February 2S, 1871. ] 



JOURN'AL nir HOHTICULTCTRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



149 



Planting Gladiolus Spawn (Amateur).— Flnrit about the middle of 

 March if the ground is in f;;ood working order, having had it previously 

 ■well turned up to ft depth of not less than 15 inches. If the soil is clay, 

 or otherwise unsuitable, it should be removed to the depth of 18 inches, 

 and if the subsoil is wet, take out a further depth of a foot; then fill 

 up with any kind of rough material, as stones, brickbats, &c., and cover 

 the drainage with stable litter, throwing in good soil enriched with 

 leaf soil and well-decompoaed manure. If the soil is wholly bad, prepare 

 an artificial compost of two parts turfy loam— all the better if the soil 

 inclines to a sandy peat— one part sandy peat, and one part well-rotted 

 manure. Chop the turf up pretty fine, mixing all well together, pat in 

 18 inches deep of this compost, and cover the bed with 6 inches of soil. 

 The bed should be raised 9 inches above the surrounding level. Prepare 

 them at once, and in a fortnight it will be advisable to plant. Divide the 

 offsets into two sizes, the large and small; plant the former in rows 

 6 inches apart, and 4 inches apart in the rows. Draw the drills 3 inches 

 deep, and cover the bottom with sand, put in the offsets firmly, covering 

 each with sand, and draw the soil over them. The smaller ofl'sets may 

 be planted in the same way, but much more closely together. Water 

 freely in dry weather, and overhead in the evenings of hot days. 



Bedding Calceolakias (Idem). — It is not advisable to place those that 

 have been wintered in a cold frame in a hotbed at this or any season. If 

 they are too close together thin out every alternate plant and row, and 

 replant in a cold frame. 



Climbers for a Porch (J. S. S.). — No plants will produce such a good 

 show of flowers on an east aspect as Roses, and we advise Russelliana 

 (Multiflora) and Dundee Rambler (Ayrshire). These will be sufficient, 

 one being planted on each side. 



Edging for Kitchen Garden Walks <E. S.).— We do not think the 

 Saxifrage would suit, nor yet Thrift. London Pride (Saxifraga umbrosa) 

 would no doubt answer, but we should prefer next to Box the Bush 

 Alpine Strawberry. Ivy does well, but is very troublesome to keep in 

 order ; the most suitable for edgings is Hedera Helix poetica, or commou 

 Wood Ivy, H. taurica is also good. The Fern so full of ripe spore-cases 

 is Lastrea glabella, and the pale green spare-looking kind is Asplenium 

 flacoidum. 



Clouding Glass (T. U. U".)— You may "muffle" the glass of your 

 fernery by dotting the inside with thick whitening well sized. Apply it 

 by the end of a large painter's brush. 



Planting Potatoes (G. C.) — Such large varieties should be planted 

 9 inches below the surface. Use decayed duag; if you put it into the 

 trench let it be below the sets. See what is said to-day about the Bovinia. 

 Planting Paterson's Bovinia Potato (O. P.).— If your ground is very 

 good loamy soil allow quite 42 inches between the rows, and 18 inches 

 set from set. But if you decide upon alternatoiy planting with a first- 

 early sort, to dig out of the way of the Bovinias before the latter *' be- 

 come very large in the top," then 50 inches would not be too much to 

 allow between the rows. Hogg's Early Coldsteam (round) and Myatt's 

 Early Prolific Kidney are to be preferred for quite early use, and I have 

 often thus planted alternately late coarse-foliaged and first early kinds on 

 my ridge-and-trench system, sowing a pinch of early white Turnips 

 daily on the site from whence I dug the young Potatoes, with very good 

 results. If the late Mr. Paterson had taken me as a "friend in council," 

 I should have advised him at this time of day not to have introduced his 

 Bovinia to the public. By so doing he retrograded to Ox Noble, Farmer's 

 Glory, Mangold Wurzel Pottto, and the Stoker and Nigger set, the like 

 of which, as some of my own recent seedliugs, I have just relegated to 

 the copper in order to make quite sure that they will not be handed 

 down to posterity ; because in 18411 was taught a Valuable lesson by the 

 pigs, by giving them Farmer's Glory and Birmingham Blues for breakfnst. 

 They fought over the trough containing the " Brummagems," and turned 

 up their noses at the former till not one of the latter remained. That 

 proved a death blow to the Glory and all its class in my opinion. If you 

 boil some Pnterson's Bovinia and Victorias, and fill two troughs of each 

 respectively for the pigs to choose from, they would for preference con- 

 sume the Victoria first ; and as the Victoria is a much larger yielder than 

 the old Birmingham Blue, and withal nearly as good in quality, let me 

 advise you to cultivate it in preference to the Bovinia, on the understand- 

 ing that the Victoria would not yield so large a bulk as the latter, although 

 having a greater amount of fattening properties.— Robert Fenn. 

 Name of Fruit (C C).— Early Nonpareil. 



Names of Plants (Grogee Bysails). — 1, Pteris aspericaulis, var. tricolor ; 

 2, Adiantum formosum ; S, Cheilanthes myriophylla ; 4, Polystichum an- 

 gulatum. (T. B. W.),—l, Cheilanthes Sieberi ; 2, Doodia caudata ; 3, Po- 

 lystichum aculeatum ; 4, A^plenium lucidum ; 5, A. flaccidum. [Penzance). 

