380 



JOURNAL or HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. [ November 10. 1863. 



Liming Ground for Rhododendrons {M. 5.).— Lime will not be detri- 

 mental to Rhododendrons after having been incorporated with the soil for 

 two years. We would advise you to defer planting the Potatoes until 

 spring', which wonld allow of the surface being left rough and the frost 

 pulverising it. The lime could then be applied in March, when the ground 

 would not be so wet as now, four tons are a good dressing for an acre 

 of land. 



PI.ANTING Cumbers {O. H. P.). — We should keep the climbers in pots 

 until spring, and then plant them out in the boxes specialLy provided (or 

 them. 



Keeping Down the Heat in a Vinery (A TVro).— Your pipes may be 

 covered with boards as you propose, and then covered with hair-felting 

 such as is used for covering steam boilers. If you were to have both ends 

 of the trench open so that the heat could pass out, it would not become so 

 hot as if confined esclusively within the trench. By abundant ventilation 

 you may keep jour Vines cool, and they will be none the worse by not 

 being frozen. 



Names of Plants.— Some of our correspondents are in the habit of 

 sending small fragments of plants for us to name. This requires from us 

 such a great expenditure f f time tiiat we are compelled to say that we 

 cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is perfect in leaves 

 and flowers, (if. B.). — I looks like a Microlepia, but too young to nume ; 

 2, Pteris bastata; 3, Liistrea Mlix-miis; 4, L. dilatata. {Six Tears* Sub- 

 scriber). — We cannot name Conifers usually from merely leaved scraps. 



POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



CREVE CffiUES. 



We redeem a promise made some time since to one of our 

 correspondents, who asked for some information respecting 

 Cr^ve Coeurs, stating he thought such would be of general 

 interest. We ai'e indebted to the excellent French work of 

 M. Jacqiie for much of our knowledge concei'ning this breed, 

 the rest being the result of some years' obsei'vation and 

 breeding. 



The Creve Cceur should be black entirely, but it is difficult 

 to obtain such. In common with all other black fowls, they 

 have a tendency to become particoloured. The cocks get red, 

 yellow, sometimes white, feathers in the topknot, hackle, 

 and saddle, more frequently the two latter. The hens show 

 them principally in the topknot, and they increase with age. 

 A remarkable feature in the Creve Cceur cock is the singular 

 comb, composed of two spirals or spikes, sticking up in fi'ont 

 and looking like horns. They ai-e sometimes smooth and 

 wide apart at the ends, sometimes close together, and some- 

 times very wide apart, throwing out small branches like the 

 horns of a young stag. Add to this, that he has an ample 

 topknot falling backwai-ds, with the exception of a few 

 straggUng feathers that come forward, that he is plentifully 

 whiskered, has an ample beai-d hanging below his wattles, a 

 bright eye, an intelligent face, and a grave loot, and you 

 have a truthful description of this singular head. The body 

 is very symmetrical, being deep, square, and well seated on 

 the legs, which ai-e short. It gives the appeai'ance of being 

 what it is, a good table fowl. It is four-clawed, and has blue 

 legs. A cock, being a good specimen of the breed, weighs 

 from 6 lbs. to 7 lbs. The hen has a larger topknot than the 

 cock ; it is also rounder, she has very small wattles, but she 

 has a large beard and thick ample whiskers. She also has 

 a square body, and short dark blue or black legs. Weight 

 from 5 lbs. to 6 lbs. There is a latitude allowed by the best 

 French judges in the topknot of these hens, which would not 

 be admitted in Polands in this country. We will on this 

 point quote verbatim from M. Jacque. 



Speaking of hens he says ; — " The topknot is of variable 

 dimensions, sometimes composed of short feathers falling 

 and turning little over, leaving the eyes plainly visible, 

 sometimes forming such an abundant head-dress that it 

 conceals the head itself almost entirely, and the eyes are 

 of use only to see that wliich is on the ground. Very small 

 wattles, and small whitish deaf-ears. Good average layers 

 of very large eggs, and non-sittei's." 



Our own experience enables us to add, that we consider them 

 far more than average layers. We have found them lay as 

 many eggs as the best of our laying breeds, in many instances 

 more, and they have the advantage that then- eggs are quite 

 ae large or lai-ger than Spanish, with plentiful yolks and 

 most delicate flavour. We have found them easy to rear. 

 We wUl conclude with another quotation from M. Jacque. 



" This admirable race certainly produces the most excellent 

 fowls that appear in the French markets. Their bones are 

 very light ; their flesh fine, short, and fattening easily. 

