Jannary 3, 1865. ] 



JOTTENAIi OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAUDENER. 



15 



Peerks' BortER (T.). — Onr correspoDdent wishes to know from some one 

 who hi3 tried Ic whetUer the tiue-pipe joint leaks, how it is cleaned, and 

 how the outer oi flow-pipe is jointed ? 



OcTiRASDRA lENESTRALTs (J. Coiistaiit Header, T(inlrid{je) .—You cannot 

 do better than pursue the system adopted at Lafiy Dorothy NeviU's, at 

 Dingstein. It is there grown in a tank, iu which is a d^pth of 16 or 18 inches 

 of water, which is occa5iou;\lly flooded to remove the scuoi. The temper- 

 ature of the water ranse? from 60=* to C5S but that of the a'.mosphere of 

 the stove is, of course, much hi-jher. The pot should ba suhmerged. The 

 plant may also be grown very well in wide bell-glasses. 



Eaelt Potatoes and Peas {A Subscriber].— By oui-dooT culture in the 

 south of Ireland you ought to have them as early aa in southem Cornwall. 

 No rarieties will come earlier than the true "Walnut-leaved Kidney Potato. 

 Of Peas, Dillistone's Early, Songster's No. 1, and Early Ring^vood, succeed 

 each other in the order named ; but to have a good succession of first- 

 qoality Peas we should grow DUlistone's Early. S.iugater's No. 1, Champion 

 of England, and Veitch's Perfection. Of Beans. Marshall's Dwarf Prolific 

 is the earliest ; and of Dwarf Kidney Beans, the Black Belgian if you can 

 obtain it true. 



Names of Fruits (John). — The Pear was quite rotten when it arrived, 

 ^t appears to be Beurie d'Aremberg. No. 1 (Apple), Colonel Vaughau's ; 

 2, Like Manx Codlin. {E'. S. TT.).— The Pear is Vicar of W'inkQeld, and 

 the Apple Scarlet Nonpareil. 



Names of Plants (J^/ora). —Dictamnus frasinella. "We do not recosrnise 

 the Fern by the name you mention. {X. .5.).— Pteris serrulata, Pteris 

 tremnla. Not numbered. (3". -£".)■ — !> Cyrtomiam falcatum ; 2, Lastrea 

 Sieboldii; 3. Adiantnm rcniTorme ; 4, Insufficient. {J. C).— Laslrea Filis- 

 mas. [A!ffia).—Jt Djplazium decussatum ; G, Pteris hastata ; K, One of 

 the forms of Hypolepis tenuifolia; H and S, Pceris creiica albo-lineata; 

 C, Aspleniumbulbiferumvar. ; B, Doodia caudata ; A, Insufficient; F, Gonio- 

 phlebium afpendiculatum: D, Allosorus crispus; E, Asplenlum viviparum. 

 We cannot return specimen;. 



POUITEY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHEONICLE. 



THE DEPAETED YEAE. 



The old yeai- with its joys, troubles, and erperienoes is 

 passed away. Its successor now presides ; and we have as 

 usual to express our thanifulness that we have been spared 

 to address our readers once more, to tell them of our success, 

 to thank them for their support, and to offer them our good 

 wishes. 



The course of the poultry world has been smooth durino- 

 the year 1S64. The promises of 1863 have been kept. The 

 new classes that were demanded have been well filled with 

 entries ; the love of the pursuit has been increasing ; and 

 we believe we may fairly and truthfully say that at no pre- 

 vious period have there been as many new exhibitors coming 

 forward. The old shows ai-e well supported when they are well 

 managed. Entries are numerous, and the attendance good. 

 All great changes must be more or less progressive. When 

 poultry fii-st became a popular question, all that was asked 

 for was a breed that would seU well at an exhibition or in a 

 sale-room. N'o heed was paid to the food part of the sub- 

 ject, nor was the fitness of a breed either for a peculiar 

 cHmate or purpose ever thought of. It is now different. 

 When a new one is introduced, one of the first inquiries is. 

 Is it a good table bird ? The deviation of its popularity or 

 its claim on ■ the public favour will depend on its useful 

 everyday quaHties. This wiU be more clearly shown as we 

 review the different breeds, and notice the position they 

 hold or have held in the public estimation. 



Dorkings are nearly perfect in every way. They are laro-e 

 handsome, heavy, and healthy. They form the most nume- 

 rous class at all shows, they sell readily, and are evidently 

 favourites with those who wish either for sale or consumption 

 to produce the best quaUty of poultry. The old-established 

 names are stiU in front, but they have new colleagues in the 

 prize list. Lady Holmesdale and Captain Hornby ai-e the 

 first m this breed. 



