280 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 22, 1881. 
best plan to have a map of the draining done in every field, not only 
showing the number and direction of the drains, but the outfalls also ; 
for unless this is done and kept with attention it is not only difficult 
to keep open the outfalls, but in the event of a stoppage the repairs 
may be effected without much trouble or expense, when, by referring 
to the map, we can find all the drains. We have done this mapping 
of the drain work on various estates on which we have directed the 
drainage, and it has given great satisfaction to the proprietor, and 
especially after a few years when the bailiff and labourers have been 
changed. 
Live Slock .—Autumn grass is now in most cases quite plentiful, 
and well suited for dairy cows, which are now holding out the milking 
period better than usual. It is a good time to buy in young cattle, 
both yearlings and yearlings off. Those brought over from Ireland 
which are now offering in the markets, are of an improved breed and 
character compared with the importations of a few years ago. We 
have lately had the opportunity of buying this young stock, both 
steers and heifers, at a moderate price. As, however, these Irish im¬ 
portations are mostly reared from cows of various characters, but be¬ 
gotten by a good shorthorn bull, they have good long and thick coats, 
designating their parentage, but the best only should be selected for 
keeping ; and it is in this selection where the judgment and experience 
are required, because those accustomed to this business can pick out 
nearly every animal that comes from the best cows, and this is 
especially desirable both in steers for fatting and heifers for breeding, 
but particularly in the latter ; for we find the kindly-looking stock 
best for the dairy, but for steers to go into the boxes for winter 
feeding we prefer the heavy-fleshed thick-coated animals, which 
make beef quickest and the heaviest weights when sold. The season 
is now arrived for buying in the early-lambing horned Dorset and 
Somerset ewes to go into the home and southern counties where the 
early lambs are principally reared for the London market. The first 
and principal fair for the purchase of these ewes is held at Appleshaw 
in the north of Hampshire the first week in October, at which time 
many flocks will be j ust beginning to drop their lambs, and these ewes 
are now for the most part sent up out of Dorset and Somersetshire 
by rail, whereas they formerly used to travel to the fair, leaving 
their native pastures and reaching the fair ground at the end of a 
week’s travelling. Still the ewes when forward in lamb do not suffer 
so much from travelling as they do by the treatment they get on the 
railway. Some farmers even now go down and buy the stock at 
their home, and drive them long distances instead of moving them by 
railway. 
SILVER-GREY DORKINGS. 
1 HAVE been requested by the managers of the Crystal Palace 
Show to collect for a cup for Silver-Grey Dorkings. I have 
always thought that shows should be self-supporting ; but as I am 
informed that the last Palace Show was not financially a success, 
and it is a show exceptionally interesting and enjoyable to all 
fanciers, I cannot refuse once more to appeal to Dorking breeders 
through your columns. The cup is to be of the value of four 
guiueas for the best adult Silver-Grey Dorking cock or hen. 
Intending subscribers will save me much trouble by kindly send¬ 
ing their contributions direct to myself. 
While writing of the Crystal Palace Show it may not be out of 
place to state that last year I was a witne=s of the repacking and 
departure of the birds at the close of the Show. The care, order, 
and rapidity with which this operation was carried out (a point 
at which arrangements break down at many shows) was most 
praiseworthy, and would, I am sure, have re-assured those most 
diffident of trusting their pets at public exhibitions.—0. Ernest 
Cress well, Homey Cross, near Hereford. 
THE POULTRY CLUB. 
A MEETING of the Committee of the Poultry Club was held at 
Charing Cross Hotel on the 19th inst. There were present the Hon. 
and Rev. F. G. Dutton (in the chair), the Rev. E. H. Morgan, and 
Messrs. A. Comyns, H. R. Dugmore, J. C. Fraser, and S. Lucas. 
Hew Members. —The following new Member was elected: John 
Westacort, 5, Trumpington Street, Cambridge. The following new 
Associate Members were elected: Harry Greenwood, Ncrtholine, 
Gainsborough ; John C. Parker, 2, Beech Villas, The Lound, Kendal. 
Election of Committeeman. — Mr. George Vigers, Horsham, 
Waiton-on-Thames, being the only candidate nominated to the 
vacancy on the Committee, was declared duly elected. 
Owners Bidding for and Bdying-in their Exhibits. —The 
opinions (copies of which are annexed hereto) of Mr. H. H. Cozens- 
Hardy of the Equity Bar, and Mr. John Anstie of the Common Law 
Bar, which had been taken by the direction of the Committee, were 
considered, and in view of these opinions it was resolved that— 
“ The resolution passed at the meeting of the Committee held on the 28th 
March last, condemning tire practice of owners being permitted by poultry 
show committees to bid for and buy-in their own exhibits, be rescinded.” 
