicksoii. Selkirk 4 R Blackburn Morpeth Silrtr.pencmnL-% J. Ashworth. Burnley. 3. Lady SI Scott B„,^ iill, Selkirk. 4, J. Kerss, Selkirk. Gotdtn-!vangUd.-l,T. ^^^^•,^°lllrSS\l- ton 2 and Special, R. H. Ashlon, Mottram, Manchester 3. J; Sj""; ''f'5 BhieUa 4 an'l c R Dickson, ftc, Mrs, B. Sweeten. Penriih. itxlverwangica. -1 Ashtnn & Eooo;, Eroadbottoi, Mottram. 2 and 3, W. E. Park. 4, J. Ash- '^GlME-s'J;e?i',;fj*Br"ugh, Carlisle, I, R. Little, Carlisle. 2. J. Hod„on BraSd. 3 D. Hariey, Edinburgh 4, W Q.ice, B"""''. ';?'5'°Jj''Blairaaam —I.J.Hodgson. 2, D. Hariey. 3,J. Brongh. 4, Mrs. Stewart, Kelty, Blairadam. Ac.'j. W. Brockbank. Camforth. , „ „ ,■„ o r. H=rflie ■! R r- .»xx. n.v-Ti^Ta ninrk nr Urownlted — 1,R. Brownlie. 2, Ir. Hardie. 3, tj. To*id"lunder,fnrfrEoSunsr,lfndley.btley. he J. Archib^ G M'Millan. .Tedbursh: A. Button, Earlston ; G. Todd; J- Dick, t.L- Boy. J^Mss J M.Frew, Kirkcaldy; W.' Coutts, Selkirk .4«yortcrF„ric(!/.-l J. W.Brockbank. 2, R. Br..wnUe. 3, A. C Lang, Selkirk «A„^/i."""S^'^„,S„' Sutton. 2 and 4, R H. Ashton. S. Miss R. 0. Frew, ho, J. Archibald. AvT OTHER VAHIETY.-2 and Spccial, W. R. Park Oreve-CcEui). 3, J. Smith. ANY OTHER_VAHreTY.^^ ^^^^.p^ Carterhaugh. 3, F. E. Schofield, Morpeth. hive, particularly if it will induce masters to procm-e a hive as a pattern to show to their labourers. Cottac»utihil egg for SJe, appearance, and flayour, but they are dehcate cticiens to «^, aid they are scarecrows for a long time when moulting. Of the three breeds von mention, we should adyise Houdans. . . . .i ...j„« ^ Po^LTB? BDN AND HOUSES ( F. G. C-).-fou Can keep fowlsbythrowmg thA ^wo runs into one, thug making it 24 feet by 8 feet. It is a pity tne bnns^are^t iSr-her One is sSient for the number of fowls you can keep as f you have no other space you will not rear chickens If you have a spaces you must seek to provide them ''rtiAcif 7 ^i^bthatj^ch they gM m careful not to overfeed. JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Jamiarr, 25, 1872. Gabte Coce (C.J. S.). — We are disposed to believe you have one between a Black Bed and a Duckwing, or between a Black and a Duckwing. This latter cross is often tried where a tendency has been Bhown on the part of the Duckwing to throw white spots or grey feathers in the breast. The ob- jectionable parts are bred out, and sometimes the first crosses are sold. It may be you have one of them. DiSTiNGuisinNG THE Cock FROM Hen Guinea Fowl (J. fi".).— There is no certain test. The " comeback " is not one. The knob on the head of the cock is larger than that of the hen, and the gills are larger and drop lower. This cannot be depended upon, as those of an old hen sometimes become greatly developed. U it is intended to breed them, there is no certainty unless they are kept in pairs. Two Cocks with Forty-four Hens (TV. H. P.).— You want two more cocks now and for the nest month, after that one more would be enough, and in the hot weather two would do. Go on sitting now, and a week after the introduction of fresh cocks we should do so confidently. White Fowts (Tam.herUque).—YovLr fowls are Silkies. If they are thorough-bred they should have dark flesh and faces. It mar be they have a stain, but they are Silkies. The pure birds have a small top"-knot. They are good layers and exceUent sitters. TheT are much valued for sitting on Par- tridge and Pheasant eggs. Their chickens are the oddest and prettiest things imaginable, being like balls of white down. Ducks (C/iff).— Carolina Ducks are har-iier than . They feed freely wild Ducki barley, Indian com, and buck wheat. They do not require a large run. A few feet of grass extending from the water all round is the most they require . They should be pinioned, then they cannot fly. They are not wanderers. They breed freely in England. They will not make nests nor lay on the ground. They require small boxes shaped like dog-kennels, to be fastened on poles in the -^^ water, as in the accompanying figure. Theywilllayandbatchinthem. Pigeons "Going Light " (ij. H. ^eaftlc).— This disease, otherwise called consumption, has been sadly prevalent during the present season, possibly from the great damp. We believe there is no remedy known. We invite the opinion and experience of the fancy on this subject. Points in Nuns (Jarfc).— We believe the right number of dark feathers in each wing should be six, some say seven. Tour birds having more on one wing than on the other would not win. Their being free from black feathers inside their hood is a great excellence, also their having no foul feathers in the body. Breed on until you breed birds with a level number of flight feathers, and you will have a good chance of a good prize. Jacobins should not have white thighs. Canary and Goldfinch Cross (S. J. T^.}.— The age is immaterial, the main object being to get a hen from a strain which, from some inexplicable cause, has a tendency to throw birds more nearly allied to the Canary in plumac;e than to the i^ch. By far the greater proportion of Goldfinch Mules are dark, seli-coloured birds, not half so bright in plumage as the Finch himself; but where the Canary shows itself, either by giving brilliancy of colour to the naturaUy dark feathers of the self-coloured bird, or by causing it to break into a beautifully variegated specimen, the Mule becomes valuable according to the amount of brilliancy so bestowed, or the exactness of the markings ; or if the Mule be perfectly clear, a cock of good colour, il it have a bright blaze on its face the breeder may write himself down among the lucky men of the nineteenth century. I can give no opinion as to the best age for pairing Cana-ies. Breeders never wait for breeding stock to reach any particular age. You cannot go far wrong by following Nature, but put your birds up in the spring, about the time when they are beginning to make love out of doors. Young birds of last season will breed this year, and breeders are only too glad to _ get nests from them while in the heyday of their strength. I have read somewhere, I do not know where, that certain dis- parities in the ages of the sexes have a tendency to produce more cocks or more hens in a nest, as the case may be, but I have never recorded any statistics, and seldom relate any experience but my ovm. — W. a. Blakston. Canaries Unwell (H. C. TI'.).— The cage of the Canary No. 1 is infested with a very familiar friend (?), of the Canary breeder, a parasite which X was going to attempt a learned disquisition on the nuisance, but the truth is, I know nothing of the natural history and private life of these pests. I only know them by sight, and when they intrude am always desirous to cut the con- nection. I said parasites, and that, I apprehend, they must be. Ex nihil nihil fit, and I do not see how wood, wire, paint, and varnish can by any fortuitous combination produce animal life. They must emanate from the bird; but what they are, what they turn to (if they turn to anything at all), or whither they go, is more than I can say. When I get a visitation they usually go into boiling water. One year I put away some felt nests without eiamming them— very careless, I admit, but at the close of a busy eea=on one is glad to get the rubbish out of the way and clear np for moulting— and I found them some time after completely perforated, tunnelled by some long maggotty-looking worms, which I fancied were one form of the red insect, mite, spider, bug, or by whatever name it may be called. They con- gregate in masses round the inside of nests;, in cracks, between ca^es in con- tact, in any snug comer, and there they multiply and increase in a^'wonderful way. They do not show themselves, much till nightfall, when they emerge from their dens and feast on the blood of the Canary, and if a cage" infested with them be examined by candlelight, they may be* seen running over the feathers of the birds by scores, with a nimbleness and activity quite foreign to them in the daytime. . However, your cage seems to be infested with them, and the best thing will be to get rid of them, and study their natural history afterwards. This will best be dong by immersing it in boiling water, and afterwards varnishing it, taking care to rub the varnish well into the cracks by itself? Are the tips of the young feathers or by its knocking itself about ? From presi.nt state, I apprehend it has been >-rl (^yc-i and general debility point to II'' V, ;iv unless a change for the better baize or other warm stuff. and joints. Is No. 2 injured by any other bird peckiii the length of time it has been ' making a late moult. But the a state of things which can onl Cover it up entirely and place it m an extra warm place. Take away its water for half a day and replace the vessel with the surface well floated with castor oil. Feed on Canary seed only. — W. A. Blakston. Canary's Eye Blind (Laice).—Ji the complaint is of sis months' stand- ing, it says little for any prospect of recovery. It must be the result of old age, or causes other than temporary inflammation from cold. — W. A. Blak- ston. Husk in Canary (D. H.).— Give bread and milk, and hang in a warm place away from draughts. — W. A. Blakston. Nutt's Hive, &c. (SubscribeT's Sister).— V^rite to Messrs. Neighbour, 127, High Holbom. They can inform you better than we can. Unhealthy Hive (Alpha). — We should imagine yoiir bees have been suf- fering from dysentery. We shall be better able to advise you if you will farom' us with replies to the following questions. 1, Was the hive very light when you united the bees ? 2, How much food did you give ? 3, Do the bees fly out at all on warm days ? 4, "UTiat appearance and substance do the yellow combs (as you express it) present ? Various (Stultus).— The Mountain Finch, Bramble Finch, or Brambling, is the Fringilla montifringilla of ornithologists. Yon will find it described in Macgillivray'a " British Birds." Oatmeal and ground oats are not the same. We do not know what you mean by " an ordinaiy out-door grape," nor do yon say where your vine is growing. Melilotus leucantha (H. B. ,S.).— You must raise plants from seed* You can obtain it of any agricultural seedsman. All the clovers and melilota are good bee-flowers. Fixtures (W. B. S.).— You have no legal right to copper without your landlord's consent. the grate and METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, Camden Square, London. Lat. 51* 32^ 40" N. ; Long. 0 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feet. Date. *•"• In tit E DiY 1872. Hydrome- ter. Direc- tion of Wind. Temp. o( Soil at 1ft. Shade Tem- peratare Radiation Tempera- ture. i In On Dry. Wet. Max. Min. grass InobeB. des. dee. dest. de!!. del?. des. In. We. 17 S.E. 38.4 49.0 31.5 48.2 29,9 Th. 18 39 4 W.S W. 4' 1.3 46.4 41.2 71.4 37.2 Fri. 19 39 2 S.E. 40.1 44.8 36.2 60.6 S0.5 O.IIO 38.7 N. 39,5 42.0 37.5 48.2 34.8 San.21 29.716 37.2 E- S9.5 42 1 32.1 42 8 29.9 O.'ilO Mo. 22 29.579 S.E. 39 9 41.4 37.0 45.0 32 2 0 192 Tn. 23 28 971 456 44 0 S.E. 40.4 49.) 31.5 71.3 36.0 0.45 J Means 29.424 40.3 39.9 39 7 45 4 S6 3 53.9 33.2 1.162 REMARKS. I7th. — Very rainy morning, and so continued all day, the wind getting more and more boisterous till night, when it blew a gaft. 18th. — Fine morning, rain about noon, and in the afternoon, but fine between, and lovely night. 19th. — Beautiful bright sunny morning, dull afternoon, fine evening vr.th lunar halo at 5.30 p.m., but dull night. [night, 20th. — Wet in mommtj and showery during the day, fine evening and very fine 21st.^ — Slight mist early, then dry, rain at 0.40 p.m., fine afterwards, but damp and disagreeable. 22nd. — Stormy, dark, and damp all day. 23rd. — Wet and windy morning, but fine from noon, all the afternoon and evening. Lunar halo at 9.30 p.m., and rain at 10.30 p.m. Barometer re- markably low at 1 P.M., reading corrected and reduced to sealevel only 28.832. The week has been as damp and cloudjt a barometer very low, below 29 inches tw" 23rd at 1 p.m. 24th. — Shortly before midnight the barometer a^ain turned to fall; and at 4.47 A.M. on the 24th it was, corrected and reduced to sea level, only 28.332 inches being lower than for the last 25 years, and with, I believe, one exception the lowest for half a century. — G. J. Symons. COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— January 24. We have still an excess in the supply of rough out-door produce, and i duced prices have been the consequence. Forced vegetables are quite sufii- cient for the trade. Cornish Broccoli is very good. Consignments to us from Paris chiefly consist of salading ; the general trade with the Continent has been large this week. FRUIT. Apple Chestnuts bushel 10 Filberts lb. Cobs lb. Grapes, Hothouse.... lb. Gooseberries quart . d. B. d 2 Oto4 0 Len flOO 7 0 10 0 Melons each 2 0 3 0 Mulberries lb. 0 OtoO 0 Nectarines doz. 0 0 Co Oranges ^100 4 0 10 0 Pears, kitchen doz. 2 0 i V dessert doz. 8 0 8 0 Apple VEGETABLES. Artichokes doz. Asparagns 1M0O. Beans, Kidney per 10 1 Broad bushel Beet, Red doz. Broccoli bundle Brussels Sprouts. .J sieve Cabbage doz. Capficums ^ino Carro*9 bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Coleworts.. doz. bunches Cucambera each pickling doz. Garlic _ Herbs bunch Horseradish bundle Leeka bunch 0 St Lpttuce....'. d.»z. 1 n Mushrooms pottle 1 0 Mustard & Cress, .punnet 0 2 Qpions bushel 2 0 picklinfT quart 0 6 Parsley per doz. bunches 3 0 Parsnips doz. 0 9 Peas quart 0 0 Radishes., doz. bunches 0 Rhubarb b_- ndie 1 Savoys doz. 0 Sea-Kale basltet 1 Shallots lb. 0 Spinach bushel S Vegetable Marrows, .doz. 0 0 0 0 Febraary 1, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day Clock 1 Day ! before | of Son. lear. \ Month Week. FEBKDABY 1—7, 1872. tare near London, is years.' Rises. Sets. Rises. Sets. Age, Day. Niffht. Mean. Days. 1 m. h. m. h. m. h. 1 m. h. Davs. m. 8. I 1 Th Partridge and Pheasant Shooting ends. U.i 32.0 88.2 1 14 42af7 46 aH mom. , 30 10 22 13 48 1 82 2 F u.a 31.5 c 3 S 45.0 30.7 37.9 ; 20 39 7 50 4 59 1 13 11 21 4 45.0 32.8 38.9 20 37 7 52 4 20 3 43 11 25 5 M 45.7 3:1.5 89.6 20 1 35 7 54 4 41 4 after. 26 14 14 36 6 To 465 82.6 89.6 , 21 ! 34 7 1 55 4 53 5 24 1 27 14 19 37 1 7 W 46.9 33.0 39.9 21 32 7 57 4 54 6 37 2 28 From observations taken near London during forty-three years, the average day temperature of the week is 45.4° ; and its night temperature 33.3<'. | The greatest heat was iV, on the 3rd, 1850 ; and the lowest cold 19^ on the 5th, 1830. The greatest fall of ram was 0.67 inch. ! WHY DO GEAPES PAIL? t'li^s© E agi-ee witli the epigi'ammatie remark of ,_ „' -M fl Mr. Pearson (page 17) that " a man may miss his way in the cultivation of a new kind of fruit without being exactly a fool." There are cu'cumstances connected with the cultivation of the Vine which even the best gardeners do not think of or cannot conti'ol, and therefore it becomes eveiy- one to speak with some degi-ee of diffidence and modesty in condemning new kinds of Grapes till they have had a fau' trial, and the gi-eatest skill has been exhausted upon them unsuccessfully. To the uninitiated it seems veiy bewildering that at one place Mrs. Pince's Muscat, for instance, is gi-own in the greatest perfection, while at another place only a few miles distant it proves a complete faUui'e, after having tested the best exertions of its owner in its favour ; and such is the case. Instances of this not only in regard to this Grape but to many others may be fiu-nished ; but it is rash in those who fad, to condemn in uumeasm-ed terms, as has been too frequently the case lately, those varieties which, from whatever caiise, they cannot gi'ow. It would be well worth while, and much advantage might result fi-om the mquu-y, to ascertain where certain kinds of Grapes succeed and where they fail ; then to set an investigation on foot as to the soils of the districts whert they are gi-own. A gi-eat deal has been said about the fonnation ot Vine borders ; much has been written about them, and some shai^p controversies have taken place on the subject. In almost aU, if not aU, the in- structions as to how a Vine border is to be made, we are told to " take the top spit of an old pasture." Now, in this top spit of an old pastm'e resides many a success and many a failm'e. Have those who so uni'eser\-edly ad\ise taking the top spit of an old pasture ever reflected what that really means, and to what results theh advice must unfaihngly lead ? Let us take a few spits fi'oin the sm'- face of old pastures — one from Hampstead Heath, and another from Bagshot ; one at Oxfoi'd, another at Cam- bridge ; from the Weald of Sussex, and from the Forest of Exmoor ; fi-om a valley in the Cheviots, and fi-om the banks of the Tyue ; fi-om Ipswich, fi-om Jlatlock, and fi-om Abei-j-stwith. Analyse these separately, and we shaU find in them substances as various in then- mechanical and chemical composition as it is possible for them to be. Now, while thex-e ai-e varieties of the Vine that wdl grow more or less successftilly in aU these kinds of soO, there are others much more capricious, and wliich requu-e to be studied in this particular if then- gi-eatest merits are to be brought out. The vhincrona of Europe liave long ago discovered that to get tlae greatest good fi-om certam varieties they must be grown on certain soils. The plants that produce the finest gi-owths of Champagne are not grown on the rocky steeps and vaUey slopes of the Ehine ; and those which supply the vaunted Johaunisbergs and Eiidesheimers are very different fi-om those yielding the Monti-achet of Bm-gundy and the Yquene of the Gironde ; No. K6,— Vol. SXIL, New Semes. while the Cai-menet, the Malbeo, and the Verdot, to which we are indebted for the famed Margaux, La Eose, and Lafitte, are entu-ely ignored in Burgundy, where they would fail to yield the equaUy famed Eomanee Conti, Chambertin, and Clos Vaugeot fiu-nished by the httle Noii-ien and Pineau. It is, therefore, evident that to insure success in the cultivation of the Vine, om- growers must give more heed to the composition of the soils of which their borders are made ; and also to leai-n the kind of soil in which the different varieties are found to suc- ceed best. One of the Grapes, respecting wliich regrets are fi-equent because it is so difficult to .grow, is the Mus- cat Hambm-gh, one of the most exceUeut varieties known in regard of flavom-. This has the reputation of being in some places a bad grower, in others a bad setter, and not unft-equentlybad to colour. A few years ago we sent it with others, then new here, to the south of France, where it is now being largely grown in %Tiieyards on the scloistoze spm-s of the Pyrenees, and where neither in point of gi-owth, fertUity, colom-, nor flavoiu- does it leave anything to be desired. There, then, is a proof that the Muscat Hamburgh dehghts in a sod. foi-med of the rocks of the primai-y fonnation. No doubt many other Grapes requh-e special soils and treatment, and it is to attain a knowledge of these that gardeners ought to direct their attention. We have been led to make these observations in con- sequence of a tendency exhibited by some wiiters lately to run down and disparage some of the new Grapes recently introduced, merely because of then- own or of others' failm-es to grow them. Not content with depre- ciating the Grapes, they even point inuendoes at the raisers and introducers of them ; inuendoes that cause honourable traders to shi-ink and reproach themselves . that they have been the means of (hsseminatiug such worthless commothties. Nothing can be more unfau- and unguarded. Such conduct acts as a check to enterprise, anil a discouragement to experiment. It is hasty, thought- less, and misoliievous. If gi'owers would content them- selves with simply giving then- experience, and stating all the cu-cimistances under winch the fi-uit was produced, others might leai-n what to do and what to avoid ; but an unqualffied condemnation merely on the ground of indi-vidual fadm-e, though it may not bring the wiiter under the charge of what Mr. Pearson calls being " a fool," lays him open to be considered extremely foohsh. AMARYLLIS AND HIPPEASTEUM CULTURE. The plants to winch I woiUd now caU the attention of amateurs are usually to be found in gardens rmder the name of Anaarylhs, although it would, perhaps, be more con-ect to place them in the genus Hippeasti-um. The ti-ue members of the former genus are mostly natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and have but few representatives in the gardens of Em-ope, whilst the latter, although nearly allied and almost similar in appearance, are mostly found in tropical America and the various West Indian islands, and, together with the hybrid foi-ms to which they No. 121S.— Vol. XLVn., Old Seeies. 9G JOUENAIi OF HOETICULTITEE AND COTTAGE G.AEDENER. [ Febraary 1, 1872. have given rise, are happily more frequently to be met with in oiu' plant stoves, and upon oui' exhibition tables, but, certamly, much less frequently than they deserve to be. I think, there- fore, it is quite time the subject should be agitated through the pages of the Journal, in order to arouse the latent fire of those who were once admirers of these plants, but who may have been seduced from then' old love by more popular modern beauties, also to endeavour to enlist young rising amateurs in the ranks of the Hippeastrum-growers. If any of my readers think it an innovation on my part, or refuse to relinquish the name Amaryllis from what I have said, I no more wish to ask them to do so than I have means to en- force it; but I do saj'. Grow these plants extensively, call them whatever you please, but cultivate them largely, and hybridise them also, so that some of your feUow labourers may be glad- dened with the sight of new forms. Those amateurs who deUght in grand showy flowers should lose no time in adding some of these plants to their collections, for they are most accommodatmg in their nature, and are very easily managed. They are equally suitable for growing and flowering in the stove, greenhouse, or fernery; but those who have the advantage of a stove temperature and a moderate quantity of bulbs may, with a httle management in arranging the succession, enjoy the beauties of these gorgeous flowers every month, if not every week, in the year, thus giving a more brilliant return for the little attention bestowed than some plants do for a whole season's unremitting care. I do not wish, be it irnderstood, to advocate the culture of those plants only which require little attention ; for if I know any- thing of the genuine love of plants after twenty-six years' courtship, I must say I have yearned for the health of, and fondled most, the very plants that I have found most difBcult to manage. With amateurs, however, in many instances, the case must be very different ; for if it be only possible to devote to then- plants a certain amount of time daily, then it behoves them, if success is looked for, to cultivate those plants only which can accommodate themselves to the limited time at their disiiosal. These plants, I am sorry to say, are treated in what appears to me a very irrational manner, for in a state of nature the bulbs gi'ow below the surface of the soO, but under cultivation they are placed upon the top, or at most only partially covered, but the reason for such a change I never heard satisfactorily ex- plained. That they wiU grow with us and flourish when treated in a natural manner is an undeniable fact, and certainly they then present a more elegant appearance than they otherwise do. Again, when the growing season is past, the usual prac- tice is to tmTi tlie pots upon their sides, and completely dry up the roots ; nay, some even go to a greater extreme and turn the bulbs out of the pots, placing them upon dry shelves. This I cannot help thinking most unnatural treatment, and one of the reasons why we do not see much improvement from year to year in these plants. Friends of mine, who have col- lected them, have assured me that in the drj' season they have dug out the bulbs with their roots deep down amongst the moist soil, and quite active. That under similar treatment Ama- ryllids thrive with us I may cite my old favourite A. Belladonna, which, when planted in the open groimd, especially under a wall, grows and flowers most luxuriantly, each year only serving to increase its vigour and the number of its flower-scapes ; yet plants exactly similar, but not rejoicing in such a hardy con- stitution, have the majority of their roots dried up every sea- son, and, consequently, are prevented from displaying them- selves in their best aspect. The method I adopt in the cultivation of these bulbs, and which has led to very successful results, is to pot them below the surface of the soil, usiug for this purpose a compost consisting of two parts good turfy loam, one part leaf mould, and one part thoroughly decomposed manure, adding to the whole sufiicient sand to make it feel gritty when taken in the hand. The most suitable time for repotting I consider to be immediately after the flowers fade. During the growing season they enjoy a Uberal supply of both heat and moisture, and therefore the drainage must be perfect. Growth completed, and the leaves showing signs of de^ay, water should be gradually withheld; and when the plants have become dry, inure them by degrees to a lower temperature, untU ultimately they may be placed in a cold pit. AVhile there no water should be given, but a little water may occasionally be poured into the pit between the pots, by which means I have generally preserved most of the roots, so that when the plants begin to push up their flowers there are active mouths all ready to supply nutriment to the awakened plant. In drawing my remarks to a close, I wiU add a few names of Idnds I have grown, with the colours of their flowers, to assist some of my readers in making a selection. At the same time it must be understood there exist an immense number of hybrid forms, although they are somewhat difficult to procure. This drawback to then- culture is, however, fast fading away, as several of our leading London nurserymen are devoting their energies both to the introduction of species and of good hybrid kinds. ia Beaute. — A beautiful white flower, the segments striped with crimson. Gravianum. — Groimd colour orange red, base of flowers light, segments striped with wliite. Sir John Franklin. — Greenish yellow, with deep drimson edges. International. — Segments very long; flowers light, striped with rosy pink. Lion des Combats. — Ground colour white, segments flaked and striped with crimson. A superb flower. Pardinum. — This is a very beautiful species from Pern. Flowers large, gi-ound colour creamy yellow, (lotted with reddish crimson. Beaute sans Pareille. — Ground colour dark crimson, base greenish yellow, segments striped with white. Princess Alexandra. — A superb, large, crimson flower, base gi'een, segments striped with reddish pm-ple. Ackcmiannii pulcherrimum. — Ground colour rich deep crim- son, beautifully veined witli green. Alberta flore-pleno. — Flowers bright orange, double. Intro- duced by an intimate friend of mine from Cuba. William Pitt. — A superb variety, of good form ; white, seg- ments striped with rich vermilion. Aurora. — ^Bright orange, segments striped with white. Very handsome. Cleopatra. — A superb flower, large, and of good form ; orange scarlet, streaked with crimson. Calyptratum. — Flowers orange red, with light base. Eldorado. — A fine, large, white flower, the segments striped with cerise, and shaded with purple. Pijrrochroum. — A newly introduced species from Brazil. Flowers very fine, reddish scarlet in colour, base greenish yellow. Striatum superbum. — Ground colour deep red, segments streaked with white and green. Beaute sans Rival. — A superb large flower, ground colour rich orange, streaked and mottled with white. — EspERTO Ceede. GEAFTING. Is the course of a few weeks the time will have arrived for grafting operations to be commenced. With us in this coimtry the forms of the process of grafting are few and simple. We have first the ordinary whiiJ-grafting, cleft-grafting, inarch- ing, and budding. These are what are generally practised among us, with here and there a fanciful form introduced by some ingenious operator. The French are more elaborate and diffusive in this operation than we are. Whole treatises have been WTitten on the subject, forming good-sized volumes, and among these the most recent are those by Abbe Dupuy and M. Charles Baltet. We had occasion not long ago to notice this work of M. Baltet, which is at once concise, full, and practical. In it we have every conceivable variety of the graft fuUy explained, and as M. Baltet had the kindness to furnish us with Ulustratious of the most important forms of grafting, we have much pleasure in lajing them before our readers, with the descriptions taken from the original work. Inaechixg {GrrJI'age par approche) is the oldest of all. From time immemorial Nature has furnished examples of it m the forests and hedges, where it is met with in trees united by their roots or branches through being long in close contact and by continued friction. Inarching consists, then, in unit- ing two trees by their stems or their branches. In some cases it is a branch of a tree that will be grafted on to the tree itself. The time of inarching begins with the movement of the sap and finishes with it — from March to September. The stock and the graft may be either in the woody or herbaceous state ; in whatever condition, the operation is the same. In inarch- ing it is not necessary to remove the leaves from the graft, as in other systems, because the graft remains in conjunction with the parent tree when it is joined to the stock. A sUce of the wood and bark is made on the stock and on the graft, the same in both, so that the two parts will fit and unite intimately. To facUitate the union a ligature and grafting-wax are appUed ; a stake is added if two distinct trees are to be dealt with. February 1, 1372. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 97 After a year or less of growth, wlien the bond is complete, the graft is separated. [There are five forms of inarching treated on by M. Baltet, some of which differ so slightly from each other that we con- sider it not worth while to illustrate the whole. The first is what he calls " in placagc,'' and consists in merely removiug a slice of bark and wood from the stock and graft respectively, and binding the naked surfaces close together by a ligature of bast, cotton, or wool, and protecting it either with grafting •clay or wax. The second is what he calls " en incrustation." Two sloping cuts are made on the graft, so as to form an angle, aud a corresponding angular cut is made into the stock to receive the scion, which, when bound together as described above, unites with the stock. The three following are so dis- tinct we shall treat them separately.] Is.iiicHraG,theEnghshway (Grejfe par approchea I'Anglaise). — Fi;!. 1. Over and above the Ugature the graft can be made ;stUl safer by making on the two naked surfaces where the bark -has been removed a set of correspondiug tongues (a aud b). "which are united as in c. If a slow union is dreaded the stock is headed-dowu at the time of inarching, aud the graft appUed on the top. BuTiRESs-isARCHixG (Grcffage par approche en arc-houtant). — Employed more especially for the restoration of plants, this mode of inarching is equally useful for propagation, and is practised from April till July. The chief difference between "this and the preceding consists in heading-down the graft, tree, ■or branch, and introducing it under the bark of the stock. The graft being topped aud cut slantingly, thin at the tip under the shoot or terminal branch, > at is inoculated on to the stock by means of an incision — thus, X, made in the bark. The position of the incision is regulated ac- •cording to the length of the graft, but about three-quarters of an inch lower, in such a manner that, to introduce the graft it is slightly bent from above downwards to give it a returning motion ; then slide it under the bark of the in- cision as if it should act like a buttress. The two principal modes of buttress-inarching are only appU- cable during spring and summer. BUTTEESS-ISARCHINC^ WITH A BcD (Grcffe en arc-boutant avec ceil). — Fig. 2. The bud being chosen as a terminal shoot, we cut the graft (s) in a flat slanting direction, aud introduce it imder the bark of the stock (x), where it has been raised (v). BcTTRESs-rNAECHiSG WITH A BRANCH (Grcffc en arc-houtant ai-ec rameau). — Fig. 3. The graft (l) bearing an adventitious shoot wiU be shortened about three-quarters of an inch by a flat sloping cut (n) on the opposite side from the shoot ; care must be taken to reduce the thickness of the slant, except at the point, and not to remove the leaves neither of the branch nor the graft. The stock is a distinct tree (o), bearing the graft-branch. The incision (p) is made in such a way as that the graft will be inserted as represented at R. The shoot (m) is preserved entire, or shortened to two eyes, according to its Fig. 2. Fig. 3. length. It is called an adventitious shoot if it is produced in the current year on an herbaceous graft-branch ; then the graft- ing should have been done in summer. It is called young wood in the spring on the woody graft-branch, or the graft- branch of the preceding year. In that case the gi-af ting should have been performed from April to June. [Buttress-inarchiug is a safe and excellent mode of renewing detects in trained trees where the symmetr3' ol the tree is an object of consideration with the cultivator. It not uufrequeutly happens that a tree of great beauty of form suffers by the loss of a branch either by the vicissitudes of the season or by acci- deut ; iu such cases it is most desirable that some remedy should be available, aud there is no better method of repairing such injuries than by this method of buttress-inarchiug.] — Baliet, L'Art de Greffer. SUCCESSIONS OF VEGETABLES.— Xo. 6. CAULIFLO'WERS. E.vRLY London. — A good early kind, with fine medium-sized heads, not very close, but white and good. Sow August 20th, February 1.5th, and March 6th in gentle heat ; on March 15th under a south wall ; April 6th and 26th, and May 20th. Early Dwarf Mammoth, or Froqmore Forcing. — Sow Au- gust 20th ; on Februarv 15th and March 15th iu gentle heat ; on March 20th under a south wall ; -ipril 6th aud 26th, and May 20th. E.uiLY Dwarf Erfurt. — Plant dwarf aud compact ; heads large, white, compact, and excellent. Sow August 20th ; March lyth in gentle heat; March 20th on a south border; April 6th and 26th, and May 20th. Walcheren. — Heads large, not very close, but white and good. S.)W August 20th; March 15th in gentle heat; April 6th and 2uth, and May 20th. ST.ADTHOLDER. — Heads large, compact, and solid. Sow Au- B^ist 20th, AprU 6th and 26th, and May 20th. Asiatic. — Very large close heads. Sow March 20th under a, south wall ; April 6th aud 26th, and May 20th. Lenormasd's. — Large close heads. Sow March 20th under a south wall ; April 6th aud 26th, and May 20th. Yeitch's Autumn Giant. — Heads large, compact, firm, and ■hite ; distinct from all others, and a valuable acquisition. Sow August 20th, April 6th and 26th, and May 20th. Here we have eight sorts, and all good. Four will be suffi- cient for most gardens, and those which I consider best are Karly London, Walcheren, Stadtholder, and Yeitch's Autumn Giant, and Early Dwarf Mammoth (Frogmore Forcing), for growing iu pots in cool houses, also under hand-glasses. The most useful of aU is Walcheren ; by sowing it on August 20th, September 7th, February loth, March 15th, iu gentle heat ; on March 20th under a south wall ; and on .AprU 6th, May 20th, and June 7th it affords a supply of good heads from the close of May to the January foUowiug. Indeed I have now iu a south border plants each with a head the size of the closed hand, and these, if taken up, laid in a cooljilace, and protected from frost, keep good a month or six weeks. I am also persuaded a like result would be attained by frequent successional sowings o£ Yeitch's Autumn Giant, a much superior variety ; but I have a OS JOUEN.U, OF HORTICULTUEE AXD COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ Febniory 1, 1872. lilting for different sorts, and d& not wish to confine myself to one, for though I have known a gardener who could not be induced to grow more than the never-failiug Walcheren, I should be unwilling to resort to the retarding of the plants, &o., needed to keep up a succession between the August-sown and the spring-sown plants. Now, at the August 20th sowing I consider it well to sow Eai'ly Dwarf Mammoth, or Frogmore Forcing, and Early London ; the former to be potted early iu October, and grown in a cool house with plenty of air and hght. Place the plants first of all in 3-inch pots, and when these are full of roots, or early in January, shift into G or 7-inch pots. In these they may remain untU March, or if the weather is severe uutU earlj' in April, when they may be turned out ui pits or under hand- glasses, and, if they could have the benefit of a gentle bottom heat, say 2 feet of tree leaves and dung, would produce flue heads iu May or early iu June, according to the weather, succeeding the late Broccoli. Instead of adopting this method, the plants early in October may be pricked off about 3 inches apart in frames or under hand-glasses, and be planted out on a warm exposure in March or April. Whether in frames or under hand-glasses, the jilants cannot have too much air, but must be protected from frost, keeping them close and in the dark while they are frozen. Iu spring those under hand-glasses may be thinned-out to thi-ee or four, and the plants left should be earthed, have the lights or glasses raised on bricks as they grow, and be watered in di-y weather. They will be the first to come in at the beginning of June, and will le followed by those planted out from the frames or hand-glasses. At the August sowing sow also Walcheren and Veitch's Autumn Giant, so as to make sure of there being no break in the succession. They should be pricked-oif in frames, and planted out in spring. These will come in at the end of June or early part in July, and with the Autumn Giant will keep up a supply untU those sown iu heat come iu. The plants raised in heat iu spring should have a mild hot- bed, be only a few inches from the glass, and be kept cool at their' tops. If at any great distance from the glass and in any great heat, they will all go off at the stem or " blackleg," and they are then useless. Prick them off when they show a pair of rough leaves, either iu the same bed or in one equally cold, and keep them ouly gently growing. They should be planted out when large enough. The heads will come into use about the middle of July, and as we sow early and later kinds a continuous succession will be maiutamed. The jjlants of the spring and early summer sowings should be pricked-off about 2 inches apart when large -enough to handle, and be planted out when about 6 inches high, or with half a dozen leaves. It is a good plan to take them up and plant with a trowel, instead of pulling them up and planting with a dibble, as then they do not esperience so great a cheek, and ai'e not so liable to button. In dry weather they should have an abundance of water, and liquid manure should be poured between the rows once or twice a-week. Of all the crops that from the May somug is the most impor- tant, as it is that which affords the autumn supply. They should be planted out by the middle of July, and I pu t in a good breadth early ui August to make sure of a late supply until the winter Broccoli comes in. From the first planting the heads are fit for use early in October, and to insure a lengthened supply a^ number of plants with close heads about half developed should be taken uji, laid in earth in a sheltered place, and be covered with straw mats or other covering in severe weather. From the last planting wo obtain heads in November, and later iu mild weather, and the plants taken up and laid-in afford a supply uutU January, or afterwards if protected from frost. An open shed is an excellent place, but they should be covered with straw in severe weather. The Cauliflower season may be said to commence early in June, and in the south in May, continuing untU November or frost; and by taking up, laying-in, and affording protection it may be prolonged until January. For small gardens,' Early Dwarf Mammoth and Dwarf Erfurt are recommended, with Veitch's Autumn Giant for late use. It deserves a place in all gardens. One ounce of seed of four of the kinds named is sufiicient for a garden of two acres, with a packet of Autumn Giant additional ; 2 ozs. for a garden of one acre, and so on in pro- portion downwards. BEOCCOLI. Snow's Superb Winter White. — This is a very good sort. Sow at the end of March or early iu April, and again on May 10th. The heads fi-om the first sowing will come iuto use in December, and continue so until February ; and the second sowing will be ready in January or Februai-y if the weather be mild. •Backhouse's Winter White Protecting. — Heads largc^ white, and compact. It is earher, hardier, and more self-pro- tecting than Snow's, and is a most desirable kind. Sow it in the second or third week of March for heading in December,, and again in the second week of April for heading in January- and successionally. Malta. — A dwarf-growing kind; heads medium-sized, com- pact, and white. Sow April 10th. It is in use early in March. *Veitch's Spring White. — Dwarf and compact-gi'owiug,. heads medium-sized, close, and white. Sow April 10th. It. heads early in March. Dilcock's Bribe. — Of dwarf, compact growth; heads large, compact, and white. Sow April 10th. It heads at the eud of March or begiuning of AprU. *Elletson's Surprise. — Of dwarf, compact growth, with large, close heads. Sow April 10th. It is in use iu April and- May. D.u,MENY Park May. — Dwarf, hardy ; heads, large, close, anS white. Sow April 10th. It comes in during May. •Lauder's Superb Late Goscben. — Habit dwarf; heads, large, close, and excellent. Sow April 10th. It comes into use about the middle of May, and heads until June. I have omitted the Cape, Purine, &c., as I have found that with a supply of CauUflowers iu summer and autumn, and good close heads of Broccoli in winter, spring, and early in summer, they are not cared for, and, indeed, they only take up the room wanted for subjects in greater demand. Half an ounce of each of the four kinds marked with art asterisk (*) are sufficient for a garden of two acres, and half that quantity for a garden of one acre ; but to insure a supply it is necessary to grow the four kinds. The soU for Broccolis should be in good heart, the situation open, and the distance between the plants ought not to be- less than 2 feet, more if the land has been enriched with fresh dung. Tiiey should be jjlanted out early in July, and, with the exception of the early-heading kinds, laid in or down at the end of October or beginning of November. — G. Abbev. GLEICHENIA BUPESTRIS CULTURE. A leisure half-horn', what shall I write about ? I have so many favourites that I scarcely know which to select — I will decide to wi-ite a few lines on the successful growth of that beautiful Fern Gleichenia rupestris. In taking a walk round the fernery just now my eyes lighted on my favourite, and the thought struck me that no lover of plants could look upon it without admu-iug it — not that it is a gigantic plant (it is 4 feet in diameter, by 2 feet high), but be- cause of its perfect health and its exquisite foUoge and growth. It forms a mass of beautiful light green fronds, hanging grace- fully down over the pot in which it is growing. The thought struck me when looking at and admu-ing this beautiful plant, How is it that we so rarely see Gleichenia rupestris exhibited by amateurs ? Is it because of its costliness ? No. What, then ? Because of unsuccessful treatment and failm-e in its culture. For my own part I have never bad the least difficulty in growing this beautiful Fern, as I have had before several plants as good as that referred to, and much larger specimens of some of the other species. Shall I say it is difficult to grow? No, quite the reverse; it grows, in common phrase, Uke a weed, and yet we do not see it generally exhibited or grown, I have no hesitation in saying that it is more through ignorance of its proper treatment than o^\'ing to the expense of the plant that we do not frequently see it grown and exhibited. I will state- as plainly as I can my mode of treatment, and if it is rustru- mental iu helping to success any fellow plant-lover who may have failed in gro-wing this beautiful Fern, I shall feel myself amply repaid for my leisure half-hour's -m-iting. We] will suppose that we have just T^urchased a healthy young plant from the nursery ; to shift it at once would perhaps be hardly advisable, at least I should prefer to let it alone for a week or two after having it home, uutU it showed signs of fresh growth. Then prepare the soU ; I have always found the- following the best : two-thirds good fibrous peat, and one-thml good, turfy, half rotted yellow loam, with a free admixtirre of sUver sand, and small lumps of charcoal the size of a walnut, mixed well together. Prep;u-e the pot by fiUhig one-tlurd of its depth with crocks, putting the larger crocks underneath, and a good quantity of small ones on the top ; put over these a layer of sphagnum moss, or if this is not at hand a layer of the roughest of the soU ; fiU up -with the compost, and place Fetouai-y 1, 1S72. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 99 the plant so that the crown or rhizomes may be about half au inch bolow the rim of the pot, fill iu round them, and giye the pot two or three smart taps on the potting-boai'd or floor ; afterwards press the soil firmly all over. Do not bury the rhizomes, but rather let them be close on the top of the soil. Let the sui-face be finished off rather smoothly, and the potting is done. I generally allow a liberal shift, so that the rhizomes may have room to run. The potting completed, place the plant iu an any part of an intermediate house ; do not allow the sun to shine upon it, but let it have as much light as you can. Water it for the first three or four times with a fine-rosed watering pot, so that the soil may settle about the roots. AU is now complete, and with a little care in its tre.itmeut you will soon have a beautiful plant. I may add that I do not think any of the Gleiohenias re- quire half so much heat as many are accustomed to give them ; in fact, some of them will thrive in a cool house, and be far more satisfactory than in too much heat. — T. B. THE BENEDICTINE, EDGABLEY, AND ESPEEINE PEARS. I WAS very much surprised to see my name meutioued in a footnote in your .Jom'nal, respecting the Glastonbury Pear. I beg to say iSir. Sampson's statement with regard to my having raised it is incorrect. I certainly gave him the grafts and some of the fruit, at the same time telhug him I believed it came from a wilding growing iu an orchard hedge at the back of my garden. I should feel psirticularly obliged by your contradict- ing his statement as to its being raised from a cross between any particular Pears grown by me. — W. G. L. Lovell, Montague Villa , Wvston-supcr-Mare. As to the Edgarley Pear being identical with the Esperiue I have strong doubts, and may say that I am almost certain that it is not — that is, if the trees sold to me by Mr. Sampson under the name Benedictine came originaUy from the Edgarley. But the parentage given by Mr. Sampson precludes this idea. Mi-. Sampson gives the Princess of Wales as one parent and Van Mons as the other, a parentage of which I have grave doubts. Again, as totheEdgarley andEsperine being thesamel have the same doubts, although Mr. Rivers says that Mr. Porch saw a Pear which he considered to be the same as the Edgarley ai Mr. Young's nursery at Taunton, " and that, therefore, the Edgarley Pear is French, and the true Esperine." Perhaps Mr. Young obtained grafts from Edgarley before Mr. Porch know the tree. Mr. Rivers's remarks would make us suppose that Mr. Porch obtained the tree at Taunton, but Mr. Porch's re- marks go to prove the contrary. Again, the Esperine first fruited with Van Mons in 1824, or thereabouts, and could not well be planted at either Taunton or Edgarley until 1830, and then as a very young tree ; it would now be about forty-two years old, and the oldest inhabitant must have a short memory if he cannot recollect so far back as forty years ago. In fact, I agree with the Editors that we are in a sort of fog about these Pears, and that the two cannot well be the same. I think Mr. Lovell, Mr. Sampson, and Mr. Porch, should combine to clear away the mist. — J. Scott. P.S. — Is Mr. LoveU's tree a seedling, or was it grafted from the Edgarley one ? STORING CELERY. I HEAR the question frequently asked, How to protect Celery irom damping and rotting off ? The system I have adopted •this season has been most successful. At the end of November I took up two rows of Incomparable White, and stowed it away iu a moderately damp cellar in sand. The last stick was used yesterday {.January 2(jth), and was as fresh as the day on which it was taken up. At the end of December I took up two rows of Manchester Rod, and treated it in a similar manner, the first stick of which was used to-day. It was equally good and crisp. I shah take up two more rows as soon as we have a couple of dry days in succession, and I have no doubt the 'Celery will be fresh and crisp in April, or later. I send you this information, behoving that so simple a mode of preserving ■so useful au esculent is not generally known. — Hesby Smith. Sidney Seed- sower. — A larger and improved form has now ft)eeii prepared by Mr. Cox, the inventor. The improvement is that the seed-sower now delivers freely, and without chokiug, wrinkled or square-sided Peas. There are other advantages also : the larger size is more useful in large gardens for all sized seeds, also for market gardeners and for farmers for fiUing-in blank places in fields. NEW (ENOTHEEA. As is then- custom at the opening of the new year, our con- temporaries of the horticultural j)ress have in recent issues placed before their readers elaborate notices of our gains in the way of new plants, fruit, and vegetables dm-iug the past year — all very exhaustive, no doubt; but yet we looked in vain among theu' notes for any aUusion to a charming novelty whose ac- quaintance we made last year, and which, we submit, has strong claims to be regarded as Al among the cream of hardy flowering plants. We allude to a new dwarf Qiuothera, from Utah, which we saw m flower at Glasnevin last year, and for the introduction of which, as of so many other choice plants, we are indebted to Dr. Moore. Calling at the gardens one evening last summer, while walking round with Dr. Moore, he asked. Had we seen the new CEnothera? Being answered in the negative, he led the way to the lock-up garden or sanctum, where one is sure at all times to meet somethuig new, very rare, or of much botanical interest. On this occasion, how- ever, all else was forgotten in admiration of the lovely little transatlantic gem to which Dr. Moore iutrod .eel us. Looked at m the quiet stillness and shadows of a summer evening's close, with its cu'clet of large pure white flowers, raised verticaUy above the foliage, on long, slender tubes, and ex- panding their broad fau' bosom to the cooling moonbeams, this lovely plant presented an appearance altogether unique and striking. This plant is altogether unique amongst its congeners as regards habit and appearance. The best of the latter, as, for instance, CE. missourensis, ffi. Lamarckiana, Ac, though showy as regards flowers, are of a gawky, stragghng habit, which detracts much from theh value. The plant to which we now direct attention is just the ojiposite, bemg single-stemmed, compact, and dwarf, flowering when not more than 6 inches high, and at the end of the season rarely doubUng that height. But to come to particulars. The stem is short, stout, some 8 or 10 inches high ; the leaves runcinate, having long foot- stalks, which, together with the midrib, iu the lower leaves are white, iu the upper red or pinkish. Commencing at the base, the flowers issue in long succession from the axils of the leaves , and are elevated vertically over remarkably slender tubes, fully a span in length, in a way to produce a beautifid effect. The flowers, as compared with the plant, are of great size, pure white, the Hmb of the coroUa consisting of four very large obcordate petals, at the base of which the anthers are placed, round the mouth of the tube, which here expands considerably, and is of a greenish yellow colour. The stigma is cruciform and considerably exserted. The above description, we are quite aware, is very imperfect, and conveys a still more imper- fect idea of this fine flower. As yet, as far as we are aware, this CEnothera is without a specific name. It comes from the state of Utah, North America, and was communicated to Dr. Moore by his friend M. Roezl, of Zurich. When we saw the plant at Glasnevin it promised to seed freely, and we hope ere long to see it widely distributed, and taking a prominent posi- t.on in the choice herbaceous border, or cutting a figure iu ■some phase of subtropical gardening, for which its dwarf habit and exotic appearance seem to render it eminently suitable. — (Irish Farmers' Gazette.) COOL ORCHID CULTURE. Foe some time I have had the opportunity of seeing the good results attending the cool treatment of Orchids, and I purpose offering a few remarks respecting it, which, doubtless, will at least interest some of our amateur cultivators. I need scarcely say that the yearly demand for cool-house Orchids is great and increasing, nor is this to be wondered at, for they are a lovely class of jilants, and can be grown at a much less expense than the East Indian Orchids, besides being productive of more enjoyment to the cultivator and visitor. The first matter to be taken into consideration is a house suitable to their requirements. This should be so constructed as to allow the plants to be as near the glass as possible, iu order that they may have the full benefit of the Kght, the direct rays of the sun, of course, being at all times avoided by 100 JOUENAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Fcljruary 1, 1872. means of bliujs. The accompanying figure is a section of the house here devoted entirely to theh' cultiyatiou. It is about GO feet long, 12 feet wide, and 7 feet G inches high in the centre. Only one flow and return pipe is used, that being sutficient to keep up the requii-ed temperature, which, to take that of winter, is a minimum of 40° and a maximum of 50°, or a mean winter temperature of 45°. During the summer no ai'tificial heat is used, and air is admitted freely not only by day but at night. This, doubtless, is a much cooler tempera- tm'e than that adopted by many ; but as regards its being ample for practical purposes, I will allow your readers to judge for themselves by the following results. v In the first place must rank that magnificent Odontoglossum Bluntii ; one of the stages is entnely tilled with this, contain- ing upwards of a hundred healthy and vigorous plants. Many of the bulbs measure 5 and 6 inches in circumference, while some are nearly as long. To see thirty or more spikes of this open at one time is a glorious sight, and such was the number produced by these plants during the past summer. As a proof of their free-flowering, I have taken from my note-book the following table of spikes that opened each month during the past yeai', which will confirm the statement made by Mr. Douglas at page 31, where he says, flower every month in the year." ' They may be had ill January 4 i February 5 Miirch 3 April 1 May 1(! June ay July 12 August 3 spikes. September .... 7 ,, October 5 ,, November .'5 ,, December 3 ,, Total.. 103 At the present time about thirty spikes are in an advancing state. These would average twelve flowers on a spike, many of the individual blooms measuring 4J inches in diameter. The largest number of flowers on one spike was eighteen, al- though in three distinct cases single bulbs produced respec- tively twenty-two, twenty-four, and twenty-eight flowers, formed on two spikes. One particular plant of this lovely species has six leading growths ; in 1S70 the plant had but four bulbs, from which it last year produced six, and is now sending out six more, thus making twelve bulbs in two years. Such plants as these would soon foim fine specimens. In, equal health are several plants of its relative, O. Pesca- torei, of which an excellent variety has now twenty-fiva Ground i Cool Orchid HoUBe at Ferniehtust. flowers on the spike; also 0. cordatum, of which about thirty spikes are now ni bloom, with from seven to nine flowers on a spiite; as well as the splendid 0. Ha]lii, of which we have tnree plants. One has produced peven spikes, the largest eeing nearly 4 feet long, bearing twenty-six flowers ; total number on the whole, one hundred. I may here remark that this plant has for some months Been grown m a house a few degrees warmer, but, being the largest, of course it may reasonably be expected to produce more spikes. The strength, however, will be seen to be in lavour of the coolhouse, for the next plant produced four spikes, tne^ longest being 4 feet in length (from a bulb 6 inches long ana as much round), bearing thirty flowers, while the whole number is eighty-eight. The othei- plant bids fair to foDow closely although it has not so many spikes. in adchtion to the species I have mentioned there are several plants of Odontoglossum nebulosum with six and seven flowers on a .spike, and many others, which would occupy too much space to particularise. I may remark that they are in equal nf rf" '"'^°"'' ■"''''^ *'^'' preceding. Of Oncidmms, first stands that glorious 0. macranthum, wim Dulbs 7 and 8 inches long, and nearly as much in circum- lerence, surmounted by pairs of fresh green leaves from 15 to l« inches long. One of these plants in the spring of 1871 produced a spike 12 feet long, bearing forty-four flowers, and ai present it is throwing out a verv promising spike. At one Wme last summer five plants produced one hundred flowers, wnicli formed a splendid mass. No collection of cool-house Urcliids should be without this, the most lovely of its class, ec uafh IH^' ^""^^ ^^ '^' ""'^^^'''"'^ '^'^'^ nubigenum are in Of MasdcvaUias, there is a good specimen of M. Veitchii, TJZ A t{'^-'^^'^^ *™™ '' *° 9 mehes long, and about an inch croaa. iius plant during the past few months has produced fifteen of its rich flowers ; at one I'me it had six, when it pre- sented a most magnificent appearance, while a plant of M. te- varensis has formed one of the most novel and interesting objects that has ever come under my notice. In IS'iO it flowered with two spikes, one of which bore three flcwers- Now, in general, as soon as the flowers have faded the scipe is removed; in this case, however, the scapes were allowed to remain, and they did not, as one would imagine, die away, but this winter produced the one forr flowers, and the other showed six, but only two of these were perfected. In addition the plant produced two more spikes : one in the usual miiruer bore two, the other three flowers, so that when fully devekpsd it bore eleven flowers on four spikes. We see the Oncidiv.m Papilio produce for years a succession of blooms in this man- ner, and Phala'nopses will often form a lateral spike .after the main stem has lost its beauty, but I never knew of Mas- devallias doing so. Certainly it is no improvement to allow the plants to do so, for it must naturally impoverish them to a great extent. As well as the above, there is a healthy little piece of M. coccinea, with leaves more than twice as large as in those imported. What a pity these mountain gems are so difiicult to import from their cool homes on the New Grenadan and Peruvian Andes, where they grow at 10,000 or more feet above the level of the sea. We have forty or fifty species in books and herb- aria, but how few comparatively have as yet found their way into our gardens ! In stating these results I must not forget the Disa grandi- flora, which thrives admir.ably in this house, growing hke a weed, and flowering mth great freedom ; last summer sis small pans produced thirty-two spikes, making a grand tlisplay. I believe most of the inmates of this house have been grown there ever since they were imported, anel consequently have never been subjected to a high temperature. We know that February 1, 1873. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. I6l plants of any description rarely thrive if sucTtlenly romoTed from a high to a low temperature, or the contrary, yet at the Fame time many can be subjected to either with uupuuity if tho heat is tolerably regular, and other circumstances, such as air and moisture, suitable. To give some idea of the amount of moisture m this house, I may mention that tho sphagnum on the surface of the pots is as moist and growing as freely as in its native swamps ; in fact, it keeps us supplied for potting and other purposes, and it gives off a wholesome moisture, in which tho plants seem to delight. In some places, also, tho common Liverwort may be seen growing on the loose nodules of Cannel coal with which the slate benches are covered. Most of the " cool Orchids," or those which come from high elevations, will endure any amount of water when making their growths, and should never be allowed to become thoroughly dry ; for as they are often discovered close to rivers, waterfalls, and in similar places, and as some often send their roots into tho water, to do so would be entirely contrary to nature. With regard to air, when iu their mountain homes they are constantly surrounded by fresh air freely circulating around them, and when brought to our houses this should be admitted as freely as tho external temperature will allow. Doubtless, if a little more attention were paid to this point, the result would be more healthy and robust plants, with leaves perfect to the points — a condition very pleasing to the eye of a good cultivator. I may add, that in order to subject the plants as little as possible to the influence of fire heat, the house is protected by means of blinds at the approach of frost. — C. J. W., The GardcM, Fcrnichiirst. LILIES IN RUSSIA. MiY I again ask Lily-gi-owers in different parts of the comiti-y to give tiieir experience of the cultivation of any sorts of Lilies which succeed well with them ? Since my last notes, page 33, I have received the following very interesting account of the growth of Lihes in Russia from my friend Mr. SVolkonsteiu, a distinguished horticulturist and Secretary of the Royal Russian Horticultural Society : — " I re- ceived jour .... notes on the LUies. I must teU you that we cultivate these bulbous plants successfully by placuig them also amongst shrubby perennials, as Dielytra spectabilis. Spiraeas, &c., or near the groups of woody shrubs, shadowed from tho hot spring sun. We bury the bulbs 6 or 8 inches deep in the soU, laying under the bulb some sandy porous earth, and covering it with the same compound. In this way we have, iu spite of severe winter frosts, every spring and sum- mer well-flowering Lilies of the following species that are quite hardy with us : Avonaoeum, bulbiferum, canadense, candidum, chalcedonioum, croceum, longiflorum, Martagon, Maximowiczii, pulchellum [qy. our Buschianum?] pyrenaicum, speciosuni, spoctabile, superbum, Szovitsianum, tenuifolium, testaceum, and tigrinum. As to the dung, tlie custom with us is to renew the ground every four or five years by adding a sufficient quantity of well-decomposed cow manure, and diggmg the ground well." — Geoeoe F. Wilson. STRAWBERRY PLANTING. Pebsons who fiud it difficult to obtain a good crop of fniit from plants a year old may try the following plan : — To pre- pare plants for transplanting, a piece of ground should be selected, say 8 feet by 7 (this will plant a bed 4.5 feet by 9) ; take oft the top sojl'to the depth of 4 inches, then have the piece covered witli turf 9 inches wide, grass side downwards, replace the top soil, and plant at 9 inches apart each way. The following autumn tho plants will have large crowns with strong healthy foUage. A month before transplanting cut tho turf across i so as to allow each plant to have a piece of turf 9 inches by 9. Tho plants shonld not be allowed to bear fruit in the nursery bed. By the above mode a large crop may be expected the following year. It i.^ rather late in the season to try this plan. I should have drawn attention to it before had I not been detained in Italy several weeks longer than I had intended. — Observer. next, £5 5.s.] THE GKOS COLMAN GBAPE. M. ViBEiiT, then residing at Angers, sent mo this Grape some twenty years siuoe. It bore abundantly with me, but did not ripen its fnitt, being in a cold house. I have since Been it m fine perfection with Mr. Miller, of Bishoii Stortford. ■ Its berries were so fine lu size and colour as to command a iiigli price, making 'Jn. a-pound, wliile Black Hamburgh and Muscat fif Alexandria maoint of vigour and cleiinUness there was nothing left to desii-e — no sign of mealy bug, scale^ or_ insect of any kind; partly, no doubt, owing to caa-eful super- vision, and partly also to the plants not being confined to pots, but having their natural freedom as reg?irds the roots. Under the beds in which these are growing, chambers have been formed by resting lai-ch battens ut»n bricks-on-bed, and on the battens a paving of bricks touchuig each other at the edges is laid, then leaves and soil, I» these and other houses JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ FobraaiT i, 1872. i Febnioiy 1, 1873 ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 105 Eefebence to Tlan of Flowek Gakdes at Saxdkixgham. A. Flower bed edged i\itb Vaiiegated Holly, 6 inches high. U. „ ,, Euouymub ludicous vaiiegatus, 6 inches hiyh. C. „ „ Cupresisus Lawsoniana, 6 inches high. D. „ „ Cuimnou I\-y, 6 inches high. E. ., „ Cedi-ua DeoJara, 6 inches high. F. „ „ CiTptomeria elegans, 6 inches high. 0. „ ,, Voi-iegated Ivy, 6 inches high. H. „ „ Cotoneaster microphylla, 6 inches high. 1. ^ „ Euonymus radicans variegatus, 6 inches high. J. ,, „ , Japan Yew, ti inches high. K. ,. „ Common Ivy, 6 Inches hl^h. il. N. Centre of garden, the other haU is similar. U. O. Grass. P. P. Grass slope. E. E. Walks. S. Statue. The desi;,'n9 mai-ked on the beds show the style of bedding-out adopted. provision is made for securing^ supply of water of the same ti'iiiperatiu-e as the house by a tank iu frout under the ii'on gi-atiug which serves as a path. In front of cue of these houses is a suiik piP for forcing Strawberries, with which, in fact, the shelves of nearly every house are filled. To give an idea of the demand for this fruit we may state that no less than 10,000 pots are requii-ed to keep up an adequate supply, and that gatheiing begins on the 1-lth of Febraary. For the earliest gatherings 5-inch pots are used ; for plants to fruit in April and May sometimes S-inch pots are employed. The runners to furnish these plants are aU layered in small pots, for each of which' a hole is made with a crowbar, and the pot pressed down ; a stone is put on to keep the runner steady, and as soon as rooted the plants are shifted into 5-iuch pots and placed on an open piece of ground fully exposed to the sun, ranging them iu 4-fcet beds \\ith 2-feet alleys between. In the first week of October the plants intended to be first forced are laid on their- sides, and the rest ai-e all plunged in a border to the rims of the pots. There they remfdu without any protection till required for forcing. Every week a fresh lot of plants are removed to the pit, which is fiUed with leaves, and further heated by a hot-water pipe. When the fruit begins to swell Mr. Carmichael puts a little of Standen's manure on the surface of the soil, and as soon as the bloom is set the frait is thinned out so as to leave from twelve to eighteen to each pot. The extent to which the diflferent varieties are grown for forcing is British Queen, 2000; President, 2000; Echpse, 1000 ; Sir J. Paxton, 1000 ; Premier, 500 ; La Con- staiite, 500 ; and the remainder consists of Dr. Hogg, President, Cockscomb, and some other varieties. The last lot generally flowers out of doors, and is only brought iu if likely to be needed to kefp up the succession till the out-door crops come in. Peas, likewise, are forced in quantities, and for this purpose Maclean's Little Gem is alone employed. This is sown at the a \A of August in 8-inch pots fiUed with soil (which is pressed down) to three-fourths of their depth, eight Peas being placed round the sides. The pots remain out of doors as long as the weather is mild, but before frost they are placed iu a tempera- tm-e of 45° to 50° at night. This sowing begins to produce iu the first week of December, the plants bear successively till February, and are succeeded by a sowing made about the end of Seijtember. The plants we saw were not only furnished with an abundance of their little pods, but were even orna- mental by their blossom. There are so few who are not lovers of Peas, even when these are m abundance, let alone a rarity, that we have thought the method by which Mr. Carmichael produces them, and not in small quantities, is worthy of de- sciiptiou and imitation. Green Peas iu December and January are a rarity to be sighed after by many, but rarely obtained ; but as Mr. Carmichael manages them there seems to be little difficulty about it, and yet we all know that the Pea wiU not bear forcing. The Kidney Bean, on the contrary, is well known as one of the easiest things to force, and of it, of course, in a place like Sandringham there was no lack. Cucumbers and Melons receive their share of attention, and of the former there were numbers hanging from the trellis ready for being cut. In one of the Pine pits Musa Cavendishii was throw- ing out a cluster of fririt which is likely to jirove of great weight; and near it was the Mangosteeu, which Mr. Car- michael hopes some day to fniit, but the plant is young as yet, and so far as we know it has only once borne fruit iu this couutiy. Before quitting the kitchen garden the Mushroom house must be noticed, not only on account of its size but the fine crops it contained. This is 80 feet long by 15 feet ■nlde, there being a 5-feet path up the centre, and on each side 5-fcet shelves, three tiers at the back, two tiers in front, for the house is a lean- to against the north wall of the garden. The sides of the beds are of iron, with iron cross-bars, and the flooiing is wood laid longitudinally from cross-bar to cross-bar. It is heated by a flow and return pipe, with evaporation troughs under the centre of the iron-giated patliway. On the same side of the wall are the fiuit-room, which is large and well-fitted up, 106 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 1, 1872 potting, packing, and tool sheds, gardener's rooms, and mider- neath spacious root-cellars. The plant houses are not large, and are chiefly filled with subjects suitable for in-door decoration, such as Poiusettias, Adiantums and other Fenis, Chinese Primroses, Cyclamens, Geraniums, Gardenias, which arc great favourites for the button-hole. Begonias, fine-foliaged plants, and Azaleas. In the pleasure grounds much has been done and much is still to be done. One great improvement is a new drive up to the east or main front of the house (of this we give a view taken by Mr. Pridgeon, 'of Lynn) ; formerly the drive led past the offices, and iu unpleasant proximity to them, but now by a graceful curve they have a wide berth, and tlie approach is more in accordance with the dignity of the house, and will bo still more so when the Deodars at the sides among the Laurels shall have attained a greater height. It is, however, on the west front that the principal alterations have been made , and the most important of these is the new flower garden wliich is represented on page 101. The beds of this are sliglitly raised above the rest of the surface, the outer edge of the soil forming a minhature ramp as practised by Mr. Gibson, in Hj'de Park, and this is surrounded by various evergreens. The interior at present is filled with autumn-sown annuals and plants for spring flowering, and already, though the ground was only laid out last autumn, the appearance is very ornamental, and it will be much more so in summer. The evergi-eens round the beds of themselves give an aspect of life even in winter. The length of this panel, of which one-half is represented in the engraving, is within tlie walks 192 feet, its breadth 60 feet. On the same front, but nearer the house, there is a small garden on gravel with Box- edged beds, and beyond the larger new flower garden a neatly laid-out bulb garden, of which the efi'ect from the terrace walk in frent of the mansion is no doubt gflod when the bulbs and other plants are in flower. A few more notes on the pleasure ground and we have done. There are many pretty views from the terrace on the west front, over the flower gardens just noticed, especially towards the church, of which more than one view is obtained ; and the simple tomb of the young Prince of a day, so well deijicted in The Graphic two or three weeks ago, can be seen from a point near the south-west end of the terrace walk. The pai'k and pleasure grounds are not so extensive as those attached to many country mansions, extending only to about 120 acres ; in the pleasure grounds Deodars, Picea uobUis, and a considerable variety of Conifers have been introduced with excellent effect, and on each side of one walk is an avenue of various species of these planted by distinguished visitors as mementos of their visits. The old lake, merely a pond, has been abolished, and a new one formed, indeed, re-formed as well, for since it was made the depth throughout has been reduced to 4 feet as a safeguard against accidents on the ice. The rockwork about it is weU executed in the earr stone of the neighbomhood, we believe by Mr. Pulham,of Broxbourne,who also constructed a boat-house or boat-cavern, which has been highly approved of. The park is well wooded, but contains no trees remarkable for great age and size; there is, however, an avenue of fine Limes leading from the Norwich gates to the house. Great impi-ovements have been effected in remaking walks, in plant- ing trees and shrubs in all parts of the grounds ; and the energy with wliich all this has been carried out and the good immediate effects produced are highly creditable to Mr. Car- michael, whose courtesy iu explaining aU works connected with the garden no one who has had the pleasure of visiting it can fail to appreciate most highly. _ Mowing Machines. — We warn our readers from emplojiug tinkers or any but the makers of the mowing macliine or one of their agents to repair it. It is unfair to the makcri, and mistaken economy in the purchaser. We have known instances when the tinkered machines would not mow, and the owners blamed the makers ! DEATH OF MR. THOMAS OSBORN. It is with the greatest regi-et that we have to announce the sudden death of Mr. Thomas Osborn.of the Fulham Nurseries, on the 28th ult., at the age of 53. Mr. Osborn was one of the two sons of the late Mr. Robert Osborn, whose death we noticed a few years ago, at a very advanced age, and like his father was a man whom to know was to respect and to admire. He was a thorough gentleman in the best sense of that word, and he will leave a great blank behind liim among those with whom he was bo long associated in the world of horticulture. Mr. Osborn was present at the last meeting of the Royal Horti- cultural Society, apparently in the enjoyment of his usual health, and took part in the proceedings of the day ; anil we feel assured that the mtelligeuce of his premature death will have a saddening effect on the numerous friends he has left behind. MRS. PINCE'S MUSCAT GRApE. Notwithstanding aU that has been said against this Grape> it is crident that it begins to be a great favourite with many. For my own part I consider it the very best late variety in cultivation, and I have no hesitation iu saying that I beUeve it will be, when its culture and merits become better known, the most popular late variety in every garden establishment. I say culture, as I think there is something in this that has been misunderstood, and so has caused disappointment, con- sequently bringing much abuse on this good variety. It is well known that most of our best Grapes require some special treatment to bring them up to that standard of perfection so prized by all good Grape-growers ; neither is Mrs. Pince's Muscat an exception to this rule, and if growers were to give their experience for and against, doubtless the special requu'e- ments of this variety would be elicited, for, as Mr. Pearson justly states at page 17, a man may miss his way in the cultivation of a new kind of fruit without being exactly a fool. With your permission I will state my experience. In my previous situation I received some of the first Vines of Mrs. Pince that were sent out. There were at that time, and still are, various opinions with respect to the right place to plant this variety ; some advocated for it the heat to which Muscat houses are iu general kept, others cool treatment, if I may so term it. I planted a Vine of it iu the Muscat house ; also one in a comparatively cold house. The border iu both ui- stances was well prepared, and the Vines received the same treatment as regards pruning, &'C. Perhaps I ought to state they were not allowed to carry any fruit the first season. The following season they broke freely and very strongly, showing an abundance of bunches, which were reduced to the required number. The Vine in the Muscat house showed the largest bunches iu the embryo state, in fact throughout ; in both instances they were all that could be desu-ed with regai-d to setting. In the Muscat house the berries swelled off evenly and to a large size, but the somewhat drier atmosphere and the extra amount of light which was admitted by lateral pruning, and which give a good finish to the Muscat of Alexandria, failed to do the same with Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat, and the colour of the latter as grown under the circumstances may be described as dingy red, although in bunch and berry it was everything that could bo desired. In the cold house the berries swelled evenly at first, but many of them after attaining the size of Peas remained stationaiT, which fault often destroyed the appearance of the hunches ; notwithstanding, the Vine finished off a fair propor- tion of good-sized bunches, the berries of a medium size, with a deep bloom, and as black as Sloes. The flavour of tliis variety is generally acknowledged to be good. In my opinion it im- proves like that good variety Lady Downe's by being allowed to hang, and the flavour does not arrive at its best until after Christmas when the Grapes are grown for late use. My experi- ence with Mrs. Pince's leads me to believe that to grow it to per- fection it requh-es a house devoted to its culture, similar treat- ment to that generally given to Muscats until the ripening process commences, when a cool moist atmosphere should be maintained with an abundance of air ; I would even ailvoeate a little shade during bright weather. If these points are at- tended to, with the culture generally given to the Grape Vine by skilfiU cultivators, I have no doubt but this variety wiU pro- duce bunches and berries of such a size, with a deep bloom, as black as Sloes, a rich agreeable flavour, and such good keeping qualities, that it cannot bo equalled by any Grape in cultivation. I have drawn this conclusion not only from my own experience with it, but from what I have seen of it when it was growing in the Exeter nursery previous to its being sent out, and from what I have seen of it siuce in several good gardening establishments. — Thomas Foote, Gardener to Sir A. F. Elton, Bart., Clevedon Court, Somerset. Babometrical Fall. — My barometer to-day (24th lUt.) was 28.24° ins. in the morning — lower by O.IC than I ever registered Fobruary 1, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOBTIGULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 107 before. I have been expecting a gale all day, but it has evi- dently been on the south-west of Ireland or somewhere there- abouts.