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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 23, 1876. 



men and a boy for the kitchen garden, the same for the houses and frames 

 two men for Bbrubbery and flower garden, and one man for the "waits and 

 drives. That is, of course, a rongh apportionment of labour, the outdoor 

 men especially being employed in any portion of the garden where the work 

 at any time becomes pressing. 



Russian Tkanspabent Apple (W.Simmons & Co.), — "We will ^endeavour 

 to procure the information you require. 



Obange "Blossom" (A Reader).— We presume your tree is an Orange 

 (Citrn.3 aurantium), which will succeed in a greenhouse, and should have a 

 light and airy situation, and be copiously supplied with water during growth, 

 but avoiding over-watering, allowing the soil to become dry before giving any, 

 and then a thorough, supply. In winter keep rather dry. Three parts turfy 

 loam, with a part of old cow dung or leaf soil and sand, is a suitable compost. 

 Provide efficient drainage. 



Tew Hedge Decaying (Idem).— The bottom of the Tew having been de- 

 stroyed by the Laurel, and the Yew cut down, will put out shoots from the 

 stem, the dead branches being cut away. It will be some years, however, 

 before the young shoots will have grown so as to form a well- furnished hedge. 

 Privet would form a hedge in a short time, but the Yew is much the best, 

 though very much longer in forming. 



Seedling Geraniums (Idem). — Plants from Beed sown last July will 

 flower during the coming summer. We should plant them out (or plunge 

 the pots about an inch over the rim) in May in an open situation, and not 

 very rich soil, for seedlings grow very much to leaf as compared with plants 

 from cnttings. Lobelias will winter in a frame provided they are kept from 

 frost j but we should keep them in the coolest part of the greenhouse, and 

 near the glass. Saxifrages do well in gritty loam, mcist but well drained. 

 They are best grown on rockwork with full exposure, taking care to avoid 

 over-drynesB during hot weather. 



Fungus (Aimer). — Your Fungus is known as the " Jews-ear" (Hirneola 

 Auricula- Judas), usually found on the Elder and Elm. 



Names of Fbuits (B. M. A.). — Apjiles. — 1, Pomeroy; 2, Gravenstein. 

 Pears. — ] , Quite rotten ; 2, Beuire Kance. Others not identified. ( W. H.). — 

 Your Grape is the Black Morocco, which has been distributed under the name 

 of Eempsey'a Alicante. The bunch sent was remarkably well set, this 

 variety being proverbially a shy setter. 



POULTRY, BEE, AM PIGEON 0HE0KE0LE. 



LANGSHANS. 



"H. J. B." writes for information about Langshans. He 

 says they appear to be " a cross between the Cochin and 

 Brahma," and requests our opinion on the matter. Honestly, 

 we think they are nothing but cross-bred fowls. Black Cochins 

 entering principally into their composition. We do not want 

 to raise any discussion on the matter, and we are glad that such 

 an uninteresting subject has hitherto been kept out of these 

 pages. Our opinions are shared by the majority of fanciers, 

 and we can well imagine how breeders and exhibitors of twenty 

 or thirty years' standing laugh at those who uphold the true 

 breeding and distinctive points of Langshans. Wonderful 

 stories are told of them : week after week one of their admirers 

 advertised that they were " allied to the wild Turkey;" we only 

 wonder someone else did not say they were first cousins to 

 Ostriches. Be they, however, mongrels or a distinct breed, 

 one thing is certain, and that is, weedy Black Cochins have 

 done duty for Langshans in their own classes, and Black Cochin 

 breeders advertise and sell their refuse birds as " birds of the 

 Bangshan type;" and as these are purohased as Langshans, 

 whatever their origin may have been, such birds will soon be 

 wanting in those peculiarities which Langshan admirers claim 

 for their breed. 



We believe there are some who assert that the Langshans 

 made the Black Cochins, and not the opposite ; but we know for 

 a fact that Black Cochins have come over from Shanghai of the 

 most perfect Cochin type, and that no Langshan blood was in 

 those specimens. We were the means of putting into Mr. 

 Darby's possession that wonderful Black hen which won all 

 before her for two or three seasons, and which has never since 

 been surpassed in merits, and there was about as much Lang- 

 shan blood in her as there is in a Sparrow. Undoubtedly, in 

 our opinion, what they are is a cross between a Black Cochin 

 and some white-skinned plump fowl, and hence the white flesh 

 and more abundant meat which their admirei'3 claim for them 

 as their distinctive points. We know how easily feathered legs 

 and black colour are perpetuated, and so these birds breed true 

 as far as they can breed true, being weedy-looking black- 

 feathered Cochins. We can see no difference in external appear- 

 ance between them and bad Cochins, and we looked at them 

 very closely at the Palace, where we know one winning pen 

 of so-called Langshans contained actual Cochins, and we are as 

 certain that one or two of the Langshans would have won cards 

 if entered among the Cochins. This being so, we fail to see 

 any advantage in keeping up the farce as to the supposition of 

 their being a new breed. Imported they may have been, and 

 imported they still may be, but not in Great Britain only are 

 breeds of poultry crossed ; and until the admirers of this com- 

 position can bring forward more certain proofs of what they 

 claim for them, we would recommend them to be silent on the 

 subject. 



