June 24. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
109 
out, and at the central point from which the two lines of the 
web begin to diverge. In the strong feathers peculiar to 
the wings and tail, it remains a small tuft of down, as at first- 
mentioned ; hut in the feathers of the body in the Hawks, 
Grouse, Bucks, Gulls, and some otliei's, it is to he found of all 
sizes, augmented in some species to the full extent of the 
feather from which it emanates. The four species of 
Strulhious birds afford remarkable instances of the variety 
that occurs in this accessory plume, even in subjects so 
closely allied; and the rich menagerie of the society 
enables me to speak of them from personal examination 
upon living specimens. In the Ostrich the feathers have no 
accessory plume. In the Rhea there is a tuft of down. In 
the Emeu the accessory plume is augmented to the full size 
of the principal shaft and web, and the feather of this bird 
is constantly and correctly represented as having two plumes 
on one quill. In the Cassowary, besides the double shafts 
and webs from a single quill, as in the Emeu, there is still 
an accessory plume, thus forming three distinct parts. 
“ In young birds the first feathers are preceded in their 
passage through the skin by filaments of down ; but after 
the first plumage, at the regular peiiod of moulting, each 
old feather is the pioneer of that which is to follow. If the 
shaft of a principal feather becomes broken off, the bird 
ejects the stump with difficulty; a certain portion of shaft 
appears to be necessary to enable the bird to get rid of the 
feather. Though perfectly able to throw off the old feather 
if entire, it seems unable to cast off the smaller but muti- 
lated portion, and no new feather comes through the skin, 
the orifice being occupied.* Inflammation of the vessels in 
the part of the bird, and increased adhesion of the stump, 
are the consequences ; and whether these portions of the 
feathers are allowed to remain, or too many of them drawn 
out at the same time, disease and some risk to life are the 
result; in the first instance from continued irritation, in the 
second, from too great and sudden a demand upon the vital 
powers of the animal. The natural moult proceeds by 
degrees, and the large quill-feathers of the wings and tail 
are generally shed by pairs. 
“ The state of the plumage in birds, like that of the pro¬ 
ductions of the cuticle in other animals, man not excepted, 
is in general a good criterion by which to judge of the health 
of the body.” 
This is so perfectly true, that a fowl-dealer or bird-mer¬ 
chant can tell, with half an eye, whether what is brought to 
his market be in or out of condition. Turkeys especially 
show, by the state of their coats, which will fatten fastest, 
without much need to handle them. While cases have 
occurred, in birds that have been starved to death, where 
the webs of the feathers had been absorbed before the suf¬ 
ferings of the creature came to an end. 
But feathers ought to be looking up, now that their most 
dignified representatives in the realm are not a dormant 
symbol, but an actual reality. Long may they continue so. 
We have a Prince of Wales, who will insure to himself a 
nation’s love, if he be but led to walk after the virtues of 
his sovereign. The memorial of Gressy, and the motto 
“ Ich Bien," “ I serve,” aptly point to the duty of filial obe¬ 
dience, whose observance, whether in peasant or prince, is 
so graceful in the act and so happy in the consequence.—I). 
PLANT CLUBS. 
Dr. 
£ 
S. (1. 
Cr. 
T 
s. 
d. ! 
12 members, at 
Ariadne (Foster's) 
1 
11 
0 1 
10s. Od. 
0 
0 0 
Colonel of Buffs 
1 
11 
0 
Shvlock . 
1 
11 
0 
Mochamia. 
1 
1 
0 
Little Nell. 
0 
10 
0 
TO 
0 0 
TO 
e 
o! 
Thus five first-rate new plants are to be bought for TO Os. 
In October they are to be distributed to five members, one to 
each. Each of the five members is to strike, during the 
following spring, four cuttings, aud distribute them to four 
named members ; and each of the second batch of four are 
to strike, by October following, two cuttings each, to dis¬ 
tribute them to two other members. Thus— 
Ariadne to be delivered / 6 to send cuttings to 10 aud 11. 
in October, 1852, to No. 1,1 7 „ „ 12 and 2. 
who is to send out four 18 „ ,, ; 3 and 4. 
cuttings to Nos.— (.9 „ „ 5, one over. 
1 10 to send cuttings to 3 and 4. 
The Colonel to No. 2,111 ,, „ 5 and 0. 
to distribute to Nos.— 1 12 „ „ 7 and 8. 
I 1 „ 9, one over. 
C 2 to send cuttings to 10 and 11. 
Shylock to No. 3, to] 4 „ „ 12 and 1. 
distribute to Nos.— 1 5 „ „ 7 and 8. 
[ 6 ,, „ 9, one over. 
C 7 to send cuttings to 11 aud 12. 
8 „ „ 1 and 2. 
9 „ „ 3 and 5. 
10 „ „ 0, one over. 
11 to send cuttings to 7 and 8. 
12 „ „ 9 and 10. 
1 „ „ 3 and 4. 
2 „ „ 0, one over. 
Thus in one year each member would receive a rooted 
plant of five first-rate pelargoniums for the sum of 10s. 0d., 
or at the rate of 2s. each plant. 
It is obvious that the same plan can be carried out with 
other tribes of plants, and with many sorts much more ad¬ 
vantageously even. For example— 
Dr. Cb. 
12 members, at 
10s. 
Mochamia to No. 4, to 
distribute to Nos.— 
Little Nell to No. 5 
to distribute to Nos.— 
I have been of late devising a scheme whereby myself 
and other cottage gardeners might manage to purchase 
such a class of plants as at present we are debarred from 
on account of price. I trust you will consider the eluci¬ 
dation of my scheme of sufficient interest as to secure your 
co-operation. I believe it is entirely original. 
The plan is, to establish a club among amateurs. As 
there is nothing so explanatory as an example, I here pre¬ 
sent one. Suppose the object is to obtain pelargoniums; 
by selecting Turner’s list (Slough) I find his most expensive 
plants range from one-guinea-and-a-half to half-a guinea. 
Say the club shall consist of twelve members, each sub¬ 
scribing 10s. fid. Then— 
* Therefore, when a bird has its larger feathers broken, their due reno¬ 
vation is assisted by drawing them carefully, aud with the caution subse¬ 
quently pointed out by Mr. Yarrell. 
T 
s, d. 
1 Pelargonium 
T 
$. 
d. 
0 
0 0 
(Turner’s best) 
1 
11 
0 
] fancy do. do. .. 
0 
10 
0 
1 Dahlia do. .. 
0 
10 
6 
1 fancy do. do. .. 
0 
10 
0 
0 
0 
0 
5 
0 
1 doz. Hollyhocks 
1 doz. Chrysan- 
1 
0 
0 
themums .... 
0 
10 
9 
5 
18 
0 
Balance. 
0 
2 
0 
TO 
0 0 
TO 
0 . 
0 
Dn. 
12 members, at 
10s. 9cl. 
X 
d. 
0 9 0 
TO 9 0 
Cr. 
X‘ 
1 doz. Pelargo¬ 
niums, selected 
by dealer, high¬ 
est price. 2 
1 doz. fancy do... 3 
1 doz. Fuchsias do. 1 
2 
3 
4 
Suppose the hollyhocks were distributed by lot, the rest 
propagated from and distributed, then would there be nine¬ 
teen plants, which could all be delivered within twelve or 
fifteen months for 10s., or at the rate of O^tl. a plant. One 
more list. 
£6 9 0 