— C. P. Peach, Appleton-lc-Strcet. [The barometer at Pimlioo, near Loudon, was 28.35 ins. at the same time. — Eds.] WOKK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN OAEDEN. As the season has been so mild it has been difficult to wheel manure en the ground ; as soon, therefore, as the ground is fit, let this work be forwarded as much as possible for all .spring crops. ^Vhere dung will have to lie on the surface until March, it should be soiled over immediately, or drying winds will steal away its beneficial properties. Spring Broccoli, such as Grange's or Knight's, now coming in should bo protected. Push a hand- ful of soft hay amongst the leaves. Sow a little Celerij, Cauli- jUnccr, and Lettuce seed in heat. If the early Peas appear above ground throw over them a handful of sawdust in a ridge, but this must be removed when their leaves are expanded. FRUIT GAHDEN. As soon as the blossom buds of Apricots can be distinguished, the trees should be pruned, and nailmg completed. The eggs of the caterpillar which so much mfests the leaf should be hunted for and destroyed ; they are deposited on the branches in circular groups, of about the size of a Parsnip seed, look somewhat hke it, and have the appearance of being pasted on. The trees must have protection forthwith. Take care to secure bundles of the main twigs of Apple primings, tie them at each end, and put them in some dry place ; they are very useful in summer. Prune and uaU Peaches and Nectarines ; as soon as they have been nailed, soak the trees and wall \vith soapsuds, and when dry take a bowl of sulphur mixture (sulphur blended with softsoap water until as thick as paint or nearly so), and draw a strip with the brush between every two shoots. This is a good preventive of red spider. Look after Gooseberry buds ; country folks in some places tie feathers over the bushes to keep birds away. In wet weather prepare .shreds for nailing, make taUies, andlook over stored vegetables, Potatoes, and Apples. FLOWEK GARDEN. Lawns and gravel walks will now be benefited by a thorough roUing. Examine all belts at the outskirts of the kitchen garden, remove deciduous trees where they uijure the best evergreens, and introduce HolUes or trees of a permanent charac- ter in blanks. If not already done, stake newly planted trees carefidly ; the harm which has lately resulted from inattention to staking has in some places been very great. Procure Rose stocks, and plant them in lines on higlily manured ground in the kitchen or reserve garden. Should heavy snow or severe weather set in, Pinks and Carnations planted in the open border will run some danger of destructioii in those locaUties where hares and rabbits abound. I lately saw in a florist's garden, in the immediate vicinity of a large preserve, a simple and efficacious remedy. It consisted m laying small pieces of Larch spray or branches between the row of plants, and then placing other branches on the top of these ; ah- and hght have free access to the plants, and as spring advances the covermgs are removed, for as vegetation progresses more palatable food in the shape of young Clover, &c., wUl entice the rabbits to feed at a distance. Tulip seeds may now be sown m a compost of equal parts of leaf mould and sandy peat. They may be placed at equal distances, almost toucliing each other, on the surface, and gently pressed down, covering with the same soU to the depth of an eighth of an inch. As the fohage of the bulbs planted in the main bed shows itself above groimd it should be covered with sandy peat, but this must be done be- fore it opens, as soil getting into the heart is very detrimental. As soon as you perceive that the Auriculas have made a start give them occasional waterings with weak liquid manure ; that made with sheep dung is best. Should premature blooms show themselves, allow the stem to rise high enough and re- move the pips. To cut or pull the stem at this season often has an injurious effect on the plant, by causmg it to decay down to the heart ; by simply removing the pips this is avoided, whilst the plant is strengthened. onEENHOUSE AND CONSERVATOKY. Among the plants in the mixed greenhouse may be enume- rated Oranges, Lemons, Banksias, Chorozcmas,Pimeleas, Epa- crises, some Heaths placed in the most airy part of the house, with many other flowering plants interspersed. For the pre- sent apply air abundantly in suitable weather, but we shall certainly meet with a sudden atmospheric change. Correas, Polj'galas, and Acacias will now begin to blossom freely; see that they are cai-efully watered — the Acacias require much moisture. Care must be taken that Camellias receive no check, otherwise their buds wiU bo endangered. Brugmausia san- guinea, a noble conservatory plant, demands similar attention. CUmbers should bo neatly trained, and every plant that re- quires it, previous to being introduced into the conservator^', should be staked. At present we may expect this structure to be furnished with the foUowmg plants in flower : Lucidia gra- tissima, Epacris, Euphorbias, Pimeleas, Boronias, Cinerarias, Giesnera zebrina, Eranthemum puJchellum, Primula sinensis. Pinks, Azaleas, Hyacinths, Narcissus, Tulips, and Neapolitan Violets. Of these the stove plants should bo jilaced in the warmest part free from cold draughts or cm'rents of au-, and the New Holland, greenhouse, and others of the more hardy plants nearest to where air is admitted. Many of the plants will require frequent changmg, and neither stove nor green- house plants should remain in this structure long enoiigh to be injured. STOVE. Here there is a constant source of interest, many interesting plants being at all seasons in bloom, whUe others are making their growth, and some are resting. Place a few of the early- flowering Gesnera zebrina in the resting corner to ripen-off gradually for early flowering again. Select a few Gloxinias and Achimenes in variety, shake them out, and put the former in open turfy porous loam, heath soil, coarse charcoal, and sharp sand well incorporated, and do not pot too firmly. The Acliiuieues tubers .should at first bo placed thicldy in pans, and potted singly as they push, in leaf mould and light loam in a veiy coarse open state, with a fourth part of charcoal. These two tribes of plants delight in a moderate bottom heat. See that no plant is suffering from want of water. Take ad- vantage of the lightest days for applyhig the greatest portion of humidity. If the green fly prevails smoke occasionally with tobacco, and see that there is no other kind of vermin encou- raged. Allow no plant to be injured from want of timely staking. Some of the Orchids which are commencing growth, if dry, may have a Uttle water appUed at the roots. This must be done cautiously. The best way is to apply it round the sides of the pot, taking care not to saturate the soil round the collar. See that the fresh potting material undergoes a kind of quarantme before it is introduced into the house. The blocks should be immersed in boihng water. FOECINO PIT. No diminution of temperature must be allowed in the forcing pit. Puiks after they have made a little growth require to be removed to a cooler place, otherwise the buds wiU fail. Gar- denias require a moist warm atmosphere. As the season is at hand when increasing the stock of plants will demand atten- tion, prepare a place which will afford the required convenience. There is scarcely a gardener who is not called upon annually to apply his skill to replace the losses that invariably attend the occurrence of a rigorous or otherwise unfavourable season, and yet we rarely find a proper situation appropriated for the purpose. This is partially owing to the facilities which exist for propagatuig the plants principally in demand for decorating the flower garden, such as Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and Ver- benas, in the common plant houses ; and we consequently see them crowded with pots of cuttings to the destruction of order, besides being the means of introducing various insects. I would recommend a small pit constructed with beds to contain plunging materials, and provided mth a heatmg apparatus capable of supporting a bottom heat of 90". This, with a complement of beU-glasses, would enable the gardener not only to obtain his stock of summer plants with certaiuty and expedition, but give him the opportunity at the most suitable seasons for multiplying rare plants and those difficult to strike. ^W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. EITCHEN GARDEN. Owing to the wet weather the work has been very Umit'^d. An opportunity has been given for sweeping the walks, and the rains have washed them clean and solid. The mild weather, though so wet, has been favourable to all the hardier vegetables, and tall Scotch Kale headed is now showmg fine side shoots, which I always consider much better than the main heads. We have been taking the small heads 108 JOtiRNAii OF HOETICULTUEE &.tT> COTTAGE GAEDENEE. i Fobraary 1, 1873. from a late piece of Brussels Sprouts, as these heads are very sweet and different in flavour from the knobs at the sules. The earUost have produced plentifully. Cauhflowers under classes have had the soU priol^ed over with a small fork, and a little dry sandy compost added ; for though uninjured as yet, such continued damp is apt to affect them. Lettuces on ndges are not so large as they were, but a change of weather wiU revive thorn. All under glass will be the better of a httle dry surfacint', which will give them a drier atmosphere. _ • The weather has afforded a good opportunity for pomting sticks and stakes, making tallies, washing pots, cleaamg glass, and washing and Umewashing the walls of pits and houses. WasUnq Pots.— On the whole nothing is better than a vigorous scrubbing with water heated enough to be comfort- able We have used other means to remove the green and slimy matter that will accumulate, and though the cleamng is more quickly done, the pots often retained something unde- shrable from the processes used. The same may be said of woodwork and glass. For them weak warm soap water wiU be an improvement, but if the soap water is strong, or contains much soda, paint and putty wiU suffer less or more. _ Umewashing loalk is often done very inefficiently. I* is easy to draw the lithe-brush over, and thus hide for a time all the tilth beneath, but though this is better than nothing in a cottage, it is but a poor makeshift, as the dirt is not removed, but for a time merely covered up. It is just the same as respects the waUs of our plant houses. Such washing, even, does not greatly protect us against insects, as repeated coats are sure to crack and admit the air to the eggs of insects. Though requiring more time, it is time well spent, to wash away most of the old limewash with warm water before adding the fresh hme. iliis limewash should not be so thick but that it will enter freely into every hoe and cranny of the walls. The fresher the hme the more firmly it wiU adhere. To secure this object much also depends on the temperature of the water used in making the limewash ; hot water is in every way superior to cold water. Limewash will set all the more firmly from having a portion of Portland cement mixed with it immediately before usmg it. FKUIT GAEDEN. In fine dry days we proceeded with pruning, and prepara- tions were made for plantmg, but the ground was too wet to pack roots as they ought to be. Excess of moisture is any- thing but advantageous to smaU fibres. It helps to rot them instead of to encourage growth. Late Grapes hanging, retiuned a brisk fire and air in the early part of the day. The only thins to be done with Peaches in bloom was to give more heat and air during the day, and to keep them rather cool at mght. A few hours' sun would do much good. The gales here have been very severe. Early on the morn- iu" of the 24th our barometer was considerably below 28 inches the lowest we had ever seen it, but as day began to break it rose, and in the forenoon ciuickly. Such a gale would try some of our new modes of glazing, and reports would be very interesting. By using smaU wedges to sashes we suffered no breakage of glass, with the exception of one small ventilator, 20 by 24 inches, hinged by two screws as. pivots, which was blown out and smashed. The great danger of using large squares, as for orchard houses, and glazing in the usual way, is that if a large square or two go out, the wmd gets m and un- settles a number more. So long as the wmd is kept out there is Uttle danger. In this respect placing the g ass m grooves instead of on rebates with putty, is safer, provided the grooves aUow of expansion, and the glass is still firm enough not to sUde or rattle and let the air in. We have heard much about havmg a breeze, if not a gale, in our fruit and plant houses, but it is often the wisest poUoy to keep such rough visitors outside. OENAMENTAL DEPAETMENT. IVooden noUet-s.—The mild weather has encouraged worms to throw up their heaps on the lawns, and thus disfigure the bri"ht green the grass would otherwise present. Sweeping is not to be thought of in such weather, nor in any weather if there are no leaves or bits of wood, as well as the worm heaps, ihe wooden roller soon puts the latter out of sight. A young man can walk quickly with a roller a foot m diameter and 3i to 4 feet long behind him, and the comparative lightness of the roUer is an advantage for this purpose. Part of the woi-m he.aps is squeezed down out of sight, and part adheres to the roller, and must frequently be scraped off with a piece of hoop iron or wood kept on purpose. Next, or even equal to the Daisy-knife in summer, nothmg will so soon improve the appearance of a lawn in winter as a light wooden roller. Planting and Transplanting. —We proceeded with these operations, though in the latter case we had to bale the water out of the holes that had been made previously. When the soil is too wet the packing of the smaU roots and fibres cannot be done in a satisfactory manner. Drenching the roots of large specimens on planting in winter we have long considered a mistake as it keeps the roots long wet and cold as if em- bedded in a morass. The water would be beneficial if judiciously given just as the buds and roots begin to move. _ The weather furnished an opportunity for potting, tying, training, and washing plants that otherwise might have had nothing more than a skiff from the syringe. A good syringmg, a wash, and then another syruiging, by keepmg fobage clean and healthy, are the best safegu?rds against insects. Iwo great preservatives against insects are a comparatively low temperature at night, and avoidmg a high temperature and a dry atmosphere during the day. Unless these conditions are secured red spider and thrips will soon be your acquaintances. There are some insect enemies that you can hardly eradicate, unless you cru*h them, bury them, or freeze them out of existence. The mealy bug is one of those, ^ou may manage to clean every plant in a house, but if every crack and joint of vour platforms of stone, slate, or wood be not thoroughly examined the enemy will soon reappear i" ,as ^t™"? ^°''f ,f ever. If there wore no clunbers, and the plants could be re- moved from the house, a free application of hot water alter- nately with exposure to frost, would be the most effectual remedies. — B. F. TRADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. p. Lawaon & Son, 20, Budge Bow, Cannon Street, London, E.G., and George IV. Bridge, -EAinhm^h.— Catalogue of Kitclieti Garden and Flower Seeds, if;c. „ ,^, „ t .,,,!„„ V W. Emnsey, Joyning's Nursery, Waltham Cross, London, IS. —Select List of Garden, Flower, and Farm Seeds, Border Plants, Evergreens, if'C. ,,.,., .»t ■ -n i, Edwin Cooling, 18, Iron Gate, and Mile Ash Nurseries, Derby. — Cataloque of Seeds. , „, -n i, c Smith & Simons, 36 and 38, Howard Street, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.— CUiumJ Guide and Descriptive Seed Catalogue. E G Henderson & Son, Wellington Boad, St. John s Wood, London, N.W. — Catalogue of Flower, Vegetable, and Agri- cultural Seeds. .^ TO CORRESPONDENTS. • * AVe request that no one will write privately to any of the * correspondents of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be addressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, dx., 171, Fleet Street, London, E.C. CnAa.^R0P9 EXCELSA CcLTUBE (/. S G.).-TU8 ^^^ ';™^»",«°^f £^ J qucceed in a Wardian caso with but little attention. Bnt -why put it in a case? S om- opinion it is only taking up valuable space uuneccssaij^y, because it wiU Uve and thrive admirably in any JP"'-^^"' °' ;!t^*,S temperat.ire does not fall lower than 88- or40», and few rooms '"'^ «'l™' J*™ tMs Wo have had many species of Pahns, Chamsrops oicelsa amro»st them, m our rooms for three years or more, and they grow weU, and »r8 realb^ charmins objects for such situations. C. eicelsa reqmres to t° f o™ "S about eiual parts of loam and peat mould; the drainage "tould be ^°f;^J^ enjoys copious waterings during summer. Jl"'' .i^f „=J"Xthe attention ociasionaUy with warm water to remove dust and 'i^' ?J° ''" '„^,^""J'o(e"t renuned. It is a native of the Himalayas, attaming a height of about 3U Icot. MiNETTi Stock fob T?orceb Koses (T. J^''r.')--'r'i« M,metti stock is weUaXptedforthe forcing of Hoses cmo being t»\^°/° .^^ '^%°°^i" °l the plant at least 2 mches below the junction of '^e scion and stock. A liberal treatment is requu-cd, and proper »"?°"™ ""»' ^^ I™'i t° remmejU the doi-mant buds in the Manetti stock previous to pottmg, ''d'1 '» ™ "'^'"'^ not to let a sucker appear. Use good-sized pots, P'""«^„,7* ^Se to do summer, and weU ripen the wood. Avoid worms, which are veiy liable 10 ao damage when pots are plunged. Troffles (TT J. TT.).— Write to Messrs. Webber, Central Avenue, Covent Garden Market, and ask for tho information you need. TisT OF Koses (T. IFnlsoii)-— Though your Hoses, as per hst sent, ai-e not entitled to raiA on the whole very high, 'yet with the exception PO'taP' » General WashS^on, which is too unceitam to trust to, we should not adrtse vou to cast an^ away, but recommend you to procure a dozen mo.e if vou cai find room fir them, selecting them from the hst o the thnrty-si-x best.^by the retm-n sent by Mr Peach Souvenir de Mateiaison wiU take^a inn^ time to cover a wall 8 feet liigh and 4 feet wide, if ever it do so. we sSd^-ecommend Gloire de Dijon. Your suggestion °' Pl»°"^8 ^^^^f jj Jackmanni alongside will do, il you train the Clematis uj, at ™™ »"*f ^^J,J' cJvCT the top ptrt of the wall. Madame "le Cambaccrcs, good horg Boso rough petals; Lord Kaglon, pmThsh red, t""^"';""!'';""^ ^ soodj^nnt^ss llo Mnrnv fine bright pink, good; General Washmgton, very unccuam , Bea!fty^tmitham%o?d, cireV ^d; Geant des Bataillcs veig Jree-blc«m- to"; Anna de Diesbach, fine pmk, too looso-peta led ; 5Iis. Knois wusii while ™ wranf that a damper fixed in the *'""'^ "f/t'S '^JTs fi?e just as you wish, hut if your flue is at aU fa-^l'^ ' ^^lish Jt th^same way mto the house. Another remedy is to fl:. a ^^^ '° yo'f a*P''. ^''^^^^^^^^ as to vour flrehole, and bv closing both you will prevent the lapid oomuustion by exclnXig the ail. Afar better plan wiU bo to fix a jl''l;?g/"« '\«^"f opening, as fitted to boilers when hot-water is used for hea mg. -W horti- cSltural ironmonger can supply one.-(From a Covre.pondcil, T. S. S.) DroDOKisiNG Sewage.— .rf Comtant Suhscriler has a manui-e pump to the sewa°eSwWdi throws the sewage water mto a smaller tank from which it is used for The "arden, and he aski how to deodorise this supply in the small tank before usiw it, with the best and cheapest deodoriser, and he quantity o be used. tS? earth of the g.arden .^vill he an efflcient -4 'he cheje^^ deodoriser U the sewage be pumped into the smaU tank daily, and enougn irth aMed t?mak-e it feto avlrj- stiff mud, there will beUttle or no offensive smell. ,„ ,_, i CVCLA.IEN PERSicua NOT Thrivino (S. P. -S. X). - We are unable to accoiSt fS the decay of the corms. unless by their }^-^S^-^?^°J^i^fl dried-oa. The forcing temperaturetowhichtheyweresubiectedtofl^owerthem in a twelvemonth, and the planting out-doors m the foUowmg sammer, may have acta! injmriiusly on them. If you had given «J™ ^,f ""%*0°"75?'=;* nn nottin" and kent them near the glass m a temperatm-e of Horn su to do , -n e S'tifey ^iSvfdTne better." From the leaves --^onld say yonr plants are suffering from cold and damp. Givemorean-, '' P°=?''™ ^'°f ',° ™^£f "l and a temperature of 45^ to 60". Wo consider the best summer tieatment of ^olamen nersicnm is to plant it out m a cold frame shaded from the mid-day s£^t"keeTthelShts on constantly, but tilted hack and front, and to repot in \'uiJllsrmenTto corms begin to grow remove them to a house with a temperature of 45° to 50". Stopping Young Pelargoniums (^. B.).-Do not stop the young plaiits a foot high, but let them go to flower, men that is past and the wood fmn^ cut thenT down to three or four eyes. You may, if you like, cut them back now to ttaee or f^ eyes, in which case they will be more dwarf, and will not flower until late. „ ^ * n Heating Cucumber and Melon House (D. J. E.j.-A fine '°r -^ f""" house is more economical thanheating with hot-water pipes though the latter fs on the whole much better. We advise you to use a small sad^e boto and hot- water pipes. The bed should be 5 feet wide and heated with two rows ol 8-incrnires for bottom heat, and four rows of 4-inch pipes for top heat. A iTofmbhle should he plack over the pip-, and on '^-' ^j^-^ °^ f™,*,™^ soU. We advise you to adopt the plan practised by Mr. Douglas, and described hy him iu the Journal for January 18th. Transplanting Ehododendroks {S„bscHb„-).^The best time to trans- plant Rhododendrons is during September and October and -^ "J-^i '™'^ '^^ £iiddle of February up to the second week o April, ^ast year we p anted several hundreds in May, indeed the Rhododentoon can *« ^'"'i.''''^™"^ good halls that they may be safely remnv. 1 «t »vv t''™ ,° , W JJ™"^ '^^^^ times named are preferable. r«v/,' ' ' ^" !,' ''^"'taceSn S- anumsuEerbum,Ught crimson; Brir.'^n . : n lut , Loriaceum, wniie, Ma™anTadedpink; Paxtoni, rose n, 1„ :, ;;;-'■;';■ ret°"'Th^e"a«''of ?^arf ha\u™"ThrrUo^^y r cf';xCBllok''iibIt,^bt;t''Lger^^^^^^ N"ro rosy purple finery ™fted ; Old Port, plum ; Mi-s. Johii Cluttou, white; Alarm. whiteTentre, deeply scarlet-edged; and Lady Dorothy Nevill, pmTile, spotted black, , . Select Half-hardv Annuals {B. B.).-Of novelties AmamnthuBsahci- fohns mustlake precedence. Ageratnm Imperial Dwarf, Phlox Heynholdi and ca^ctoXs! are th?ee good novelties; Tagotes signata flure-pleno, Brachycome iberidifoUa, dwarf striped French Marigold, Lobelia «?''""«»• '^'''^'^'X''^ vars., large-flowering Ten-week Stocks, PUox Drummondl, vars., Schizanthus retus'us, and Yenidium calendulaceum. Frrns ELASTIC 1 NOT THRIVING (CTwitfait Fii((oii).— The leaf sent htts cvory appea^anL o ha% been destroyed by some solution and we t^nkf -^ P'- ifalso suflermg from cold and damp. Keep it thrier at the root ; mdecd^iN o no more water in winter than will be sufficient to keep the leaves fresh. ^Vhen growing copious suppUes are required. If you could place the plants in a Ke lith a moist Rowing temperature of from 50 to 5j>- at mght until they make fresh growth Sai roots we think the foUage would become healthy. Propagating Camellias agnommus).-Yon must procure stocks of the single varieties, either by sowing the seeds or ra.smg P^f ^ from cnttmgs of the ripened shoots inserted firmly m sand, " ?■ ='°>*%™'>^J™^'iV 'm Sin°s about a month, and then placing in a gentle hotbed The plants from cuttings must be grown untU they are strong enough to graft. This must be done in April, before the scions begin to grow, placmg the ™^'',<''l,PlX'„''lJ',,'J'i'J sweet hotbed. Camellias are easily increased by marchmg, elevating the stocks on pots or otiier contrivance to the height needed, but you must hrs secure the stocks. Keane's "In-door" and " Out-door Gardening " would suit you. They may he had by post from om- office for Is. 1M. each. Primula Seed-Az-ALEas after Flowerinc^Croton Leaves Green (.S( Honorc ) —Primula sinensis flmhriata alba, P. sinensis flmhriata rubra, P. 'smensis fimbriata lilacina marginata, wiU give you white, red, and lilac They may be had in separate colours from the principal seedsmen advertisin in our columns, of whom we draw cur suppUes, and they are extra fine this year. Order Cineraria seed saved from a fine collection. The Azaleas from ■ which you have removed the flowers should bo placed m a house with a mght temperature of 55= to 60=, and he syringed, and a moist atmosphere maintamod untS the growth is complete, and then they should have a more airj and cooler house. The Croton may have lost its leaves from on ottack »' thrijis, or from hemg kept wot at the roots in alow temperature. Examine the diimage. repot if needed, afford the Ughtest position you have, do not overwater, and with sunny weather your plant wUl have tho fresh giowths wed cjlomc . Crotons require light to colour well. ViNF Culture (ranoramuii).—Xn planting a vinery it is desirable to arrange foJlTo p°errent'r?ds to eacL Yin|^ To o^uin t^-e wewouU ^-om up at '^UTtlte^e^i^^T^&S^- n S ;rnt^o allow shoots to mow on the upri-ht pai-t of the stem before it reaches the ratters. You caa ruh off the buds with your fingers as they appear. qFTFcTioN OF Vines (H. Coe).-You can grow aU the Vines you name in a heated house witi Black Hamburghs. Phmt the ^-^'^"^^J-''^''^' ^="* of the house, but it is not desirable to grow them with Hamburghs. Scale on Orchard House Trees (-!'' OW S,.5»cri6.r).-ThesmaU scale on Tour trees is very difficult to dislodge; we have had it onoui o™P»' t";?f' SnTsr±tj;rfXhr^rui^rw^d^^^^^^^^^^^^ a mtt brash usin"' warm rain water in which soft soap has been dissolved. fIower Gabden Plan (-^'^ ^'''''''■'''1-W<>lik<'tli'^ ^ffauf ment H^ 6 had white centres the whole would he unproved. We t™,^' J;,™'' centre, would he improved by Lobelia half-circle etlgrngs mstead of Ceiastium. . — //->.,.;.-,,, ,\ Tiimr (ivn iipiHipr mure nor less tlian tue asSerf'^r wtffJoif Xh'ire^c£cS'at wrfSe'-TVy will not do as a substitute for limo rubbish in makmg a Vme border. ,r,Tr,«,- TirTTFNs ON Fruit Trees (CVninioM).- Paint thcm over with a str^ iSitSje of qtncSiie and water;' or scrub them with a hrme of salt and water. , ,, r r ,>j-r Trtpot t Onion iSt. E(£hiu?uZ).— Transplant as early m spiing as the wea her andTate oTthTsS will permit. The (?o-^f °'^,^^<'ifj„«iS*S Smme If S hi a liquid form, an ounce to a gaUon of water is sufficient. DRY EARTH Closets (I«9..ir«r).-There can be no V'f "°" '^J' Se sti^o^^s^v^^^^^H'Si?^ -r^fir SSi^SSHilf'^ ^ySS^^JS^aglJ^mell L°m later-closets, house --^-. &«•• ^^ .Z^to'bSr S ■ c^slderei sruser^^LiLtartaZ c^LTtSS^^^^^^ gas£ S^g tS^ay through them. No trap should contam m such cases less than from 3.i to 4 inches in depth of water. ,, ,,^ „, Salary ir-,i ,i ; j: .. ■ ^^^^ hoUers are best. Our experience is, that for all l-i- ■ ■ i,;,t in ironis to be preferred, but for large boilers, sii;. I'l i -' ■ ' ,-. length, wrought iron is better. The larger tlh- ci-ir. : U" -i' 'i' > difficulty of havmg it regular throughout. Wtntfring Geraniums in a Spare Koom-Forcing Aspabagus Out OF SSSfs-TRENClX (.•lmateit -fl^ »»j;»'^fj^ for watermg purposes. The weU need not exceed 8 or « ^*««t "^ "';P/"^ "^„. about a yard in diameter ; brick it round, and by havmg »" '^f^"^'" H™| side of the pump you may tell exactly when the water should be pumped off. TteeMaii?sTh" hole iLgth of theVound will be >^'^™"'; Jf/^ J.^.tf J^t il."e them 5 feet from each side, and 15 feet apar^, ^-J^^S ^^I'^^tL VeU JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t Feliruai-y 1, 1872 heated by the sun, the forcing would probably tend to weaken the yines,_ iu consequence of the growth of the top bemg in advance of the roots, which would in pai't be destroyed by the removal of the soil. Covering for Frames (R. H. F.)-— Shutters made of lye or wheat straw are the best, but not neai'Iy so durable as those of wood, which aie the best of all. They should be slightly raised above the frame so as to admit air, but if this be done the frame Ughts should fii*Bt be covered with mats, and then with the wooden shutters. The space need not exceed an inch, and an ordhaaiy fi'ame may bo put on close, as, from the glass being lower than the wood bars, a small space will be left between the shutters and the glass, which will be closed in sevei'e weather by the mats. Hollyhocks {Inquirer). — Your mode of treatment seems to us to be quite coiTect, and we do not know how we can assist you. Probably something is radically wrong with yom- soil or the site. Hollyhocks like au open situation exposed to the full sun, and require to have plenty of air, but to be sheltered fi'om cutting winds by objects at such a distance that they will not shade nor affect the Hollyhocks. The groimd should be a good rich loam, light rather than heavy, enriched with plenty of manure ; it must be trenched, manured, and thrown-up roughly in November, and turned over in frosty weather. Of com-se, it must be well drained. If the ground is heavy add sand or ashes to the soil. If it is in good order you may plant out with every con- fidence early in April. The plants should have protection from frost for a short time. Beyond staking, and supplying them liberally with liquid maniu-e, we do not find they need any further care, only to reduce tiie shoots thrown- np to two, or at most thi-ee, of the strongest. Tiventji-four good sorts are: — Brilliant, rosy scai'let ; Conquest, scarlet triiiisiiu; Ge'>ri,'e Johnston, rosy cilmsou; Lord Napier, scarlet ciimson; ^'i KiL'lit. ikLp glossy maroon; Marvellous, deep orange buff; Su- John Sinclair, m-y salmon; Mrs. P. Bruce, light rosy peach; Joy, delicate flesh; J^-.wU ^■u},\\i vtllnw; Mrs. F. IT. Douglas, light rose; Alba superba; John JlcI'unaM, u ' ■ ' ■ ;i, Moiiou. pm-plish rose; James Mclndoe, rosy eriiji ^a: i. deep rose ; Sovereign, claret crimson ; The Prince-. ; John Gail-, rosy peach; Her Majesty, white, slightly shauLu; iTtii. euiuer, pale yellow ; and filis. Dowuie, soft salmon rose. Apple Tree Diseased (TF. H. Bennett]. — The disease on your Apple tree is caused by American blight {Aphis lauigera). We have found boiled oil an effectual remedy ; we simply apphed it to the affected pai-ts with a small brush. We found the insect appear to a limited extent six months after- wards, and another application effectually destroyed it. Verge-cuttek (/. Lumli n). — In our last volume, page 380, you will see a drawing of oiu' im . nii [ u, .Mr, McLachlau. What yom's may be we do not know, but WL- 1 1 ■ ( nirse to gain anything by it will be to offer it to some of tli- j • Destroying V...ii:.i., jn Lawns (J. ff.).— It is true that limate, about hall an ouuce to fifteen gallons of water, will compel worms to come to the surface, but any fowls that ate them would be poisoned. Lime water made by thoroughly mixing a peek of fieshly-made quicklime with forty gallons of water, and when quite clear applying it through a rosed watering-pot, will be as effectual. Names of Plants (J. Bell). — Odontoglossum Cervantesii, Lindl, a very pretty species, veiy similar to O. membranaceum, LintU. {Robert). — The Christmas Rose, HeUeborus niger. {J. T. L.). — Eupatorium glabratum, native of Mexico; a plant we have seen cultivated in gardens under the eiToneous name of Ageratum glaucum. {A Market Gardener). — 1, Pteris longifolia; 2, Asplenium flaccidum ; 3, Litobrochia vesper tihonis. (A Coit- slant Read'-r). — 1, Asplenium Trichomanes; 2, Pteris longifolia; 3, Blechnum polypodioidcs ; 4, Cereus flagelliformis ; 5, Pellia epiphylla, in all probability, or perhaps P. calycina, one of the Liverworts. We recommend you to adopt ^your idea of damping your Fenis overhead, modifying it, however, according as the weather is bright or cloudy. The Brainea niii:iit be.nnie so affected by being in a cnn-ent of dry heated air, or by dtfr. tivt v, atniii^', or by the soil becoming foul, either from the presence of cntli ^-Minn- ov defective di-ainage. {Paganini). — 1, Probably Aspidistra liuiila \;irie^'!ua; 2, Oue of the smaller-crested varieties of the Lady Fern lAi'Jjyii'ii^ lilix-foemina) ; 3, Not in good condition, probably Cystopteiis fragiiis ; 4, Nephi-oilium gla- belliun ; 5, Young state of Polystichum angulare; 6, Asplenium marinum. iJ. G.). — 1, Asplenium flabelliformis ; 2, Polypodium vaceinioides ; 3, Pro- bably Leucostegia immersa; 4, Asplenium Veitchianum (otherwise known as Bellangeri) ; 5, Pteris pellucida; G, In very bad condition when received, probably Hypolepis repens. (Quercus, Coi'k]. — Elseagnus ai'boreus variegatus. POULTEY, BEE AND PIGEON OHEONIOLE. FOWLS FOR PEOFIT, AND AS A MEANS OF SUBSISTENCE.— No. 1. The rearing and management of poultry as a source of in- come is, generally speaking, very little imderstood. In putting these papers before the public I shall endeavour, as briefly and plaLaly as possible, to show every poultry-keeper how his or her poultry-yard can be converted into a valuable soui'ce of income, instead of being, as is usually the case, an ill-arranged non-payiug business. The invariable answer I receive to any question I propound to the small farmer or cottager with regard to the economy of keeping poultry, is, " Oh, sir, they don't pay." Now I have enjoyed a life-long experience in fowl-keeping, and know that they not only do pay, but that to those who ecouomically and properly manage them they will afford a valuable means of subsistence. This may appear to some a startling assertion, nor do we wonder that it is so when we see daily such ill-bred pigmy specimens, utterly un- worthy of the name of poultry, but which are annually bred often to the positive loss of the owner. I will state plaiuly what anyone may ea.sDy make by poultry, without in any way teaching extravagant \iews. I have calculated the profits in moderation, and the expenses ai-e quite as large as they will ever amoiuit to if strict attention be given to the birds and to their requirements ; and what line of business can be expected to retm-n a profit unless attended to ? Selection of Beeed -n-HEN Unconfined. — No cross-bred fowl wUl produce as many eggs as one which is pm'e bred. Now as the largest number of eggs that a hen is capable of producing is required, and that the largest and finest-fleshed fowls and chickens must be obtained to make a poultry -yaixl pay in per- fection— my advice, founded upon reason and experience, is . that two breeds must be kept. As I am regarding the domestic fowl solely as a source of profit, the greatest im- portance must be attached to obtaining the proper breed, as there are many breeds which will not pay as egg-producers, and others, on the contrary, -which if reared for the table or for market purposes would be a positive loss. Proceeding upon the assumption that the fowls have the advantage of a good rim, say a field or farmyard to roam in, I should recommend the Black Hamburgh fowl to be kept as an egg-producer ; it is truly called an everlasting layer, and will, without doubt, produce fully twice as many eggs of ordinary size that any other known breed will do. It is a noble-looking bird, and brUUant black" with a metallic lustre. This breed is non-sitting, therefore we must keep another breed for the production of chickens ; and I would strongly recommend the Brahma Pootra ; the chickens rapidly put on flesh, and grow to a very large size, being fit for the table at the age of three months. The heus are good sitters and careful mothers. They wUl become broody in tlie winter, if attention is paid to their feeding and they are waimly housed ; but should this not always happen at the time wished, a hen may be persuaded to sit at any time of the year. The Brahma chicks being naturally strongly constituted, wUl thrive weU at any season. I would not advise a sitting of the Hambm'gh eggs to be made before March. It has often being m-ged as au obstacle against keeping two distinct breeds of fowls that there is a difficulty in keeping them separate. It is of course imperative that this shoiUd be done, for if the cock of either breed were to obtain five minutes' freedom in the poultiy-yard or range this mischance would spoU the breed for twelve months. This difficulty may be easUy obviated by keeping the cock always confined, which is a very simple matter, as wiU be seen in a subsequent paper. The age of the cock should not be less than twelve mouths, nor should he be kept after he has attained his third year. Six or seven hens are sufficient for one cock, but where a number are kept, say twenty-five hens, three cocks will be sufficient. As profit is our object, the pullets hatched in the spring must not be kept after the July or August twelvemonth, as they will then moult and become for some time unprofitable. The cockerels of each sitting, no matter when hatched, must be sent to market or used for the table when from three to four months old. If kept longer than this they must remain untU full grown, as they always faU off in condition after the period of chickenhood is terminated. At this age they ought to weigh not less than 5 lbs. each, and I have known them to be heavier. The hens may be kept for sitting until three years old ; they are better sitters, generaUy speaking, than pullets, but after that age they often become cross-tempered, and shoiUd be replaced by younger birds. I have heard of capons having been trained to rear young chickens, so that the hen may recover her vigour' and begin to lay again. Of tlris I have not had any experience ; and as the Brahma fowl wUl generally lay again in a few weeks, and at the same time take chai'ge of her brood, when this breed is kept it is unnecessary to de- prive the mother of her own progeny. — Vincent Fbaseb. A PLEA FOE JUDGES AT POULTEY SHOWS. I BELIEVE every exhibitor of poultry will endorse the remarks made by " D.," of Deal, on poultry-judguig. I have been an exhibitor and breeder of poiUtry for the last twelve years, and never have I heard such complaints — loud and long — from men who do not generally grumble, as during the season just past. It is essential, I fully believe, to remedy this state of things, and that judges must have one enth-e day to make then' awai'ds. More judges must be employed ; and at the lai-gest shows, aud where the funds wUl permit, as at Birmingham, the Crystal Palace, Bristol, &c., amateur breeders of the different varieties should be sohcited, and would be glad, I doubt not, to give Feteuary 1, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. Ill their services to the judges to revise and overlook theu' awards ; aud I beUeve then we should not have the egregious roistakes wc now have, nor the caprices in judgment. Uniformity in the awards woiUd be the rule and not the exception. Birds that are one year considered the perfection of colour, style, size, and everything else, are the next year totally discarded, and the award given to directly opposite. What is more puzzling and disheartening to an exhibitor aud — A Breedee ? AMATEURS AND DEALERS EXHIBITING IN THE SAME CLASSES. I HAD hoped that some abler pen than mine would have backed up Mr. Ashworth's remarks a week or two since on the above subject (page 4.55). I know of no other matter in con- nection with poultry exliibitions more worthy of consideration than this. The present arrangement of classing the amateur aud dealer together is to my mind most uufah' and unsatis- factory. The amateur keeps his few poultry or Pigeons as a pastime or hobby, often to pass away a pleasant hour after returning from his business ; in fact, he merely keeps them for the love of them and not for profit. Still, he likes to exhibit them oeoasioually to see whether his are as good as his neigh- bom-'s over the wall. The dealer, on the other hand, bestows most of his time and all his ingenuity on his bu-ds ; in fact, it is his trade and his sole occupation, and it is but rarely that his bu-ds return from an exhibition without bringing the hon's share of the highest honours with them — not that they do not deserve them ; but what chance has the amateur against a man who makes exhibition his trade, often taking dozens of prizes with the same birds, and putting them in the cata- logue at a price prohibiting then- purchase except rarely ? My impression is that the committees of the various societies ought to place the dealers in a class by themselves. I cannot endorse Mr. Ashworth's opinion that the Selling class would be the place for them, as in most instances the jirice of the birds in this class is restricted to a mere nominal figure, far below the value of a first-class bird. This would not encourage the dealer to show his best birds. What I would advise would be to jdace the dealers in a class by themselves on the same footmg as the amateur, and let it be dealer against dealer, amateur against amateur. I have no doubt but that the class would pay any aud every committee that adopted the plan, and would be fai' more satisfactory to all parties con- cerned than the present system. — AiiATEnn. HOW SHOULD FOWLS BE FED AT SHOWS? I A5I veiy glad indeed to find this matter taken up by " Winner of Four Cups." I have long been of opinion that the great havoc made amongst birds every year after returning from shows, has been caused by the absence of digesting materials afforded them at those shows. I have had many complaints from breeders m England this year that then- bu-ds returned from exhibitions diseased. Now, I beheve there was no disease in the matter, for none would think of sendiug diseased birds to such shows as the Crystal Palace aud Birmingham. One gentleman told me it was black roup that was the matter with my Crystal Palace cup cock. I -will give you a description of how it affected my bird and how I treated him, and let yom- readers judge whether it was black roup or not — and breeders in England say then- birds were exactly iu the same case. When my bird returned from the Crj-stal Palace Exhibition I gave him bread soaked in ale, but as he did not seem to reUsh it, I offered him his usual food (oatmeal dough) ; of this he took a moderate meal. When I took him out of the basket there was nothing whatever in his crop, or first stomach. The above food, though not half a meal, remained in his crop next day, and I gave him a dose of castor oil but with no effect, followed by other three, and one of salts, but all to the same purpose ; indigestion had f:iirly set in, and the food refused to enter the second stomach. The bh-d was iu this state for about eight days, and now his comb was as black as if painted with black paint. As a last re- source I gave an emetic, and took back the last particle of the food. I by this time came to the conclusion that the second stomach was glutted-ujj with leaven or some other soft food, and, nothing to grind it, there it woidd lie. I then took fresh butter and kneaded it with sand and small stones, and put it down his throat, and as soou as this got into the second stomach, which was about twelve hours, the bird began to look about him and gradually recovered ; iu two days afterwards he could eat anything and everything. He re- covered and became perfectly well again, but minus his beauti- ful comb, and, of course, for ever useless for exhibition. I do not Icnow what food is given at the Crystal Palace Exhibition, but if the fowls are not well attended to with saud, small stones, and lime (so used), especially the last two, it is quite sufficient to account for all the disease that has been amongst the birds returned from the Crystal Palace and Birmingham Shows. If birds are confined for twenty-four hours, even allowing them sand, then give them full liberty, and the first thing they wUl do is to rush to the heap of lime- rubbish and pick up good large balls of it. If they do this after twenty-four hours of confinement, how much more after eight days' confinement — four days going and returning per rail, and four in exhibition. I believe the journey has very little to do -with the disease. Strong-constitutioned birds ought to be able to endure the fatigue of travelling without the slightest tear of fatal con- sequences, for I have sent birds on approval to Brentwood (more than six hundred miles), and other places in England, and had them returned the same distance -with not the sUghtest bad effect, because not long confined from their uatural food. Yet when returned they refused to look at food though offered, but went about picking up stones and lime. I think green food, cabbages or Swedish turnip leaves (the latter they prefer), should be cut smaU and given freely at shows. The cockerel returned me from the Birmmgham Show was very nearly as bad as that from the Crystal Palace, and wafS so ill that I could not send him to Edinburgh, and he could not make up condition in time for Aberdeen, and had to be content with an inferior position. — James Clark. LOCAL JUDGES. In " our Journal " I have occasionally seen complaints against the mismanagement of poidtry shows, and I consider the most glarmg defect, and the one most likely to briug our shows into disrepute, is the Judges engaged. There would, perhaps, be less cause for complaint if these •Judges were men of enlarged experience ; but often I find they ■have neither kept nor studied the fowls they pretend to judge ; and whether the prizes happen to be correctly awarded or not, still there is among exhibitors much dissatisfaction, and even suspicion of unfair play. In a recent number of the Journal the Committee of a show give the names of four Judges from the town in which the show was held, besides several from the neighbourhood. " Would you not be astonished to learn " that there were at least other three local Judges for poultry whose names the Committee prefen-ed to exclude from then- cata- logue ? As an instance of the judging, I oiight to mention that iu a class for Red Game, the second-prize pen contained a cock with a twisted breast, and the legs of the pair were a very bad match. The thhd-prize pen contained a cock almost iu the last stage of disease ; and this was not the only diseased bird that took a prize and was allowed to remain in the pen to the end of the show. The Committee plead economy as their excuse ; they may find next year that it was false economy. — Paisley. WARNING TO EXHIBITORS AND RAILWAY COMPANIES. To the late Barrhead Show I sent a pen of Duckwing Game and a pen of Black Red Game ; both pens were awarded first prizes. The Duckwings had taken a first piize, aud the Black Reds twice a first prize, and timepieces in both cases as extra prizes, only a few weeks pre-viously at shows in the same dis- trict. The Barrhead Show happened to take place on a Satur- day, and I asked the Secretary to favour me by returning my birds on the same evening, not wishing them to remain over Sunday ; this was accordingly done. I waited then- arrival at Edinburgh, and whUe at the station opened the basket to see that all was right before driving them home, and to my horror found all the four birds nearly dead. One died m a few minutes, the others soon afterwards — only three hours after leaving Barrhead Show. I at once concluded they had been poisoned, or had received foul play, and at once communicated with the Secretary and others connected with the Show to try to find out the cowardly rascal guilty of such an act : but aU say the birds were in good health and spirits wMle at the JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ February 1, 137: Show, and that the party who put them m he ^^'ff'^^' to give his oath that they were aU right then. I l^^J ^f ^^^ | of the bu-ds subjected to analysis, and ^"'^l''^'^. '^"T^^"! fJ^Xs of the report. I merely write this as a warning to exhib tors snmng birds to showJ, as it seems that P* «°^i\*f^i are not responsible for cases of th,s kmd, and tl^%l°^^J^"^^ll upon the exliibitor, such bemg my experience I ^^^^^ °°!y say in conclusion that if such cowardlj' '-^^ ,^f/_^Ytl^e nast occur often poultry shows would soon be a thing of the past. _D. Haeley, Rose Banl;, Bonnington Road, Edinburgh. " Chemical Laboratory, Leith, 12th Dec, 1871. "KEPOBTOFAN.U.VSIS OF CONTENTS OF GIZZ.UID OF GAME COCK. ■' On Tuesday the 28th of November last Thomas Bell left -nTth me at my laboitory the body of a Game cock b.f/"^g"^K *» Mr- D Harlev. I have carefully, in accordance with instructions received from Mr. Harley, examined and analysed the contents of SLard, &c., and have now to report that the results of rny experiments are conclusive in showing arsenic to have been present in considerable quantity.— (Signed) J. Falconek King. rWe recommend that this case be brought specially to the notice of the directors of railway companies. If it could be proved that the birds had been poisoned whilst m the pos- session of their officials the companies would be liable for the loss. — Eds.] DUBLIN POULTBY AND PIGEON SHOW. Without dispute the DubUn Show has far siirpassed any simUar meeting yet held in Ireland-in fact it must rank among the greatest poultry exhibitions m the kmgdom Car- ried out by I Committee, several of whom are among the most noted of our poultry amateurs, tWs Show was exceedingly good in its "eneral arrangements, and the care bestowed on the speci- mens ?ould not be exceUed. The Exhibition Palace, m which the meeting took place, cannot be surpassed by any bmUhng for the purposes of a poultry show in regard to the equal difiu- sion of light, the ventilation, and the comfort of the visitors Its being close to DubUn is also a feature of no little importance in securing a large attendance of all classes. Luckily the weather was propitious, and on the first day ti^Excellency he Lord Lieutenant, the Countess Spencer, Lady Cbfton, and suite attended the meeting, and expressed themselves highly grati- fied. The pubUc support on every day the Show remained open was most satisfactory, for although the avenues were wide and spacious, a glance from any of the galleries showed how abun- dantly flUed with visitors was every department of tlie bnow. On entering, the Grey Boriinff class first met the eye and certainly a better display could not be wished for Mr. John Martin, of Claines, Worcester, took precedence with bis vreu- inown Rose-combed pen, on this occasion much improved in condition as compared with that in wluch they were seen when exhibited at Bristol. He also took the third prize with a very good pen of single-combed birds, the hen m the latter pen being however, somewhat small. The Hon. J^^n Massy, who was second, had a very evenly-matched pair. In the class foi SiLver- Grey Dorkings we were quite disappointed most of these birds being both very irregular in colour and markings, it is singular that though hberal prizes were offered for White Dorkings, only one pen was shown; that, however, was reaUy good. ^ cmi- nection with the classes for Cochins, the names of Messrs Lacy, Brieriey, and Sichel are sufficient guarantee for trst-rate quality in the respective varieties. Dark Bra7-man, and he had to cross with Spanish in order to keep a semblance of the bi-eed. We have not seen a Mmorca fur thirty years. We are, however, gUid to hear it has been only a misfortune and that they still exist. 116 JOURNAL OP HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febniaiy 1, 1872. HouDASS Feather-eating (ffoudan). — We have never met with a case of feather-eating in Houdans exi'ii'pt nt tlie end of the summer, and when they have been kept in coutin^ im at. \\ - nmot account for it in this case; but as you say one hen is -]■ ; ilk of fowls, you should immediately remove her before the ^ i!. • li;ibit. You should have done so at once. Fowls are like thilh, ■: r -■ :, there is nothinj? one will not do that others will not copy. Fet-iin^' Im^ ^*.jiKthing to do with it, and we do not ap- prove of your diet ary . Potatoes and Indian meal are bad feeding, oats are bad. Chanf^e it. Let the birds have morning and night some ground oats slaked with water, and barley for a mid-day meal. Give them all the table scraps you have, but if they have a good grass run they can do without cabbage leaves. They d • not need the bullock's liver. It is sometimes given to birds in confinement, but it is hardly necessary, bricklayers' rubbish. We do not think you factorily in the way you propose. Shell-less Eggs (G. P. C.) — Your fowls ground oats. If they are not to be had gi bricklayers' rubbish made up of old mortar, ceilings, &c. ; they will pick among it and find material for the shell. They will benefit greatly by having thrown to them every day some large sods of growing grass cut with plenty of fresh earth. Fattening Ducks (J, C. L. R.). — You cannot do better than continue feed- ing with barleymeal, putting it in water. We gather from your letter they are at Uberty; they will not, when ducklings, fatten unless they are confined. All you give goes to growth, as it would do in a healthy boy. The Ducks that are fattened in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire are kept np, and besides oatmeal and bran have meat given to them. As soon as they are old enough, when about half grown, they are very fond of oats put in a shallow vessel, the bottom of which is covered with a sod of grass, and then filled with water to the brim. They 'A'ill eat this when they refuse other food. It is unusually early for a Game Bantam to lay at five months. Cochin-Chtna Hen-s Laving in Winter {J.S.). — Yours is a very pleasin^? exception, and we congratulate you on it. We have ourselves some hundred^ of hens and pullets. We have as yet only eggs from the latter. They are a^ well cared for and as well fed as any birds in the world, but they have no stimulating food, and no meat. Will you kindly inform us how yours are fed ? Although we have half a century of experience, we are more than ready and happy to learn. Malt Dcst as PonLXRV Food (W. L.). — The eggs will be fertile within a week, if not earlier. Fowls are very fond of malt dust, and given moderately it is good food, but it communicates its flavour to the eggs. Blace Spanish with Red Feathers [Red Feather). — It is no proof of imparity or inferiority of breed if a Spanish cock shows a red feather. Such come mostly in the hackle or saddle. All black-feathered cocks ai-e prone to the same fault, and it often increases as they get older. Some throw red, some white feathers. We should not breed from such a one. Breeding Fowls Pure from a Mixed Bun (R. H. F.). — Separate your fowls, and as the majority are probably not yet layin::^, you will lose little time. The Cochins and Brahmas will both do well in confinement ; let the Dorkings have the run. At the end of three weeks or a month of separation you may safely set the eggs. Signs of Poisoning in Fowls (if. T. R. L.). — The liver will be very much inflamed, the blood-vessels of the brain and intestines full of blood, while the inner coatings of the bowels will show red patches, and be honeycombed in places, unless some subtle poison with which we are unacquainted should he used. We are led to this last remark because youi- fowls seem to be killed instantaneously. Caponising {Bcshorotifih). — The art ot making capons is but very little practised in England. It is cruel, because it entails much suffering; it is expensive, because nearly half of the fowls operated on die ; it has been given up, because the art of feeding poultry in England is now so well understood, that when a fowl has attained the age at which the operation can be performed it is as large as it would be some months afterwards. The thigh of such a fowl is as tender as that of a chicken, while the leg of a real capon is tough ) doubt, be performed on Ducks and Geese, year round, provided it be roofed-in and they have a chance of finding shelter behind snug comers of the rafters, like sparrows in an outho use. — W. A- Blakston. METEOROLOGICAIj OBSERVATIONS, Camden Sqcare, Loia>ON. Lat. 51° 32' 40" N. ; Long. 0" 8' 0" W.; Altitude 111 feet. Date. Is TH B DiT 1872. Hyprome. ter. Direc- tion of Wind. Temp, of Soil atlft Shade Tem- peratnre Radiation Tempera- ture. s Jan. In , On S|g- Dry. Wet. Mai. Min. snn. grass Inchea. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. In. 28.616 Hi 40.2 S.W. 41.8 49.9 40,0 75.2 37.5 0.11S Th. 25 2S.O0O 454 44.2 S.S.E. 41.6 47.2 42.1 53.8 38.1 0.200 Fri. 26 29.265 44.0 42 8 S. 42 8 46.5 39.3 60.8 35.8 0j040 Sat. 27 29.807 42.1 41.4 N. 41.6 46.6 40.0 68.6 38.1 — Sun. 28 30.032 42 0 40.1 N.E. 42.2 43 3 86.8 45,2 SI.6 — Mo. 29 30,009 44.2 43.0 S. 41.5 47.2 38.4 52.1 3.1.0 0.010 Ta. 30 29 809 48.0 47 3 s. 42.8 51.8 43.9 61.1 40.7 — Means 29 .-520 44.0 42.7 42 0 47.4 40.2 68.1 36.4 .0.603 24th.— Dreadful wind in the past night, and the barometer fell to 28..332 at 4.47 A.M. on this day, being the lowest since 1813. A fine morning, showery after 1 p.m., fine night. 25th. — Wet and stormy morning, showery all day, but fine about 10 P.M., rain in the night. 26th. — Fair but dark and damp, showery and often dark during the day, fine at niHht. iproved, was fair all day, and g, but Boon i , intense darkness from 27th.— Fair though dark in mc at times very bright. 28th. — Still fair but misty and close in early i 11.55 A.M. to 0.10 P.M. finer in the afternoon. 29th.— Fair but dull, a Uttle sunshine about 2 p.m., then dull and showery the remainder of the day. 30th.— Dull though dry, gleams of sunshine between 1 and 2 p.m., and fair after, fine at night. The unusual depression of the barometer has brought no material change in the weather, which continues unusually warm, damp, and dull. — G. J. Symons. . Poultry Food {R. E. HX — The Swede greens ive suppose Mangolds would be the same. We We grow late turnips on purpose to give the and stringy. The operatic but we have never seen it. Swedes and Mangold a are very good for fowls, and have never tried the latter, greens to poultry. They always leave the root, give them raw, and chopped fine. We tried stei a failure. They seemed to run to water. Breeding Wheates Bantams {Bantam Breeder). — Ton must breed from two sets of birds to get cocks and pullets, the chief point you have to hear in mind being to cross judiciously. If you, at an exhibition, are beaten by a pen which by the great merits of the cock, coupled with good hens, proves too much for your better hens that are weighed down by the inferiority of the cock, you may safely infer you have the hens, but you have not the cock. You must get a good cock (»f the successful breed, and put him to some of yom: best hens ; from these you wUl breed cocks, while you already possess the hens. If you have runs enough, get two hens of the successful strains, and put to one of your cocks. You will then probably succeed in all. It is almost an impossibihty to breed winning cocks and hens from the same parents. The breast and hackle of a wheaten hen should be of the colour of a grain of red wheat. Points in Nuns. — " In reply to ' Jack,' five, six, or seven black feathers in each flight would equally apply. Birds having more on one wing than on the other would not be e3:cluded from winning a prize, if they were not over- shot. The white feathers must form a perfect saddle. Jacobins must not have white thighs, but be black, red, or yellow from the under mandible down to the vent, according to their colour. — F. W., Birmingham Columbarian Society" Stamping Pigeons (A. H. W.). — It is usual to stamp the wing. Yon must not put any stamp on birds which you exhibit, as you would lose a prize. Flight Feathers in Nuns [W. E. E.). — We gave the number of six in each wing on old and high authority, but certainly though the number of six dark feathers is a good medium to hit upon, yet more would be better, taking in, in fact, all the larger flight feathers. Under six would be too few, but the great thing is to have an equal number on each side. Temperature of Aviary {D. K.), — If for Canaries only it is immaterial. They will stand the frosts and snows of winter if kept in an open aviary all the COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— January 31. The abundant supply of out-door produce of home growth, and the additions made to it from the Channel Islands, have a marked influence on our markets, and although the attendance is good in general, no advance can be obtained. Enghsh Apples of first quality are scarce and deai-; American Newtown Pippins good, but not plentiful this season. Pears comprise Ne Plus Meoris, Beurre de Eance, Jost-phine do Malines, and Knight's Monarch. A fair amount of business is done in the Potato trade, though stocks are heavy. FRUIT. ve 2 Oto4 0 Melons each 2 OtoS oz. 0 0 0 0 Mulberries lb. 0 0 0 lb. 0 0 0 0 Nectarines doz. 0 0 0 Oranges ¥-100 4 0 10 Pears, kitchen doz. 2 0 4 ots., Apri Che: Chestnuts bushel 10 0 Corrants ^ sieve 0 Black do. 0 Figs dc.z. 0 Filberts lb. 0 Cobs lb. 0 Grapes, Hothouse.... lb. 4 Gooseberries quart 0 Lemons T>100 7 .doz. 0 0 0 0 0 Raspberries . 0 Strawberries lb. 0 0 Walnuts bushel 10 0 ditto ^''lOO 1 VEGETABLES. Beans. Kidney. ...per lOT 3 0 4 0 Broad bushel 0 0 0 0 Bcet,Red doz. 10 3 0 Broccoli bundle 0 9 16 lis Sprouts. .J a' Carrots bimch 0 Cauliflower doz. 2 Celery bundle 1 Coleworts.. doz. bunches 2 Cucumbera each 1 pickling doz. 0 Endive doz, 2 Fennel bunch 0 Garlic lb. 0 Herbs bunch 0 Horseradieh handle 3 Leeks bunch 0 StoO Lettuce doz. 10 2 Mushrooms pottle 10 2 Mustard & Cresa. .punnet 0 2 0 Onions bushel 2 0 4 pickling quart 0 6 0- Parslev per doz. bunches 8 0 4 Parsnips doz. 0 9 1 Peas quart 0 0 O Potatoes bushel 2 0 8 Kidney do. 3 0 5 Radishes., doz. bunches 0 6 1 Rhubarb bundle 10 1 Savoys doz. 0 9 1 Sea-Rale basket 10 2 Shallota lb. 0 4 0 Spinach bushel 3 ii 4 Tom atoes doz. 0 0 0 Turnips bimch 0 3 0 Vegetable Marrows. .doz. 0 0 fr POULTRY MAltKET.— Januaey ! Our supply is becoming very Umited, but there is little look for a steady Large Fowls ... Smaller ditto .. Chickens '^ Geese 7 DucklinKS 3 Pheasants 3 3 6 to 4 0 Partridgei Rabbits 1 4 Wildditto 0 10 Pigeons 1 2 Febraarr 3, 1872. ] JOURXAIi OF HOETICXJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Month Day of Week. FEBKDAEY 8—14, 1872. Average Tempera- ture near London. Rain in 43 years. San Rises. Sun Sets. Moon Rises. Moon Sets. Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. Day of Year. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Th F S Sera M Tn W Half Quai-ter Day. QTTTNQrAGESniA. Meetinjr of Royal Geographical Society. Boval Hort. Society's Ann. Gen. Meet., 8 P.M. Eoyal Horticultural Society's Fmlt, Floral, r and General Meeting. Day. 45.6 45.8 44.9 44.5 44.9 443 45.6 Night. 82.0 30.9 30.1 29.8 29.6 29.6 80.9 Mean, 38.8 38.1 37.5 87.2 37.2 36.9 39.3 Days. 22 17 16 19 16 14 15 m. h. 30af7 29 7 27 7 25 7 23 7 22 7 20 7 m. h. 69af4 1 6 3 5 4 5 6 5 7 5 9 S m. h. 40 af 7 14 8 39 8 59 8 18 9 34 9 52 9 m. b. Iai4 29 5 53 6 17 8 36 9 49 10 Davs. 23 •l 2 3 4 5 U 26 14 28 14 30 14 80 14 SO 14 29 14 27 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 From observations taken near London dnring forty-three years, the average day temperature of the week is 45.0° The greatest heat was 65^ on the 10th, 1831; and the lowest cold zero, on the ISth, 1855. The greatest faU of rain w and its night temperature as 0.62 inch. 30.4°. CABBAGES. OW many distinct and typical forms of garden Cabbages bave we in cultivation, or wbat are we to eon.sider as sucb '? Atten- tion is being dii'ected to this subject through the following annoimcement in the new schedule of prizes offered by the Eoyal Horticultiu'al Society : — • SpEci.tL Phizes offered by Messes. Babr AXD SUGDEX, OF Co^^ENT G-UIDEN, FOR THE YEAR 1872. — Assortment of the raost distinct and typical forms of Cabbages, named (not includ- Two examples of each, not less than 10 distinct The Prize to be competed for successively at any of the Meet- ings in the Autumn of 1872, as the various sorts may appear in condition. Note. — The object of the prize is to ascertain ■what really dis- tinct forms of Cabbages are in cultivation. The plants must be exhibited in their integrity as far as possible — i.e., mth the roots, leaves, etc., so as to show their true character. N.B. — A similar prize will be offered by the Society for competition at any of the Meetings during May, June, and July, 1873. Tliis is prize-offering of a praiseworthy character, for which Messrs. Barr & Sugden deserve onr special thanks ; the object being, as stated, "to ascertain," and as we understand it, to fix and record in some tangible manner for general benefit and reference, the various permanent and distmctive typical characteristics of this important class of vegetables. It would be of the vei'y greatest importance indeed to the whole vegetable-growing community, coidd every dis- tinct and tyj)ical form of vegetable be so figiu'ed or de- scribed that at any future time it could be easdy recognised. We want a sort of descriptive vegetable album as an authority or standard to which we could at all times refer. Vegetables are aU greatly incUned to variation — to deterioration, in fact. It is only by immense care and trouble on the part of our seed-growers, wliich the ordi- nary cultivator knows nothing of, that om' vegetable stocks are kept so pure and true as they are. This tendency towards variation leads ine\'itably to the multiphcation of names, and so in time to the actual loss of the identity of the original. But to return. Messrs. Barr & Sugden -wish to ascer- tain what really distinct forms of Cal>bages are in culti- vation. We venture to say. Very few — far fewer than the long hsts of names in our seedsmen's catalogues would lead us to suppose. What, however, is or will be con- sidered a foi-m or type ? and where is the authority ? Intending exliibitors will be anxious to know all about this. On looking over some half-dozen of the trade seed- hsts of this season we find no fewer than eighty-fom' sorts of Cabbages bearing distinct names, and winch are all (presumably) sold as distinct. We can scarcely suppose that, although these are sold as distinct sorts, they will be accepted by the Fniit and Vegetable Committee as suifieiently (hstinct forms. No, a particular name, al- though a generally recognised one, does not confer dis- tinctness. These points, however, must be left to the No. 667.— Vol. XXn., New SERiig. decision of the Judges, who, consequently, will have no light or easy task to perfoi-m. Anyone at all conversant with Cabbages is well aware of how they sport and vai'y. Go into the market gardens, see in a ten-acre field if you cannot pick out nearly as many distmct Cabbages as you wUl find in a collection of thirty or more named sorts, not including the rubbish, fi'om one of the London seed houses. The market gar- dener has only one stock of seed saved with the utmost care from his very best examples, and yet the plants exhibit all this wonderful variety — some early, some late, some small, some large. This Uability to variation is gi'eatly influenced by seasons ; sow from the same bag of seed the following year, and not half the variation wiH be seen. This is" how new Cabbages, at least new names for Cabbages, are manufactm-ed. Seed is saved fi'oni these accidental variations, and named Jones's Early, Smith's Champion, or Robinson's Supei-fine, as the case may be, and for a season or so some of their peculiarities may be retained. The reputed varieties of Cabbages are far too numerous, and the distinctions far too trifling ; so that we hope this prize offered bv Messrs. Barr & Sugden -will be the means of putting us 'a httle right in the matter. How very annojring it is, in endeavouring to keep up om- supply of Cabbages throughout the season, to find, after haying ordered ten or twelve sorts of " lates " and " earUes," that from one packet of the true London Market the same results coidd have been obtained. In 186-2 a trial of sixty-one named sorts of Cabbages was made in the Eoyal Horticultm'al Society's garden, Cliis-ndck, and as the Eeport states, the Committee only found five distinct, no less than twenty-eight of them being synonymes or more or less impure stocks of the London Market, FuUiam, or Battersea. In tliis, the year 1872, the Eeport has pretty much the same apphca- tion ; many of the same names, indeed, are still adver- tised. Embodying the synonymes given in this Eeport, therefore, so far as apphcable to the present tuxie, added to our o-svn observation and experience, we subjoin a USt of what we consider the most distmct and typical forms of garden Cabbages. 1. Early York. — Vei-y distinct. Head small, oval; leaves dark green, sho-wing very httle rib. A very early sort, the best to sow early in " spring for early summer use. If sown in autumn to stand the winter it is apt to run to seed. 2. Little Pixie. — Dwarf. Heads small, more pointed than those of Early York, and of a paler gi'een, -with more ribs. 3. Atkins's Matchless.— Dwarf. Heads pointed, larger than Little Pixie. 4. SnoARLo-iF. — Vei-y distinct, dwarf. Heads small, the leaves heading over Uke a Lettuce, and of a peculiar pale gi'een colour. This seldom hearts fii'mly, although appearing to do so. .5. Nonpareil.— Allied to, but perfectly distmct from, the London Market ; the heads smaUer, more rounded. McEwen's resembles this. No. 1219.— Vol. XLVII., Old Series. JOUENAIi OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febnutry 8, 1872. G. London Market. — The gi'eat London market Cabbage. Distinct. Leaves large, round, broad, with thick midribs, and forming large, solid, roundish, somewhat pointed hearts. Dwai'f . The best yariety to sow in July for early summer use. The following are a few of the synonymes : — Fulham, Batter- sea, Vanack, Enfield Market, Emperor, Mitchell's Prince Al- bert, Wellington, Sheppard's Manow, Shilling's Queen, East Ham, King of the Cabbages, Cattell's Reliance, and Champion. 7. St. John's Day Eaelt Dwaef Decmhead (Chou Jounnet). — yexy dwarf. Heads large, flat, like the Drumhead or Cattle Cabbage. Very crisp and tender. A most excellent Cabbage for autumn use. Sow in April, and plant in rich groimd 15 or 18 inches apai't for September and late autumn use. 8. WiNNiGSTAET. — Dwarf stem. Heads large, broad at the base, tapei-ing or conical, very hard. BoUs Tery tender. Leaves glaucous. Unprepossessing at first. Exceedingly good in dry summers. Sow in July or August for use the following July and August. It requii'es much the same treatment as Red Cabbage. 9. Pomeranian. — Stem tall. Heads exceedingly long, pointed, 'becoming very hard. Excelleut. Somewhat in appearance like the Wirmigstadt, but taller, more pointed, and having the leaves pale green, not glaucous. 10. Drumhead. — Tall. Heads very large, flat. Plant ex- ceedingly robust. Coarse, scarcely admissible as a garden Cabbage. 11. Portugal Cabbage (Couve Troncliuda). — Very distinct. Leaves large, pale green, with very thick fleshy white midribs, which cook like Sea-kale. Hearts sometimes close and firm. Flowers white. iSow in spring for autumn use. 12. Yaugibakd. — An interesting variety, coming into use in winter. Rather coarse. Heads of mediimi size, flattened. Leaves sUghtly tinged w^ith brown. In addition to these we have the Coleworts, the Savoy Cabbages, and the Red Cabbages. The above, therefore, represent the most distinct tj-pes of garden Cabbages. Of No. 1, Early York, there are several forms, but all casUy recognised ; also No. 4, Sugarloaf, is quite distinct. Nos. 2, 3, 5, and 6 all more or less resemble one another, and form the main body of what we term WTiite Cabbages. We could extend the list of names and our remarks further, "Were it neeessarj-, and give selections of varieties from the ■seed catalogues before us, stating the type to which each be- longs, but we think we have said enough to show that there are not many distinct forms of Cabbages, that two-thu-ds of the names found in commerce are appUed to mere variations, more or less pure, of the great London Market Cabbage of Covent Garden. — B. AURICULA GOSSIP. Now that the time for promoting the spring growth of this lovely flower has an'ived, and all growers of it will soon be busy top-dressing — an operation I never leave to other hands than my own — it may not be unseasonable to say a few words about the Auricula and its prospects. And I do this the rather as I have received during the past week letters from my old correspondent Mr. George Lightbody and from a brother cler- gyman, imknowu to me personally, but the son of one who in former days stood high in the rank of florists, and whose coUeetion of Tuhps and Auriculas was known thi-onghout England. There is, I think, from what I see and hear from others, a prospect of a good bloom this spring. The very mild winter that we have had has been a favourable one for the flower, ■where cai'e has been taken to keep out wet and to give air on all possible occasions. I have never had my own collection in better health or showing more promise of a good bloom, and I hear the same report from others. May we not hope, then, that at the April Show at Kensington we shall find a beautiful an'ay to delight all lovers of the flower, and, it may be, astonish outsiders ? One thing we ma}' rest assured of — that from the collection of Mr. Turner, of Slough, there will be a magnificent display staged. The Slough .Auriculas have been long famous, and now they have attained an extent in amount and quality ■which we may fau'ly say is unequalled. During the autumn he became the possessor of a large collection belonging to a gi'ower near Glasgow, containing between five and six hundred plants of all the best known varieties ; whUe he had previously purchased the collection of that veteran grower, Mr. Headley, of Stapleford, the raiser of George Lightbody, Conductor, &c., and in this are, I have reason to beheve, some remarkably fine seedlings, especially amongst green edges, so that here ■will be a treat in itself for the lovers of the Auricula. The mention of seedlings reminds me that some of our oldest raisers are rething from the field. Campbell, of Falkirk, the raiser of Pizarro, Lord Palmerston, Robert Bums, d-c, who is now seventy-three, ■will sow no more seed. He has been work- ing indefatigably for the last twenty years to obtain crimson selfs with a good paste from old Lord Lee, and now beUeves that he has succeeded. Then Mr. Lightbody also gives up; he is well known as the raiser of Richard Headley, Fair Flora, Lord Clyde, A-c. Mr. Robert Traill, another veteran grower, the raiser of Maj'flower, General NeiU, ttc, also retires from the field ; and last, but not least, Mr. Headley. It shows the difficulty of raising seedlings of any moment, that these growers, who have been for thirty or forty years engaged in thus raising seedlings, have only left some half-dozen varieties of any note in the catalogues, and even of these some will be perhajDS dis- placed by-and-by. It is an honour, then, to be the raiser of a good Auricula, and testifies to patient endurance and perse- verance ; and let us hope that both north and south of the Tweed the mantle of these patient workers may fall on some who "will be ready to take up the work. There is one 'disadvantage connected with it — ^years must elapse before a seedling that passes muster can be distributed to the public, and then only in small quantities. You cannot propagate an Auricula as you can a Pansy or a Verbena ; it ■will " gang its aiu gait," and some sorts are very shy indeed in jiroducing offsets. Hence it is that a flower like Colonel Taylor, which is forty or fifty years out, will stiU fetch half a guinea. On the other hand, there is the advantage that one is not for ever recasting one's stock, while the necessity for adding new varieties is much less than in any other florist's flower with which I am acquainted. How few of the Dahlias, Hollyhocks, or Pausies, of twenty years ago even, are culti- vated now ! At my last repotting in August (for after all I believe that to be the best time for the operation ; I have tried May, but it did not seem to succeed so well) — I used much less rich com- post than I have hitherto done, and, as far as I can see as yet, with manifestly good results. Amongst my small stock I see a good deal of health, and my winter losses have been compa- ratively nothing, while I find the pots well filled with roots ; and now, with a good top-dressing of sheep's manure well rotted, I hope to have a ■vigorous bloom. There is one thing I am especially anxious to avoid, and that is coarseness ; for one of the greatest charms of the Auricula is its refinement ; and when by overfeeding and stimulants this is lost, I think the result is fat;il to this special beauty of the flower. I think at some of oui' metropohtan shows a mistake has been made in allowing plants to be shown ■with two trusses. In old days the symmetry of the plant as well as the beauty of the flower used to be considered, and when plants were shown in pairs an equality in the style of growth was insisted upon also. It may sound veiy well to have Auriculas like Cabbages with large overlapping leaves, but I think that the neat, stiff, sym- metrical foliage is far more to be sought after. It is the same as with the Hyacinth. Surely the stiff erect foliage is more to be dcsu-ed than the limp leaves which require to be tied up to prevent them falling over the sides of the pot. I think, too, the plan of showing an overcrowded truss is bad. I have seen them with as many as fifteen pips. Now, I believe one with a truss of seven, or at most nine pips, is a prettier object. All these, which I believe to be defects in sho^wing, come from the idea, too prevalent now-a-days, that size is the test of excellence of growth. It would only be reiterating an oft-told tale were I to mention which I consider to be the best varieties, and novelties are so few that they give one but little trouble. We shall probably see some this season from the Stapleford stock ; while of Alpines, however pretty they may be and are, I must, as a bigoted old florist, say they vnil bear no comparison with the florists' varieties. They are indeed to be had in abundance. Mr. Turner has made a wonderful advance in them, but after all they must hold a subordinate place iu the love of the Auricula- giower. — ^D., Deal. MRS. PINCE'S MUSCAT GRAPE. After the excellent article of Mr. Foote, page 106, 1 shall be very glad if Mr. Meredith would give us his experience of this Grape, he ha^ving had it in cultivation for some years ; in fact, I know he has a house devoted entirely to this variety. February 8, 1872. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 119 I myself haTe not succeeded in colouring this Grape as I should like, though I have grown it fine in bunch, and the flavour was aU that could be desu-ed ; but I beheve it must have a house to itself to ripen well, and another thing I believe is, that it will bear liner bunches on the rod or extension system than the spur system. I shall hope to see others contributing their experience of this fine variety of late-keeping Grape. — Stephen Castle. ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRA AND LYCASTE SKINNERI. The first meeting for the season of the Eoyal Horticultural Society (.January 17th) was a most interesting one. The beau- tiful banks of Chinese Primulas and that increasingly useful flower the Cyclamen, Lord Londesborough's Orchids, and those sent by Messrs. Veiteh and others, were worthy of all praise. But it is of the two species whose names are at the head of this paper that I want to write. The superb plant sent from Lord Londesborough's collection, and named by the Committee Odontoglossum DenisoniiE, is worthy of special notice. It is presumably a form of 0. luteo-purpureum ; the flowers are 3 inches in diameter ; the sepals and petals are much elongated and pointed, as in O. luteo-puqjuremn. The colour is white tinged with rose and very sUghtly spotted, as in 0. Alexaudi'ie. In 0. AlexandrsB var. Bowmani, sent by Messrs. Veiteh, we have the flowers large, well-shaped, and more densely spotted than in the tj-pe. Each recurring importation of these beau- tiful Odontoglots brings out new forms and serves to keep aUve our interest in them. Both of the species referred to are natives of New Grenada, and are fomid grooving at an altitude of from 7000 to 8000 feet, Then- culture is comparatively easy, and no garden where there is sufficient means should be without them. Their culture is as yet imperfectly understood by gai'deners. I visited many gardens in the north last autumn, and found plants of O. Alex- andra? had been added to small collections, and were being treated to the heat of a warm stove as well as free exposure to the sun. Such treatment can only end in failure : the pseudo- bulbs will shrivel, and the yoiuig growths be checked. If a house has to be erected for this class of plants let it be a lean-to with a north exposure. At The Pojjlars, Leyton, the residence of F. G. WUkins, Esq., there is a very excellent col- lection in a house of this description under the care of Mr. J. Ward. The pseudo-bulbs are plump, and the vigorous young growths throw up strong flower-spikes. The temperature in tins house during winter falls as low as 3.5". In the north of England and in Scotland, where the sim's rays are less power- ful, the form and situation of the house may be different. At Meat'owbank, near Glasgow, I found they were gi'owu in a span -roofed structure ninning east and west, the plants close to the glass ; indeed, this is important whatever the form of house. I grow them in a small span-roofed house with a night temperatui'e of 4.5° in winter, but it is uecessarj' to remove them to a cold frame in summer, as the excessive heat shi'ivels the pseudo-bulbs. The frame is placed under a north waU. The plants should not be overpotted ; tough fibrous peat and fresh sphagnum chopped fine suit them, a few potsherds being added to keep the compost more open. The pots should be hall filled with dramage. Lycasie Skinneri. — The splendid assortment of ten distinct varieties exhibited by the Messrs. Veiteh, of Chelsea, was a veiy attractive feature in the meeting. They bad L. alba, the pm'e white variety ; L. albida, white, with just the faintest tinge of rosy blush fi-iuging the margin of the sepals and petals. Equally beautifid were the varieties more after the normal type, some with the hps white, others with beautifully blotched and spotted lips ; one had a deep crimson hp. This is another class of Orchids, easy of culture, and to be obtained at a low price. One of the staff officers of this Jom'nal said to me, "I do not grow Orchids. I will go in for Lycaste Skinneri by the dozen." The flowers are numerously produced, and last two mouths in beauty. All the varieties ai'e from Guatemala, and were first introduced by the late Mr. Skinner. Lycaste Skinneri is one of the revy best winter flowers we have, and it succeeds in the cool Orchid house, although I have grown it very weU in an ordinary plant stove, the plants being removed to a vinery at rest when the growths ai'e matured. It does not succeed in a veiy low temperature. As an experi- ment I placed a plant in a cool greenhouse for the Tvinter, and nearly lost it. The plants delight in a comparatively moist atmosphere and a temperature of 50° during the winter, ^^^leu they ai'e in flower they may be placed in a wai-m gi-eenhouse or sitting-room without any fear of injuiy. The cultural remarks are easily summed-up. The compost is the sajne as that re- commended for Odontoglots, and, hke them, they require plenty of water when growing ; and even when at rest they must not be allowed to become quite dry. AU the species of Lycaste are easily propagated by division when the plants are at rest. — J. Douglas. KEEPING LATE GRAPES. My experience in keeping Grapes this season is totally dif- ferent from that of your correspondent Mr. W. Moore in page 86, although he has a structirre for the purpose. I have now some fifty bunches of Lady Downe's and Black Alicante. They were cut from a span-roofed vinery with an inside border at the end of October. The house was then filled with Chrys- anthemums, and it is so at the present time ; it has also been regularly watered. The temperature at noon to-day (.Janu- ary 31st), was 48° without fire heat. In the same house axe three young Vines, first year of fruiting — namely, one Black Muscat, one Muscat Hamburgh, and Mrs. Pince grafted on the Black Hamburgh. The fruit on these is rather shrivelled, but not decayed. The bunches cut in October ai'e in a daj'k closet in my house, no ventilator except at the door, in bottles as Mr. Moore has them, with a little charcoal iu each bottle. The temperature is 45° at noon and not a berry is cracked, and there are very few signs of cracking. They appear as if they would keep some months. — ^D. H. Mt Grapes were cut on October 6th, and were chiefly Black Barbarossa (Gros GuUlaume), and the stems were placed in quai't bottles filled with spring water, and hung up in an airy gari'et close to the wall. I cannot claim great success for my experiment, but few of the berries burst. They kept plump for some weeks and afterwards began to shrivel, but in that state they became very tolerable raisins, and were found accept- able by my family. I have one bunch stiU left. I intend to try the experiment again, and hope to be more successful, as I attribute the shrivehing of the berries very much to the fact of the Barbarossa not being so well finished as I have had it in former years, last autumn being unfavour- able to bringing this Grape to perfection, as you are aware it- requires a high temperature to ripen it. My object in wi'iting is to recommend the Barbarossa to Mr. Moore and others as a better keeping Grape than the Alicante. — John Feeme. My impression has always been that Grapes have the power of taking up water through the stem in the absence of leaves,, hence my weighing the bunches as stated in the paper sent to you iu order to test this. These bunches proved that such is the fact, although many gardeners of standing with whom I had communicated on the subject prior to my adopting the water system repudiated the idea, and argued the impossibUity of the berries of Grapes having such power. I am strongly impressed th* at this time the true pi'iuciple of keeping Grapes in water is not understood, and until it is so no correct practice can be founded. I am fai' from saying that none of my friends have succeeded in keeping them ; but what I say is, the pi'iuciple of then' success is not thoroughly known, and therefore cannot be relied on practically. The information I should like to see conveyed through the pages of the Joiu'ual is, "WTiat is the lowest temperature at which Grapes can take up water iu a perfectly dry room ? Can Grapes evaporate the water so taken up through theh skins, and, if so, at what temperature? Is not hght a desu'able agent ? Is it of consequence to have the leaf ripe at the time of cutting, and if so why ? always supposing the fruit to be thoroughly ripe. This and other important information I should like to see detailed. — W. Mooee, Beltoii Gardens. TOMATOES IN POTS. I CASNOT agree with Mr. Douglas's remark at page 50, that Hepper's GoUath Tomato, in pots, cairies a crop of very small fruit with one of immense size. I gi'ew it last year in pots, and on every plant, ten in number, I left five or six fiiiit. These swelled to a great size, some weighing upwards of 1 lb., others less. They were the finest Tomatoes I ever had, and were considered by aU who saw them to be by far the lai'gest 120 JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. [ February 8, 1872. tliat had ever come under their notice. I also planted out eight plants against the south wall, side by side with the old Red, a good variety, and I found Goliath bore quite as nume- rous a crop, and some of the fruit swelled to a much greater size. I quite agree with Mr. Douglas in stating that gardeners exhibiting collections of vegetables in June will find a good dish of Tomatoes a strong point in their favour. If size is any object, I have no hesitation in recommending Hepper's Goliath. — .James Smyth, Fynone, South Wales. USEFUL FOEEST TREES OF INDIA. The Teak is of peculiar value for shipbuilding and other pra-poses from the power of the oO to conserve iron. Teak is by far the most valuable of Indian woods. The first-class Teak for shipbuilding takes seventy or eighty years in coming to maturity ; for house-building and furniture" there is a ready sale for the thinnings in twenty years. Sal wood is used for engineering purposes, for shipbuilding, and for house-building. The trees grow very close together. Planting is not required ; the seeds fall viviparous into the ground. This wood takes a long time to season, and it is liable to the attacks of some insects. The best of the Deodar timber cornes from territory which is not British. Deodar is, in fact, used for sleepers, but it is far too valu- able a wood for that purpose. Then there is black wood, of great value for ordnance purposes, for house-building, and for carved furniture ; it is planted in the same situation as Teak, and can be obtained of as large size as Teak. ^ Ebony is a wood of great value, and sold by weight. The Chinchona cultivation has been a remarkable success on the Neilghen-y hills. It is of extremely rapid growth, and the bark of commerce is obtained at an early age. There are at least 2000 acres of Chinchona on the Neilgherries. It is expected that the leaves may yield a febrifuge for the masses. Of Bamboo there are several species ; next to the Cocoa-nut, the Bamboo is, perhaps, the most valuable wood in India for domestic purposes. Rattans grow in great abundance in the forests of Malabar. The Rattan is a species of Palm, the stem of which runs along the ground for great lengths (80 feet to 100 feet or more) ; it is a product of considerable value, and likely to become a larger article of trade. Caoutchouc and gums of similar properties are found largely in Assam. Recently rules have been laid down for the periodi- cal tapping of the trees, in order not to overtax them. The Breadfruit tree is grown in gai'dens. The Betel-nut is a valuable tree. The Casuarina, or Beef-wood, is a very useful tree, of rapid growth, and the timber of great hardness. It is quite large enough for building purposes. The wood is very hard, and turns the edge of the axe. It has the peculiar property of durability under water. The Satiuwood is much used for picture frames and fancy purposes ; it resembles the American Maple. The Indian Dog- wood, a small tree of about 1.5 feet, is considered remarkably suitable for charcoal for gunpowder purposes. Many other species of wood might be mentioned which it ■wiU be useful to conserve and propagate — the Red Cedar and other species of the Mahogany family; Ironwood, wliich is practically imperishable, and so forth. The cultivation of ■wood for fuel is of importance ; in the drier parts of India it is so deficient that manure is burnt, and consequently the land is starved and production diminished. — [Times) GRAFTING.— No. 2. Is otu- last we gave examples of inarching from Mr. Baltet's book, and we now continue the subject. There are some plants which cannot be grafted with certainty in the ordinary way by a free scion, and, therefore, recom-se must be had to in- arching. Mr. Baltet in his work gives various examples of this process, but as they all illustrate the same thing we shall content ourselves with giving the following extract : — In commercial estabhshments there are sometimes new kinds of trees cu'iivated in jols. If it is desired to propagate them as standards, large stocks are planted, and the stock plant is raised to their height on a slight stage (fip. 1). To sustain, the stock plant during a period of prolonged drought it will be convenient to place the pot in one of greater size, and to furnish the interspace with moss or fine sand to preserve the freshness. An opposite example to the preceding is frequently met with in gardens. The stock plant is very strong and branched. The extent of its roots, and the shade of its foliage do not permit of young stocks being planted around it. To pro- pagate it, young stocks must be cultivated in pots. In the second year after potting they are brought in contact with the branches of the tree to be grafted by means of a graduated stage. The pots being placed on this stage they are plunged in a bed of moss, tan, sand, or other light matter to preserve their freshness, for watering there will be ditficult, and the rain and natural dews will be intercei)ted by the fohage. IN.VRCH1NG FOR THE RESTORATION OF Pi.AXTS. — Inarching is not the only mode that can be employed for the restoration of defective plants ; but it is valuable where it serves to change the variety of a tree, to renovate the stem, and to repair the branches. Let us give a few examples. Fig. s. 1st, To Change the Variety. — The Vine is subjected to this process by planting alongside the stock in winter a young-rooted Febrnaiy 8, 1873. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 121 plant of the yariety to be inarched {Jig. 2). The time of inarch- ing, which will be iu April, having arrived, cut the stock to the height of the new plant, and as low as possible. Cut a longi- tudinal notch in the upper part of the stock, and a correspond- ing cut in the scion of the stock plant, leaving two or three eyes above it. '\^^len the graft is bound and waxed, the shoots of the stock plant are removed and kept in subjection. 2nd, To lif store the Stem. — The stock (/i//. 3), the stem of which is cankered and furnished with gross shoots at the base, may be repaired by means of these shoots (y), which are buttress- grafted on the same stem above the wound. The course of the sap interrupted by the decay wUl then be re-established. in df fault of branches being found on the diseased tree, a strong i?tock (z), is planted in close proximity to it. After a year of good growth, head-down the stock z, and introduce it above the canker of the stem by means of buttress-inarching [as de- scribed in our last week's number.] When one stock is not ■.sufficient for the regeneration of the tree, several may be planted round the old one and inarched in the same way. Consequent on this operation the diseased stem can be re- ifioved. — Baltet, L'Art de Greffer. SOME PEEDATORT INSECTS OF OUR GARDENS.— No. 26. 3eing rather at a loss for a commencement, I think I can- not do better than offer a remark, by way of opening, upon some observations made by a contributor to this Journal, who has, what I do not profess to have, that practical knowledge of the habits of bees derived from bee-keeping. He complains that I have calumniated his favourites by very unkindly class- ing them amongst predatory garden insects, though I guarded my statements by admitting that they were only occasionally injurious. Their obvious partiality to sweets would certainly lead one to suppose that they would not hesitate at all to help themselves to any fruit which afforded saccharine matter, pro- Tided the supply from flowers ran short. I have not at hand the volumes of " Science Gossip," but iu its pages a few years since there appeared communications, eridently written bond Jide, wherein it was asserted that in various parts of England and Scotland, during a scarcity of wasps, the bees attacked the fruit; and my friendly critic must remember that, even if Iris statement is correct that bees will not meddle with fruit which is not beginning to decompose, they would still merit the name of predatory insects, for a good deal of fruit which has been injured by the weather and other causes is still avail- able for some purposes. As to the perforations produced by bees in the corollas of some flowers, these are certainly dis- figurements rather than actual injuries. Not very many cases liave been recorded, but I have no doubt at all it is a thing •which bees often do. It is only noticeable by the observant amongst our gardeners, the number of whom, though gradually increasing, is not so large as one could wish. So much for the ■tenants of the hive, which we will now dismiss. I have only to add that I am astonished to hear that the sting of a bee may be, if not agreeable, at least beneficial; so that, reversing the proverb, what is "pjison" to some is "meat" or "health" to others. Possibly ; slill I doubt. Many species belonging to the Dipterous order of insects are exceedingly fond of sporting in the sunshine, sometimes singly, sometimes in groups. So is it with those flies especi- ally belonging to the genus Anthomyia, the tints of which are considerably varied, though made up o few colours, chiefly Mack, grey, and a reddish brown. The cause of this is that the wings and even the bodies of these insects show shifting lues, according to the direction in which the rays of light fall upon them. Frequently parties will cluster about the heads 9.) The fifth day we intended to make a day of comparative rest, being somewhat tired by our Malgurdie excursion the day before. We sauntered about and made ourselves better ac- quainted with ICilliu and its surroundings. " Killin " says Dr. McCuUoch " is the most extraordinary collection of extra- ordinary scenery in Scotland, unlike everything else in the country, and perhaps on earth, and is a perfect picture gallery in itself, since you cannot move 3 yards without meeting a new landscape." This is a somewhat overdrawn statement, but true to a certain extent. There is certainly a great variety of scenery ; even the two rivers are different in chai'acter. The Loehart comes into the t3wu dashing over rojks, a noisy and boisterous stream ; the Loehay silently flows on, and both are wedded together in the jilacid Loch. Tlie Loehart, as it enters the town, divides into two streams with an island between them ; this island is covered with large Scotch Firs, and, we understood, was the burial- place of the MacNabs, but it is a long time (seventy years) since a funeral took place there. The island wore a gloomy and weird aspect. We were recommended by a friend to caU upon Duncan McKye, who sometimes goes out with plant-collectors, and who acted as guide to Professor Balfour and his Edinburgh botanic pupils on the last visit, a few months before we were there. We had a long chat with McKye, who finally accompanied us to the margin of the Loch. We passed the buriiU ground of the Breadalbaue familj' ; it contains the ruins of an old castle, and a handsome mausoleum, in which the late Marquis was laid about two years ago. We saw some magnilicent trees, and me.asured one Silver Fh', 11 feet in cu'- cumference, at 4 feet from the ground. We met with thou- sands of Asplenium Trichomanes, but looked in vain for varie- ties. We, however, bap;ged a good form of Asplenium Adiantum- nigrum, and some line foliaceous Lichens. AVe afterwards went some distance on the Ben Lawers road, and found Cysto- pteris deutata andfragihs, also Asplenium Adiautum-uigrum in abundance. We followed a stream up the mountain for about 10,11(10 feet, but found few plants of much interest. We re- turiii il to KUhu about eight o'clock. Tlio morning of the sixth day was gloriously fine, and the mountain summits stood out in bold relief against the sky ; even Ben Lawers, the monarcli of them all, greeted us bareheaded. Everybody said it would be fine,' and we were so confident ourselves that we did not deem it necessary to consult the oracular fat l.ady, who had proved so true a prophetess a few days before. As we calculated on making good bags, we engaged Duncan McKye to accompany us. We ascended the moun- tain (Craig Curich) from the Loehay valley, a much longer but a somewhat easier route. We climbed the steep vigorously, then over miles and miles of heather, and at length reached the rocks, and our sport began. The following ai'e a few of the many specimens which we saw and gathered ; Saxifraga aizoides, everywhere; S. steUaris, sparingly; S. hypnoides, not jilentiful; also a form of it, very like S. platypetala, which we could not determine without inflorescence, and S. oppositi- foUa, very abundant]}' ; on reaching the cliffs our excitement was intense. The Saxifraga nivalis was somewhat plentiful. To gather this child of the everlasting snow — for it is seldom found much below the perpetual snow-line — is a botanical aeliievement of no mean order ; we had gathered it once before, near the summit of Snowdon about 1855, and its appearance here awakened in us a flood of pleasing recollections. Festuea vivipara was everywhere dangling its long viviparous panicles from the rock ; Thalictrura alpinum, plentiful ; Lycopodium nli)inmn, Selago, and selagiuoides were also there, Ukewise the rare Dryas octopetala, -\rbutus Uva-ursi, and the two little arctic Willows, Salix herbacea and reticulata. Mr. Mitchell's daring exploits in climbuig were rewarded by three plants of the rare Woodsia ilvensis ; this was a botanical triumph of the highest order, and we rejoiced greatly at it, as we considered it the best rind of the day. Professor Biilfour and his thuty botanical pujiils had gathered a solitary plant on these chffs some months before; lIcKye pointed out the exact spot where the professor had his find. Wo saw many other rare plants, which we cannot stop here to notice. Our main object was to secure a goodly quantity of the rare Polystichum Lonchitis ; this we succeeded in doing, and quitted the cliffs with full bags. We lingered so long on these alpine cliffs that it was dark when we got down to the wooded part of tlie mountain ; bat under the guidance of Duncan we finally found the road ; and reached our quarters about nine o'clock, much fatigued but highly deUghted with the successes of the day. ■The morning of the seventh day was verj' fine ; we had asked McKye the day before if he knew the exact spot where the Cystopteris montaua was found ; he said it was over the shoulder of Malgurdie, in Glenlyon. Mr. Mitchell, full of botanical ardour, resolved to go to the habitat, provided McKye would go with him ; to this Duncan agreed, and they st:u-tod at an early hour in the morning. AVe accompanied Mr. Mitchell and McKye as far as the bridge over the Loehay, for the purpose of gathering the Lastrea spiuulosa, which we had found on our first ascent of Craig Cmich. After gather- ing a Buificieut quantity we took a walk up to the bridge over the Loehart, which affords one of the finest views in Scotland. We rambled down a lane parallel with the river, and soon found the rai-e Cystopteris fureaus. " We would wager," said we to ourselves, " that this is the verj' habitat in which Mr. H. S. found the plant this summer." We have since ascertained that this was the fact. Just think of our being told that a Uttle plant, not more than 2 inches high, had been found in Scotland without any indication where, and our going and finding the identical habitat ! This was a piece of good luck, which no one could possibly have thought would occur. We went along the road parallel with the Loch for some miles, and then along the margin of the Loch to see what aquatic plants there were in its waters, but we saw nothing except a few lacustrine Sedges of no special interest. We then ascended some of the hills south of KiUhi, examined thousands of Lastrea montana, but found no vai-ieties, and returned to the town in the evening. Mr. Mitchell and McKye came back about ten o'clock. They liad found some plants of the rare Cystopteris montana in Glenlyon, but were very much fatigued with the long and rough jom-ney. We soon got tea, and then to bed. — {Extracted from Mr. Ston-itieliVi notes read before the Todmorden Botanical Societij.) (To be coutinueiS.) ICE-STORING. In reference to "E. F.'s" communication to you on ice- storing in the Journal of December 14th, page 469, I find, or at least I think, with respect to stacking, that " E. F." writes so as to mislead or discourage those who, lilce myself, may not have the good fortune to be provided with an ice house. Havuig had a good number of years' experience in storing ice, both in houses built for the purpose and in stacking, my own experience in this simple matter in the latter case may not be out of place. I wUl, therefore, give it for the benefit of begin- ners who may not be better provided for, and those who might wish to enjoy the luxury of iced wines and dishes — to say nothing of tlie pleasure afforded in giving a piece of ice to assist in alleviating the sufferings of a fellow creature when laid on a sick bed. Our mode of proceeding is one that has been carried out for a considerable number of years, and is attended with the very best results. After getting the ice m proper working order, and the weather continuing frosty, we begin to take it off the pond and cart it home to the stack, which is built on level ground, but has the advantage of being shaded by trees and bushes from the strong sunshine. We begin the stack by empty- ing the carts on its foundation ; after which there are plenty of hands ready to begin pounding the ice with light wooden mallets sufficiently small to pack all large pieces firmly, thereby excludmg from the interior of the stack as much air as possible ; this should rather be a little over than under done. I retain the people on the stack pounding away till the whole is finished, and as the ice draws towards a point, one or two drop off as the room for working becomes less, and begin breaking the lee at the bottom before thro-vving it up to those who remain. As the work proceeds we now and then throw a quantity of water over aU, so as quicklv to congeal the whole uito a sohd mass. We stack m this way from 100 to 110 cartloads every year, and it keeps perfectly well over twelve months, sometimes for a longer period, and we have to open the stack nearly every day during summer. Before coveriug-up, ii the weather will allow us, we leave the 128 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Fobruary 8, 1872. stack exposed at least twenty-four hours to the frost ; if other- wise, we cover it at once. For covorinpf wc use ilry wheat straw, than wliich I consider nothing is hotter ; covering not to the depth of 18 or 24 inches, however, but to 48 at least, and all put on at once. We leave no au'-pipe through it, and we have no trouble in consequence of its heating or fermenting. We leave the whole in a conical shape, neatly strapped down to carry off the rain. This may be thought a waste of straw by some, but I have found no less thiclmess of thatcliiug will enable us to attain our object. The straw, however, will not be altogether lost, as a farmer will know well what to do with it, after it has done duty on the stack, when he has his cattle in the fold. I have no faith in having only twenty or thirty cartloads in a heap, however well protected and stored, or even in a house. My experience is that it is work in vain. Nor would I advise collecting a less quautity than a hundred loads for a stack, if ice is required all the year. Up to this date (.January 29th) the weather has been so open that we have been unable to secure our ice for the season. — J. Faieweatheb, The Gardens, Balnagown Castle, Itos^-sldre, N.B. "LES PROMENADES DE PARIS." One of the most important of the works carried out by I of Plaiu of Bercy into the Lake of Charenton. In the centre M. Alphand in the Bois de Viuoennes, was til' traiisf. in nation I nf this plain, in a valley artificially excavated, an immense Fig. 1.— l;.jtiunla Hud sheet of water covering 120,000 metres has been formed, and its two islands, Bercy and ReuUly, are covered with plantations of large valuable trees, which are of the deciduous aud re- sinous character, and which have been transplanted by means of the tree-lifter. There are also numerous clumps of ehi-ubs and flowers, jetties of easy access to the pleasiu-e boats, two liutlu— I,,Ic .A Kouillj-. suspension bridges, a rotunda, and grotto {fig. 1), a cascade, extensive gi-een swards, pleasing views obtained liy piercing vast avenues, and numerous gravelled paths — the whole form- ing a combination of Hght and shade, aud an example of modern landscape gardening which cannot bd surpassed. Fig. 2 is a view of the lake taken from the rotunda. THE FUCHSIA. It IS remarked^ by the elder class of gardeners that the I younger days often contained a greater number of species of smau and sometusieB ill-constructed greenhouses of their | plants than we meet with in the much larger aud more February 8, 1872. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 129 pretentious couservatories of the present tlay. At that time botanical distinctions rather than floricultural on^s were rehed on, and a Zonixl Geranium was a Geranium and nothing more ; wliile Heaths, Mesembryauthemum.s, and other genera pre- sented distinctions o£ a truly permanent charaoter, many of them of a kind that was easily distinguished at all seasons ; but fashion of late rears has contented itself in a great measure with varieties, so the Geranium and other favourite ornaments of the conservatory have been so divided and subdivided into sections as of themselves to almost hU the house, to the exclusion of other and more enduring members of the same half-hardy fauiilv In other words, the range of cultivation is narrowmg, and I much regret that the conipUers of schedules for oui' great shows do not take means to prevent this by. oii'oring prizes for outside objects. I do not mean by that to confine the observa- tion to out-door subjects, but for plants and products seldom met with at shows. Take, for instance, the Fuchsia. A miter in your number lor January 25th very creditably put forth a number of names embracmg the best varieties that are known, with some useful observations on them ; and although he mentions many names that are strange to mo, I fear there are none amongst them that represent the botanical species of Fuchsia, as F. corymbi- flora, fulgens, microphylla, and similar kinds, which cannot possibly be mist.akcn for the hybrids on which cultiva ors at the present day bestow the whole of tluir patronage. If I had the framing of a schedule I would make it incumbent on the exhibitor o£ six kinds to have these three ; there would then 130 JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Fcbranrjr 8, 1872. be dissimilarity so far as tliey went, and there are other kinds as well that might be broupht into use. Perhaps it may be urged that F. corymbillora make.s a bad Bpeeimeu plant, but it ma}', nevertheless, be worked into order. Many years ago I remember seeing one of the finest flower beds I ever saw, composed entirely of this species, the plants being 7 or 8 feet, and F. fulgens upwards of 6 feet high, and equally well loaded with bloom. The old F. microphylla is rarely met with now, also many other old Fuchsias ; but I do know of a plant house where a considerable part of the back wall and some of the roof is covered with that fine variety F. corallina, which flowers more profusely than any of the newer kinds. In the same house F. corymbiflora occupies parts of the rafters, and produces handfuls of its long tubular flowers, so that I often wonder it is not more frequently met with in a like position. I hope an attempt will be made by some horticultural Society to restore these and other old favourites from the neglect in which they will otherwise soon be buried ; those old enough to remember the flourish of trumpets with which these two large-leaved Fuchsias were ushered in, cannot but grieve at the careless way in which they are now treated, while many plants of much less import have usurped their place. I hope those having the arrangement of oiu' great horticultural shows will see to this, and if they can do nothing more in altering theii' schedules, they might add as a condition to the prize for six, eight, or more Fuchsias, that botanical distinctions ajid great dissimilarity will be indispensable in order to insure greater variety in this family than has lately been the case. Perhaps Mr. Boothby wUl he good enough to teU us how far this can be done with advantage. — J. B. BLACK BESS STKAWBEREY. TouE correspondent, " J. T., South IValex," makes inquiry about this Strawberrj'. I think I can tell hi in its history. Eight years ago, when gardener to the late S. liiekards, Esq., Shalimar, Acton, who was a StrawbeiTy lover, he bought from Messrs. Butler & MeCulloch, of Covent Garden Market, one dozen small plants, teUiug nie, I think, that the kind was raised bj- Ml'. Webb, Calcot, Reading. I planted them in a weU-prepared border, and the foUomng summer I layered all the runners in small pots. I had about two hundred of them planted out for fruiting, the rest I potted for late forcing. Those planted out were truly magnificent, bearing from forty to fifty noble fruit on each plant. Onmanyoccasionsmy employer had the small letter- scale brought on the dinner-table to weigh the Strawberries, and I have seen them often weigh down an ounce weight and a shilling. I sent twelve plants for trial to the Royal Horticul- tural Society's Garden, when the Fruit Committee thought them identical with Empress Eugenie, an opmion which I never shared. Some of the first fi-uit are flattened or ridged, but the general crop is conical, of a particularly attractive colour, sweet, and refreshing. The potted plants were gromi in front of an orchard house and did well. — R. Gilbert, Buryhh'ij. EEVIEW. The Gift of Life. A Book for the Young. By S.utA Wood. Author of " Children of Other Lands," &c. London : Groombridge & Sons. The intention of this book — and the intention is realised — is to show children that God is " near them here, and with them now, giving and sustaining Ufe." In a succession of chapters is shown that Life is evei-j-where ; that it is a great good ; how it is sustained ; the use of the senses ; the need of heat, air and light ; the varieties of animal and vegetable life, and many relative topics. It is a wholesome book, and the contents ai-e in simple language that a child may understand. NOTES AND GLEANINGS. DuRixG last year 3,351,106 eggs and 852,125 cwts. of Potatoes were imported into this countiy. Mr. William Woollev, gai'dener to Sir W. Jackson, Bart., Claughton Manor, Bukenhead, died on the 2Cth ult., aged 54. He was a frequent and successful exhibitor, and was much esteemed in his situation, wliich he had held for seven- teen years. Mk. G. J. Symons, of 02, Camden Square, N., writes to the Times on the Rainfall of January : — " It would be premature to express a decided opinion on the distribution of the excess which has fallen last month ; but there seems httle probabUitythat additional returns will modify the following deductions : — ■ "1, The faU at all English stations is greater than the average ; 2, The excess is greater at the southern stations, some of which have had more than twice the usual amount ; 3, In Scotland, the southern part has had a slight excess, but in the north about the usual quantity has fallen ; 4, In Ireland, al- though at one station the aggregate amount is belgw tUe average, it has rained almost every day." ToT.u, Eai>taix Dcni."iO J.isrjnv, 1872. Depth. In. Name of Station, County. 21*U0 MorJale Green, Haweswater Westmoreland. 19*25 Easdale Tarn, Gmsmere „ 18-01 High Close „ 17-50 .... Lougkrittg FeU „ 15-75 Measandbecka, Haweswfiter „ 11-74 Crohby Kavensworth „ 11*32 fehan-ow Bay, Ulls-watcr „ 10-70 .... Buckden, Skipton Torkshire. 10-50 .... SwartlilcU, Ullswater -Westmorelamt. 10*30 .... tiarthbibio Montgomcn-. 10-18 .... Bodmin Cornwall. 9-35 .... Okehaiupton, Dartmoor Devon. 8'8S Skiddaw Cumberland. 8-70 .... Uangurig, Llanidloes Montgomery. 7*62 Willerslcy, Matlock Derbyshij-e.' 7-50 Camo llontgomen-. 6*90 Llanwddyn 6*35 .... Dumfries Dumfi-iesshiro. 6*04 Great Slissenden Bucks. 6-83 Lymington Hants. 5-82 .... Holsworthy Devon. 5-53 Deanston Perthshire. 5*15 .... Cessuock Park, Glasgow Lanai-k. 5*12 .... Ballinasloe Galwav. 4*83 The Castle, Taunton Somerset. 4*08 Linton Park Kent. 4*55 .... BickenhiU Vicarage Warwick. 4*50 Merridale Eofld, Wolverhampton Stafford. 4-46 .... Tytherton, Chippenham WUts. 4.25 .... Cambo House, St. Andl-ew's Fife. 3-80 Westtield, Dundee Forfar. 3*46 .... Camden .Square, London Middlesex. 3*45 Monkstown Dublin. 3-34 .... Killingholme, Grimsby Lincoln. 3*10 .... Gainford, Dai-lingtou Durham. 2-89 York Yorkshire. . 2-78 .... North Shields Noi-thumberUiud. 2-74 ThD Lodge, Sandy Bedfordshho. 2-72 .... Diss Norfolk. 2-63 Portarlington Queen's County. 2*45 .... Nairn Nairn. WORK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN G.^RDEN. Sow, on a gentle hotbed for pricking-out, Cuuliflowers, Red Cahbage, some Early Horn Carrots, and hardy Lettuces. Sow a pan of Celery, and place it m heat. Make a small sowing of Early Dwarf York Cabbage on a warm border, and fill up all vacancies in Cabbage and Colewort beds. The surface should be constantly stii-red. The ground intended for Onions would be benefited by a top-di-essing of weU-decomposed rich maum-e, which should be forked-in. Wlien the soil is in a suitable state sow a succession of Peas and Beans, and between the rows of Peas tiy a row of Round Spitiach. Caulijioicers under frames and hand-glasses should have attention in giving air, removing decayed matter, stiniug the surface, and placing di-}' earth or charred refuse amongst the plants. Pot a few of the strongest in healthy sandy soU for phmting-out. Sow a suc- cession of Badishes on a sloping bank or border. Let a dozen roots of Parsley, or more, according to the demand, be potted immediately and placed in a vinery at work ; when the plants are well rooted supply them liberally with clear manure w-ater. Place a few Ashleaf Kidney Potatoes in heat to forward them for planting out when the soil is in a fit state. fruit garden. Proceed -with the pruning and nailing of wall fruit trees when the weather is favourable, and when it is not so prepare material for protecting the blossoms. Pmning Vines out of doors should be at once completed. Cut out old wood from Raspberries, and cut back canes not wanted for fruiting ; re- place decayed stakes, and tie the fruiting canes neatly to them. Dress the groimd with light manure. The thinning and prun- ing of trees in the orchai'd may stUl he contmued. flower garden. A well-kept lawn is one of the most beautiful featm-es in English pleasure-gi-omids, but on rich soils the coarse Grasses arc tUtlicult to kctp under ; while on soils natm-ally poor, and FebraiUT K, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 131 which have been for some tune under the scythe, mosses are found to increase so much as to injure the better sorts of lawn grasses. This is the best time to eradicate tliem, and a shai-p- toothed iron rake or light drag is the best implement for the purpose. It should be worked sufficiently to bring up the moss, which must be cleared oil and the lawn left for some time, when the operation may be repeated if necessary. Sow. thickly in March Sheep's Fescue Grass and Crested Dogstail, and apply a dressing of sifted lime rubbish and fresh soil, or the latter and hue bone dust. RoU occasionally to keep the ground firm, and a good sward will soon be obtained. Prepare giound for Koses, and if it is poor remove as much soil as possible, and replace it with equal parts of rotten dimg and loam. Eoses to flower in perfection must have rich soil. Prune stocks budded last autumn, leaving 0 inches of the shoot above the place where the bud is inserted ; this portion of shoot will serve as a support when the buds form young shoots in the spring. Prepare for planting Eauunculuses, and if any frosts occur give the bed a turn. There has been so little frost lately, that exposure of this kind has been impossible. Pre- pare" the roots for planting by removing all that are small ; these should be immediately planted by themselves, and as but few will flower this year, they will gather strength and size for the next. In arrangement, diversify the colours as much as possible. Examine carefully the stock of Car-nations and Picotees, remove every appearance of spot, and if the plants exhibit symptoms of disease, let them be placed ajiart from the healthy stock. Tulips, Pinks, and Amiculas will requue similar treatment to that lately recommended. GEEENHOrsE AND CONSERVATORY. The conservatory should now be gay with Camellias, Heaths, and Epacrises, Hyacinths and other bulbs from the forcing pits, tree and Neapohtan Violets, Mignonette, Epiphyllum truncatum. Euphorbia jacquiuiieflora, Lucuha gratissima. Begonias, and, of com-se. Azaleas, Lilacs, Rhododendrons, and some of the freer-blooming Chinese and Bourbon Roses. Keep a mild slightly humid atmosphere of from 40° to 55°, recollect- ing that the colder the exterior atmosphere is, the less neces- sity there is for maintainuig a high in-door temperatm'e. In the mixed greenhouse avoid any approach to a high artificial temperature. Place neat trellises to the Tropreolums that are not already fm-uished with such. Attend in good time to the training, commencing to fmnish the bottom of the trellis bountifully ; the top will be covered readily enough. The Kenncdyas, Zichyas, Hardenbergias, and Gompholobiums should have particular attention in regard to trellises and training ; young vigorous plants of Polygala, Muraltia, Pulteniea, Oxylobium, Dillwjiiia, Eriostemon, Cborozema, Hovea, Les- chenaultia, Pimelea, and Epacris, iSc, should have all theh' strong shoots stopped in due time, in order that the plants may form good specimens. "Where valuable plants are kept, a stock of the various kinds of loams and peats should always be kept in readiness for potting. For all potting i)urposes a soft, sandy, yellow loam is to be preferred. Such should have been dug "not more than G inches deep, with the turf, and after havmg been stacked long enough for the grass to decay it may be considered as fit for use. Silver sand, rotten leaves, and di-y weU-rotted cow dung, are all necessai-y ingredients in clifier- ent composts. The best peat for Heaths and hardwooded plants is that from Wimbledon and Shirley. With these soils, clean dry pots, crocks of various sizes, and dry moss, potting will go on without interruption. As it is not good XJractice to water heavily immediately after potting, see that the roots are more moist than diy when turned out. This is more particularly necessary with Heaths and all plants grow- ing m heath soil. Plants should likewise never be potted and cut back at the same time, but the heading-back should pre- cede potting by a sufiicient length of time to enable the plant to begin a fresh gi'owth. STOVE. If mealy bug exists here, even to the slightest extent, never cease to wage war against it as long as there is the least sign of the insect to be discovered. Perseverance now in this respect wiH save weeks of toil and annoyance at a season when there is less time to attend to them. After all, perhaps, the shaap eye of a practised workman, with a small brush and copious syringing with tepid water, is the safest, if not the most expeditious, means of banishing those pests. Temperature from 55° to 65°, or lower if the weather is severe. COLD riis on ekames. Frost and damp will, doubtless, have reduced the numbers of some kinds of plants; therefore pots of "stores" which became well established in autumn — such as Verbenas , Fuchsias , Petiuuas, Heliotropes, SaMas, Calceolarias, &c. — should be re- moved forthwith to some of the houses or pits to enjoy, if pos- sible, a moderate bottom heat, watering them with liquid manure. These will quickly furnish an abundance of early cuttings, which should be slipped off and propagated at once. — W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Wet, and still wet. Even now it is astonishing what good will be effected by a little surface-stirring of the soil among Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Lettuces, and other crops, if a few di'y hours can be obtained for the purpose. All forced vegetables have been very good. FRUIT garden. See previous notices, and let beginners be careful that in this duU weather Strawberries are not overwatered. ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. We swept and rolled the walks to keep them firm on the surface. We also looked over plants, taking off every decaying leaf, and made arrangements for putting in numbers of cut- tmgs.— R. F. rWe regret that illness prevented our reporter writing more fully.] TRADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. William Paid, Waltham Cross, London, N. — Seed Catalogue, 1872. Th. Van der Bom, Oudenbosch, Netherlands. — Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs. James Vick, Rochester, New York. — Viek's Illustrated Cata- logue and Floral Guide. Robertson it Galloway, 157, Ingram Street, Glasgow, and Helensbm'gh. — Descriptive Seed Catalogue and lAmateur's Pocket Guide. Sutton & Sons, Reading. — List of New and Choice Seeds for the Vegetable and Flower Garden. — Select List of Choice Seed Potatoes. B. R. Davis, Middle Street, Yeovil. — Descriptive Catalogue of Vegetable, Flower, and Agricultural Seed^, rOc. S. Dixon & Co., 48a, Moorgate Street, Loudon, E.C.—Select List of Vegetable and Flower Seeds, ft:c. Little & Ballantyne, Carlisle. — Spring Seed Guide. Robert Bowie, 22, Maxwell Street, Glasgow. — Descriptive Catalogue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds, Gladioli, Ac. Drummoud Brothers, 52, George Street, Edinbui'gh. — Cata- logue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds. — Select List of Glaiiioli, Hoses, <0c. Y. Strachan, 4, High Street, Wrexham. — Catalogue of Agri- cultural, Vegetable, and Flower Seeds, Plants, ite. J. W. Mackey, 40, Westmoreland Street, Dublin. — Annual Descriptive Seed Catalogue and Amateur's Guide. B. J. Edwards, 222, Strand, and 25, Bishopsgate Street Within, E.C. — Catalogue of Choice Flower and Vegetable Seeds, Gladioli, ,\:c. Edmoudson Brothers, 10, Dame Street, Dublin. — Spring Cata- logue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds, tte. J. Carter, Dmmett, & Beale, 237 and 238, High Holbom, Lon- don, W.C. — Carter's Farmer's Calendar. TO CORRESPONDENTS. *,* We request that no one will write privately to any of the correspondents of the " Jomual of Horticulture, Cottage Gai-dcuer, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they ore subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be addressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, etc., 171, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but wi'ite them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered untU next week. Maidenh.uk Fern Browked {Subscriber, DuhUn).—1he fronds you sent us ave biownod, wc think from the wont of a proper temperature and moistorc, tlie former being too Imy, and the latter too gieat. Keep up a temperature of 55 to GO' at night, but with the soil moderately moist, but do not syringe overhead at this season, nor ovcRiator. Eemove all the old fronds down to the roots, and i-epot early in March. JOUENAti OP HORTICtLTTJBE AKD COTTAGE G.yilDENEB. [ Febraory 8, 187-2. r... 1 a hotbod of 70^ to 70 , aud plautcd rut i tTVO- CucnmlMT • bers, beins light home. ,, , ... should think that a^ninst Mr. Laxtnn's "f "J'^'^^' .^ '', , ' ',, ,' ,' A" ,pero;- noDeof ouroldPcas will stand a diance. Wewould i. -i \' dsor- o£ the MaiTO,vMWimamsl ; nfl;rnad Beans, Mouan, .1^ t Ss of Beets, Dell's Crimson, and Pmo Apple S''™^; ';'■,; , ',,,.,., Dauvcr's wf.^li..nlil ..■pr.t.eitliei Mn„]\^> 1 ^'-^' .^i^^i^^;, j,,, ,, ;,, .,1,, \n,,i. Miu-eh,or when "" "'' " ' ' - ■ i"i' I-' '^ ' ',, ji, II,',, ,| ,||,,|,, ,.,,|,inii:. ^nitphes of water. '\' ! 'j ','.' '"'",'.' 'i, I,' . ti'nr^nliiii:' 'i ni.:v In mild weather, and '^'■' ' '"', '".' .', '], ,'. ].,.M,t ill! 1 1-. >ni the middle of 1 ■'"'," ''",,,':'', i'„ ', ''. 'l ;,',,', -11.. 1 ,1- i'i>' ..■ommon White ' ■ ' ' ' " ■ i' , , ' , ' i ; , , ! I ( I up with a Rood ■ ■ " ' , '' . "i , ,,i ,: , I •,.!■• i\i.'d to each part. growing' r Okn.im — Chamn and its ^ folia vari Dial), s id Fi too much air, so loog as they are kept from frost, the "lass than 6 inehes. Water thoroughly whja live w"eak liquid manm-e twice o-weck diiring the nd, and keep the plants clear of iasects. I'oTs Fon n\TT OF Doors is Scmmer (C. B. E.t- , , ,1 I Mil I'l . Thormium tonas, Aralia Siebold. I : , lius, Abutilon Thompson!, Agave I i , (_-a filamentosa variegata, Y. aloi- ,1., ,.,,ll;;iini. I II ^'raciU..;. Humea elegans la bien- ■ood. Vamofs (O 0). — By sprinkUng common salt between each layer of leaf^oiJ'li..le,inthirtness,so as to make it white, and by turning it over ^^^^"^litii;;'.;^!'^! thol-onghly mixing plenty of ,nickUine wi^h it tos fungus may be destroyed. Wo highly approve °' V'"'™"' "■■^'S'^''^'^'-^ r,.,lnniiiTii inafi-ame and surrounding the roots with soil, and tying tnem up wMTmosB. Datma Huberiana is a good plaut^ for rli^itogon lawns ^th sSubs. It requires now to be sown in brisk heat, and t_o be P'O™ in » good heat, so as to have the plant strong before plantmg-out. Tbf seeds freely if steeped before f pmperature fi-om W to lOO'" ! for ri, V, l—Tlie d Pot AshtopFlnke, llr.i i' '■ 'I '•'• ^ " '"' ''',''', Kidney, Prince .i[ W.i'- ,/-i ' ' ■;',,■,,,,; V, i,,! Giant Kmg, Main l-i'."!-. Aiu ■■ ■ .'-I - • h i.h.i' , m . ■ Flom-ball, and The Queen's. l',a ;, Laxt..,, -m ■ i ,. -. " of the MaiTows, Maclean's Best of Ml and !• i , m ■ " Hunih-edfold. You did not say liow mnn,^ I ml ,', ' " ' V '"i,' Iv-i "" "'"" namedhalf a dozen kidney and round Potat.ii . ;uin n. HI ,1 '. . Agrostis vulgaris or Creepm-'-Toote.l Bent (^ass. is u ut. ini.^iieu.,c enclosure wo should plant vitii l..r,,i _ I.. .. MI. I'w- ""''^, ' , „ ,r< I 11 ..■,,,,,, t 1- I" lir liiid fv.im the youngest Sea-kale WEAK {Cowh.n,. - 11:. ,i. j i • ; ■ ' ,' ^^ „|,,| ,,,, ,.„n t,,,m,hed, plants or those two or thro. >-M ,. . _ ^ ^, ^^^ ^ Early in manured, and mixed with .ami ,i .1 _ ^^^ ^^^1 ^^ ^ di.-tance of March plant them ontm lows^ 1 ■ ;,,,, ,;,,■,,,,,;, ,,1, ,, and, especially if ISmchesmtherows. Itisnel t.. - 11 ■ . , , ^.j^salt at the the soil IS heavy and the gi'-niml ^^■ 1^ ' ^ ^ ^ ^^^ ^^ ^ square close of March, and again lit till' ' I . ' , ■ ni ,,l Miv tn ilr rlii-" "1 yards, and watered with liqiiiil iM 11 1 "'' j ",,,1,]' ,',,,^ i„ nm-.d Au'gnst, as often as it scjm- n ■ ' ' , ' ' V 1" ' il n i. m ', 1- but loft t.i die diiwn lii-t, 11'.. I'l '" ,' ;,|,,,|, , ".i^.,, ',,,.,, ,,, vembi'i-. Tl". i'l.'t-.y'f ^ ■' '■ ,,,, ,,' /, ,, ,,,, „,;tii n startin I' "'I ',' I ;, . i. Iii'i'. ;ind i the ..iff iliti ) hours in water of ms for sowing this 11 imported seed is ' net lose patience, ivdmit abundance III' to keep the soil .,.,,... pots, grow them in d shift them into larger plat , , , , , '.■ slielf in a greenln - I II I,. , hade them from the bright s,.., ... AC "k^. , i,"l,i in.l III ill I'.mter. It appears to be hardy. The young Oleandei 6 ttowei-buds did not expand last year will flower this year m May if yon B it first in a waiTO house, and later on in an ordmaiy gi-eenhouse , so let the bunch i Habi IT, Park Trees (J. P., of Tori ,, „ ,„., , ,, |i. trees be 8 feet in height, - a-aiusi 1 1' .. -.1 1". 111. .\sh. Common Beech, Pill nut liiiiil.l. li.l mill I'.inWe ■^'liite, nlso Scarlet Chestnut, \Vv..|l I'.lin, Kivli.^li Tllm, T.imo, \"..r"-,.v Enghsh, Tm-key, audScaii.' : "I'l -^v. imi.i.. m. i" Thorns as standards, whirl I h... . n -i. i ■ n. ' exposed, and the ground i. 'iiiiill. i" i" i '• .. Beech and Sycamore, whiih Mitli u- m n .'i I . " all. If you have awet spot plant I'.ir li. l'.i,iliir-. mi Peach and Nectarine Trees iIi-mii-... i' 'im trees are growing in rich or damp liuviiii-i tl"". «i.l i ■ inevitable. If the bordei reqiiue.^ that'there may be no danger from stagnant obtain well-decaved turfy loam, Uft the tree' I — E.-r planting in parka 1 t il . .1 mid secm-ed i:,, I, r..i-i. Chest- 1 ,1 1 ',il Spanish , , ■: ; Oak, 1,', I ,, ■ 1 i",'|-',i,'; also I : . ,. I'lnidpaUy ,1' i.'ii ,11" the best of \l I- .. ,1^ ;; .ii(fr). — If your III I .strong late gi-owths, diamiug, see that this is ivatcr near the roots. If and replant them, nstug doze 0 blam;hiUi ears old the plants keep oil \' :I h :i .l"..' II ' 1 I ' they will com., iiiiiiiiiill.i, tl or leaves to exclude aii' and ought to be veiy strong. , „ ., m r^, ■ ,i„ T.„„»,Nr BosFs IN Pots IJ. W. i.)— The Mai-echal Neil and Gloire de PttONlNo KosEs '^ ,"-;;%; '•,;\,.o„,|i, no,vcuthack,if veiy strong to Dijon Koses oiii }'■! • .. ^.„ ,,,f...„ „,.thm. Prune Tacsoniasplendens ^rthehacrwal .'.';" . r. . '. ... :. u'tln; out the long bare shoots, and en- on the back won . iv,verted tm-f is good for placing on :S";^i "m ' .1 .''■ lorries in pots for forcing; 7,.,, ,,, 111 . 1 mns (.Wofu'sj.-Six Zonals tobe pmchedin ^^ . , . , , , inraic! Duchess, Blue Bell, Lord ChanceUor, S™'!'" , ir i.'' 1-.. ,1, lini.i.'aniiiid. ofdi-.aina-^e, auiiichof voii.d, Pencl'-'ii'., .I'l'l ' ...I. .. I '" 'om- .1 compost, and thcrcstiif Ir .! ■ . l'^ "" ' ' ' ^ t part silver sand luld, and half d be grown. Cover lid fr 'vatc "RTiei .-. nla-.- the seed lightly, water ■ i ' ' ii glass, but shaded frnm til. '. ' ' ' "', thepliiiil , m, v.. II III', -m' . ■: ' ■ 1 "I" I; I'll. ' ■"■■ ; ^^. , j.^, ,,|,,,., ^i,,,, ,, Hardi'i. i: .. 1 . II I" ... I ". ""'" ' ,■ , " , , ; , ,, ,,,,„, ,,;,,,,i|,,i Slighllv li.i I. I |. 'Il'.i ■ .11 I . I" '''''• .'.' ■ ,,,,1 Vllnil :.i 111' II I- ForwiiiM 'l....M.i.|ii . Ill .1 .. .. . .1 . .Ill I I'.y ^ '11 ,",,,,, „,,^ ,,,„[ 1,^.1 luL.^m.i vars. timliriata alba, ' ' i' i ^ , .inii' Ilicro are few oi-e excellent, and also i i l. ' , ,, i:;,,^ jo be cleared by crops that maybe put 111 1.- . . ■ ; , ^ ,„ _ and Lettuce from the latter date, indeed vi Um ;""'., - \^.^ „, j^qj as the present autumll-so^^■n plants. linuiMii.. viii .i.iii i .i . „„veve weather Plums ''''^"'drronlLwood'ol^th^pii'^^ioTyet^ stem"^^^ ^L^t^iS:'^":^^ ^y'^P^'j^o^ot the cun-entyeai. strong -Worms in Pots (.S.ili. . ' . - l !■ m, ' ' " ,,, ,,- phu-mg lib. soaked for thi-eo hours m li-- ■ ' ; im- '"'J^yj^.^. "'..^,^. ^,' stu-riu" it up SliS^o^N^Tto^st^nd mitu'the th^ck part has subsided, whju the clear water is dl-a^vu off for use, MEION-GROW-ING IK Gkeenhoitse (An A,,at,-ur).-U yon 7?=^!; to P'"^- Melons vom- house must he cleai-ed of „.l ,.n...enhouse plants but thosta require the same temperature as Mel.m-. ilm 1 Im „,., im ..m I k ^ ^^^ boUerwillanswer, Iratit shmldbeRin^ 1.1 1 'I ;; '. '• ]• ^ ^ .j,, ,, , for two plants in-tead of one, and llMii t ,.,"",,„,„.;,„ .,,,,, ,i,,,vMif should have plenty of holes, with rubble o -.i ''"'"',',-, ^ ^^ j,, j^i, .,«, si^rirpreV°vicToro?5i?b,yrfl^^^^^^^^ fleslied -will suit yon. ._ ,, ,,.-1, ,-,-, ,i ,, Till v^Mysrtr.rhnvvr).-ThoY]^^^^\^■^^n^^o^ ^_ _^^^^,^ ^ ,,{ the li'iim al'M'it the roots. " V["-.i Tm I. " I 1 ■■.. H-i ■■' ../I'.B.JH.K— ForaUkilia-"rnnit fyrr-^-.-rhrV-.-vo ,ii,,i,'iM ■ ■■"■ ' . nil'.' tliau transplanhi' I''.' ■ ■' ^ ,,,,, .,...' \ ■ .,1 ■ I ; ■ ■■ I' r,,],ped twice dm-in" '■ ■ I'^-i- ^''i '''' IHPut \' M'llil li.r I I 'II ^ "li 'i"''f !!■ dozen less vi^'ni'i I'l- -l:---' -■ -■. I'l' l^ ~ ■■ .I'i li'ive fiu'in^lH-a the wall with heai-inj^ wood. We w.iuid ik.i, aaw.-.f_,v.-ii to lenlaiit the tree now: cut back the shoots to half their leu-tU, ^ud m sum- mSr^'heiitho t?ee L malchig yoims wood, pinch hack the shoots that are inclined to be vigorous. ■ Conservatory (£r,niisKM--In statmg no shelf should be opposite the nlSe dass wuiSow ,ve merelv refeiTed to the naiTow shell or platform con- toued"S lold the sides! ■ There would 1"= ™.°f'=«^'"'y "' ^P°;^?/^„'' hue of this shelf if this window were not made into "^ <•' ™-^ , V ,""'''lr'„° should.snppose the stage opposite to be filled by till. I" I i miiini -^ ^ square-cutlathswiUanswerveiyweUforapathwu:., . I. ii '. -| as ii-on grating. The heating pipes wiU be out o[ 1 1 ■ . i n in . ", ; You are quite right as to the an-angement of tb. l;'!';': -,„;;;'.';'';;,'; ;,^^;.; the nir-nine is fixed at the highest pomt. It is of little impoitau.A iwitim you Sfhat pl^e out of doors or Lt We should thirik that * - ^/-'^ lifiiirht would be ample. The end should be bent down, so as to loim a semi eh-de trnrevent &st, &c. gettmg mto it. We presume that -you have a Snnl'v cisfem of sor^e sort, taking cold water to the bottom of the boUer, and^that this is Ser than the highest part of the pipes II Jon-^^^t iXom all the winter: you had better have three pipes mstead of two all round r the stag „xtni,l R.rl „ld p, -Tinfv 1< im of a of some oam add time at rvWb'tlm'urates'^ue reqnir'ed' but Muscats 'ire not generally gi-owTi for an time tlti^ ids h: ished an inch." The hea 1st now he gi-adualiy ," ,. \M II /. ' 1 1 link the faU of the ^'■^"'''' I'-i'-' * " , i" I „ . ii..ii!|i'' ■ I, It™ il wehadknowu roof Mill 111' 'iiiii' -iiiiii.inii. .11 »■ . . . ^^_ ^1^^^ I jj^^, rafter sash bai-s "SSSaT^ X^ Sr i^ck^SjTSS^ lus\!i^ w?uwSate a7^m mo?e seLe, and would be no great eyesore. , ,,., , ,|. ,, -OR a WlNDO-w Ma. 4mnfe«r).— As you dishke to go '"/'■,' , '. . i.riipagating cases advertised, to stand I " !'(,,,,, o 1 1; al pfan would be to proceed! ifoUin ^iVTiu'liM wide, ia inches d. 18 Khes d|. of a table, top moveable 11. 1' this tli.'v slii.iil.l I". I'liii'V. I I.. II will have plenty of light, or be gi- xild int il head room i V with a zu.c or tm plate, perforated oi "V*'"'^ . bv which to fill that vessel or drawer vyith hot say fi-om 2i to 3 inches, eo that there miX be no Febraary 8, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 133 danger of the water running over, and there should be a tap or plug to draw tiff the water wheu cold. The heat may thus be regulated to a nicety. We should prefer the covering- plate without holes in it. It would be best to put the cuttings in small pots; you may pack round them cocoa-nut fibre or clean eand. Such a box will hold eighteen 48-sized pots, and thirty-two CU-sized pots. A second case would be useful for hai-dening-off the young plants. Earth Closets (E. C).— There is no doubt about the desirability of these. None have surpassed Mr. Moule's. We cannot discuss the subject, so we send you a pamphlet by to-day's post. Conifer Seeds (Sestf). — Write to some of the principal seedsmen who advertise in our columns. Hactbois Strawberry— Rockery — Magnolia grandiflora {K. A. B.). — The culture of the Hautbois Strawberry is the same as that of others. The rvinners should be well rooted, placed in rows 2 feet apart, and at a distance of 18 inches from plant to plant. We grow it in beds separated by alleys 1 foot wide ; each bed is 4 feet across, and holds tluee rows of plants, the two outside ones being 9 inches from the edges, and the centre one midway between them ; the plants are at a distance of 15 inches apart. After fruit- ing the centre row is token out, and the two others allowed to remain until the second or third year. We think Royal Hautbois is the best kind- We know of no book specially devoted to the formation of rockeries. The Mag- nolia against a south wall will not flower until it becomes strong. One of the t^ize you name might do so in about three years. IxoRA Lbaves Spotted (X. E.). — The spot on the leaves is caused by damp or water on a late growth. It appears as if after syringing water had rested on the leaves in drops for some time. Cease to syringe. Give more heat and air in moderate quantity, and the leaves will come ail right. Keep up a good amount of moisture by evaporation, either by means of a trough or by sprinkling the floors, or both. Roses Planting ( W. M. A. W.). — In planting standard Roses the " crown of the roots " should not be covered more than 3 or 4 inches with soil. Deep planting is not, however, the cause of yoin- plants going off, but it is due to the union of the Rose with the stock not being complete, there being some Roses very liable to go off, especially on the Briar. We do not know of a remedy. Soapsuds may be given to Roses, but only during the growing period, and as they hold a considerable amoxmt of soda, should be diluted with twice the quantity of water when strong. Use liquid manxu-e for the Roses, and apply the soapsuds between the rows of Cauliflowers, &c. Rhtjbarb Forcing (Unfortunate). — Rhubarb cannot easily be forced in the ground in time for th» 1st of January, but it may be done. Cover the stools with pots or boxes 2 feet 6 inches deep, aud take a trench out on both sides of the row or rows, about 2 feet wide and deep ; fill this with hot dung, heaped up a foot around the pots, at the close of November, and then you ought to have Rhubarb by New Year'i day. The dung should be in a high state of fermentation, and should retain its heat for a month, being replenished with fresh as it settles. For early work it is by for the best plan to take up the roots and place them in a Mushroom house, or any place having a tempe- rature of 55'" to 60°. Royal Albert is a good kind for early forcing, and ours in the open ground, under 6 inches of litter, has stalks 6 to 8 inches long, whilst none of the other sorts have done more than swell at the crowns. Raising Perennial Phlox (T. 4f.). — We have never experienced much difliculty in raising perennial Phlox seed, aud shuuld advise you to try again. Sow the fieed in good sandy loam, in gentle heat; but by all means avoid peat, as it is apt to cake and get hard, thus seriously affecting the seed. Potatoes Sprouted (Buck^). — The sprouti of the Early Rose, if less than an inch long, should not be removed, but tho tubers should be kept in a cool place safe from frost, and planted with the sprouts on. If the sprouts ore more than an inch in length, it will be necessary to remove them, when the tubers will sprout again by planting time. Ours have sprouted about half an inch, but by keeping them one layer thick on lath shelves, and giving them plenty of air, we shall retard them untU a month is past, and then plant them. The best preventive of disease is early planting, so that the Potatoes may mature before the late summer rains. Lilium anratum's flowering power does increase yearly. We had bulbs in 1870 with two flowers, which In 1871 had thirteen flowers, and are now throwing np very strong shoots. Our " Window Gardening for the Many " will suit you, and may be had free by post from our office for ^\d. Cyclamen persicum seed is what you will require to order. If sown now in a hotbed, aud in autumn removed to a house with a temperature of 45'' to 50° it will flower finely next winter. If you procure, say, a five-shilling plant of Lapageria rosea, it will in all proba- bility flower the first year, or, if you raise it from seed, the third year. Bats Scratching up Red-leaded Peas (F. S.). — Melt some lard and mix it with oatmeal, so as to form a crumbling paste, and lay it three nights by their haunts. On the fourth mix some poison with the paste. In the meanwhile we should mi's some gas tar with ashes, merely impregnating them with the tar, so as to become crumbly, and sprintle the ashes over the rows. This will puzzle both them and mice ; but poison is a much more certain remedy. Geraniums in Winter {Carolixs). — Select some of the best of the plants at bedding-out time for this pTU^ose. Pot them into 6-inch if in 4rinch pots by the close of May. place in a frame, giving plenty of air, and keep all flower- buds and the points of the shoots closely picked off. From May to the middle of August they may be stood out-doors in an open sheltered situation on coal ashes, and early in August pot into 8~inch pots, having been stopped a fortnight previous. After potting place them in a cold pit or a frame, giving them abundance of air, and in the third week in September remove them to a house with a temperature of 45° to 50"^ at night, where they will flower for some time. The flowers should be picked off up to the beginning of September. Good sorts for late flowering are Baronne Haussman, Beauty of Dulwich, Crimson Perfection, Cramoisie Superiem-e, Coleshill, Duke of Edin- burgh, Sunlight, Mademoiselle Nilsson, Blazer, Cremome, Queen of Nosegays, and Douglas Pearson. Name op Fruit {Bi-lton Houjc).— Golden Winter Pearmain. Names of Plants (C. Bennett). — 1, Selaginella cuspidata; 4, S. Blraussiona ; 2, Pteris semilata; 3, P. cretica albo-lineata; 5, PT argyxiea; 6, Ailiautmn hispidulum. {Surrey). — Chrysanthemum frutescens, L., a native of the Canary Islands. It has become tolerably common during the past five or six years. (If. Wilson, Helperby). — We recommend you to sow your seeds and send us examples of the plants when in character. One appears to be a species of Acacia, and ts remarkable for its long orange- coloured funicle ; the other most probably is some of the Liliacese, say XJrgineo. POUITET, BEE, AND PIGEON OHEOKICLE. LIGHT BRAHMAS. Since my last remarks concerning this beautiful breed of poultry I have had an opportunity of carefully examir ' ; the classes at the great shows of the year, aud have also read th& letters of Mr. James Long and my old friend (though we have; never yet met face to face) " F. P.," of Yorkshire, some of whose Dark Brahma blood is in my own yard. I have pur- 13i JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Febroaiy 8, 1872. posely let the subject rest awhile, though longer than I had intended, from pressure of cii-cumstanees ; hut as I have a great admiration for this really splendid variety of fowls, which I am still compelled to say has greatly degenerated, I wish now to point out where I think improvement is needed, and the special faults to be guarded against bj' breeders. I, of coui'se, give them as my views ; I cannot commit, nor would I if I could, any judges or breeders to my opinions ; but at the same time I have reason to beUeve that our iirincipal judges iully agree. And I would remark that the special instances of judging pointed out by Mr. Long and others really prove little or nothing, and manifest a very small knowledge of what judging is. Many things may interfere with a bu'd repeating any given success, and many different birds may be brought against him. Not only shape and colour, but size, carriage, condition, comb, slipped wings, leg-feather — all have to be considered ; and a wise man wUl rather consider the average of a judge's awards, and endeavour to form a sort of analysis for himself, than pin his faith to any particular one at a lead- ing show, where commanding excellence in one or more points may have diverted attention from very serious faults which afterwards become apparent. Fig. i Mr. Long in his letter states again that the Lights " are and always have been, in this country at least, much inferior in frame, and cannot be made to attain the size of their more iortunate rivals;" and again, "It appears to me that one ■variety is naturally larger than the other." I do not think Mr. Long has been a breeder of Brahmas long enough to make such an assertion, and I am quite sure he has not been a breeder of fowls long enough yet to give him any right to sneer, as he does in his last paragraph, at any facts, or effects of strongly marked features, -which others think they have observed in then- own yards. When he has bred longer he may find that no law affecting the female imagination is abso- lutely uniform ; that some individuals may be affected by the same circumstances under which others are not ; and that effect may be not at all marked in its character, and yet very real. I only mention this because I object to the tone of assumption which Mr. Long takes throughout, and I proceed to say that during the past show season several bu'ds have ieen taken out of pens at my request, and I can assert that many cocks have been shown over 12 lbs. These cocks have all been pure-bred, and though in aU but one case bad in colour, it conclusively proves that there is size enough to be got, and that the dissociation of size and good colour, now so universal, is simply owing to the bad judgment of the breeders. Mr. Long next doubts my remark that if bu-ds are shown good in shape, colour, and feather " they wiU win, even if nof large." I simply say that at the Palace the second and third cockerels (the last Mr. Long's own bhd and very small), at Birmingham the first-prize cock and second and third-prize cockerels, were such bii-ds. As I have aheady said, any parti- cular bird winning or not winning proves nothing ; and while, as at present, it is colour versus size, there must always be many apparent contradictious. Neither bird being all good, it is a comparison of two very serious faults, and not tUl size and colour are shown generally in the same bu-ds can the Lights expect to compete favoiu-ably with the Darks. When this is the case — and it may be — I am quite sure they wiU iold then- own ; but while the very best chickens are sent out and stunted by early shows, I fear we shall not see it to any great extent. But the foundation of aU real improvement must be correct shape, and hence I wish to explain more particularly what I, at least, mean by " duck-shape," as contrasted with the con- toiu- of the true Brahma. The latter is, perhaps, the neatest and most compact-looking fowl of any — of any large breed rmquestionably. It has, or should have, a good fluff and a broad and ample cushion. I speak of pullets. Neither, of com-se, is so full as in the Qoohin, the Brahma being properly a much closer-feathered bird ; but a good cushion there should be, broad over the tail, but rising more and more to the very last, where it merges harmoniously into the line of the neai-ly upright tail. Such an outUne is presented in the diagrams on page 133 {figs. 1 and 2), and which represent the true shape as it actually exists in high-class birds. But in looking at any Light class of pullets we shall find many birds which utterly fail to conform to this type. There are Dark birds, too, which fail in it, as I freely admit; but while I myself exceedingly object to such taking prizes, it must be remembered that whenever they do there is almost always extraordinarj' pencilling, which catches the judge's eye and con- dones the fault in shape, while the white of the other class affords no such counterbalance. StQl, the fault is at least three times more general, as I carefully noted at Loudon and Birmingham, than in the Dark classes, and the sketches (.%k. 3 and i), were made from a Palace bird, which was a fail' type of about fifty single pullets in the class. In some there is literally no cushion at all, but in others, as in my sketches, it does appear to start oixt well over the wings. But, alas! the " early promise " is not kept ; as it gets towards the tail it becomes narrower and naiTOwer, so that viewed from the top the pullet appears widest across the shoulders and gradually tapers off to the tail, giving the bnd a triangular instead of that square com- pact shape which the other type jiresents. Looked at sideways the same fault will generally be found. In place of the rising Brahma cushion and nearly upright tail, the little cushion there is starts up too fuUy, and then gradu- ally cb'oops, the tail itself being nearly horizontal. Of course, in some cases the fault will show from the top and not from the sides, or vice versa ; but the two as drawn commonly go together, and are what is meant by " duck-shape," being ana- logous to the formation of the Aylesbm-y Duck. In the cocks the same fault wiU be found. The saddle may start well, but gets narrow over the tail or does not form a nice rise to it, and the whole bird is narrow behind. Broad- saddled cocks were more numerous this season, as I was glad to observe, but are stUl mxich more rare than in the Dark classes. In breeding Light Brahmas, then, we want to get back gene- rally, not in exceptions merely, the neat compact shape of the true breed. We want to get back the heavy leg-feather, yet with soft hocks, which so many Dark bh'ds now have. We want to get a distinct jet black stripe in the hackle, and we want to get all this combined with the grand size, which be- longs properly to the one as to the other. I need not say how it is to be done. Breeders only need to keep the desired points carefully in mind, and they will speedily procure them, and will be fully able to compete fairly and honoui-ably with those of us who, from want of i)ure country ah' and grass, are forced to cultivate only the no less beautifid Dai'k breed. — L. Weight. LAST YEAE'S JUDGING. I THisK few of my friends will say that I am in the habit of grumbUug ■without cause, but complaints in your Journal as to the judging are now so frequent, and the dissatisfaction so widespread, that I think the question ought not to slumber, but something ought to be done to improve the present system in the coming season. I have never before this publicly complained of the Judges, for, considering their work and the onerous duties they have to perform, it is almost impossible for them not to make some mistakes ; but really the mistakes that I have seen this season by some of our acknowledged Judges have been so glaring that I think an importation of a httle fresh blood would be an advantage. No doubt they are set to do too much ; but surely, for then- o-svu sakes, it would be better that before accepting the office they should inquii'e the number of pens likely to be ex- hibited, and refuse to act unless there are sufficient Judges appointed, rather than that such awards should be given as were made last season. As your readers are aware I exhibit nothing but Dorkings, and with some Judges unless the birds are dark they stand no chance. Others favour' large frame irrespective of colour, and in this I think they are right, for I hold that a Dorking (not Silver) may be any colour but black and white ; and that there ai'e as heavy birds and as good birds hght as well as dark, and if we are to breed to colour, we must lose size, which is the very essence of a Dorking. Now this is one of those things that occm' at almost every show, and I have several times seen a superior pen beaten simply because it was Hght in colour. February 8, 1872. ] JOUENAi OJ? HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 135 I merely mention this as an instance, but it is not half so glaring as many awai'ds that I haTe seen in Dorkings the last season. They hare been so peculiar, to say the least, that I have made up my miiul that if next season they are as bad, I shall retire from exhibiting entirely, though I hope never from breeding. I have heard breeders of other lands express them- selves in similar terms as to the judgment of those kinds, but I speak of the only kind that I profess thoroughly to imder- stand. As to amateurs exliibiting by themselves, all I can say is that I shoiild consider I disgraced myself if I could not compete, and successfully (of course, not always so), with the best breeder or exhibitor in the kingdom, be he amateur or dealer ; and I am sxu'e if any amateur will only use a little judgment and keep to one breed alone, he will soon find that he can van in any company. But there is also another consideration wliich I think of very great importance — namel.y, that were it not for dealers buying birds from amateui's to exhibit, many ama- teurs, who at the end of the year find a nice little balance in their favour in their poultry account, would find themselves debtor to cash. In my own case dealers are amongst my best customers, and I find they give as good a price as anyone, and I invariably send birds on approval to them, but unless I know the amateur I always decline. Dealers know the value of birds ; many amateurs do not. If we debar dealers from exhibiting their custom will soon cease. I like free trade in the poultry exMbition as well as any- where else ; but I do ask for and expect good decisions, which certainly have not been the rule during the past season. I write with the best intention, and without wishing in any way to hurt the feelings of any of our Judges ; but I hear so many complaints expressed, and that from many of our most emi- nent breeders and exhibitors, that I hope the subject may be thoroughly ventilated, and some means adopted to improve the present system of judging, which is deterring, and will, unless improved, deter many of our best breeders from exhibit- ing at all. I know I am treading on very delicate ground, and should not have touched upon the subject at all but for the complaints that have appeared in your Journal, which 1 con- sider are just, and require the immediate attention of the committees of our shows. — T. E. Kell. T\rBL\T SHOULD EEGULATE CLASSES? POLANDS' CEESTS. A FEW weeks ago the secretary to one of om poultiy shows made a remark which I humbly think requires a rejoinder. Of classes which are badly represented at some shows, he re- marked that fanciers of those sorts of bh-ds should exhibit then- fowls in strong numbers if they wish them to have more classes allotted to them. Now I cannot help thinking that this is rather more than can be expected of the generality of exhibitors. Suppose a case at a certain show. There are four if not five classes for Hamburghs ; at the same show there is one class for Polands, of all ages and of all colours. Now, is it fair to expect so numerous an entiy, or of such good quahty, in the one class of Polands, which would include White-crested Black, Golden, Silver and any other colour, as in the four or five classes of Hamburghs? I certainly cannot persuade myself that it is. In my opinion Polish fowls at all our first-class shows should have at any rate six classes allotted to them — viz., two classes for Goldens, adults and chickens, the same for Silvers, and the same for any other colour. Then, and not until then, will PoUsh fowls have justice done them. If with this classification they still came up in small numbers, I should say such hberal treatment ought not to be expected in future. If "it be said that it has been tried and has proved a failure, I answer. Yes, but several years ago whenPolish fowls were scarce, and when they were supposed to be only an ornamental fowl, and a very tender and delicate breed too. Now they are much more extensively kept than formerly, and I think my brother fanciers will coiToborate what I say when I aflirm, as I do most fe.arlessly, that the Pohsh fowl is extremely hardy, and one that is very easily reared. I will now just advert for a moment to a point on which I expect a little contradiction ; that is, whether the largest- crested PoUsh fowls ought, on account of their immensecrests, to take prizes in preference to smaller-crested birds which are more con-ect in their markings and richer in colour. I think that they should not, if the smaUer-crested bii'ds are much superior iu marking and colour, and have decent crests ; for, although the crest is the principal feature in the Polish fowl, yet I do think that brilliancy of colour and correctness of mark- ing are very important points, and I should certainly prefer to sacrifice a Uttle in crest, if by so doing we could gain tu the other points named. — G. W. Booihby. ANY OTHER VAEIETY OF BANTAMS. In answer to your correspondent " Faik Plat," it has long been my opinion that it was time to have separate classes for Black and for Any other variety of Bantams. Further, a well- known breeder and exhibitor of Black Bantams said to me at Birmingham Show, that he never would show any more unless there were a separate class for Black Bantams, and I nearly made up my mind to do the same. If I so resolve, I think committees of shows will miss my name iu the Bantam classes, as I show about seventy pens of Black Bantams in the year. I consider that the extraorilinai-y merits of the Black Bantams entitle them to a separate class, and the same may be said of the White and Laced Bantams, though the latter two are not shown in such large numbers, but they would be if encouraged the same as some of the large breeds — for instance at Birmingham and Wolverhampton Shows in 1870 and 1871, of White Bantams there was an entry of fourteen and fifteen pens respectively, and I am certain there will be a large entry of Whites this year at Wolverhampton. Why ? Because good prizes are offered. If committees will only offer good prizes, I think o-miers wfll make plenty of entries, and I hope that the committees of our shows will follow the example of Birmingham, Leeds, and New- port. I win send to all shows where there are separate classes. If there are two or three shows on the same day, I cannot, of course, exhibit at all of them, but I wiU send to those with the most liberal prize list. I do not like to see exlubitors iu the Variety class for Bantams paying an euti-y fee of 5s. to compete for a prize of £1, whUe exhibitors of other breedscan compete for a £2 prize for the same entrance fee. When classed by themselves these Bantams always muster a good entry, indeed I never saw a Black Bantam class a failure. Our leading Black Bantam breeders should do then- best to have separate classes for our petsi— the prettiest of all fowls. — ■ B. H. ASHTON. W0L\T3EHAMPT0N POULTEY SHOW. The sixth annual Meeting of this Society took place iu the Agi-icultural Hall, Wolverhampton, on the 2nd, 3rd, aud 5th inst., and was a most extraordinary success. The Show was of gi-eat excellence, and the first bright beams of simshine that have been noted in this district for five or six weeks placed beyond ques- tion the pecuniary success of the \mdertaking. Considering that the earUest moment the Hall can be placed at the disposal of the Directors of the Shaw is after the Wednesday's market is closed, and that the whole of the fittings have to be erected, and the specimens all penned and ready for the Judges early on the Friday morning, the public being admitted at 2 p.ji., it must be admitted that the aiTangements have to be made most expe- ditiously ; and they were most effectually carried out under the able superintendance of the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Barnett. The Show embraced collections from most of the prnicipal Enghsh breeders of poultry, and prizes were awarded to Pigeons that had actually been sent from Amsterdam. These birds proved to be of varieties never before seen in the United King- dom, and as a matter of course from then- great novelty excited, much attention. The number of entries of all descriptions nearly reached 1200, or three hundred more than last year. There was the customary display of the best of Cochins, Brahmas, Dorldngs, and waterfowl in the empire ; many very valuable lots were, however, breaking up very rapidly in constitution from constant exhibition. It was stated in the Exhibition that some of the very best birds had actually never passed three nights together at their owners' for some months past, "but had been traveUing constantly from show to show, and had earned tor their owners tenfold their cost price, though it ap- peared at the time of purchase so large." Some of these birds were evidently so emaciated as to suggest the probabihty ot their never being able to last out the season. In the Gayne classes, on the contrary, the most brilhant con- dition and robust health prevailed in almost every instance, m the majority of cases the Game fowls shown bemg quite unac- customed to the exhibition pen, and they were such as are rarely equalled for tightness of feather aud robust constitution. Jn. these classes, by referring to oiu- appended prize Ust it -nill be seen Mr. James Fletcher, of Stoneclough, ahnost monopohsed the prizes with gi-and exhibits, worthy of the successful issues of that gentleman's varibs in their most palmy days. It is evi- dent by then- attractiveness at Wolverhampton that Game towls 136 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. [ Febraaiy 8, 1872. axe still objects of much interest and admiration in this district, ■which some quarter of a century back was so noted for them. Turkeys, Geese, and domestic Ducks were among the best fea- tures of the Exhibition ; and in waterfowl kept simply for their exqmsite beauty of feather and general liveliness of character on artificial waters near private suburban residences, the Show stood equal to any. This class proved so large and "well filled, that at the request of the Judges au extra prize "was "willingly granted, and even then scarcely a pen remained not fully worthy of prizetaking. In this division Buenos Aj-rean Ducks were first. Mandarins second, and American Summer Ducks third on the prize list. The class for any variety of Bantams except Game, and alniost all the classes for French fowls, were among the best in the Show, and excited much attention from their novelty in this neighbourhood. LowDdes, Hartwell, AyleBbnry. e, H. Tjler, Birminghi VoRKiKGS.—Bens.—l, L. Patton. 2 and 3, J. Martin, he. Hod. J. MaBsey, Limerick; N. Knsscll: Rev. G. H. Biggs: Rev. E. Bartram. Bfrkhamps,lead ; Dr. HewBon, Colon Hill, Stafford; C. Speed, Exton, Oakham, c, A. Darby, Bridgnorth, Cochin-china (Cinnamon and Bnff). — t'ocfc. — 1 and Extra, H. Llovd, Jan. 2, MrB. AllBopp, Hindlip Hall, "WorceBter. 3. H. Uoyd, jun,, Handaworlh. he, W. A. BnnieU. Southwell, Notts ; W. A. Taylor. Cochin-China (Cinnamon and BuS).—Eens.—J, Mrs. Wilkin, Bootle. 2, A. 3. W. A. Taylor, ftc, H. Lloyd, jun. (2); W. A.Taylor; Cochin-China (Brown and Partridge).— Hfna.—l and 2, W. A. Taylor. 8, J. K- Fowler. CocHiN-CnrsA CWhile). — 1, W- A. Taylor. Smalley. he. airs. A. ■WiiliamBon, Leicester; ^. _, E. Swindell, Heathland, Stourbridge ; R. S. S. Woodgate, Pembury. Tunbridge WeUs ; Mra. A Williamson. Brahua (Dark).— Cocfc— 1, T. F. Ansdell, Cowley Mount, St. Helen's. 2, B. F. Panott. 3, W. A. Taylor, he, Dr. Holmes. Whitecotes. Chesterfield ; Master J. Games, Chester; A. Rigg, SeveDoaks: E. Pritcbard. Tett.nhall. e. Lady TankervUle, Chillingham Castle ; G. F. Whilehouse, King's Heath, Birming- ham ; Hrs. Bailey, Lougton. Bbahhas (Dark)— BfM—l.T.F. Ansdell. 2, E. Prilchard. S. J. WattB. he. Earl of Shrewsbury, Ingestre Hall: A. H. Etches, Market Drayton: H. B. Morrell, Caennawr,_Clyro; H- Yardley, Birmingham; A, Rigg; J. Watts, c. (White Cochin); J. Sichel (White Cochin); Hon. Miss D. Pennant (Dark Brahua); G. A. Stephens (La Fleche); J. K. Fowler (LaFleche): W. Tippler (Houdsnl; F. Bennett(CreveC(eur): J. Walker(SpaniBb); E.Jack-ion (Spanish); J. Fletcher. Stoneclough, Manchester (Game); J. Forsyth (Black Red): Duke of Sutherland (Golden-pencilled Hamburgh); T. Boulton f Golden-spangled Ham- burgh); J.Buckley (Golden-spangled Hamburgh); H. Baeshawe (Black Ham- burgh)- c, Mrs. E, Williams (White Dorkings); J. Bloodwonh (buff Cochin): H. Tomlinson (Buff Cochin); T. Sismey (fartridge Cochin); Hon. Miss D. PennaDt(spanish); J. Clements (Game); Misses Wilson (White Malay); Capt. Downman (Silver-Bpangled Poland) ; J. P. Gardner. Sei ling Class.- flen,— I, K. Jackson (Spanish). 2, H. Lloyd, Jan. (White Cochin). 