 — 3, Grevillea rosmarinifolia. The two others were not in bloom, aud 

 were not identified by us from the leaves. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 



OUTRAGES ON PRIZE POULTRY— HOW SHOULD 



FOWLS BE HANDLED? 



The accounts given by Mr. Creaswell and Mr. Will as to how 

 their poultry have suffered ought to secure the attention of all 

 interested in poultry matters, with the view of endeavouring to 

 find out the perpetrators of the outrages, it such there be. I 

 can hardly fancy that a person fond of poultry, or who has any 

 taste for the fancy, could be ao base as to disfngure a bird on 

 his chance of winning. Now, I must candidly say that I believe 

 the blame lies with the committees of poultry thows in not 

 selecting proper persons to unpack and pen the birds. I am 

 now becoming an old exhibitor, and, of course, have been at 

 many shows, and I frequently found the committees had en- 

 gaged to unpack poultry a man or men who had no idea how 

 to handle a bird — no, not more than a torn cat. 



Not many months ago I saw the clearance of a poultry show 

 after the show was closed, and I noted how the birds were 

 taken out of the pens. As soon as the packing began, the cry 

 and cackle were general all through the show. All the birds 

 seemed alarmed. Four men seemed to have undertaken the 

 job with the assistance of several exhibitors. The hampers 

 were drawn out from under the pens all in hurry-scurry. 

 " Now, Jack, look sharp ! " and Jack did look sharp, for no 

 sooner was the pen open than Jack made a grasp at a Game 

 cock — tail and leg together — of course, feathers had to come 

 with the bird, but not all of them, for there was a handful left 

 in the pen. The Hamburgha fared no better from their dis- 

 position to fly about ; but one old Duck seemed not to be taken 

 out in such an unprofessional manner. She was taken by th& 

 leg, but she would persist in spreading out her wings ; so that 

 was no way to bring her out. The next grab was to take hold of" 

 the wing, and by that means she was dragged out, and tumbled 

 into the hamper. This is no common occurrence. 



I consider that no subject connected with poultry requires 

 more attention and discussion than the way in which different 

 kinds of poultry should be handled — that is, some of our judges 

 or exhibitors mi^ht state in the Journal how to take birds out of 

 a hamper and place them in the pens, for there seems to be 

 some art in managing this properly. Just observe how quietly 

 our judges handle a Game cock. How do they take him out of 

 a pen, and without disturbing a feather ? 



A few hints from exhibitors will not be out of place, and I. 

 fancy the managers of poultry shows would like information. 



In conclusion, I just put the question. Which is the best way 

 to take out of a pen the Goose, Turkey, and Duck, &o. ? Should 

 the legs, wings, or head be the place to take hold of ? — E. D. 



JUDGES CLAIMING BIRDS AT POULTRY 



SHOWS. 



Permit me, through your Journal, to call the attention of 

 poultry exhibitors to the unfairness of permitting the Judges- 

 to claim birds before the shows are opened to the public. 



Hearing there would be a good collection of birds at Wolver- 

 hampton Exhibition on the 3rd inst., I went there to see if 

 there were any pens I should like ; and knowing, from previous 

 experience, the necessity of intending purchasers getting in as 

 early as possible, I was on the spot before the doors were 

 opened, and was the second person in the hall. My attention 

 was taken by a pair of Dark Brahma hens, and I hastened to 

 the Secretary's office to purchase them. It was not then open,, 

 but I waited till he came, aud was told the birds were sold, 

 much to my astonishment, as I had been the first to claim 

 them legitimately. Asking the purchacer's UHmi=, that I might 

 treat with him, I was informed he was one of ttio Judges, and 

 that he had claimed them before the opening of the show. H 

 think this is anything but fair to the public, and trust you will 

 insert this letter, that poultry fanciers m*y endeavour to pre- 

 vent the repetition of such an injustice. — James Watts, Hazle- 

 iccU Hall. 



EXHIBITING CARRIER PIGEONS. 



I ouiTE concur in the remarks of Colonel Hassard in page 112^ 

 that the exhibiting; of Carriers in pairs is disadvantageous alike 

 to the promoters of shows and to exhibitors. At any period of 

 the j'ear save the winter months few breeders would be induced, 

 even for the honour of prize-winning, to break their pairs as 

 mated together, which in all probability would be done so that 

 they would be no mitch in colour or other properties for success- 

 ful competition. 



I have been requested to show at the forthcoming Colchester 

 Exhibition where the birds are to be shown in pairs, but having- 

 commenced pairing for this year's breeding I am compelled to 

 decline doing so. Had the birds been shown singly I should, 

 have entered, as, out of a lot, some one or two might have been 

 sent that at the time had not commenced to breed, but to part 

 pairs audremate for showing is quite out of the question. 



Carrier classes are generally well filled, and frequently self- 

 supporting from the amount received in entry fees, and at all 

 shows that rank of any importance there should be four classes — 

 viz., Black cocks and hens separately, and the same with Duns, 

 or any colour ; and why not represent the Blues, which I fear 

 from lack of encouragement have not progressed of late years as 

 the others .' 



May I take this opportimity of informing Carrier fanciers that 

 our schedule of the Spalding Show for next June's competition. 



