September 5, 1887. | 



.lOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



183 



Names of Plants (TT. D«an).—1, Erica nristata cilinta ; 2, E. jasmini- I 1, Lastrea FiUi-mas; 2, Lintrea dilitatn; 3, Athyrinm Filii-fcemina ; 

 flora minor : 3. E. Massonia ; 4, E. aristata ; 5, E. aristata minor ; 6, E. 4. Akiivrinm Filix-fcemina (voung state) ; 5, Aspidium acnlcatum ; 6, Cya- 

 princepa; 7, E. aristata, var. (U. JIf.). — Spiriea sorbifolia. (J. S.).— I topteris fragilis. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS in the Suburbs of London for the Week ending September 3rd. 



POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



TESTIMONIAL TO MR. HEWITT. 

 Having seen Mr. Jessop's letter in your Ust nuinber, will 

 you allow me to say that as an exhibitor I most fully concur in 

 that gentlom.au's estimate of Mr. Hewitt as a poultry judge ? 

 In strict impartiality, in ability, and in thorough-goinK devo- 

 tion to his duties, I believe him to be unsurpassed. I think 

 with Mr. Jessop, that the poultry world owes Mr. Hewitt a 

 debt for his great services in what must be always a task of 

 responsibility and sometimes a thankless office. I bear my 

 testimony with the more readiness, as I have not the slightest 

 personal acquaintance with Mr. Hewitt, whom I only know 

 and respect as a judge of poultry. I agree with your suggestion 

 that the subscriptions to the testimonial should not be limited 

 either one way or the other to any given sum, and shall be 

 most ready to contribute a guinea for so good an object. — Joh.n 

 Paues, Postford, iicar Guildford. 



It is with sincere gratification that I notice the communi- 

 cation of Mr. .Jessop, in your last issue, proposing a testimonial 

 to Mr. Hewitt, so long known, and so highly respected as a 

 judge of poultry. I most cordially concur in the object, and 

 most fully endorse the encomiums your correspondent has 

 passed on Mr. Hewitt, for his integrity in the office he has 

 tilled, and the general approval his decisions have met with. 



My object in troubling you with this, is, however, of a more 

 practical nature. It is to say that I shall have sincere pleasure 

 in forming one of a committee for carrying out the proposal, 

 and beg to add that you may command my services in that or 

 any other wivy in which I can promote the object. 



I quite agree with you that it would be undesirable to limit 

 the individual contributions, and that whilst the smallest con- 

 tributions would bo readily received, an opportunity should 

 be afforded to those who have the means of cont)ibuting sums 

 more adequately expressing the esteem in which they hold 

 Mr. Hewitt'3 services. May I venture to hope that you will 

 reconsider your determination to decline active participation in 

 this effort ? In my opinion it is most desirable that one of the 

 Editors of your Journal should be on the committee, and I 

 trust that further reflection on the subject may lead you to 

 change your decision on that point. — James Fletchek. 



[We had well considered the subject before we announced 

 that we could not be on the Committee, and we cannot re- 

 verse our determination. That we shall heartily aid in every 

 way a Committee formed for carrying out the proposal needs 

 no promise from us. If Mr. Fletcher will obtain the co- 

 operation of two or more friends, circulate proposals, and state 

 to whom subscriptions may be paid, the desired result would be 

 speedily secured. We advise it to be done promptly. And let 

 US commence what wo know will be a good subscription list 

 with ! 



Tho Proprietor.^ of The Jocrsal of Hoeticdltcre . 

 J. Pares, Esq 



£10 

 110 



We have heard already of some who profess to be willing to 

 subscribe, but ask, if they did subscribe whether their motives 

 might not be misconstrued ? We think that there is not the 

 slightest ground for such a fear ; but if any one does entertain 

 BUoh an unworthy misgiving, let him subscribe anonymously 

 as " A Friend," or " An Admirer." — Eds.] 



FRENCH BREEDS OF POULTRY. 



As one of the most staunch supporters of Houdans, I might 

 almost say their earliest friend in introducing them to English 

 poultry keepers, I am delighted to read my late colleague Mr. 

 ilassey'a eloquent description, and am content, like the non- 

 loquacious member, to add simply, " I say ditto to Mr. Burke." 



I cry aloud with " Lindum " for distinct classes for French 

 breeds at exhibitions. At least let us have one class for Houdans, 

 and be content to lump the rest together yet awhile. I have 

 exhibited the same two pens of Houdans and La Fleohe at 

 Birmingham, Rochdale, and Salisbury. The La Fldche had the 

 first prize at Birmingham and Salisbury ; the Houdans at 

 Rochdale. When Cruve Cojurs have been included in the 

 variety class, then the change has been rung with them like- 

 wise. What are judges to do? Evidently, as it is a variety 

 class, distribute their favours variously. As for judging by 

 comparison, that is hardly possible. I think the French breeds 

 ought to stand alone. 



Mr. Massey confines his remarks to the Houdans, Cri-ve 

 Coeurs, and La Flijche, but let me say a word also for their first 

 cousins Gueldres and Bredas. Hardy as Houdans, as good 

 egg-layers ; not quite the table birds, not having, what in our 

 wet climate is certainly a drawback, the full crest, but close, 

 clean-looking, lively birds, I class them immediately after 

 Houdans. For my own part I prefer the handsome Cuckoo 

 Gueldre to his black cousin the Breda. There is not the 

 slightest doubt that in Houdans, Gueldres, and Bredas we 

 have fowls that will increase in favour the better they are 

 known. — Fred. H. ScnnoDER, Biclaitansicorth, Herts, 



HOUDAN FOWLS. 



I OBSERVE in your Journal of .\ugust 15 th a paragraph signed 

 "Lindum," and I fiud that he states that Houdan fowls pos- 

 sess valuable qualities unsurpassed by any breed. This I can 

 bear testimony to, having only four hens, which have laid more 

 eggs this spring and summer (even one has laid regularly since 

 November), than all my Cochin-China, Spanish, Hamburghs, 

 &c. ; and, moreover, they never incubate. 



" LiNDnii " asks whether it is indispensable that Houdans 

 should have muffs. Certainly, to correspond with the cock 

 bird, if he has one; some are without, and some have them. 

 Of course all three birds in the pen should match each other. 

 This was not the case at Thirsk with that which gainedthe 

 second prize, and the birds were too small. This I consider 

 detrimental, although the judges gave the prizes to them. 

 With regard to the Eouen Ducks, I always understood that 

 they should have bills similar to the wild ones. This was not 

 the case with two pens at Thirsk.— An Amateur Breeder. 



CITY C0LUMBARI.\N SOCIETY. 



This Society held its first mectini; for the season on Thursday last, 

 at tho Crown and Cushion Tavom, London Wall. There was a nume- 

 rous attendance of members and visitors, and a superior show of young 

 birds (this occasion being for young birds only), although the remark 

 generally among breeders was that it had been a very bad season for 

 yonug birds, owing to the sudden changes of the weather. 



Short-faced Tumblers, for which this Society stands unrivalled, 

 were well represented by birds from Messrs. Chapman, Hales, Gellett. 

 Young, and i'^rJ ; Pouters and Camers (of wlJich there were many 