3, Rev. G. P. Hudson (Dorkings), i, T. Bush (BUck Uamburghl. he, W. A. Burnell (Buff Cochins) ; A. Darby, Bridgenorth (Buff Cochins) ; H. B. Morrell (Dark Brahma): J. Sichel. Timperlty (Buff Cochins) : E- Ryder, Hyde, Manchester (Dark Brahma); Hon. Miss D- Pennant (Dark Brahma); J. A B. Dean (Light Brahma); M. Leno Markyate street (Light Brahma); E. Pritchard (Crcve-Ccear) ; Miss E. Browne (Spanish); H. Blower (Spanishi; J. MacBell. Longton (Spanish); S. Stephens, jun., Ebley, near Stroud (Game); J. Widdowson, Meynell Langley (Silver-spangled Hamburgh) : T. Ya:eman (Silver-spantfled Hamburgh) ; F. Boulton (Golden-pencilled Hamburgh) ; G. F. Whitehouse (Golden-pencilled Hamburgh) : C. Pimley i Golden-pencilled Ham- burgh); F- Bennett (Black Hamburgh); W. Cutler (Whiteboolcd Bantams); e, N. Russell, Bryngwyn, Oswestry (Coloured Dorkings) ; R. W. Beachey, Kinga- kerswell (Dorkings); J. Robinsun (Dorkings); H. Lloyd, jun. (Buff Cochin): R. Thompson (Dark Brahma); R. M. Lord (Dark Brahma) ; G. Ashpole, Etwall (Golden-pencilled Hambarghl: A. Darby- TrHKEYS.— 1, F. LythaU, Banbury. 2, N. RusseU. he, W. Tippler, ChelmB- tord. Geese.- 1, J. K. Fowler. 2, J. Walts, he, W. Tippler. Decks (Aylesbury).- 1 and he, J. K. Fowler. 2, T. Hedges, c. Misses Wilson, Woodhom Manor; T. Hedges, Ducks (Rouen).— 1, J. Wright. 2, W. Stephens, fcc. J. K. Fowler ; Eev. H. J. Stokes. Grindon Rectory, Leek ; H. B. Smith. Broughto: and Mandarin). PIGEONS. TcMBLEES.— JlmoK/i — 1, J. Ford. MonkwcU Street, London. 2, J. Fielding, Rochdale. 3, J. Ford. -Ini/ ol/ianish were of fair quality, and the young birds were very line. The first- prize pullet was a model. Adult Cochins in both chisses were very poor, hut the chickens were good, the cup being awarded to a pen of Buffs, in which the cockerel was strikingly handsome. In Brahmas the cup went to a sound-coloured pair of chickens, and the competition in this class was very close. Of Game there were large and good entries, the competition being severe in all classes. In single cocks a Brown Bed of high quality was first, and Black Beds second and third. Following these were the Eed Game hens, the first of which was a Black Bed, very sound in flesh and tight in feather. Among Game cocks of any other colour, an extremely good Pile cockerel was first, and the cup for Game cocks was awarded to him, the second and third-prize birds being Duckwings. In the class for hens Duckwings won all the prizes. Hamburghs were shown the Spangled in one and the PencUled in the other class. Silvers in both cases carr-sring-off the first honoui-s, and the cup for the section also. In Game Bantam cocks there were no less tha^ forty entries, and the competition was keen, the first-prize bird being a Black Eed, perfect in all points ; and the cup was also awarded to this bird. The second-prize bird was fine in shape, but a little short of colour; the third-prize one was good in aU points, but larger than the rest. There were many others also worthy of notice. Of hens there were twenty-four pairs, but they did not show to the same advantage as the cocks, doubtless February 8, 1872. ] JOUENAIi OF HOETICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 137 on account of the approach of the laying season. The first prize went to Piles, and the second to Black Reds, the latter being somewhat out of condition, though of very good quality. In the class for Any other variety, the first and third prizes went to Sebrights, and the second to Blacks. In the Variety class for other poultry, Silver Polands were first. Black Ham- burghs second, and Creve-Coeurs third. In Ducks the Aylesburies were a good class, but the Rouens were not equal to them. The Selling class contained forty-three entries of birds of good quality and of most varieties. Chickens —1 and 2, W. Lant^lands, Dundee, he, J. W. Will ; T. Raines, Stirling ; A. Bowie. Jan. ; G. Allan, Balhary, Meigle ; D. Gellatly. DoRKix-GS (Silversl.— i, Mrs. M'Donald, Forres. 2, M. Edwards. Hilton, Alloa. 3, D. Annan. Cnpar, File. CHckena.—l, T. Kaines. 2, J. TumbuU, Falkirk. 8, J. W. Will. Spasish.— 1 and Cap, H. Wilkinson. Earby, Skipton. 2 and 3, A._Shepherd Stretch, Ormskirk. 3 and he, J. W. Will, e, A. Bamelt, CocHiN-CutN-.v (Any coloor except Cinnamon and Buff).— 1, J. Stepbenson, Tilljfonr. 2 T. Stretch. Cdictfns.— I. T. Stretch. 2, W. Eraser, .Aberdeen. 3, J. Stephenson, he, Mrs. C. Wilson, BrouKhty Ferry ; W. Smith, East Newport. Bbahmas (.\ny colour).— 1, T. F. Ansdell, Crowley Mount. St. Helens. 2, Lieut-Col. C. Rice. Cupar. 3, Mias Morrison. Kirkcaldy. Chickens. — 1 and Cup, J. Stuart Scouringburn. 2, E. Brownlie, Kirkcaldy. 3, J. W. WiU. he, T. Raines; D. Annan: H. White. Game (Black and Brown Red).— Cock.— 1,H. M. Julian, Hull. 2, J. Mason. Worcester. 3. J. Dick, Dunphail. he, J. W. Will; J. Allan; Henderson and Campbell, New Deer; R. Stewart, Kelly ; N. L & T. H. Herriot, Kirkcaldy; T. Mason. Green Ayre; J.Mollison. Meigle; J. W. WiU. c, J. W. WiU. Hen.-\, J. W. WUl. 2, L. Casson, Ulverston. S, T. Mason, he, J. Dick; Henderson and Campbell; J. Carlisle. Earby ; A. Stephen, Blaireo\vTie. Game (Any other colour) — Cocfc.—l and Cup, J. W. WUl. 2. H. M. Julian. 3. Morris & Woods, he, J. Anderson, Kirkcaldy ; W. BailUe, Monilieth. Hens. —1, D. Harley, Edinburgh. 2, H. M. JuUan. 3, J. W. WiU. Hambuhghs (Spangledl — 1, J. W. Will. 2 and 3. G. & J. Duckworth. Church. he, J. W. WiU ; R. H. Ashton, Mottram ; W. R. Park ; Mrs. Brown, Crieff, c, D. Harper, Fo^'gieley. Lochee. Hambcrohs ( Pencilled).-!, Cup, and 3. J. W. WiU. 2, W. E. Park, he, Mrs. Chalmers; A. Pratt. Game Bantams (Any colotir}.— Cocfc*.— 1 and Cup. R. Brownlie. 2. J. Barlow. 3, Morris 4 Woods, lie. J. W. WUl ; G. Todd ; E. Brownlie (2); Miss J. M. Frew ; J. Robertson ; Bellingham * GiU ; R. Yooll ; J. Seott. c, J. Scott ; J. MoUison; J. Henderson. Hens—1, R Brownlie. 2, G. Todd. 3, Bellingham 4 Gill, WoodSeld, BurnleT. he, J. Abel, c, J. W. WUl (-2); R. YouU, East Boldon, Sunderland ; Miss R. C. Frew, Kirkcaldy. Baktams (F.xcept Game).— 1, T. Watson. Freeland Bridge of Earn. 2. R. H. Ashton. 3, Miss B. P. Frew. c. J. Watts, King's Heath, Birmingham (-2). Any othbr Variety— 1. W. Bearpark. Ainderby Steeple. 2. A. Pratt, Kirk- caldy. 3, W. R. Park, Melrose, he, G. G. MXaren, Broughty Ferry ; Mrs. J. F. WUson. c,A Simpson. Selling Class.— 1, W. Paterson. 2, Lord Kinnaird. 3, J. Stevenson, he Miss Drnmmond(2); A. Bowie, jun. ; W. Leslie; W. Smith; D. GeUally; J Mollison ; Mrs. Harvey, Edinburgh, c, J. Taylor, Montrose ; Mrs. J. F. White A. Shepherd, The Judges were : — For Dorkings, Cochins, Spanish, and Brahmas, Mr. Teebay, Preston ; for Hamburghs, Bantams, Va- riety class, Ducks, and Selling class, Mr. Hutton, Pudsey. The Game were judged jointly. FALKIRK POULTRY SHOW. This Show, which took place on the 2nd and 3rd inst., was by i'ar the best ever held in the locality, this result being mainly due to the tact and energy of the Hon. Secretary, Mr. D. H. Roberts, who, after finding the Society in debt last year, deter- mined to carry it on till success shoiild be attained, and we are happy to state that both in point of numbers and pecuniary results this object has been accomplished. The Corn Exchange, where the Exhibition was held, is well suited for a poultry show, the light being well diffused and abundant. The arrangements •were all that could be desired, and the pens used were those of the Royal Gymnasium at Edinburgh, and with the backs covered ■with boards they answered the pui-pose well. "We understand, as they are let for hire, that it is the intention of the proprietor to provide canvas backs, thus preventing damage to the birds, so much complained of of late. Adult Spanish were only moderate in quality, but the young made up for them, most of the cockerels being of high merit, though the best pullet was a very young bird in the third-prize pen. There were four pens of Dorkings. The cup was awarded to a good pen of Dark birds shown by Mr. Raines. Cochins were a mixed class ; the first prize went to Buff, and the second to "White. The Buff cocks being very good in colour, took the cup from the Brahmas, of which there was a large but only moderately good display. Hamburghs, with the exception of the winners, were but poor. The special prize was awarded to Silver-spangled, but the decisions would no doubt have been different if Messrs. Ashton it Booth's pen had arrived in time. Polands were very good, and Blacks won the special prize ; Golden were second, and Silvers third. With the exception of the ■winners of the timepiece, the Bed Game were not good, but these were all that can be wished for both in feather and sound- ness of flesh. In Duckwings the hens ■were superior to the cocks ; and in this class the so-called celebrated pen of Mr. Harley's "n'as left out on accouut of a large part of the lower and underpart of the cock's hackle being out. The following letter ■was exhibited above a pen of Game belonging to Mr. Little. It had been sent to Mr. Hutton, one of the Judges : — '* Dickstrer, Longtown, Carlisle, -Tanuary 18, 1872. " Sir, — I see you have been judg at Selkirk, and I hav been 1 of the suc- cessful eiebetrs. I must Thank you kiniUy For your kindy returns you showed towards My Birds. I have just entered them For Falkirk Poultry Show if you Think they will dow any thin thar. I ould Lik the tim Peese at Falkirk its For the Best Pare of Game so if you judge thare Let me know and i shal go Shares with the money Prize For you cindens your Respectfully RicltD. Little, Dickstrer, Longton. P.S. — Please Write." The pen was disqualified, and we wish that all poultry com- mittees would resolve never to allow the writer of that letter to exhibit. In the Variety class grand Creve-Coeurs were first, Scotch Greys of extraordinary merit second, and Silver-penciUed third. There were some large and well-sho^wn Turkeys and Ducks. There were thirty entries of Game Bantams, and the compe- tition was keen. The first and t,aird prizes went to Black Reds, and the second to Duckwings. The Bantams in the Variety class were unusually good ; Blacks being first, Pekins second, and Silver Sebrights third. Both Selling classes were well filled, and many of the birds changed hands. Of the Pigeons, the Pouters measured well, and in style and carriage were all that could be desired. Blue Pied were first, "White second, and Black Pied third. Fantails were fair, as also the Jacobins. In Tumblers, the Almonds were first and Black Mottles second, both kinds being very good. Of Carriers there were some well-shown birds ; the ■winners were all Black. There was a large entry in the Variety class. The first prize went to a nice pair of Letz, the second to Black Trumpeters of high quality, and the third to a pretty pair of Blue Foreign Owls. In most of the classes special prizes were offered by tradesmen, and these were awarded to the first-prize pens. Spanish.- 1, R. Somerrillc, Bdinburgh. 2, J. Duncan, Carron. 3, W. C- Hardie, Carron. he, D. M'Be»lh, Bridge of AUan ; J. Craigie, Fordell. Chichena- —1 and Special, W. C. Hardie. 2, H. L. Horn, Wbilerigg, Airdrie. 3, J. WaddeU' Airdrie HilL vhe, W. Scholelield. e, W. Boswell, Falkirk ; G. Williamson- Dorkings.- 1. J. Malcolm. Falkirk. 2 and e, T. Raines, Stirling. 3, D. Draper, jun-, Falkirk, he, W. Weir, Falkirk. CMckens.—l and Special, T. Raines. 2. J. White. Northallerton. 3, W. Weir, c, R. Meiklejohn. Stirling. Dorkings ISilyei).— Chickens— 1, Z. Y. Heys, Barrhead. 2, R. Kerr. 3, J. Malcolm, he, R. Duncan, Stirling ; M. Edwards, Alloa. Cochix-China.— 1 andSpecial, J. W Taylor. Ulverston. 2, J. Wyse. 3, J. PoUock, Bushby. ftc, A. WiUiamson; Mrs. (jraham. c, H. Wyse; A. Crawford; T. Bruce, Bushby. Brahma Pootba.— 1 and 2. W. Weir. 3, W. Hughes, Soringhnm. he, J. WaddeU ; J. Young, Cauldhame. e, E. Robinson, Airdrie ; T. Raines ; J. M. D. Brown. Edinburgh. Hamburghs (Golden-apangled). — 1, R. H. Ashton. Mottram. 2, E. Dickson. Selkirk. 3, E. Robinson, vhc, T, Love, Airdrie. e, D. Beaton, Bushby; J Guthrie, Hexham. Hamburghs (Golden-pencUled). — 1, W- E. Park, Abbotsmeadow, Melrose, 2, R. Dickson. 3, J. Harper, Blairlogie. he, J. Logan, c, H. RusstU; J. Ness, Kirkcaldv ; J. Peat, Kirkcaldy. Hamburghs (Silver-spangled).- 1 and Special. W. R. Park, Melrose. 3, A. Glen, Paisley. 3, D. Forrester, he, J. Bruce, c, J. Logan. Polands (Crested). — 1 and Special. Mrs. J. M. Proctor, Hull. 2, Parsons and Wilson, Bedlington. 8 and c, T. Waddington, Blackburn, vhc, D. Draper. he. W. Paterson; A. Wylie, Johnstone. Game iBlaek-f^reasted and other Eeds).— 1 and Special, E. Aykroyd, Eccles- hill. 2. S. M'CoU, Strathblane. 3. J. Fisher, Kirkcaldy, he, J. M. D. Brown ; D. Harley. Edinburgh, c, J. Waddell ; A. P. Cowan, Blairadam ; W. Bruce ; G. Roper, Falkirk. Game (Any other colour) —1. 3, and Special, E. Woodbum, Ulverston. 2, G. A. Perrin, Lenglinstown, DubUn. he, D. Harley; E. Aykroyd. c, Hutchison and Sime, Grahamston. ANY OTHER Variety.-', W. R. Park (Creve-Coiur). 2, J. Meiklem. Hamilton (Scotch Greys). 3, A. Glen (Silver-pencilled), he, A. Binnie, Grahamston (Scotch Grey); A. Whitecross, Cumbernauld (Scotch Greys), c, R. Mason, Barrhead (Creve-Cceur); T Waddington (Hondans); J. Logan (Houdans). Ducks (Aylesbury).— 1, J. Logan. 2, J. Meiklem. S, A. Nichol. he, Z. H. Heys, Barrhead ; J. Webster, Falkirk, e, J. Fotheringham, Dalbeattie. Ducks (Any other variety).—! and Special, J. Meiklem. 2, R. H. Ashton. 8, J. M'Nab, Alva. he. S. BeU. Plean. Turkeys.— 1 and Special, J. WUson, Polmont. 2, 'W. Forbes, Falkirk. 8, W. Weir, he, A. Mitchell ; J. Webster. Bantams (Game).— I and Special, A. Hutcbeson. 2, G. Todd. 8, Mrs. R. Frew, Kirkcaldy, he. R. BrownUe, Kirkcaldy; D. Muir. Paisley; Pickering and Duggleby, DriiBeld ; M. Edwards ; T. Raines (2) ; Miss B. P. Frew, Kirk- caldy : J. WaUs, Dunfermline ; Mrs. Harvey, Edinburgh. Bantams (Any variety).— 1 and Special, R. H. Ashton (Black). 2, T. Wadding- ton (Laced). 3. A. Johnston. h«. Mrs. R. Frew; Mrs. HoiUdswortb, Wishaw (Sebrights); H. L. Home (Bantams); T. Waddington (Laced); J. Currie, Kil- marnock (Black), e, D. Muir (White); Pickering 4 Duggleby (White); R. Frew. Selling Class.— CocS.—l. S. BeU (Dorking). 2, J. Sime. 3, H. L. Home (Spanish). Ac, A. T. Williamson (Brahma); T. Raines (Brahma) (2); W. Weir Brahma); J. M. D. Brown (Brahma); J. Malcolm (Dorkin?); H. Dunsmore, CLiSS.-Hen^.- 1. W. C. Hardie, Falkirk (Spanish). 2, S. BeU, Plean (Dorkings). 3, A. WUIiamson (Cochin), he, Mrs. Harvey (White Brahmas); W. Weir (Spanish); H. Dunsmore (Scotch Greys); J. Roberts, FaUiirk (Partridge Cochins) c, A. T. WilUamson (Brabmasl; J. M'GiU, EUe (Dorkings); J. Malcolm (Dorkings); H. L. Home (Dorkings); J. TumbuU (Dorkings); R. Paterson (White Dorkings) ; J. Lyle, Wishaw (Game). PIGEONS. „ „ „ „ PoUTEES.-l and Special, M. Stuart. 2. J. Wallace. 3, W. B. Van Haans- bergen, Newcastlc^iuTvne. he, J. Murdoch, Kilsyth ;M. Stuart ; Miss M. G; Frew; J. WaUace (-2); "R. Arbuckle, Glasgow; J. WadaeU; T. Waddington. J. Grant. Edinburgh ; J. Frame, c, J. M. D. Brown. . _ „ Fantails —1 and Special, W. B. Van Haansbergen. 2. Gow 4 Walker. S, J. Gait, KUbimie. he, A. Johnstone ; J. Wallace ; J. M, D. Brown ; A. Crosbie ; T. Waddington. JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Febrnaiy 8, 1872. Waddirpt 1 rMir.His.— 1, 3, and Spfcia], M. Stuart. 2, J. Fieldinfri inn,, Eocbdale. he, W. B. Van Uaantljcrcen : A. Jobiiftone; J. WaJlate ; T. Waddinglcn. CilniEBS.— 1. 2, and Special, T. 'WaddinEton. S, A. Eicl.mmd, Kilmarnocl. he. v. siuait, Giatgo-w ; J. G. Dnnn, Newcabtle-on-Tjne; A. Johnstone; A. Richmond. Any ctbek Vabiett.-I and Special. A. Croslie. Meliose. 2, J. Wallace (Tiumpcteisl. 3. J. Fielding, jnn. he, J. Wallace (Baibs); W. B. Van Haans- btrpen; T. Waddinptj n (Trnmieleib): J. M. D. BrowTi (Dragoons): T. W ad- dingt< n (Porcelain Ice), c, Miss K, C. Frew : H. Yardlej ; J Wallace (Labores). SEL1.1KG €LjS8.-l,E.FobinBon,Airdrie (Pouters). a,J.G Dunn, Newcastle- cn-Tjnc. 3, J. E. f pence, Bronghtj Ferry, he, J. Gait ; J. Frame (Pouters). Judge. — Mr. B. Hutton, Garden House, Pudsey, Leeds. A EEMAEKABLE INCIDENT. Within the last two years I liaye had three consignments of beautiful variegated fancy Pigeons fioin abroad, at ouce handsome, novel, and valuable. Amongst the first collection I received was one bird of a rather singular variety of Pigeon, a match to which, I think, is not to be with in Great Britain, and I am also inclined to think that the variety is not com- mon in any country. A small space will suffice for a brief description of her peculiarities. In general outline she is much after the character of the Jacobin ; her feathering is of a deep glossy black throughout except the tad, which is pure white ; the head is small and unusually round, for it is a proper round head, and is paitiaUy covered from behind by a close-fitting hood, which terminates abruptly at the sides of the neck ; the beak is very short and black. The eye is a pure white, and surrounded by a thin, fleshy, blackish-red lash ; the eye, therefore, from its extreme whiteness and brilliancy is most conspicuous by its suiroundings of intense black. Another peculiarity, which is only observed on close inspection, is, that she is minus the little oil-gland im- mediately above the tail. I have had six other Pigeons from abroad with the same pecuharity, therefore I am not surprised at this somewhat extraordinary feature. This funny little Pigeon came to me dh-ect from Turkey, for I helped them all to land, and I was vexed to find only one of the variety, for a pair were shipped to me, but the cock bird died on the voyage. I reached home safely with my birds and placed them in a warm place prepared for their reception, but I resolved on putting this oddity with my stock of Antwerps, and giving her entire liberty. In due course out she came and seemed perfectly satisfied with her English home, and fed, flew, and bred with my Antwerps for the season, but un- fortunately only one young one was the issue of her alliance with the mate she made choice of. That young one was a fac-simile of herself; but notwithstanding my watchful eyes, and her tender care — for she is a capital feeder — it died. Seeing a sign of an established breed from the trial of such an ill-assorted pair, I decided upon placing her in another pen and looking out for a better ancl nearer match ; yet al- though I changed her pen she still was allowed her liberty with the others during the day, but at night her place was with the Toys, and to this abode she soon became accustomed. After each day out with the flyers she would in the evening wait upon the window-frame of her home for me to let her into it. And so things went on for months, until one night, being busily engaged to an unusually late hour, I quite forgot my Capuchin (for such I named her, as in some degree re- sembling that kind), until I was aroused from my writing by a fall of crockery, and then heard the whirr, whirr, of wings. Up I rose and out I went, directing my steps to the paneless portion of the window, hoping to find the bird still there ; but, no ! she was gone, whither I knew not, but my suspicions were soon aroused on seeing by the light of the moon a cat, whose tiger-like foim I clearly beheld as it scaled a high wall in rather too hasty a manner to look innocent. To the cats, then, my bud has gone thought I, and I retued brooding vengeance on the feline race. A week or more elapsed, when, as Honorary Secretary of the Bh-mingham Columbarian Society, I attended our periodical meeting, and ere business commenced the following questions were addressed to me by our President (Mr. H. AUsopp). " Mr. Ludlow, have you lost any of your birds lately?" I replied " Yes, unfortunately, a very good Antwerp cock." " But have you not lost any other ? " "Yes, I have," said I, "if a bird can be lost when you know where it is gone," and then 1 told the members about the crash, the rush upon the foe, the hasty retreat, the shadow-like form in the moonlight, &c. Then our worthy President informed me that his reason for asldug the question was that he had caught a bird similar to that which he had seen at my place, and had it then m his pocket. Without further questioning he produced the bird, and there, sure enough, was my poor cat-killed Capuchin, who, no doubt frightened from her snooze on the window-frame by the nightly peregrinations of the tabby, had probably flown some distance by moonlight, and so was lost and captured the next day three miles from my place, which had been her only home in this country. Thus it will be seen that although she has never been out of my possession from the time I took her off ship- board, she had flown from the Secretaiy's to the President's, and in her course, whether straight or circuitous, over the largo industrial hive of Bu-mingham and Aston, with its 10G,47O dweUings, inhabited by 489,313 persons, besides the thickly populated suburbs adjoining. When we also take into con- sideration the hundreds of Pigeon-keepers in Birmingham, who between the hours of one and two o'clock turn out theii- immense kits of flyers for their daily airing, it must be con- sidered a remarkable incident that my pectdiar foreigner should have passed from my keeping in so strange a manner, and have been captured at the house of my fellow fancier, friend, and colleague, whilst it was stealing its frugal meal in company with a few birds which are set at large, and kept as feeders for his better bii'ds. — J. W. Ludlow, Vaaximll Road, Birmimjliam. PARASITES ON CANAEIES. I would supplement the remarks made by Mr. Blakston oo this subject (see page 94) by adding that, as I have aheady pointed outin " The Entomologist," a fruitful and frequently-overlooked source of the very troublesome Acari is the seeds with which the birds are suppUed. There are certainly bird-lice which have nothing to do with the seeds, and which, like fleas, breed in the bnds ; there are others which swarm in the seeds — more at some seasons of the year than at others) — and from these transfer themselves to the birds. I have detected these in canary, rape, and hemp, mostly small; and yet they evidently not only live amongst, but devour the seeds. At the first opportunity, however, they are quite prejjared to betake them- selves to animal food. These Acari do not appear to trouble the bu'ds during the day, when they cluster together in corners and angles, to await the dusk, which sends them out on their rambles. If the seed-vendors carefully sifted their seed before sending it out, and kept it as dry as possible, there would be a diminution in the number of these Acari, even though it might not be possible to keep the seed entirely free of them. I do not see what the "worms" could have been to which Mr. Blakston refers, unless, indeed, they were the larvte of some one of the wood-boring beetles. The bird-hee or Acari, though they imdergo some slight changes as they increase in size, do not pass througli any transformations. Besides the adoption of the remedial measures already suggested, it has been recommended to applj' to all the cracks and crevices in the cages a solution of camphor in spirit of wine and turpen- tine mixed. The application of train oil to the infected parts of wooden cages has also been very serviceable. — J. E. S. C. EAELY POLLEN— DTSENTEEY. Ml bees carried in pollen on the 2nd of Februai-y. The pellets on the thighs were large and yellow. On that day I changed all the floorboards, brushing off numerous dead bees which had perished from dysentery, owing to the ver.y mild damp weather we have had so long. Some of the healthiest stocks were those on which I have had inverted flower jjots over the central holes in the top-boards, a piece of perforated zinc intervening. By this plan much of the damp air within the hive seems to be able to make its escape. The floorboai'ds of some hives on which there were no flower pots were very mouldy. — S. Bevan Fox. Me. Woodbury. — The following extract from a notice of the late Mr. Woodbury appeared in the " Bienenzeitung " of October 31st. It well deserves a place in our Journal, and wUl be read with interest by all who remember his labours in the cause of apiarian science. I am indebted for its translation from the German to one of the daughters of the deceased. — E. S. " Again, dear bee friends, the sad duty devolves upon me of annoimcing the death of a man who has done much for apicul- ture, and who must have been the first best bee-keeper of modern times in England. Indeed, all the readers of the ' Bienenzeitung ' remember the name — remember the in- rebruwy 8, 1872. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 139 tcresting articles that Woodbury Tvi'ote on foreign races of bees, aud to translate wMeh was always a pleasant task to me. But the bee-keei)ers of Germany knew nothing further of the dis- tant friend who first introduced the Italian bee into England, and whose intention of naturahsing the Indian bee also jwas only frustrated by death. One of his last works was the superintendence of the manufacture of a hive in which a swarm (Apis dorsata) should have been introduced into England from India's distant shore, the arrival and success of which was Woodbm'y's deai'est wish." UNITING SWAEMS. The practice of joining swarms, or what is more commonly termed " chop-offs," to stocks in the autumn is of very old Jate, and is still recommended in modern works and periodi- cals. Save by a correspondent to our Journal, who lately recommended the brimstone pit as the best mode of disposing of these surplus bees, and who for his pains got a few stings from some of our worthy bee-masters, I am not aware of the plan ever having been condemned by anyone. Now, although it is universally approved of, I believe the anticipated benefit is seldom derived, for the bees escape dying in .spring by meet- ing with an earlier death when joined to stocks in autumn. . I wiU endeavour briefly to show the advantages and disad- vantages of uniting swarms to stocks in autumn, and will tlien jiass on to the proper time at which swarms ought to be joined. In the first place, let us ask what hives ought to be streugth- ■ened in the autumn, and why ? Such hives are those only which have aged queens, aud whose population has been re- duced through the defects of the queen in breeding ; or late swarms in a bad season which have lost many bees, and have, therefore, an insufficient population to maintain a uniform degree of heat in winter. It is, therefore, requisite in joining swarms that every precaution should be taken, so that it will be certain that the best queen will be saved and not in any way maimed. From the foregoing it wUl be seen that it is in few cases that uniting is recommended ; iu fact, under good management hives do not require to be united in autumn. When bees are joined, if no fightmg occur at the time many bee-keepers think aU is right, and having so many bees together," 1 jok forward to securing early swarms next spring. They never think of the mishaps that are almost sure to occur, nor of the natiu-al life of the bee. I may here mention that hives with not less than 3 lbs. of bees, or even 2 lbs., in autumn ought never to be disturbed by uniting, because a healthy queen with that number of subjects will bring forward in spring as many bees as one with double the number ; nay, a small second swarm is often the first to swarm. Then why put yourself to all the trouble, aud run the risk of having healthy queens destroyed, thi-ough uniting where bees are not required ? As I have paid particular attention to swarms so joined for many years I will state my observations. First, when a swarm is joined to a stock both queens are encased, and if not both killed at the time, frequently they do not survive long ; and even should one survive, she is often maimed and is seldom aDowed to lead a swarm, so that the consequent loss iu the spring is far gi'eater than the benefit of a few bees in autumn. Besides, how often are hives really strengthened by this mode ? I have seen hives supposed to be peaceably united, have stood beside them after dusk, and seen the bees leaving by the thousand. This occurs owing to two causes, one being when the bees miss their queen, the other when the one set of bees is assailed by the other ; in the former case, the queen of the strange bees being killed immediately after the hives are united. Al- though the bees themselves have not been meddled vrith, when- ever they miss then- qiieen a commotion commences, almost invariably after daylight, and the bees leave the hive never to return. In the latter case the strange bees, although wounded, are still able to fly, and quit the hive for ever. Thus the un- suspecting bee-keeper is disappointed, and in nine cases out of ten the surviving queen is so maimed that she is often deposed early in the spring, thus causing a cessation of breed- iug for some weeks ; and if not deposed she is seldom able to fly with the swarm, aud is sometimes lost. The great danger in uniting bees in autumn can only be obviated in the same manner, and by using the same precautions, as when we join an Italian queen — in fact, it is utterly useless to unite swarms in autumn except iu cases where the weight of bees has been reduced to less than 2i or 3 lbs. A young healthy queen with from 3 to 4 lbs. weight of bees wUl be far in advance of one with three times that weight made up by joining. " Union is strength," but that strength is only required when there is work to be done. What advantage is there in uniting swarms months before they are required, when it is a well-known fact that in a healthy hive six weeks will be sufficient to supersede every old bee by young ones ? It may not be out of place to mention here that I have kept bees until they were fourteen months old. Whenever the apiarian knows he is to have sur- plus bees he ought to join them in the height of the honey season, and thus make the most of them, disturbing the stocks as Uttle as possible after the honey season is past. Nor is it requisite to unite swarms for their better keeping in winter, because a hive containing from 3 lbs. aud upwards wiU occupy three or more seams at a temperature of 10° ; and this number appeal's to be quite sufficient, in an unprotected hive with no more than a projecting roof, to stand a cold at several degrees below zero. Such was the case in 1860, when the thermometer sank to 4° below zero. I had a dozen hives standing exposed ; the hive itself was only half an inch thick, aud the only protection was a ridge projecting 6 inches round the hive. One-half of these hives were not more than half full of combs, and yet they all tiurned out well in spring. I am not far wrong when I say that a hive three-quarters filled with comb, and one-third of that occupied by bees at a tem- perature of from 10° to 20°, is about the proportion for a hive to remain healthy and free from disease during winter. A hive fiUed to overflowing and perfectly fuU of combs wiU not winter better than one only three-quarters filled. It is thus necessary to have our hives constructed so that we can add or diminish, not only during winter but throughout the seasons. Like Mr. Lowe, I do not thiirk it a good plan to divide hives in autumn, yet it is weU to have a few nucleuses as described, to be kept in a rather warm and dry place during winter, iu order to fill up any wants that may occur in spring through the death of a queen iu winter. — A. Lanakkshike Bee-keepeb. OTJB LETTER BOX. Age op Stock Game Fowls (H.).— We do not believe that birds teed from parents five yeai-s old will be as good as those bred from two-year-old birds. Much depends on the condition in which they ai-e when moulting. It is a strain on the system, and, if they are worth a little attention, they should be cared for as much while it is in progress as if they were in training. The quaUty of the feather will depend much on the material of which it is made. Weight of Doekings and Bkahma.s at Birmingham {Suiscriher). — Dorking cock, 12 lbs. ; hens, 10 lbs. Brahma cock, 13 lbs. ; bens, 10 lbs. at the last show. PouiTKY Makagement (BJacft Cofi*).— Your fowls are better managers for you than you would he for them. The Dorkmgs are laying now that they may be broody in time to bring you og some early chickens, and the Spanish will be laying all the time the others are sitting, Tlio Spanish are not eaily layers, but they lay well when theybe^'in, una v^.ii ^\lll tlms ]v .■nnshmtly supplied with new eggs. The appeanni" - ■ ' ' '!■ ii'" :■ h. :i'. ! Iivv will shoi-tly lay, but not that they are laying. Y-u li i i ..ir <. I, .1, -■/'//- . r,>u^, in doing that which many try for, and wliich i^ IIil intciili'-iii "I I v. !■ Invcila viz., to make one succeed the other, and not to have all yom- eggs at ouce. Sowing Gbass Seed on Poultey Ecn (W. T.).—Yon should do it at once so far as the time of year is concerned ; but you will, we think, do well to wait till the land does not hold as much wet as it does now. If the extent of the ran permit it, shut up half of it at a time. If it does not, keep the poultiy out till there are evident signs the seed has taken root and is growing. Beahma Hens ( IF. T.).— We should hatch our chickens from the eggs id by the ben without vulture hocks. Nothing would compensate for them, ri almost every particular we like the second better than the first. We do not for a moment believe all the chickens (cocks) will have brown patches on the wings. Ton must weed out those thaf have. By way of expenment you might set some eggs of the first ben. Pellets not Laying (TT. H.).— The cock has nothing to do with laying, but puUets are better satisfied when one runs with them, and we beUeve they keep in better condition. Borrow one for a week, and that will answer every pirrpose. Scurfy Fowls (Ham&iir(7ft).— We hai-dly understand the scurvy as applied to the diseases of fowls. There is the white face, which is the disorder from which the Hamburgh is suffering, and the white dry excrescence on the legs. The former is cei-tainiy cured by the application of strong sulphur omtment, unless it be the remabis of some distant cross with a white-faced breed, as Spanish in Blafk Hamburghs. In this latter case there is no cm-e. The excrescence o.i thr L—a i",v hr. mur^b alleviotod hv the application of the same made vr,. , l i ,l,i',rnlt to cure. Tiio host thing you can do with the he., ■ . '• . I Mvwithcastoroil.amllVc.lheronground oats slaked «;:, ::, , ,,. :,,,„ilji, and a small qnantity of kitchen scraps chopped Oi.^. W l.s:. ..ii. . rc-uveriug you can use Ba.ly s piUs advan- tageously, and as soon as there appears some Ufe m her let her out. Wiile she is confined nothing wiU be more beneficial than to give her daily a sod ol growing grass cut with plenty of mould. If this treatment will not help her, we should advise you either to kill her, or else let her take her chance, unless she lavs golden eggs. ' The best food we know for fowls is ground oats ; when these 'cannot be had, barleymeal. One of these slaked with water should he given for the morning and evening meals. At midday give maize, barley, and kitchen scraps. Where the latter are given the quantity of corn should bo diminished. Pooltey House (Far TFcsf).— We should prefer to make the end of the house, a, a, soUd without a door. We should then make two-thn-ds of the JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. [ Febiiiory 8, 1872. lattice-work also Kolid, save two small glazed windows in the npper part. The remainder of the front may then he lattice- work, with the exception of the end, which would form the door. We return the sketch that you may see our meaning. Your perches would then run from the marks o, o, o, inside the building, and would rest on a ledge opposite to them, fastened to the " side of outhouse." This would afford proteetiou sufficient for any weather, because there would be no draught. The accommodation of numbers of poultry is of little importance as regards roosting, the run during the day is the most important point in that particular. You seem well off for space, and food to be had for foraging, the best food there is for poultry, but they must not quite depend upon it, and they should always have as much food as they will run after given to them early in the morning. You do not mention gi'een food, whether they have access to grass; if not, they must be provided with something of the sort. Refuse vegetables will do. They will also want grit or gravel, and some bricklayer's rubbish thrown down. They should always have the option of going out. Premising the run is a large one, you may safely keep twenty- four Brahmas and a dozen Bantams. If you wish it we believe you may keep PoLANDs Feather-eating {J. J. C).— It is a very rare thing to find fowls eating feathers at this time of year. It is by no means uncommon late i^ the season when the plumage is old, and the birds ore sickly pre\ious to moulting. Your hj-pothesis is not a correct one. It is supposed to arise from a disorded state of body. Of course they are confined, or they would not do it. Remove the cock and supply the hens with green food, especially with sods of growing grass cat with plenty of mould. It is more than possible they may find in that the change they want, and for which they substitute feathers. Avoid all stimulating food. Floob of Potjltrt-yard {Geva).—k concrete floor or run for poultry is a very bad one. It affords no scratch for the fowls, it is unyielding to the feet, and consequently keeps them always on the stretch. This is uncomfortable for the fowls, and that which is so is detrimental to their condition. We should infinitely prefer the sharp gravel. We are afraid we have more rats than you have, but they do not kill our chickens. They eat their food. Birmingham Crp Dorking Cockerel. — " I find that the year in which I purchased the bird was 1869, inadvertently stated as 1870. Unfortunately my Dorkings are unable to speak for themselves, otherwise they would, doubtless, ask Mr. Waller to state in what respect they ' oi-e incorrect,' and further to point out that their birthplace is ' The Laurels, Taunton,' not ' Birmingham.' —J. B. Saundkrs."' Poisoned Fowls {Birmingham). — Your hypothesis of the labels containing arsenic is not admissible. We have no doubt Mr. Harley's fowls were pur- posely poisoned. The analysis shows there was arsenic "in considerable quantity." There are too many cases of maiming and disfiguring exhibited fowls for us to doubt that some exhibitors are malicious and revengefully jealous. Chinese Fowls.—" On reading the answer to ' G. C. A. ' (page 9.S), about Chinese fowls, and the letter headed ' Black Cocliin-Chinas ' (page 90), I was reminded of some fowls which I saw last summer recently imported from Hong Kong, and which were said to be of a valuable breed. These were Black, mostly with larkrcrests and beards, some with the peculiar double comb of half-bred Creve-Cceurs ; indeed, anyone might have fancied they were Cochins crossed with Creve-Cceurs. — Letitia Ward, Th.c Close, Salts- bury." Inducing a Hen to Sit. — " A hen may be persuaded to sit at ony time of the year.— Vincent Fraser." See page 110. *' A Subscriber" will be greatly obliged by information how this is done. Perhaps "Vincent Fraser' will reply to this. , Beak of Magpie Pigeon (A Reader). — Magpies certainly should have dark beaks ; birds of this variety ore not perfect it the colour of beak is other- wise. Many specimens are too often seen with the upper mandible of the beak dark, and the lower one light, which is a decided blemish. The beak should be nearly black, corresponding with the intense black head of the bird. Pigeons Going Light.—" If Mr. H. AUsop will give his Pigeons castor- oil pills instead of castor oil he will not soil the plumage of his birds. A friend of mine has tried them with success. — S. H." Pigeons and Canaries (J. W.). — White Jacobins, although they had bull eyes, yet being, as you say, very good in other points, might win. Match your Evenly-marked Buff cock Canary with a rich Jonque hen, either clear in colour, but having Evenly-marked blood in her, or Evenly-marked if having Crested blood ; or being Crested, you would get Evenly-marked and Crested birds as well. Mind the markings are not too heavy. We think that this class of Canary is a good one for amateurs to breed for exhibition, especially to begin with. Swan-necked Egyptian Pigeons (Pharamond). — We know nothing of this large variety of Scandaroon. Certainly those exhibited recently were by no means large. Mr. Baily, of Mount Street, imports a great number of birds from the Continent, and most likely could procure them for you. Canary's Head Unfeathered {Edith). — If by any accident a Canary should get the top of its head thoroughly plucked, it will most frequently remain bare until the next moult. Such may be the case with the wild Canaries from Madeira, to which you refer. If the baldness arise from what is known as scurf — and the description given seems to indicate it — anoint the part with fresh butter as free from salt as it can be made by washing, and give plenty of green food — watercress, lettuce, a slice of apple, the inner leaf of the heart of a cabbage, duckweed, groundsel — such as can be obtained. — W. A. Blakston. Dead Canary (/. S. IF.).— The defunct suhjert is a Buff bird with a cross of Norwich in it. The colour indicates that it might pass for a Norwich bird, but a very poor specimen. You describe bim as a " fine straight bird," which " stood up well on his legs." That indicates a strain of what is known as Yorkshire. But judging from his appearance in his cofhn, I should say there was as much Norwich as anything in the departed. — W. A. Blajkston. Bees at Casiberwell {Constant Subscriber). — We have no doubt they will thrive if well managed. They were kept by Wildman in Holbom. Bees Dying {W. J. H.).—lt is probable that your bees have died of dysen- tery. The extremely damp and mild weather which has prevailed this winter is the cause of great mortality. As you say that you have fed liber- ally, it is not likely that your bees have perished of stonation. You cannot do better, if the mortality still continues, than to frequently change the floorboard. Spring feeding usually commences in March; but if you have any doubt as to your hive having a sufficient supply of food stored up, you had better give your bees the benefit of the doubt, and let them have a few ouncea of food twice o^week on any mild day. We do not reply by post to queries. Removing a Htve {T. H.). — A hive of bees may safely be moved 4 feet from its present position with perfect safety, provided it be done in mild still weather when the sini is shining. Choose the first wanu, unclouded day when the bees come out in force. The later you- con put off the operation the better, of course, as the sun's rays are acquiring heat every day. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, Camden Square, London. Lat. Sr 32' 40" N. ; Lonfj. 0^ 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feef . DATS, A.H. IH THE Day ima. Jan. IIP Hyprome- ter. Direc- tion of Wind. Temp, ot Soil at 1 ft. Shade Tem- perature Radiation Tempera- ture. .a In On sun. grass u< i'eb. Dry. ieg. 43 5 47 2 48.4 42 0 45 6 46 5 48.1 45.9 Wet. ieg. 40.8 417 46 6 41.9 44.2 43.4 47.0 43.9 Max. deg. 52.8 51.3 6'i.8 43 5 46.2 494 51.2 49.6 Min. deg. 40.4 41.5 44.0 36.3 42.0 41.0 45.8 41.6 We. 31 Th. 1 Fri. 2 Sat. 3 Snn. 4 Mo. 5 Tu. 6 Inches. 29 920 29.715 29.650 29.951 29.839 29.675 29.686 S,W. s. s. s. s. S.B. S. tl^l- 42 4 43 3 42.9 42.6 42 8 43.6 deu. 77.3 71.4 63.0 55.0 50 8 53.0 55.4 61.6 deg. 36 8 36.8 42.9 32.3 39 2 36.6 41.5 38.0 In. 0.03» 0.080 0.030 0.070 O.OIO Means 20.777 43 0 0.220 REMARKS. Jan. Slst. — Fine in morning and throughout the day. Feb. 1st. — Windy in the night, white frost in the morning, fine sunrise, bright till about 3 p.m., then dull, rain between 4 and 5 p.m., and in the evening with wind at night. 2nd. — Rain in the night, fair but overcast in the morning, then showery with bright sun between, sharp shower with hail at 0.:^ p.m. Srd. — ^Very dark early in morning, but brighter about 2 p.m., dull afternoon, fine evening. 4th. — Dull and showery all day. Red Aiirora spreading nearly all over the sky from 6.15 to 6.29 P.M., and again from 8.10 to 8.45. Very bright in S.E. in the early part of the evening. 5th. — Showery, damp, and dull all day. 6th. — Overcast in morning, a little rain about noon, and occasionally through the day, but not enough to measure. Fine night. A very similar week to its many precursors, southerly winds, high tem- perature, great moisture, and a generally cloudy sky. — G. J. SvmoN3. COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— February 7. A steady regular business is being done without any marked improvement in the general tone. Supplies of home-grown produce are well kept up, and from the Continent and Channel Islands we have rather more than usual at this season. Broccolis both from Jersey and Cornwall are excellent. Good sound Potatoes of the different varieties command a fair sale. Inferior de- scriptions are very heavy. FRUIT. s. d. 0 Melons each 0 0 to 0 0 0 Mulberries lb. 0 0 0 0 0 Nectarines doz. COCO 0 Oranges ^100 4 0 10 0 Black do Figs doz. 0 0 0 0 Filberts lb. Cobs lb. Grapes, Hothouse.... lb. 0 6 1 0 Qq 0 6 10 Raspb Pears, kitchen doz. dessert doz. ; Apples lb. doz. 0 0 0 0 ,.lb. 0 0 0 0 [iwberries lb. 0 0 0 0 Artichokes doz. Asparagu s f'-lOO. Beans, Kidney per 100 Broad bushel Beet,Red doz. 10 3 0 Broccoli bundle 0 9 16 Brussels Sprouts. .i sieve 1 6 S 0 Cabbage doz. 10 16 Capeicuma ^100 0 0 0 0 Carrots bnnch 0 6 0 0 Cauliflower doz. 2 0 5 0 Celery bundle 16 2 0 Coleworts.. doz. bunches 2 0 4 0 Cucumbers each 10 3 0 pickling - doz. 0 0 0 0 Endive doz, 2 0 0 0 Fennel bnnch 0 3 0 0 Garlic lb. 0 8 0 0 Herbs bunch 0 3 0 0 Horseradish bundle 3 0 4 0 VEGETABLES. . d. 8. d I S. d. 0 to G 0 Leeks bnnch 0 St 0 8 0 ! Lettuce doz. 1 0 0 4 0 Mushrooms pottle 1 0 " " Mustard & Cress, .punnet 0 2 Onions bushel 2 0 pickling quart 0 6 Parsley per doz. bunches 3 0 Parsnips doz. Peas quart 0 0 0 0 Potatoes bushel 2 0 3 ft Radishes., doz. bunches Rhubarb bjndle 0 Savoys doz. 0 Sea-Kale basket 1 Shallots lb. 0 Spinach bushel 3 Tomatoes doz. 0 Tarn ips bunch 0 Vegetable Marrows. .doz. 0 .do. 3 0 & G POULTRY MARKET.— Febrcaky 7. We have but a moderate supply, but it is sufficient for the trade. Te good for the time of year, and there is no prospect of any Large Fowls 3 6 to 4 0 Smaller ditto Chickens . Ducks .. . Pheasants . Guinea Fowl .... 3 0 Ftiniwy 15, 1872. ] JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. WEEKLY CALENDAR Month Day of Week. FEBEUAEY 15—21, 1872. Average Tempera- tare near London. Rain in 43 years. Snn Rises. Sun Sets. Moon Rises. Moon Sets. Moon's Age. Clock Day before of Sim. Year. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Th F S Sun M To W Meeting of Boyal and Linnean Societies. Cambridge Tei-m di%'ides. 1 Sunda^y in Lent. Meeting of Entomological Society, 7 P.3r. Meeting of Zoological Society, 9 P.M. Meeting of Society of Arts, 8 p.m. Day. 47.0 47.0 46.6 45.2 44.9 45.5 46.7 Night. 31.3 30.6 30.6 31.1 31.0 30.7 32.3 Mean. 39.2 38.8 38.6 38.2 87.9 38.1 39.5 Days. 17 11 17 17 15 14 20 m. h. 1 m. h. 18af7 llaf5 16 7 1 13 5 14 7 1 15 5 12 7 17 5 10 7 19 5 8 7 , 21 5 6 7 1 23 5 m. h. llaflO 32 10 67 10 81 11 after. 2 1 1 2 m. h. 2af0 15 1 24 2 SO 8 30 4 23 4 4 C Days. 6 ^8 9 10 11 12 m. 8. 14 25 14 22 14 18 14 13 14 8 14 2 13 55 46 47 48 49 60 61 62 From observations taken near London during forty-three years, the average day temperature ol the week is 46.1° ; and its i The greatest heat was 6r, on the 16th, 1847^ and the lowest cold r, on the 17th, 1855. The gi-eatest fall of rain was 0.51 mch light temperatuie 31.1°- VINE DISEASE AND VINE STOCKS. ^I^^^^ROM my cliiliUiood I have cultivated the (wllj^ V ^''^^' ^^'^< liaving suffered disappointment on more than one occasion, I can sympathise with those who have .shared the same fate. Being a lover of the Vine, I wish to dir-ect the attention of yom- readers to the existence of a widespread (Usease which is destrojTng the Grape Vine in this country (the United States), and which I have reason to beheve will ultimately prove a som-ce of annoyance and disappointment to the Grape-growers of England. The subject of the Grape-leaf louse has been exhaus- tively treated of by Mr. C. V. RUey in the columns of the Rund Xew Yorlcer, and fi'om his communications I shall freely quote. Mr. EUey refers to the decKne of the Grape in this country, and states, " I have at last ascertained the one real and principal cause of this decline, and that knowing the cause, we may iu a measure obviate it, will doubtless cause many a Grape-gi'ower to wonder. This destiiictive agent is none other than a little insect that has long been known in this country by the name of The Grape-le.u- G-U.L Louse (Phylloxera -i-itifoliae, Fitch). " I use the specific name first given to the iasect by Dr. Fitch, of New York, simply because it is the best known in this eountiy, and • suffices for my present pur- pose. The name itself is perhaps objectionable, and so little was known of the trae character of the louse when Dr. Fitch described it, that he did not even refer it to its proper genus. It is doubtful, therefore, whether the accord of the entomological world will be given to tliis name, notwithstanding its priority, in the place of Phyl- loxera vastatrix which Planchon first coiTectly gave to the root-iuhabiting form, and which has been generally recognised abroad. The same may be said of Westwood's name Peritymbia vitisana, which was also proposed for the same insect in 1868 in a communication to the Ashmolean Society of Oxford, England. " The Chnton Vine and its near relatives have long been known in this country to be subject to the attacks of an insect which covers the leaves watli galls. No one, however, dreamed that the roots of oiu- Vines were afflicted with a similar insect until last fall, when I showed that the gall louse wintered on the roots. These facts were published in my last report, from wliich I quote the following paragraph in order to give the recorded history of the insect. It will be seen from these extracts that the first mention of the galls in print was in 1856 ; but there is good evidence that they were noticed, and even refeiTed to, many years before, without any real knowledge of their character. " The first reference to this insect was briefly made by Dr. Fitch, of New York, in the year 1856, and he subse- quently described it in a veiy insufficient manner under tlie name Pemphigus vitifoUse. Ten years afterwards this louse was again refeiTed to by myself in the Fniiric Farmer for .Vugust 3rd, 1866 ; and during the fall of the game year articles were written upon it by Dr. Shimer, No. eca— Vol. XXn., Sew Seeieb. and by my late associate, Mr. Walsh ; the foi-mer claim- ing that it was a true plant louse (Apliis fannly), and the latter that it was a lark louse (Coccus family). In this Dr. Sliimer was evidently right and Mr. Walsh wrong. In January, 1867, Dr. Shimer proposed for this insect a new family, Dactylcesperidse, which in my opinion cannot stand. " Dm-ing all this time a serious disease of the roots oi the Grape Vine began to attract attention in the south of France, and it finally caused such alarm that the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in France offered a prize of 20,000 fi-ancs for the chscovei-y of an efficacious and prac- tical remedy. In France the ihsease is known as Pour- reilie, or rotting. It is in the form of little cancerous spots, which cut off the supply of nourishment, and cause the roots to rot; and these spots were ascertamed by IMM. Planchon and Lichtenstein, of MontpeDier, to be caused by a louse (Phylloxera vastatrix, Fhoii-hon) which, bears a close resemblance to our gall louse. Tliis is not all, for a leaf-gall, absolutely identical with om-s, also occm-s there, and the identity of the gaU-iuliabiting with the root- inliabiting insect was demonstrated by ' I. 0. W.' in the Gardeiu-rs Chronicle (of England) for January 30th, 1869 ; and M. J. Lichtenstein even contended that the Em-opean species was identical with oiu-s, and unported fi-om this country, in which opinion he was supported by A. Combe. " In the latitude of St. Louis, Missomi, the first galls are noticed about the middle of May, and by the middle of June they begin to be quite common. The galls vary somewhat in appearance according to the Viae upon which they occm-. The few individuals which start the race early" in the year station themselves upon the upper sides of the leaves, and by constant suction and uiitation soon cause the leaf to swell in-egularly on the opposite side, while the upper part of the leaf gradually becomes fuzzy and close, so that the louse at last suiks from view, and is snugly settled in her gall. Her bulk increases diu-ing pregnancy. Eventually she gi'ows to be plump and swollen, acquii-es a deep yellow or orange tmt, and crowds the space withm the gall with her small yellow egi^s, numbering fi-om fifty to four or five himdred, accord- ing to the size of the gaU. The young hce are pale yeUow. As soon as they are hatched they escape from the gall through the orifice in the upper surface of the leaf, which was never entirely closed, and taking up then- abode on the young and tender leaves, in then' tui-n form galls. The mother louse, after completing her deposit, dies, and the gaU which she occupied ib-ies up. There are several generations during the year, and this process goes on as long as the Vmes put forth fi-esh leaves. As the gaUs multiply, and the growth of the Vme becomes 1; ss vigorous, the young lice sometkues so completely cover the upper surface of the newly-expanded leaves as not to leave room for them aU to fo'i-m galls. In this event the leaf soon perishes, and the hce perish with it. Those leaves winch have been badly attacked tiu-n brown or black, and sooner or later faU to the gi-oimd, so that the Vme may be entirely denuded. " By August the insects become so prodigiously multi- No. l;20.— Vol XLVTI. Old Series. JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE ANDCOTTAGE^AEDENEE. [ Febniai7 15, 1872. plied that they often settle on the tendi-d , lealstato ^d tender branches, where they form excrescences ^-^^ g^ ii^e gr-owths, differing only from tl^°f ,<''^,f ? ^f ^leTence in the Set as one would naturaUy expect from the difierence m in plant tissues. After the Vine has finished it« |™' ^'^J^ ^ZuMf lice fincUn" no more succulent and suitable leares, ^:^%o Werand seek the roots; bo that by the end of '^S'^ryor^T'atc^e^dXmlhe eggs on the roots ai-e ab^o^ lutely tchstmguishable from those hatched ^^'^Jl^'J^^^ the /raTid apterous female cUffers m no respect whateTer from the mother gall louse. The females on the roots seem to be *iess prlfic fhan those on the gaU. and ^^fj^^^^^^^^^^' are rather larger. These eggs ai-e always of a bright yeuoj- and on the dark root are detected with the naked eye as reaMy as the hce, which become darker, or a dull orange, as they grow °^^'The msect is found on the roots in ^/tfe^^J^X^g^^' summer months. In the whiter it is found dormant, prmci pally m the larva state, and no eggs ^e to be seen V\itn the cu-culation of the sap in the spi-uig t^« ^,«'^y*y ^^„f ^".^ young recommences, and in a short tmie f ''^^''^J'^f, ^^PSL^'," deposited agahi. At this season the P^^^'^'l^J *\7 i^*lf beaks produce veiy decided swelhngs, and an ^^^^ « of mois tui-e at the wounded parts. The winged forms ^Z^J-^l^^^^ uncommon, and commence to issue from the gi'ound perhaps "'^S:/fx'amined a large number of Yines -,anf ^^^t-* from St. Louis, and I shall merely quote the result as re^airds a few. "VitisYmifera (European). A^l European vaneties with roots badly affected. In ^f^y ,f ^^^'^.''^^i.f Toncord and gone, with the Vines about dead. No leaf-gaUs. Concord (native variety), no leaf-galls, scarcely any ^oo^-^^tv al^rge enthely exempt." From the researches of ^f- ».=^^y .\ ^'i'l^ number of om- native varieties suffer to a great extent but as it would not mterest your readers, I shaU not o««;W ^P^ce by quotmg the results of his researches, but m^^^'^Vlfn, ° ™ fact that, m accordance with his expenence, t^^^Concoid pro- bably suffers less from the Vme louse than any other ^ai ety For a lengthened period it had been a weU-recognised fac that European Grapes would not succeed m this co^^^tir undei ordhiary garden culture. Grapes bemg a marketable frmt a number of persons endeavoiired to supply the national want by the raismg of seedlings, some piuely native, and otliers hybiids between native and Em-opean varieties. Hunch-edso varieties were raised and dissemmated ; but experience estabhshed the fact that only a hmited number remamed healthy and luxu- i-iant m any soil and situation.— Ai. Fresco, hew Jersey, U.b. (To be continuecl.) THE EOYAL HOBTICULTUBAL SOCIETY. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. Febbuakt 13th. The Annual General Meeting of the Eoyal Horticultural Socfetv wS held last Tuesday afternoon in the Comicil-room, iouthSin^on. In the un^avoidable fBence of L^rd H^nry G. Lennox, M.P., the chair was taken by G. F. Wilson, Jisq., ^ Tife Ch-ubman said he had received a letter fi-om Lord HeruT Lennox M.P., who was expected to have presided at the meet- Lg stating that imporiaut matters ^^f P'^«^«'^*'=l"°Sf/°f Ml- Bic^uiDS, the Assistant Secretai-y, read the Minutes of the last annual meeting, which were confii'med Messrs. Fortune and Mooke were appointed Scrutmeeis foi ^^Th^AssiSTANT SECBETABYthen read the Annual Eeport, which '^ TlFe^C^AiBMAN said that was the time for any FeUow who had a remark to make upon the Eeport to do so. He rnignt obsei-ve that the accounts were annexed to the Eeport and had been circulated with it. j_ „ Mr Blenkiks said it afforded him much pleasure to move that the very satisfactory Eeport which they, had just heard read should be received and adopted by the meeting. He thought he should have the concurrence of all the Fellows present when he said the Eeport was a really satisfactory one [hear hear J. Last vear, when he had the honom- of seconding the adoption of tbe Annual Eeport, he took occasion to remark that he entertained a iii-m behef that a union between the Exhibition Commissioners and the CouncQ of the Eoyal Horticultnral Society would be highly beneficial to the latter. The highly satisfactory Eeport which had been presented to them that day showed he was riglit when he anticipated this improvement. He hoped tfiis umon would long continue, and that tlj^y/JC^.^Jf^i^L^r pri^eges *"piSor'TE='sam he Twd, in seconding the motion dav worked with a marked success and in that bociety rne piaii eristed of ^g to members tickets to admit two persons on but not in paying t^^eir subscriptaons [aUu^^^ Th^^^^^^ fardtp^,5sTu&\gr^^e^ar%lL^^^ part ot tnegauteu, vvii ;* was a shame these tents cost so whose tastes lay in that ^^''^^°" L">= , J j^^jjy ^jene- the CoimcU in this respect could not fail to prove m„my ueuc ficial to the Society. Mr Godson said he should preface the few remarks he was ab^ut t?rke\y V^^vosi^g oic l^^^^J- ^l^^^'^H S^-wt^e *^me-^^%nr '^aSo^tjSX Counc. i^-°K^pUsefcoSir;f,«o5£j;z^^ one year they ^ad a gentleman voted out, and th^e^nex^^^^^ they had ,l™i^™t"\,^°;, J^^JlJI'g Now, with all deference, maiked clegiee to ub o -^ ^ j L^^-g .j^aa applauded [hear, hearj. ^^ ^/^^^^^f L\. f^^ gocietj' last year, and what and praised for what he '"^.™\'^"^^" ,,„ •*„„„ g^jit out of the was the gratitude shown l^''^' ,3m ''^ „'!S '™t the circum- mg tll?;t tl^<*<,C°^^^g hYvh^g produced a Show of unusual beauty ham, that — isesiaes naviuoi'i vpsult which rhatVdl2"00-fo?rrnrto Her Majesty's Commissioners of^^^^^^ chaigea *^*^V"' , ^nd yet no income tax was allowed? Now,'lo or lo Tsf hTthouyt, a matter worthy of considera- February 15, 187"3. J JOUBNAL OP HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. U3 tion. He did not like making these remarks, but lie could not helj) doing so m'hen he read in the Report this passage : — " The Fellows will find that notw-ithstandiug the reduction of the esta- Ithshment at Chiswick, its expenses have last year risen fi-oiu tl335 8s. 7d. to i2U60 19s. lid. The explanation of this is the large drafts made on the gai'den at Chiswick hy the establish- ment at Soutli Kensington, rendered 'necessary by the Inter- national Exhibition." Now, that had never been admitted before. He thought his Grace the Duke of Devonshire was entitled to their thanks for the manner iu which he had acted with respect to the Chiswick property [hear, hear]. Another observation he wished to make was with reference to the fact, that while people paid Is. Gd. each to go into the Exhibition, those who wentround by the Gardens the same day and hour had to pay 2s. Gd. He hoped that state of things was or would be cor- rected [hear, hear], and he felt satisfied if the £2400 rent paid to Her Majesty's Commissioners of 1851, and other pajTnents and monies were taken into account, it would be found that the Society was not under those great obligations to the Commis- sioners which it was probably thought they were. 'When they found that only i£'388 13s. had been given for the rent of the two arcades, the meeting would have the whole case of the Exhibi- tion before them ; and he could only say he thought the Com- missioners might act more liberally than they did [hear, hear]. He hoped a fair explanation would be given on the points to which he had called attention. It was as a matter of justice, which was due to the other Fellows who had not an opportunity of criticising the Report, that his observations had been made ; and he hoped, if they had any weight with the Council, that the subject matter of them would be gone into as soon as possible [hear, hear]. The Ch.ubman, replying to the remarks of the several speakers, said his friend who seconded the adoption of the Report sug- gested that gi'eater facilities as to the acquisition of tickets to the gardens should be given. That was a matter entu'ely for the Fellows themselves [hear]. Of course the great object the Council, and, indeed, all connected with the Society, had in view, was to keep the gardens as quiet as possible on Sundays [hear, hear] . Increased facilities for admission would, of course, bring more people to visit the gardens than might be altogether agreeable [hear]. He should put it to the meeting whether they would vote for or against this suggestion for increased facilities for admission to the gardens. Mr. Godson. — You must have a special meeting for that purpose. Professor Tknnant. — At present it is merely a suggestion thrown out, and not a dii-ect motion. A Fellow. — The Botanic Society, at the Regent's Park, entertained a similar suggestion without calling a special meeting. The CiLAiRMAN said the question was really one wliich involved that of increased privileges. Mr. Wooster had spoken of the loss of the large tent, but he might remark it had one disadvantage — it was like a white elephant, very expensive — and it was on gi-ound which the Society had to give up at six mouths' notice. Mr. Godson suggested that His Koyal Highness Prince Ai-thur shoidd be elected on the Council by acclamation, and he (the Chairman) had much pleasure in putting that motion to the meeting. Mr. Godson seconded the motion, which was carried amid cheers. The Ch-URM-AN observed that Mr. Godson had made some re- marks as to Mr. Lowe being removed fi-om the Council. That was a matter which did not, by any means, rest with the Council. A bye-law existed which pi-ovided that two members of the Cormcil should go out every year by reason of non-attendance, the object being to keep new blood in the Council. Mr. Lowe, on the present occasion, was one of those who went out for non- attendance, and only on account of non-attendance. Mr. Godson also spoke of the i'2400 rent paid the Commissioners, without deduction of income tax. In reply to that observation he might say i2400 was the sum fixed for rent without the question of income tax being at all entertained. Mr. Godson. — The Act of ParUament makes it imperative that the income tax should be allowed, and I am surprised that the Treasurer does not know that as well as his ABC [laughter] . The Ch.ixril\n. — This f 2400 was paid for rent, but will you please remember we owe five or six years' rent which we have not paid ? [hear, hear.] The motion for the adoption of the Report was then put and carried unanimously. Mr. EicHAKDs (Assistant Secretaiy) said the votes were unani- mous in favom' of the election of the officers named by the Council, and with respect to the new Coimcilnien, there was one dissentient. The following is the list of oflicers elected : — President, His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, K.G. ; Treasurer, Mr. John Glutton ; Secretary, Major-GeneralH.Y.D. Scott, C.B. ; Expenses Committeemen, Mr. John Glutton, Mr. W. Wilson Saunders, F.E.S.; Mi-. Sigismimd Riicker, F.L.S. Auditors, Mr. James Nicholson, Mr. John Gibson, Mr. Eobei-t Hudson, F.R.S. The names of vacating members of Council were Major R. Trevor Clarke, Rev. Joshua Dix (deceased), Mr. B. J. Lowe, F.R.S. The names of FeUows recommended by the Council to fill the above-mentioned or most useful ; I will, therefore, state mine. Some years pre- vious to my taking my present situation the gaideu had beeu totally neglected, the Strawberry beds were in a bad plight, and I found two sorts only were grown; oiitf ot therm proved to be Black Prmce, the other a large late variety of little value, which was soon discarded. The kitchen garcjen ground is very light and stony on a gravel bottom, and has very little holding jjower. My employer told me that the ground was not adapted for growing Strawberries, and the old gardener hold a similar opinion. However, I meant to try,, and selected the most suitable piece of ground in the gai-deu for the base of operations. The first effort was to trench the ground 2 feet deep. Tliis afforded me an excellent opportunity" for adding jilenty of manure, and a quantity of stiff loam which' was procured at considerable cost, but in such soil as I had tO' deal with the loam was au absolute necessity. I planted the ground with Keens' Seedling, Sh- Harry, Rivers's Eliza, Due de Malakoff, and Prolific Hautbois. They succeeded tolerably well, but did not come up to my expectations. Sii' Haiiy was' the only variety retained when the bed was destroyed. Keens' Seedling is so generally good that I am again trying it ; from the appeai-ance of the loaves the variety I now have is distinct- from that I obtained from the nursery. In unsuitable soils- like that which I have to deal with, the only way to obtain satisfactory results is by planting frequently. I destroy the beds after the second crop is gathered. Many persons are not aware that the best crop of Straw- berries is obtained the first season after planting. Good strong runners must be selected, layered in small pots about the middle of July, and planted out in well-prepared ground the first week in August. This ■will aUow the plants to be weU established, and the cro-ffus to be matured before winter. AVith a few exceptions 2 feet from phrut to plant is the best distance. Stir the ground frequently between the rows to- keep do'ivai weeds, but never dig between them as is sometimes done. All runners should be pinched off as fast as they appeal-, for they iujurc the plants if .allowed to remain. Of course, a sufficient number of those that arc formed when the flower- Febi-nary 15, 1872. J JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 151 trusses are thrown up should be retained for plants. When the fruit is set it is a good practice to inulch between the rows with rotted manure. If the weather is dry a good watering is beneficial, and this niulcliing serves to retain moisture. The best method of preservuig the ripe fruit from damage is an important consideration. I have seen the mowings from the lawn used to place between the rows ; this is a bad material — clean straw is the best, and in diy weather it is very efficient. In wet weather it is very tiresome to have the best fruit eaten by slugs ; the only way to prevent this is to keep the fruit in a hanging position, which is easUy managed by using smaU branches of Elm, Beech, or Hornbeam, sticking in a few close to the plants and letting the fruit hang over from the clefts of the sprays. I tried some of the galvanised Strawberry protectors last year, but I prefer the branchlets about a foot long. I may also make a few remarks on pot culture. There are few gardens where this is not carried on to a greater or less extent. The principal object to be studied in pot culture, is to have the crowns well matured, so that the largest possible per-centage of plants may throw up flower-trusses. In very early forcing it is annoying to have 50 per cent, of the plants unfruitful, and such an occurrence is unfortunately by no means uncommon. Wlien the plants are required for forcing very early, 5-inch pots are the best size in which to fruit the plants, and these should be m the fruiting-pots by the first week of August. For later forcing 6-inch pots are the best. The compost reijuu-ed is very simple — turfy loam five parts, and rotted manure one part ; and if convenient it should be laid up a few months previous to use. I generally layer the runners in 60-sized pots ; these average 2^ inches in diameter, mside measure. This aUows a good space round the balls when repotting into 5 and 6-inch pots. The compost should be rammed in quite firmly with a wooden rammer. With regard to sorts, much has been written about the capa- bilities of this and that variety, but it is utterly impossible to say which is the best to plant on certain soils without trial. The only way by which anyone can ascertain which is the best variety for his garden is by planting, say, a dozen of the most approved sorts, and selecting those most suitable for the soil and situation. British Queen I now place at the head of the list as the best variety, both for pot culture and planting out in the garden ; it is not the heaviest cropper, but the fruit is large, even in size, and surpassingly good in flavour. Of La Constante I do not think so highly as formerly, but it is very distinct, of neat and compact habit, and bears large crops of equal-sized fruit. Lucas is now preferred to it as being rather better in flavour ; the fruit is larger and finer in appearance. President, a variety of sterling merit, does equally well in pots and planted out. Premier we gi'ow for its cropping capa- bilities, and the fine appearance of the fruit ; it is only of medium flavour. Frogmore Late Pine is the best late sort I have j'et tried, a good cropper, good in flavour, and even-sized. Amongst new varieties Bradley's " The Amateur," is,IbeHeve, the best, but I shall not be able to thoroughly prove it until next year. 1871 was the worst year in my experience for Strawberries out of doors, but this new variety of Mr. Bradley's was the best I had the opportunity of tasting. Can any of our contributors or readers say anything of the new continental varieties ? I haVJ tried some of them ; they are tolerably good, but not good enough to displace our ovni approved sorts. I see that both Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Radclyffe think very higlily of Dr. Hogg. It was splenchd with me at first, but it has degenerated, and even young plants die off as if diseased ; perhaps a new stock would be an effectual remedy. Galande mentioned by Mr. Radclyffe, and Black Bess spoken higlily of by Mr. Gilbert, I know nothing at all about. I can quite understand the secret of Mr. Eadelyffe's success, when lie states that his runners were planted .July 7th. Such plants will cany immense crops next season. — -J-Docolas. KING OF THE MAREOWS PEA. In your number of the 25th ult. the Rev. W. F. Radclyffe mentions Kuig of the Marrows Pea as " large and of ad- mirable flavour." I quite agree with that, for it is quite worthy of such comment, and he says he believes it grows 5 or 6 feet in height. Last sunnner I had two rows 15 yards long. When they were 4 feet in height I planted a row of Celery between each, thiuldng they would shade it just liuig enough for the Celeiy to hold its own ; but imagine my chagrin when, instead of coming into crop, up the Peas went, and stiU up. I put in a pole 10 feet long at each end of the row, and one in the centre, then stretched strings along each side, and when the Peas produced they were 9 feet 6 inches in height 1 Of course, owing to their having to stand so long the Celery was considerably drawn, and being ratlier short I had to use a step ladder in gathering, for the haulm did not bear nearer the ground than 4 feet. The Peas, however, were much praised, being large, bright green, and of fine flavour. There was an immense crop. The soil was stiff, but had been trenched and mamxred in the previous autumn at both spits ; but the Peas looked magnificently, and were wonders. — James Lock, Sain-ij. GLEICHENIA RUPESTRIS. FvLLY agreeuig with " T. B." as regards the great beauty of this, to my mind the queen of its tribe, I certainly come to a different conclusion as to why so few amateurs exhibit it. I say, and I think without fear of contradiction, that it is simply because of its great rarity we so seldom see it exhibited by either nurserymen or amateurs. In not one catalogue, and I possess all the principal ones, can I find it, though G. speluncn?, flabellata, diehotoma, dicai'pa, and semivestita are quoted in many of them. I only know of three specimens — Mr. Mendel's, Mr. Baines's, and my own. I have just been to measure mine. It is "2 feet 7 inches high, and not quite 4 feet in diameter. I grow my plant in the cooler Fern stove, and " T. B." is quito right that too much heat is uijurious to all the members of this lovely tribe. My specimen has fairly started its new growth, and I daresay many of yom- readers will see it exhi- bited during the coming season. The great difficulty with Gleichenias is propagating them. Division is dangerous, and often fatal, while fructification is, with me at any rate, unknown. I am aware that seedliug;^ have been raised, for Mr. Bull's traveller informed me only yesterday that Mr. Bull had been successful in raising some upon one occasion. Let me conclude by making a rem.ark about Adiantum far- leyense. I possess four plants of it, one a very fine specimen 4 feet in diameter, yet I have never seen a fertile frond, and Mr. WiUiams, of HoUoway, when ealluig upon me a few weeks ago, said that his experience was the saiie. I cannot help thinking that " T. B." is the possessor of one of the three specimens of G. rupestris known to me. — T, M. Siiuttlewoktu, Golden Hill, Leylaiul, near Preston. DESTROYING PREDATORY INSECTS. At page 109, "An Old Subscbibeb" asks your advice for scale upon orchard-house trees, and I feel much surprised you do not recommend my insect-destroying compound, it being such an easy and effectual cure. If gardeners would give then- trees two good syringiugs as a winter dressing they would not be troubled with scale or any other insect. My first grand experiment with it upon Peach trees was when the fruit were colouring, and at that time my trees were so infested that the fruit were being discoloured with the secre- tion from the scale, and I was in fear of losmg the whole of the crop. However, I ventured to give them a regular good syringing with my compound, and to my great surprise it not only killed the scale, but cleansed the fruit, and next morning the foUage looked as green and liealthy as possible. I used it as hot as I could bear my finger in it, and at tlie rate of 2 ozs. to the gallon ; but for a winter dressing I now use 3 ozs. to the gallon. I syringe all the woodwork as well. I now use it as a winter dressing to my Vines in the same way. — T. C. Claeke. VALE ROYAL, The Seat op Loed Delameee. This mansion is in the deep valley along which passes the river Weever, near Northwich in Cheshire — a valley in part so well clothed with trees as, in the olden time, to be designated " The Monks' Wood," and partly so fertile as to be then called " The Holy Vale of Corn." This is recorded in the register of the abbey subsequently founded there ; and the same register states that King Edwiuxl I. willed that its old titles should be aboUshed, and that it be named Vallem Rerialem, "which in English is King's Dale." He so named it when, in 1277, he laid the foundation stone of an abbey in fulfilment of a vow he made if the Virgin preserved him from shipwreck, imminent as he returned from the Holv Land. That abbey, be it told in 152 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febraary 15, 1873. exoneration of moileru-arcliitcct dilatorinesR, w.as not completed until ISSO, and at a cost of £32,000, a vast sum in those days when Wheat, if the harvest was abundant, Kold for eighty -pence ))er qu.arter. It was tenanted by t'iRterciau or White monks ; and although it is not compatible with the subjects of this Journal to detail all their evil doings, yet a brief extract from the abbey's charter may serve to justify the extinction of this abbey. The abbot not only shared with the widow the money of a deceased tenant of tlie abbey lands, but among other oppressive exac- tions he claimed as heriots the deceased tenants' pigs, capons, horses, bees, and many other chattels. He also claimed the right of purchasing from them at any time a hen or duck for 2rf., and during Lent a duckling tor IJd. Piers I'lowman with wise prescience saw that such injustice must be abolished, and foretold that tlio abbeys should receive " the knoeke of a kynge." This "knoeke" came from Hem-y VIII., and in the thirtieth year of his reign Vale Roj'al Abbey was sunendered, and three years Rubse(iuently was granted to Thomas Hol- croft, one of the king's esquires. He pulled down the eutue abbey and erected a mansion on the site, of which an engraving as it appeared iu KilS is in Ormerod's " History of Cheshire," and others of it in 1775 and 1819. Wings were added by Mr. Cholmondley iu 1790, and various subsequent alterations have rendered it the mansion represented in our engraving. The cellars of the abbey remain under tlie mansion, and a subter- ranean passage, said to extend four miles, but now ruinous, and only traversable less than a fourth that distance. Such traditions, and legends like those of Nixon the Cheshire pro- phet's foreteUings relative to the Cholmoudleys, usually attach to monastic localities. The estate passed to Dame Mary Cholmondley, widow of Sir Hugh, in IGIG ; and in the following year, on his return from Scotland, James I. stayed four nights at Vale Royal with " the bold Ladie of Cheshire," and hunted her stags with his own hounds. Lady Cholmondley's fourth son was the ancestor of the present Lord Delamere, whose father was raised to the peerage by that title at the coronation of George IV. This fine estate is about four miles from the salt-manufac- turing town of North wich, near the centre of the county of Cheshh-e, and but a short distance from the eastern edge of Delamere forest, a part of which extends so as to join Vale Royal New Park. i'he drive from Northwich is exceedingly pretty after leaving the highway, being for a considerable distance by the side of the river Weever, a navigable stream, which traverses a valley of the richest grass land. It has a winding course, first ap- proaching one side of the valley and tlien tlie other, whilst iu some places it seems to be hemmed-in. The carriage road skirts a wood which clothes the banks of one side of the valley, a wood of considerable beauty, both from the presence of overhanging trees and of masses of Rhododendrons on each side of tlie drive. The mansion, of which an engraving is annexed, is partly hidden from the approach by some noble trees, and it is not until we come quite close that tlie beauties of its architecture and position become apparent. At lirst sight it seems to be of small height, but this impression is no doubt due to the great expanse of ground over which it extends. It is buUt of tlie red sandstone of the district, and with its at- taclied grounds occupies a somewhat elevated position. The principal carriage entrance is to the north, and the garden and dressed grounds are to the south, east, and partly to the west, on which side the oflices join the main building. To the south is a beautiful flower garden, including a series of beds forming a pleasing geometrical design, or rather two such, for a broad central walk divided the garden iu two. The beds were filled to overflowing with the choice bedding plants of the day, and bounded on the west end by a fine ribbon border. This large flower garden is not the only one, for beyond a broad piece of ornamental water are more dressed ground and flower-beds, but more irregular, and intermixed with shrubs, specimen Conifers, and the like, with still more shrubs further in the south. Here is the kitchen garden effectively concealed by the shrubs, the mixed flower-beds by the edge of the water giving an ornamental appearance to the front. Entering the kitchen garden by a concealed path we soon reached the vinen", wliere were excellent Grapes and Peaches. The other contents of the forcmg houses were equally good, as were the crops of vegetables of all kinds outside, to which the fine, deep, mellow soil is evidently well suited. A\Tiere the dressed grounds approach the wood is a deep dell, the peqiriidicular descent into which cannot be lees than from 80 to lOil feet, or more. This natural ravine contained some fine old ?aks, and the ground is thickly covered in most February 15, 1872. ] JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 153 plaoea with Bhododendrons, amongst which there wound various walks, with seats and summer-houses at suitable points, and in the bottom was a level space, on which an artistic fountain and basin were iilacod. I am not sure but a dripping well or something of that kind, and for which the stream of water that runs down the middle could easUy be made to do duty, would not be more appropriate. It was, however, a most lovely spot even in August, and must be still more so in May TLOWER G.VRDEX ALE V.U..? 1, 2, 8, 4, Geranium Cybister, eJged with Ceutanica. 5, 6, 7, 8, Calceolaria Yellow Gem, ed{,'ed with Pei-illa. 9, 10, 1.5, 16, Geranium Ci^stal Palace Gam, edRed with Ii-esinc Liudeui. 11, 12, 13, 14, Geranium Christine, edged with Iresine Liudeui. 17, 21, Geranium Beaton's SUver Nosegay. 