Spanish have made a large stride, and have certainly 

 shown better in quaUty and condition than for several years 

 P^*- ^ ^^^y ^eep on, the days of Messrs. Davies and Eake 

 wiU be seen again in this beautiful breed. Mr. Jones has 

 been at the head of the chickens at Birmingham and Man- 

 chester. The entries have been good, except in the hen and 

 pullet classes, which do not fill as they should. 



Cochin-Chinas keep on their steady way, and form, de- 

 servedly, a valuable addition to our shows. Captain Heaton 

 has repeated his 1863 victories, and been the principal 

 prizetaker wherever he has shown. The quaUty of the birds 

 has been excellent, and the above-mentioned victories have 

 not been easy achievements ; worthy competitors have been 

 tonnd everywhere. We can note Httle progress iu the 

 (irouse and Partridge breeds ; but we can speak most ' 



highly of the advance in White; they have been excellent 

 and numerous. 



Brahma Pootras have outlived their detractors with few 

 exceptions, and show, on all occasions, numerous pens of 

 uniform plumage and great beauty. It is now well under- 

 stood, and thoroughly believed, after trial, that few birds 

 are so hardy or so profitable as these. 



JIalays seem limited to a small number of pens, and find 

 but few admireis. 



Creve-Cceurs have not been as numerously shown as we 

 expected. 



Ws can speak of Hamburghs as we have done for many 

 years. They vary, and no improvement can ever be noted 

 in all varieties at the same time. This year our highest 

 praise will be for Grolden-pencUled, Golden-spangled, and 

 Black. The latter had separate classes at Birmingham, 

 and filled them well, not only in numbers, but in quality. 

 The troldeu-penoiUed and Spangled have been neai-ly perfect, 

 but the Silvers have lost ground. 



Game fowls are always beautiful, and this year has been 

 no exception. Mr. Statter has been very successful. Many 

 of the winners in the north have been of Mr. Archer's 

 celebrated strain. At the large shows the various classes 

 of this beautiful breed have formed an exhibition of them- 

 selves. 



Bantams have marvellously increased in the Game classes, 

 and they are birds of perfect beauty and symmetry. Blacks 

 and Whites also increase, but the beautiful Sebrights seem 

 at a standstill as to numbers. 



Turkeys have hai-dly held their own in weight. The 

 same may be said of Geese, with few exceptions. Eouen 

 Ducks go ahead in weight and numbers. They are far more 

 numerous than their Aylesbury competitors, and bid fair to 

 be as heavy. Buenos Ayrean Ducks daily gain more admirers. 

 Shows are becoming more numerous in connection with 

 agricultural meetings. In the north of England they are 

 well established, and, though of frequent recurrence, they 

 are well supported. They make little progress in the south 

 and south-west. We cannot tell why poultry should be 

 unpopular with the farmer, but it is so : and hence the fact 

 that in a few months of the year we import many millions 

 of eggs. An attempt has been made to get up a Metro- 

 politan Show at the Agricultural Hall, but the time of year 

 was unfavourable, and the attendance was bad. Birming- 

 ham thrives as ever. Entries are more numerous, so are 

 sales ; more visitors attend, and more money is taken. 



The Poultry Club has given signs of life during the past 

 twelve months, and if it be for the good of a pursuit in 

 which we are much interested we heartily wish it success. 

 We do not think it will conduce to such an end by censuring 

 the management at Birmingham in the appointment of 

 Judges. They have been the same for many yeai's, and it 

 has moved only from success to success. 



This nearly brings us to a close. Our subject has been 

 of peaceable times and doings. We are grateful for it. We 

 are thankful our task involves nothing more — that with the 

 end of the year, while we have grateful recollections of past 

 pleasures and associations, we can hardly recollect a differ- 

 ence — certainly we have had none that will live in our re- 

 membrance. We tender our best thanks to many valuable 

 and able contributors, especially for the kindly spirit in which 

 their instructions are given. We admit our obligations to 

 an increasing list of subscribei-s. We are thankful for the 

 satisfaction which these things bring, grateful for the pros- 

 perity which results from them, and hopeful for the future. 

 It is always a happiness to us that to the best of our ability 

 we seek to give pleasui-e to all, and that it is our good 

 fortune to be the means of diffusing knowledge that is not 

 only useful but perfectly innocent. 



Most heartily do we wish to all with whom we have in 

 any way to do 



A Happy New Teab. 



beahma pooteas. 



I MUST leave all impartial readers of "our Journal" to 

 decide, whether in my late defence of the purity of the 

 Brahma I used the word "hybrid" erroneously. The 

 course was forced upon me. All who possess a copy of the 

 beautiful " Poultry Book," I refer to the few words devoted 



