September so, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 817 
follows. This natural sequence has been called in question. “ To 
raise atmospheric temperature you must drain by the square mile, 
a few acres would be like a drop in the ocean, and would do no 
good,” has been said by those who cannot stoop to see the good of 
little things. Probably persons living in a flat country find a very 
equable temperature over a wide district. Here in hilly Sussex 
we have a difference of 3° or 4° in 200 yards, and a difference of 
10° within five miles ! 
Some six years ago I had to deal with a piece of bog which will 
serve as an illustration. Its area was about 6 acres ; half was 
fenced off for an ornamental bog and left undrained, and the 
remainder was drained and added to an adjacent pasture. Main 
drains 4 feet deep, with plenty of diagonal branches of 3-inch 
pipes, were made from a stream well up to the higher part of the 
bog, the trenches being 18 inches wide and half filled with alder 
faggots covered with soil and turf. The effect has been remark¬ 
able. In the ornamental undrained portion Bog Cotton, Asphodel, 
Sundew, Bog Campanula, and a host of kindred plants continue 
to flourish, Sedge Grass and common Rush abounl, and hoar frost 
is visible early in autumn and late in spring upon its cold sodden 
surface. The drained part, on the contrary, has undergone a total 
change. Rushes have almost disappeared, the coarse herbage has 
become fine, the surface dry and warm, and its general appear¬ 
ance is so like that of the ordinary meadow land that no difference 
is perceptible. Some of the bog drains will eventually have to be 
taken up, cleansed, and relaid, for they exhibit a decided tendency 
to become choked by an ochreous deposit caused by the action of 
air gases upon those contained in the water drained from the 
ferruginous boggy soil. Science is of use here in showing us that 
this is a natural result, which, however vexatious, is not attribu¬ 
table to faulty workmanship, and which would prove decidedly 
profitable could one obtain enough of the deposit in the pipes, for 
it is undoubtedly a purer form of ochre than is often found in 
commerce.— Edward Luckhurst. 
POTATOES IN YORKSHIRE. 
It is many years since I became a subscriber to “ our Journal,” 
and there is no periodical that I subscribe to which I anticipate 
with more pleasure than my Thursday’s Journal. Glad was I 
when you found a corner for the “ Home Farmer,” although I 
would rather he would advise us poor tillers of the soil in the 
northern counties, to which some of the instructions do not apply. 
I should like to add my quota on strong-growing Potatoes. I 
agree with the majority of your correspondents that in a wet 
season there are nc varieties free from the disease, though, no 
doubt, Champions and Magnum Bonums have proved themselves 
the least so, at all events hereabout; but what shall I say of the 
quality ? I had yesterday a dish of Champions and one of Regents 
cooked for test purposes. One was a ball of flour, the other (Cham¬ 
pions) was floury certainly, but not the colour to a lover of a 
mealy Potato, and the flavour was not so good. The “ Bonums ” 
are worse in quality though an excellent cropper. Last year I 
cut six sets to separate eyes, planted them at the same time in 
the field with the others, all being manured alike, and the produce 
was twice as much as the two rows on either side of them, and 
not one diseased, whereas the others were very much so. Yet 
notwithstanding their disease-resisting properties, those varieties 
will not, in my opinion, become popular in more genial seasons, 
for like Mangolds and some of our gross-headed Swedes they take 
too much out of the land, and it is not very difficult on a follow¬ 
ing crop to point out where they have been planted. On the 
cause or prevention of the disease we are here no wiser than 
others ; but we do prevent it to a certain extent—by “heaping ” 
we call it. After the plants are earthed with the plough a man 
takes the stem in his hand, whilst another puts a spit of soil upon 
the crown of each root; this prevents the rain running down to 
the tubers. For manure I find nothing answers better than spent 
hops mixed with fold manure, with soot at the last earthing. I 
sold one field five weeks ago, as I was afraid with the wet we were 
then having they would not stand. My surmises were right, but 
since then we have had thiee weeks’ fine weather up to the 18th ; 
since it has rained every day. But what was my surprise as well 
as pleasure when I went into the field to-day to hear the purchaser 
say they had not gone any worse than they were a month ago. 
I went also into a field of one of my neighbours, who reported the 
same ; so that it would appear though a crop be struck with 
disease, if very fine weather ensues it will be checked.—A West 
riding Grower. 
THE WORCESTER POULTRY SHOW. 
This Show was as usual held last week during the great Hop 
market, not as last year in a fine hall, but in a long maiquee erected 
close by. The Exhibition was entirely of chickens, and a glance 
round it confirmed our belief that the year has been a very propitious 
one for young poultry. 
Game are always a great feature in this district, and headed the 
list. A special prize of Worcester china went to a capital Black 
Red cockerel belonging to Mr. Owens ; the same gentleman also won 
first in pullets with an excellent Black Red; the second pullet, too, 
a Brown Red. was good. First among the cockerels, “ Anv other 
variety Game,” was a Duckwing. There were several good Piles in 
this Ci.iss. The first pullet also was a Duckwing. 
Cochins. —The first Buff cockerel was a very well-shaped bird, a 
good yellow throughout in colour with fluffy hocks ; second we 
did not admire, he was ragged and deep in moult, with too much 
hock, but certainly promises great size; third too dark in tail, but a 
promising cockerel. The cup pullet was a beauty, of a fine Canary 
colour, broad, deep, and forward. 7(1 very highly commended (Darby), 
a rich-coloured bird with splendid foot feathers, we should have put 
second. In the other cockerel class a Partridge was first, lacking 
neck hackle, but a fine bird in form ; second, a White with a pretty 
comb ; third, a Partridge, a short-legged bird, very bright in colour. 