18, 20, Pnrple King Verbena. when the Bhododendrons are in flower. One thing especially attracted my attention, and that was a monument which the children of one of the Lady Delameres had erected to her honour towards the end of last century. The inscription upon '. planted the same as 1 Box, -within an oval 19. Robert Fish Geranium. All the other fan beds a 17, 18, 19, 20. In the centre of each half is the monogi'ara — two D's of red brick. The centre bed, not mirubered in tlie plan, is about 2 feet wide, and planted with Geranium Flower of Spring one row, edged with blue Lobelia. it records the esteem in wliich she was held alike by rich and by poor, and its quiet repose under the shade of fine old tree.s gives a remarkable charm to the landscape. Pursuing another route through tlie park, we come to a tract 154 JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febramry 15, 1873. of land resemUiug some of the wilds of Scotland, only of more limited extent. The rich grass herbage changes by degi-ees to a mixture of turf and Fern, and by-and-by the Fern usurps the whole space ; while the Oak trees diminish in size, and are mixed with Birches and now and then Hollies. Many naked spots appear, but there is still beauty in the waging of the Fern j iu the sun, the branching tops of the Oaks and other trees, and i the water iu the distance. I should think there are few parks exhibiting such diversity as that of Vale Eoyal, though some ; have bolder features. The New Park, in which we now o4'e, ' consists of gentle rising ground, and through it passes a broad carriage road. The jjoor shaDow soil appears to be more of the character of yellow hungi-y gravel than a black peat, sup- porting the Fern without the Heath, but iu the distance I could see larjje breadths of the latter. Emerging from the park at a place where its wild features become softened a little, I found myself once more on the highway leading from Northwich to Chester, and I noticed that scarce a buOding in the High Street but had sunk either one way or the other, and had not cracks in its walls ; the window-sills and door-heads were also several inches out of the level. I was told this was owing to the salt having been removed from underneath them. I believe the salt now made there is obtained from salt springs some distance off, the brine being conveyed hi pipes to the works. — J. Eobson. WOEK FOB THE WEEK. KITCHEN GABDEN. EvEEYTHiNG iu the kitchen gaiden is now stirring. A proper rotation of crops havmg been secured, the next best advice is to watch the fluctuations of the weather, and to do all plant- ing and sowing whOst the ground is in a mellow state. Pre- pare soil for new plantations of Aajxirapiis where required. The first requisites are good fibrous loam and dung ; when the soil in the garden is what is technically termed old, add a third of the whole of maiden loam, and good rotten dung to the depth of 6 inches over the surface. Trench the ground at least 3 feet deep, and drain it if necessary, then add as much more manure, and dig it hi as deeply as is commonly done for general crops. Mark off beds 4 feet wide and 2 feet alleys ; then mark the rows on the bed, one in the centre and one on each side, at 1 foot from it. Lay a ridge of equal parts of maiden loam, leaf mould, and sand in the line each row is to occupy, and on those ridges place the plants. They may be either one or two years old, but not more than two years, and they ought to be taken up with great care, so as not to break the point of a shigle root. When placed on the ridges, with an equal portion of roots on each side, cover the latter to the depth of 2 inches with pure sand when it can be procured ; this will induce the plants to tlu-ow out a host of young roots, which, passing through the sand, seize mth avidity on the more nutritious materials prepared for them. Above the sand put on 4 inches of loam over the crowns, and should the season prove dry, mulch between the rows with Spinach which has run to seed, or some similar covering, and give occasional waterings of liquid manure. If early sprhig-sowu CauHfloifers and Lettuces are forward enough let them be pricked out. Earth-up Caljliaf/e plants. Dig and manure the quarter intended for Onions. Fitint Potatoes on a, v/aim horcler. See to the due preparation of ground for crops in general, but do not work it when it is wet ; better be a fortnight too late with any given crop. A\Tiere kitchen gardens are composed of Hght sandy soil, it is better dug and trenched several weeks before it is wanted for some crops. Broad Beans, for instance, like a firm hold of the soil. rnUIT G.UGDEN. Eveiy care that fruit trees require in this season of inac- tivity, if not already bestowed, should at once be afforded. It is a good plan to place a piece of turf over the roots of trees recently planted. Decide on the system of training ; the height of the wall and the space horizoutaUy should be early considerations. Prune Easpberries ; any Gooseberries and Cm-rants not previously pruned should be forthwith attended to. Gooseberry and Currant trees occupy much less space m a garden if trained on stakes, and afiord as much fruit as when in the bush form. FLOWEB CiBDEN. Complete aU operations retarded by the weather, and pro- ceed with pruning. Turf may be cut and laid, and wood ashes spread on lawns when the grass is injured by moss. American plants may be removed ; it is often dangerous to remove Eliododendrons in the winter, as their deUoate fibrous roots are liable to be injured by severe weather. Wliere the natural soil is not favourable for the growth of Eliododendrons, soil suitable for them may be gradually formed by sweeping the fallpn leaves over the roots and covermg them with sand every season. Attend well to thorough cleanUness ; hoe through or otherwise dress all margins or beds where there are Crocuses, Snowdrops, and other spring flowers. Plant out Hollyhocks, which are well deserving of general cultivation. Their bold and pointed forms stand out in fine relief in masses of flat-headed shnibs. Owing to the absence of frost and the late shigiilarly mUd weather, collections of TuUps and other bulbs ajjpear to be but little troubled with canker. AVhen this occurs, and the plants are fairly above ground, cut away the parts with a sharp penknife. Shelter the beds from cutting winds, which are more detrimental than slight frosts. As seedhug Polyanthuses come into bloom remove all that are in- ferior in shape, lacing, or colour. Amateurs have hardly been able to do wrong this season with Carnations and Picotees, and Stocks are looking well throughout the country. Continue the directions previously given, and keep the plants free from green fly ; plant out seedUngs in beds for blooming, retaining all the soil possible. GKEENHOUSE AND CONSEBVATOEY. Among other important matters which belong to this early season, attending to raisuig certain plants from seeds is not the least important. There are many seeds of exotic herba- ceous plants that should be encouraged to germinate early, that the plants may receive the full benefit of our summer, and attain that degree of maturity which enables them better to withstand the gloom and severity of our winters. I would recommend the sowing of exotic and other seeds, generally, during the present and following month. As hybridisation is now better understood and more generally practised than for- merly, doubtless additional interest will be discovered in, and attention bestowed on, the propagation of plants by seeds. It is of importance to the anxious grower to bloom his plants the first season, and with many subjects it is only by sowing early that he is enabled to attain this result. Pelargoniums should be sown immediately, and kept growing from the moment they vegetate, to ensure a blossom the first year. As most seeds germinate under similar circumstances, a pit might be appropriated exclusively to the purpose. Beyond regulating the amount of heat, and supplying the seed pans with moisture, no extraordinary care is required. Eich soils ai'e not to be recommended for sowing seeds. The character of the plants should determine in a measure the selection of soU. The ad- mission of air on all favourable opportunities will conduce to the health, and keejj the various flowermg plants iu unim- paired beauty for some weeks. Hyacinths, Lilacs, Kalmias, Azaleas, and Ehodoras introduced will lend beauty and fra- grance to the various groups. The rich yellow flowers of Cytisus racemosus wUl add in no slight degree to the general effect. Koriiif.hn Manyattiv is a charming greenhouse plant, and lilii; (iiiiiii- ill tl:i^ siason it wUl be doubly valuable. For mixed Lii I nil' II I ^ it is sunawhat difficult to give precise directions, i'lants of all climates occasionally obtain a place here, and no special treatment m regard to temperature can long be indulged in with impunity. As a principle, therefore, I would advise a rather free increase of heat on sunny days early in the afternoon for a few hours, sinking the temperature at night to the old point, or nearly so. In this structure there wiU frequently be found Ericas, Pelargoniums, New Holland plants, bulbs, &c. A division of these plants should therefore be made ; let the Pelargoniums and other softwooded plants occupy the warmer end, and the Ericas, Ac, the other, with a free circulation of air. A Utile Cineraria and Cliinese Prun- rose seed may now be sown ; this, with another sowuig in April, wiU furnish a supply for the coming autumn and winter. Attend to ornamental trellis plants, which should be kept neat and orderly. STOVE. Exhaustffd winter-flowering plants in stoves may be cutback a little and left to break afresh, when they may be disrooted and placed in smaller pots ; if all go well they will make fine speeinii ]is fur n. xt winter. Look over the Orchids, and see that til' III iriiiiiLS of those on blocks and in baskets are secure; i. ih w th.' wires where necessary. Give a Uttle fresh material to those not to be shifted, but bewai'e of burying the buds on the eve of their pushing. Apply baits for snails and cockroaches, and attend closely to the extu-pation of scale. i'ebraarj' 15, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. Look exit a quautity of the best and strongest plants of herbaceous Calceolarias ; give them a good shift in a mixture of rough fibrous loam and coarse sharp sand. Place them in a genial bottom heat in frames or pits. A batch ol Amaryllis bulbs should now be shaken out and repotted in half-decayed turfy loam, mixed with a small portion of sand. Give ah- freely to plants in store pots, such as Verbenas and Scarlet Geraniums, and carefully remove all decaying leaves. — W. Kkane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN G.VEDEN. The late fine weather has allowed us to get on with digging and trenching. Cauliflowers are now over, but we are still obliged to protect Snow's and other early Broccoli from the frost. Some Potatoes which had been stai'ted in boxes we transplanted into sUghtly warmed soO, where they seldom fail to do well. There are several ways of growing eaa'ly Potatoes — one, by placing the tubers in 3-inch pots, and when they are filled with root-i, turning the plants out; another, by growing them right on in 8 or 12-inch pots, and ear-thing them up by degrees, or starting them as in the former case, and then transplanting into 8 or 12-inch pots. Another, and the best plan of all, is to grow them in 6-inch pots in a mild hotbed of about 50', covered with a frame, and to earth-up as the plants increase in size. By this means. Potatoes can be obtained tlu'ee weeks sooner than when treated in the usual way. We have sown Radishes and Carrots in mild hotbeds some- what more thickly than is customary, and we shall tliin them out less than others do until we jjull them for use. A bed of Early Horn or Early Dutch Carrots, if left to grow thickly and then thiuned-out as soon as the roots are fit to be used, give the best returns we know of. Sea-kale will yield its finest heads in the second year after sowing. It can be reproduced by means of pieces of the roots from the old plants, which should be planted in rows with their tops level with the surface of the soil, and covered with ashes and a little salt. These roots may be taken up and forced in the foUowuig autumn, and will do very well, but if allowed to remain a year longer before being disturbed they will in that case make most superb jilants. I have found that this mode is more satisfactory than using the old crowns, and the plants from it are more forward than the most carefully tended seecUings. We grow every year less particular about the materials we use for our Mushroom beds. We have small shallow beds so regulated that the spawned bed coming into bearing is aided by the heat arising from that which is being prepared. We shall, however, lay down no strict rules as to the mode of pro- ceeding, as they can be altered so much according to circum- stances. Rather young Cucumbers in a pit with but little light in winter, allowed to bear heavily from the middle of Novem- ber to the end of January, will become very inferior after this time, and will not, even with coaxing, do so well as young ]ilants. If we want a regular- winter or spring supply we keep tlie plants moderately strong through December, but do not let the fruit swell until the New Year is ijassed. ORNAMENTAL DEl'.VKTMENT. The weather is splendid for plantuig and transplanting, pro- vided, in the latter case, that the ground is not soaked. The best mode, to our way of thinking, of securing newly-planted trees is by means of three fir poles driven in 6 feet from the base of the tree triangularly, and brought together by a cu-cular baud of straw ropes at 10 feet from the ground. For preventing evaporation from the bark of trees, and also for keeping off the attacks of cattle, straw or hay ropes twisted round the trunks, and then tarred, maybe used. — R. F. TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. H. Cannell, Station Road, AVoolwich, S.Ti.— Illustrated Floral Guide for 1872. G. White, 3, Moss Street, Paisley. — Select List of Garden, Flower, and Agricultural Seeds. Ellwauger & Barry, Mount Hope Nurseries, Rochester, New York. — Dcscripiive Catalogue of Fruits. — Descriptive Catalogue of Ornartiental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Flowering Plants, ^c. Teutschel& Co., Colchester. — hist of Japanese Lilies, Maples, Seeds, <(-c. TO CORRESPONDENTS. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered untU next week. Books (C. J. IK.).—" The Galleiy of Nature," by the Rov. T. MUner, wUl suit you. It ia a very full and beautiful "pictorial and desuriptivo torn- thi-ough d-eation." Its price ia about 20;*. Potatoes Unfit for Table (B. T.) — The tubers ai-c snnill and hard, owing to the luidi-ainod clayey subsoil. Drain it, and if l\v ^uifinr rMiil is also clayey, pare and bum 6 inches deep of it. and iucorpiiviir tli. ,i h. ^ with the remainiug surface soil. Grow Ashleaved Kidneys and l.fip-l Ivi.hii'ys. Vines Failino (B. IF.).— Yom- case is not an uncomninii our,,,^ llinc are many such faihu-es. You are now,i however, on a fan- way to success. We should not start the Vines until March, and then give no more than a gentle lii-e heat in cold periods, so as to keep the tempei'atiu-e from falling below 50^ at ni^ht ; in fact, allow the Vines to start natui^ally, and apply heat at a later period to insui-c the thoi'ough ripening of the wood. Ehododenduons PnuNiNG {S. E. M. J. IT.).— You may cut them down to about IK mchos from the gi-ouud, when they will shoot again freely, though uHuaUy they do not do much during the first year. ; Cut back about the second week in April, and in showei-y weather if possible. Vitality of Seeds ( William Jones). — All the kinds of seeds named will keep good until the second or even third year, and many much longer, but we would not sow any of them after the second yeai-, as then- germinating power is very weak, and they do not afford nearly such good plants as fresh seeds, even if they gi-ow. CupitEssus Lawsoniana Seeds Sowing {T. Aahlon). — In March sow them amongst light sandy ;;oil in pans, and place them in a cold frame. Keep them close until they come up, and then admit air freely and expose them fiUIy. In autmim prick them off into store pots, and winter them in a cold frame or house, ailmitting abmidance of ah. In March they may be put out in rows IB inches apart, at a distance of 1 foot from one another. In the course of thi-ee years they will be fine plants, and may be planted out permanently. The less "coddling " they have the better. Soil for Potted Palms tC. 7J.).— Use a compost consisting of loam two paais, peat one pai-fc, well-ilirinii]K. ■■ I uiiuiure one part; and a sufficient qiiantity of ahai-p sand must '> j i i i i ■ tuake the whole feel gritty when taken in the hand. For scrllin ~ r ,. i. >oungplanta, however, we have always foimd them grow more ),tipi>ll> ii tlir ipiautities of loam and peat are; reversed; thus, instead of two parts loam, put two parts peat and one only of loam. Amaryllis Bulbs Planting (Amart/lllis). — You need be under no appre- hension respecting the covering of yom- bulbs of Amaiylhs; there is no moro fear of then- rotting from that cause than there is with border Hyacinths, Lihums, Tulips, and many other bulbous plants which no one thinks of grow- ing above the soil. Tr.nri:r,j.v\ji ]\\rr. ri.r.-rrh I V. .s', r:.). -W, lliinl, I1,;il the roots of 111.. :'. .' . .. I .! ; ■ ...•. 1 ...... ! ■,' I . . .'!..' n..,v('r this year, th..i.' .. ' :.. N',. .!...■,.,,■ I ■ . . • Id have been bi..u. I ii.t 1 til.- i. .11 ■ ..Utii .■ .1 1 1.... II fill i.ii. \\ .. , li' .iil.i keep them in a hnusL. wiLii a uiglit tciiiijcnitiuc uf i:_) to 60 . It is necessary that they shoidd make good growth if they are to do well another season. They should be potted at the close of August or eai'ly in September. Painting Stove axd Greenhouse (Id-:in). — As the houses are cleai-ed of the plants till II i- Inn ; inprevent your having them thoroughly cleaned and ijainti'il 1 1 I'm plants in again until the paint is dried, which can be facili! i nir freely, and keeping up a good heat. There is no need to ii-i .m ii : luki- away the smell of the panit, but ah should be admitted ratlier n i i .. i. i 1 i; • .iltir the plants are put back again., to keep them front n i . I . iln pamt. Thoroughly clean the* woodwork with simp ''' ' ' ' i. ... | t nig ; also clean the glass with pure water, taking eiti. t.. i . . p i ii. ■ . ip;. ■v.itir from it. Potatoes Sprouted t/;;ttora(»H.s).— Remove the Early Rose with shoots 3 inches long, and place them thinly in a warm position (50'), so that they may sprout again slowly. It is well, however, not to remove the first shoots of early kunls, as some are vei7 deficient of eyes, ami not uufro'iuently put out asecond tune very weakly shoots or ni-ue lit all. i)iii~ Imvi. )iiit. forth shoots about half an inch long, and are on lath ii. 1 . m n : !i ir-.re- ceivhig air daily, and protected from frost. ^N'ith ih. pn .m in.l l.ni.iiiild weather it is difficult to keep the eaiiy sorts froiu -.j iliii.; ti.i iiniili. Planting Quicks (A Subscriber).— Wg consider one row of Quicks pre- ferable to two, for the simple reason that it is much more quickly and cheapl.v cleaned, whicli is the grand secret of getting a hedge to grow. If your gr.mii.l is poor add inaimie libeiallv, and iHl- deeplv. IMimt the Quicks i to 4'. ill. . Ill , 1. I «hi II fi .111 'i 1.1 .J! 1. .1 lii.li. 1 1.. IK- a II, I Thorn make a\'... .i ■ ■ n .... . n. ; 1, 11 1... 1 . ■ ■ . 1 .. .... irrable. The otii. r 1 (... :.. .n. . i . ; ,. N..v. i- ■ , ■ , ,. . ■ 1 ' .Ihrsl to 2 feet hinjitl.il lia.,|. 1.1. II 1 Iiliv tiaii,plaii'i I, ll.illn . ivj I.i lic lifted with good n Hits, and til secure these frequent trausplnnting is necessary. If you have Holly and Thorn, five Thorns and one HoUy per yard will be needed. Chuvsanthemums not Flowering {Smith). — The cause ia probably stop plug the plants too late, and the buds consequently not having foi-med until November or later. We have some similarly iiffri-tnl. It is owing to the cold and wet of last season, for the year In [. ni., by tin same means, we had in Januarj' and Febniai-y fine bloom from iilitiits ^tiqqied cai-ly m August. We presume youis were treated for a late bloom, wliich at the best is hazardous, but well worth eudeavom-ing to secm-e. The weather may be more favourable this year. Carrots and Parsnips for Exhibition {A Subscriber) — To make holes at eveiy 9 inches m the rows and fill them with sand is good, but though we should make them 16 inches deep if the soil were stiff, we would not fill them with sand alone, but with fine sandy soil, then sow three or four seeds over eaiih, and single out to one plant in each hole. If the ground is well pul- verised to the depth of 18 inches or 2 feet, hght, sandy, and rich, the holes are imnecessary. Onions for Exhibition (Idem). — New Giant Rocca, Danvers' Yellow, Naseby Mammoth, and BedfordsMi-e Champion. Of Tripolis, Giant White, Large Itahau Red, and Red Mammoth. Twelve Haudv Grasses {Idem). — Agi-ostis nobulosa, hardy annual; Carex lepoi-ina, hardy perennial; Eleusino distans, annual; Hordoimi jubatum, annual; Stipa clegantissima, perennial; Pennisetum sctosum, annual; Pas- 156 JOURNAL OF HOBTICXJijTUREl A^) COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ Febraary 15, 1872. nalam elcum ■ Grn-rinm araenteam, perennial ; Briza geniculata annual ; dS,Snthum .ri.Ue, annual; PiplatlSrum Thoma4, annual and Hordeum jubatum, annuaL Sow in pans at the begmmn.; ■>' ^P-^- P'"-= "fj^j^'^ i :_ -rratlc heat, and when up admit an: ^ef y- . ^^ ''«° '^^ '"„'"f S^ iiv „i.,.,t ..ut in soDlsoiJ in aa open situation. The percnmals and sTOwu-on in a frame, planting out the first are fit to li Bhould 1" two abont and the ^' the two pc Max , . . il the other.? will do at tha', distance the first . i 1 be a vavd aoart. Remove every alternate plant ol .uiul . Ui.,i ^liiinl. 'Give liquid manure in hot dry weather. Yew HBDOESISirinr,).— Manuring every year is not necessary' buYai you wish for speely growth wo should top-drs « "i*,'^""-^ ''?/, ''=4';^ on tha surfa-e ai it ca-inot well be du^-in without cansmg more or less mjiiry to thero^^ Old manure mixed .ith leaf soil "f^'P^^f ""^s wouU be a good top-dr«ssin3 for the Tews, Betmosporas and Chine,e J"°;P^^; ''"'J,^ would not di' it in; we would merolv loosen the surface and put on tbe top- SSsirS^au i'nch M- two thick. By ciitling the tops and not the sides of the Yews in April, vou will cause them to break lower down. FlowEH-BED Plantixg (HfnD.-For the star belsyou may have Golden Pvrethi-um, Altemanthera maTuifica, with Antenn.lria tomentosa for edging. Let the circle be of the first, with a plant of Centaurea in the middle; flll-up the points with the Altemanthera, and elge with the A''^™';?™-thf^ota?s bed von can have edged with Ai-abLs alpma variegata anrca, flUmg the pomts of the star with Aju^-a reptans rubra, a circle of Centaurea ragusma compacta and a smaU plant of Abutilon Thompson! m the <;™'7- . ^"''^''L?!, J^!^ mav have edjei with OmUs tropsoloides, the pomts of the star filled with .SaiitolinainS^aua, a circle ol Ircsme Lindeni, and in the ".""t'^ "?'»?' °J Conrosma Baneriana variegata. The other bed may be edged with Sempemvum SuScum,t™^iuts filled with Golden Pyrethmm a circle of Echevena metallica, with Dactvlis glomerata elegantissima for the centre plant. Bisr-! roK W.i.TEk Lilies (W-mL-It should have at the bottom about a foot de% of mud formed of any goo 1 "cb team, and over that water- to th^ .__, L 1 ™...,.j dealers. oneu ground in April, and plant out 8 feet apart. Sow tree Camations in pS^s il gSSe^eat, harden off the young plants, and pnck ^em out a foot anart Take them un with baUs in autumn, and wmter them m a frame or ho^e.. Plant SSiese Yams 18 inches apart, in row, 4 feet a.simder, takmg out soil between the tre Heating a Sjiai.t. »i to would be pcrfi '1- - 1 the burner into th< .]>. i moisture uncontdniinit purposes tills ' from our rule not to _ _ . Jasmixoi fbcticaxs-Sowing Orange Pips (^7car).-SmalI trees can he^ownfrompipv s.w them now. ana plai-e the pot in a l^othouse. The ^•FZ^r^fs^u.lylo^^ with a Uttle loaf nxould added, We do not thmk 1 wiU flower in the cusum- summer. It is a awan, from the south of Europe. You may plant out at TiFH f3r>.— Tour an-an:;ement is con-ect. but you .1,'. ..f i,.-..i.-. bricks or some similar material over ■ ^> The soil would then be 2 feet '1 rather more thau 12 yards of the are called inch bones ^ill he suffi- your Jasminum fr hardy, deciduous spe once. Bones for Vine Bor should place at least 9 in. the bottom before fillin 3 inches deep, and the 1> compost. Tour huudr.j I cieut. We cannot recoimu-.i i .i^>-.-.... WtRF Fon Hyacinths (Joseph Smithy— Yon -wiU find wire supports for Hvlanths L gLssS at Lj rfspe.table seedsman's. We see them daily m the seed shops of London. _ ca?o?Sn-^ua^^e^'S?^wi?aun^tTife%\^^^^^^^^^ except what appears in the advcrtisem'^nts. rooT,ov Tuff.; r^miffrirl.— Ist, No harm will come to cordon trees ansmg oufofX S'els :f t'he lall, if'planted against a wall i„.hnr^t 2nd The s;^^ rh^^rght'^'^'nrsr i6''i: Titcjes'-r^ S^^^eS^.'iVe^to^^att'lol^^^^^^^^ ^llb3atThe end of the sc;ond autumn after planting, fix the mcknation permanently at 4 j -. ,..*„. Six H«dy Axs-cals for Clumps (K J.i.-Alyssum mantunum, white , Leptosiphon densiflorus, lilac; Linnm grandiflonun coccmeum Nasturtium Kin" 'of"T'om Thumbs, EcSlet; Nasturtium King of Tom TtaiS? "idTiTvellow; and Saponaria calabrica, pink They arc "t .omvmt .-r™? nl-r V fvt or about a foot in height, and bloom a long tune. LowVi ' ' '■'"" Imperial Dwaif come true from seed, and bloom as frecv :^,but the plants are somewhat stronger, and are later infl ». MM "■-". north borderwe do not know of anything that will do so weli , s L»l. ...1.UU,-. We would have Perilla at the back then yeUow CaJ- fopped Fotlt-Lr^d even Cauliflowers; but we should only have one row between every two rows of Apple or Pear trees. DISTISGCISHISG POTiTOES BY THE Si'BOCI?-SELECI EoSES-yAElors (F«r n'«().-Tou ask ns " Why Sandrmgham Kidney Potato T^''^^* /^^ l.ataloi(n-n-().-The cheapest wavTo co^tmct a smaU house L, to have air in front and at top, and the roof Sed, without sa5he-„ having the sash-bars from lo to 18 "?,=^ef "P'^rt- J°J such a smaU house 20 feet by 8 feet, we would not *'""''''= 7''''J^°'''"l'7.et all if we could have a moveable ventUator at each end, say as much as J leet sqnie u^er the apex. In very hot weather m summer tbe door could stand open,^d these end ventihitors con^d s and open -"Sbt and day For y,^ heating refer to No. 341, where full dctaUs are given. No mode of heatmg is so dangerous unless all the fumes ai-e earned oH. GRKFVHorsE Eaftbes (K. Brace).— As we cannot find the answer to yonr fomer questtan we can give but imperfect advice with respect to the distance of th™aftTrs the weight Sf the glass, and the size of the P^^e^-. ,^ « "^^^^ ' to that rafter sash-bars from 15 to 18 inches apart will support glass from .ib to 2liz weight, that a good weight is 21-oz., and supposing the rafters to be 18 Shesipai-t, a good size for the squares will be 18 by 12 mches. Mushroom Ccxtube (T. Poris'^:« S??Hrr ^er - ^L^L^n t sis CT^J^ ^ cuttings sand is essential. Hakdy A-N-Nt-ALS FOR E.uiLV Flowerixg (J,fcm).-Bartonia a.iMa, Ccn- tra^ns i^crosiphon, Chiysanthemum Bnrndseanum, Oarlaa^uia^^^ ^^%'?S;'^'r;iner^pin''uJ\^"--rS^-"-'^^^^ S^:rpoaahric.,sW^^ ?,r-or mm'eicro" cS^rSg to Veeds 4h very ^e soil. Wat^ if the l^thlr be .£7!™*;^^ out-the seedlmgs to 2 to 3 inches apart when they aie about an inch high. IMPROVI^•G GutDEN SoiL {S. J?.).-We would trench the pi-ound that has ^e^hL^^atis we^Wacethetop^soU^theb^^^ EiSSSSSi-Spe^sSi^i^a^ woSld no?'d" weU in this part. It wiU suit Potatoes very weU, the good drainage tending to cause early maturity. Pebrnarj 15, 1873. ] J0UENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 157 Growing i-ate Melons in Frames (Amuteur). — By sowing the seeds about the middle of March, and shiftiuf^ the plants into largei' pots as required, you may fruit them early in August by planting them in n frame in June, The plants will have set fruit earlier than the plonting-out time, and it is just as well to plunge the pots in the bed, so that the roots may come over the top, or they may be planted out. We would not sow until the beginning of May, and would grow the plants in pots, so as to have them strong for planting-out when the frame is ready, and with linings you have every prospect of a crop of late Melons in September. White Bedding Pansy {Id biicum, Polystichum acrostichoides, P. angulare cristatimi, P. angulaie prc- liferum, Scolopendrium vulgare, varieties coi-ymbifenim, crispum maximum, ramo- cristatum, Bubmarginatiun, and eubcomutum, and Woodwai-dia radi- cans. The dwarfness of these may be relieved by a few plants with fine foUage, as Yucca aloifolia and voiiegata, Y. filamentosa aud variegata, Y. quad- ricolor ; Aralia Sieboldi and voi-iegata, Araucoiia excel-sa, Retinospora plumosa, and others of the more compact and graceful-habited Conifei-s. A few plants of the new Aucubas, especially the berried sorts, come in well for such houses. Names of Plants {J. Lock). — 1, Echeveria glauca; 2, E. gibbiflora vor, metaUica, the E. metaUica of gardeners. (J. W.). — The scraps sent ore insuffi- cient for deteiTuination. No. 2 might possibly belong to Pachysandra tenni- nalis. ( Thos. Mayes). — The " Wild Flowers " con be had as you desue, monthly from the beginning. We do not recommend you to use the Reindeer Moss (Cladonia rangiferina), enclosed by you, as a substitute for sphagnum. Pos- sibly it may answer well in some cases, but we prefer sphagnum. The Orchid flowers sent were in very indifferent condition. 1 Appears to be Cymbiiiium sinense ; 2, Dendrobium Pierardi. Well-rotted cow dung may safely be used for the coarser terrestrial Orchids, as Phajus grandifolius and WoUichii, Pe- risteriaelata, &c., but of course must not be used with Cattleyas, Odontoglots, or other epiphytal species. Peat answers very well indeed for many Orchids when wired to the block instead of sphagnum, and it is not unusual to find a plant growing on a block subsequently partly sunk into a pot containing a compost of rough peat, with its accompaniment of charcoal and crocks. {A.B. C.).— Whiter Aconite, Eranthis hvemalis. {HiUhwaite).—!, Not in a condition fit for determination ; certainly some Leguminous herb, possibly an Astragalus. 2, Habrothamnus fasciculatus. POULTET, BEE, AM) PIGEON OHEOKEOLE. MANAGEMENT OF FOWLS AT SHOWS. Would you allow me, as a rather old breeder of fowls, to make a few remarks on the two letters in your Journal, signed by " WiMNER OF Four Curs " and " James Clark?" The reason of poultry suffering so much from exhibition arises mostly, if not entirely, from, firstly, the unnatural state the birds are in when sent to the show ; sccomUy, from the waut of pure air in the exhibition pens ; and probably, thii-dly, from the birds being partially fed ou some of the rubbishy mixtures called fowl foods — rather I would say foul foods. With regai-d to the first point, it is well known to all ex- perienced keepers of animals that it is much easier to get them into high condition than to keep them so. It seems to be almost the natural state of things, as soon as an animal has attained a certain state of perfection, that it should begin in- stantly to go back — that is, if you have poultry in such a con- dition as to be " fit to show anjTfhere," and then turn them down in as a healthy run as you can meet with, you will find they will not keep in this condition , but go back. Now if this is allowed to be the case (and I think few large breeders of prize poultry will fail to do so), is it at all strange that fowls penned-up in a dii'ty pen, or in hot close hampers or baskets, should go much more rapidly out of condition than they would at their' owners' yards , aud that they are very hable to those diseases caused by bad air ? I say nothing about there not unlikely being diseased fowls actually at the show. It is, I beUeve, well known as a case in point that dogs, if sent to a show before they have had distemper, are very Uable to have it as soon as they reach home. Now no one would say that improper food, or the want of a certain kind of food, will cause (Ustemper, nor will anyone say because a healthy young dog gets distemjier, that therefore there was actually some dog at the same show that had the disease at the time. I beUeve that the birds youi- correspondents refer to were suffering from diseased livers, such being in an unhealthy state when sent to the show ; if so, the ale was about the worst thing possible for them. My plan, when bu-ds come home, is to give them nothing but w^'m bread and skim milk ; if they look dull in the morning, a pill of simply one grain of calomel, continu- ing the bread and milk. That bii'ds do not suffer from want of lime aud gravel is perfectly clear to my mind, at any rate as respects cocks. I have a lot of Game cocks in pens 3 to 4 feet every way ; they are fed on Indian corn, barley, and every other day a little hoUed rice and skimmed rmlk. They are all in perfect health, though they have been penned for six or eight weeks,, and look better than their brothers running at large with the hens. The pens — and here is the grand secret — are covered at the bottom with sawdust, and every day a handful or two is thrown over it, dusted over it I might say ; the consequence is that with the exception of the smell of sawdust my pens and hen- houses are quite sweet. I adopt the same plan with my hen- houses, only in them the sawdust is about 2 inches deep all over the bottom. If aU secretaries of shows would adopt this plan I should send valuable birds for exhibition with far greater pleasure than T now do. It is astonishing how soon a lad can go over a lot of pens , and how little sawdust makes things sweet. I find the same plan succeed with my cliickens ; and though I was warned that if the bu-ds, young or old, ate the dust — as they cannot help doing when fed with soft food — it would kill them, it has not done so with me. I find at some shows exhibitors have said sawdust killed their bu'ds, and to avoid this the secretai'ies had spread at- the bottom chaff (chopped straw), which is almost as bad a material as coxrld be used. The same remark applies to saud gravel, for this reason,thatitbeing the nature of fowls generally, as well as when at exhibitions, to have loose wateiy evacuations which are every moment giving out unhealthy fumes, it is absolutely necessary for the birds' health either to be con- stantly removing this liquid, which cannot be done in shows, or to deodorise it by means of sawdust or earth, and the former is after all almost the only readily attained article that can be had, and that anywhere. I hope the bird referred to by your correspondent will re- cover his comb. I have known of cases in which the comb turned quite as black as he mentions, and yet came all right again. The only cases in which, according ta my experience, this does not happen are where frostbite is the cause, and then I fear it is hopeless to expect any improvement. I wish your corre- spondents would try the sawdust plan and let your readers know the result. Would they also say what the exhibition birds were fed upon before sending them to exhibitions '? as I find that birds if too highly fed will appear in perfect health, be going on quite well, and suddenly show that their hvers are out of order — in fact, as I said before, they seem to thrive up to a certain point and then rapidly go back. — Ajliteur. PURE-BRED VERSUS CROSS-BRED FOWLS. I SHOULD gladly be of Mr. Fraser's opinion that pure-bred fowls produce as many eggs as cross-bred, or even more, but my experience has inviuiably disproved such a result being the case. My fowls are kept in close confinement with the ex- ception of an occasional run iu the garden, and I have now a pullet (by a Dorking cock from a cross-bred hen), hatched at the end of April, which has just laid her hundredth egg, none weighing less than 2 ozs. She commenced laying at the begin- nmg of October, is still in perfect health and condition, shows no signs of becoming broody, and promises to accomphsh still gi-eater things. Not one of my pure Brahmas kept under pre 158 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febmary 15, 1872. cise.ly similar circumstances and costing more for fooil can at all approach this amount of produce ; aud I may also mention that to this pullet an accident happened in August, which caused her to limp about on little more than one leg for several weeks, and of coui-se threw her back considerably. This is merely an instance and not a soUtary exception, and I shaU be glad to learn how to keep pure-breds (my hobby) as profitably as mongrels. — John Walton, Croydon. THE JUDGING AT POULTRY SHOWS. " D., Deal," (in No. 564), has taken up a subject which needs careful and impartial investigation both by the committees of poultiy shows and judges. How often do we see the judg- ment at poultry shows called in question ! In fact, I have often noticed in reports in your .Journal that pen so-and-so ought to have taken the place of the first, second, or thh'd- prize pen. Of course, we amateurs take your Journal to be an imi^artial authority, and (I can only speak of myself) your reports are generally highly interesting. Now it is very annoy- ing to any person to think that he is unjustly treated, aud to see it in print makes the matter ten times worse. How, then, does this mistaken judgment occur ? It may be, as " D., Deal," suggests, that there are too few judges and too little time allowed for judging. We must all admit that the task of the judges is a very arduous aud often unthankful one. But why, if there is too little time allowed for judging, do the judges under- take those arduous duties ? Why do they not raise then- voices, one and aU, against this unjust practice, aud tell the committees plainly that they wiU not irndertake to do what they cannot possibly do honestly towards the exhibitors, and with credit and satisfaction to themselves ? But let me suggest, Ai'e there not other causes in relation to judging besides the too-Uttle time allowed for judging ? Does it foUow that because a man is a good judge of Game he is also a good judge of Brahmas, Spanish, Dorkings, Hamburghs, or many other varieties ? Everyone has his peculiar fancy in fowls as in other things, and it seems to me that it is impossible for one man to be capable of judging the whole of the varieties satisfactorily. Much may be written on the above subject, but aU to no pm-- pose. It occui's to me that the matter rests mostly with the exhibitors and committees of the vaiious shows. If the funds of any society will not admit of the proper number of judges being engaged, I would suggest that the fees he made up equally amongst the exhibitors to provide any extra judges that may be required. Cleaiiy something must be done to make matters more satisfactory than they are at present. Now is the time for suggestions, and if those who have grievances do not avail themselves of the opportunity of making them known, it is neither the fault of the judges nor of the committees. — Amateur. DUBLIN POULTRY AND PIGEON SHOW. I WAS never more astonished than at the very unfair com- ment on the Pigeons at this Show, made by " A Coeeespon- DENT " in your Journal of February 1st. I did not exhibit at the above Show, so this cannot be put down to disappointment . The Pouters were judged according to the Scotch manner, ■which excludes the use of the tape, and which accounts for the success of the Glasgow and Belfast birds, about which there is not a word in the report. These were well proportioned as regards length of feather and limb, narrowness of girth, with fine style and carriage, looking as well off the block as on it, carrying themselves properly, and seeming to know how to manage then' taUs. The majority of the English and Dublin birds were longer in feather (which ought to be considered a bad property unless combined with good points), and some of extraordinary length ; when oft the block then- bodies were almost at right angles with their legs, caused by the great length of tail (cutting an inch or two off might improve them); in fact, they were all tail, and it appeared to be always in their way. They were runtish, and lacked shape and style. A Scotch fancier remarked to me that the use of the tape was all that was necessary to judge a Pouter in England. Some of the unnoticed Barbs were hardly able to see, they were so bunged up from old age, and were in a nasty scabby condition; their necks should have been wrung long ago. The first-prize Yellow Agates had a suspicious look about their very short beaks, and most of the Short-faced birds were in the same condition. Nobody to whom I spoke seemed to think that " Mr. Waitt's best bu'ds " should have had a prize in the class for Reds and Yellows. If they were specimens of " Mr. Waitt's best," I wonder what his second best are like. Everyone said that the third-prize Reds should have been first. They were two cocks, which seemed to escape the Judges' notice. Mr. Waitt's Blacks should have been disqualified, as they were trimmed in the most barefaced manner, but " these were im- noticed " very properly, as there were better in the class. The correspondent was quite right in his remarks on the FantaUs. Though the first-prize Blue EngUsh Owls had slightly whitish rumps, stUl, for aU that, they were the best. He says about Turbits that " Mr. P. H. Jones's Reds should have been first, with Mr. Fielding's Reds aud Mr. Horner's Blacks to foDow." I did not meet anyone in the Show who thought so, except, perhaps, the owners, whom 1 have not the honour of knowing. Mr. Scale was first and thu'd, and Mr. Tivy second. Your correspondent probably thought that such comparatively new aud unknown exhibitors as Mr. Scale and Mr. I'ivy could not possibly have superior bh'ds, and had no right to prizes. Pigeons of the best strains have been imported into Ireland within the last few years, and Enghsh exhibitors will have to make up their minds to acknowledge that they have been fairly defeated. In reporting on Pigeon shows, I think that it is very unfair to pass over prize birds without any comment on them, which is tantamount to saying that they were not woi-th noticing. The first, second, and thh'd prizes should be all noticed, with owners' names mentioned, or there should be no comment allowed at all. Condition, cleanliness, &c., should be taken into account when judging, which would prevent exhibitors from sending the same pair- of birds to shows until they are fagged to death by overshowing. "The Committee of the Dublin Show made a good rule, that anyone guilty of a dishonourable practice would be disqualified and lose all prizes that he might become entitled to ; and I would suggest that the disqualified birds be sold by auction for the benefit of the society. This did not prevent trimming, &c., as there were several Nuns and Jacobins trimmed, several couples of cocks, and several couples of hens ; Tumblers and Barbs with burned beaks ; and Black Mottles dyed over the beak. AYhy were none of these disqualified ? An exhibitor who woirld exhibit his birds in theh' natural state is compelled, in self-defence, to " do in Rome as the Romans do," or, if he does not, what chance of a prize has he, when a worse bird than his can be made better by a clever hand ? It is all this sort of work that prevents many from showing both poultry and Pigeons, and which drives so many from these fancies. I per- ceive one thing — that if ever I should become an exhibitor, unless things are changed, I must go in for all the duty work at present in vogue. As I do not believe in anonymous con- tributions, I give my name, and expect that your correspondent will give his. — J. Ceosbie Siiiih, Terenure Villa, Terenure, Dublin. [After omitting many sentences pointed against the supposed contributor whom we styled " A Coerespondent," and many other sentences ascribing motives and assailing supposed cliques, we readily insert the foregoing, but we advise Mr. Smith aud all other exhibitors not to " go in for the dii'ty work," not only because it is dishonest, but because sooner or later they are sure to be held up to public scorn. — Ens.] INDUCING A HEN TO SIT. If " A Subsceibeb" or anyone, wUl take a laijinfj hen — Brahma or Cochin to be preferred — .and will place her in a sitting-box, only just large enough to hold her nest, into which have been preWously placed half a dozen eggs, and will keep her very warm, she will soon show a desu'e to sit. Her food must be stimulating, aud should consist of Indian corn, raw liver chopped, buclrweat, hempseed, and a small portion of bread steeped in ale. — Vincexi Fiuser. [The above will be a reply to many querists. Many years since Mr. Holroyd, a druggist at Maldon, in Essex, had a hen that would sit until she hatched them whenever he placed her on a nest of eggs. — ^Eds.] SILVER-SPANGLED HAMBURGHS. " J. K. O." seems to think there is a great deal of difference between the Silver-spangled Hamburghs of the present day aud those bred a few years since. We have been breeders of them eight or nine year's and see none, only that cocks such as " J. E. 0." has seen in his " Poultry Book " used to win, now they must be FebruaiT 15, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 159 well spangled all over, consequently they will be a little dark in the breast. Hens it is impossible to have distinctly marked if they have any of that green lustre that I think ought to be the first point in a hen. " J. K. 0." attacks the Crystal Palace prize birds. The first- prize pen contained an " unusually good hen " (see Journal). For large, clear, ;md distinct spangles, it would be hard for " J. K. 0." to find her equal. The cock was well spangled all over, consequently rather dark in the breast, but not too dark to win at other shows besides the Crystal Palace. Perhaps " J. K. O." has bought a first-prize pen at some show, and been breeding from the birds. This any Hamburgh breeder knows will not do.— A. & B. CRYSTAL PALACE BIBD SHOW. The great Canai-y Show of the season is among the things that were, or it will be by the time this is in the hands of many readers of the Journal. For five months — from September to February — from Whitby (that gem of a Show) to the greatDerby of the fancy, the monster gathering which is now in the last day of its existence, scarcely a w^eek has passed without one or more exhibitions of a bii'd which, though supposed by many to be comparatively rare, is reared in the hirmble home of the artisan, and in the more pretentious estabhshments of the rich, by thousands. The figm'es in the catalogue which, by the way, is a model for all large catalogues, show an entry of 954 birds for competi- tion, and 152 in the Selling Class. Of these 566 are Canaries, 119 Mules, 3-1 groups of six, 5 miscellaneous, 118 British bu-ds, 12 Magi'atory birds, and 100 Foreign specimens, including some very interesting and rare birds. It will be seen that numerically the Show is a gi-eat success, which is perhaps to be attributed in a great measui*e to some alteration in the classification. I submitted to the Superintendent what I thought was an im- proved schedule, that of previous year's containing some incon- sistencies, and a somewhat "Bridgenorth election," all-on-one- side, treatment of some varieties ; an undue share of good things falling to some, and only a meagre allowance to others, w-hich in point of value and intrinsic excellence were worthy of more hberal treatment. These defects I pointed out in detail in my review of last year's Show w^hen the prize money was awarded on a principle not unhke that which report assigned to the distribution of prize money in the navy in days gone by, when it was said to have been sifted through a ladder, that which fell through going to the officers, the rest to the men. An equahsation of the scale has met with a willing response from the breeders of each variety. As I said before, numerically the Show is a great success. It always is, and must of necessity be so, as the number of " sold " tickets affixed to the cages shows what an additional inducement the opportunity of sale must be. Messi-s. Judd, Mackley, Newmarch and Walter alone exhibit the enonnous number of 333 amongst them ; Mr. Newmarch head- ing the poll with 125, itself a httle show. But as regards qualiti/ there is this year a deficiency. There are bu-ds of exceptional beauty, as witness Mr. Walter's Clear Jonque and Mealy bu'ds which were claimed at i'5 each, and many of the prize-winners have great merit, but there is not that excellence rtuining through the whole which in previous years has evoked a frequent comment from the Judges, but which on this occasion is appended to only about ten out of the seventy-six classes. My remarks thereon will appear next week. I am wTiting now under difiicultics and In the excitement of the Show. Mr. Young reminds me I had better " finish Cheltenham first," but as many of the Cheltenham birds are on the stages here, and the Judges have confirmed most of my decisions, I may be able to kill two bir'ds with one stone. — W. A. Bl.ujston. The British and Foreign birds were well represented, as also the miscellaneous. Amongst the former were some very rare birds, only a few specimens of them having been noted as having been found in England. Take for instance the Shore Lark, of which a very fine pair in good condition, the cock bird show- ing the peculiar horn-hke appearance, were shown by Mr. Monk, of Lewes, in Sussex. There was a pair of Lapland Buntings sent by the same gentleman, all of which we understand were captured near Brighton. A fine specimen of the Crested Lark (Alaudus cristatus) was also present in perfect plumage. Na- turalists know how scarce these varieties are, andhow interesting it is to find them aUve, and have the jileasure of noticing their habits and mode of life under confinement. Then, again, if these be scarce, how much more so some of the Mules. Take, for in- stance, that between the Blackbird and the Song Thrush, a bird possessing the characteristics of both ; this was the first of the kind ever known ; as also a cross between the Brambling and the Chaffinch. Then there were "Mules between Goldfinch and Green- finch, Linnet and Bullfinch, Goldfinch and Bullfinch, crosses imseen until of late years, aJid yet beautiful in themselves. Some new classes were added this year, one of which was for Doves of any small breed, which brought a very beautiful pair of small Austrahan, birt although prizes were offered for the Missel Thrush and Redwing, there was no response ; but let ns hope another season such may not be the case, but that the hberality of the Crystal Palace Company may meet with its reward in the way of more numerous entries, as, the more varied the collection, the more pleasing, and also the more edncatitnal it is to the public. The show of Parrots was good, but nothing remarkable beyond other years. In the Miscellaneous pens might be mentioned a nearly White Blackbud, and several Pied Linnets, Altogether there were 1327 entries, and nearly 1500 birds were present, as there were thirty-four- aviaries which contained very many varieties, and shown in a highly creditable condition. Every c; ti was taken of the specimens dming the Show, and the healthiness of the birds reflects great credit on Mr. Wilson, the able Manager of the natural history department of the Crystal Palace. Norwich (Clear Yellow).— 1, W. Waltfi: win.lif «lfv. ■?, Ptmvonf A iirnie. Derby. Eqnal 3, Bemrose & Oime ; M"-" - \N mik. n.., l),,,ii,iiinh : \, ;oiis and Athersuch, Coven'ry. ilic. Toon .v . , , i . i i ! '. ,. i;. Derby; Smith & Preen, Coventry t Be ■■• ' "• VPalter. /ic. Adams & Albersuoli (8); W. ll.ii' i . : l^ i-'' . -i !■'■■ .i: ..r. West Smiihfleld, London (2); T. Newmareli .v ^..na. syciemiiiiii ; lUooicaud Wrane (2). c, G. & J. Mackley. Notwk-b; T. Fenn, IpaMicli; J. Guiittt, Brighton ; J. Mortimer; Smith & Preen ; J. Judd, Newington Butts (2); T. New- march & Sons ; Moore & Wynn ; J. Jeffs, Ipswich. NoawiCB (Clear Buff)— 1 and 3. W. -Walter. 2 and Equal 3, Benii-oso & Oime. Wic, G. & J. Mackley ; Adams iAthersnch; J. Mortimer; R. -Whitaker ; bmith aiidPreen(S); T. Ne-wmaroh & Sons ; Mooie i -ftynn. ;«, G. « J. Mackley (5); Adams & Athersuch (2); Barwell & Golby, Dallington, Northampton; W. Havers, c, J. Doel, Stonehonse (3); J. Tan-, Caltdoiiian Koad, London ; P. Flexney, Caledonian Road, London ; T. Fenn ; J. Mortimer ; Moore k W ynn ; Wallace & Beloe, Berwick-ou-Tweed. ^ , . , . _, Norwich (Marked or Variegated Yellow).-!, 3, and Equal 3, Adams A; Ather- such. 2, Moore 4 Wynn. i-7ic, W. Havers ; J.Mortimer; Bemrose ,ii Orme ; W.Walter. Ac, J. Mortimer ; Moore & Wynn (2); W.Walter, c, T. fennl2); J. Garrett ; J. Judd ; Bemrose & Orme. „ , _, , „ .„ Norwich (Marked or Variegated Buff).— 1, Adams & Athersuch. 2, Bemrose and Orme. 8, Moore & Wynn. uftc, G.& J. Mackley ; W. Havers (2); Bemrose and Orme. he, G. & J. Mackley : T. Fenn; W. Havers ; J. Mortimer ; G. luck- wood, Nottingham ; H. Apted, Worthing, c, S. Tomes, Northampton. Norwich cricked or Unevenly-marked Yellow).—], Smith & Pi-een. 2, C. Gayton, Northampton. 3, E. Whitaker. Equal 3, Bemrose cSl Orme. »/ic, Bern- rose & Orme ; W. Walter. ;ic, G. & J. Mackley ; Adams & Athersuch ; ^■mlth and Preen ; T. Newmarch & Sons, c, G. i J. Mackloy ; J. Mortimer ; J. Judd ; W.Walter. „ „ .^ „ t c Norwich (Ticked or nnevenly-maiked Buffl.-I. W. Walter. 2, J. Spence. 3 and Equal 3. Adams & Athersuch. vhc, Barwell & Golby ; T.Mann C amber- well; Bemrose & Orme; S. Staton & Co., Derby, (ic, G. &J. Mackley; Toon and Cleaver; Smith & Preen ; J. Hayes, huttonin-Ashfleld (2); Bemrose and Orme; W.Walter, c, G. & J. Mackley ; W. Havers (-2); J. Mortimer (2) ; T. Ne\vniarch & Sons; W. Walter. ,,,,,..■ „ rr Nokwioh (Marked or Variegated Crested Yellow).—!, J. Mortimer. 2, Toon and Cleaver. 3, W. Havers. rJtc, J. Judd; Moore i -Wynne. /iC, G. i; J. Mackley ; Moore & Wynn. c, T. ChUds, Bow ; T. Fenn ; W. Ha-vers. Norwich (Marked or Variegated Created Buft).-!, Bemrose 4; Orme. 2, W. Walter. 3, J. Mortimer, vhc, G. & J. Mackley ; G. Cox, Norlhampton ; W. Havers (2). !ic, O. &J. Mackley; Barwell & G.dby; I.E. Jeffs; Moore and. Wynn. c, G.& J. Mackley ; H. Apted ; Moore & Wynn. Norwich (Yellow, with Clear Grey or Dark Crest).—!. J. Mortimer. 2, Moore and Wynn. 3, Bemrose & Orme. vhc, Barwell « Golby. he, G. Tuckwood;. J. Judd. c, J. Judd. , ,„,„.- o TT Norwich (Buff, with Clear Grey or Dark Ciest).-! and 2, J. Mortimer. 8, H. Apted. t.;ic. G. & J. Mackley; iBarweU & Golby; T. E. Jeffs; G.Cox; W. Iftvers ; J. Mortimer; E. W. Lulham, Brighton ; Bemrose 4i Orme ; H. Apted. (ic. G. & J. Mackley ; T. E. Jeffs ; J. Mortimer ; Moore & Wynn ; J. Jeffs, c, W. Havers; G. Tuckwood. . „ , , j a .:, ., t Belgian (Clear and Ticked Yellow).— 1. J. Rutter, Sunderland. 2 and 3, J. Hayes. Equal 3, J. Doel. !>/ic. J. Doel(-2) ; J. Kutter (-2). !ic, J. Doel ; G. 4. J. Mackley; J. N.Harrison, c, T. Dove ; Wallace & Beloe. , „ „ . , Belgian (Clear and Ticked Buff).-! and 3. Rutter. 2, J. N. Harrison, vhc, J. Doel ; J. Poole ; T. Dove, he, J. Doel ; G. & J. Mackley ; J. Rutter. Belgian (Variegated Yellow).—! and 2, J. Rutter. 3, J. Hayes, vhc, T. Dove, Sutton-in-Ashfield. „ „ ^ „ ■, t, , Belgian (Variegated Buff).-!, J. Hayes. 2, T. Dove. 3, J. Poojc. London Fancy (Jonque).— !, W. Brodrick, Cbudlcigh. 2 and 3, T. Cluii, Sutton, Surrev. rftc, C. W. Hooke, London ; A. B. Ethermgton, Chatham; T. "Soo^'F^A-?ci'^lllatf-!°T.'Mann. 2. W Brodrick. S, T Clark, r/.c. T- Clark ; J. Price, Blaokheath ; T. Fenn. ''C C. W. Hooke ; T. Clark Lizard (Golden-spangled).-!, H. Ashton, Polefleld Hall, Prestwich 2, Smilli and Preen. 8, J. N. Harrison, i^c. T. W. Fairbrass : Smith S Preen ; J. Haves, he, J. Hayes; G. Tuckwood. „ , „ r, .•,„„ , n Lizard (Silver-spangled).-!, T. W. Fairbrass. 2, .T. N. Harr son. 3, b. Tuckwood. rhc, G B. Kennerley. Manchester ; T. Y/. Fairbrass (2 ; J. Poole. J.o, G. & J. Mackley (2) ; J. Price ; W. Holmes, . c. Smith & Preen ;W. jailer. Cinnamon (Jonqne).-l and 2, A. B. Etherington. S, J. Waller, Finsbury. vhc. W. Barnes : S. Tomes ; J. Waller (2) ; C. Gayton. (ic, R. Pcole ; Barweli and Golby; W.J.Marshall, New Bamet; Mooro & Wynn. c, loon 4( Cleaver ; ■'•('^TNNrii f( BSi-L^B^raell & Golby. 2. Moore & Wynn. 3. J. Tear A Co,, WellinRborough. vhe, A. B. Etherington ; Toon & Cleaver ; VS a lace ^ 1 doe. he G. K Kennerley; R. Poole, Maiden; Barwell & Golby ; G.Cox. c, C. W. H.ioke ; J. Tear & Co. ; H. Apted (2) ; Moore & Wynn. Cinnamon (Marked or Variegated).—! and 2, J. Taylor, Middlesboiough. 3. W. Barnes, vhc, H. Stanley, Battersea ; J. H. Hadland, Carshalton. he, C. A- '^SA«°'^y'other variety).-!, W. Walter. 2, W.allaoe & Beloe 8, Moore and Wvnn, I'lic. J. Spence, Sunderiand ; W. C. Selkiik, Dover (21 ; W. » alter, lie R Hawman ; E. Stanfleld, Bradlord ; Master J. Tennent, South Norwood , T.'Newmareh&Sons. c, J. N. Harrison. Belper. ,„ ,_ , „ „ .,,,„_ GoLi.Fivcn MCLE (Evenly-marked Yellow).-! anj 2 J. Doel 3, H. Asbton. vhe, J. Doel : H. Ashton ; E. Stanfield. e W'. Ba™c-8, Cann™ » r^et oiidon. GOLOFINCH McLE (Evenly-markcd Buff ),-!, J- Boxler. 2. E. Stanhe d i,l. E. Jeffs, vhc, H. Ashton; W. C. Eumistou, M"''""';"";'^'' Vif.;. 1 Vr„l^e' MWdlesborough : W. Needier. Hull ; W. Barnes, he, J. Doel. e. Miss A. Hulse, ""t^^i^ M'SE^Siy^the?- variety of Yellow).-Special, H Ashton. 1,2, and s" lw"l. W.C, H. Ashton ; E. Stanfleld. he, G. i J. Mac kley ; J. Baxter ; '^■g^ldScTmcle (Any other variety of Buff).--!, J. Doc!. 2, H. A.hton. 3, T.E.Jeffs. Elic.J. Doel; E.W.Lulham. hc.J. Doel. „ „, 'GoLDriNCH Mdle (Dark Jonque).-!, J. Stephens 2. J Tay or^ 3, E .Stan field, rftc, R. Hawman, Middlesborough; T.E. Jeffs, Moore 4. wynn, w.m JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Fobmarj' 15, 1872. L, Chapman, Northampton, he, J. Goode, Leicester, c, G. Cox; J. Jeffs, Northampton. Goldfinch Muu: (Dark Mealy).— 1. Wallace & Beloe. 2, W. M. L. Chapman. 3, G. Cox. v/tc.W.Hohnes, Nottingham; Moore & Wynn. c, G. & J. Mackley ; R Hawman; G. Tuckwood; T. Maldoon. Linnet Mule.— 1, J. Spence. 2 and 3, J. Stevens, he, W. Barnes ; J. Judd. Mdles (Any other variety)!— Prize, T. J. Monk, Lewes ; S. Tomes : A. Skin- ner, Faversham. vlic, H. Ashton ; W. Yeoman ; E. Stanfield (2) ; "W. Verner, Westbourne Park, London. Six Norwich Canaries in One Cage.— 1, Moore & Wynn. 2. T. E. Jeffs. Equal 3, G. & J. Mackley and Moore & Wynn. v/ic, T. E. Jeffs; T. Fenn ; W. Walter; T. Newmarch &. Son. he, T. E. Jeffs ; W. Barnes. Six Belgian Canaries in One Cage.— 1, J. Butter. 2. G. H. Nutt, Maidstone. 3, J. Doel. Six Lizards in One Cage.— 1, W. C. Selkirk. 2, J..Hayes. 3, Clark & Hooke. vhc, T. W. Fairbrase, Canterbury ; Rev. V. Ward, he, Clarke & Hooke ; T. W. FairbrasB. Six GoLDFi.vcn Mules in One Cage.— 1, 2. and 3, J. Doel. Miscellaneous.— Prize, J. Baxter (2) ; F. H. Gardiner. Bullfinch.— Prize, J. N. Harrison, he, G. & J. Mackley, e. 0. Nicholson ; W. Walter. Goldfinch.— Prize, Moore & Wynne, he, T. Land; Moore & Wynne, c, J. Doel ; J. Goode ; J. Judd. Linnet.— Prize, J. Judd. he, J. N. Harrison, c, J. Spence ; Miss M. A. Robin- son, Sydenham ; W. C. Bumiston ; A. Webster, jnn. Skylark.- Prize, J. Judd. he, G. H. Nutt (2). c, J. S. Benton ; G. H. Nutt. WooDLARK.— Prize, W. Walter. Robin.— Prize, G. Cox. Blackbird.— Pri!e,G.& J. Mackley. vhc, E. Sweeting, Sydenham; D.Hunt. Magpie.— Prize, G. & J. Mackley. Jay.— Prize, Miss M. A. Robinson. Any other Variety of British Birds.— Prize, T.J. Monk (Shore Larks); Rev. T. S. Carter (Aviary) ; J. Judd (Variegated Linnets and Pnow Buntings) ; A. Skinner (Black and White Blackbird), vftc, J. Young, Notting Hill (Aviary); E. Hodgkinsou (Aviary) ; G. Cox (Yellowhammer) ; A. Webster, jun. (Bramble Finch); T. Newmarch & Sons (Pied Linnet and Snow Buntings, 2). Ac, G.H. 2^utt(Tree Sparrow), c, J. H. VerraU (Variegated Chaffinch). BIRDS OF PASSAGE AND MIGRATORY BIRDS. Blackcap —Prize, L. Cossavella, Finsbury. XT ^ ■ le.G. Coram, Cambridgt ine.— Prize, G. & J. Mac Y.— Prize, W. Verner (Crested Lark); T. J. Monk (Lapland i-breasted).— 1, T. Newmarch & Sons. 2, A. ER Vajfiiety.— Prize, T. Newmarch & Sons (Slender-billed), vhe, Vicars. Mrs. Dunsmi PARROTS(Grey).— 1, J. Cooley. 2, H.Jenner, Cambenvell. vhe, J. Judd; T. S^ewmarch & Sons. Parrots (Green or any varietv of Large, except Grey).— 1. Rev. A. W. Booker, Burford (Amazon). 2, J. Judd (Green). 3, W. Walter (Red). Extra, T. New- march & Sons (Mealy Rosella, Bulla Bulla, and Pennanter). Parrots (King).- Prize, T. Newmarch & Sons, c, J. Judd. Pabakeets (Ring-necked).— Prize and t'ftc, T. Newmarch & Sons, c, S. Robin- aon, Sydenham. Parakeets (Australian Broad-tail).- Prize, E. J. Oliver, he, Mrs. Wood, - s. Bailey. Thirsk. PARAJiEETs ( Australian Grass).- Prize, J. Judd. he. Mrs. B. T. Walse, Brixton. Doves (Barbary or Ring).— Prize, J. Luetchford, Norwood. Doves (Small).- Prize, T. Newmarch & Sons (Australian). Sparrows (Oiamond)—Prize, Miss Rosher, Bedford Syuare, London, t^hc. Master C. B. Budd, Peckham Rye. e, W. Walter. Sparrows (Java).— Prize, T. Newmarch & Sons. vhe. Mrs B. T. Walshe, WAxniLLs(Any varietv).— Prize, J. Judd (Orange checked), vhe. T. New- march & Sons (Zebra), he, T. Newmarch & Sons (Urange-checked) ; W. Walter t. POUTERS.- ton ; W. Van Haansbergen, Newcastle. Barbs.—! and 2, H. M. Maynard. he, H. Yardley ; F. Fielder ; W. Van Haans- bergen. C Ann II '. Field... , .. Dragoons.— 1 and vhe, W. Bishop, Dorchester. 2, H. AUsopp, Birmingham. he, C. L. Gilbert ; Master Jacobs. Tumblers.— 1 and 2, Mrs. Ford, he, H. Yardley. Fan-tails.- ^ Mrs. Ladd. 2, H. M. Maynard, /iC, H. Yardley; H. M. May- nard. Any other Variety.- 1, F. Pittis (Jacobins). 2, C. L. Gilbert (Maltese). Jic, C. L. Gilbert (English 0*vls); H. M. Maynard (Jacobins); F. Hodding, Salis- bury (Turbits); W. Bishop (Persians and Archangels); H. Yardley; W. Van Haansbergen. Selling Class.— 1 andS, H. M. Maynard (Jacobins). 2, A.A. Vander Meersch. he, F. Fielder (Antwerps and Turbits). e, O. E. Cresswell, Bagshot, Surrey /Fanlaile); F. Fielder (Dragoons): G. Gregory, Taunton (Owls). CAGE BIRDS. Norwich (Clear Yellow).— 1 and 2, W. Waiter, Winchester, vhe, T. Willsher. Chicbeoter. he, H. Apted, Broadwater. (2) ; c, C. & D. Carver. Landport. Norwich (Clear Buff).— 1 and 2, W. Walter, lie, H. Apted (2). e, C. & D. Carver. Norwich (Evenly Maikcd or Yellow Variegated).— 1 and vhe, W. Walter. vhe, he, and e, H. Apted. Norwich (Evenly Marked or Buff Va he, W. Walter. Belgian (Clear Yellow).—!, T. Moore, Fareham. 2, O. Nicholson, vhe, A. E. Smith, Gosport; O. Nicholson: T. Moore. Belgian (Clear Buff).— 1 and 2, A. E. Smith, i^lw, 0. Nicholson. Belgian (Any other variety).—!, vhe, and he, O. Nicholson. 2, T. Moore. c, C. Davies, Landport. Lizards (Gold and Silver-spangled).- 1, O. Nicholson. 2, L. Nunn, Southsea. vhe, O. Nicholson ; A. E. Smith, he, A. E. Smith, c. L. Nunn. Goldfinch Mule.— 1 and 2, R. Hawman, Middlesborougb. he, T. Willsher. C, L. Sparks, Landport : Bainton & Nicholson. CANARYORMnLE(Any other variety).— I.O.Nicholson. 2, H. Apted. v/m;,W T Tx'iiicv.^.. r" Tr-n,,^^-.. c.^i.tiioAa 7tc, O. Nicholsoii J L,» , and e, H. Apted. 2 and Fi-brawT 13. 1873. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. British Bihds (Any other Tariety).— 1, T. WiUaher. S. J. Harrison, Bclper. ii;ir. J. Farlow. Southsea; W. Boots, (ic, W. Smith, c, C. Trowor. Foreign Birds (.\ny variety).— 1, J. Smart, Landport (Parrot). 2, C. Trower (Cockatoo), vhc, A. Van Santor, Southampton (Portusaese Lark); W. Walter (Spice Bird and Parrot), he, G. Stinlield (Rosellas) ; U. Wilkinson (Paroquet). e, a. Slanfield (Rock Parrot). Length o: C A. H. Basteo, Hull. Black and White and Bloe and White.— I, Kins & Quick, St.Jolin's Wood. 2. F. Loveland, Liason Grove, London, lie, J. Grant, Landport ; T. E. Terry; Kin? & Quick : A. L. Pearce, Doncaster ; A. Easten. Grey and White and Yellow and White —1. W. H. Weljb, Bilston, Stafford. 2, T.E.Terry. Wic, E. Cantelo, Newport; T.E.Terry. King & Quick; A. H. - — — - ^, H. C. Perrin, Brighton, he, A. H. Easten ; SELr-C .LOCR.-!, H. Cawood, Thome. 2, A. H. Easten. /icW. Wobh ; T. E. Tcrrv. c E. Caotelo. Anv Foreign Vakiett.— 1 and 2, T. E. Terry, d/ic, T. E. Terry ; A. Pearoe. \te, T. E. Terry (2) ; A. H. Easten ; A. Philips, Oaklands, Waterloo, c, A. Clay- ton, Ryde. IMr. Westcott. For the most Points in Pigeons, Mr. H. M. Maynard ; for the most Points in Norwich Canaries, Mr. Walter; for the most Points in Belgian, Mr. Nicholson; for the best Belgian, Mr. T.Moore; for the most Points in Rabbits, Mr. Terry. Judges. — Foultrij : Mr. Edward Hewitt, and Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier. Figeons : Mr. P. C. Esqiiilant. Cage Birds : Mr. A. Willmore. Babbits : Mr. E. Oweu. THE NUN PIGEON. This variety is a general favourite among the Toy fanciers, I suitable for the novice. It soon accommodates itself to its sur- aud on account of its hardiness and docility it is particularly | roundings, breeds well, and seldom faUs to rear its offspring ; |'u>-<' consequently Nuns are vei-y useful for nurses, but when they are highly bred they are not so reliable in this capacity. The chief attraction in a Nun is usually considered to be the perfeotuess of its markings, and a too-close attention to this has prevented their being bred to a high standard in other points, which adds so much to their beauty. The result of breeding for feather only, has more particularly caused the breed to deteriorate in form and carriage, and to become coarse and large. The Nun should be very merry, small, and neat — very little larger than a Tumbler. The shape should be elegaut, and the carriage sprightly. Whatever the colour, it should be deep and rich, with the tail of one uniform shade and of equal depth and richness as the head. In all Nuns the feathers of the head, veil, flights, and tail, with the upper and under tail coverts, should be of one colour, and those of the remainder of the bird perfectly white. The black-headed variety is the most numerous ; probably because it is the most striking and pleasing in contrast with the white body. The beak ought to be small and jet black, without any shade of ashy greyness about the nostrils or beak- wattle. The head should be small and round, rising with toler- able boldness from the beak ; the iiides of the eyes ought to be pearl white, and the eyelids forming ceres, or white fleshy ch-cles, around the eyes. A gravel eye is inadmissible in a good Nun, and feathers overhanging the upper eyelid are a serious fault. In the high-bred bu'ds the feathers of the hood are perpendicular, and do not form a cap over the head. A well- defined hood is a most important point ; it should be large and the top square, it should also be as thin as possible, to be 1G2 JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Fcluniary 15, 1872 of a perfect form, so that tlie loss of a single feather would i break the evenness and show the deficiency. The less lined | with the coloured feathers the hood is, the more admired. The veil or upper part of the throat should be of the colour of the head, and should extend weU backward to the side of it, but not behind it ; the veU should also be quite even on each side of the thi-oat, of good round form, and should not extend too far down. The head should be thrown back, and the neck be smaU, and gracefully enlarging untQ it be lost m a fuU There should be from eight to ten coloured flight feathers in each wing, but ten we consider the best, as it causes a more evenly cut hue than any other number, and when the two wings are brought together upon the back, they form a most perfect saddle. The upper and under tail coverts should also be as even as possible. The legs should be clean, and of a bright red colour, which contrasts so well with the white thighs. The claws should be black. When the specimen is black, the whole of that colour should be deep, glossy, and intense, and the flight and tail feathers free from a bronze, blue, or mousey appearance. As the size of a Nun is such a material point we may say that the weight of a good specimen should not exceed 10 ozs. when in high condition.— BiKsiiNGHAM Columbaeian Society— J. W. Ludlow, Secretary. WHITEHAVEN POULTRY SHOW. The Show held in the Riding School, Whitehaven, last week TTas very successful, and the improvements made by the Com- mittee in the general arrangements desei-ve especial mention, for on no previous occasion has the Ught been so generaUy good, nor the space for the accommodation of visitors so ample although the enti-ies at this year's meeting exceeded those ot last season by nearly a hundred pens. ,^^.^ „ , • A sti-iking portion of the Show was theentiTof White Cochins, and we speak advisedly when we say that never before in tins kingdom has so good and numerous a display of this valuable breed been witnessed. These birds were mostly shown m truly exquisite condition, and they were of much larger size and more marked character than usual. The Buff CocMuii were remark- ablv eood and extensive entries, though some of them were quite overshown, and the Pai-tridge-feathered, though few m number, were reahy good. In Dark Brahmas the hens showed to some- what greater advantage than the cocks, as they evidentiy endure continuous exhibition' much better than their male companions. Strange to sav, throughout the whole Exhibition not a single pen of Light Brahmas was entered, not even m the Selhng class. There was a very gi'and display of Dorkinqs, mcluding the most choice specimens from Messrs. Lionel Patton, Holt, and Dickenson. The Silver-Grey Dorkings proved also exceedingly good, and were, therefore, a strong and superior class at Wlute- haven. Spanish were most exceUent, and Mr. Charles Brierley secm-ed the silver cup for this breed with a truly gi-aud pen. The Gavie classes were not only very superior, but most ot tue birds -were shown in exti-aordinary condition. The pnucipai winners in this division were Messrs. James Fletcher, William Barnes, H. Julian, and E. Ackroyd. In the Extra Variety class Golden and Silver-spangled Polands were first and third, and Black Haniburghs took the second prizes. Game J3a H^eri^nlierrfi"BS:-'^^^^^^^^^^^^^ f^t f^AsMon and *°Hl^™"nnGolden.peBeilled).-l. J. EolHnson 2 H. Beldon. 3, D.Lord. '"i^^i^^i^^i^!i^t'SUZ^iP:or,. 3, H. Beldon. He. '^'^'.''oiSR vTir,rT'l'?xoEp7B™:Sl-l S Beldon (Polands). 2, D. ^l'^^i^e'c.^Al^l't\?o^'i"s^l'jande(ord 2.J Comns,WMtehav^W^^^^^ Laughoto Tmack'Ked); Gunson & Jefferson Whitehaven 8) ;S Lord J. ^nnniriffham (Silver-Grey); S.Bell (Dark Dorkings : J.H.Wilson iGame), a. bSu- J WteJ (Dorkinas); J. Fotheringham (Dorkings); T. Thompson; T Mason c J Pickles" Mytholmroyd (Black Bed Game) Gnnson and Jkerlon ; J. H. W.lson (Dorkings); C. McCleUan, Egremont (Dorkings); J. W Brockiank; J. Moore (White Cochins); S. BelUDorkings). GTivii RantLms (Black Beds).— Cocfc.— 1, T. Sharpies, Eawtens.aU. 2, J. Ba^C Mouk"Lmonth. 8, K Yonll, Stmderland he. H. H Thompson, Sunder and; W. Dabell. Southwell; W. Rogers, Sunderland (2) Capt. T. Wethcrall, kettering; G. Maples, Wavertree, Liverpool, c, J. Oldfleld, 1. ^Gl^^yli's^'^MBiTck Beds).- Hens cirPiiIi«(^.-l and Cup, J. Kollinson. 2, ?.T iiSS^Tol 'lirsfang."! T, Sharpies Garstang. ijc. Master A Frew. Game Bantams (Any other variety except BJack Kf;ds).—1, T. Sharpies, i, H J Nicholson, 3, W. Adams (Brown Red), he, G. Todd, Sunderland; J. R. ^T?.'?T?S's (Anv other variety) -I, J. Sichel (Pekin). 2, M. Leno (Laced). 3, H Beldon 'ISfE H. Ashton; Cap'. T. WetheraU; M. Leno, Markyate Street /Lacedl- H. Beldon. c, R. Frew, Kirkcaldy. , .. t;, ' DdckI (Avlesburvl-l. E. Leech, Rochdale. 2 and 3, H. Jones, he, E. *■ DccEk fRo-S-Y A^mcSinson, Whitehaven. 2, E. Gladstone, Jon Broad- f!r°en LivMporf 3, L. Patton. he, A. Dickinson ; L. Patton (2) ; S. H. Stott, ^!)'nSsX''/Tariet%^-fin'^ H.B.Smith. 2, M. Leno (Mandarin)^. ftc.W. BiMS. Leeds (Mandarin); W.ii. King, Eochdale (Call); M. Leno (Whistlmg); ^S^il'lSo' Class (Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys).-!, E. Fearon (.Aylesbiiry). 2, J.W.Brockbank. 3, J. Richardson, Lowca. fcc,E. Fearon (Aylesbury) ; S. H. ^'f^i^'^y v'kr?e'i?r-\"G'.t"l?atie?,- Rails;? ^2^''L'eTc?r.- he, Miss ''V^.'UI^'^^Lin-lt'HeecU. 2 and e. G. F. Statter (Toulouse). PIGEONS. . . ,. CABEIEK9.-1 and Cup, J. C. Ord, PimUco. 2, H. Vardley Birmingham, he, S. Holroyd, Lees; J. &W. Towerson. Egremont. C.J. ihompson. PooiEEs:-!. Mrs. Ladd, Calne (White). 2, W. B Van Haansbergen, New- castle, c, W. B. Van Haansbergen ; Mrs. Ladd ; J. & W. iowerson. TOMBLERS (Almond) -1, J. Fielding j.uii 2, W. B. Van Haansbergen. ■ T I MBLEES (Any other variety).-!, J. FiddinR, ]un. 2 J. & W. Towerson fcc, ■WT B. Van Haansbergen (VeUow). c, W. B. Van Haansbergen (Kite) ; G. South, ^jACoBms-"' Thompson, Penrith. 2,W.B.Van Haansbergen. /,c, W. B. Tan Haansbergen ; J. Thompson, c, J. Thompson ; J.& W.Towerson. Trompetebs.-1,J. &W.Toworson. 2, W. B. Van Haansbergen. ftc, W. B. ^bIms'-LW^'b. Van Haansbergen. 2, J. Fielding, jun. ftc, W. Jackson ; H. ^¥umiT3.-l, G. South. 2, J. W. Edge, he, E. Thompson; H. Yardley; J. Fielding, jnn. ; J. & W. Towerson. „ , ■ ^ ,oi t < to Owls — ! and 2, J. Fielding, jun. lie, J. Armstrong, Workington (2) : J. & W. Towerson. c, R. Woods. FASlAn.s.-l and 2, H. Yardley. fcc, W. B. Van Haansbergen; A. Crosbie , %'rAyooKS.-land2G. south ftc,G. South P); J Tho-nPSon.^^^^^^ ^ Aky other Vabiety.— !, h. '"'■aiey. £=^'£a j,a. J, ^ .„ „ (Magpies); f':fSrniprn"^S^rw.'\^otfrfo^n'(pheSn!i;rc'?Ss"raS.' c,=^V. ^I Van Haa^isbergen (Nuns); »• S""''' lf///„i„^g'-ormskirk. 2, W. Kitchin. he, fA,rmnr>.al- T & W ToweTSon t J- Kemp, Haslingden. c, vv. t.. vau iiy-ouo be?gen (Atoondf); S.H.Tacksoii (Runts?; J.Thompson; J.Kemp. BELGIAN (YeUow).-! and 2, W. JoMS.Ulvfrston. he, J. N. Harrison, Belper. '■^..r^l:^ih°SiT-l!f'cl^r, Carlisle. 2, J. Brown, Jun., Penrith, he. J. N. ''SLE?-(Ydkfw).-l?&tevens&Leek.MiddlesborouBh. 2, W. Robinson, he. •'-MiL^ini'S).-!, E. Carr. 2, Stevens & Leek, he, W. Robinson, c, if. ^Pral^i (Yellow_or Buff).-1, Stevens & Leek. 2, B. Havman,Middl6sborongh. ""liYIb^b^sTgoiI; Z- ISvSrp°aigled).-l, J. Taylor, MiddlesborougH. 2, J. N. Harrison. , „ , -, -rr • i,. Judges -Game, Game Bantams, French Fowl, and Variety Classes Mr. E. Hewitt, Sparkbrook, Birmingham Cochins, Biatoas DOTkings, Spanish, Hambmghs, Dncks, Geese, Tm-- keys and SeSni Cliss ; Mr. E. Teebay, Fulwood, Preston. pIgeonsTMessrs. E. Hewitt & R. Teebay. Canaries: Mr. A. Benson, Whitehayen. PIGEONS GOING LIGHT. I TKtJST a few remarks, founded on facts that came under my notice during the examination of upwards of twenty birds from various lofts, may be acceptable to your readers. It is not my intention to trespass on your space by givmg particulars ot the various experiments made, but simply to state it is my beket that worms are in most cases the cause of so many valuable bu-ds wasting and dying, also that the malady is contagious. A short time since I went to see the stock of an old fancier- crouched in a pen was a good-bred Tumbler in the last stage of the so- called consumption. I told the owner what the bird was suffei-ing from; he laughed at the idea. The bud was examined after death to convince him, and it contamed upwards oi one hundred worms, some 2 inches m length.— J. Philpott. Allow me to state in reply to Mi-. H. Allsop's very useful hints, that I always use cod-Uver oU for my Pigeons when going lit^ht It is done up in " capsules," which prevent the featheis bleommg greased. The bii-ds take the capsules very easily ; they are to be procured at any London chemist's for a haUpenny each, or Is. per box of thirty-six. Castor-oil capsules are also to be procured, and at the same price. They should be put in cold water for about half a minute before f^vmg them to the birds- being rather large they shp down better that way. One is quite enough for a dose, two in extreme cases.— A. Meeksch. BiEMiNGHAM PouLTM SHow.-The annual meeting to revise the prize Usts for the present year is fixed for Thursday, 22nd instf The Secretary will be happy to receive and place before the Council any suggestions for improvements, or any oners of special prizes either m the cattle, root orpoultry depart- ment. The direction to the Secretary is Mr. John B. LythaU, 39, New Street, Bh-mingham. LARGE VERSUS SMALL HIVES. I SHOULD like to call the attention of subscribers who have read the mteresting articles on this topic by " Cabolus (page 479 vol. XX.), and " J. Lowe" (page 520), to a suggestion of mine in vol. xviU., page 237, headed " Dummy Frames. I think my plan would suit all parties ; they could have hives of large or small capacities at will, aocordmg to the season or locaUty. Youropmion was, that the whole ten combs were required for breeding purposes, but my experience ot ten Woodbury hives during three seasons does not correspond; I have never found combs 1 and 10 contaiumg brood. ^ I had an esceUent opportunity of testing the fact this sum- mer. Most of my strong supered stocks swarmed— some more than once ; and when cutting out the queen cells belore re- placmg the swarms, I particularly noticed that the two outside combs were not bemg used for breeding, but most of them weie qmte fiUed with sealed honey. I thus lost a quantity of honey which I could have sold for Is. Gd. per lb., and have I'eplaced with syrup at a cost of Sd. per lb., and at the same tune prohted by the advantages pointed out m the article. Last wmter 1 lost three of my best stocks during tl^^* 1°°^/',°^* ^J^^^j^ starvation; although each had nearly 12 lbs. of honey left m the side combs, that in the centre ones had been all consumed. 164 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 15, 187-2. If I had eai'ried out my plan tlio autumu-given sjTup woh1<1 have been deposited in the middle combs, and mj' stock have been saved. I should much esteem youi' reconsideration of this matter, and Mr. Lowe and " B. & W." perhaps would also favour me with their opinion. The question is. Would the bees in a supered colony prefer to breed or to store honey in the end combs of the stock hive? I should like to mention a curious incident that happened to me last season. I had in my apiary a colony of black bees, the queeu of which had been killed for the purpose of adding a Liguriau that I had bred in a nucleus ; upon opening it to take her out I found the bees ill-treating her. I dispersed them, and was about to take hold of her when she suddenly took wing, and I had the mortification of seeing my queen, after making a few circles in the aii', fly clean away. I closed the nucleus and watched till dark, but saw nothing more of her. Judge, then, of my surprise when, upon opening my black stock the next afternoon, I found my queen comfortably settled in the very hive I had intended to join her to ! Although there were ten others aU in a row, she had selected the only one of the num- ber that had no queen. Accident or sagacity, do you think ? — The Bee-hive. OUR LETTER BOX. Books (A, Atkim). — Eaton's volume is out of print. French and German Periodicals (M. Henderson).— V^g know of none such as you mention. DcNDEE Poultry Show.— The address of Mr. J. Stuart, who won the first prize and cup for Brahma chickens, is Thistlebank, Helensburgh, not Scour- inghum, as printedlast week. Dublin Pigeon Show {Bfporter). — "We cannot admit replies to the state- ments in a contemporaiy. {N. B. C. .?.). — The name cannot be given, nor can we insert any more notes on the subject. Promoting Laying (J. S.). — Your communication confirms us in our olJ opinion, that good moderate feeding is all that is necessary for laying fowls. Kie green food has much to do with it. We are very infants in the use of it compared with our neighbours on the Continent. We [,tow backward turnips on purpose to give the greens to our poultry and Pheasants, and they like it in preference to anything. Roosts for Bhahmas [A. B. G.).— Our Brahma perches ai-e made of fii- poles 14 inches in diameter, sawn in half, and fastened the round side upper- most. They are 20 inches from the ground. Most of the fowls roost on them, but some prefer the ground, and to prevent that we place some old roots of trees in the house. The only objection to these last is, they take consider- able time to clean eveiy m ming. The birds prefer pexxhes with the bark on them. Moving a Broody Hen (F. T. W.). — There is always difHctdty in moving a broody hen unless much care is taken. She should be moved in a very low dai-k basket with plenty of soft straw, that she may keep very warm. Put her in a low basket ivith 4 or 5 inches of soft straw under her, place her on some false eggs, and tie her down. Put her in a dark place. If she intends to sit, she will when the basket is opened give unmistakeahle tokens by grunting and growling ; If she does not, she will at once fly out and leave her eggs. If she shows a disposition to sit close, leave her on the dumb eggs (worthless ones if you have no artificial ones) for a day or two, and then put good eggs under her, but she must he always tied-in. Addled Eggs (GrassendaU). — The cock being with the bens a week before the e:;;gs were saved for sitting was long enough, but at the season of the year when the eggs were laid cocks are not attentive to all the hens, especially if the latter are numerous, and those you mention were certainly not impreg- nated. The Andalusians are quite distinct from the Minorcas. A slaty blue, with dark hackle in the cocks, is their colour. They are not uncommon. Wounded Comb (G. L.