Club Show. —The resolution, of which notice had been given at 
the last meeting, was proposed and seconded, and after some dis¬ 
cussion passed in the following amended form— 
“ That the Poultry Club do (if satisfact iry arrangements with that object 
can be made) guarantee the expenses of, and give prizes at a Show to be held 
during this season, and do forthwith open negotiations with the Committee of 
the Cambridge Ornithological Society, with a view to holding such Show in 
conjunction with them about the beginning of January, 1882.” 
The following gentlemen were appointed as a sub-committee to 
carry out the above resolution : The Rev. E. H. Morgan, and Messrs. 
S. Lucas, and L. C. C. R. Norris. 
Return Carriage from Ramsgate Show. —Complaints from 
several quarters having reached the Secretary that, although it was 
stated in the schedule to the recent Ramsgate Show that arrange¬ 
ments had been made with the South-Eastern Railway Company that 
all exhibits should be returned from the Show carriage free, yet 
payment of the full carriage had been in all cases exacted by the 
railway company, it was resolved— 
“ That the Secretary be directed to write to the Secretary of the Ramsgate 
Show asking what arrangements (if any) ha 1 been made by the Show autho¬ 
rities with the South-Eastern Railway Company as to the carriage of exhibits 
returned from the Show.” 
Shows to be Held under Poultry Club Rules.— An appli¬ 
cation that a special prize of £1 Is. should be granted to the Show of 
the “ Nottingham Amalgamated Poultry, Rabbit, and Pigeon Society,” 
to be held in October under Poultry Club rules, was considered and 
acceded to. The Secretary reported that Leek Show was also to be 
held under Club rules. 
Next Meeting of Committee. —The next meeting was fixed for 
October 20th at Oxford.— Alex. Comyns, Hon. Sec., 47, Chancery 
Lane, Sept. 20tli, 1881. 
[We are unfortunately prevented by pressure upon our space from 
publishing the opinions above referred to. The general effect of 
them, however, appears to be as follows : That a condition of sale 
authorising owners to bid is perfectly legal ; that even in the absence 
of such a condition an owner may bid for and buy-in his exhibits 
either in the open or selling classes unless the sale is declared to be 
“ without reserve ; ” that an owner may claim his own birds in either 
class at the sales office ; and that he may withdraw his birds from sale 
at any time upon payment of the commission upon the catalogue 
price. There is only one point upon which there appears to be any 
difference between the two opinions. Mr. Cozens-Hardy’s opinion is, 
that it being lawful for the owner to bid for and buy-in his birds, a 
purchaser at a price run up by such bidding would have no legal 
remedy; while in Mr. Anstie’s view, although an owner may bid for 
and buy-in his exhibits, yet he might, in the event of first bidding 
and then allowing the bird to go to a purchaser at a price raised by 
his bidding, be liable to have the sale avoided or have an action of 
damages brought against him, unless the purchaser had notice or 
knew that the owner was bidding. The case laid before counsel was 
based upon and contained a full statement of the rules and conditions 
of the Crystal Palace and Birmingham Shows.] 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE,LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 32-40” N.; Long. 0° 8-0" W.; Altitude.lll feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
Rain. 
1881. 
September. 
1 Barome- 
! ter at 32° 
j and Sea 
| Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sun. 11 
59.958 
54.5 
52.3 
N.- 
5(5.6 
63.4 
51.3 
84.0 
50.8 
0.014 
Mon. 12 
29.995 
56.3 
53.» 
N.W. 
56.3 
59.7 
53.2 
77.7 
51.3 
Tues. 13 
30.109 
55 8 
53.6 
N.W. 
56.3 
64.4 
51.4 
102.2 
49.8 
_ 
Wed. 14 
30.126 
56.3 
53.8 
N.W. 
56.2 
60.5 
47.6 
117.9 
40.C 
_ 
Thurs. 15 
30.122 
54.8 
52.7 
N. 
56.1 
68.5 
45.7 
114.0 
41.6 
0.016 
Friday 16 
30.221 
49.8 
49.6 
Calm. 
55.6 
64.3 
41.7 
90.0 
37.3 
Satur. 17 
30.064 
57.6 
56.8 
S.W. 
54.6 
69.4 
45.5 
113.2 
39.8 
0.041 
30.085 
55.0 
53.2 
56.0 
65.G 
48.1 
99.9 
44.5 
0.071 
REMARKS. 
lltb.—Dull damp day, with occasional slight showers. 
12th—Dull and drizzly all day. 
13th.—Fine pleasant day, but not very bright. 
14th.—Beautifully fine, bright, and warm. 
15th.—Foggy morning with slight showers ; fine bright afternoon. 
lGth.—Dense fog all the morning; fine afternoon, slightly foggy. 
17 th.—Fog early; fine bright day ; cloudy evening. 
A variable week, some days very pleasant, others the reverse, on the whole 
fine but not bright. Temperature rather lower than that of the preceding 
week, and almost exactly the average.—G. J. Symons. 
