72 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ .January 27, 1870. 



taken np and packed carefully, and as carefully planted, the roots being 

 protected from the sun's rays and dry air by immediately covering them 

 with soil, that time is to be preferred. 



Seedlino Cyclamens (Q. Q.).— Ton do not state what the specieB is, 

 but a6 the seeds were sown last March, and the plp.nts are now flowering, 

 we conclude that they are varieties of C. persicum. You may shift them 

 into larger pots, but not immediately after flowering; defer shifting until 

 the plants have, after a good rest, recommenced growth, then repot them 

 without disturbing the ball, merely removing any soil not occupied with 

 roots. It is not necessary to pot singly ; a larger-sized pot will be suffi- 

 cient, and bv having more than one corm in a pot you secure as good a 

 potful of foliage and bloom as you would from only one corm of greater 

 size and age. 



Melon foe Moderate Heat {Idem).— Having but little material for 

 the formation of hotbeds, Eeechwood Melon would suit you. It is a free 

 setter and good Melon. As you do not want the plants until the beginning 

 of June, the seeds ought not to be sown until the middle of April, and 

 the plants should be raised and brought forward in a hotbed. 



Names of Plants (E. A. E.).— Oplismenus imbecilis variegatus.aplant 

 very generally cultivated in gardens under the name of Panicum varie- 

 gatum, which name, however, must give way to the one quoted above. 

 (E. C. S.).— The plant in bloom is Centradenia grandiflora, a native of 

 Mexico. Tour Fern is rather puzzling, but apparently is Asplenium 

 auritum. {Ignoramus, Foto Iiland).— Your " Purslane Tree " is Atriplex 

 Halimus, Linn., a native of the Mediterranean basin, and most probably 

 it will prove hardy with yon. {A Constant Reader). — Polystichum angu- 

 lare. {T.).— Your stove plants are— 1, Schaueria calycotricha, often called 

 Justicia calycotricha ; 2, Diedalacanthus montanus, also known as Eran- 

 themnm pulchellum ; 3. Goldfussia isophylla. YourLycopods are— 1, Se- 

 laginella Braunii, usually known as pubescens or Willdenovii in gardens ; 

 2, Selaginella caulescens. (W. H.). — Goniophlebium subauriculatum. 

 (Mirabile).— 1, Onychium japonicum ; 2, Aspleninm Veitchianum ;or 

 A. Eellangeriit; 8, Asplenium {or Csnopteris) viviparum. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 



POULTPvY SHOW REFORMS. 



The season, so far as -winter poultry shows are concerned, is 

 fast drawing to a close, and now that all those little matters 

 which appear to require improvement are fresh in our me- 

 mories, allow me to draw the attention of the various com- 

 mittees to them, in the hope that they will give them their best 

 consideration, and, if possible, make the required alterations. 



There is one part of the arrangements of a poultry show which 

 hut too frequently receives by far too small an amount of con- 

 sideration and attention — that is, the selection of the pens, and 

 in my own name, and I know I may venture to add in the 

 names of many of my brother exhibitors, I protest as strongly 

 as possible against the use of those with open wire backs and 

 tops. The reasons for objecting to these pens are so ably set 

 forward by "E. M. B. A.," in your Journal of January 13th, 

 that I need not dwell upon them now. I cordially agree in 

 every word he says. This grievance of pens is one which all 

 exhibitors have to complain of, let us see what fault those who 

 exhibit Dorkings, Cochins, and the other large breeds have to 

 find — why it is that in too many cases the pens are not nearly 

 large enough to accommodate them. This remark particularly 

 applies to those show3 where cocks and hens are shown to- 

 gether. 



Now, what say the Hamburgh fanciers ? Why they say, and 

 justly too, why should the four different varieties of Hamburghs 

 have to compete in one class ? And where this is not the case, 

 Golds and Silvers have to do so. It would be far better to divide 

 the classes, even if to do so the prizes in each had to be reduced 

 in amount. 



Polands are beginning to muster stronger ; it is to be hoped 

 they will be encouraged accordingly, and that we shall not see 

 White-crested Blacks, Golds, and Silvers, huddled into one class, 

 with prizes of far less value than any other. French varieties 

 muster sufficiently strong, and their useful qualities entitle them 

 to two classes at every show. 