~P.). — If you intend to exhibit the bird you must not interfere with his comb, except to heal it, but you must keep it upright, which may be done with straps of adhesive plaister. If you have no inten- tion of exhibiting you may remove the piece that hangs down, but we should try to save it. Brahma Hen's Abdomen Swollen (J. W. T.). — Your poultiy diet will make the fowls fat, and induce constipation, esx)ecially as you do not mention green food. Very often the appearance you mention is caused by hard ftecal matter. Cut away the feathers to which it adheres, or soften them with hot water, and give her a dessert- spoonful of castor oil. If it be a tumour on the outside the hen's body, it can be easily removed if it be an ordinary one. Make a cruciform opening the size of the tumour, and press it at the base, a round hard cheesy substance will be expelled. Wash the wound with warm water, draw the hps of the wound together with a thread, and rub some sper- maceti ointment on it. It will soon heal. Discontinue the potatoes and pollai'd and the wheat. Give plenty of green meat, and some large sods of growing grass, cut with plenty of earth to them. Duck Egg Abnormal (J. N.). — The e/g you mention, weighing 6{ ozs.i with a perfect egg within it, is a curiosity. The double-yolked egg laid after- wards is proof that for the time the laying organs ai-e out of order. Feather-eating Brahmas (S. S.). — Some breeds are addicted to the abominable practice you complain of, but we have never found it in Brahmas. Discontinue the beer and the kitchen scraps. On the days of confinement give green food plentifully, and watch for the worst offender; remove bim or her. You will he imahle to stop it while the bare spots remain, especially if they are raw; and as Brahmas do not suffer from confinement, we advise you to take all the birds that have suffered and shut them up sintrly till the feathers are grown. They have done it for lack of something, and in a short time they will forget it. Dark and Light Brahmas (AUpirdtis). — We ai ence in the laying of Light and Dark Brahmas, We beUeve some of the imported Light Brahmas ones we see commonly. We cannot do better that ing columns, ad\'ising you to choose from the names that are most commonly found among the successful exhibitors in the classes you mention. Brahma Stock (Just Commencing). — There is no objection to yoiu: Brahma cock having a speckled breast. The best birds we ever had had them. The vulture-hocked hen is a much more serious matter, and there is every pro- bability her chickens will have the same faidt. She would, probably, be dis- qualified in competition with others not vultui-e-hocked. B.UIBS AT WoLTERH-iMPTON. — " CuHoui " wishcs to know to whom the first-prize pen belonged. Canaries {R. K).— Write to W. A. Blaiston, Esq., 22, Norfolk Street, Sunderland. Prairie Birds iA Constant It^ader).~-Vi'e beUeve the idea that they are sometimes poisonous on account of a herb they have eaten, is totally ground- less. e not aware of any differ- >r in the size of the eggs. axe heavier than the Dark . refer you to our advertis- METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, Camden Square, London. Lat. 51° 32' 40" N. ; Long. 0= 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feet. Date. | i.M. In the Day. is^a- sSl-s Hyprnme- Direc- 1 Temp, tion of of Soil Wind, at 1 ft. eu-j., T^™ 1 Radiation 3 Feb. ita"- In On Cc! laS*" Dry. Wet. Max. Min. grass iTnctes. deg. deif. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. In. 29.977 45 9 43.4 N.W. 44.4 53.5 43.2 89.2 398 0.17O Th. 8 29.954 48.2 474 S. 44.8 53.9 43.9 77.1 38.2 Fri. 9 29.967 40.4 40.4 N. 441 55.2 35.4 79.6 30.8 Sat. 10 29.949 48.2 46.3 S.E. 43.7 57.0 39.8 72.4 89.8 — Sim.ll 29.825 46.3 44.2 S. 43.9 51.8 41.0 62.0 36.5 Mo. 12 i 29.6C8 41.5 39.2 s. 44.1 50.0 37.0 75.2 32.5 0.030 Tu. IS 1 29.780 42.8 426 S.E. 43.5 53.5 38.2 81.2 31.0 0.093 Means 1 29.875 44 8 43.4 441 53.0 39.8 77.1 35.5 0.290 REMARKS. 7th. — Bright and dry in the morning, and so continued till after 5 p.m.; a^ 6.45 rain commenced, and was followed by a wet evening. 8th. — Rather damp morning, but beautiful day, dry and warm with fine sun- set, though rather hazy afterwai-ds. 9th. — A very fiie day, dry, bright, and warm. 10th, — Fine all day, pleasant air, and starlit night. 11th. — Rather dull in morning, fair all day, but not quite as bright as the pre- ceding day. 12th.— Fine morning, but getting more and more duU after noon ; rain between 7 and 8 p.m., which continued for some time. 13th.— Dull in early morning, but clearing off before 9 a.m., bright sunny day, but rather cold ; rain after midnight. With genei-ally finer weather, the range of temperature has naturally con- siderably exceeded that of previous weeks ; the mean range in shade has in- creased from 8.0- to 13.8-, and that of the exposed thermometers from 23.6"' to 41.6\~G. J. Si-MONS. COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— Febrcart 14. A steady regular demand has characterised the transactions of the week, and a continuous supply enables all parties to be sei-ved. Continental supplies are well kept up and ai'e very useful; from the Azores there has beeit a good freight of Pines again, and some good Bananas. Hothouse Grapes comprise Gros Guillaume, Black Hamburgh, Lady Downe's, and Trebbiano, the latter, however, not first-rate, andunsaleable'from its brown colour. First- class Regent Potatoes obtain a better price; in all other kinds the trade 1& hea^T. FRUIT. Apples isieve 2 Apricots doz. 0 Cherries lb. 0 Chestnuts bushel 10 Currants i sieve 0 Black do. 0 Figs, .doz 0 6 10 Qu FUberta lb. Cobs lb. 0 6 10 Raapbi Grapes, Hothouse... Gooseberries quart Melons Mulberries. Nectarines aoz. u Oranges ^100 4 Peara, ki tchen doz, 2 dessert doz. 3 > Apples each 0 OtoO 0 Lemons ^100 7 0 10 0 lb. 0 Walnuts bushel 10 ditto ^100 1 doz. 0 0 0 & ..lb. 0 0 0 O VEGETABLES. .Kidney per lOi) 3 0 5 0 Broad bufihel Beet, Red doz. Broccoli bundle Brussels Sprouts. .i sieve Cabbage doz. Capsicums ^100 Carrots bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Coleworts.. doz. buncbes Cucumbers each pickling doz. Endive doz. Fennel bunch Garlic lb. Herbs bunch Uorseradiuh bundle Leeks bunch Lettuce doz. Mushrooms pottle Mustard & Cress, .punnet 16 9 0 I Parsley per doz. bunches 3 0 4 0 10 16 1 Parsnips doz. 0 9 18 0 0 0 0 I Peas quart 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 1 Pcta KidQ . bushel 2 0 S 0 Fadi.'ihes.. doz. bunches 0 Rhubarb bundle 0 Savoys doz. 0 Sea-sale basket 1 Shallots lb. 0 Spinach bushel 3 Tomatoes doz. 0 Turnips bunch 0 Vegetable Marrows. .doz. 0 Febmary 22, 1872. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE G.tRDENEH. WEEKLY CALENDAR. DST Day Clock ] Day 1 Uonth of ^ FEBEUAEY 22—28, 1872. Week. tore near London. 48 yeara.l Rises. Sets. Rises. Sets. Age. San. Year. Day. Night. Days. m. h. 1 m. h. m. h. m. h. Days, m. a. 22 Th Meeting of Eoyal Society, 8.30 p.m. 46.8 S1.9 39.3 4af725af5 7af3 39af 6 13 63 23 F 47.4 31.5 39.4 16 4 21 S 47.1 32.8 39.9 20 0 7 29 5 29 5 31 7 O 13 81 55 25 47.7 82.7 40.2 22 67 6 1 30 5 42 6 47 7 16 13 22 66 26 M Meeting of Royal Geographical Society, 47.2 83.6 40.4 23 55 6 32 5 65 7 27 To 8.30 P.M. 47.7 33.5 40.6 20 9 9 28 W Meeting of Society of Arts, 8 p.m. 49.1 32.8 40.9 15 62 6 35 5 1 27 10 1 1 85 8 19 12 51 59 From observations taken neai Lonflon during forty-three years, the average day temperature ot the week is 47.6° ; and its night temperature 32.7°. ] The greatest heat was 62^, on the 25th, 1868; and the lowest cold IS', on the 24th, 1860. The greatest faU of ram was 0.92 mch. 1 NOTES UPON FEENS.— No. 1. UR con-espondent "Ptekis" lias, in a letter to us upon Feru-ciiltiu'e for amateiu's, opened up a very wide subject, tlis remarks in it are good, and the siiliject is a popular one ; but to oaiTy out what lie wishes would take up immense space ; indeed, the subject is so vast that a volume might be written upon it without exhaustrng it. Briefly, however, as the details of the vaiious parts of these plants must of necessity be treated upon in the pages of a Joui'nal like ours, I shall, nevertheless, endeavour to deal with the subject so that the amatetu' may take up the study and prosecute it, even in a strictly scientific manner, should there be occasion for so doing. I may state here, to prevent my being suspected of plagiarism, that many of the ideas and descriptions will be tbund to coincide — nay, may even be couched in veiy similar terms to those of Mr. J. Smith in his various wiitings upon Ferns. But as I acquii-ed my knowledge of these elegant plants under the tuition of that eminent pteridologist, and had the pleasm-e of assisting him to some extent in liis last work upon Ferns,-'- and am a staunch believer in his views, it wUl be readily understood why there is a similarity. I consider the characters ob- tained from habit of growth, in conjunction with the Tenation and the dispo.sition of the sori, as more likely to lead to just conclusions for pm-poses of classification than it is possible for anyone to obtain by adopting only one of these organs as a guide. A study of the Uving plant, in my estimation, is of vast importance in deteiTaining both generic and specific distuictions. It is the custom of some of oiu' eminent hving botanists to speak slight- ingly of those who do not confine then- studies to her- barium specimens, calling them mere garden botanists ; but I am aware of several cases in which those systematic botanists who beheve only in dried specimens would have committed giievous errors, and published them to the world too, if they had not been put right by " mere garden botanists." Do not tliink that I depreciate herbarii-im specimens ; on the contraiy, I value them highly, but I consider they should be used conjoLatly -with living plants upon all possible occasions. To resume my subject, however, it is necessary to come back to the Ferns, of some of which none of my readers will be entirely ignorant. The immense number of new species which have been introduced to Europe dimng the past thirty years is sufficient evidence of the general favom- in wliich these plants are held. Popular as they have become, our eoiTespondent " Pteris " assui'es us that there yet remams amongst amateurs a gi-eat lack of knowledge of their general structure, their various organs, and the relation of these organs to each other, as well as of the wants and treatment of the plants. It is to supply this want, therefore, that these lines are -written. If a knowledge of the name and native habitat of any plant, together with its medicinal or economic properties, * FeruR, British and Foreign, by John Smith- Loudon : Hardwicke. No. 569.— Vol. XSII., New Semes. fail not to give it additional interest in the sight of the owner, how much, then, must that interest be increased when the pecuUaritj' of each particular organ is well un- derstood? What a gi'eat assistance tliis is also to ama- teur cultivators who have not the command of plant houses of varied temperatm-es, in enabling them to expe- rimentaUse with their pets until the proper situation is found to suit their requii'ements. That this knowledge is not absolutely necessai-y I admit, for I have kno-wn several men who, -without being acquainted -with either the name or native country, have yet been skQfnl culti- vators, yet the fact tliat tlaeir success would have been more sure, and the results more rapidly seciu'ed, had the natural suiToimdings of any strange plant been familiar to them, cannot be denied. Many amateurs shrink fi'om the study of the natural history of their plants, from the supposition that the technical plu-ases are difficult to acquii'e and understand. Tliis, however, is rather an imag-Inary than a real difficulty, as I have frequently found the veiy person who complains most of the hard terms employed by botanists converses most ghbly upon the beauty of Hyacinths, CameUias, Fuchsias, Geraniums, and Dahhas, entirely forgetting that these are foreign word.? which have become naturaUsed by frequent use. Though I do not contend that pure systematic botany is essential to a good education, or hkely to interest or be of great sei-vice to the public generally, yet a knowledge of the properties and organs of plants, which may be designated " domestic botany," tends to give much pure enjoyment, elevates the mind, and enables us ail better to fulfil our duties in life. With these preliminary remarks I shall leave the generaUties, and confine my remarks specially to the subject of Ferns, of which our correspondent "Pteris" desires to obtain for himself and fiiends some iufoiina- tion. — ExPEETO Crede. CULTURE OF THE IXORA. In many respects none of our stove plants sm-passes or even equals the Ixora. 'WTien properly managed it is rarely without a few tnisses of bloom, whatever the time of year. It is of easy culture where the necessary con- veniences exist, and -mil amply repay any attention it may receive. It is rarely we see weU-gi'own specimens of these beautiful plants amongst amateurs, thougli some of our well-known exhibitors show them in perfection ; but taking amateiU's generally, the plant is almost un- known to many of them. And why is it so ? The same old tale : " I bought a plant and have lost it ; I -will not buy another, we cannot gi'owit." These are expressions I have often heard used in speakiog of many of our beau- tifiil and fi'ee-gi'o-wing stove and other plants, and yet failure in their cultiu'e is not the fault of the plants but of the gi'ower. The Ixora is of easy culture, pro-vided there is a proper house to grow it in ; if such does not exist it is useless to make the attempt ; but give it a httlo careful attention, together -with a well-heated house, and I know of no other plant that will afford more satisfaction. Perhaps a few No. lj:l.— Vol. XL VII., Old Series. JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febraiu7 22, 1872. liiuts will lie acceptable to some who have hitherto been un- successful. Isoras are evergreen flowering slimbs, and therefore do not reqnii'e to be dried-off in winter or to be allowed a period of rest. They delight in a moist warm atmosphere, and in abimdanee of bright sunshine ; in fact, exposing the plant to the rays of the sun is highly necessai-y, in order that the growth may be matured and the buds set. The Ixoras will grow and bloom profusely in winter, as well as in summer, although it is not advisable to force them much in winter, especially if they are required for exhibition. If, however, they are kept in a moist and warm atmosphere they will pro- duce a quantity of bloom, which is very cheering in the di'eary months of winter, aud whether flowering in the summer or winter, their beautiful trusses are always acceptable. Before jiroceeding further I would again say, Do not attempt to cultivate Ixoras imlcss you have a stove or hot-water pit where they can have plenty of heat and atmospheric moisture, and where you can apply the svi'inge freely. I know of no other iilant that delights more in being freely and often syringed, and frequent syringing wiU prevent the occurrence of those enemies by which the Ixoras are most liable to be attacked — viz., mealy bug, green fly, and brown scale. I do not believe any bhght-eomposition is so effective as clean water, a sj'ringe, and a heart to use it. The neglect of these has caused the untimely end of many a beautiful plant, and I cannot impress too strongly on the minds of amateurs and gardeners the necessity of fre- quently using the syi-inge aud clean water. If they did so they would not require half the bhght-compositions that are now prepared, many of which injure the plants more than the insects. Let us now suppose we have just purchased a healthy young plant of an Ixora free from insects, and in a thriving state. Give directions to the person you purchase it from that it shall be warmly and securely packed, so that it may not be injured in transport. When it arrives place it iu the stove, say in a temperature of 65° to 75°, and see that it is regularly watered and syringed with water of the same temperature as the house. It is essential — to say nothing of the convenience — to have a tank in every stove, so that the water used both in syringing aud watering may be of the same temperature as the house. In a week or two the plant, if aU go well, will begin to show signs of fresh growth, and should, consequently, be examined to see whether it requires shifting into a larger pot. If such is necessaiy prepare the soU for potting. I have found the best mixture to be eqiral parts of fresh turfy peat and half- decayed turfy yellow loam, with a free admixture of sharp sUver sand, adding a few lumps of charcoal about the size of a walnut. Prepare the pot, placing three or four large crocks at the bottom, then fill to a fourth part of the pot's depth with smaller crocks, and place a layer of the roughest of the soU over these. Tui-n the plant out of its pot, remove aU the old crocks from the bottom of the ball, aud if the roots are matted round the ball loosen them very carefully, so that you wiU thus in some degree break the ball, for if this were left mi- broken the plant might suffer in consequence of the water being unable to pass through it. Place the plant in the middle of the pot, and in such a position that the old ball will be about an inch below the rim ; fill-in aU round with the com- post, give the pot a few smart taps on the potttng-board, and if the plant is a good-sized specimen use a rammer in the shape of a thick stick a foot long, so that the soU may be firmly and evenly pressed-in. Finish-off the top neatly and evenly. All being now completed, replace the plant iu the stove ; and if the foregoing hints are attended to I have every reason to think that success will be certain. I may add that for estabUshed plants I have often found a little manure water very beneficial, and, when I can obtain them, I'use cow-droppings diluted in water, and used in a clear state not more than once a-week. — T. B. FORCING VEGETABLES.— No. G. BHUBAEB, SEA-KALE, ASD MUSHEOOMS. As the two first-named vegetables have been so often treated of by Mr. Fish and other writers at different times, I feel that it is unnecessary for me to go into the details of then- treat- ment. I may, however, mention that although both Sea-kale and Rhubarb are very successfully forced in more ways than one, I still advise the old plan of forcing in the open ground as being the best both for produce and flavour. In that way there is no mutilation of the roots, nor are the plants checked or robbed of any of then- stored-up juices ; and if gradually forced with a mild heat, as such vegetables always should be, they will continue to produce a good second, and even a third crop, without damaging to any great extent their power of pro- ducing a successful one by forcing again the following year. But where there is a scarcity of heating material, such as dung aud leaves, then the plan of taking up the roots and forcing them in any artificially heated structirre may be resorted to with good success. In making-up my out-door beds I avoid using the manure too fresh, and if possible I mix half leaves with it to prevent the produce from tasting of the manure. In the case of Rhubarb and Asparagus I find that which is sent to table irnblanched is much preferred to that which is sent blanched, and is said to be of a much better flavour. This I do not doubt, and it is certainly better in appearance when it has a more natural colour. To very many growers, however, economy in space and also iu forcing is absolutely necessary. To such the method of taking up the roots and forcing them iu close quarters is commendable, the way of doing which may be found iu some of the back numbers of this Journal. Coming now to Mushroom-gi'owing, we have a more delicate and important subject, of which I pm'pose treating iu detail. I do not suppose I shah state anything but what most gar- deners of good experience already know. Mushi-oom-growing, however, is very much on the increase, and it is for the many persons who do not know how to gi'ow Mushr-ooms that the following directions are given. In order to be better understood, we will suppose that Mush- rooms are required for table the whole year round, when it wUl be proper to commence in the month of August, at the time that out-door cultivation ceases. My plau is to first give the Mushi-oom house a thorough cleansing by clearing out all rubbish, washing the woodwork, aud whitewashing the walls, by searching every hole or crevice for woodlice, crickets, and other enemies to the Mushroom, aud by fumigathig with to- bacco aud two or three times with suljihur, in order to destroy any winged insect that is likely to prove destructive. A^Tiile this is being done, collect aU the fresh horse-droppings that are to be had from the stables until enough are procured for the size of the bed. Place them in an open shed or under some protection from wet, which should not in any case be allowed to reach them, turn the manure frequently, and mix it well. When the strongest heat has abated I add a third of leaves partly decayed, and after mixing these well with the dung I consider it is ready to form into abed. If the bed is to be formed on the ground floor I first lay just enough rough material to keep the manure clear of the cold earth, then put on a layer 6 inches thick over the bed, and either beat it well with a mallet, or even tread it if the mamrre will allow of it. Afterwards I add another layer or two, and each time repeat the operation of treading or beating down, so as to reduce the bed to a solid mass of the requisite thickness, which with me is generally from 1 foot to 14 inches. After this insert two or three trial sticks into the bed, and examine them frequently. If all go on well, in five days or a week the bed will be fer- menting mildly and regularly. When the proper heat has been secured uniformly over the bed, which can be very neaiiy ascertained by the trial sticks or else by a thermometer, which should indicate 80° F. or even 85° Fah., the bedmay be prepared for spawning. First harden the surface by gently beating with the spade, and then make holes with a large wooden dibble about .3 inches square with a small but short point. These should be about 2 inches deep, 3 inches in diameter, and about 8 mches apart, and at regular intervals all over the bed. Allow the bed to remain in this state about two days, when the inside of the holes will be dry aud in a fit state to receive the spawn, which may be put-in in one piece or several. Every hole should be filled with it, and have it well beaten into them afterwards. Cover the bed with a thiu layer of the short dung, and make it firm and level. In about ten days or ai fortnight examine the holes, and if the spawn has spread well into the material of the bed it may be earthed-over and finished-ofif. I think it will be well to say a few words on earthing the beds, because on this their success or failure greatly depends. In the first place, the earth used should be a rich, moderately retentive maiden loam. If this be too light it will not remain firm on the bed, the Mushrooms will therefore be weak and of inferior quaUty, aud the bed will cease bearmg much earlier ; but if the soil be heavy it can be made solid on the rebraary 22, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 167 huOi, and the Muslirooms mil be thicker in texture, finer, aud the bed vdR produce a good crop and keep in bearing a long time. Again, the earth should neither be too dry nor too wet, but in such a state of moisture as to present a smooth siu'face ■when beaten down, and should be put on the bed about 2 inches thick. I may mention that it is necessary to be very particular in the selection and working-up the materials for the growth of Mushrooms. It is one of the most curious and delicate opera- ■tions in gardening, for if the bed becomes too hot after spawn- ing, or if the materials are worked-up in too wet a state, the ■chances are that the spawn will be much mjured if not entirely destroyed by these two extreme.?. If destroyed by heat, fresh spawn must be inserted when the material has declined to the proper temperatm-e ; but when too wet the bed must be worked np again, and fresh dry material added. The after-treatment of the beds depends in a great measure upon the sort of house they are placed hi. If there are hot- water pipes, the heating of which should be properly under -control, it will not be always necessary to use a covering of hay or straw, which generally serves as a breeding place for woodlice and other pests. If used at all it need only be -very thinly scattered over the bed, the principal object being to keep the surface of the bed in a uniform state of tempera- ture aud moistui-e. In a house of fair dimensions containing four or more beds at work very little heating by the hot-water pipes will be necessary, unless the weather is severe or the ■crop is required to be pushed fonvard. I prefer to grow my Mushrooms without fire heat, as they are then more fleshy, the bed lasts longer in bearing, and very little if any -watering is required. This latter process should not be done without good judgment, as it is easy to overwater a bed and ki11 the spawn, or cool it so much that the bed will not recover its original temperature. Water should be appUed in a warm state, and put on the bed by sprinklings witli a fine syringe or a fine-rosed water-pot, with the greatest caution, or the httle Mushrooms just peeping through will be injured so much as to turn brown and die away. The temperature of the house should be kept very regular, and not above 55° nor below 50". To keep up a proper succession of Mushrooms much must •of cour.se depend upon the demand, but as a rule it will be sufficient to spawn a new bed eveiy month, as the beds will ■not all work alike. Sjme produce in five weeks, while another ■will be seven or even eight weeks before doing so ; but as a good bed generally keeps in bearing a long time no blank wUl occur .•from such irregularity, unless the demand should be excessive at one particular time. I think I have now given the principal details of the culture of Mushrooms in a regular Mushroom house, which is the best place to grow them in through the autumn and winter months. I have not, however, spoken of ventilation, the means of ap- plying which are not always pro-vided for. In a Mushroom liouse a little air at times is necessary, and if given with caution it ■will prove an additional help to regulate the temperature of the house. There should also be the means provided tor excluding ■the light, as it appears more natiiral for Mushrooms to grow in the dark, though I am not sure that it is so. They have, however, a much better appearance, and some assert that they are better flavoured. A Mushroom house is one of the least .expensive structures to have about a garden both in the work- ing and construction ; but there are, nevertheless, very many large gardens where Mushrooms are gi-owu without one, though it is hardly fan- to expect a gardener to keep up a supply without such a convenience. In this case the spawn is imperfectly worked; the beds, too, even if made up in proper succession, ■will often come into bearing aU at one time, and frequently not at all. I have intended the above remarks only to apply to the culture of Mushrooms through the autumn, winter, and spring months, the time when there is generally the greatest demand ior them. For summer cultivation a Mushroom house is not so much needed, and I believe many gardeners, myself among "the number, do not use it at that time, but grow their crops out of doors ■with little protection beyond a covering of rough litterj' straw or bracken to shelter the bed from excessively heavy rains, and to keep the temperature regular. The beds are made up in various forms, suited to the spot selected for them, but the ridge-shape is that usually employed, aud from such beds Mushrooms are produced in great quantities. There are very many ways of growing Mushrooms. My first attempt was by forming a bed in a small stokehole over the boiU r with spa^wn of my o^svn making. I have also gi'own them in large pots plunged in a bed of leaves in a forcing vinery. Some grow them in boxes, tubs, or even old hampers, and place them in a Peach house at work, or any other con- venient place where artificial heat can be given them. Others make-up beds in cellars, which prove to be very good places generally, because of the ease -nith which an even temperatui-e can be maiutained. Others, again, w'ho can spare a frame, insert spa^wn in a well-spent Melon or Cucumber bed with not very unsatisfactory results. StUl, as I have before hinted, such modes are only chance methods of keepmg up a supply, though they answer excellently where an unUmited and regular supply is not the main object, and to those who have no Mushi'oom house, or even the convenience of getting materials for good beds, such a system is to be recommended. It should be re- membered, however, that m whatever way they are groivn, the same care in selecting and working-up the materials, aud also in the makiug-up aud regulating tlie temperature of the beds, must be very strictly attended to, in which case success is pretty sm'e to follow. — Thoiias Record. VINE DISEASE AND VINE STOCKS. (Concluded from page 142.) Several years since I became convinced that the great cause of the dechne of the Grape Vine iu the United States, was re- ferable to a large extent to some disease affecting the roots. I examined the roots of a number of varieties, and found that those varieties possessing thick succulent roots were the most unhealthy. Among those examined I found that the Concord had the finest and most wiry roots ; and without recognising the disease, I resolved to use the Concord as a stock for both native and foreign varieties, and I think that in the autumn of 1868 I directed the attention of your readers to the advantages that would probably result from the use of the Concord as a stock for varieties of Vitis vinifera. Since the publication of the valuable articles on the Grape louse, I am more than ever convinced of the importance of workhig the more valuable varieties upon the Concord. If this pest has obtained a foot- hold iu England, I fear its ravages will become general ; for dm^ing one of its stages of existence, that of the Grape-leaf gaU, it may be easily disseminated on the growing plants, and at certain periods when it possesses w'ngs it may be wafted by the ■wind from place to place. Again, when the Vme is dormant the pest has its home on the roots, and it may be widely dis- persed by the distribution of Vines from an infected nursery. Observation having taught me that the want of success in Vine culture in this country was the sequence of some disease of the roots of the Vine, during the summer of 1868 I inarched a number of foreign varieties on Concord stocks growing in pots. In the spring of 1869 I planted a lean-to house 120 feet long with Vines upon their own roots, and ■with others in- arched on Concord stocks. The first year (1869) they made a satisfactory gi-owth ; the second season (1870) all promised well untU about the beginning of July, when I found that those on their o^wn roots did not gi-ow so rapidly as the worked Vines. My cmiosity being excited I examined the roots of the Vines, aud found those of the unworked varieties presented evident traces of disease, whilst those of the Concord stocks were per- fectly healthy. Being famUiar with the work of Mr. Thomson, I naturally referred the diseased condition to fungoid growths. But the conditions then found I can now refer to the actual cause— the Grape louse. The worked and unworked varieties were gro^wing side by side. In the latter part of October a h^ving fibre could not be found on a foreign Vine within 2 feet of the collar ; and to test the condition of the larger roots I pulled up two of the Vines, and to my surprise found the large roots dead. A careful examination of the roots of the Concord stocks revealed the fact, that even the smallest fibres were healthy. From my vinery I proceeded to my garden, and examined the roots" of Concord, Ives' Seedling, aud Christine, all native, and supposed healthy and vigorous varieties. The roots of the first I found healthy, aud those of the latter much diseased. I was anxious to find a reason, and recoDected that the preceding spring I had manured my garden with manure containing a small quantity of sawdust, and jumped at the conclusion that the sawdust had produced fungoid disease. Upon carefully examining the Vines in the vinery I found that the varieties that had suffered to the gi-eatest extent were Hamburghs, Black Alicante, Eoyal Ascot, Golden Hamburgh, and Mrs. Pinoe's Muscat. During the summer of 1870, as I expected to change my place of residence, I propagated a number of foreign varieties by cuttuigs, and grew them m large 168 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE G.ARDENER. [ Febraary 22, 1872. pots in the affected house, training the young Vines between the branches of those growing in the border. I likewise in- arched a number of the diseased Vines on Concord stocks grown in 8-inch pots for that purpose. About the 1st of November the Vines on their own roots, as well as those on the Concord stocks, were placed on the floor of the vinery, and covered with a sufficient thickness of straw to effectually ex- clude the frost ; the result was — I protected the Vine louse, and enabled the pest to prey upon my Vine roots during the winter. I disposed of my residence, and in March made pre- parations to pack uj) my valuable collection of pot-grown Vines and transport them to my new home. To my surprise and disgust, I found the roots of my Vines dead to the coUar in almost every case where they were unworked. The worked Vines, on the contrary, were found to be healthy. Again fun- goid disease came to my assistance, although the Vines had been grow-n in a compost consisting of decayed sods and half- inch bones. On the 10th of last May I finished a span-roofed vinery .5.5 feet long, and planted it with the inarched Vines raised in 1870, and with a few Vines upon their own roots. The border was made of green turf cut 3 inches thick, to which were added half a ton of crushed bones and 200 lbs. of superphosphate of lime. Although the border was made of fresh sods, and the Vines were planted on the 10th of May, they made a satisfactory growth. The Vines on their own roots, except Golden Champion, made a growth of 13 to 20 feet; but most of the worked Vines crossed to the opposite side of the house, making a growth of 28 feet, the canes being large, firm, close-jointed, and ripened to the tip. When the canes reached the opposite side of the house they were stopped, or else I might have re- corded the production of longer canes. Among some of the varieties maldng the strongest and longest growth on the Concord I may mention Golden Champion, Black Monukka, White Froutignan, Black Muscat of Alexandiia, Gros Cohnan, Black Hamburgh, and Bowood Muscat. Having noticed in the Journal that the Golden Champion failed in some places to make a satisfactory growth, I resolved upon trying an experiment with this variety. I planted a strong Vine of this variety upon its own roots, and two on Concord stocks grown in 8-inch pots. The Vine on its own roots made a growth of 5 feet, wood spongy and imperfectly ripened. One Vine on Concord produced a stout cane 25 feet long, close- jointed, soUd, and ripened to the tip. The other Vine made two canes, one 23 feet long, and the other 28 feet long ; the latter 3J inches in circumference, firm, close-jointed, and per- fectly ripened to the last joint. I may again direct the attention of your readers to the ad- vantages of using a few of the American C-rrapes as stocks. They will grow luxuriantly in a soil where the European varie- ties would languish and die. They are almost exempt from the ravages of the Vine louse, and if attacked seem to sustain but little if any injury. They are injured to the same extent as foreign varieties by defective drainage. To insiu-e a vigorous growth a limited extent of border will supply their wants. In this country the Concord is known as " the Grape for the Million," and it can be found growing with the utmost vigour in almost every portion of the United States, in all kinds of soil, and in every situation — in fact, it flourishes and annually produces large crops of fruit where other varieties would languish and die. After having inarched a large number of varieties upon the Concord I have found but three varieties that seem to dislike the connection — the Wantage, SjTian,and Nice. As it is more than probable that you wiU be troubled with the Grape louse in England, I sincerely hope that some of your leading Grape- growers will test the value of the Concord as a stock. If dis- posed to experiment with it, I would only be too happy to for- ward cuttings of the Concord to any of your leading Grape- growers ; and as you have my name and address, you are at liberty to communicate the same to those desirous of experi- menting. The researches of Mr. Eiley during the summer of 1871 in France with regard to the introduction of the plant louse, render it almost conclusive that its introduction was the re- sult of importing American Vines into France. Hence, 1 would advise your Grape-growers to be careful, and if they reqnu-e Vines from the United States to be satisfied to receive cut- tings, and allow rooted Vines to remain on this side of the Atlantic. Having discovered my enemy, I shall make him a study, and at some future time I may have something more to say about the Vine louse, and my hobby the Concord Grape as a stock.- AlFkesco, Neic Jersey/, U.S. CHEMISTRY OP MANUEE. Though agreeing with " J. S. K." in the main, yet I cannot accept all the dicta of agricultural chemists as to manures. I know many of your readers will tliink I have a maggot in my brain on this subject, and I am only now m a measure repeat- ing what I have already said. There is a degree of simplicity in valuing manures altogether by the nitrogen they contain,, that seems to recommend itself on this score. Plants cannot absorb nitrogen from the air — plants require nitrogen for their growth — ammonia contains nitrogen — therefore nitrogenous manures are valuable in proportion to the ammonia or nitrogen they contain. There is something delightfully simple and easy in this mode of argument ; but I must say, the more I see, the- more I hear, and the more I read on the subject, the less con- vinced I am it is true. Granted (which is not yet proved, and difficult to prove), that plants cannot assimilate nitrogen from the air — but stiU gi'anted, for the sake of argument, that they cannot — is it to be supposed that when growing plants on an average contain only about 2 per cent, of nitrogen and 50 per cent, of carbon, farmyard manure, for instance, is to be valued merely for the nitrogen when it is rich in carbon in a form easily assimilated, and rich, too, in all the mineral mgre- dients in a soluble, or rather in a minutely subdivided form, as they have already been absorbed and assimilated by other plants ? Is it not true, also, that all nitrogenous manures are easily decomposed ? and may we not argue that just as food which is most easily digested forms the most useful and necessary food for man, so those manures which are most easily decom- posed form the most necessai-y food for plants ? Ammonia is an alkali, a powerful solvent for all forms of carbon. Carbon, we are told, can be taken in by the leaves ; but leaves give off carbonic acid as well as absorb it, and it is veiy questionable whether they do not give off quite as much as they assimilate- for the plant ; and it is more than probable that the greatest bulk of carbon — more than half the weight on an average of all growing crops — is taken in through their roots. Hydi'ogen,. too, is found in growing plants in a gi'eater proportion than nitrogen, not merely as H 0 — that is, in combination with oxygen as water, but in addition. Persons are apt to say this hydrogen is easily obtained from water by decomposition ; but is water easily decomposed ? By no means. It is this valuable property of water which makes it so useful {is a solvent, tliat nearly all chemical salts, spirits, sugars, &e., ai'C soluble in water without abstracting either the oxygen or hydrogen in it. Potassium and sodium are nearly the only known substances which have so great an affinity for oxygen as to decompose water, which they do by hberating hydrogen. We can also decompose water by means of powerful galvanic batteries ; but as a general rule, it may be said that when once hydrogen and oxygen have entered into combination to form water there is no more stable element. I cannot see, then, that the hydrogen which exists in plants in combination w-ith other chemical constituents besides water, can be easily obtained by the de- composition of water ; and 1 believe that one of the important properties of ammonia, which is readily decomposed, is to give a plant hydrogen as weU as nitrogen. Again, if we make nitrogen the basis on which to reckon the value of manure, what becomes of carbonate of lime, super- phosphates, common salt (chloride of sodium), potash, a most powerful manure, and other chemical manures which contain no nitrogen at all? I cannot agree, then, with "J. S. K." that " soot, malt sweepings, nitrate of soda, sulphate of am- monia, guano, all simply depend, or nearly so, on some form of nitrogen for their efficacy. For instance, soot contains carbon in a highly divided, highly soluble form, besides other- important salts. JIalt sweepings contain no great amoxmt of nitrogen but a great amount of easily decomposed carbon. I need not, however, dwell upon this. Iron is certainly an important ingredient in the colouring^ matter of plants, and, though it is very difficult to prove, I cannot help believing that there are certain substances which are taken up by the plants in their sap which may be valuable in helping the plants to assimilate other food, just as many medicines are found to be useful in the human system which are not assimilated into the system, or, at all events, arc not necessary to the human system. We know that plants can ■ take soluble substances not necessary to their existence into TeDruary 22, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 169 fheir tissues through the sap, as expcrimeuts to that effect have beeu tried with colouring matter ; but I do not think our chemical experiments with respect to the physiologj- of plants arc sufficiently adrauced to say whether certain substances may not act at times as stimulants to growth as well as being built up as food ; and I am strongly convinced that ammonia itself acts as a stimulant, and helps in that way to induce gi-owth, just as much as heat and moisture do. I will not add more on this head as it is only speculative, but let me repeat one argument mth respect to nitrogen that I have already used in your columns, and that is, that as nitrogen is the most inert (inactive, that is to say) chemical agent, as its tendency when in combination is always to set itself free again, when it constitutes four-fifths of the air we breathe, and is only of use as a dUuent to mix, as it were, with the oxygen to prevent the oxygen being too powerful — just as we mix water with brandy to make it less injurious — it is con- trary to the whole course of natiu-e to put plants and animals in the midst of this superabundance of nitrogen, to find only a small proportion of it in theii' systems, and yet to argue that the value of manures and foods depends on this nitrogen. Is it not much more likely that it is only relatively of value, because all substances winch contain it are easily decomposed ? — C. P. Peach. Peristrophe salicifolu aureo-variegata. — This has beeu flowering freely in the stove here all winter. I had a few small plants last autumn which were placed in the stove to get up a stock of it by spring for trial in bedding-out, when, to my sur- prise, it commenced flowering. The flowers are of a bright rose colour, but rather insignificant, yet looking extremely pretty mixed with more gaudy flowers in winter. It is worthy of a place among choice plants owing to its lovely foliage ; the leaves are deep green with a golden band in the centre. The plants here are growing in peat and sand. It is a Javanese plant. — James Shith, E.rton Park, Rutland. KEEPIXG GEAPES IN BOTTLES OF WATEE. We have received from Mr. Nesbit, gardener to Sir T. Wlnchcote, Bart., Aswarby Hall, Lmcolnshire, specimens of Lady Do'mie's and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, the former of wliich has been cut and kept in water for sixteen weeks, and the latter eighteen weeks. Both were as plump and firm as if they had been recently cut from the Vine, and were equally succulent ; but there was an evident loss of flavour. The per- fume had quite or all but left the Muscat of Alexandria, which, so far as flavour went, might have been White Tokay ; and Lady Downe's were sweet without bouquet. Notwithstanding these evident deficiencies both sorts were in the most perfect state of preservation, and served as a sufiicient proof that the method of keeping Grapes in water-bottles during winter, though at the ex- pense of flavour in the fruit, affords the advantage of enabling the fruit to be gathered and stored early, while it is preserved in a condition to be served at table as fresh in appearance as when taken from the Vine. We shall be very glad to receive any information on this .subject from those who have practised this plan. A week or two ago we gave a description of the arrangements for this purpose in the gardens of Earl Brownlow, at Belton, where the quantity of water taken up by the Grapes was so great as to burst the berries. — Eds. I H.AVE kept Grapes , Lady Downe's principally, with the ends •of the bunches inserted in bottles of water, for four seasons, and they have kept as well as when left on the Vine. The room in which they are is dark, very little ventilated, and warmed by one of Joyce's patent stoves, in which specially pre- pared charcoal is burned to keep the frost out, though in severe weather the thermometer has sometimes registered 30° Fahr., or 2" of frost. I cut the Grapes between Christmas and New Tcar's-day, and this year I took six very large bunches of Gros GuUlaume, about thirty of Lady Downe's, and twelve of Mrs. Pince. Clear glass bottles are the best to use, as those made of opaque glass cannot be refilled without spilling the water. Mr. Moore says, " Many gardeners of standing doubt the possibility of Grapes taking up water." There is no doubt that they do take up water, as the bottles in which the stalks of Lady Downe's and Mrs. Pince were inserted required refilling twice a-week, but as soon as a bunch was cut the waste of ■water in seven days was scarcely perceptible. As bearing somewhat on Mr. Ferme's statement, the waste of water from the bottles in which were the Gros Guillaume was very little in proportion to that from the bottles in which were Mrs. Pince and Lady Downe's. The reason of this was soon apparent, as the footstalks began to shrivel, and every one of the bunches soon had the appearance of shanking. The berries are still plump, but, as maybe expected, no water is now taken up. The stalks of the other two sorts still remain fresh, and the berries still continue to absorb the same quantity of water. I have never weighed any bunches myself before hanging them up, but it woiild be interesting to do so, then weigh the water they absorb, and afterwards weigh the bunches. I always use rain water with a few lumps of charcoal in the bottle, and have never found the berries crack. I think the system a good one, a great boon to gardeners, and a great saving of fuel to employers. I hope others of our readers will give their experience. — J. Docglas. BOX-EDGING AND THE TEEE BOX. Amongst the many excellent maxims and the sound practical advice which the worthy writer of " Doings of the Last Week" from time to time places before us, there is one to which I am strongly disposed to make an exception, and that is the trim- ming of Box-edgings. " E. F." recommends this to be done in the spring, which is, no doubt, the time most suited to the welfare of the plant, but certainly not the best for cutting in order to secure a neat edging dm-iug the greatest number of months in the j'ear. I make this statement on the assumption that the Box is only cut once a-year, which, with the slow- growing variety generally used for edgings, is in most cases suflicient. If the cutting is done at the end of March or in April, the Box will begin to grow again soon afterwards, and by July wiU have attained nearly its fuU growth, in which con dition it must remain till the following March or AprU. Now although I by no means approve of close-shaven Box-edgings but rather of those which have been trimmed by means of a kind of knife-pruning, still this last mode can only be adopted where the quantity is limited or labour easily obtainable. Assuming, therefore, that the shears have to be used (and I have even known the scythe), the time and mode of doing it, so as to insure the shortest possible period of unsightliness, appears to deserve attention. In my practice the best results have been from the cuttings done in the middle of summer rather than from those made in the spring. At the end of June or thereabouts, when the growth of the season is about half made, the Box should be cut in dull weather, by which means the browning of the newly- exposed leaves by the sun is avoided. When after-growth sets in it gives to the edging the appearance of having grown the required height and width, instead of having been trimmed to it. It quickly attains this condition if the weather be at aU favourable, and from the month of August tUl the following May remains in a great measure stationary. This practice has its drawbacks, for, as showery weather does not always happen when wanted, I have often had to wait tOl late in July, and on one or two occasions later than that. I always try to have it done in time to allow of a little after-growth, as it is more pleasant to look upon this than for a long time on a saw-cut edge. The cutting of it in moist weather can usually be effected by a httle management, and the result will be satisfactory, as it is surprising how quickly the Box recovers its proper hue again compared with what it does in dry weather. It is much to be wondered at, that of the many plants added to our various lists of the useful and ornamental classes there has not been one to compete with the dwarf Box as an edging of a durable kind ; but there are more varieties of Box than one, and now and then an inferior kind gets mixed with the other. In this case the dwarfest variety does not re(iuu-e much clip- ping for some two or three years after being planted ; whereas a stronger grower rushes up several inches high at once. The tree Box proper is also a shrub deserving of cultivation, as it excels in hardiness that of most others. Unfortunately it is of slow growth, and is, therefore, less planted than it ought to be ; but there are places for which it is especially fitted, par- ticularly where rabbits abound ; and althoiigh I have seen Berberis Aquifohum and the common Yew destroyed, and the Rhododendron much injured by these vermin, it is rarely in- deed that they attack the common tree Box. It has often been a mystery to me from whence the Box- 170 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ Febmaiy 22, 1872. ■wood is ottaiued for the mauj- purposes it is said to be applied to. Toys, mathematical instruments, blocks for engi-aving, and a multitude of other articles are made of this choice wood. I believe in years gone by Turkey, Asia Minor, and adjacent countries fm-uished supplies, and perhaps may do so yet. — J. EOESOK. GRAFTING THE WALNUT. As the Walnut wUl not admit of being grafted after every ordinary method, we have tried several others, and have suc- ceeded in effecting what the Society of Agriculture wished, by means of the same treatment as that to which the Oak and the Vine show themselves amenable — a graft in the cleft of a fork. It should be doue in the spring, just as the sap is beginning to flow, and the buds to swell. The grafts are branches of the ]irevious year kept alive in a dark place among gravelly sand, which does not become so day as common earth. The union of two kinds whose course of growth is uneijual should be avoided, the graft being, in eveiy case, of a kind coeval or less advanced in its nature than the stock. It should be from 3 to Cinches in length, and cut at the end into a triangular shape — as in the case of a common giaft, and placed in a cleft made by splitting up the stock as far as the centre of the knot formed at the forking of two branches. These branches should be shortened to about 10 inches, and the ."•hoots ivhich srise from them pinched as the buds of the graft progress, taking care that the earlier leaves are left to draw up- the sap, which they do without starving the graft. In the following August the snags of the stock may be lopped of}' close to the graft, when the scars w ill heal before the fall of the leaves. If the graft be too pithy the cut should be made diagonally, so as to resemble the mouthpiece of a flute, and the bark of the projecting side trimmed off as far as the sapwood. In this case the stock should be cut obliquely, and not vertically. A graft of two- years-old wood at the base will do verj' well for making the cut upon ; but if it be of wood only a year old, care should be taken that it have a terminal bud. The fork in the stock can always easily be obtained by pruning or pinching the leader at the height intended for grafting. — Chakles Baltet (in liidhtin du Circle HorticoU). THE EOYAL HOETICULTUBAL SOCIETY AT BIEMINGHAM. Messes. J. C. 'Wheei.ee & Sox, Seed-growers, of Gloucester and London, have placed at the disposal of the Local Com- mittee for the Bmningham Show of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, the sum of ten guineas, to be oiiered for the best col- lection of plants in pots, in bloom, bearing sweet-scented flowers, such as Eoses, Lilies, Honeysuckles, Stocks, Jasmines, Mignonette,- Violets, Carnations, Pinks, &e., ornamentally gi'ouped. should have ample funds at their disposal, would it not be ad- visable to open a few classes in which prizes should be offered for manufacturers only, of some of the leading articles ? for example, lawn mowers, garden rollers, garden engines, garden seats, vases for different purposes, flower pots ornamental and otherwise, collections of spades, forks, hoes, &c. In addition to these prizes the Judges might visit the stands of all othei- exhibitors and distribute prizes to articles of merit not in- cluded in these classes. — H. It will have been noticed that a resolution was passed at the public meeting, requesting the Local Committee to give their attention in a special manner to the exhibition of horticultural implements, buildings, &c. If the Special Prize Committee AMONG THE CONIFERS.- -No. 3. Near large towns where the ah' is tainted with smoke- Conifers win not thrive. Exist they certainly will, but then- begrimed attenuated appearance is not such as to add to the beauty of the spot on which they are planted. To be callci handsome a Conifer should be clothed at the base with a mass of thick foUage, and should rise upwards, tapeiing gracefully, and being perfectly wanting in heaviness or formality. When walking lately through a nursery near London, I noticed that whilst the Conifers were in poor condition some large breadths of hybrid and Pontieum EhodoJendrons and. green HoUy were in excellent health. It is worthy of note that two such valuable shrubs thrive so well under conditioas tiying to the health of most hardy plants. The various shades of the foUage deserve more attention than has hitherto been given them, as by judicious care in arranging them most charming combinations may be wrought out. Light and shade may here have fuU play, the sombre hue of Taxus baccata, the common Enghsh Yew, finding ample relief from the glaucous foliage of Picea nobUis, or losing aU its heaviness when contrasted with the bright-toned Chinese Juniper — one of the hardiest and most beautiful evergreens in cultivation. Such Pinuses as muricata and insignis with their pleasing green, the Heath-like Eetiuospora ericoides, the varie- gated Biota orientalis elegantissima, and Chamseeyparis sphffiroidea variegata play an important part here. Floweiing- shrubs should also be introduced, and the best for this purjjose are such trees as Acer rubrum, Acer Negundo variegatum, the snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier Botryapium) (valuable both for its flowers and the beauty of its foUage in autimin), the- purple, weeping, and Fern-leaved Beeches, the scarlet and purple Oaks, coeeinea and nigra, and the variegated Elm (Ulmus microphylla variegata), a beautiful, but too-httle-knowu tree, of which there are some fine specimens at The Mote, the seat of the Earl of Romney, near Maidstone. Then there are the Weeping Birch, the Fern-leaved Walnut, Liquidamber, and some of the deciduous Magnohas. With such materials beautiful groups might be formed. This is an interesting work which requires more than a mere superficial acquaintance of the plants on the part of the planter,, whose aim should be so to arrange them that they shall not only produce a pleasing effect in the first instance, but also- annually increase in beauty, individually and collectively. To obtain such a desh'able result there must be no crowding- Close attention also should also be given to the habits of growth, so that they may be graduated from the tallest kinds down to the front ranks, where even the dwarf Savins, tamariscifolia and prostrata, find a place as an appropriate edging. Here come some of the other dwarf-gro^-ing kinds, such as Abies puniila,. pygmfea, and elegans, the dense clanbrasUiana, the pretty Thuja ericoides and many of the Junipers, which form an in- teresting fringe to the taller and more graceful kinds. la addition to these the foUowing afford a rich variety in form, colour, and height: — Abies orientalis, the bright-coloured Thuja (Biota) elegantissima, Chamiecyparis sphteroidea glauca, Cupressus Lawsoniana erecta "viridis, so fine in form and bright in colour, Cupressus Lawsoniana gracilis, Juniperus thurifera, Thujopsis dolabrata, and Abies Albertiana, which with its pendulous branches rivals that of canadensis. Then there is the Weeping Spruce (Abies excelsa inverta), the Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus Cembra), a distinct kind, of a close rigid aspect,, but -nith its branches so disposed as to foi-m a handsome pyramid. It is one of those kinds that acquli-e beauty with- age. Cedrus atlantica, and SaUsburia adiautifolia also deserve a place. Like the Deodar, Cedrus atlantica varies vei-y much in the colour of its foUage, being in some instances of a dull green, and in others of a bright sUvery hue. There are others not so symmetrical in form, but ha-ving beautiful foUage. The most remarkable of these are Pinus Benthamiana -with deep green foliage nearly a foot m length, and Pinus macrocarpa, a valu- able and distinct variety, having long dense foUage of a greyish February 22, 1872. ] JOUKNAL 01' HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 171 blue tiut. These two kinds are ilistinct, and of such lo£ty growth as to be equally valuable for theu- timber as they are for decorative purposes. Besides being used for the purposes aheady noticed, many Conifers may be mtroduced with good effect iuto large rockeries. All the prostrate dwarf kinds, as the common Savin, the dwarf Juniper (Juniperus nana), and the somewhat higher but eiiually spreading Juuiperus squamata, appear to a great ad- vimtage spreading over and among the rocks. Then, too, the pretty dwarf Juniperus hybernica compressa, Thuja ericoides, and other species of a similar compact dwarf habit of growth. blend well either with Ferns or Alpine plants among the nooks and corners of the rocks, while kinds of loftier growth and more graceful habit form a useful shelter. Whenever trees or shmbs are jilanted for effect, shelter, or the production of timber, there some of this useful genus should find a place. Many of them possess valuable economic properties, but it is improbable that all these kinds will ever attain so full a development in the climata of this country as to render the culture of them desir- able when contemplated from such a point of view. It is, however, I think, a subject of sufficient interest to merit a separate paper. — Edwahd Luckhubst. The genus Astrocaryum bel the order Palraa- ceie (although I am not aware that they are of any value m an economic poiut of view). It is composed of a few handsome species, and amongst them A. mexicanum, a ■ representation of which we reproduce from M. Alphand"s work, is by no means the least elegant. The species are all more or less armed with long, sharp, and formid- able black spines. The genus is dis- tuiguished by its unisexual flowers, which, however, are not produced on separate plants, but really upon the same spike. The spikes are simply branched, and the female flowers are confined to the lower portion, and the males to the upper, which would appeal- to be a wise arrangement of Nature to insure the fertUisatiori of the flowers, for were their positions reversed impregna- tion would be ex- tremely problema- tical. The fruits are oval and single- seeded. Ill their natural habitats the plants affect the banks of streams and large rivers, and I beUeve they are i tance from water, which is the ASTKOCAEYUM MEXICANUM. .ngs to the Coooerc section of | with spines. Astrocaryums are slende ;eldom found at any great dis- I summer ; indeed, in summer it will be "eneral rule with Palms armed | the pot or tub iu a lai-ge pan of water r-ste:amed plants, carry- ing extremely handsome heads of broadly pinnate loaves, which, iu A. mexicanum, are dark green on the upper side, and pure white be- neath. This spe- cies is extremely ornamental iu a collection of tro- pical plants, and is also one of the best for exhibition, tither in a coUec- tiun of Palms or mixed stove and greenhouse plants ; but it wOl never become a small amateur's plant, or a plant for the de- coration of apart- ments, for the simple reason that it will not long re- tam its beauty out of the temperature of the stove. The soil best adapted for Astro- caryums is a mix- ture of loam and vegetable mould iu the proportion of two parts of the former to one of the latter, adding sufficient sharp river sand to make the whole feel gritty in the baud. The young plants should be potted firmly ; and taking iuto consideration the spiny character of the plant, it must be liberally supplied with water both winter and higlily beneficial to place . — ExrEHTO CilEDE. DIELYTEA SPECT. The opeiruig Fruit and Floral Meetings of this year at South Kensington ai'e already distinguished by their great excellence. Not only are the classes in which prizes are offered well filled, but the large and choice coUectious of Orchids and other plants add very materially to the interest and success of the meet- ings. There is one notable feature to which I wish to allude at°tliis time, and that is the choice and interesting collections of hardy herbaceous plants. Since the bedding-out mania ABILIS CULTUEE. ' set in, these extiuisite gems of the vegetable Icingdom have to a very large extent been ignored. There are now, however, very evident signs of retiuning popularity, and no doubt ere long nearly eveiy garden will have in some ijuiet nook its border of choice herbaceous plants. Many of them, though j hardy, aie amongst the most useful of our decorative plants ! in-doors, and, with a httle forcing, the season of flowering is ! much prolonged. What would our greenhouses and coueerva- in JOIFENAL of HOETICtJL'ftjEE ANt) dOffAGE GAUDENEE. [ Febniary 22, 1872. tories be early in ppriiig without a few jjlants of the Hoteia japonica, with its gracehii snow-white inrtorescence, or with- out that fexquisite little gem the Lily of the Valley ? Another Teiy useful subject, and a queen amongst herbaceous JiUutsi is the Dielytra spectabilis. A class was specially pro- vided for tins flower at the February meeting of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, and well deserving it is of a class all to itself, for when well grown there are few more beautiful objects than this ; several collections were staged at the meeting, but all of them were far behind what the plant is capable of being grown to. I well remember the fine plants of it which used to be exhibited at a small provincial exhibition in Scotland some fifteen or twenty years ago, each plant being furnished with several dozens of gracefully-drooping racemes of its pendant bright rose-coloured flowers. Perhaps Mr. Wemyss, of the gardens, Springwood Park, Kelso, could tell us how they were grown. Each of liis plants was a good load for a couple of men. The Dielytra is, properly speaking, a hardy herbaceous plant, and to grow it successfully it should be treated as such. About the first week in February is a good time to propagate stock. The method of procedru'e is this : — Lift an old plant from the open border ; it may have a score of crowns, more or less. By this time they will have pushed 2 or 3 inches ; they should be cai'efuUy divided with a sharp knife, a small portion of roots being attached to each. The small plants may be treated in two ways : they may either be planted out at once in the open ground, or each crown may be potted separately in a small pot, and placed in a cold frame, or they will root and grow more freely if placed on a slight hotbed. After the plants are well established and duly hardened-off, they should be planted-out in the open ground. Previous to doing this, the ground should be well trenched and enriched with a Uberal application of manure, as the Dielytra is a gross feeder, and its fleshy roots penetrate deeply into the ground. These plants will be useful for flowering the following season in small pots. If the plants are required to attain a large size they should remain undisturbed in the same position for three or four years. They will flower beautifully in the open ground every season in May or June. Being a native of Siberia, the Dielytra is (luite hardy, and requires no protection whatever in winter. I have seen it succeed equally well in light and heavy soils. The best iiottuig material is a compost of four parts turfy loam, one of leaf mould, one of rotted manure, with a small proportion of silver or river sand if the loaru is heavy. In forcing, the temperature should not be liigli until the plants ai'e fairly stai-ted into growth, and they should be set close to the glass ; if otherwise placed they are apt to become di'awn. — J. DOUOLAS. LATE GEAPES. Me. Donaldson's experience with Mrs. Piuce, and Mr. Free- man's with Madresfield Court Grapes, have much interested me, and no doubt all your gardening readers as well. The difference of opinion which exists with respect to the keeping qualities of these and other late Grapes has struck me as re- markable. In some places the varieties named are highly prized for their free setting, or freedom from small benies, and sound late keeping, whilst in others small berries or unsym- metrical bunches predominate, and the berries shrivel if left on the Vines beyond the commencement of the new year. What is the cause or causes of such a difference in the result, experience alone can tell us, and I am therefore glad of the observations of Mr. Douglas, Mr. Eecord, and of " W. D. C." (page 59). It is very desirable that those having to supply Grapes of last year's growth after January 1st should state the varieties they employ and their opinioir of their keeping. My experience is not great, but I mil state it. I have a late vuiery planted as follows from east to west — 1, Muscat of Alexandria; 2, Black Hamburgh; 3, Muscat of Alexandria; 4, Mrs. Pince; 5 and 6, Gros Guillaume ; 7, Bowood Muscat; 9 and 9, Lady Downe's ; 10, Black Muscat of Alexandria (Mus- cat Hamburgh) ; 11 and 12, Black Hiunburgh. The varieties are not as contemplated ; what I wished for were — 1 , Mus- cat of Alexandria ; 2, Madresfield Court ; 3,Trebbiano; 4, Mrs. Pince ; 5 and (i, Gros Guillaume ; 7, Bowood Muscat, or Muscat Escholata; 8 aud 9, Lady Downe's ; 10, White Lady Downe's ; 11, Black Muscat of Alexandria; aud 12, Alicante. I found the Vines incorrectly labelled, and as tliey had evidently been planted as ticketed, the Trebbiano, etc., were in an early house. The latter, though ripened in July, is yet firm and crackling. We did not commence cutting until the middle of December last, and all were jslump and sound then, without so much as a damped or shrivelled berry. I do not consider, until we have passed November, or until the leaves fall, that fire heat affects the keeping of Grapes. The first Cirapes to show symptoms of shrivelling were Muscat of Alexandria and then Mrs. Pince, neither being presentable after Christmas-day, Bowood Muscat could barely pass muster on New Yeai''s-day ; Black Hamburgh, also Black Muscat of Alexandria, keep sound until the close of January, the latter kind being the better of the two. I am here referring to then' previous beha\iom'. Judguig from my Vine of Mrs. Pince, the variety is not to be compared with Black Hamburgh for keeping, nor is it nearly so profitable, for it always has a majority of small berries. It is, however, a fine-flavom-ed Grape. Lady Downe's keeps sound and plump past March, aud Gros Guillaume is then by far its superior as regards flavour and juiciness, being with me the finest late Grape. For a supply of Grapes frojn the end of September to the New Year no variety sm'passes Black Hamburgh, with Muscat of Alexandria as a white Grape : but they should be grown in separate structiu'es, for the Etamburgh requu'es less heat than the Muscat. The Hamburghs should be thoroughly ripe by the middle of September, and the Muscats of a deep yellow- colour. It is weU known that unless Grapes are well ripeuedl they will not hang for any length of time in a soimd condition- It is questionable if there are any two Grapes equal to these, taking into consideration certainty of crop and quality of pro- duce. If a black Cirape with a Muscat flavour be wanted, Mrs. Pince is a finer-looking one in bunch, size of berry, and colour than Black Muscat of Alexandria, aud will suit those who like' firm flesh. It also retains its flavour longer. Black Muscat of Alexandria, however, is a valuable Grape, and will pass the New Year in a sound state better Avith me thair Mrs. Pince, which I find is the worst-setting of any ; yet I have seen Mrs. Piuce very fine, and our Vine being young another seasou may entirely upset prior conclusions. Madresfield Court I havo seen very fine late in autumn, but I have no experience of it. Though agreeing to some extent with " W. D. C." that the keeping quality of Grapes is not dependant on the amount. of saccharine matter which they contain, it is certaiu that the development of the saccharine matter is dependant on the ripening, aud if this is not complete the prospect of the Grapes' late-hanging is small. The saccharine matter is greatest in the kinds that shrivel the soonest — namely, the Muscats, and unless it is well developed they wiU not keep, but will soon damp. AVheir the ripening of such kinds as Lady Downe's is not very complete from want of sun in the autumn, or when it is not finished till late, the thick slcin of the berries is not proof against shrivelhng at the points of the berries, the part, near the footstalk remaining plump and souird. " W. D. C." considers " the latest section must be filled upi with Lady Downe's without any other ^)lack Cirape." It is undoubtedly the latest-hanging of aU, yet I see in Ciros Guil- laume merits which Lady Downe's does not possess — iramely, very much larger bunches and berries, considerably more juice, not nearly so thick a skin, aud flesh (as Mr. Eivers would" say of the Pear) more melting ; Lady Downe's being so firm as to be little better than iudiarubber. I consider we have five Cirapes that will hang quite long enough. Those are black Lady Downe's, Alicante, Gros Guillaume, White Lady Downe's, and Trebbiano, which is a good match for Gros Ciuillaume, as Lady Downe's is for its white namesake. In a house for fm-nishing Chapes from De- cember to May I should plant these five varieties to the exclu- sion of all others. I have seen the original Lady Downe's with fine clusters of plirmp berries at the end of April. — Ct. Abbey.- THE MANURES FOR CARROTS. By CiiinBEKT AV. Joknsox, F.E.S. The amount of Carrots grown in our i.sland is haivQy so con- siderable as the value of the root for feeding purposes would lead us to expect. In the year 1870 there were in all England only 13,832 acres grown, in Wales 351, and in Scotland only 1076 acres. For this very limited growth there are, probably, one or two reasons. 1, CaiTots ai-e supposed only to succeed on certain deep sandy loams ; and 2, It has been doubted whether we well understand the best kind of manure for then- growth. Some late researches cir this very considerable question are, therefore, well worthy of the reader's careful study. From the general results obtained from these most February 23, 1872. ] JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURR AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 173 valuable inquiriei?, it would seem that those fertiliKers in -which ammonia is copiously iireseut produce the best crojjs of Car- rots. Let us remember what has been done in this inquiry in Scotland. It is not very long since that the HiKhland Society awarded their gold medal to Mr. J. Stevenson, of Cumnock, for his experiments on this root (Tranx. Hipli. .S'oc, vol. 1SG4, p. 14<)). He found that the best soil for the Carrot is a sandy loam, either naturally deep or made so. The farm manure for it— thirty to forty loads per acre— should be ploughed-in during the early winter ; that of the horse is very excellent for this root. Mr. Stevenson adds -4 cwt. of guano, and 6 cwt. of salt ; at Cumnock the Altriucham Carrot seed (8 to. 10 lbs. per acre) is not sown till after th , middle of April. The Long Red Altriucham, when a large crop, produces from 15 to 20, the common Red Altriucham from 11 to 14 tons per acre. From the result of his trials, Mr. Stevenson concludes that 35 tons of horse dung a year old, five hundred gallons of tank urine, 4 cwt. of guano, and G cwt. of salt per acre is the best dressing, and that fresh-made farmyard dung, or cow dung, or ashes, are not so suitable for Carrots. Soot is an excgUent manure for Carrots (soot contains a considerable amount of ammonia) . The farmer will find, in using soot, that its effect on light soils is materially increased by adding to it from eight to ten bushels of s.ilt per acre. Then we have the report (Mark Lane Expresx) of the trials of Mr. C. D. Hunter, in the season of 1871, upon Mr. W. Law- son's, Blennerhasset Farm. The results of his trials are given in the subjoined table : — Manures per acre 1. Nomanui-e 2. Superphosphate 6 cwt., rauria:e of potash 2 cwt., aud Kulphate of ammonia 3 cwt S. Same as No. 2, but ouly 2 cwi. of sulphate of ammonia 4. Supci-phosphate 6 cwt., and sul- phate of ammonia 2 cwt 5. Rupei-phosphate 6 cwt., and munate of potash 2 cwt C. Superphosphate 6 cwt., Bait 2 cwt., sulphate of ammonia 2 cwt 7. Supei-phosphate 6 cwt., sulphate of magnesia 2 ci^i;., and sulphate of ammonia 2 cwt Cost of Manure. ■Weight of crop per acre. Value of crop, less cost of £ s. d. Tons 10 cwt. IG lbs 48 £ 8. d. 14 1 .3 6 18 0 17 18 14 22 15 0 4 18 0 18 5 70 26 3 7 S 16 0 10 4 42 12 0 9 2 18 0 15 15 0 22 6 0 3 17 0 10 G 28 13 3 4 4 10 " 10 17 66 13 8 10 Upon these results Mr. Hunter">emarks that "The value of potash for Carrots upon this soU is well shown by comparing Nos. 2, 3, and 5 against Nos. 4, 6, 7, the three potash plots gi^ang nearly 7 tons per acre more weight. In plot 2 the extra cwt. of sulphate of ammonia does not seem to have been of use, but the reverse; and No. 5, which got more, and was on inferior land, comes so well up to Nos. 2 and 3 that probably 1 cwt. of sulphate of ammcuia per acre would have been suffi- cient. The salt and sulphate of magnesia in Nos. 6 and 7 show a Uttle better than No. 4, but not sufficient to warrant their use. From former experiments I would conclude that Carrots require less ammonia than Potatoes, and would suggest as a suitable dressing per acre for Carrots, 6 cwts. superphos- phate, IJ cwt. muriate of potash (or 3 cwts. of potash salts), and 1 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia." Then, again, the ap- plication of the dung of the pigeon has been found a very beneficial application to C.irrots. Now this manure contains a very considerable amount of ammonia. When analysed by Professor Anderson {Tranx. Hifih. Soc, vol. 18G4, p. 170), he found in one huudi'ed parts of the dung of the — Pigeon. Hen. Duck. Goose. 