In pullets first was a beautifully marked Partridge ; second, a rather 
leggy Partridge ; third, a pretty but small White ; a good Black very 
properly had an extra prize. 
Brahmas. —The first Dark cockerel promises to be a very fine 
bird ; his breast was ticked, and we were glad to see that birds so 
marked win again. We liked the second as well as the first save 
that he is smaller ; third was quite a chicken, and we thought very 
promising; the black-green of his plumage was particularly good. 
Mr. Comyn’s very highly commended bird is one of the largest 
cockerels we have ever seen. 123 (Mrs. Turner), a fine bird but out 
of condition. In Dark pullets first was good in shape, the white of 
her ground colour and the black of her pencilling particularly clear 
and good; second also well marked but very leggy; third far 
too much hocked. The first Light cockerel was very good in colour 
but a little narrow ; second, magnificent in size but somewhat yellow, 
and hocked ; third, a clearly marked bird with too much tail. The 
Light pullets were remarkably fine and forward, all the winners were 
excellent; first was all round a most beautiful bird. 
French made two very fine classes ; the first cockerel was a magni¬ 
ficent Creve, but with one centre toe twisted to deformity ; second, 
a Houdan, very fine in head ; third, Houdan, capital in shape but 
with bad feet. The first pullet was a Houdan, beautiful in crest and 
beard ; second a Creve. Mrs. Lane’s very highly commended Houdan 
was very fine. 
Dorkings. —There were some remarkable chickens in the class, and 
such as for size and maturity would a few years ago have astonished 
us. First were a good pair of Silver-Greys. Too often judges think 
that the Dark variety must necessarily always have first prize ; in 
the present instance, however, we thought one or two of the Dark 
pairs better than these Silvers ; second were very large and forward 
Darks ; third, Darks, the cockerel a short-legged and massive bird ; 
extra third, a beautiful pair of Whites such as we have not seen for 
a long time. 
Spanish were few ; the cup birds showed great quality of face. 
Polands. —First, good White-crested ; second, Golden, the pullet 
with a magnificent crest; third, Silvers. 
Leghorns. —First, White ; second, very large Brown. 
Any Other Variety. —First, very fine Black Minorcas ; and third, 
fine Scotch Greys. 
Game Brahmas made immense classes. The cup went to a very 
stylish Black Red cockerel, and splendid in colour, but drooping his 
wings when we saw him. 
Any Other Variety. —First, a large creamy Silver Sebright cockerel; 
second, a White, rose-combed; third, a Golden Sebright. In the 
pullet class, too, we were glad to see that second went to a White 
again. The breed is little patronised now, and'.very pretty. 
PIGEONS. 
September is not a good month for showing Pigeons. The winning 
Carriers were all black. Some of the Pouters were very, deep in 
moult. Dragoons were very numerous ; first, a very good Blue. In 
Barbs Mr. Baker carried off all the prizes ; first and second Blacks ; 
third, a fine Red. Jacobins. —First, a Red, very good in hood ; 
second, a very good Black. Turbits. —First and cup, a Red, beautiful 
in head properties ; second, a Black, very clean in thighs and lustrous 
in colour. Owls. —First, a White African ; second, the same variety ; 
third, a Silver English. Tumblers ( Short-faced). —Mr. Baker’s Al¬ 
monds won ; Long-faced. —A pretty Red rosewing, first. Fantails. — 
First and second, beautiful little birds, with round tails and good 
action ; third, a superior bird but not in such condition. Antwerps. — 
A very good Silver Dun was first in the Short-faced class. Any 
Other Variety —First, a, capital mottled Trumpeter; second, a Black 
Turbiteen ; third, a Blondinette. 
POULTRY.—game— Black or Bi-own Red.—Cockerel .—1 and Cup, R. A. Ovens. 
2, Robert Dance. 3, T. SI. Hopkins, vhc, J. C. Huxtable. Pullet.— 1, R. A. 
Ovens. 2, S. Matthew. 3. W. Lodge. Any other variety.—Cockerel— 1 and 2, A. G. 
Potter. 3, J. Uolgrove. vhc, ('apt. J. S. Walton, G. H. Fitzherbert. Pullet.—I, 
T Hy ou. 2. S. Matthew. 3, J. Colgrove. vhc, J. Powell. COCHIN.— Bup.— 
Cockerel. —1, Butler niith. 2 Rev. H. B. Southwell. 3, Lady Allsop. vhc, IV. 
HIchillis, Mis- Molineux. (i. H. Wood. Pullet.—1 and Cup, Mrs. E. Lang. 2, Lady 
Allsopp. 3, Thomas Seal. Extra 3, J. Bloodworth. vhc, Mrs. C. Pattinson, 
Alfred E. W Dario, Messr-. Cockroft & Dauby. Any other colour.—Cockerel— 1, 
C. Sedgwick 2, Miss Bullock. 3 , W. W. Beckerley. vhc, Mrs. J. Turner. Pullet. 
—1, O. Sedgwick. 2. C. Brown. 3, Miss Bullock. Extra 3, C. Thompson, vhc, 
G. Furness. BliAH MA.—lkirk.-Cockerel—1, E. Kendrick, jun. 2, E. Pritchard. 