Being cross-bred birds they may have properties which make 

 them useful for the table and other domestic purposes ; but to 



maintain that they have no Cochin blood in them is as ridiculous 

 as to try and make ont their Turkey connection. One who can 

 believe that can believe anything, and we can full well under- 

 stand their being deceived. We are told that the Judge who 

 awarded the prizes in the Langshan classes at the late Palace 

 Show was ignorant of their points, and so made a mistake in 

 his awards. We should have been curious to see to which pens 

 their champions would have given the prizes, for there was 

 hardly a pen but had some Cochin point more or less developed. 

 Their place, undoubtedly, is in that class which we sometimes 

 find in agricultural societies' schedules— viz., for " Any table 

 variety of cross-bred fowl," and then the judge would be able 

 to take meaty breasts and fleshy thighs into consideration, in 

 which we hear this new variety so greatly excels. We expect 

 very shortly to hear that as in Cochins, so Langshans are 

 to be found of many colours. We look forward to the day for 

 some reasons, as we have now some weedy Whites and Buffs, 

 which gradually are turned into pasties ; but to find a market 

 for them at 20s. each would indeed be delightful, for as it is 

 they are only worth table poultry prices. 



At the last Bristol Show we saw in the Selling class for 

 cocks a bird which was evidently a cross between an Asiatic 

 and a Dorking. It was feather-legged, single-combed, white- 

 fleshed, and of moderate Bize, and we could only pity the pos- 

 sessor who had invested 5s. for displaying such a mongrel. 

 Later on in the day a very celebrated Cochin breeder and ex- 

 hibitor came to us and said, " Tou must, of course, notice in 

 ' our Journal ' the new breed." We said, naturally, " What new 

 breed 1" " Is it possible," cried the Cochin breeder, " you have 

 not seen the Silver-Grey Langshans ? I am expecting represen- 

 tatives from Worthing and Bromley every minute to see this 

 last new wonder, and to get them classes at Wolverhampton." 

 This shows what Cochin men think, and this, too, from an 

 exhibitor of fifteen years' standing. 



This is all we have to say. Useful for culinary purposes 

 Langshans may be, productive layers they possibly are, but 

 mongrels— sad mongrels, they are beyond doubt. 



We mean to enter into no controversy, and these pages are 

 in future closed to a discussion on the subject. We leave that 

 to our contemporaries, who also, however, seem to be weary of 

 the matter. When the wild Turkey connection has been proved 

 we will gladly print the family tree. In the meantime we re- 

 commend those who want a cross-bred fowl to try the first cross 

 between a Brahma and a Dorking, and to leave the "Longshins " 

 alone. — W. 



BEDALE SHOW OP POULTRY, &c. 



The third annual Show was held at Bedale in the Drill Hall, 

 on Tuesday, the 19th inst. The place was too small for the pur- 

 pose, the entries being good; and the light, in consequence of 

 the crowded state, was very defective, and yet it is due to the 

 Society to say this is the only place at disposal for the purpose. 



Game were a capital show, Brown Beds carrying the cup off, 

 these being chickens, the pullet quite young, but grand in every 

 particular, Brown Beds being second. In Game other than 

 Beds the winners were Duckwings, and all very good in colour 

 and stylish. Dorkings a grand class, the cup for the next section 

 going to the first-prize old birds. Cochins poor, except the 

 winners ; and Brahmas a fair lot. In Gold-spangled Hamburghs 

 the winners were two grand pens, but the Silvers were not equal 

 to them. The best of this lot were left out, the pullet having 

 undergone some smearing process that had stuck all its feathers 

 together. The cockerel was a gem. Gold and Silver-pencils 

 were but moderate, the cup going to Gold-spangles ; and in the 

 next section Spanish took the place of honour. In the Polish 

 the prizes were awarded to Goldens; first old and second young. 

 One pen of Silvers could not be judged ; the cock having in- 

 dulged in a bath it was impossible to judge of his crest qualities. 

 In the Variety class first were Black Hamburghs, second White 

 Leghorns, and third Creve-Coeurs. In Game Ban tarns first were 

 very smart Black Beds, second Piles, and third Brown Beds, 

 many others securing very high commendations. In the Variety 

 class of Bantams first were Silver Sebrights, second and third 

 Blacks. In the Selling class first were Black Hamburghs, 

 second Partridge Cochins, and third Bouen Ducks. Turkeys 

 and Geese were very large, and good in all particulars. Ducks. — 

 Aylesburys were very good, and the two winning pens of high 

 quality and well shown. Bouens good as regards the winners, 

 The Variety class was a very good one ; Mandarins, Carolinas., 

 and Black Bast Indians were the winners. 



Pigeons good for the amount offered. Carriers — first Dun, 

 second and third Black. In Pouters first was a Blue hen in 

 fine order, second White, and third Black. In Jacobins a good 

 Yellow was placed first, with a Bed Becond. Tumblers were 

 a fair class ; first and second were Almonds, and third Kites. 

 Fantails were a fair class, and the winners White, but there 

 was one grand Blue. In Turbits first was a little Blue, good 

 in all particulars, although some preferred the highly-com- 

 mended bird of that colour. Second was a capital Bed hen. The 

 Selling class was poor. 