58.33 28.25 2.69 1.75 1.99 7.00 60.88 19.22 4.47 7.65 1.09 6.69 46.65 36.13 3.1S 3.01 0.32 10.75 Organic mat. and ammo, salts Phosphates 18.44 0.89 Alltaline salts 2.94 100.00 1.75 100.00 0.74 100.00 0.85 100.00 These valuable examinations, we must remember, were made of the dung of birds living chiefly on vegetable matters. Wliat would be the result upon the composition of their dung by feeding them upon a considerable proportion of animal food we can only judge from analogy. Thus, if we examine the excreta of those bu-ds which feed chiefly on fish, we find that it abouuds with uric acid and ammonia. From these analysations we learn why the Peruvian farmers so much prefer the recent guano evacuated by the sea birds to that of the older more decomposed deposits. Dr. Wollaston found that tlie rfcently-voided excreta of the gannet, when dry, con- taiued hardly anything but urio acid ; aud Coindet found in one hundredparts of the solid excrement of the sea eagle- Ammonia 9.23 Uric Acid 84.65 Phosphate (if llnic ol3 100.00 Several comparative experhuents, made some time since by Mr. A. .1. Main, of AAliitehiU, in East Lothian, are in accord- ance with the exammations of the chemist. He emploj-ed both pigeon's and hen's dung, in conjunction with farmyard manure, as a dressing for Carrots, with a result per acre of which the following is a tabular statement : — , , Carrots produced. Manure employed. rfons. Cwt. Horae-made mauui-e, 24 tons 12 13A Home manure 16 tons, pigeon's dung 4 cwt 14 6| Home manure 16 tons, hen dung 4 cwt 11 12? Home manure 16 tons, Peruvian guauo 4 cwt 13 I65 Another inquiry suggests itself — viz., Whether the growth of the Carrot might 'not be promoted by being mixed with other plants? I learn from a Scotch clergyman, tliat in his garden in StirUngshire he can only grow Carrots successfully mixed with Onions. WINDOW GAKDENING. The very ring of the name of window gardening is pleasant, and suggests hosts of beautiful parlour gardens, with the Ivy twining around the edges of the window sash ; or on a stand in front of the pane is a pot of Geraniums, and over all hangs a basket filled with drooping plants. We are glad to see a growth of taste for plants ; a genuine love for flowers promotes the love of home. Much that is essential to success in the in-door culture of plants must be learned from experience. One great mistake is in a wrong choice of the soil ; many often suppose that any soil will do: heuce, especially in cities and villages, they are often apt to choose soil from the back yard, unfit for plants' needs, being either too dry, devoid of fertilising material, or already exhausted by continual di-afts from the numerous roots of the plants around. The best, and in fact ouly soil, should be a compost of loam, one part ; sand, one part ; leaf mould, one part ; and well-decayed cow manm-e, a fourth part. The use of the sand is to assist drainage ; the proportions of the manure may be varied according to the needs of the plant. Ivies, for instance, need a rich soil, but bulbs generally need little or none, pure sand being much the best for the last, wliich should never come in contact with manure. The sand should be well mixed with the compost. In the bottom of every vessel, box, or basket, there should be laid a few bits of broken crockery for the more perfect flow and drainage of surplus water. Most vessels have holes in the bottom also, but in hanging baskets this cannot be expected, so the crockery must take its place. Select plants of good short-jomted stocky habits vnth leaves of healthy look ; large specunens are not desii-able. It is better to get those plants which are well started, and ,are growing finely, and then let them develope gradually. When you have obtained your new plants, be careful of too sudden a change from the old quarters to the new. This hasty transition is very trying to plants. The hot dry air of the hvuig-room is a severe test upon any plant brought from the cool outer an-, or the moist atmosphere"of the florist's greenhouse. It would be best that tliis change should be gradual. Just bring them in- doors, and place them in a room without a fire for a short time. If you have a hght dry cellar-, this will be a good place, if not Uabie to frost. Here they need only moderate watering. After a short time they can be transferred to the window ; here they must enjoy plenty of Ught. In mild weather, pull down the' upper window and' ventilate the an ; keep their foliage free from dust and insects ; wash them with a sponge, and s.vriu&e the plants with a good supply of water once a-day. If the water soaks away in the soil rapidly, then it is in good con- dition. Never w'ater when the soil is already full of moisture ; never water at mid-day, or when the sun is shining. _ Avoid very high temi>eratures, and also guard against low ones ; a tem'perature of 60° to 70° in the day, equable aud urn- 174 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febraary 22, 1872. form, is a good raeilium, but at night it should range from 40' to 50'. Beware of the danger of frost. Many house- keepers, in letting their fires go out at night, often forget their' plants, and in the morning awake to find a sudden change of weather, frost on the window pane, and their plants tipped also. It is a safe plan to throw newspapers over the plants between them and the window. All plants suitable for greenhouses needing much heat, sliould be avoided for ordinary parlour culture ; only the more simple plants that can be easily managed should be used, but Geraniums, Azaleas, Daphne, Yellow Jasmine, Oxalis, Fuchsia?, are always desii-able and ea.'ily managed. The design of a window garden of which we give a drawing, is one actually in ufp. The bow window is about C feet wide and 3 feet deep. A doulde stand has been made to fill it up, and the boxes inside are lined with zinc, illled with compost, and covered with moss. A wii'e framework is placed in front for ornament, and from the centre and sides rises an archway of wh'e whereon are growing some cUmbmg Vines. The plants placed in these boxes are Madeira Vuie,Maurandyas, Mexican Cobspa, Calla, Roses, Carnations, Fuchsias, Amaranths, Coleus, and Begonias. The hanging vase over the centre arch contains a plant of the Coliseum Ivj'. On a bracket just at the edge of the window sashes is a dish of Ferns. At the left hand is a hanging basket filled with Moss, and plants of the Oxalis and Tradescantia ; another basket at the right contains the Ice Plant, as well as the Tradescantia. — [Tlie Horiiculturisi.) These plants are much closer allied and associated in many ways than the uuscienced reader may suspect. The botani.s't places them in the same natural order — Solanacea». The che- mist shows that they each contain an alkali, poisonous to some animals— solanine in the Potato, and nicotine in the Tobacco. They were brought into use ahnost simultaneously, and by the POTATOES AND TOBACCO. same man. Theh' use was at first opposed and neglected, and now theu' consumption is among the largest of all vegetable products. The duty paid last year on Tobacco was £6,613,668, and although more than one and a half million of acres are annually occupied by crops of Potatoes, yet there are also im- ported annually about one million and a half cwts. of this Februaiy 22, 1872. ] JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 175 tuber. Tobacco has become tlie greatest leaf-luxury of life, and the Potato "the bread-root" of the British Isles. The luau who iutrodnced their use into our native islands was Siit Walteii Ealf-oii ; I spell his name as he spelt it himself. To detail the events of his biography would not be suitable to your columns, but I must note a tew relative facts and traditions. When at Bictou last year I looked down from the Tower in tlie lower plantation upon Hayes Barton and its suiToundiugs — a combination of one of the most beautiful seacoast and land views in South Devon. Hayes, in 1.552, was the birth- place of Sir Walter Ealegh. It is near to a large wood of that name, which adjoins the village of Yettington, and is about half a mile from the western entrance to the Bicton demesne. The house is now occupied by one of the tenantry on the EoUe estate, and is distant somewhere about one mile from Budleigh Salterton, in a south-westerly direction. There are several antique chairs in the Swiss cottage in Bictou arboretum, which are said formed part of the propertj' of Sir AY alter, and they as weU as a bust of Sir Walter, are placed in a niche of the tenjple. It is disputed whether Sir Walter introduced the Tobacco plant into England, but Stowe sa>s that he fii t mile luiown the smoking of "the weel James I when all men wondered what it meant," detested frantically " the precious stink," as he cdls it in his " Counter- blast to Tobacco," and so iuveterately pui'sued measures to prevent its use, that the tradition is that Sir Walter, who was a smoker, was obUged to row to a rock in the river Dart to use his pipe, and the place is still knowni as " Su- Walter Ralegh's Rock." He was a snuft'- taker also, and the box from wliich he took a pinch when about to kneel down before the beads- man was disposed of for £C at the sale of the late Duke of Sussex's personal property. Su- Walter's having introduced Tobac- co would not aid those who endeavoured to move the king to save him from execution. So offensive was it to that most selfish and weakest of nionarchs, and so general had the use of " the weed " become, that the Cambridge University authorities wained scholars in 1614-15 not to go into a " Tobacco shop," nor " to take Tobacco in St. Marie's Church, or in Trinity CoUedge Hall," during the king's visit. One of Sir Walter's residences near Loudon was the house now known as the Pied Bull Inn, at Islington. There is an engraving of this house in the sixty- first volume of the •• Gentleman's Magazine," and then, 1791, in one of the rooms a coat of arms had upon it a Tobacco plant between two sea horses. I now pass to the association of Sir Walter with the Potato, and relative to this I have nothing to add to the following notes published by me some years since. The positive testimony of Gerard proves that the Potato was forwarded to him from Yirginia ; and how they reached that province of North America will be made to appear pro- bable by the suggestions of Humboldt. Gerard, we may con- clude, received the tubers from some of the settlers in Yirginia, who emigrated thither about twelve years pre^^ously, in 1584, under a patent granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Ralegh. And thus much is certain, that, in 1C0.3, Sir Robert Southwell, President of the Royal Society, communicated to that learned body the fact that his grandfather first cultivated the Potato in Ireland, and that he obtained it from Ealegh. Tradition states, further, that Sir Walter himself also had the root planted on his estate near Youghall, i)i the South of Ireland ; and that he gave them to his gardener as a desirable fruit from America. When the berries were ripe in September, the gardener brought them to his master, with the inquiry of disappointment, "Sir, are these the tine American fruit?" Sir 'Walter, either really or pretendingly ignorant of the Po- tato's habit, desired them to be dug up as weeds, and thrown away ; but in doing this the tubers were revealed, and found to be the available produce. Humboldt rationally concludes that the Yirginian colonists obtained the Potato from the Spanish settlements, for it is quite clear thatHt is not a native of Yii'ginia nor even of inter- vening Jlexico, and that it was cultivated in Spain and Italy before it was made known in England from Yir'ginia. Although the Potato was known to Enghsh botanists iu 1596, yet horticulture was too ignorantly practised in this country to permit its rapid introduction among our cultivated crops. In 1619 they were here a desued yet expensive luxury ; for in that year of .Tames I.'s reign, a small dish of them pro- vided for his queen's table cost l.s'. per lb., when money was at least twice as valuable as it is now. Potato cultivation spread rapidly in Ireland ; and it became established, it is said, in Lancashire, and that portion of our northern coast still celebrated for its culture, owing to some being on board a vessel wrecked upon its shore. Y^et the vahie of the root was not generally known at a still later period, for in a time of scarcity — namely, in the March of 1G63, it required to be leconimende 1 as a crop ot national importa'nce in a letter addiessed to the Eov al Society The writer of this letter was Mr. Buckland, a Somer- setslui-e gentleman ; and the recommendation was 1 ef erred for consideration to a committee by the So- ciety. The report of that c mmittee was favour- able, and the Society not only urged its cultivation to landed proprietors , but requested Mr. Evelyn to enforce the Society's opi- nion in his " Sylva," then publishing under its aus- pices, although it was no favourite with him ; for m 1664, in his " Kaleii- daiium Hortense," he sajs, " Plant Potatoes in February in your worst giound." Before the Sylva " appeared — namely, ill 1664, was published a pamphlet, the first devoted to the subject of cultivating the Potato, and bearing thi.s piohx title — England b happiness mcicased, or a sure and easy remedy against all succeeding dear years, by a plantation of the roots called Potatoes, whereof (with the addition of Wheat flour) excellent, good, and wholesome bread may be made, every year, eight or nine months together, for half the charges as formerly. Also, by the planting of these roots, ten thousand men in England and Wales, who know not how to live or what to do to get a maintenance for their families, may, of one acre of ground, make £30 per annum. Invented and published, trr the good of the poorer sorts, by John Forster, Gent., of Har- .slop, in Buckiughamshu'e." Notwithstanding the widely-disseminated opinions of the Royal Society, and there published appeals to the public, the introduction of the Potato as an object of cultivation was extremely slow. Worlidge, in 1687, although he remarked tliat the Potato was then common in some parts of the continent, merely suggests that they may be useful for swine or other cattle. Houghton, writing in 1699, says they were then very com- mon in Lancashire, being introduced from Ireland, and that they began to spread over England. The roots were boiled or roasted, and eaten with butter and sugar ! — (Collect ions, n.,i68.) Sharrock, Ray, Lisle, Bradley, Mortimer, etc., writing at the close of the seventeenth, and early in the eighteenth century, make most ehghting mention of the Potato ; and even Miller, in the quarto edition of his dictionary, published as late as 1771, only mentions the same two varieties, the red and the white- tubered, which had been noticed by writers a century his predecessors. Salmon, who wrote in 1711, speaks of theA'irginian, and the English, or Irish Potato, as distinct kinds, though his descrip- tion shows their identity — the only difference being, that the colour of the skin of the tubers of the first was dirty white, and 170 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ Febraarr 22, 1872. of the second red. " They are only nursed-up in gardens in England and Ii'eland, where they flourish and come to perfec- tion, prodigiously inci'easiug to a vast plenty. The roots are j hoilcd, baked, or roasted." — {Salmon'.-' Herbal, 905.) London and Wise, in the seventh edition of their " Compleat Gardener," published in 1719, do not even mention the Po- i tato (but it must be remembered that this is only an abridged translation of M. Quintinye's work, published some years previously). However, even as late as about 1770, the Potato was not known generally in our south-western counties. Mr. Knight, then President of the Horticultural Society, WTiting in 1831, when he ^yas seventy-two years of age, says — "I can just recollect the time when the Potato was unknown to the peasantiy of Herefordshire, whose gardens were then almost exclusively occupied by different varieties of the Cab- bage. Their food, at that peiiod, chiefly consisted of bread and cheese, with the produce of theu' garden, and tea was un- known to them. About sixty years ago, before the Potato was introduced into their gardens, agues had been so extremely prevalent, that the periods in which they, or their' famihes, had been afflicted with that disorder were the eras to which I usually heard them refer in speaking of past events ; and I recoDect being cautioned by them fi'equently not to stand exposed to the sun in May, lest I should get an ague. " The Potato was then cultivated in small quantities in the gardens of gentlemen ; but it was not thought to afford whole- some nutriment, and was supposed by many to possess dele- terious quaUties. " The prejudices of all parties, however, disappeared so rapidly, that within ten years tlie Potato had almost wholly driven the Cabbage from the garden of the cottagers." — (KniqliVs Papers, 319).— G. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN G.4RI1EX. Loosen the surface of the soil amongst all growing crops, to admit the air and otherwise sweeten it. It is a very good plan in planting-out subjects that are at all tender at an uncertain season, to tlu'ow up the gi'ound in good strong ridges mnnrng east and west, planting on the south side of the ridge. The plants are thus sheltered from the north winds, and fuUy ex- posed to the sun. Prepare stations for Caiilitlou-eris and Let- tuces that have been wintered under glass, selecting a sheltered deep rich piece of ground. Basil and Marjnrmit may now be sown in pans in a hothouse. Ground should be prepared for Carrots, Parsnips, and Oniotis. Trench and othei-wise prepare ground for plantations of Rhubarb and Sea-kale. Plant the principal crop of Ashleaf or other eai'ly Potatoes. Make fresh plantations of Son'el, of which the large French Sorrel is much the best. ERCIT G.VEEEN. Should the weather continue mild the wall trees will requii-e naihng and pnining. Wliere canvas cannot be obtained, fir boughs or wooden copings should be employed to ward off the effects of fi-osts, which an early spring renders both probable and dangerous. Clear away dead leaves from Strawberrj" plants, and remove superfluous runners from the Alpine Straw- beny. All should not be removed, as the runners generally bear better than the old seedling plants. Gooseberries, Cur- rants, Filberts, and all standard fruit trees ought to be kept clear m the centre, so as to have a fuU surface exposed to light inside as well as outside. FLOWEK GABDEN. Proceed with Eose-pruniug, many sorts of which the late mild weather has already advanced; an exception, however, may be made of Eoses recently moved. Plant and lay Ehodo- deudrons. Trained MagnoUas should be secured to the wall, and Pomegi-anates and tender shrubs uncovered. Conifers may be planted-out or removed. Edgings required for flower- beds (such as Box, Thrift, Daisies), should at once be planted, and Box edgings cut. Plant Pinks, Pansies, and Carnations. The laying of turf should be gone on with, and all planting and pruning completed for the present. The Dahlias are now in fiill course of propagation with the large gi-owers for sale. The amateur may stiike the young shoots in a common hot- bed, which, if properly managed, is easily accomplished. The first thick shoots do not emit roots so well as those which are more slender ; but, generally speaking, for small establish- ments it is the best plan to start the roots in heat, and then divide them, each division having a shoot attached to it. We are glad to find that the merits of fancy Dahlias are now more appreciated. Most certainly they have improved much in form, and what we now want is a dwarf race not exceeding 2 feet in height, for, as they now grow, their large size and coarse growth necessarily exclude them from small gardens. Mild showers occasionally would be of service to Auriculas, and when grown in wooden frames, a brick placed under each corner whilst the weather is open would contribute to their health and well-doing. Some people top-dress their plants with rich and stimulating soil at tliis period, but we do not admire the system of adding anything stronger than thoroughly- decomposed cowdung mixed with an equal bulk of decayed leaves. This will grow them well without any risk of poison- ing the plants. Eanunculuses may now be planted whenever the soil is sufficiently diy. Place them in rows about 6 inches apart, 4 inches from root to root, and cover them with 3 inches of soil. The seed should be sown in thoroughly-drained pans or boxes, filled with fine sandy soU and leaf mould. Water this well the night previous to sowing, scatter the seed on the surface thickly, and cover very thinly ; then dip a brush in water and spiiiikle the soil, so that uo seeds are uncovered, and then place them in a cold frame from which frost is care- fully excluded. GEEENHOUSE AND CONSEBV.ATOKY. No time should be lost in cleaning and pnining the plants occupying the beds in the conservatoiy, if the season of floweiTug is to be retarded ; but pruning may be perfomied later. Orange trees, Lemons, Citrons, Limes, and Shaddocks .should be cleaned and top-dressed. Fuchsias should be allowed to-grow, and cuttings obtained as soon as the shoots are suffi- ciently forward. Pot Pelargoniums, Cinerarias, and Calceo- larias, and keep them close for a day or two after the opera- tion. Green fly must be repressed by fumigation. Pot Verbenas to sujjply cuttings. HeUotropes may also be placed in heat for the same purpose. Cut those Heaths that have finished flowering, and clear away all dead flowers. Give air freely both night and day, but do not allow a sudden cold easterly wind to seal' and scorch up the plants. The many beautiful New Holland plants may be expected in fuU flower at this time. Be very careful for a short time in the applica- tion of water to plants that have about finished flowering. The mode of au-iug as directed for Heaths cut back, such as Epaoris and Pimeleas that ai'e going out of flower, holds good. STOVE. Prepare a dung pit or frame for the gi'owth of young stock of stove plants, and when the heat is sweet and wholesome place 2 or 3 inches of cinder ashes over the bed, and as soon as these are wai-med the place wUl be ready for the reception of the plants. In places where the more modern method of gi'owing plants over tank heat is pursued, it will be well to secure the as-iistance of a Uttle well-fermented dung to plunge the pots in. I find dung heat will recover plants which, under any other treatment, would inevitably perish. Some good stocky plants of Clerodendrons and Ixoras should be potted and placed in a hotbed of dung. The former delight in a free open soU, consisting of loam, peat, and leaf mould, with a little rotten cow dung,' and some charcoal and silver sand, whilst the Ixoras flourish in pui'e turfy peat with charcoal and gi'itty sand. If the plants are well rooted give a hberal shift, but do not overdo it. In addition to these plants may be named Dipladenia splendens, Cyrtoceras reflexum, .Allamanda cathartica and A. gi-andiflora, Luculia gratissima and L. Pin- ceana. Gardenias, Schubertia graveolens, Stephanotis, &c. The showy Impatiens Jerdonia; should also be encouraged by every possible means to make wood, and should be propagated as quickly and freely as possible, for it is just the plant that is wanted for autumn decoration, as are such softwooded plants as Gesneras, Achimenes, &c. In the management of the pit or house keep a fine gi-owing heat of from 60° to 70° ; shut it up early in the afternoon, but open the sashes a little before lea'ring it for the night. PITS AND FEA3IES. Attend carefully to the stock of bedding plants, and get rooted cuttings potted-off as soon as they are in a fit state for that pur])ose, encouraging them with a gentle bottom heat and careful management to make quick growth, for after this season there is no time to be lost with yoimg stock. Tender annuals must now receive attention. Heat is indispensable to the raising of these, though not necessarj' to flowering them. Begin sowing this month, and continue to the end of April in pans placed close to the glass, in a temperature of from C0° to February 22, 1872. ] JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AKD COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 177 65'. Keep the soil moist, and shade from bright sunshine. Great care must be exercised to prevent the plants from damping-off or getting " ih'awn " from want of ah'. As soon as they can be handled prick-off singly into small pots, or place them round the edge of a -1-inch pot, plunging them in a gentle heat till they can be safely trusted in the open borders. They may also be pricked-out in rows in a spent hotbed, shaded carefully, and give plenty of air when the weather will permit of it. It is of the greatest importance to sow early to secure fine plants and a profusion of bloom. — W. Keane. DOINGS OP THE LAST WEEK. By placing our earth in narrow stacks and thatching them with tui'f, we generally obtain it di'y and sweet enough for using a year after being so treated. Finely broken charred rubbish, with lime and soot, wUl be found effectual in keeping away all obnoxious animals from those spots where they are hkely to do harm. Sth'red the sui'face soil among vegetables, sowed Beans and Peas, and prepared the ground mteuded for roots and Onions. Potatoes we shall plant as soon as the soil is more mellow and drier. If the weather continue to be wet sow them in shallow drills, and cover them with such dry sifted material as charred rubbish. FRUIT GAKDEX. Pruning should be done now, as trees are hkely to be weak- ened if it is put off until late. Wash the earliest Pears and Cherries, by means of an ordinary syringe, with a solution of quicklime to keep the birds away. We are keeping back our orchard-house trees as much as possible, by giving them ah both by day, and by night so long as we can do so with safety. Soft soap and quassia water w-Ul destroy the Aphis persiea; should it make its appearance. The smoke formed by burning tobacco and bruised laurel leaves together ^vill be found very effective ; but there should be but few ah'-holes for it to escape by, and great care should be taken, by covering \rith damp moss, that it does not break into a flame, as thence comes the hot smoke that injures the plants. This treatment is generally very success- ful, as the prussic acid of the lam-el and the nicotine of the to- bacco, being conveyed into every httle nook by means of the smoke, are doubly fatal to the insects. It is better to do it when the buds are just swelhng, as the trees will stand it better than when they are in leaf and the young fruit is just set. We prefer several shght smokings to one heavy one, as the latter is likely to do harm. To thoroughly clean an empty house the old liiue shoukl be washed oft' by scrabbing and using boUiug water, and new put on so as to fill iip all cracks which might serve as harbours for insects or their eggs. We generally mix a httle lampblack mth the whitewash to lessen its brightness, and thus reduce the reflection of heat from the wall, which is sometimes so powerful as to cause burning. A mixture of softsoap water and sulphur laid along the top part of the back wall will also be found of use for keeping away insects. We have not tried to obtain fruit from Strawberry plants very early, and have therefore had scarcely a blind plant. No water should be allowed to remain in the saucer before the fruit begins to swell ; indeed it would perhaps be better if beginners kept then- plants altogether on boards. 0KNA3IENTAL DEPARTMENT. It is better. to keep for a year or two young plants which have been just bought, and transplant them to theh positions when wanted, instead of doing so directly they arrive. In the de- scription of the manner of fixing trees b.y means of fir poles (page 1.5.5) the word " driven " was incorrectly substituted for the simple one " sunk " — tliat is, the young Firs are taken up as roughly as they can be brought away, and placed just as they are in holes triangularly around the tree that is to be secured. Tills does away with all the trouble of " driving them in," and they, as a rule, last much longer than those which are so fixed. Should the ground be soft the base of the supports can be steadied by stones placed on the outside of them, if the smaller ends are jouied to stem of the tree. For smaller trees with only one pole the same plan may be persisted in — that is, the sohtary support should be placed in a hole 3 or 4 feet from the tree in a contrary direction to the prevailing wind. Even hi this case it is more effectual than if it were diiven into the groimd near the bole of the tree. iHc/i-irt.-f. — We repotted and placed in shght bottom heat small plants just breaking. Large ones kept in a dark shed had broken so freely as to requhe pruning and then repotting in fresh soil. Such plants kept hi the dark should be stopped back rather than pruned, if their owners wish to have a good display of flowers with but little trouble. Scarlft Geranium'--. — Put well-top-dressed plants in a httle dry heat to obtain flowers for cutting. We have found this tribe invaluable throughout the winter. Pclurfioniums, Florixts' mid Fancy. — The most forward ones which we want to blow early will not be repotted, but accele- rated by means of manure water as soon as the flower-trusses show. The next lot we wUl repot shortly without stopping them, whilst the next we will stop once more, after which the younger plants will come in. Kept dividuig and repotthig Ferns. Chrysanthemums. — We will take off cuttings of these in a few days, as it is weU to get the plants forward for early flow- ering. Will make preparations for sowing seeds and stiiking numbers of plants next week. In such duU weather as we have had cuttings ai'e apt to come weak even with air. The chief thing is to get them to root downwards without drawing upwards thin and weak. Bulbs seem to bloom more easOy than usual this season, requh-hig less heat than ordinary to bring them in early. I find it is best to hai'den-off Hyacinths as soon as a few flowers are expanded at the base, so that when removed to a room or a house they continue to open, and therefore remain pleasing for a longer time than when taken when in perfection. Camellias in flower and opening their buds should be assisted with weak manure. There are many opinions as to the best time of potting them. On the whole, we prefer examining them just when they begin to grow a httle after they have done flowerhig. — E. F. TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. HaiTison it Sous, Leicester. — Select Seed Catalogue. Laird & Sinclair, Dundee. — Vegetable and Flower Seeds, i(-e. W. S. Boultou & Co., Rose Lane Works, Norwich. — Descriptive Catalogue of Lawn Mowers, Wire Netting, Implements, tCc. Alban Goodman, Londonderry. — Descriptive Catalogue of Vegetable, Flower, and Farm Seeds. — Descriptive Catalogue of Hoses, Fruit Trees, Vines, Flowering Shrubs, tt-c. TO CORRESPONDENTS. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Books [E. M.L.). — There is no elementaiy book on ffai'deuing with, coloui-ed illustrations, nor is such a bjok needed. Our* "Garden Manual" details the cultivation needed. {R, H. C). — "We never heai-d of such a sixpenny bjok on butterflies. (W. irf«(on).— The '^Handbook of British Plants," by ill-. Not- cutt, we think will suit you. Seedling Cineraria (I W. D.). — The colour- is veiy rich, and petals (florets) stout and fx-ee fi-om notch, hut we can say no more from seeing a single pip. SooLY QrA Cucumber tCiimbfrhtnd). — It may be cultivated like any other variety. See puge 130 of om- present volume. DissoLvaNG Boxes IF. Corbohl). — The meaninj^ of " imleached " is %ex- plaiued in answer to another con-espondeut. If sulphiu-ic acid is used instead of the alkaline ashes, the best vessel to dissolve the hones in is an old hogs- head that is watertight. Yon will requil-e a weight of sulphiuic acid equal to one-half that of the bones. The finer the bones ai-e, the sooner will they dissolve. Watercresses (It. H. C.).— I'ou must use offsets. The mode of cultuie is described in our No. 474. M.viDEN Peach in a Pot {A Young Beginner). — Shoi-ten the side shoots to 9 inches and the leader one-third, and if you pinch the young shoots judici- ously this Slimmer you will have fi-uit next year. Hardv Conifers {Sitftscrifter). — Gordon's "ThePinetum" -mil suit you. Plants near Laurel Hedge {A Constant Subscriber). — In so nan-ow a border as 1| foot we do not think anytbiii;,' will grow, and wo should only have a marginal line of A'iuca tli /initi^^iinu, wliich would contrast well with the green of the Laurel. It is <>I littl-j nst. attempting anything in the way of flowers where rabbits are so destructive, but you may have Geraniums in the border in summer. If the border had had an east or west aspect we should have advised Primi-oses, Oxlips, and Violets, and they would do on tb^ south if they were shaded with gi-ass in summer. S.U.T FOR ASPAKAOUS (i!. T. S.).— ^We consider two diessulgs quite sufli- cient — namely, one about the middle of Mai-ch, and another the second or thu-d week in May, each at the rate of half a pound per square yai-d. Violets for Succession {Idem).—Vfe grow the Single Russian, Czar, Double Russian, Reiue des Violets, King of Violets, Devoniensis, and Nea- politan. These include eaily and fate kinds. CiNER.ARiA Drooping — Potting Achimenes (Antony). — This, no doubt, is due to the di-y atmosphei-e cau:.ed by the gas, which is veiy injurious to plant life. Could you not leiive the plants in the window -? Plant the Achimeues in a pan well drauied, and tilled with a compost of two parts fibrous loam, one part leaf soil, half a part of silver sand, and the like quantity of sandy peat, sifting and placing the rough over the di-ainage, and over it the flue soil to within half an inch of the rim. Then place the roots about li inch apart- [ rebmorj 22, 1872. rinwprifl" tliey may oepiaccj. m M. rehouse foripenthe^ow^^^^^^ _^^ Cyclamen, and ^ots of aU ^earwe "•- tVipv were fn-oii\Ti m iiaiut-s uu -^ abundance oi one and some bweetly scented. Yakd {Glevii.m\ »^vH«B s Hemskerk. ion cau iii" , „.ej,;uation toi i"" ' ..,: ,e aav-iseisHemskei-k J°^ <^^°„». Make good P«P'^''V"^„'°es MWavei foi- about a yard from tlie stem, it j the tree from cattle. cjiwriber).— ^^'^leu tlie flower- SSrod%° ^a.Um^M^ac^^^^^^^^^ °;^ar f^c ^^f^S-r^^^^^^^ st«- 4Hdr -,tn.>''^tSirS,m''rcottry will answer \^^^^^^^^^^^-'-^^:^: ,ar cLmatis .ackmam covering a larg" sp,, •. C. \ "" ,^^i jjiel Rose would ^"t f ''■ ^\ ^iu, and andCrata!im~i"' ' ' ,.. „<, the best ™'\™8 '"l H Bsgneriana, south or south • . , . , H Helii foliis variegatis, and a. rvie^ ■weshonld plant 11 ,^:; -i=mTe^ife^i«"^o-S^fte'L|%na^^^^^^^^^ helore the buds begin to sweU. ^^^. ^.^„^ -^ smaU ,. PoTT,Ka-orF KosE C^"f^fSkd,whiA will i-ili"'t«*'='^.';S'^^: ^Si'' ■'thefarl ^.^7ro"^t d'taden ftem off, -^'-f^^^.^i^:^ '^themlbere When they are^eu.^" be plantert. ^ - ^ ^ '^ ,'\„ „ eold fi-ame, *r^^vr,^tU April, and then pot them oft, pU; ... ." ^^^^ i^ave ^l^^vL^n- them off for planting out lu 'I'i>- ,,\,„ ,,, i,,, risk of then- Sem'4*fflSay and then plaint, them ou^fiualb,.^u;^'l;;^^;,^,„t . ,,, efor aZg^om the 1°--' ""'^ J^ Lhffl i^^pots before planting out. we oonsider it best to ha^ e them es™ g j —Much will depend o most economical.in the eiMhou ^^^^^ ^^^ ^j P'af"!, f ''^v ° ay the slats ^'o^'SSsn^-^^ScKr^o^sgj^-- fvomltolt ""=V'3^"^'h opei^ig between them. ^~ "f'uould be quite 'n--STi^saidThe^-^|e.«.i^^^^^^^ that siU mortice and ta the upn ^^ ^^^ ^^ /."manvs-^U plants as -^^^Sraiy'wShJtforcingms— . ^^^^_^ rLO^-EB GAEDES P^-f ,». < V ""mot decide which is *ebest We m^ aJangementsare so good that .^ej™ e^^^^^^ cUne, however, to ISO. ^. i^^tead of P';'^*, as it t>eag l^f'^ ^^g the Ii-esine L'^'l^™ 'feds are^U and wilknot P^™' °« "^if^fv^ps, seems to We presume your beds^esma^j^^^^^j^.„, yom- pronp, six cWmp^ ^ „ edging makes a KO^^/^'j.ieaved Geramums, md the cenire ^^^^^^^ i . _ M„v,¥ 1-ifli. Rand handS, and sSt *™ T" Tf i?ltinch pote fo? f^itinS, "-f be placed m mwsmmm Toam, one part leaf soJ and a ftee_a^^^ ■seedlings «^upadmrta„^^^.^ a gently heated jjf J'^^'„i^° Water them very "a^ff^H^'Jes prick them off fer-|S*-S&ceJfa^^ treated in the same way, plantin, c»rastium, Pyie *fSre T'?ofrO^^Ss\?oV.oioides tek Jr°X '^};:f ^^JjS be ti-eated as 3SSS»S35^--Um0f.urf— --S5iSSSba£SiSRSS ford^prde'ron!^^" . .^^ ^^„^ MacWs ^'f^^tSlS g^S.wJlgan^^ :s^^"-S5SS^;:rarsS-- 'b°rorsrp!ffia'vfa'vS; disagreeable taste ^^^ ,„, instead of that we P'''^, * *°» "^ft total it disappears. ^ e ™\^J f ^^en they =^?Si€Bbttei^?^«°^^'"°^- -- ^ra?^rdr»&-— ^^^^^^^^^^ GBEEKHOUSE ^^■"'^^^X ^^a pit d^S t)ie ^^-^^^^Sfe^g^^and to phmts that may 5S S;° t heyne, Cowpen; R. Dickson, Selkirk. Game Ea> i ,.l) — 1, D. Hardie. 2. A. Button, Carolside, Earlston. i.e. l 1 i i - . \V. Rogers, Sunderland; R. Brownlie, Townsend, Kirkcaldy, c, u. .U.M.iau. Jedburgh ; Miss J. M.Frew, Sinclairton, Kirkcaldy. Game Banta^is (Any other variety). — I and Cup, R. Brownlie. 2. J. Archi- bald, Earlston (Pile). hCjJ. Robson, Bishop Auckland ; J. W. Brockbank, Kirksanton (Duckwing) ; W. Bogie, Melrose (Brown Red). Baxtims (Any vanetv), — Cup, R. H. Ashton (Black). 2. J. Archibald (Japanese), he, W. H. iRobinson, Long Lee, Keighley (Black) ; T. Watson, Freeland, Bridge of Earn (Silver (Sebright); K. H. Ashton iBlack); Master A. Frew, Sinclairton, Kirkcaldy : Lord Polwanh, Mertoun. e, R, Frew ; Misa B. P. Frew. Bantams (Any variety).— Cocfe. — Cup, R. Brownlie, Kirkcaldy (Black Red). 2, A. Johnstone, Bathgate (Silver-laced), he, H. H. Thomson, The Oaks, Sunderland (Black Red) (2); J. Bone, Craigsford, Earlston (Japanese); R. Brownlie, Kirkcaldy (Pile). Ducks (.iylesbury).- 1 and 2, D. Hardie, Priesthaugb. Hawick, he, G. Dry. den, Selkirk ; J. Eronie, Palacehill ; C. Little, Woodhouselees Smithy, Canonbie. Ducks (Ronen).— 1, Cnp, 2, and e, D. Hardie. he, H. Stephenson, Lillyford. DccKS (Any other variety).—! and 2, R. H. Ashton. c. Lord Polwarth, Mertoun. Any other Variety.- 1 and Plate, W. K. Park (Creve-Ccsur). 2, W. Bear- park, Ainderbv Steeple, Northallerton (Silver Rolands), he, J. P. Fawcett. Selling Class.- 1, W. Linton, Selkirk (Crevc-Cteur). 2, D. Hardie (Dark Dorkings), he, R. H. Ashton ; A. Steele, KeUo (Dorkings) ; W. K. Park (SUver- spangled), c, J. W. Will. Cottagers' Class-- 1 and Timepiece, Mrs. Waugh, Melrose (Spanish). 2. G. Mitchell. Keighley (Silver-spangled Hamburgh), lie, J. Beattie, Rink, Selkirk (Brahma Pootral ; R. Mason, Barrhead (Dorkings) ; W. Linton, Selkirk (Golden- pencilled Hamburgh). Turkeys.- Pl:it(--, D. Hardie. 2, J. Anderson, Friarshall, Melrose, he. Lord Polwarth. PIGEONS. Fantails. — 1 and Timepiece, J. F. Loversidge, Newark on-Trent. 2, M. Crosbie, Abbotsmeadow- Equal 2. A. Johnstone, Bathgate, he. Miss J. Thom- son, Femhill, Bingley; J. F. Loversidge. e, J. W. Watson, Bradford; H. Yardley, Birmingham- NUNS.— 1, J. Tumbull. Melrose. 2, H. Scott, Gattonside. he, G. Imrie. Bour- tree, Ayr. c. T. Hone-vman, Melrose; T. Lockhart, Kirkcaldy; J. Walker. Pouters.— 1. M'C.iil Skinner, Edinburgh. 2, H. Yardley. he, F. M'Crae, Aberdeen ; M'Gill Skinner. Jacobins.— 1 and Plate, Misa J. Thomson. 2, H. Yardley. he. Miss R. C. Frew. ' TuBRiTs.- 1, J. W. Watson. 2, M. Crosbie. he, A. C. Lang, Selkirk ; W. Goddard, London ; H. Yardley. Owls (Engli»h).-1 and Plate, M. Crosbie. 2, W. Goddard, London, he, J. Tumbull : R. Paterson. Tumblers.— 1. A. Johnstone. 2, W. Goddard. he, W. Brydone, Lanton Mains, Dunse ; F. M'Crae ; J. W. Watson : H. Yardley, c, M'Gill Skinner. Any other Variety.— 1 and Plate, M. Crosbie (Lelz). 2. H. Yardley. he. Miss J. Thomson (Carriers) : J. Webster (Dragoons) ; J. Tumbull (Trumpeters) ; W. Goddard (Carriers and Frillbacks); M. Crosbie (Black Swallow), c, Mies J. Thomson ; A. Johnstone ; J. Fawcett. Selling Class.— 1 and % M. Crosbie. CAGE BIRDS. Dons rre!low).—l,R. Hunter, Galashiels. 2, J. Hardie, Galashiels. )«, W. Tnmbull : Misa Isaac, Melrose. Dons (Buff),— 1, R. Hunter. 2, J. Hardie. he, G. Park, Galashiels, c, A. M'Lean, Melrose. Flecked (Yellow).- 1, R. Hunter. 2 and he, T. Wilson. Hawick. Flecked Don (Buif).— 1, G. Park. 2, T. Wilson, Hawick, he, W. Bogie, c, B. Hunter. Cage Bird.— 1 and c, R. Paterson. 2, J.Crawford. Melrose, he, W. Douglas. Caxary (Common).—! and 2, W. Hutton, Purdou's Crook, he, E. Waugh, Melrose. The, Judge was Mr. E. Hutton, Pudsey, Leeds. Kiel, in Holsiein, Salzburgh in Bavaria was chosen as the place of meeting iu 1872. The city of HaUe was named as a desirable place for the meeting of 1873. German Bee-keepers' Convention. — At the seventeenth annual meeting of German bee-keepers held in the city of CBYSTAL PALACE BIED SHOW. In Ee Fast Colours — Extr.iohdina!iy PiiocEEDixas. I FEEL almost inclined to dismiss the Nom'ich classes without further comment than I made in my necessarily brief notice of last week. The champion birds of the season have held pretty much the same relative positions throughout, subject occasionally to some slight variation according to the ideas of different Judges. Quality will always find its way to the front, audit must have been gi-atifying to many exhibitors, who have sup- ported nearly all the minor meetings of the year, to find that their* pxiblic runniug has been no fluke, but that in the j^reat race they have run very forward, and in not a few instances have distinguished themselves by graduating in high honours. But I cannot conscientiously pass on from this deseiwedly admired class of birds without adverting to some circumstances with which the great Show of 1872 will be ever associated. And I the more readily approach the matter because I am to some extent concerned in it. Any shu'king of the question would be pitsillanimous, while a ventilation of the subject will be for the best interests of a fancy whose growing claims are acknowledged by an ever-widening circle of admirers. Almost every year sees some secession from the ranks, though fresh recruits are always found to fill the vacancies. Causes beyond our ken affect many. They retire, we don't know why, but they retire from the field* Death removes others, and the name of at least one veteran is missing from our catalogue this year. His mantle, however, seems to have fallen on his sons, and it is only for them to emulate their father to leave behind them a good Aame. But the main cause of defection is the unpleasant conviction forced upon the minds of some that " things are not what they seem," a truism, of which a practical exempUfication is by no means rare. I cotild point to more than one, or two, or three who can tell of long prices freely paid for birds with first-class diplomas, which, in many instances (unfortunately in the case of one l)uyer in every instance), turned out impostors of greater or less degree- I cast no reflections on the exhibitors of these birds. Many of them know how birds which they thought perfection tiu'ued out the succeeding year, and have explained how they had been- made victims of misplaced confidence. And here let me say in passing, how much it behoves every gentleman to carefully examine every specimen which represents perfection, and upon which, its exhibition career being over, he places such a selling price as renders its falling into the hands of a fresh owner highly probable. To find evenly marked birds growing a dark feather on one side of the tail, or a black feather on the shoulder or in the wing, or as many ticks in the back as make a respei-table saddle, or to find the cap of a Lizard with a blemish as large as a split pea, or the tail of a Cinnamon growing white feathers where white feathers never gi'ew before, or to hear supposed hens singing lustily, are matters as disagreeable to the seller as the buyer, and, in the case of sensitive minds, eventuate in con- clusions by no means conducive to a pleasant state of things. I am aware these irregularities are not confined to our fancy alone. The " Poultry Chronicle," records of a pursuit essenti- ally Enghsh in its character, one of the hobbies peculiarly pertaining to the country gentleman, and graced by the name of many a high-born dame, teem with iniquities which must bring the fitish of indignation to the cheek of many of its supporters. But let us hope that these disagreea])les are the remains of an erroneous belief as to right and wrong which, if nothing else wUl eradicate it, wiU have to take its flight with those scoundrels who practise its formularies. It is but a faint hope, for my simple conviction is that the whole guild of painters, stainers, tailors, and doctors, in general constitute a section of society which, under a more genial sun, would develope itself into candi- dates for the treadmill. I am led to these remarks from the fact of there having been at the late Show some birds which general opinicm pro- nounced to be artificially coloured. There were two Clear* Jonques, one Clear Buff, one or two Variegated Jouques, one or two ITnevenly Marked Jonques, and four LTnevenly Marked Buff. Eight of these birds I exhibited myself at a show which was held here in Sunderland in Christmas week, and thereby hangs a tale ! Previous to Cheltenham Show I received, a letter from a gentleman residing in one of the midland counties, whose opinion is entitled to the greatest respect, in which, among other matters, he referred to some painted Nor- wich and Lizards' caps which had come under his notice, and which he said I was to look out for, as I should certainly come across them. Further information I had none, other than some clue as to the whereabouts of these birds, which he remarked jestingly were " creditably " done. How many had been seen, or whether Jonques or Mealy, Clear or Variegated, did not transpire. At Cheltenham I niet an extraordinary bud in one JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE G.'OIPENEB. [ February 22, 1872. CUSS, to wMc. I a.a.aed the fi.t p.i.e one of tUe n^os^^^^^^ pxesent, and said to me in a friendly ^y, "Have you not mad^ ^LSJd ^Thlt I ^U Some to now, and it is the niost senous and upon ^oing so he snnp^y sa d, J-,-^f f^'^ Show was was a mistake for me even to have put them on the stages. ThTs Mrd an oljec? oTattraction and cm-iosity , for the meal o..r thmk i was ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ important part Ihecolour was something remarkahle. . On the ^»-Jj^-y °^ of^mltte"' ™Ihe close of the Show I suhmitted the sus^ '''' f"i^ il^^fo — waf -roTtleXf^'' ttTwaTso'sa^isfie'd plcted hirds to a. sMUed analgical c^-f ; -d *e -f ^t^of^a Ih^outtaufwas^osupported hythe opinions expressed, that on two days r^cl'^^^^^pfg^l'^foTfore^gL colouring matterwhat m^ return home I wrote to the person m f l^"';'' """^ * ^",t ever I kuow also that they have been tried m many ways by IC Onl le terled to another, audin course of coi-responden e g^t^^f^^^^^^^^^^^'i^^^l^^'eCmendedhy the Judges at Sydenham^ he said some of these birds had been thrown out at ,,but (^'^"^g'ire 'clear Buff was ignored. I can conceive the possibihty ^hatthe cTmmittee had been over, af ^"P- fnrthejXThad t^" fnf ab^e ?o stain a ylUow bird but by -^at-P-^^i"* s h^^s^h^di^Si^ ?:?S^?'?l^r ?fkn^b^ ^^e i^^^^^r^B ^existence of these birds, and my acquaintance ^''^l t'^^™^"'^°| Z^id they show a mealy edge. It is a "^^PV^tif "A*" ?Pur <;^ limited to the single ^Peeimen I had seen at Che tenham, and „„ ^ ^i^ie large feather ; but bearing in mmd that the colou^ on the plausible statement made by ^^^^ P^ * ^"^^"^.^^^ ^ ^^^^ the.sma'u feather of .a Canaryhe^on he e.t reimty of^^e we^^^^ And now for tlie Bto>7 of my exhibiting them, f-" I have And now for tne siory oi m> c-v,i...,..^„ .•^— •- ^cted as Judge I have never been an exhibitor, and .onl> once bflve I ever iud-ed over a bird which had been previously my have -L «^" J?V-o!!' "^__.ji„re But a knot of fanciers who con- Ste^ie of alodest clubs in this to.-n projected a show for Chri toa, week, and from their rules and regulations expunged the 60," ^^property clause. I have always maintamed this rule is sound m principle, but a majonty of the Commttee oi Xp old Sunderiand Ornithological Society thinking it was pre- ulic fl Tn nfa tion, eliminated it from their tbirteenth annual T?^ibition The "fancy " is not young here. On consultmg fhf SecretaiT I found the rule was omitted purposely, under I *he beUef thlt it would assist the entries, or, at least, enable ■^Bks^z:^of'sa^'^^:dS:,^i^fr?hS^^^^ Indttie remainder before dayUght on the mommg of the Show^ SrsucUneve^ 'alt ?ny feflec tiJn on what^wS, perhaps, a kind intention mien I got a good look at them, I told one of the Committee ^o^'^^af Pe-nal friend of^^mine and w;ho had seen the the smaU feather ot a (Janary ues uu >.^^ ',;„-;;, ^Viite and which in a Mealy bird is edged with a t^^ «" ^athere and the further, that it is the close overiappmg of the eathers ana tne nroiectingof the edges like the scales of a fish, only in a less flepee!wMch produce a uniform shade, it must ^e riext do^r to an impossibility to colour the entire ^l^-^^f « °* ^,^"iL\Se^dfe and then discharge the colourmg matter from the extreme edg._ of the feathers in such a way as to produce the mealy appear easy of solution. pMal in his pocket, and shaking it up assures JO". J^f fXaSi ?Wd annarently diving into the mysterious recesses of his brain, anrthe^oSerwdnking at some familiar far-off in Bpace that ^:\'^i ^eSZllriend ^ mi^^ ^o ha.^ the -^^^l^a^-e'^SSi^^ |^ ^-^yj;---^ ^- ^hole of the correspondence tia ^, tt-„t'L'^t te'ftat ther'e cleverer and more enterpnsing than h.s£eUowvntoe^^^^^^^^ ^ JetrneTs%TSiri^Sds I^-^urrik^loVele^ fniVht be a thorough examination. However, they apparently fawno reasonto £squaUfy them, and the Clear Jonque stood firTt^n its class, and one of the Variegated Jonques first m its riass the Buff birds coming-in for a share of commendations. But one of the rules (one which I wrote for our own Society, and which I little dreamt would first be apphed in my own caserstLted that if clear proof be given that any bird has been frauhdent y dealt with, the Judge's decision shall be ?^U and ToTd Sd I think it is a good rule, for there are cases in which , no mortal eve can detect a fraud, such as the extraction of a ?hi™e darkiather from the head or back, or any other part wM h woiid convert a Ticked bird, a Mule for >^=tance, int^ a Clear one a transformation the value of whichis gi-eat. Acting | <;n this liie the Committee subjected these birds to an ordeal m Thich^i think, their zeal rather outran their l^^gment and m Twav which was hardly constitutional, inasmuch as I was not mldJ^are Tf what was going on, and only anrived at a know- Sd»e ofthe fact from finding the Clear Jonque with a aJ such is is not usually found on a bird, and being presented with a handkerchief which was aUeged to contain colouring matter Stotcted from the deUnquent specimens. As for the e^stencc ?»s^^fn^^^^ep:^r^rs^s;is^^^^ ^Sr^rd Xe eTtrr^risrngrhan hi^- ^eUf- -nt^es t^ in *^^V'e^^.t1/pluSa'n'^^^^^^^ FebmaiT 22, 1872. J JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. ereiiing of the second day of the Show, I identified a travelling cage coming up the long corridor. I had only time to express a hurried but decided opinion on the birds, in reply to which he asserted he had not bred them himself, they were not stained, and the old story, " they had got nothing off." Nothing can be easier than to proTe the first proposition, while on the proof of the second hangs the reputation of the exhibitor. The onus 2>robandi lies in a nutshell. Of Belgians there was a large entry, no less than fifty. I felt satisfied'that the amended classification, which included the Clear and Ticked birds in one division, would result in greater numbers being staged. I commenced my examination of the long chain of upwards of a thousand links at either end, and I regi-et that the Umited time at my disposal did not allow of my making that miniite inspection of these classes which would waiTant my offering other than general remarks upon this most exti'aordinary Canary. The names of the winning competitors as given in the return of last week, the fact that, in a gi-oup of twenty-one, thirteen were deemed worthy of honourable notice, and the whole specially mentioned as forming a very superior class, speak volumes. I was delighted to see such a niuster of "London Fancies." What a pity it is that this rara avis is not more cultivated. Anything more beautiful than a first-cla^s specimen of this marvel of NatiU'e it would be hard to fiud among the varied feathered favourites of our aviaries. I cm well understand the conservatism of its almirers, though, like oth r conservatives, they hail with satisfaction trae progress. Mr. Hooke, the Secretary of the London Fancy Club, went over the birds with me, Mr. Waller too, and Mr. McJIillin, hardy old veterans, still dark in the stalk though gi-izzled in the web through re- peated moulting, dropped a little of their ancient lore, and a treat it is to sit at the feet of such Gamaliels. Neither of these j^entlemen, however, figured as exhibitors this year, an epidemic having decimated their stock and reduced them to the verge of bankniptcy. Deeply wedded are they to the bird they have made a life-long study. The Bank of England may break, the expected comet may come into collision with us, but their motto will ever be, Vivat the Fancy ! As a whole the Fancies were not up to the standard of previous years, but to look too long at the winning Mealies was to engender a spirit of covetousness. A great Lizard fancier who name usually figures in the van said to me, "If you send any notice to the Journal say the Lizards were a lot of duffers." That, of course, includes his own. Assuming " duffers " to be a legitimate substantive, from it we get an adjective expressive of the condition of the first- prize Golden-spangled bird. It certainly was in duffing condi- tion, its right wing in particular. It looked as if it had been in the tub, and was all in a heap. A few hours' change of tempera- ture, however, will soon transform a blooming bird into a thing not like itself at all. I had a commission to claim a bird in this class, " but not at ruinous prices.'' My affections halted between 442, Smith and Preen, and 444, Mr. J. N. Harrison, second and third respectively. I think I should have been disposed to put each up a step. There have been few shows since Whitby at which these champions have not measured swords together, the same two birds always doing battle for the Coventry firm who have brought them out from first to last in the perfection of condition. No. 440, Mr. T. W. Fairbrass, was superbly spangled but defective in cap, and well merited its veiy high commenda- tion. In this class were two birds with most miraculous caps, so miraculous, indeed, that the Judges evidently doubted their genuineness. I am told I once gave one of them either a highly commended or a commended. If so, I do repent me in sackcloth and ashes. My midland county friend's comment on them was " All in the same s"wim !" I wonder .what he meant ? An extract from an unpublished mani^script in my possession reads, " Mr. Blakston know no more about a bird nor a bird know about him !" For a solution of this enigma put this and (liat together. — W. A. Blakstox. (To be continued.) NOTES ON BEES. Having been much absent from home during the last six or seven weeks, and otherwise much engaged, I have been un- able to notice various remarks of correspondents of "our Jour- nal " which have appeared in its pages from time to time in the interval. I will now endeavour to make up lee-way by venturing a few observations on Mr. Lowe's paper on " Winter- ing Bees," page 2.5 of the current volume. I observe, first, that while be " does not recommend winter- ing our bees either in cold, dry, dark cellars, or in burying pits," he has nevertheless given an array of names, including the most eminent bee-keepers of modem times, who have adopted one or other of the modes alluded to " with great success." He tells us that " the celebrated Dzierzon usually winters some of his weaker colonies in dry cellars and they always do well." I will merely remark, therefore, that I hope some of our apiarian friends will not have been deterred by Mr. Lowe's dissuasive from trj-ing the plan of wintering which I ventured to recommend in December last. " Strong stocks," as I said, " are best left to themselves on their sum- mer stances;" but in the case of weak hives, which would cer- tainly have perished in such situations, it is worth trying whether Mr. Hosmer's plan be not a feasible one, and likely to prove a success in this counti-y as well as in America ; for, be it observed, that whUe Mr. Lowe speaks of Mr. Hosmer's theory as " erroneous in principle and entirely delusive," that gentle- man assures us that what he recommends is not "theory," but the result of experience. With regard to " summer-bred " bees my opinion taUies iu the main with that of Mr. Lowe. They are probably aU gone in active stocks by the middle of November ; but surely it is possible, as it is certainly very desirable, to supply their place in rapid succession late in the autumn with a younger and more vigorous generation, and this can always be done by en- couraging late breeding. It is just when breeding is going on most vigorously that the succession of population in a hive is most rapid, and then it is that the " old bees" (autumn-bred if you Uke) are soonest got rid of, and their places suppUed by a younger generation, who wiU Uve on later into the spring, and help on with better success the early prosperity of the stock. Therefore I do maintain that it is desirable to get rid of summer or eai-ly-autumn-bred bees, that it can be done in the way indicated, and in so doing we do not weaken, but on the con- trary decidedly strengthen the stock which may be thus treated, and put it into a more favourable condition for early spring progress. If, on the other hand, from any cause late breeding has been discom-aged, the hive, being in a state of torpidity, maintains a much larger proportion of old bees, which will live the longer in proportion as they remain at home, and die off iu then- early spring flights, to the great injury of the stock, owing to the smaller number of young bees it contains than in cases where late breeding has occurred. Should any of your apiarian readers have made trial per- chance of such a mode of wintering their bees, I should be glad to hear with what result. I would gladly have tried it myself if I had had a proper place in which to stow away my hives, for I never had so many weak hives at any period of my bee- keeping life, nor have I ever had so great a mortality. Out 6f nineteen stocks, eight have died this winter, some from dysen- tary, others from starvation during my absence from home. — B. '& W. OUE LETTER BOX. DOKKINGS DvrNG (Lo. to 15s. per load, with some rich clay loam and grass sods to a depth of two spits ; but if you cannot afford this, take the opportunity of laying-in a stock of good clay, which you may often obtain for little more than the cost of cartage. This should be put on to the extent of 4 inches in depth, or about a barrowload to a square yard, and left exposed to the action of the winter's £rosts until the spring, when the process of amalgamation wiU he found to be much accelerated. Tour plants, if already pur- chased, should in the meanwhile be carefully laid-in in a sheltered spot. If you happen to have one of those wretched gravelly soils mentioned by the Rev. S. R. Hole, add a quantity i equal to its own bulk of the best ordinary soil that can be pro- cured ; and where burning it is practicable, I strongly recom- mend clay. If your soil is rather stiff it must be somewhat lightened for the Manetti and China Roses, and this can be effected by addition of sand or light loam. I now come to the important question of manure. I strongly inculcate laying a good foundation of what is best called mine- ral manure. For obtaining a supply of phosphoric acid I recommend bones ; and I do not think it is of great moment in a proper close soil whether they are half- inch or crushed, though perhaps the latter may be rather slower and more lasting. Apply them at the rate of two tons per acre, or 1 lb. per square yard, and even double this amount may be given with safety, as this only allows about 3 ounces for the 12 inches deep of soil, the'least we can calculate to enrich. One per cent, would be a grand basis. Potash must next be supplied, if it is even at the risk of some trouble or of disgust- ing vour gardener. It should be sulphate of potash, and should be applied to the extent of half the quantity of bone dust. Be careful, however, not to buy any substance containing only a l^'O JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AST) COTTAGE GAEDEXEK. t Felimarr 29, 1873. small per-eentage of potash, as the application must then be c jusiderably increased, and is consequently rather more danger- ous ; it must therefore be used with caution, especially in the case of pot Roses. Thus enriched there is no absolute necessity to use farmyard manure, but a httering-over after plantmg, or the following autumn, may be useful for protecting the roots. For prize Roses we must apply some nitrogen eveiy spring by watering with the liquid diainings of dung heajjs, or dissolved guano, or nitrate of soda, to act as the so-called stimulant, producuig a strong and rapid growth, and rendering the other food more soluble. Be careful to dilute well, and choose wet days for apphcatiou. If with soil thus treated in a favourable situation and with proper drainage, &c., you cannot vie with your neighbours in frowLug good Roses, then I will cease to offer any advice on the subject, and Usten with patience to the praise of fibre shavings and scrapings or sawdust, and acknowledge that there is something very peculiar and incomprehensible about the predilections of this plant. I am glad to see that Mr. Radclyffe does not express great faith in the u-on manure. I should like to ask him whether a cUmbiug Rose in a very dry position would have its roots kept damper or otherwise by placing a slab of stone over it. I should also like to know where I can get a weU-grown plant of Cloth of Gold Rose for a greenhouse wall.— J. S. K. P.S. — I have just noted the Rev. C. P. Peach's communi- cation. He has to some extent misunderstood me, as a perusal of the foregoing wiU show ; but I will proffer a few remarks on his views in your next issue. GRAFTING.— Xo. 3. The examples we have given of inarching in our previous papers are those which are most generally adopted among us ; but there are numerous other forms of it practised by the French in constructing the fancifuUy-shaped frait trees met with in the gardens of the bourgeouie in the suburbs of the large towns of France, which we consider of Uttle use to our readers. One example of this style is slown injig. 1, where the branches, following a regular curve representing a target, meet at the summit and are united by gi-afting. In the centre M. Forest, who is skilful in this sort of training, has foiined a letter a by means of inarching. In the garden of M. NaUet, of Brunoy, his name s .\ l l E t is reproduced in six trees. In the same way M. Baltet has formed his own name by the junction of trees by means of inarching. There are several other illustrations of this mode of training and marching given in M. Baltefs book, but those which _ are really of useful application are those that are thus described. _ "We have ascertained the good effect of inarching the prin- cipal branches of winged pyramids, goblets, and lyre-shaped trees, cither isolated or in treUiswork, in the fruit garden of M. A. Mas, pomologist at Bourg, and in the orchard of the Ecole d'Agriculture at Soulaise (Atn) formed by Verrier. The ninille cordon, particularly applicable to the Apple tree, ought to be terminated by gi-afting it into another, each leader being pruned at the extremity in a slanting cut, and mtroduced nnder the bark of its neighbour at the curved part by the system of buttress-marching {fig 2) ; a continuous Une of small trees well balanced is thus obtained. [M. Baltet then proceeds to give an example of grafting which cannot be called inarching, since the scion is free and docs not remain in contact with its parent. It is employed to fill up a space between single cordons when the leader is not long enough to reach from one to the other, and it is done by graft- ing a scion of the length required, fir.^t the base into the summit of the leader, and the apex into the curve of the neigh- bouring cordon. The next illustration is ingenious if not pro- ductive of great results.] Inarching Applied to Ixchease the Size of Fecit. — This application of inarching is not veij widely practiced, because on the one hand it requires some skDl on the pai't of the operato' ,, and on the other success does not always reward the work. We have meanwhile authenticated more than once its good results, and particularlj' with M. Luizet, fruit-giower atEcully. He exhibited beautiful specimens of it at Lyons in 1856 at the institution of the Congres poinologique. About the month of June a young herbaceous shoot is in- aiched on the stalk of a Pear (fg. 3). It is bound with a. woollen ligature without brmging the two parts too closely iu contact. If the shoot continues to grow ^-igorously the ex- tremity ought to be pinched, but if it sets at the extremity then it is to be left alone. It is thought that the fruit, re- ceiring by this means a supply of nutrition, ought thus to. increase in size. When the fruit is produced on a fruit-beaiing- spray, a nurse-scion can be gi-afted on the sjiray besides the scion gi-afted on the stalk of the fruit. We have tried it suc- cessfully. In the case of fruit with too short or too fine a stalk, as the Api^le and the Peach, the herbaceous shoot on the fruit-bearing branch is to be grafted by the ordinaiy mode of inarching or buttress fashion, as near as possible to the point of junction of the fruit on the branch. The hgatures of grafts will be in these two examples tied in such a way that they can be loosened without cutting should they become too tight. — Charles Baltet, L'Art de Greffer. GAEEYA ELLIPTICA. Gardens would be di'eary in whiter were it not for ever- greens, and in those districts where the severity of the chmate limits the number of such ornaments, the few that can with- stand it are the more prized. It is fortunate that among these there happen to be two or three of the most handsome ever- greens we have. Hollies, Rhododeudi-ons, Box, and Juniper are all very hardy and beautiful as well. The Holly, iu par- FebiTiaiT 29, 1872. ] JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDEKER. 191 ticiilar, is invaluable from its clothing our woods and di'essed I ever, is not to call attention to the HoUy and the other gronuds in the loveliest of green, enlivened, too, dm'uig the hardy plants referred to, but to urge the claims to gi-eater whiter by multitudes of carmine berries. My pui'pose, how- | attention of a shrub which is not so hardy as they are. Gorrya elliptica. Garrya elliptica, an evergreen shi'ub which has been many years in this country, is far from being so weU known as it ought to be, most Ukely in consequence of its having been planted out amongst ordinary shrubs, and accordingly suffered in some of those severe winters we have now and then ; but give it a waU, and it wQl make an ample return. A plant here (Linton Park, Kent), growing against a south waU, but m a somewhat confined position, is literally covered with its long drooping bunches of catkins of an agreeable pale green colour, con- trasting weU with the dark green foliage beneath. These bunches are so numerous as in most cases to touch each other and cover the whole space, and then- uses in a stand of flowers need no comment. I have no hesitation in recommendhig the Garrya to all who have a wall not too high, as it is not only ornamental hi winter, but at all seasons its compact growth and amjjle foliage, not unlike that of an overgi-own Evergreen Oak, are great recommendations. Occasionally, also, in favoured locaUties it may flower and thrive well as an ordinary shrub, but in such a position its flowers are generally cut off by the winter's frost; it is, therefore, only when protected by a wall and favoured by a mild winter that we find it in such per- fection as it is to be seen the present season. In some years the catkins, of which I send a cluster of medium size (not selected) for your inspection, have been much larger ; indeed, they win continue to gi-ow after this (.January) , but I never saw the tree more covered with them, and it is to the heavy crop it is loaded with that I attribute their being smaller than usual. Adjoining this Gariya, which occupies a sort of buttress some 11 feet high by 6 feet wide, is a plant of Jasminum nudi- florum in beautiful flower at the same time ; the contrast be- tween the two is remarkable. Near the Gan-ya are Edwardsia microphyUa, which seems to be more hardy than the Ganya, Ceanothus paUidus, and C. azureus, both in good form, but unless aided by a wall, I have never been able to make much of the latter two. An attempt to cover a bank with C. azureus in 18.58 and 1859 was so successful, that I was in hopes that it might be converted into a useful beddmg plant, but 1860 put an end to all my expectations. I would advise those who have a spare corner agamst a south wall, or other suitable place not akeady devoted to Roses, and who want an object to admire from November till April, to plant Garrya elliptica, and after it is fairly established not to 19-2 .fOUENAL OF liOETICUL'tUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ Febraarj 29, 1872. prune uor trim it too much. Tie it iu a little if it project too far, but iu the summer dressing leave a number of the shoots at theu" full length, otherwise, in all probabilitj', there •will be no blossom, as it is all at the points, or what botanists call terminal. — J. Eoesox. A SOJOUEN IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND. (Continned from page 127.) The morning of the eighth clay was again gloriously fine and we determined to devote it to the valley of the Loehart. This valley or glen is rather narrow, and the sides of the mountains are not so well wooded as those of the Lochaj". Our main object was to hunt for varieties of Blcchnum and Lastrea montana, of both which there was plenty ; and we Boon discovered a fine patch of the rare Blechnum S. hetero- phyllum. This plant, as previously found, has been soUtai-y, but here it had a sporatlic character. We gathered some twenty or thirty plants, and left several for the next ad- venturers. After some time we took to the sides of the moun- tain, and there found the CaUuna vulgaris, vaiiety dumosa, with many other interesting plants, but which we cannot stop to notice. The next two days were spent in an excursion and journey to Ben Lawers. The morning of the eleventh day we rose early. The clouds rested sleepUy on the lower shoulders of the mighty Ben, not more than 1000 feet above the base ; but we felt confident they would rise as the day advanced, and ac- cordingly commenced the ascent by a route which, the day before, we had laid down as most eUgible. Following one of the fences which run up the base of the mountain, we came upon a fine form of Blechnum near the B. caudatum of Moore, which was a good find of ouis, in North Wales, some years ago. In this the Cauda, or tail, was very blimt, therefore B. obtusicaudatum woidd be a more appropriate name. Then we came upon a fine patch of the^Miite Mother Thyme (Thymus SeiTyllum album). Well, up and up we go, and now we win the first shoulder of the mountain, and are fairly among the heather ; but where are the clouds which rested here when we were at the foot of the moimtain? They, too, have been creepmg slowly up the mountain, and are stiU 700 feet above us. Higher and higher we go, and at eveiy step we gain upon the clouds. It was not tUl we touched the base of the rock- crowned summit of the mighty Ben that we fairly encoimtered the fleecy vapours ; but, oh ! how delicious was the atmosphere — so soft, so pure, so wann and genial, that it was mildness itself ! It was the most delicious cloud bath, and the greatest atmospheric luxury that wo ever enjoyed. These clouds were not of equal density — some were thick and floccirleut, others til in and attenuated, so that we had occasional gUmpses of high and steep chffs of mighty rugged masses of rocks, assuming ; all sorts of gigantic forms. By the occasional thinning of the clouds here and there we w-ere enabled to make om- way slowly up among the rocky heaps and steep cliffs. As soon as we came to the rocks our astonishment and gi'atification began— we were in another world. The rocks Cmicaceous schist l showed an endless vaiiity of distribution, fonn, and contour, and the surface of the ground imd steep face of some of the chffs were Uterally carpeted with the Alpine Lady's Mantle (AlchemiUa alpina) over large areas. It was impossible to set down a foot without treading on this moim- tain gem. The upper sm-face of the leaves w-as a brilliant green, the under a sUiny sUvery satin. We almost shuddered at trampling under foot such beautiful verdure. Interspersed with the AlchemUla there was the stUl more rare Sibbaldia procumbeus, and here and there dense silvery tufts of the dwarf Alpine Cudweed, Guaphalium supinum. Up in the cliffs there were fine hoary masses of the Alpine Mouse-ear Chick- weed (C'erastium alpinum), and, as the numerous hairs which clothe the whole plant were each terminated with a minute dewdj'op derived from its cloud bath, it seemed almost hke a mass of snow. Late as the season was, severiil of the plants high up among the rocky cliffs showed their large snow-white flowers. Its congener, the rai-e Cerastium latifohum, matted many of the little shelves among the rocks. The Alpine Meadow Eue (Thahctrum alpinum) was creeping among the Moss here and there, and showing its tiny Feru-like foUage, humble it is tnie, but not less beautiful on that account. Long lines of the Arctic WUlow (Salis herbacea) , not more than 1 inch in height, ran along the clefts of the rocks. There were large bimks and patches of the little Moss Campion (Sileuc acaulis), its dense foliage packed so close together as to present the aspect of a mossy cushion ; when in flower it is a vegetable gem of the first order. A companion to this, and imitating it in its mode of growth, but with still smaller foliage and more closely-packed shoots, was the Mossj' C^-phel (Cherleria sed- oides). As this was the first time we had seen this modest gem in its native home, and we believe almost its only British home, we were iu an ecstacy of delight ; but not this plant alone, but the multitude of others, now seen for the first time, yielded us many pleasmes, and a new joy at almost every step, and we were kept in a constant thrill of astonislunent and delight. Our si)irits were exhilarated beyond measiu'e ; we were almost young again, giddy as a giii and buoyant as a youth let loose from school. It was impossible to feel hunger, j thirst, or fatigue ; the wading thi'ough miles of heather up the mountain's brow was nothing, and all our toils and difficulties were forgotten ; and not a breath of au- distm'bed the delicately poised Bent-gi'ass. The silence was deep and profound, save tke faint murmur of a mountain stream, and the occasional distant croak of a raven. The only things which seemed to move were ourselves and the ever- varying clouds above, below, and around us, and we cared not for them so long as they retidned theti- vaporous form. We were in the finest and the rarest alpine garden iu Britain ; we were very probably, though mei'e neo- phytes, treading in the steps of the botanists of old — Light- foot, Don, Graham, Hooker, Brown, GreviUe, and a host of other worthies, who have made Ben Lawers renowned the world over. We aecended higher and higher as the clouds permitted us to have glimpses of our course — zigzaging, now this way and then that ; several times fancying we could see the summit, but when that was attained there was another point stUl higher ; but as we rose the clouds became thinner, and by-and-by we left them below and stood on the top in a clear atmosphere. The vegetation near the top is very scanty, and the rare plants. Mosses and Lichens ; of the latter Lechanoras, Paimehas, and Gyrophoras w-ere plentiful. But the one most interesting to us was the Soleiina ochracea — seen for the first time. It is very striking, covering the loose stones with its leathery green rosettes, the imder surfaces of which ai'e of a rich golden hue. As we stood on the highest ridge we wished for at least one peep at the nether world, and waited for some time ; but no, the fleecy masses, though occasiouallj- thin, continued to ob- scure all beneath them. Once, and once only, through a nearly round hole in the clouds we got a glimpse of Loch Cat, on the eastern flank of the mountain. Passing slowiy and cautiously down the western cliffs we came upon a depression or shght ravine — " conies " they are called iu Scotland, and here the rare alpines were in rich jirofusiou. The beautiful reticulated WlUow (Salix reticulata) was very fine ; the Saxifraga opposi- tifolia and mirahs were abund.ant ; and here we found what we had been long looking for — the vegetable gem of Ben Lawers — the Alpine Forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris). We are told by good authorities that, when this plant is in flower, it is worth a journey to Scotland to see it, as th^ size and brilliant amethystine blue of its flowers gathered into compact heads, and the neatness of its foUage, render it one of the most beautiful of all alpines. When in flower it may be easily foimd, but now it requh-es to be looked for. It was nestling among the damp moss, on ledges of the rocks, among other rare denizens of this alpine gar'den ; there also were found, iu plenty, Polystichiun Bonchitis, Pseudathyiium alpestre, and Lastrea dilatata alpina ; also the companions to the exquisite Myosotis alpestris, the alpiue Veronica, and Alphie Willoiv Herb {Ej)ilobinm al- pinum). We lingered long on this channing spot. The evening was drawing on, and we had to make a precipitate retreat. It was nearly ten o'clock when we reached our quarters. — {Ex- tniitfd fro:' ?Jr. Staiisjield's notes read Vcfore the Todmorden Botunical Socictij.) (To be c^utiuued.) SHOWING VEGETABLES. I AJi quite delighted to see vegetables taking the places w'hich belong to them, although they are not so' inviting as the beautiful Orchids and Eoses, nor yet so luscious as Eoyal George Peaches, or the good old Hamburgh Grapes. Never- theless, when we come to nsefulness and health combined, I think your readers \vill agree with me wiien I say they are not to be placed beneath anything. Vegetable-showing is iu its infancy, and I think proper regulations should at once be adopted to the satisfaction of all exhibitors, and if I may pre- Febi-uory 29, 1872. ] JOUKXAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. sume to give a few hints, I hoiie my iloiiig so will be talien in good part by aU. I am sure you •will admit tliat we iliillauJ gaa'tleners! camiot successfully compete at such au early season as the gardeners of Comwail and Devoushii'e. Take, for instance, the Carter cup at Nottingham last year. The Peas were full and good from the outh, but oui'S were not so, the reason being that the southerns enjoyed a better, warmer, and more congenial climate. I shoiild like to know what is to be done to satisfy us all '? I am sure your correspondents' great experience will be able to solve the problem. — E. Gildekt, Burghlnj. AN AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE. The day was far spent as we neared a stream where we in- tended to encamp. for the night, when "sounds of revelry" and boisterous uiii'th became more audible as we descended a hill. The noise and " roUcking-fuu " soon after ceased, when the vocal strains of a fine tenor voice sang loud and clear the charming air and pleasant song, " The maids of merry England, bow beautiful ai-e tbey." The sentiment, so sweet and true, was harmoniously joined in by the party, whose voices commingled in the pleasing refrain. As we hstened to the once familiar words we felt certain that the voice of the singer was equally so, but when and where heard could not well remember. Our- footsteps were quickened, as anxious " to join the jovial crew," we pushed onwards to the camp-fires, where a number of happy-looking mortals were enjoying themselves in various ways, which seemed to prove that there was such a state as rural feUcity even iu the forest shades of New Holland. With but little ceremony we iuti'odueed ourselves as "travel- lers from Melbourne, on our way to Geeloug," and were cor- dially welcomed to a share of their glowing fires and bivouac for the night. In the person of a handsome and gentlemanly fellow we fancied we recognised the smger whose song awakened thoughts of home and the loved ones there. Scarcely had we been seated, before our new acquaintance inquired, ^Yhat j^art of England did you come from, and how long have you been away, and what are you doing now ? Similar questions were asked and answered all round, when our iuten'ogator some- what surprised us with the information that his name was May, and was at one time in the nursery busmess near Bedale, in Yorkshire. " -And my name is Harding, and well do I rcf- momber you when a young man, and in your father's employ years ago." The recognition was mutual when we referred to the time we heard him sing the same song he had just repeated, at a village party long ago. He, too, had not forgotten the time v,-hen bidding each other "good-bye" at the niu'seiy gate, one c"old December's morning, when, with " great expec- tations," we journeyed to the great metropolis, the centre in circumference of horticulture, where all young and aspuing gardeners aim for. It was then, and may be so now, considered necessary to have a course of practice in and around London to qualify a gardener for a fii"st-class position. To sleep was out of the question ; it seemed utterly im- possible for anything mortal to slumber with the myriads of mosquitoes, fleas, ants, and other abominable insects torturing us iu every way ; so we passed the night in the smoke of the camp-fire, discussing " auld lang syne." It was our good fortune to have fallen in with a party of " gum-pickers," who were gathering gum from the Acacia trees for exportation, and little inferior to the gum arable of commerce procured iu Senegal and the East Indies; from Acacia fera and A. arabica trees. The varieties of Acacias are many, and number nearly two hundred species, indigenous to Australia alone ; and are indis- pensable for greenhouse and conservatory decoration. Few, if any, flowering trees or shrubs are more beautiful or interesting than some of them. Such, for instance, as Acacia pubescens, A. couspieua, A. undidata, A. grandis, and A. Drummondii, giand beyond comparison. A. cultriformis, very curious ; A. platyptera, A. XieUi, A. albicans, A. urophyUa, so fragi-ant and pretty ;A. amcena, a lovely gem ; A. suaveolcns, deUciously sweet ; A. pulcheUa and A. spectabihs, beautiful indeed. These are but a few named of the many varieties, and all of easy culture. They v.