THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
October 0. 
“the Silver,” and the other numerous, but distinct, 
varieties to so confused a medley? We certainly should 
be most unwilling to encounter the task of arbitration 
in this instance, feeling that we must necessarily be at 
a loss for points on which a just comparison might be 
founded. This family of fowls should, in our opinion, 
be thus arranged, “ Golden ,” “ Silver,” “ Blade, with 
White Orests ,” and “ other varieties.” 
Then come “ Mixed Breeds." Now, if the object of 
such a class be simply to test the merits of the first 
class, well and good; many, like ourselves, have been 
convinced, by repeated experiments, that the pure breeds 
should bo preferred, even where mere profit, independent 
of appearance, is alone regarded, although this first 
cross may, undoubtedly, prove good birds for table pur¬ 
poses. But it is just to the public, who look to Poultry 
Exhibitions as a guide to poultry economy, to warn 
them to go no further, for, as with Geese and Ducks, so 
with Fowls, the second generation will inevitably in¬ 
dicate deterioration, both in size and the other points, 
for which the parents may have been originally selected, 
and the further we continue such crossing, the more 
unfavourable the result. A prize for “ Mixed Breeds” 
therefore, without the specification of this restriction, 
should have no place on the list. 
Geese should have had premiums for both old and 
! young birds separately; every encouragement, indeed, 
should be given to farmers to compete in this class, as 
also in those for Bachs and Turkeys. We regret, too, to 
observe the omission of the Rouen duck, the most 
profit-producing bird, as we think, of its race. The 
admission of the Aylesbury should have opened the 
door to these also, apart from those of “ any other 
variety." Turkeys, again, should not only have had 
first prizes for the old and young specimens, but at 
least second prizes in addition. 
In the regulations, we notice the adoption, in the 
fourth paragraph, of the old Birmingham rule—“ High 
condition, die., will be preferred to mere weight.” For this 
we recommend the substitution, in all cases, of that now 
put forth in the list for 1853. “ High condition, quality, 
beauty of plumage, purity of race, and uniformity in 
the markings, combs, and other characteristics, will, in 
all the classes for fowls, be taken into consideration by 
the judges in a greater degree than mere weight without 
these distinctions, if the more perfect specimens are at 
the same time of a fair average size.” W. 
Those intending to commence poultry-keeping, or who 
wish to introduce fresh blood into their present stock, 
will do well to attend the sale by Mr. Stevens of Mr. 
Fairlie’s birds, on the 11th instant. They will have the 
opportunity of purchasing prize-birds, or their near 
relatives, in Shanghaes, Dorkings, Bantams, Bakies, 
Polands, Turkies, Geese, Ducks, and several other 
varieties. Mr. Fairlie has taken more prizes than 
almost any other exhibitor; and the birds offered for 
sale will be such an assemblage as rarely comes to 
public auction. 
SHRUBLAND PARK. 
Balcony Garden.— This is the name of the new terrace- 
garden on the west front of the mansion, where the old 
Italian garden stood, on the slope of the hill. The old 
garden consisted chiefly of nine large beds, four on each 
side, and one in the centre; in each of the eight side 
beds an Italian Cypress ( Cupressus sempervirens ) was 
planted in the middle. The height of these Cypresses, 
at the time of altering that arrangement, might be 
about fifteen feet. There were other large trees and 
shrubs at either end, and round this garden, all of 
which had to be removed and replanted in different 
parts of the grounds; hut those of them, like the 
Cypresses, which, by their style of growth, were fit 
accompaniments to architecture, had to be removed to 
a reserve ground for a season, until the ground-work 
was got ready on each side of the grand staircase down 
the hill, and then removed back to where they now 
form a very striking feature to that part of the ground. 
All who have had to do with planting large trees, &c., 
on a great scale, are well aware that this second plant¬ 
ing is one of the most difficult trials that their credit, 
and the trial of their trees, can be exposed to. When 
a large tree is moved, if it is allowed two years, there is 
no great difficulty in moving it'a second time, but to be 
obliged to remove it again at the end of the first season, 
as Mr. Davidson had to do in some scores of instances, 
is, indeed, next thing to failure; yet it has not been so 
with him; and one of the moves he adopted to over¬ 
come the difficulty is worth whole pages of speculative 
suggestion. The ground over the roots was not alone 
mulched, the whole plant was mulched, stems, branches, 
and all, as far as it could be done, without covering the 
leaves. A thick case of moss envelopes the whole of 
the large trees and shrubs, from top to bottom, to this 
day. Thus the heat of the sun, and the dry, parching 
winds, so prejudicial to newly-planted trees, and four 
times more trying to those newly-twice-planted ones, 
were so far guarded against as it can be ever done. 
Then, with a garden-engine, streams of soft pond water 
are dashed against the moss-clad tree with telling effect, 
and this effect remains long afterwards; for although the 
outside of the moss appears dry, the inside next the 
hark may he as damp and comfortable as possible. We, 
who take in our food by one opening near the top of the 
system, cannot endure damp covering next the skin, 
hut a tree takes in nourishment, more or less, over every 
part of the surface, by invisible pores, provided the 
skin or bark is soft, fresh, and healthy; but if the bark 
is allowed to get too dry, these pores will not act; the 
rind gets hide-bound, as we say, and then the best roots 
can hardly force up sufficient nourishment for the 
system. Altogether, I was much struck, and very much 
pleased, with this application of a well-known principle, 
and I would highly recommend it to amateurs and 
others who move trees and large shrubs about their 
grounds. It is only from knowing the soil, the situa¬ 
tion, and the climate so well, together with the unusual 
circumstances under which this part of the planting was 
done at Shrubland Park, that I can appreciate the 
jacket mulching, as they call it, so much better than 
hundreds who now flock in to see the great and striking 
improvements ; for I found the old system of admission 
in full force, notwithstanding the house being full of 
company. No one is refused to see the gardens once 
a-week, on Fridays, if he applies for admission, in 
writing, to Sir William Middleton. 
The Balcony Garden is now, as it were, part of the 
house; being joined to it and the inner terraces, at 
either end, by a rich system of balustrated stonework, in 
Sir Charles Barry’s most florid style. The eight great 
beds on either side of the centre walk occupy much 
about the same positions, and have nearly the same 
