30 
THE COTTAGE GABDENEB. 
October 13. 
as firm and durable as if they were cut out of the very best 
stoue. The side next the soil is perpendicular, so that the 
bed or border can be dug by any one without the least fear 
• of disturbing or misplacing them, while on the side next the 
gravel there is a heel on which they rest, and over which 
the gravel can be packed, or concreted so firmly as to keep 
them safe in their place against the pressure of the roller, 
or any other disturbing cause ; and they are so hard that the 
weight of an ordinary garden roller has no effect on them ; 
a barrow full of dung, or soil, can also be wheeled over 
them, and across the border with no danger whatever ; and if 
water accumulates by the side of the walk, it is safely con¬ 
voyed away through the hollows in these tiles into the soil 
on the other side as effectually as if the whole side of the 
walk were drained with open pipes. Another famous con¬ 
trivance is for making curves, and for turning at sharp 
corners; this is effected by very short pieces cast on pur¬ 
pose. The clay of which they are made is akin to that of 
which they make the white bricks at Woolpit, and other 
parts of Suffolk—at Shrubland Park to wit. These white 
bricks are the most durable of all clay bricks, yet I have 
known a hard winter split some of the best of them, and 
possibly it may be so with some of these tiles, here and 
there, but to raise a question on that head of the subject 
would argue as much sense and forethought as to say that 
we should not build garden walls, or even houses of clay- 
made bricks, because it was ascertained that a brick, hero or 
there, was not hard enough to resist the alternate actions of 
rain and frost. Altogether, I am gratified to be able to add 
my testimony to Mr. Hogg’s edging tiles, as being the best 
substitute for stone that has yet been brought under our 
notice.—D. Beaton. 
[After seeing the grossly unfair treatment Mr. Hogg has 
recently sustained in the columns of a contemporary, we 
have great pleasure in inserting the above, and in adding 
the following woodcut and directions, which we have ob¬ 
tained by application to Mr, Hogg.—E d. C. G.] 
Directions for placing the tiles .—After making the margins 
of the walks perfectly level, as is done for Box edging, let a 
line, be laid, and a trench taken out two or three inches 
wider than the sole of the tile. The bed of this trench 
must be made perfectly solid by treading or ramming it 
so as to prevent the tiles from sinking. The tiles aro then 
to be placed in the trench with the foot towards the walk, 
and at such a depth as just to leave the top of the plinth 
(as at A in the figure,) level with the surface of the ground. 
If the tiles do not fit exactly to each other, they may bo cut 
or chipped with a trowel, or old hatchet, as builders do 
bricks. They may also be mitred, or reduced to any length 
by cutting through the moulding with an old saw, and then 
chipping off with a chisel and mallet. For placing the short 
lengths to form curves, the best way is to string the re¬ 
quisite number on a piece of iron or wooden hoop, and then 
to bend them round the curve, filling up the interstices 
between them with Roman, Portland, or any other cement 
that will stand the weather. After they are well settled, 
any irregularities may be removed with a rasp. 
GBEY SHANGHAES. 
I have seen, in several recent numbers of The Cottage 
Gardener, frequent communications and letters relative to 
the Brahma Poutra Controversy, and my name being men¬ 
tioned in connection with it, I think it due to myself to state 
to you the facts of the case, in as few words as possible. 
In the summer of 1852, I was induced to apply to Dr. 
Bennett, of Boston, U.S., for some Brahma. Poutra Fowls, 
having read a glowing description of them in an American 
paper" In September, 1852,1 received from Dr. Bennett a 
pair of these fowls (the first, I believe, that were ever im¬ 
ported into this country). I was much pleased with them, 
and having communicated my approval to Dr. Bennett, he 
thought proper, unsolicited by me, to send to Liverpool tour 
more pairs of Brahma Poutras, requesting me to dispose of 
them for him to the best advantage. 
Being naturally somewhat embarrassed by this consign¬ 
ment, Dr. Gwynne kindly offered his assistance, in disposing 
of these birds, and I never saw them, as he took them from 
Liverpool to his own residence at Sandback. 
I exhibited my pair of Brahmas, at Birmingham, in 
December, 1852. They received no prize, and were not in 
any way noticed. I believe those shown by Dr. Gwynne 
shared a similar fate. They were the same week put up to 
auction at Birmingham, and, I believe, were bought in at a 
low price. In January, 1853, my pair of Brahmas were 
purchased of me by Mr. Bowman, of Penzance, and, I believe, 
he has recently parted with them to Mr. Sheehan. Now, 
with reference to the Grey Slianghaes, their history is briefly 
this:—In the summer of 1851,1 purchased, from Mr. Turner, 
three Pullets and a Cockerel, and I exhibited them, at Bir¬ 
mingham, in December of the same year; they had a first 
prize awarded them, and were immediately bought by Mr. 
Bond, of Leeds, who, I believe, retained them for some time 
in his possession. I do not know if he still has them. From 
the above statement, you will, I think, be convinced that the 
Brahma Poutras and Grey Slianghaes belonging to me were 
perfectly distinct and different breeds. 
Eaton Mascatt. S. H. Hosier Williams. 
[We are convinced that they came to Mrs. Hosier Wil¬ 
liams from different sources, but not that they are distinct 
breeds.—E d. C. C.] 
I trust yourself and readers are not tired of the Brahma 
Poutra controversy, and being, in common with many other 
persons, a great admirer of this beautiful variety of Poultry, 
cannot refrain from again addressing you in their behalf, 
and in reply to your correspondent, who has now favoured 
us with some initials; perhaps, in his next communication, he 
will give us his name; and I trust he will not be offended by 
my stating my opinion, that it would be more straightforward 
to do so. 
In the first place, he contradicts my statement as to the 
fact of the Grey chickens being positively sold. I confidently 
state they were sold ; in proof of which assertion, beg to say, 
I bought the best pair among them myself; and, if one lot 
was bought in, it was as much as there was, but I doubt even 
that. The pair I bought turned out very nice birds, and 
were greatly admired this spring, and I could have sold all 
the eggs this season at 30s. per dozen. They will not, 
however, bear any comparison with the birds I have from 
Her Majesty’s and Dr. Gwynne’s stocks; and, moreover, 
their chickens have been Silver Cinnamons, very good, and I 
have sold them at £2 to L‘2 10s. each. Now, in opposition to 
this, all the chickens bred by Dr. Gwynne, Mr. Sheehan, and 
others, have been Grey, and so also are some chickens from 
Mr. Gilbert’s birds, which I have seen, and remarkably fine 
birds too, larger considerably than some Buff birds hatched 
at the same time; being only three or four weeks old, it is 
impossible to tell what they will be, but at present are very 
promising. Your correspondent very felicitously calls atten¬ 
tion to those low-priced Greys; but how ominously silent he 
is with reference to the other sale quoted by me, when they 
fetched pounds instead of shillings. What does he say to this ? 
Can he accountforit? Wasit because nobodylikedthem, that 
they gave good prices for them ? He states, also, in his last 
communication, that birds as pure in colour as the true 
strain could be produced from Grey and Buff parents. (i ranted, 
they may do so; but one parent must be of the right colour, 
or, I feel convinced, it would be indeed a hopeless task to 