-iU bear a good deal of hard usage and thrive moderately well, or perhaps better than most plants, in dweU- ing-house windows, and for setting-oft' a choice bouquet we know of nothing more graceful or pretty. — (A merican Gardener's ilonikhj.) BATTLE ABBEY, The Seat op the Duke of Cleveland. ■When the Anglo-Saxons are named it is usual to associate then- possession of England with the name of Alfred, to dwell on their triumphs over the early Britons and the Northmen, and to remember how they fostered the Christian missionaries in England ; but when six centuries had passed they no longer retained the same characteristics, and one who has written theti' history tells that for the most part their sovereigns were feeble-minded, their nobles factious and effeminate, their clergy corrupt and ignorant, and the people servile and depressed. Thus England was becommg the possession of a debased, divided, and ignorant people. At this time of their decay the Normans came. Their dukes, though foremost as warriors, loved peace, theh' subjects were brave, united, and truthful ; they were charitable, pious, lovers of hteratui'e, decorous, and moral. They conquered the Anglo-Saxons, and " from the mighty ruins with which the Conquest overspread the land, raised that great character of government — clergj', nobility, and people — which has since never ceased." Knowing this we stood but a few days ago on one of the terraces of Battle Abbey, looked over the valley where eight centuries since the one decisive victor}' efi'ected that conquest. Behind us — wo were about to write " in our rear," for we had been reading of the strife until we had on our mind the mUitary phraseology — was liigher ground, and on it " The Watch Oak," marking where the Saxon sentinels looked out on the plain towards Pevensey on the movements of the approaching Nor- man host ; and on Telham hUl, beyond that plain, was planted the standai'd of the mvading duke. Our feet were within the Saxon position. Harold's standai'd was her-e, near to it he was slain ; the spot where he fell was covered by the High Altar of the Abbey, and the ruins of the altar's foundation remain. We could dwell long and detail minutely the incidents of that bloody contest, but they are not within our province, and we may only note that the Conqueror had vowed, if victory was with him, he would build an abbey on the battle-field. He fulfilled his vow — '* And tber, as the bataile waa, An abbey be lets reie Ot Soiut iloitin, for the soules Tbat tbere siayn woie," Tire Abbey was dedicated to the Trinity, the 'Virgin, and St. Martin, but this title, as usual, was popularly abbreviated, and it was known as " St. Martin's Abbey of Battle." Although eoiui'v.iced the year after the victory, the Conqueror did not live to see it completed, and William Eufus was at its conse- cration in 1094. It was surrendered to Henry VIII. when he abolished monasteries in 1538, and he granted, in the following year, the Abbey aud the manor to his Standard-bearer and Master of Horse, Sii' Anthony Browne. His son, created Vis- count Montacute (erroneously spelt Montagu), demolished the chief part of the Abbey, and adapted the remamder for a residence ; but the sixth Viscount, about the middle of the last centm-y, sold it to Sir Thomas Webster, fi-om whose descendants it passed to the family of the Duke of Cleveland. The Viscount was high in the favour of Queen Elizabeth, but we are not aware that she visited Battle Abbey. It is certain that she was entertained in the August of 1591 at Cowdray, the other residence of Viscount Montacute, and afterwards she was in the western parts of Sussex. The weatlier was projiitious, aud the companj- numerous, for it is recorded that the Queen frequently cUned in the garden, that the table was 48 yards long, and that for a breakfast three oxen and one hundred and forty geese were provided. We have endeavoured to give a shght historical sketch of Battle Abbey, but for a monastery so important aud richly endowed, strange to say, comparatively httle appears to be known of its history even a hundred years after its completion. Some parts of the buildmg have evidently been built at a later date than the rest, and some are known to have been rebuilt by Sir Anthony Browne soon after the Eeformation ; but we are sorry to record the fact that httle care seems to have beeu taken by former proprietors to preserve what at one time must have been, indeed still is, a noble and interest- ing building. Parts of it have been used as barns and gi-ana- ries, and other parts lay long buried in the earth, or were suffered to fall to the ground. The entrance from the street of Battle is by a Norman archway aud tower ; eastward the 194 JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febnm7 20, 1872. whole is lawn encompassed with belts of Laurels, Aueubas, Laurustinus, with tall Elms near the boundary ; and beyond, the kept grounds merge into the extensive park. On the prin- cipal front, which faces the west, are trained fine plants of the Narrow-leavedMyrtle, Magnolias, Jasmine, and Garrya elliptica, the last covering a space 13 or 16 feet in height, and 12 feet wide. This shrub, of which a figure and notice are given in another column, was covered with its pale yellow male flowers in catkins as much as 9 inches long. So numerous, ui fact, were they that the dark-green foliage was all but completely hidden by them. No one who saw such a plant could fail to re- cognise its suitability for covering a wall, and desire to see it more extensively employed for that purpose, being ornamental by its foliage and much more so by its flowers, especially when these are produced by a wall-trained plant on which, as at Battle, they appear to attain twice the length they do on shrubbery plants. Stauntonia latifolia, a greenhouse plant from China, trained against the same front of the house, had attained a height of about 20 feet, but had not fruited, though another plant had done so where the aspect was south. What is supposed to have been the Guest House is a detached building covering an area 195 feet long and upwards of 40 feet wide, but all that remains of it are two octagonal tm'rets at the west end, and the niches of the windows at the sides, now used as seats, those on the south commanding a view of the battle field, Telham Hill in the distance, and on a clear daj' of miles of country besides. The space once occupied by the rooms devoted to the use of the guests and their attendants is now laid out in three neatly-kept gi'ass plots surrounded by gravel walks. Considering that the rehgious establishments in early times served also as houses of entertamment for travellers, more esj^ecially those of the higher ranks, it is not surprising that so large a building should be devoted to their accommodation ; and from the fact that beneath the Buttle Abliey— Cloibters, whole is a range of ceUai'S which even a great London wine- merchant might envy, it may be inferred both that the visitors were many and the cheer good. Of the dormitory, which runs north and south, and is 154 feet long by 35 wide, part of the walls are stUl standing, and beneath it are vaulted chambers, supposed to have been the living-rooms of the monks when not engaged on their rehgious or gustatory duties, for the per- formance of which last an ample refectory was provided. However, it is not for us to dwell upon these details, which belong more to the province of the antiquarian than of the horticulturist, but in a notice of such a place as Battle Abbey the remains of the past are so intimately connected with the present — in fact, serve as landmarks to it — that it is next to an impossibUity to dissociate the one from the other. Never- theless, we cannot but remark that those old masons had done their work well, not only in beautifully arched cryjjts, but in buttress facings, where theu' chisel marks remain fresh and clear at the present day, though the iuterverung work was of a rougher nature. We have now reached the east side of the Abbey, where there is a garden laid out in smaU beds hedged-in by Box neatly kept to 6 inches high by 9 inches wide at top, with raised beds in the centre. The accompanj-iug is a view of this side of the Abbey* with its cloisters, including also a portion of the garden * The two views which we give were obli^^ugly funushed to l Photogiaplier, oJ 13, Wellington Place, Hastings. i by Mr. Mai refei'red to. Li summer it is filled with bedding plants, and the broad Box edgings to the beds give it a unique appearance. We noticed here some remarkably fine Laurustinuses 18 feet high. The Laurustinus appears to luxuriate at Battle, flowering freely, and attaining a large size. The next garden is a square with an ancient Yew hedge 15 or 16 feet high, forming a dark, sombre wail on one side ; Laurels and Sweet Bay nearly 20 feet in height are the other two sides. The ground within is laid out as a rosery, there being in addition a number of Camellias planted out, and two beds of Lilium speciosum (laucifoUiun of gardens) rubrum and album, which have been there for ten years ; all the protection given is a covering of ashes over the bulbs in winter. At the back of the Yew hedge referred to is a row of Y'ew trees equally ancient, and the branches of the two form a Gothic arch over a walk running the whole length of the back of the walk, and in some cases the branches are naturally inarched. This walk has a quaint, rustic character, as well as being venerable by its age. The Monks' Walk, pai-aUel with the boundary wall, is also interest- ing, and from the raised walk on the wall one can see miles of the surrounding country. Just pausing to notice another Y'ew- bordered walk, the trees not so old as by that previously noticed, we come to the site of the High Altar erected on the spot where Harold fell, and near which are several magnificent old Cedars of Lebanon, and a fine Deodar about 40 feet high. Her Grace has herself tastefully planted Ferns and herba- Febraarj- 29, 1872. ] JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 195 ceous plants among the ruins at this Luterestiiig spot (of which we give a view), as well as elsewhere in the grounds. A little further on we come to a picturesque walk with iine old Lime trees on one side, and behind these is a rustic ice-house, which holds about one hundred loads, and keeps th« ice in excellent condition throughout the season. Here a heathery is being formed, and beds of hardy Azaleas have been planted as kindred subjects. A few Gladioluses are put in to give hfe in summer. On the south side of the Abbey, where the old stabling, offices, and houses were, the ground has been converted into hiwn lind planted with Ai-aucai'ias, Pinus insignis, Welling- tonias, and other Conifers, which are in a thri'S'ing condition, and some of them ai'e already fine specimens. A new drive to the station has also been formed through this part of the grounds, the only drawback being that portions of the village ai-e too plainly risible in parts, but this will be remedied in time by the growth of the trees which have been planted as a screen. On the south side of the Abbey a new terrace 180 yards long has been recently formed. The place of a terrace waU is sup- phed by a dense low Holly hedge 3 feet wide at top, with standards on 6-feet stems at every 30 feet. Along the walk next the hedge, and rather interfering with its hue in one or two places, are three fine trees of the Scarlet Thorn, but though, as stated, they interfere a httle with the walk, the trees have been wisely preserved ; it would, indeed, have been a pity to have touched such fine old trees, so beautiful, too, when in blossom. Ascending to another terrace we reach a walk 14 feet wide and 200 yards long, with, on the side next the park, we believe, the finest Laurustinus hedge anywhere to be met with. It is 4 feet high and fi'om 6 to 8 feet in breadth, with standards at every 30 feet or so, and is perfectly furnished from bottom to tcp. It must be a beautiful sight when in flower Heic theie are compartments for bedding plants, of which from 25,000 to 30,000 are required. The walls of the Guest House, which is at the back of this terrace, are covered with Monthly Roses, Oleanders, and Clematises, and when the Roses are in blossom the effect must be veiy fine. But more noteworthy than the Roses are several plants which elsewhere are kept in green- houses. Among these are Stauntonia latifolia more than 20 feet high — this fruits well ; the Pomegranate, which flowers but does not fruit, Mandevilla suaveolens ' covering 25 feet of wall, and Poinciana gracilis. As a measiu-e of precaution, these, CoroniUa glauca coming into flower, Aloysia citriddora, and some others of the more tender subjects, were covered mth spruce branches. That useful early-flowering Jasminum nudiflorum unfortunately a scentless one, was gay with a pro- fusion of its golden blossoms. The teirace walk terminates at a gateway flanked with two handsome specimens of Cupressus macrocarpa. We next enter the consen-atory, in front of which are a set of beds that are kept gay in summer with Clematises and bedding subjects. This conservatory is upright-sided, with a half-cui-vilinear roof, and measures 71 feet in length by 17 in width, and the same in height. Great credit is due to Mr. Jack.'the excellent gardener, for the gay appearance which it presents, more especially as he has not a great extent of glass from which he can draw luilimited supphes of plants. Among the mmates weie some fine pyramidal Camelhas standing 8 feet high blooming freely. Azaleas, Epiphyllums grafted on Pereskia stocks so as to form standards 2 to 3 feet high. Begonias, Epaerises, and an excellent cohection of mis- cellaneous flowering plants. Taosonia Van-Volxemi is trained on the roof for shade, and among other climbers Lapagerias, Stephanotis, Passiflora princeps, and Fuchsia corymbiflora. Two very fine specimens of the Abyssinian Banana, Musa Ensete, in tubs, give a tropical air to the house, not the least notable ornament to it being handsome Orange trees, one of which in particular was loaded with rich golden fruit, not sour half-ripened fruit, but fit for the dessert. Before quitting the pleasure grounds we must notice a new walk being made, sldrting the park and passing through a well- wooded portion of it between the trees and Ivy-covered banks. This when finished wUl be upwards of half a mile long, and will, no doubt, add a fresh charm to this old place. The kitchen garden, including the outside slips, is two acres and three-quarters in extent, and is new, having been made since Mr. Jack came to the place, the old gai'den being now an orchard and used for growing early Potatoes, &c. The walls are English bond, 14 inches tliick, 12 feet high, and surmounted by a coping projecting 8 inches. The Peach, Plum, Cherry, and Pear trees are trained with great neatness and care, and look very healthy and fruitful. Apricots, however, are apt to die off in the unaccountable manner so often complained of. 196 JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAT.DENEE. [ Febnmry 29, 1372. The vineries are three in number, in addition to which there is a Peach house. They are all lean-to's, 30 feet long by 12 wide. The Vines are all planted inside, but the front walls being arched the roots can pass outwards. In the early Tinery Mr. .Jacli had grafted on one Vine the Golden Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, and Canon Hall Muscat, but he found that the Muscat . of Alexandria had robbed the Golden Ham- burgh. Mr. Jack states that by notching the wood of the Canon Hall he finds it sets as freely as the Eoyal Muscadine. The trees in the Peach house are trained on a curved trelhs in front, and on the back waU as well. They looked healthy, and gave promise of bearing an abundant crop. The other houses consist of a span-roofed Cucumber house 30 feet by 9, and 9 feet high, heated by two flow-pipes one on each side, and two returns one under each bed. Besides Cucumbers, Dwarf Kidney Beans and Asparagus are forced, the former in a heated pit and in the Peach house as well, though not desirable inmates for such a structure, and Mr. .Tack would gladly dispense with them there. The other pits are filled with bedding plants. Lettuces, Cauliflowers, &c. There is a Mushroom house, heated by a 3-iuch pipe, in which fine crops are obtained, especially from the beds on the floor ; Sea-kale and Ehubarb are also grown here. In the fruit-room, which contained more fruit than some even in larger gardens, we noticed that the fruit was laid on dry Fern spread over the open-slatted shelves, and in this way it keeps exceedingly weU. We have only to add that the out-door crops and general keeping of the place were most creditable to our friend Mr. .Tack, the careful and painstaking gardener, and we take this opportunity to thank him for his kindness and the trouble he was at in pointing out all that might interest us and our readers. WORK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN OAUDEN. The preparation of the quarters intended for main crops must be persevered in whenever the soil is dry enough to admit of its being trodden on without being too much consolidated. This is of great unportanec in the case of hea\'y soils, and those who have such to deal with should take advantage of every dry day to prepare them. It will also be advisable to defer sowing main crops for a week, or even a fortnight. On light dry soils, on the other hand, the sooner the main crops are in the better, because such soils are most liable to suffer from dronplil ilmnld it occur; therefore the sooner the crops can be well ■ i^li; ik d the better will they resist dry weather. If, on the cuiiliiiy, tlir season is wet they will be in the best possible comiition to profit by it. Make a small sowing of Grange's Early White Broccoli; the sowing made now wiU come in iiseful by-and-by. Sow another jjatch of early Cubbarie, also some Eed Cabbages for winter supply. Prick-out the young. seedling plants of Couli/lou-ers and Lettuces either on a warm border or a gentle hotbed, and shelter them for a time with hoops and mats. The first sowing of Celenj must also be prieked-otit as soon as it can well be handled. Make a first sowing of the true Drumhead Savoy. Sow a good breadth of the best Curled Farxlcy. On light soils lose no time in getting in the main crops of Peas for summer, together with a few of the later kinds. The ground on which the Peas are sown comes in well for Celery, a width of C feet being allowed from row to row ; but this distance might be increased with great advantage, and the intervening spaces sown with S^iiiac7i, early Turnips, Radislws, and Lettuces, all of which would come off in time for the Celery. FKUIT G.4EDEN. Pruning should now be quite finished m every department, and whatever nailing is left undone must be completed imme- diately. See that new-planted fruit trees are properly staked and mulched, and after high winds it is necessary to look round them and press the earth gently to the base of the stems. All danger of very severe frost being over, Figs may have the covering completely removed, and be neatly pruned and nailed. Do not crowd them with wood. FLOWEE GAEDEN. The digging of flower borders must now be commenced in good earnest, in perlMiiiiiiiy viiich use the fork in preference to the spade. All kiuds cf lierbaceous plants may now be planted, either to fill up empty spaces, or to make new planta- tions in borders which have undergone a course of preparation this season. Pay particular attention to the arrangement of the plants according to height, and colom- and succession of flower. Bear in mind that a profusion of bloom alone does not make a flower border beautiful and attractive, unless the plants are disposed in such a manner that harmony of colouring may prevail throughout the whole. Proceed with the planting of hardy Eoses. If the iilants are strong prune their heads according to the classes to which the varieties belong ; if weak, cut them back to two or three eyes, shorten all long and straggling roots, and prune away such as may be bruised or broken. If the ground has not been prepared as previously du'ected I would recommend pits to be made, and to two pits give a wheelbarrowful of rotted dung and good loam, well mixed. By aU means avoid deep planting. Have a quantity of stakes and tar-twine close at hand, and stake each plant whether it is a dwarf or standard ; many losses are incmred and much injury sustained when this is neglected. Continue the pruning and nailing of climbers, also arranging and tying such as are against treUises, verandahs, &c. Due attention must be paid to the sweeping and rolling of walks and turf. This should be done at least once a-fortnight at the present season. Those walks which have become dirty upon the sur- face and are overrun with moss should be turned to the depth of 2 or 3 inches. By this means they wiU have the appear- ance of having been newly made. The beds of Tuhps being great favomites of the amateur will now require great atten- tion, the foUage being generally well above the surface, and consequently hable to the vicissitudes of our changeable springs. At this season a rainy day is often succeeded by a sharp frost, or hailstorms mercilessly j^elt the rising plants. Some florists think it is of little use to cover, suj)posing the Tirlip to be sufficiently hai'dy ; but when the leaves form a kind of cup which holds a considerable quantity of water, which in a Irosty night is turned into a mass of ice, enveloping the rismg bud, I think it will be allowed that protection in this case at least is advisable. It is desirable to stretch a thin calico over the bed at night if frost is expected ; this will be found sufii- ciently effective. Canker will often make its appearance on the foliage ; this must be carefully removed with a sharp knife, exposing the part as much as possible to the air, lait keeping a shade over it for a few" days. Now is a very trying period for Carnations and Picotees ; many layers that have apparently withftjod the winter with impunity wUl often wither and die, j,nl if exainiaed they will be foimd not to have made a single fibre since they were potted last aiitumu, show- ing the propriety of early potting, in order that the plants may, by being thoroughly established, be enabled to stand the weather. Continue to shade the rising blooms of Polyanthuses on seedling beds. If pin-eyed flowers show any good property in o, marked manner, cross-breed that variety and save seed from it. GEEENHOUSE AND CONSEKVAIOET. We have prc\iously recommended the removal of plants from various houses, to aid in embellishing the conservatory ; their beauty past, they must no longer be allowed to remain, but should be restored to a situation suitable to encourage a healthy growth, and consequently an assured provision of flower.buds for a future season. It is a great advantage to possess a pit which can be approfiriated to this pm'pose. When it is found that plants are much exhausted by early forcing they should be suppUed with fresh and siritable soil. AUow no essential variations in the temperature ; 60° should be the average. The occupants of the greenhouses will re- quire from time to time increased pot-room to follow the ex- tension of the leaves and branches. Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, and Calceolarias must receive the benefit of tills rule. STOVE. In this structure much is to be done every day. The plants of Poinsettias, Euphorbias, Clcrodendi-ons, Aphelandras, Gossypium, and Gesnera oblongata and longifoha that have previously been cut down and are now breaking should be shaken out and repotted in good, open, rather hght, fibrous, turfy lo.am, coarse sand, and a good portion of charcoal, which aU plants delight in. Prick off carefully into small pots, as they appear in the store pots or pans, the various kinds of Achimenea, and put in another batch, likewise various Glox- inias. The whole of the above delight in a moderate bottom heat at this season. See that the plants of Gougoras, Stan- hopeas, some of the beautiful Dendrobiums that are now making then' season's growth, are not suffering from want of water ; it is sometimes found essential to soak them once or twice in the tub of tejjid water. Syringe oarefuUy about the blocks and baskets that have plants of Vandas, Sacoolabiums, Saroantbus, &c., growing or adhering to them. l-'ebi-noiy 29, 1S72. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 107 PITS ASD FE-V3IES. Pot off into 3-iuch pots plants of ths Bourai'dia triphj'Ua and splendeus which hare been raised from small jjortions of the roots ; replace them in a kindly heat. Those who have not as yet attended to the propagation of plants for bedding- out, must now begin with all possible speed to pirt in cuttings of Salvias, Petunias, Fuchsias, Verbenas, Scarlet Geraniums, &c., so as to have good plants for bedding-out in May. Pay due attention to watering and topping-back weak and strag- gling shoots, so as to form robust bushy plants. If snails or slugs have founii*suug quarters in this department they will do much mischief during the mild weather, if not looked after and destroyed. — W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. i'ri'.-.-i'i'i'i«(7 ,$'('(" lnj UotWater. — In answer to many inquiries, we v.ould iciu;[ih on our experience of the import- ance of not being too sparing of pipiug. Some tell us hov/ soon tliej' can make the water boil iu their pipes, and the great heat thus given off. We think it much better never to have the water in the pipes within some 30° of the boiUng point. I have several times alluded to the superiority of Uttle houses over pits, chiefly because one can work in them. Another advantage is that they contain so much more air that the tem- perature is less liable to sudden changes. In addition to these advantages, a lean-to Cucumber house, or a span-roofed one with an inclination steeper than 4.5°, has a great advantage in the whiter mouths over a pit, o'.ving to the greater amount of light presented to the plants. Our present little Cucumber pit was originaUy a common pit G feet in width, 3 J feet above the ground at the back, and IJ foot in front. We made a little house of it by forming a sunk pathway at the back 18 inches wide, and 7 feet from the floor to the top of the wall, and ran a wall along to make a bed in front. Now what we waut others to profit by is our faulty example. We had two 3-inch pipes laid in nibble for bottom heat, and that does well, but we only had two for top heat. Such pipiug would do very well with little or no protection to the glass from March to November. But for winter Cucumbers we could not safely make it do without a 198 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDEKEB. [ Feliraary 29, 1812. caveriiigof the glass at night, and P.^tecting the back jal with a thatching of straw, or even at times placing a hnmg ol fermenting material against it. To be safe without «nch cover- ng in midwinter we would need double the pipmg for top- heat. If we were to do the work over again wo would use I'nch pipes, two beneath, and at least three above for top heat The more confined the space the more will Cucumbers suffer in winter from having the heating VV?''°;':^^'^^^ Many people think they are very economical if they can save a few feet of piping. Whenever pipes must be made very hot the economy'- actual waste. We know of many instances where in moderate-sized houses the saving of 40.-. m piping has occasioned the spending of more than that for ackh- Uonal fuel every year, and then the enclosed atmosphere was anything but so genial as a further supply ot pipes and these less heated, would have rendered it. We have made our pit do very faiiiy, but with more pipmg we would have saved Ltra labour and care. We could furnish more examples to the same efiect. , „, „, i,„„ Our general work has been chiefly a repetition of what has lately been aUuded to in detaU. In the kitchen garden we took' the opportunity in a dry day of sowing Peas and Beans and planting Potatoes on a raised bank, and in such mild weather giving more air to these and other things m pits and ' In The fruit garden, besides pruning and washing out of doors, we were engaged in cleaning and washing the waUs ol the orchard house and late vineries. . In the ornamental department, besides moving and tiaus- planting out of doors, we have done much potting m^"^^.^"'^ Lamined and repotted as needed Camellias that l^^d tegun to make fresh growth after blooming. Most Justicias, Eranthe- mums, and similar plants have been pruned back and placed in a rather cdoI place to break afresh, when they wiU be re- potted in the same-sized pots. Poinsettias have been laid down beneath the stage in a cool house to keep them ahve, and allow them to become dry b«!°«. P™f^"S J'^.^.-lXv Many plants of a simUar nature requure httle trouble until they begin to grow. Few things in winter are more gorgeous than huge heads ot these Poinsettias. Even when a head begms to fade, the leaves that are fresh come m well for dressing For fine heads there must be strong stems We have had some httle plants in 4-mch pots with two or three small heads and the plants only from 6 to 9 inches m height, that looked very nice The heads, of course, were smaU. Potted Gloxmias to obtain the flowers for dressing.— R- F. TRADE CATALOGUE BECEIVED. George Yates, 29, Little Uuderbank, Stoc-kpoi-t.-DescripUve Catalogue of Select Vegetable and Flower Seeds. TO CORRESPONDENTS. • We request that no one will write privately to any of the * ' correspondents of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so domg they are subjected to unjustiflable trouble and expense. iUl communications should therefore be addressed soJc/y to The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, d'C, 171, I'leet Street, London, E.G. . N.B.— Many questions must rdmaiu unanswered untu next week. PEiCH Blossoms FiLUSO lPeach).-The boaring wood was ™' 'If '•™="/ ripened, either from being over-sliaded or Ul-ventilated m the oi-ebard bouse. MiBECBil, NielKose-bcds (B. fl.).-W6 sbould advise you *» If ™ "f^ youn? buds and ends of the Marecbal Niel on some of "i<= »'V™S''^' !?7i;» for tbe sake of experiment, as, if the weather do not soon ^^'''^"''"y ^''^'v',^ bnds may come to perfection. Thin out weak shoots, and shor.ou OW s'lfniiy the stronger ones on which you do not leave the buds Asa '"le, MaitchaJ Niel does not requii-e much pruning. Oiu- weather ot Jannaiy ;md Febiuary of this year is equal to that of March and April of last year. Me Fodntun-e's Fecit Hoose.— " In the report of the Horticultural Dil-eciors, page'ui, it is stated that m-the Bev. Mi-, Fountame's house at Chiswick, where the Madrestield Court Grape was so successfully P^own by Mr Barron, there is no provision of any kmd fur artihcial heat. WiU yon kindly state, to prevent mistakes, that although the heating apparatus has not vet been applied to the Cbiswick bouse, artificial heat is necessary for growing properly stone li-uit, flowers, and Grapes in these v-meries, and they aie pre- pared accordingly ?— John FousTiCJE." Twelve Good Vaeieties of Polwoes (K. jV. H.l^Hogg's Early Cold- B*ream Turner's Union Kound (early rounds) ; Mona 3 Pride, Myatt s ProliUc (early k'itoeys) ; Daintree's Seedling, Dalmahoy (round, second ear y Eegents) ; EivS ETal Ashleaf,or Veitch's Improved Ashleaf, «Ahnond s Yorkshire Hero (second early kidneys) ; 'GiySe Castle Seedkng, *Emtonl 3 I«ew White Don (round, class Begents) ; ♦Paterson's Victoria, 'Dean's Excelsior (kidneys). The asterisks denote good keepers an.1 '^"■t-" ^."^i* .^'i^, '° „^„%''Scb is^sJcSsfs/^^^f^lSSS^ S^ Cottagers' Red. A Potato lit to displace Hogg s Collstream^s a new ^o f:Sn."erOn:rdt b-Velame trf al^a^ ^itZ ;?^\1 sf rfa^Lt^i^cormtrri^ rs XosS M crSreers or tor very^or, sandy, light soil they may be approved.-EoEEEl and to spread and incorporate the ashes with the next spit. in 9 inches of soil -' '^^^-^^^T^^tSf empToy\?o'ugSs to Selons. The TlLTetSfit^rMr St ?\:'ut'wi]irsu£en'tV; SHSaS^E-^ssiTistir^s^ Heckfleld Hybrid is also a free-bearmg sort. .,„,„„„ k^-j-?„^t^^?t3r|H^i2iS taking care not to use it too strong. , ..i * ii„n I S-HS^S-n-f f 2 sfesSSt one pal t silver sana, ^"•""^ j^ j ^^ introduce the cuttmgs and fill aU temoeratui-e of 60- from fii-e beat. FOECIVG PIT (J. e,),-The manm-e or leaves should be ^^je^d about every six'^weS ,''praUson^efr.*onthetopeve^ te^^^^^^^^^ rrSe, so that^e plants may i^ceiven^^^^^^^^ ^MCSAEOE WiltH GEEEKHOrSE-AEECiLrlEA iO«ieOa)-^US^^^^^^ most of tbe principal nuisei-ymen s catalogues. It would tniue in your t, rcSLtH-Mt'-n lelf «Thout fontflowe^ W pi^^j^S ^^t-^^^/ fAe°rw"have not^seen ; i f-y^:\l^^^f^ir^,rLT£.^:^^ol°^- flowers ^"Sl"' P"^,l'j*i^°7eL''i„^^indS SeTwide would be planting The best ^'^J^^^^.^^^^l^f Two ptants of either would be sufficient. The J amfv^oul^eTe^ i^SS f or ^rsfg plants from seed and for cuttmgs, and mi"ht afterwards be used for either Cucumbers or Melons. ° „ -nr -r-^ IIP TT\ Tlip ■wall beint^ a liisli onG, we suoiua I'vfs^^T^an teeTer^fc^e'iatf VitJlbru^^^^^^ fo? anev^rgreen, Ivy r'rst\mrwe°''ll SyaTowwall, then Jasminum nudiflorum or Cotone- aster micronhylla, tbe latter au evergreen. T „ m„ FxmiuM THiNSiNG {A Constant Snb,crlt,ey).-Do not remove any o,^h"eToo^ts,™Uop-'Sqs wi/h rich compost witbon^ delay The bulbs a^^^ "ulnSSelfi^^aft! ttttte?'leS.g™w.l' you s'^^ur-eTh'^ 7eker fs the prosp°cc^ oTflow"^ another year if tbe growth is weU ripened. SELECT CMELLIAS (C B.).-Fimbriata, ^^y^^l-J^''tZ^''^Zy"^\ iss^rS"M^t^ss^SisSrnirsi:sSi&^^^ refer you to that variety. Febraaty 29, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. etl by G.vBDENERs' Ex.onxATiONS {A. E. J.). — Gardeners may he the Royal Horticultural Society of London, and you will h.- f pai-ticulars if you write to J. Richards, Esq., Assistant S.vi. i.:\y\ K . il Flor- ticultui-al Society, South Kensington. Thegi-eat adTanta-i -i i i ;[j ii-noiir- ably such an examination is, that it is known that you liUMii i iir r. tkal, and so far a practical, knowledge of gai'deuing. If there has been a tlisad- vantage, it has been from the fact, too general, that young men cram for such examinations, are apt to trust too much to certificates, and hence to be outshone in practice by plodding attentive men, who have far less real scientific knowledge. The test is results. Vale Koyai. (Constant Su6»crt6fr).— We had no scale. Gardener and Helps (ilf. Denton). — We should say, at n ran'lorn guess* that three men would be required for such a place, but iiin<}i -i.- -mi^ .>n the quantity of grass, how it is kept, and on the means fork-'i-Mi t' ii^ri-va- tory gay in winter, as there seem to be little means foi i! i- p ^ ■ . ■ xcept the Melon and Cucumber house. Pleasure gi'ounds can ui - ii.> .;i i.iii ^ iiiea. According to the grass and beds, one place of the same sizL uiii\ iLi|unu tluee times more labour than another. Then there is such a diliercncc iii keeping a place tolerably neat, and having it always in first-rate order. We have known places such as you describe managed by two men. We have known places of similar size underworked with sis men. BcLB Suo-w (Coleus). — We know of none except those at the Royal Horti- cultural and Botanic Societies. Vine for Stable-yard {A Regular Subscriber). — If the soil is not a light friable loam it will be necessary to remove it to a depth of 3 feet, but if it is so it will only be necessaiy to take care that water does not lodge. If wet, drain the ground efficiently, and trench it 2 feet 6 inches deep, mixing with it a moderate amount of manui-e and some old lime rvibbish ; or, failing that, broken sandstone or freestone. If the soil is veiy strong take it out to the depth of 3 feet for about 6 feet in width, placing 9 inches of drainage at the bottom— any stones or brickbats will answer— and below these there should be a drain. The border may be formed of the top 3 inches of a pasture, the soil a light loam, and to ever)' ten parts of this add four of lime rubbish from an old building, two of "manure, one of charcoal, one of crushed bones, and two of sandstone or freestone not broken very small, but without removing the small parts. Mix the whole well, and then place it in the border, 9 inches higher than the intended level, to allow for settling. You may cover the border with gravel, but it is well to leave a space of a foot or 18 inches next the wall. Black Cluster or Royal Muscadine is the variety we would plant. Of either you can procure a Vine with a cane the length you name, at any of the principal nurserymen, but we would not plant until the Vine had begun to grow; then turn it out of the pot, spread out the roots, and cover them about 6 -inches deep with fine soil, giving a good supply of water at a temperatiu-e of 70-. Roses — Mancrixg, &c. {T. W. W.). — I did not speak of supci-phosphate, but of nitrophosphate blood manuie. I adWse you to pulverise the nitro- -phosphate, put as much as a man can hold in his hand into three gallons of water, and pour the contents over the roots of six plants. That is how I use nitrophosphate. Put the stuff on when the plants are in a growing state. Cut down some of the naked stalks of Marguerite de St. Amand and Madame Clemence Joigneaux close to the ground, andmerely shorten the other long stems by instalments. Cut down closely all weak gi'owers. Gloire de Dijon could not have given cracked blooms for want of water last season. You should have stirred the ground, it is a good plan whether the season is wet or dry. I keep the hoe going among my Roses. Charles Lefebvre is a fine grower here. I have at least 170 plants of it on Manetti— all good growers. I consider Charles Lefebvre and Maurice Bemardin, taken at all points, to be the best among crimsons.— W. F. Radclyffe. Prcning Markchal Niel and Souvenir d'un Ami Roses (St. Edmunds). ■ — They do not require to be cut hard. If their wood is weak and bad, cut them dovm tolerably closely, othenvise only cut out the weak wood and shorten the remainder a little.— W. F. Radclyffe. Petunias in Pots (An Amateur). — You do not say in what sizeof pot your plants are, but we presume them to be in 3 or 4i-inch pots, and to have been stopped ; if not, stop them now to about four joints. You will thus secure two or three shoots. Shift the plants when the shoots are an inch long into 6-inch pots, and when the shoots have thiee joints take out their points, and again whenever those resxUting from the stopping have grown to that extent, up to within ten weeks of l-he time of exhibition. Have the plants in their bloom- ing pots by the middle of June, shifting into 8-inch, and finally into 10-inch pots. The drainage should be good, and the compost may consist of two parts light fibrous loam, one part leaf soil, half a part of old manure, and a quarter of a pai't of charcoal, from the size of a pea to a hazel nut, and silver sand, well mixed, but not sifted, though it must be broken small. Water moderately, and only when dj7, but before the foliage flags, and then give a thorough supply. ^Tien the pots ai-e full of roots weak liquid manure may be given at every alternate watering. Keep the plants in a cold pit after April, not more than 16 inches from the glass, and admit air abundantly, ex- cluding frost. In mild weather the hghts may be diawn ofE after May, but when the plants are advancing for flowering the lights will be needed to pro- tect them from heavy rains, yet ailmit air abundantly. To have Gesnera zebrina in good order at the time named, start the plants at once, and grow them in a brisk heat with plenty of moisture. Boiler for Greenhouse (A. Aitken). — Our opinion is that not one beats n saddle-back boiler. If not much more than 3 feet in length we prefer cast iron. If much larger we prefer wmught iron, but we have no gi'eat preference. BoTTOii Heat from Hot-v^-ater Pipes (A. D.). — By enclosing the pipes in a close chamber you will have bottom heat in the ' bed over them. The proposed openings ox-e good, hut the doors must fit closely. As the pipes are heated by gas we would propose the top of the chamber, i. therwise the bottom of the bed, to be of zinc or galvanised iron, and without perforations. The supports across may be of wood or iron, and the closer they are, say 18 inches apart, the less will the iron give way. We woiUd have the zinc vessel tm-ned up at the edges for from 1 to 2 inches, so that a Uttle water would stand at the bottom when required. A few pebbles or bits of charcoal might be placed along the bottom for the bottom of the pots to stand on, with a little moisture beneath them when deemed necessary. There is not the slightest danger, as you have been told, of the zinc melting. We would use the cocoa- nut refuse "between, not below, the pots. The zinc maybe nearer the pipes than 3 inches. Your success will much depend on having hand-lights, or moveable wooden boxes with glass tops, over the bed. Crocus Stigma PROMrNEST (R. K. C.).— The white Crocus flowers you enclosed to us do not differ from the usual type, only the stigmas eiy ange colour contrasts well with the pme a will find the stigmas are present in the not BO conspicuous. The specimens are —It ha^, no special merit. -(^u your narrow north border Violets, K nots would do admirably in spring, and in summer. For fruit, Blask Cun-ants, lid succeed well against the wall, and so _„ ...^_ For the ribbon border, with a better ex- far change the aiTangement — Cineiuiia maritima at the back, then low scarlet Geranium, and vellow Pyrethrum, blue LobeUa edged with Cerastium tomentosum. . The cuttmgs now rooted of Alteraanthera would make nice stubby plants in a cool greenhouse in summer, and so they would if planted out in a sunny spot at the end of May. Purple Verbena, or a dwai-f Scarlet Geranium, would come in well behind the Mesembijanthemum. FiGURE-OF-FouR Trap ( IT. IF.),— This is the cheapest and most effective trap we know, and, from what we have observed, the animals killed by it seem to suffer Uttle pain. We give an engraving of it; essentially it consists of two tUes, one at the bottom, one at the top, the latter supported by a prominent; their deep yellow or o white of the rest of the flower. Y( colom-ed vaiieties as well, but aie pei-fect and very pretty. Seedling Violet (J. Goda-ard). • Floa'ers for Eoi;m l:^ <-i. -I.I. Snowdrops, Crocuses. :Mrl l.i ■ r Daisies and low htil'i" •" - plm Red Currants, and G'".i-'.!H_n !>.- vv. would Moreilo Chemes ktqi posure, we would triangle such as is represented in the accompanying figure. The upright piece stands for itself, the long base of the triangle (larying the bait at one end (best clear of the bot- tom for deUcate ma- ua;u\Tes) notched to fit to it, and notched in front to receive the short front piece, or h>T)otbenuse, of the triangle bearing the crushing tile. The mouse nibbles at the bait, disturbs the hold of the fi'ont piece ou the base, and dovra comes the whole- Another good trap is a flower-pot invertetl in the soil over a baucer, a& represented in the accompanying figure, and slightly coveied with leases Of course Peas or some other bait should be placed in the saucers Flow-er-beds (Kittie).—\\hat we chiefly adnme m ^ ui fl wei gaidyn is the simpHcity of the design and the great simplait mi i i 1 1 ' tmg.. Thus, you have a rather long octagon in the Ltuti \ i 1 ui to leave eight points, eight circles round, the tin ii i the curve in the octagon, and then eight clumps, i unU \\\ i \ i i j aily semicircles, except that a cm-ved line passes fiom thi.<ii >.i ii.irinnin" of Apiil. The ground should be trenched 2 feet (1, ., , . , V. lu have good soil, adding niamue, leaf soil, and decayed V, liberally, mixing them well with the soil, and if the 'tui;uI i- L^:i y udd a quantity of sand. Sea-kale likes rich, light, sandy JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febi-uaiy 20, 1872, ■well-di-ained soil. Yuur oue-yeai-old plauts will be good for planting?. If you intend to force on the ground, put in three plants in the foi-m of a triangle, 8 inches fi-om point to point, and 2 feet between each triangle of plants. The rows should be 15 inches from the sides of the bed, and this will admit of your putting in two rows 18 inches apart along your 4-feet bed. We should liave prefen-ed 2 feet as the distance between the rows. We presume the alleys are 2 feet apart. In planting, if the ground is heavy and wet, surround the root-stem up to the crown with sand. If the soil is dry water it, and in moist weather in May sprinkle the bed with salt, at the rate of 1 lb. per square yai-d. Water freely with liquid manure throughout the summer, stirring the ground frequently, and being careful not to injure the leaves. It "Will be fit to force next winter. If you intend taking up for forcing, plant in rows 15 inches apart, and the plants a foot apai't in the rows. Abutilon vexillabium marmoratttm Grafting (A. B., Ireland). — We have no doubt this plant will succeed better gi*afted on a hardier Mnd, but we tnow of none hartlier than the species A. vexiUarium, and on that we should graft now, placing the plant in gentle heat, andkeepingit close until the union is complete. Whip-gi-afting will answer well. Plants for Window Boxes under Yeraxdah (Mary). — Being beneath the <^]i;v1'' of tlir^ --rr.ni.lnli tvo fmr tli'"' plants in the boxes would not succeed ven- ■ ! ^^ ' .: i t ,1 111- Alyssum variegatmn and Lobelia 111 tte at the corners, and at the centre rt'utre with a low-gi*owlng Geranium lal Dwarf Ageratum, and Lady CuUura aking both sides of the bos alike. If gpeci"- ■■::■, ■ ]■' of th.' -I.. I ~ ..i 1h. at eaeli t-uJ. u^ Jjii: kUiLiia. . iiup the centre Tricolur Pelar;^ you wish for anything more sweet, then have an edging of Mignonette, and fill the centre with Ten-week Stocks. The best time to plant Czar Violets is from now up to May, but we prefer moist weather at the end of April. "Select good i-unners or offsets. For the arches in a warm situation wo should have the following Roses — viz., Climbing Devoniensis, Gloire de Dijon, Tea- scented; Alfred Colomb, Glory of Waltham, Eugene Appert, Camille Eer- u-din, Adolphe Brongniart, and La France, Hybrid Pex-petuals; Sir Joseph Paxto: Bourbon. Boiler (A Foreigner). — We have no doubt that a No. 5 boiler of the firm you name would suit your purpose, hut for five such large houses, 17 to 22 feet wide and 160 feet long, we should strongly advise two such boilers, set side by side, to be used separately or together, chiefly in the case of accident. The outlay would be a cheap insurance. We join you in having our doubts of large cast-metal boilers. For saddle-hacks we would have the best welded iron, and for such bouses we should like two boilers side by side, each 6 feet long, and at least 3^ feet in height. Greenhouse Vinery Arrangements (J. N, Lawson).—'We presume tha ' by the proposed direction of the flue, you mean to divide your house of 21 feet in length into two portions, so that the division nest the fiu-nace should always be warmer than the other. This you, will secure by the pro- posed mode of taking the flue along the side, front, and up the oth(»r side of the fii'st division, then returning it close to the division wall along the front, and round to the chimney in the second division. The only objection is, that if the flue is above ground, you will have to sink the flue twice at that division ior the doorway, and once more at the entrance door in the second compart- ment, and these three sinkings will inferfere with the fi-ee di-aught of the flue, imless your chimney is 20 feet in height. You would secme much the same object, but with less command of heat, by omitting the cross flues at the partition, and taking the flue right along the front of both houses ; then you would have only one sinking beneath the pathway at the entrance doorway, and even that might be avoided by tui-ning yom- flue oii t he south side of the doorway, and taking it to the chimney neai- the pai-titimi. We allude to this bc-Lause, in general, the more dips there are in a flue the hit;her y.m must make yi.ur ■chimney ; merely for a gi-eenhouse vinery for kec-piuy trust out, and in a house 21 feet by 12, we would avoid all such trouble by having a sunk flue— the top of the flue foi-ming part of the floor or pathway. Wo presume, however, you mean a flue above gi-ound. With regard to fonning the flue, for such a place a small flue will he ample. Make a firna base, say with a layer of bricks, 14 inches wide, and plaster the suiface with lime putty. Place two bricks on ■edge on eafeh side, set so that the outsides will measure 12 inches across, leav- ing about 7i inches inside for the flue. This will be ample for such a place for general pxuposes. These bricks should be well bui-ned, be soaked previous to use, be set as straight as possible on the inside, and be united at the joints with fine lime putty, making the joints as small as possible. If you want a forcing heat, three bricks should be used on each side instead of two; for coveiing, l-foot tiles about an inch thick will do. It is safer, however, to have some thin flat house tiles to lay across first, then plaster them all over, and on that place the top tiles. We would rather not do anything at all in the way of plastering the inside of the flue. You may use a little plaster for the sides outside, or a thickish limewash, which you can darken with a Uttle lampblack. The holes you alludfe to for cleaning the flue should be at the different turns. You can easily have plates set in a frame from 6 to 9 inches square; buildihese in the flue, so that the inside of the plate shall run with the inside of the flue. You can fiU-up outside with a tile and plaster, and Temove these and open the plate when you wish to clean. This is a gi-eat im- provement upon being forced to unsettle the flue. For such a house, a fxu-nace 2 feet in length, 18 inches wide, and 18 inches deep, would be ample for coal fuel. If you depend on breeze or cinders, the width and length should be respectively 4 inches more, and 6 or 8 inches more, and the flue should be 3 or 4 mches deeper if you depend chiefly ou wood. In either case as respects fuel, your furnace bars should be from 24 to 30 inches beneath the bottom of your flue ; the greater the rise the greater the di-aught, and that is easily regulated by a close-fitting ash-pit door. Vines for Greenhouse Vinery {Idem).—Foi- such a house five VineS ■would be ample, and we would recommend for a rather cool house three Black Hambm-ghs, one Eoyal Muscadine, and one Buckland Sweetwater. We would place one Hamburgh and one Muscadine in the wannest compartment. For Musca'liue you might substitute White Frontignan, and Black Muscat of Alexandria (Muscat Hamburgh) for one Black Hamburgh if you are fond of the Muscat flavour. This is a good time to plant. The border outside should not be less than 2 feet deep over some 6 or 8 inches of open rubble. Nothing as better than sweet fibrous loam, with about a tenth part of hme rubbish and some sis bushels of crushed boUed bones, reserving other manure chiefly for surface-di-essings. For these and other matters consult the "Vine Manual," which you can have from our office by post for 2*. 8rf. Insects (J. R. G.). — The insects sent are the Lepisma saccharina, com- monly called Silver Ladies, found in old cupboards, where they eat crumbs, scraps of groceries, paste of wall paper, &c. The silvery scales are used by microscopists as test objects.— I. 0. W. NA3IES OF Plants iB. Godbohl).—To name "the bos full of Ferns, &c.," would occupy the major part of a day. We cannot spai-e the time, and we have a notice printed that we request no one to send more than six specimens at a time. {Hildcnborough). — The Coi"neUan Cherry, Comns mas. (C. G,, Carlton). — 1, Adiantum hispidulum; 2, Pelliea adiantifoUa ; 3, Doodia cau- data; 4, Platyloma rotimdifolia ; 5, Adiantum diaphanum; 6,Pteris longi- folia. (R. Johnson). — Senecio Petasites. (M. A. M..). — 1, Convolvulus Cneomm ; 2, CoiTea; 3, Saxifraga crassifoUa; 4, Leptospex-mum vu-gatum; 5, Erica cerinthoides coronata ; 6, Tasmania aromatica ; only female flowers were borae on the shoot sent. (TV. K. M.). — Apparently Ehododeudi-on Windsori, as figm-ed in Bot. Mag., t. 5008. [M. D,, Braintree).—Ajx Epaciis ; name nest week. POULTEY, BEE, AND PIGEON CHEONICLE. FOWLS FOR PEOFIT, AND AS A MEAKS OF SUBSISTENCE.— No. 2. Selection of Breed when Confined. — This plan is in itself a disadvantage. First, the fowls will require more food, and although as a set-off we obtain a greater quantity of manure, still this does not pay for the extra outlay in food. Secondly, the Hamburgh breed, which, as I have before stated, has no equal in its capabilities of laying, will not tolerate confine- ment. In this contingency I would advise the substitution of the Houdan fowl for the Black Hamburgh, as being the next best egg-producer. This breed, like the Black Hamburgh, never shows a disposition to sit. I maj' remark, in passing, that as it is imperative to have a constant and undiminished supply of eggs, those who intend to derive a subsistence from their poultry must be careful to place in their egg-producing department hens which are non-sitters. The Brahma Pootra must still retain their place for supply- ing us with chickens ; they will thrive in confinement almost as well as if at liberty. It must be borne in mind that poultry kept in confinement will require double the amount of atten- tion of those which have a run. Incubation. — Hens will show a disposition to incubate at almost any time if attention is paid to warmth and to their food, which should be slightly stimulating in the winter mouths. The Brahma chickens can be reared without diffi- culty in midwinter, and without exception each hen as she becomes broody should be allowed to sit. In cold weather she should not have more than nine eggs given to her, and in the spriug and summer she may have from twelve to fifteen. The nest must be made of straw, never hay, and if the floor of the sitting-house is made of earth and small stones beaten well together, the nest may be made on the floor ; but if it is flagged or bricked, a fresh-cut grass sod, the size of the sitting-box, must be placed on the floor to give a dampness to the eggs. The henwife must attend to the sitting fowls at regular periods each day to give them food and water. They may all feed together, and may be allowed about a quarter of an hom-'s absence from the eggs ; this time may be exceeded in the summer by a few minutes, but on no account in the winter months. If tiie weather is dry it is an excellent plan, and sometimes almost a necessary precaution, to take each hen, holding her gently by the wings, and with the other hand wet her breast feathers with cold water immediately before she returns to the eggs. This is better than wetting the eggs themselves with a smaU brush as some writers have recommended ; in the latter case the eggs receive a cold moisture, whereas if the feathers of the hen are wet, the heat of her body imparts a gentle and most beneficial moisture to the egg, which is of the greatest benefit to the imprisoned chick. The heiiwife must remain in the sitting-house untU the hen is safely on her own eggs again, as sometimes a quarrel will arise, and we have known two hens determined to share the same nest, to the great danger of the eggs- The time of incubation is twenty-one days, and if .at the end of ten-days sitting the eggs are examined by holding them before a lamp or candle in a room from whicli the light is excluded, those which are unfertile will be found to be quite transparent, whUst the fertile ones will be opaque, and the air- bag distinctly marked at the round end of the egg. This is an economical proceeding when two or more hens are set on the same day, as, should there be any unfertile eggs, it is some- times possible to divide the fertile eggs between the two bens, and set the third hen again on a fresh sitting. We never disturb our hens when hatching-out, but food must be placed before them when this process is accomplished. Care must be taken to keep the chickens w.arm and dry for a few days, but after that the Brahma chicks will thrive with ordinary attention. rebrnary 29, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. The Hamburgh chickens will require to he attended to a little longer, but if the weather is fine they wiU soon be inde- jjendent also. Nothing is so essential to the well-being of chickens as warmth, cleanliness, and freedom from damji. Each sitting- house must be provided with a dustheap, composed of fine ashes, as the hens are often troubled with vermin, and theii' feathers should be dusted with sulphur, both as a preventive and a cure. The neglect of this simple precaution often causes the hen great annoyance, neither is it to be expected that she can sit her eggs well when restless and disturbed. Should a hen not show a disposition to sit when required to do so, she must be placed in her nest with a few eggs, and kept very warm ; her food must consist of buckwheat, hemp- seed, a little raw chopped liver, and Indian corn. She must also be kept dark, and she will probably soon manifest a desire to sit. — Vincent Fkasee. POULTRY EXPEEIENCE PURCHASED.— No. 4. " Don't put them in the pens," I said, " put them back into the hampers, and let my people run back home with them ; I won't allow them to disgrace your show." " Nay, Madam," was the reply, " there is nothing amiss with your Brahma eliickens, except that they are rather dirty." " Pray allow them to remain," said one of the managers of the poultry show held annually in our little country town," and remain they did, with what success I will tell you; but "your special corre- spondent " walked her short distance homeward certainly a sadder if not a wiser woman. I remembered eight months back how cheerfuUy I had parted with a piece of gold large enough to have satisfied the longing of my "bairns" for a donkey, yet I only received in exchange a polite acknowledg- ment and thii-teeu eggs. How skilfully they were packed for theu' long journey, to be sure ; tissue paper, hay, soft wool, and softer moss, were all enlisted to insure their safety. They were at once entrusted to the motherly attentions of our most intelligent hen, and I need not tell how horrified I was to find four broken the next morning. Then I had to wait that in- terminable three weeks before I could count four, five — yes, six little grey chicks that must be fed on eggs, rice pudding, and groats, and carefully tended till they reached cockerel's and pullet's estate ; also to exterminate that objectionable crooked comb and vulture hock, that undesh-able brown or yeUow tinge, and various other lUs that Brahma flesh is heir to. When you have waded through all this "poultry experience," to discover at a glance that lots of people can get better birds than yoiu-s, is very hard. At noon we went to the show, I to study " points," and the " bairns " to see how mamma's big " Charley " behaved himself m company and a cage (I thmk I have previously mentioned the sad fact of the head of the family being a heretic and an infidel where Dark Brahmas were concerned). *' Oh, -trad some power the giftie gie us." I quoted to a friend, " to Icuow how those wonderful men breed such wonderful bu'ds," as brimming over with admha- tion I stood among the prize pens with a keen sense of en- joyment none but a true lover of the species could either pardon or comprehend. Somebody says, " Show me your amusements, and I will tell you what you are." For my "part I confess to perfect happiness among my feathered pets, and I am sure the affection is mutual ; let a stranger walk through the yard, they run away in all directions. If I go among them they keep so close, I have to push them on one side with my foot. " Would you be surprised to hear they have highly commended your pens ? and had there been prizes, yours would certainly have been first." I grasped my friend's hand with a fervour that cost me 4s. Gd. on the spot, for my glove became a total wi'eck. If I could only have invited those nice men, judge, committee, and stewards to dinner, and let them toast my pets in Veuve CUcquot and '34 port ! I promised myself, however, that I would relieve my feelings by telling " our Jom-nal " all about it, for I felt certain that you would be pleased to hear I had been at last highly commended, and you ■null no doubt share my joy when I take the Crystal Palace cup. I have always closed my letters with a moral, and now do so from habit, " Blessed are they who expect nothing at a poultiy show, but more blessed ai-e they that get what thev expect." — J. K. L. Granville, Lord Warden, and the County and Borough Mem- bers, have become patrons. The guarantee fund list is now closed, and Bubscriptions are solicited towards the funds. Dover and Cinque Poets Pofltey and Pigeon Show. — We are informed that his Eoyal Highness Prince Arthur, Earl A VISIT TO MR. E. PULTON'S PIGEONS, NEW CROSS, DEPTFOED. Me. Fulton, whose acquaintance I made some years since at Glasgow, and renewed it at various shows, is well known as one of the most successful exhibitors and best Pigeon-fanciers in Britain. His practical knowledge is very great, no man living knows a Pigeon better than Robert Fulton. I knew also that he had a large collection of high-class Pigeons. All these were suflicient reasons to make me accept his invitation to inspect his birds. But there was another and further rea- son. Those upper-class fanciers whom I know, and who know him, are accustomed to say, " Fulton's an honest man, and one whose word we can rely upon ; if he sells you a prize bird, and it wo'n't breed, he tells you so. Then he not only asks a good price for a good bu-d, which, of course, he is quite right in doing, but he will give a good price for a good bii'd." These latter reasons were those which specially induced me to go to Deptford. Deptford of ship-building fame, thought I. Why, John Evelj-n, the author of " Sylva, or a Discourse on Forest Trees," lived there at his seat, Sayes Court, which he, unfortunately for himself, let to Peter the Great, when he came to Deptford to learn ship-building. Of Sayes Court, says chatty Mr. Pepys, " We walked in Mi-. Evelyn's garden, and a lovely noble ground he hath indeed. And among other rarities, a hive of bees, so as being hived in glass, you may see the bees making their honey and combs mighty pleasantly." Unfortunately, the Czar had no taste for gardening or neatness, and trampled on good Mr. Evelyn's flowers, destroyed his choice shrubs, and used to amuse himself (the savage !) by being wheeled in a wheelbarrow through a neat-cUpped hedge which Mr. Evelyn had raised with much care and cost. No wonder Mr. Evelyn's old servant said, " The Russians were right nasty." I have talked of trees, flowers, and gardens, so giving the readers of the beginning of " our Joiu'nal " a turn ; and of bees, giving the readers of the tail end a turn ; of Pigeons presently. Perhaps these good gardening and bee people will read this, and get improved — that is, learn to love and keep fancy Pigeons. But Mr. Fulton has recently left Deptford, and lives at New Cross. Deptford I knew well enough on the map — the Dept- ford of Dibden's son", " Wapping Old Stairs," in which he tells us — " Of Susan from Deptford, and likewise of Sal," and of the faithful Molly who to her sailor husband (of the future) says — "Still your trousers 111 wash, and your grog I will make." Deptford I knew, then, very well; it lies on the Thames and joins Greenwich. But " Where's New Cross ? " saidltoa hardened Londoner, who actually walks by St. Paul's and the Monument, and does not look at either, and knows all the short cuts of the very city itself. "Where's New Cross?" said I. " New Cross is one of the first stations from London Bridge, or, to save your legs, take a ticket from Cannon Street, cost you a few pence, trains every ten minutes. There, go, and meet me at Lake's, Gracechurch Street, at lunch at one o'clock sharp, not a minute after. There — good morning." My in- formant ha^ving hurriedly jerked out these directions, was in a few moments one of the crowd of men moving eastward from the Mansion House Station. How quick these Londoners are t I wonder they can find time to breathe. Well, I prefer ccmutry ways. Sure enough, I soon get to New Cross ; it is just in the parish of Deptford, and just, and only just, in Kent. New- enough it is ; roads — not streets yet — roads worn this horrid wet winter into ruts as deep as in Wiltshii-e lanes. Planks are along the future footways, on which I trip carefuUyto avoid falling into the mud boKide me, passing by masons chipping at the stone balustrades of new houses. New Cross ! I see it all exactly — a new creation to meet the wants of the middle- class London workers, who spend the day in the city, but prefer sleeping in better air. Here are homes by hundreds of city clerks who have married on small means, and have set up here a neat, new, humble home. There's the baby at the window, soon to be perambulated by the little maid. There's the pretty young wife and mother, who -mil look out of the window 202 JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. [ l''il"™'7 29^1872. early on Saturilay " for somebody," who lias a holiday then. So i do not woiider, considermg all thmgs, that the houses greatly resemble each other m the many uew streets of New Cross. " Can you tell me where Union Crescent, Brockley Eoad, is ?" said I to one of the many masons, who, pausmg in his chipping, answered, " Brockley Eoad I know, but I never heard of Union Terrace. Brockley Eoad— keep on past two tui-nings, then first to the right, and thii'dto the left down the Talley," &c. " Why, it must be miles," gasped I. " Oh ! no ; only ten minutes' walk." Well, I do reach Brockley Eoad, which seemed a comparatively old part of New Cross, for the road is a street clean and firm, a pavement to walk on, gas lamps, tidy shops, and the same, only six months older, neat houses, with neat blinds, \vith baby at the windows, and per- ambulators in the little gardens in front. "Where's Union Terrace?" asked I of a poUceman. N.B.— Always ask a police- man if you don't see a postman. " Don't know, sir," said the gentleman in blue; " but, then, I'm almost a stranger here ; but there's Paul's Terrace." I then asked a little maid washing the steps at a house in VnnVA T( ir c lli. sviine ques- tion. " Don't know, SU-." Then I ;i-l.r,l ;i jm1,I,iii;/ -ardeuer. "Don't exactly know, sir, but I think ii's nut iar .ili." N.B.— He was making a new garden in front of a house burn an hour before, so very new it seemed. Oh ! how new New Cross is ! at is spick-and-span new ; it is bran new. I daresay it was all green hUl the year before last. Names are not on the houses jet, save at Paul's Terrace. I was now getting hopeless, and meditated returning to London, and writing an article entitled ■" A Fruitless Jom-ney to New Cross," when close by Paul's Terrace, close to that stupid servant girl's pail and mop, hard by that stupid gardener, and that fooUsh-faced poUceman look- ing on, I peeped through a gate and saw the legs of a White Pouter in a pigeonry very new, indeed, at the bottom of a new garden, behind a new house. The house had no name on it (improve this, E. Fulton), no number on it, no " Union Terrace" on the end of the row. Well, I mounted the steps of that aiameless, numberless house — a nice., clean, pretty house, and nice fresh air to be enjoyed on the top of the steps. If I were but a single curate I should wish to lodge there. Eobert Fulton did Uve there, said a tidy little maid. She was right, for in the room are pictures of Pigeons, too accurate to be in .any but the house of a good fancier. All right at List, thought I, and here came in Eobert Fulton. To the Pigeons, for time presses. First, I am shown, in passing, a zinc hopper of Mr. Fulton's invention, the neatest and best made for supplying the birds with food, and keeping it from aU impurity, that I ever saw. With the hopper was also a specimen fountain, made of the same material, and of like excellence. Then I pass a round pond, where fancy Ducks are to be when Mr. Fulton gets settled. Straight before me, ,at the bottom of the garden, in the bright sunlight (for, strange to say, it was a fine day^a treat, indeed, after two months' xaui)i stand the long row of Pigeon pens. They are built— sides, back, and ends, as well as the roof— ^of corrugated gal- vanised iron. A good plan this, for rats cannot get through ii'on, and in case of removal they could be easily transferred to another place. Iron also puzzles thieves. The row of pens ai-e divided into six compartments, each compartment being 11 feet square. A large window, heavily barred for fear, doubt- less, of improper Pigeon-fanciers, is in the front of each pen. The window shutter removed, out came the birds into then- place of exercise, this being exactly the same size as the pen within. It is well suppUed with resting-boards and perches, on which the Pigeons can enjoy themselves, and on the floor in each a bath. Entering, I come into the first division to the left contain- ing the Pouters, some of which have done wonders at various shows. Mr. Fulton is at this time strong in all the varieties except Black Pieds. Some arc wonders for shape and length. I measured a Blue Pied cock ; 20J inches good in length, and 73 in limb. Such lengths are often talked about, and people imagine they possess such birds, but they usually fail when the 2-feet rule comes out, and two persons measure the bird impartially. I measured Mealy bu'ds and found them the same. Before me stood Wiiite Pouters of extreme elegance of form, and Yellow birds of wonderful soundness of colour. Indeed, such a number of such goodness was a rare treat to see. Pen No. 2 contained the choicest Carriers, some of them remarkable in head and contour. There were Blacks, Duns, and Blues. Pen No. 3 contained more Carriers. Nos. 4 and 5 were full of various classes. Mr. Fulton is very strong in Jacobins, some having then hoods flat to then- heads. He had White Jacobins with peari eyes. Barbs of various colours Turbits, Owls, Fans, &c. Lastly came pen No. G full of Short-faced Tumblers; Almonds of various shades, 4he dark, the rich the lighter. Some wonderful in colour, others in head and beak. Two (hen bh-ds both, unfortunately) were Golden Duns. Then there were Short-faced Balds and Beards. This pen was to me particulariy pleasmg. The day had be- come warm as weU as sunny, and as these damty-shaped, sprightly little birds flew to the various aUghting-boards m the outer aviary, and as then- many-coloured plumage and bright hackles guttered in the sun, they formed a charming sight to one who has an eye for a high-class Tumbler. Their flights and taUs were, too, remarkably clean ; and as no feeders or other coarse birds were with them, there was nothing to take oS their beauty. , .. , -, Such is Mr. FuUon's pigeonry and its inhabitants, and may both he and they prosper in then: new abode. Truly he has high-class birds. For my own part I could have spent many hours in those pens. The buikUngs themselves are weU ar- ranged. In each pen are the aforenamed hoppers and foimtauis. Mr Fulton is giving up those rickety Bhmmgham triangles, neither good for foot nor wings, and is adoptmg Mr. Noye s roosts, as described and pictured in vol. xvm., page 399, ot tins Journal (.June 2nd, 1870), with this improvement instead of round perches, flat pieces of deal 2 inches or so wide I have done the same, and find the birds prefer them. I ^^•lll also add that the slanting board should be a foot wide, to secure the dung from dropping below. Mr. Fulton has abundance of sawdust on the floors, which certainly gives a clean appearance. In the outer a^-iaries are the baths, flat zinc pans, 2 or 3 inches deep and with a large margm ; indeed they look like a flat pan set in a larger pan, the latter catching aU the splash, and saving the floor from damp, .and the birds' wings and tails from be- coming draggled and dirty. , ^ n i t A peep at some Pigeon portraits in-doors, and a talk about Glasgow fanciers, and then a hasty good-bye, for my tune ^^I was pleased with all I saw at New Cross, and I am glad that the Pigeon-fancy has so advanced as to make it worth whUe for Mr. Fulton to get together a grand lot of high-class Pigeons of all the varieties ; so that the better fanciers know where to put their hands upon such birds as from time to time they may require.— Wiltshiee Eectoe. BLACK HAMBUEGHS. I HIVE often wondered why, except at some few of oui- leading shows, this beautiful variety is not aUotted a separate class but has to be shown either in the Any other variety or the Selling class I should like to ask the committees of shows the question, and receive a answer, why the variety is thus treated. They are one of the handsomest and best varieties of fowls we have. They are lovely in plumage ; in their egg-producmg quaUties they equal any other breed; they are smaU eaters; thev do not figure badly on the table ; and if they are assigned a separate class at a show they seldom fail to appear m sufficient numbers to justify the pecuniaiy outlay. If any individual should say that they are not shown m sufficient nunibers to warrant committees' in giving them a separate class, 1 would iust refer him to Wolverhampton, where a ±3 3s. first prize brought out the very respectable entry of nineteen pens ; whereas in neither of the other classes of Hambuighs did they surpass and onlv in one instance— viz.. Golden-pencilled, did they equal this number. Some may say that the reason of this hes m the fact that instead of a £3 3s. first prize there was only i2 for any of the other varieties; but stiU my opinion holds good, and shows that if thev receive from committees that encom-agement to which they are justly entitled, they will not fail to make satis- *''l*''cInnorunderstand why some classes should be aUotted £B M2 and £1, and others only £2, £1 and 10s. Should not all be 'equally treated? as in most instances the entry fees are the same for one as the other.— TnoM.is Bush. TRIMMING BIRDS FOE EXHIBITION. EioHT "lad was I to see the remarks you made in last week's Journal on trimming, and I trust that the committee of every future show will adopt the clause you suggest. , , ,^, , , I have been very fond of poultry from my boyhood (the almond tree has begun to blossom now), and have somehow drifted into the "Fancy" a little of late, and have also indulged m the luxury of exhibiting a few pens with a fair amount of success. But reaUv when I read so mnch about paint, pins, needles, scissors t^lue &c., in connection with shows, it makes me feei rebraarj 29, 1872. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 203 there is something wi'Dng going on, antl the question arises. Ought I to have anything to do -n-ith it ? I know more than one hesides myself who has similar feelings on the suhject, and wiU cease to exhihit altogether if such dishonest jobbery continues. "Would it be possible to form a sort of confederation of exhibitors pledging themselves not to support any show iinless a cliiuse similar to that which you suggest be inserted in the entry form ? At any rate it is clear some stringent measures must be taken, or honest exhibitors will giveupin disgust, however much they may regret doing so. — Cheltenh.\m. COLCHESTEE POULTRY SHOW. This Show was held on the 21st and 22nd inst. The poultry and Rabbits were exhibited in the Corn Exchange, the Pigeons and Cage birds in the Pubho Hall. Both buildings are light, airy, and well adapted for showing off birds to the best advantage. There were nine silver cuj^s distributed over the different classes, and the money prizes were equally liberal, so that the Committee deseiwed a numerous entry, and we were pleased to find on entering the Exhibition they had not been disappointed, as there were 536 entries. The whole of the an-angements were good and admirably carried out, the birds well cared for, but we do object, and that very strongly, ^o the pens being strewed with sawdust. It may keep the birds drier and cleaner than sand, but they are sure to eat some, and when the soft food is given it gets mixed with the sawdust, which is then swallowed. When it gets into the crop the wood swells, causes indigestion, and often lays the foundation of many other diseases. Sawdust is very injurious, whilst sand, or the small stones found amongst it, a 'e absolutely necessary for the birds' health, and these small grinders are even more than ever required when birds are con- fined in a pen for several days with nothing to assist their digestive orgahs. We therefore consider it necessary that the bottoms of the pens should always be strewed with sand or fine gravel. The Coloured Dorkings were good. The cup pen looked sadly out of condition. We hardly liked the second-prize pen so well as a highly commended pen. Whites mustered very well, and most of them were above the average in quality. The cup for Cochins went to a splendid pair of Buffs ; Partridge were first and third in the Any Variety class ; Whites were second. The Dark Brahmas were very numerous, and most of the birds good ; many, however, showing the evil effects of continuous exhibition. The Lights were a veiy inferior lot. Spanish num- bered thirteen pens, and the quahty throughout was better than we have seen for some time, the cup being won with a capital pair, of which the cock wa3 very long in the lobe. This pen was closely pressed by a pair of old birds, which stood second. Game were very good ; Blacks and Browns competed together, an uncommonly nice pair of Brown Reds winning, a Black Red feeing second. The Duckwings won the cup ; only the third prize was awarded in the Variety class, some of the birds being gouty. Hamburghs were numerous and above the usual aver- age for a show in the South. The awards for Black and Brown Reds we did not like ; we thought the second-prize pair far more after the stamp and style of a Game bird than their more ■fortunate rivals. The cup went to a very pretty Duckwing cock, but the hen which was with him was very inferior, and he is de- •serving of a more handsome mate. In the Bantam variety class some beautifully Laced birds were first. French were good, and the Polands very few. Malays were first in the Any other variety class. Sultans second, and a good pair of Cuckoo Dorkings third. Rouen DucTcs were a good entry, but of the Aylesbury there were only two entries, and one of these was absent. How is it we find at almost every show this beautiful and valuable breed gradually getting less in size and fewer in numbers ? In the Selling classes the entries were niunerous, consisting of the usual miscellaneous mixture of good, bad, and indifferent which we always find in this class. For Pigeons a cup was given to the winner of the gi'eatest number of prizes ; but why such cups are ever given we are at a loss to conceive, unless it is to indiice some people to borrow "birds of others. Possibly it may induce one or two exhibitors to send a few extra entries, but they hunt up all their friends for the loan of birds, and thus prevent many others from send- ing. We know of one or two instances on this occasion. Amongst the Pigeons several pens were disquaUfied. We should like to •see a rule niade by the committee of every show, that where any exhibitor was found to have either trimmed or tampered with'birds he should be prevented from taking any prizes. If this liad been the case at Colchester a winner of one of the chief prizes would never have had it. Carriers were good. Mr. Horner had a pen in each class disquaUfied. Of the ten pens of Pouter cocks entered eight were noticed by the Judges, shomug the general superiority of tlie birds. Tumblers were very neat and pretty, Mr. Horner again disqualified for trimming. Jacobins proved a good class, also the Turbits. Barbs, with the exception of the winning pens, were hardly up to the average. In Nuns the first and second prizes were withheld, the Judge stating the majority of the birds were grossly trimmed. The working Antwerps were, as usual, very numerous, and most of the birds of superior qirality. The Babbits were not very large in uirmbers, but some of the specimens were of unusual length of ear. The attendance on the day we were present was very large, many of the neighbouring gentry being present and purchasing very freely. DOBEIN'OS (Colonredl.— : and Cap. L. Patlon, Hillmorc, Taunton. 2, O. E. Creeswell, Early Wood. Bagshot. 3. L. Wren, Lowestoft, lie, G. W. Green- hill ; F. Parlett. Great Badduw ; W. S. Marsh, Deal. Dorkings (White).— 1, O. E. Cresswell. 2 and 3, Eev. F. Teai'le, Gazeley Vicaraffe, Newmarket. Cochins (Cinnamon and Buff) —1 and Cup, Lady Gwydyr, Stoke Park, Ips- wich. 2, G. Stiekings. S. A. A. Seaborn. Hadlcigh. Cochins (Any other variety).— I and 3. Horace Lingwood, Creetuig, Needliam Market (Partridge). 2, R. S. S. Woodgate, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells (White). Bkahmis (Dark).— land Cup, T. F. Ansdell. Cowley Mount, St. Helen's. 2, Horace Lingwood. 3. Rev. J. G. B. Knight, he. Dr. Holmes. Whitecotes, Chesterfleld; B. P.irrott. Henbury, Bristol; W.J. E.Shallord. Maidstone (2 ; H. Dowsett, Pleshey, Chelmsford; Lady Gwydyr. c, J. Drake, Ongar. Bbahmjs (Light) —1 and 3, H. Dowsett. 2, P. Haine. he, Mrs. I. Turner, Avon, Uiogwood. Spanish.— 1 and Cup, Nichols Bro?.. Camberwell. 2, Mrs. Tonkin. Bristol. 3. Hon. Miss D. Pennant, Penrhvn Castle, Bangor, he, W. E. J. Shalford; Hon. Miss D. Pennant (2). c, W. Woodhouse. Game (Black-breasted and other Reds). — 1, W. Rayner, Ipswich. 2. ^ Matthews, Stowmarket (2) 3, E. Winwood. he, J. Fletcher. Stoneclough; W Foster, Deal ; F. Harding. Chingford ; B. Boves. Beverley: S. Matthews. Game (Duckwing and other Greys and Blues).- 1 and Cup, S. Matthews. 2 W. Foster. 3. E. Winwood. Game (Any other variety).— 1 and 2, Withheld. S, J. H. Salter, Tolleshunt Hamburghs (Gold and Silver-spangled).— 1 and Cup. Ashton & Booth. 2, L. Wren. Lowestoft. 3, W. Groom, Ipswich, he, W. K. Tickner, Ipswich, e, T. Love, Kingsthorpe. Northampton ; R. & H. Ashton, Mottram. Hamboeghs (Gold and silver-pencilled).— 1, J. Webster. Helhrook, Lanca- shire. 2. R. R Parker. 3, W. K. Tickner. e, C. Eloodworth, Cheltenham. Game Bantams (Black and other Kedsl.— 1, W. B. Jeffries, Ipswich. 2 and 3 W. Adams, he, W. S. Marsh ; G. F. Ward, Wrcnbury. Game Baktams (Any other variety).— 1, Cup, and 3. Rev. F, Cooper, Arapney (Duckwing) 2, G. Smith, Staveley (Pde). he, W. Adams (Duckwing); F. Fielder (Duckwing). c, E. Branford (Duckwing). BANTAMS (Any variety except Game).— 1 and e, M. Leno, Markyate Street, Dunstable. 2. Rev. F. Tearle, Gazeley Vicarage. Newmarket. 3, B. & H. Ashton. he, F. E. Thirtle, Lowestoft ; J. Eloodworth, Cheltenham. French.— 1. C. H. Smith, RidcUCfe-onTrent. 2 and 3, W. Dring. Faversham. he, W. Burrows, Diss : G. Chilton, Littleton, Guildford: Mrs. J. Cross, Appleby Vicarage, Brigg. e. W. Tippler. PoLANDS.— 1, 2, and 3, W. K. Patrick, West Winch, Lynn. Anv other Variett.— 1, Rev. G. A. Brooke, Sbrawardine (Slalays). 2, W. H. TomUnson, Newark-on-Trent (Sultans). 3, Rev. F. Tearle (Cuckoo Dorkings). he. R. S. S. Woodgate (Silkies), c. Mrs F. Parlett (Cuckoo Dorking); J. P. Fiwcett (Black Hamburghs); Lady Gwvdyr (Silkies). , „ „ Duces (Rouen).— 1, F. Parlett. 2, H. Dowsett. 3, J. Drake, he, R. W. Richardson, Beverley, c, F. Parlett; H Dowsett. DccKS (Aylesbury).— l.G.W.Greenhill.Ashfoid. ,. , „ „ Ducks (Any other varietT).—l andS.M. Leno (Mandarin and Carolina). 2,H. B. Smith, c, R S. S. Woodgate (Labrador). ,,„.,„„ Sellivg Class.- CocJ:.— 1, W. N. Cater. Colchester (Poland). 2.W. Rayner (Brown Red Game). 3, J. Hare, Shotley, Ipswich (Duckwing). c. C.Denton, Lowestoft (Brahma) ; W. E. J. Shalford, Addington Park, Maidstone (Houdan) ; «. Leno (Brahma). „ „ „ • , ■ , ,„ ■ >,i Selling Class.— Hens.— 1, Lady Gwydyr. 2. H. Gnss Ipswicb (Spanish) 3. R. W. Richardson ( Oorking). fcc. E. Branford (Black Red Game), c, H. N. Crozier (Black Red); F. A. Cole (Spanish); H. Dowsett (Brahraas); Nichols Bros. (Spanish). PIGEO; i i he platform to the ground should be -wired.! ,1, :, ,!,<,r. n i ■■ ■ :i aH - : ■ >■ i iid,.M -. ;iir -.iiic, we uM 1 thheld, for tlic t'xhibui;t whose bir same about their binls. It is their bii-ds before they sent th- DiAURHCKA IN Hens {A Lovtr of Puultry).—'We do not like your feeding. We tried Curn Exchange sweepings, and found them expeiisi\o and misatis- factoi7 food. You never know what they contain. We cannittle for toppings niddlings. If you will give t ui the morning, table scraps <>r In the moiTiing meal in the eveni 1 1 _ , i your fowls will get well. If y. .u ■ all die. Let them have cabba^^i' li ;i whenever they cannot have the gia.st ^i|.;r.1 No ■Odi th water M petition of I'l -.timulauts, ■ lit they will LL gi'cen food, iod of gi-owing Spanish Cock's Comb Undeveloped [E. H. fl.).— Sell him ; he will make little, because a Hhrivelled comb in a Spanish cock is indicative of intenial disease, and is a symptom of *' black rot," to which this breed is subject, and from which they never recover. Brahma Cock [Bi-uhma). — In all competitions of animals it is an axiom that, as the best is not too good, that which is faulty is not good enuugh. You wishto breed prize birds. You will not do it'with a cock that has two capital defects — vulture hocks and lop comb. Take him from the hens at once, if you have not done so akeady. Breeding Spanish Fowls (TT. E. S.).—A Spanish cock with a lop comb is woithless, so is a Spanish hen with an upright one. There is a proverb — " A whistling girl and crowing hen Are neither good for ; ards or men." Tit bi> I I ' 1 1' 1 i i.tri^ both parents must be so. The comb of the cock must ^ ■ 1 ' ' ' ■ I li;tt of thr hen must lop over. The crowing hens are only ^'" '^ ' I ill be got rid of at once. They do not lay, and the ap- P"^" ;' Ml III. I, I SIX is caused by internal mptui-es that render- laying im- posjiibl. ■. Spiiuish are more prone to this fault than any other breed, and when we see a hen's comb go up we put her in the pot. Desired Fowls {Digitatvi).~The fowl that wUl come nearest to your de- scription is the Brahma Pootra, because it realises the last requirement— raost easily keep. A fence 3 feet high wiUkeep Brahmas in confinement. Kpani'^h Hambiu-ghs, and Creve-Cceurs are all handsome, they are excellent layers, but do not Bit. We know no fence that will confine either of them. The only way ed-in at top. TO Queensland (K. M. H.).~lf your- friend takes tlie oed not ship as much food as if they went alone, because aps from the steward, and .syLUire them food in odd bits. .^p thon To guanl ugiiinst aufidents you will do bushels uf bai-ley, and two bushels of -i , will help you to keep them in health u from time to time make it grow in your . -Size of Woodbt ■Kclf with fom'teen cau take it. It I rape seed, and think y. Ill mv mi-taken in sup' your district, or any other, to meut yon keep your colonies n would find that yom- ten-frame ^ (•'. Z^.).— Yon ha.).— We have a strong objection to painting straw hives, though Mr. Payne and others recommend it. We have tried both that and covei-ing them with Roman cement, and the bees did not thrive well under either. The latter was. huwever, much the more palpably injurious. Ml-. Payne recommended the hive to be painted stone colour. We do not know the maker nor the price of the Cambridge Hive. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, Camden Square, London. Lat. 51° 32' 40^^ N. ; Long. 0' 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feet. Date. | A.J. . INIH B Dil. 1872. Ah Hygrome- Direc- tion of Wind. Temp, of Soil at 1 ft. Shade Tem- perature . Radiation Tempera- ture. ■i In I On nS' Dry. Wet. Max. Min. sun. grass Inches. deg. dee. deg. .deg. deg. ! deg. In. S0.023 87.8 W. 12.4 52.6 34.2 Nisnr.T, A.iu-arhi/ Park Gardens, FaU;in