Now I come to the Game classes. I can imagine committee- 

 men and exhibitors of every other known breed, except Game, 

 starting to their feet and saying, " Exhibitors of Game can have 

 no fault to find, their prizes are high enough, the different va- 

 rieties are divided enough," kc. Pardon me, my friends, this 

 might be so at Birmingham, and one or two other shows, but 

 they are only the exceptions to the rule. In the first place, 

 then, they complain of Black and Brown Reds having to com- 

 pete in the same class ; of, in many cases, Duckwings, Piles, 

 Blacks, and Whites, having to do the same ; but in some cases 

 there is even a greater grievance than these, and that is, asking 

 exhibitors to show two Game hens together. In very many 

 cases this is nothing more nor less than certain death to one or 

 the other of them. Owners of good birds must, therefore, not be 

 blamed if they decline to support shows at the cost of risking 

 the lives of valuable birds. 



What shall I say about the Ducks r Aylesburys and Rouens 

 have everything exhibitors could wish, but what about the 

 Black East Indians ? How often have they to compete in a class 

 composed of Mandarins, Carolinas, Sheldrakes, and others, which 

 it is a great stretch of imagination to call Ducks at all, in a 

 class for "Ornamental Water Fowl?'' I, for one, certainly 

 have nothing to say, hut call it by its proper name, and let the 

 East Indians have a class to themselves, or at least one for any 

 other variety of Ducks than Aylesbury or Rouen, and the most 

 that it ought to include, would be Black East Indian, Muscovy, 

 Wild, and Call Ducks ; and then let the class for Ornamental 

 Water Fowl take in Mandarins, Carolinas, &c. 



One more remark and I have done. In some prize lists a cup 

 or piece of plate is offered for the person taking the greatest 

 number of prizes. Let me suggest that this extra prize should 

 be given to the best pen in the exhibition. It will then cease 

 to be a premium to the person who can borrow the most birds. — 



JU8TITIA. 



BORROWING AND TAILORING. 



A short time since a letter appeared in your Journal on the 

 objectionable practice of borrowing or hiring birds for exhibition. 

 Not one word can be said in its defence. That letter has been 

 passed without notice. Another letter appeared in your paper 

 last week on the still more objectionable practice of trimming. 

 I cannot let this pass without a remark. These two charges 

 should be thoroughly inquired into. Committeemen and judges 

 have lately been subjects of discussion. Let exhibitors now 

 have their turn. If such matters as the above are passed by with 

 indifference, then gentlemen and honest men will bid farewell to 

 poultry exhibitions. — Egomet. 



[We quite agTee in thinking that all committees of poultry 

 and bird exhibitions should exclude an exhibitor from showing 

 who has been detected either borrowing, trimming, or making- 

 up a bird for exhibition. Even George IV., when Prince of 

 Wales, was excluded by the Jockey Club for endeavouring to 

 cheat. — Ed6.] 



RAILWAY DELAYS. 



These are really unaccountable. At various intervals corre- 

 spondents complain in your columns of birds returning seriously 

 injured, or even dead, and the wonder with me is that birds are 

 not oftener killed by the extraordinary negligence of the rail- 

 way officials. I sent two pens to Whitehaven from a station 

 on the main line of the London and North-Westem Railway ; 

 they were despatched from the Bhow according to the pro- 

 gramme of the Committee early on Friday morning, and did 

 not reach home — their home is possibly 250 or 300 miles from 

 Whitehaven— the first pen till Saturday soon after eleven, the 

 second on the same day Boon after four. Thus they were a 

 day and a half or more in making a journey of no very great 

 length on railways in direct communication and working with 

 each other ; and, as all exhibitors know, nothing but the greatest 

 care will enable birds to bear up against such a strain on their 

 powers of endurance. If the weather happens to be severe, 

 the injury is doubly great. A few weeks since my birds re- 

 turned from a show soaked with rain. What was the conse- 

 quence ? The cock has lost the Bight of one of his eyes, and is 

 therefore, I imagine, useless for exhibition purposes ; the pullet 

 is dead. They had won a valuable piece of plate, and had been 

 eulogised in the highest terms by a well-known judge, but 

 " Ichabod " is all 1 now can say. 



What is the remedy ? Let committees see that birds are 

 despatched in good time ; let them charge the railway officials 

 to make special arrangements previous to the closingof a show, 

 so that the pens may be Bent off in good time ; and whenever 

 there is occasion, let exhibitors remonstrate, and as far as 

 possible, stop all fees and douceurs which porters and messen- 

 gers would otherwise receive. — E. M. B. A. 



HOUDANS. 

 In 1867 I brought from Normandy thirty-three Houdan eggs. 

 They were nearly three weeks old when placed under sitting 

 hens, and had travelled nearly five hundred miles. In dne 

 time I had twenty-three fine chickens, and these have fur- 

 nished me with an ample stock ever since. As layers of large 

 eggs in large quantities this breed has far exceeded my ex- 

 pectations; and as supplying fine table birds they have not 

 been surpassed in this part of the country. My residence is 



