July 29. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
207 
plumaged Cochin-China, and all the pretty varieties of tufted 
heads, and pencilled and spangled plumage, with colours 
and sizes nicely contrasted, all preserved with perfect order 
and cleanliness, would form an exhibition which few visitors 
to the Crystal Palace at Sydenham would willingly overlook.” 
We have exceeded our usual limits upon one subject, 
yet we are very far from having exhausted our theme ; 
however, we must now conclude, and it shall be in the 
following extract from a letter wo have received from 
a high authority connected with the Crystal Talace 
Company; and we publish it, not to gladden tho hearts 
of tho shareholders, but to shew what powerful attrac¬ 
tions ono who is conversant with tho Crystal Palace 
knows it will exercise over the public :— 
“ If you like to quote my opinions as to the return which 
I hope and believe, you shall be at liberty to do so. 
£ s. d. 
By rent of stalls, and for refreshment 
rooms, &c. .... 60,000 0 0 
By passengers from Brighton railway . 60,000 0 0 
By visitors exclusive of Brighton railway . 30,000 0 0 
every possible degree of cross with the game and other 
breeds. For example, have “the old Sussex” variety 
single or double combs? for there were both kinds 
exhibited, and with every imaginable variety of plumage. 
It is somewhat curious, too, that for these breeds but 
ono prize, and that only the third, was secured by an 
inhabitant of Kent, Surrey, or Sussex. The prize birds 
in the Cochin-China class were really good, for they 
carried away tho award from those exhibited by Mr. 
Sturgeon, and Mr. Punchard. Bo^h the prizes were 
won by Mr. H. B. Higgs, of Southampton, and we are 
well-pleased to say, that three more beautiful, well- 
grown, fine-conditioned birds than those bred by himself, 
and which gained the first prize, wo never looked upon. 
They were of the favourite buff, or pale cinnamon 
colour, and had yellow, well-feathered legs. We append 
the list of prizes, but none of the other lots merit a com¬ 
ment. Tho judges were tho Rev. Stephen Lawley, Mr. 
John Baily, and Mr. T. B. Wright. 
£150,000 0 0 
“ I believe that these sums, which shew a profit of 30 per 
cent, per annum, will be clear of expenses, and will be below 
the average until we get a West-end line by railway (which is 
in contemplation), and then the revenue will be increased.” 
GOSSIP. 
Many years since, when lecturing on some of our chief 
cultivated crops, we observed of Wheat, that “ the fact 
of its never being found wild seems to be only explicable 
on the supposition that it is some other grass altered by 
cultivation.” The only illustrations of somewhat similar 
known changes which wo adduced, were those effected 
in the carrot, asparagus, apple, and pansey. That sur¬ 
mise has recently been demonstrated to be correct by 
tho experiments of M. Esprit Fabre, of Agde, published 
in a pamphlet by Professor Dumal, of Montpelier. 
These experiments, commenced in 1839 and continued 
until 1850, prove, if they are correct, that a variety of 
the grass, zEgilops ovata, which variety has been called 
2E. triticoides, if carefully cultivated, and the seed each 
year carefully sown during twelve consecutive years, 
gradually improves and becomes real wheat. It is a 
circumstance deserving of notico that the JEgilops ovata 
is a native of Sicily, that island in which the ancients 
stated that Ceres, tho goddess of harvests, first showed 
herself to mankind, and who first taught them the use 
of com. Does not this justify the supposition that the 
ancients were aware of the origin of wheat, but, as usual, 
concealed their knowledge within a myth? 
The Poultry Exhibition at Lewes, forming a portion 
of the Royal Agricultural Society’s Show, extending 
from the 12th to the 16th instant, was not characterized 
by excellence. There were about 70 pens of fowls, well 
accommodated in boxes about three feet square, raised 
to a level with the eye of the spectator, and with fronts 
only enclosed by wide-meshed, wire-netted doors. No 
exhibition ever demonstrated the want of knowledge, 
with regard to the desirable characteristics of poultry, 
more than did this; for in the pens of “pure Dorkings” 
and “ pure Sussex,” there were mongrels with almost 
Class 1.— Cock and two Hens of the Dorking (while, speckled '» 
or grey), Surrey, or Old Sussex, or Kent. 
First Prize of £5 to Mr. Thomas Townley Parker, of 
Sutton Grange, St. Helens, Lancaster (a grey Dorking cock 
and 2 hens; bred by himself, 15 months old). 
Second Prize of £3 to Mr. Henry Blandford, of Sandridge, 
near Melksham (speckled Dorking cock and 2 hens ; bred 
by himself, 1 months and 2 weeks old). 
Third Prize of £2 to Mr. James Lewry, of Handcross, 
near Slaugliam, Sussex (Dorking cock and 2 hens; bred by 
himself, 5 months and two weeks old). 
Class 2.— Cock and two Hens of the Malay, Cochin-China, 
or other Asiatic breed. 
First Prize of £3 to Mr. Henry B. Higgs, of Hill Lodge, 
Southampton (Cochin cock and 2 hens; 5 months and 
1 week old, bred by himself). 
Second Prize of £2 to Mr. Henry B. Higgs (Cochin cock 
and 2 hens; 4 months old, bred by himself). 
Class 3.— Cock and two Hens of the Spanish, Hamburgh, 
or Polish breed. 
First Prize of £3 to Mr. Geo. C. Adkins, of Edgbaston, 
Birmingham ( a black Polish cock and 2 hens; about 12 
months old, breeder unknown. These were very beautiful). 
Second Prize of £2 to Mr. Joseph Tuley, of Matchless 
House, near lveighly (gold spangled Hamburghs; cock 20 
months, and 2 hens IT months old, bred by Mr. John 
Driver, of Coin). 
Class T .—Cock and two Hens of any other pure breed. 
First Prize of £3 to Mr. Joseph Tuley, of Matchless 
House, Keiglily, Yorkshire (Bolton grey cock and 2 hens; 
26 months old, bred by himself). 
Second Prize of £2 to Mr. Wm. Ludlam, of Bradford, 
Yorkshire (silver pheasant cock and 2 hens; 2T months old, 
bred by himself). ^ 
Class 5. — Cock and two Hens of any mixed breed. 
First Prize of £3 to Mr. J. T. Leigh, of Turnh'am Green, 
Middlesex (golden bantams, (Sir John Sebright’s), cock and 
2 hens ; 2T months old, bred by himself). 
Second Prize of £2. Withheld. 
TURKEYS. 
Class 6. —Cock and two Hen Turkeys. 
First Prize of £J. 
Second Prize of £2. 
Withheld. 
GEESE. 
Class 7. —Gander and two Geese. 
First Prize of £3 to Mr. Thomas Townley Parker, of 
Sutton Grange, near St. Helens, Lancaster (Toulouse 
gander and 2 geese; 3 months and 2 weeks old, bred by 
himself). 
