2U 



JOURNAIi OF HORTIGOLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ September 17, '. 



Names of Plants (An Jmnteur Subscriber). — No one could identify a 

 plant crushed as that you seut ; nor can we undertake to namo auy of 

 which wo have not a flower. (J. H. D.).~ Arum maculatuu;. ( W. James). 

 — 1, 5, and 6, Calluna vulgaris, dilTi-rout-coloured varieties; 2, Erica te- 

 tralix; 8, E, tetralix alba; 4, E. cinerea. (G. M. C. If.. Staplchurst).— 

 1 and 2, C alluna vulgaris ; 3, Erica cinerea ; 4, Escallonia rubra ; 5, Pentste- 



mon sp. ; 6, Vnloradia plumbaginoides. [Rev. H. Shicbottovi). — KojlreH- 

 teria paniculata. {M.A.3.). — Hieracium boreale. {Wex/ord Subscriber). 

 — Apparently a Lcptoapermum. (T. S.). — 1, Bartsia odontites ; 2, Malva 

 rotundifolia ; 3, Euphorbia exifjua ; 4, Tamus communis ; 5, Salsola kali 

 (5, Cakile maritima. [T. B. 1^.'.— 1, Clemitis viticella ; 2, C. vitalba 

 3, Stipa penoata ; 4, Agrostis. (P. /. N.). — Tropa^olum speciosum. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS in the Suburbs of London for the week ending September lotb. 



POULTEY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



THE MANCHESTER rOULTRY SHOW PRIZE 

 LIST. 



It is Beldom such a liberal prize list as that of the above 

 Show is preseuted to exhibitors. Some of the prizes exceed 

 even those of Bivmiugbnm, and although on the whole the 

 Manchester Show mnst rank secoud to Birmingham, it is cer- 

 tainly second (o no other. It is, therefore, a matter of regret 

 that a Show of such importance sbonld be held at a time of 

 the year when numbers of exhibitors will be unable to avail 

 themselves of it to any extent, owing to their Pigeons being iu 

 moult, and their chickens too young to compete with any 

 chance of success. No doubt many fanciers will be represented, 

 but I do not tbiiik I am exaggerating in saying, that on the let 

 of October next, three-fourths of the Pigeons (adult birds), in 

 the kingdom will be in deep moult, or not sufficiently recovered 

 to be in a fit state to contend for the prize, or bear the journey 

 and confineraent. I believe tbis applies to all breeds, and especi- 

 ally to the larger, which, I think, are longer moulting or show 

 the effects of it more. I have about thirty old Pouters, and I 

 am sure not one will be fit to show iu three weeks' time. Some 

 have scarcely begun to moult, and have young ones. Some 

 have their " crops " all covered with " stubble," and a few 

 have just laid again, for the last time this season. If, there- 

 fore, I wish to show at Manchester I must send this year's 

 birds, and of these only the early-hatched will be ready. 



Then, as to poultry, doubtless many of the breeds which 

 feather quickly will be iu a fit state to show. But what of 

 slow-feathering birds, such as Brahmas, Cochins, and Spanish ? 

 Hundreds of good birds, especially of the last-named breed, 

 which will be iu condition to do little at Birmingham, will 

 have to stay away from Manchester. I know there have already 

 been many chicken shows this season (how many hona-fule 

 chickens have been shown is another question), but not of 

 such importance, either as regards the honour or the value of 

 the prizes. 



These, at least, are my views on the subject, and if any 

 brother fanciers are of the same opinion, I hope they will 

 express it through the columns of this Journal, and that Mr. 

 Jenuison, who is very much to be commended for his excellent 

 management and liberality, may be induced to hold his Show, 

 in future, at least one month later. — Alfred Heath, Calne. 



HOUDANS. 