 Their chickens are of unheard-of precocity, since they can 



be put up to fatten at from ten to twelve weeks old, and be 

 eaten a fortnight afterwai'ds. At five months old a fowl of 

 this breed has nearly attained its growth, weight, and 

 quality. At six months, being well fattened, it should weigh 

 7 lbs., and sometimes attains 9 lbs. The Creve Coeur breed 

 supplies the poulardes and choice chickens sold in the Paris 

 market. It is the first breed in Prance for delicacy of flesh, 

 for facility of fattening, and precocity. I think in these par- 

 ticulars it is the first in the world." 



TONBEIDGE WELLS POULTEY SHOW. 



Coming closely on the heels of om- eoiTespondent's lamen- 

 tation that no shows existed in the south or south-east, is 

 the announcement that one took place at Tonbridge WeUs 

 on the 23rd of October, in connection with the agricultural 

 meeting held in that town. 



As a fii'st attempt it must be considered eminently suc- 

 cessful, so far as entries, quality of birds, and attendance 

 were concerned. If it is to be annual, it wiU be weU to 

 make it imperative on all exhibitors to provide proper and 

 convenient baskets for the pm-pose. They are inexpensive, 

 and iilways usefid in a poultry -yard. When such ai-e iised, 

 all that is required of the Committee is to erect stands on 

 which they are placed. Uniformity is gained, and the birds 

 are shown to advantage ; while if the pen or cage be left to 

 the option of the owner, it is astonishing what strange 

 devices some of them adopt, from a piano-case, or china- 

 crate, down to a blackbu-d's cage. Many such were ranged 

 in a spacious tent on the beautiful spot selected for the 

 Show. It was laj-ge, but would not contain all. The weather 

 was fortunately all that could be desfred, and the pens were 

 ranged out of cover. 



Kent is famed of old for Dorkings, and maintained her 

 reputation on this occasion. The first 2)ri2e was taken by 

 Mr. Dolby, who, we believe, has only lately become a 

 Kentish man ; second and third by the Eev. Mr. Barnes, 

 who showed excellent birds. Those belonging to the Eail 

 of Abergavenny were also very good. The next class in 

 merit was the Game. Mr. Hughes, and Lord Abergavenny, 

 deserved theii' prizes. Turkeys were excellent. So were the 

 Geese. There were some cross-bred between Toulouse and 

 common, that were most meritorious. The same may be 

 said of Dticks, which were well shown, both in classes and 

 as varieties. Mr. Dolby's success was completed by taking 

 the prize for the best collection. He is too good an ex- 

 hibitor for a young show. He took first for Dorking ; first 

 for Sdver-ijencOled Hambm-ghs ; second for Turkeys ; first 

 for Geese ; first for Aylesbui-y Ducks ; fii-st for various 

 Ducks. Lord Abergavenny took the second prize for col- 

 lections. In Hamburghs, Polish, and Spaiiisft, the quality of 

 the birds shown left much to desfre. 



Mr. Baily was the Judge. 



Northern Counties Poultry Show. — The entries for the 

 eleventh annual Exhibition of Poultry at Darlington close 

 on Monday, the 16th inst. The schedule of prizes com- 

 prises classes for adults in Black Spanish, Coloured Dork- 

 ings, "Wliite Dorkings, Buff Cochins, Any other vai-iety of 

 Cochins, Brahma Pootras, Black and other Red Game, Any 

 other variety (Game), Gold and Silver-pencilled and Gold 

 and SUver-spaugled Hamburghs, and Polands; whOe in 

 Bantams classes are allotted to Gold or SUver-laced, Black 

 or White, and Game. The Ducks are Aylesbm-y, Eouen, 

 and Any other vai-iety. Geese and Turkeys have also classes, 

 as well as Any other distinct breed of poultry ; and a Selling 

 Class is introduced, the price per pen not to exceed 30s. 

 The prizes range from £3 to .£1. Pigeons are divided into 

 thfrteen lots. In addition to the above, all the principal 

 varieties of poultry have distinct classes for birds of 1863, 

 as well as for pairs of pullets, and in some cases for single 

 cockerels. In several varieties, also, single cocks of any 

 age are included. To add to the interest of the Exhi- 

 bition, no less than fourteen silver cups, principally pre- 

 sented by fi-iends of the Society, are offered for competition, 

 varying in value from .£3 to £0 — the winner to have the 

 option of taking the cup or the amount in money. In 

 classes where cups are awai-ded the first prize will be with- 