The merits of Houdans as egg-producers I cannot mention 

 with too much praise. Two firat-class Houdau hens in my 

 possession have from the time of their purchase, early in the 

 spring, up to their moulting, laid almost invariably six eggs 

 a-piece per week. They only once ceased laying altogether for 

 either three or four days, after which interval they recom- 

 menced as vigorously as before. 



These heus are and have been, as long as I have had them, 

 confined to a small back yard, where the little grass that was 

 laid down for them last winter was parched up during the 



drought, consequently they have been dependant for green 

 meat on what few lettuce and cabbage leaves I could afford to 

 give them. Moreover, the same yard is co-tenanted by a 

 Hondan cock, two mongrel hens for iucubation, and on an 

 average twenty chickens of various ages, all Houdans, and all 

 healthy. 



None of my Houdan hens has ever been broody. As to the 

 fertility of Houdan eggs, the results of my own " hatchings-, 

 off,'' and the reports of neighbours whom I had supplied with 

 eggs far sitting were most satisfactory. On an average ten 

 chickens were obtained from a sitting of thirteen eggs, making 

 allowance for mishaps of all sorts. 



As to the hardiness of Houdans, my experience being very' 

 limited, I can only say that young Houdan chickens (my earhest 

 were hatched in April), are in strength unsurpassed by any 

 that have come under my notice. I find the cockerels as 

 hardy as the pullets, and at present proportionably rapid in 

 their growth ; but I confess that the adialt male birds that I 

 have met with are usually mucJi smaller, and apparently more 

 delicate than the hens. My Houdans after continuous rain 

 have occasionally suffered from cold, but have not hitherto 

 mnnifested roupy tendencies ; indeed, I have found them re- 

 markably free from disease of any sort. — H. S. Fbasee, Head- 

 ley, Hants. 



STOKE-ON-TRENT POULTRY SHOW. 



• 



TuE poulti-y department in tliis year's Show, which was lield on the 

 9th and loth inst., has proved the greatest success that the Stafford- 

 shire Agricultural Society has ever had. Not only were the classes, 

 as a whole, remarkahly good, hut the day was also delightful, and the 

 concourse of visitors was most satisfactory. With Bueh splendid weather 

 everything went off pleasantly, though the most ample provision had 

 been made for the protection both of the visitors aud poultry, in case 

 of had weather occurring. A very large tent wa.s erected, exclusively 

 for the poultry, and groat attention was paid to the birds. The only 

 arrangement worthy of mention in which we would suggest improve- 

 ment, is that of the pens. The upper tier was somewhat too high to 

 be effective ; the bottom of the upper pens being 5 feet 6 inches from 

 the ground, consc([uently they were not so easily inspected as they 

 would have been if placed from 9 inches to a foot lower. 



The Game fowls generally were good, and although a chicten show 

 throughout, vrith the exception of Turkeys, it is quite time that all 

 Game cockerels were dubbed, if sufficiently matured to be fit for 

 present exhibition. The Xforh'ags were remarkably good, and the 

 S'pfi»ish- and Ccrhiii.s were equally worthy of praise. Bralanas^ both 

 Light and Dark-feathered, were unusually good, and constituted the 

 largest number of entries in the Show. The Ihunhurglis were one of 

 the best portions of the Show, every variety being paiticularly good. 

 The Duke of Sutherland entered a collection of especially good birds. 

 The Duck classes were a leading feature of the Show, and the Buenos 

 Ayrean ducklings were evidently of superior quality to any exhibited 

 for some time past. 



As already stated, this being what is called a chicken show, almost 

 every bird was new as to exhibition, and not a few appeared to the 

 greatest disadvantage, from their nover-ceasing efforts to escape from 

 their pens. We would hint to owners, that the advantage is very 

 great of accustoming chickens to temporary confinement before 

 publicly exposing them to the terrors and annoyances of a general 

 poulti-y show. A few of the specimens absolutely dash their plumage 

 to tatters in their vain eff'orts to escape, whilst others become sullen 

 and tremulous when thus conflned for the first time. In fact, all 



