38 
standards of excellence as custom lias bequeathed to 
them, and have, too, endowed with special beauty in 
their own eyes, all we have to reply amounts to this, 
that they have a perfect right to gratify their “fancy," 
only we are unwilling to recognise that word as synony¬ 
mous with beauty of appearance, or harmony with the 
unvarying combination of beauty and aptitude lor their 
several conditions which distinguishes every work of 
nature. 
Such abnormal productions as wo have here alluded 
to may have many parallel instances in other animals; 
among them the unfortunate “Creepers and Jumpers,” 
among the Bantams of former days; and the toy terrier 
of our own, but in the latter instance, we may still retain 
symmetry, although utility is lost. In the vegetable 
world, the labour of a life is thought by the Chinaman to 
be well recompensed by the stunted proportions of an 
orange-tree, or myrtle, or the diminutive club feet of his 
wife and daughters. 
Fashion will probably long continue to exert its 
influence in encouraging similar eccentric results; 
but if there are still found those who reject the just 
proportions of the natural form in favour of such 
deformities, let them be satisfied with their success in 
having so far distorted the usual laws by which botli the 
animal and vegetable kingdoms are governed, without 
desiring the acquiescence of others to their own theory 
of beauty, based on eccentricity, and contradiction to the 
requirements, as well as the natural condition, of the 
subject they choose to operate on. 
In just comparison to what we have now complained 
of, may be mentioned the treatment of the beautiful 
“ Archangel” Pigeon, recently introduced into this 
country. The “ Pigeon-fancy" look with disfavour on 
this bird ; and the question is asked, what are we to do 
with it? Is there any hope of breeding it up to the 
beak and wattle of the Carrier, or down to the beak and 
bullet-head of the Tumbler? To neither, if our en¬ 
treaties may be heard; for rarely have colours been so 
well spotted, or figure and proportions so happily 
adapted, as in this singularly striking addition to our 
list of Pigeons. “ Let well alone" is a good old motto ; 
and we shall be well content to see Pouters overbalancing 
themselves on the house-tops; Carriers too precious to 
leave their owner’s loft; and Tumblers without the 
power of using their wings; if the Archangel and others 
of the genus be left to us in the state in which we are 
now so fortunate as to possess them, and towards which 
perfection the breeder’s art has, we imagiue, done but 
little. To those whose patience has carried them 
through these remarks our meaning will be plain; it 
may, indeed, be thus briefly summed up, that the prin¬ 
ciple on which Pigeons are now being shown at our 
general Poultry Exhibitions is more likely to lead to 
their production in abetter form, both as regards beauty 
of appearance, and agreement with the properties and 
characteristics of the different varieties, than where, as 
now and in former days, regard was exclusively given to 
certain exaggerated forms of their particular parts and 
members. 
October 20. 
Nothing, however, is further from our intention or 
wish than any depreciation of the merits of Mr. 
Eaton’s work: he is a faithful exponent of the views 
of those whom he designates as “ the fancy," and the 
guarantee of long experience will render his treatise 
valuable to many who, like ourselves, aro fond of his 
favourite birds, without being biassed by a standard 
which we conceive to be rather at variance with the 
power and properties on which excellence should be 
established. 
THE PRESERVATION OF SAIADS IN WINTER, 
This constitutes no mean portion of the gardener’s 
art, and requires a very just appreciation of those princi¬ 
ples which have a tendency to arrest or ward off decay 
in the vegetable world. To say that a good salad bowl 
is a welcome addition to the dinner table, at whatever 
season, is no new tale; so much is it esteemed, that even 
the most imfortunate dyspeptic must frequently sigh 
when he sees this delightful accessary and may not par¬ 
take of it. The principal salads that we have to con¬ 
sider are as followsCelery, Lettuce, Endive, Radishes, 
Cresses, &c.; a few others there be, but they claim little 
consideration. I will endeavour consecutively to oiler 
advice to the uninformed. 
Celery. —The larger and grosser Celery is at the 
approach of winter, the more difficult it is to preserve, 
and the more liable to “run,” or to “ bolt,” as practical 
men term it. Here, then, is an argument in favour of 
at least one portion of the Celery being late sown, and 
grown quickly, as advised in my forrfier paper. I have 
known the remainder of plants left in a seed bed—not 
having been required at the “ pricking-out ” time—stand 
hard winters unharmed; whilst that iu the bed, or rows, 
was nearly destroyed during a hard winter; albeit, the 
latter was duly protected. 
By whatever plan, or at whatever season, Celery is 
grown, it is absolutely necessary that it be kept dry at 
the root in winter; and, I may add, in the foliage too, 
if possible; the latter, however, is not easily accomplished 
without too much expense, or ill-spared labour. Those 
who suspect wet at the root, therefore, had better, as a 
beginning, take instant means to carry oft’ this water. 
Draining, of course, will at once occur to the mind; but 
in many cases it is not necessary to have recourse to it; 
and, as it is quite necessary, some time in November, to 
soil or earth all Celery as deep as possible, in order to 
keep out frost; and such being practised, it will be found, 
generally, that the excavation of soil rendered necessary, 
will, of itself, give relief as to the superfluous moisture. 
In earthing-up for the last time, our practice is to press 
the soil as close to the plants as possible, as this not only 
keeps out frost iu a degree, but prevents slugs, or other 
depredators, from entering readily: it also, of course, 
facilitates blanching to a higher level. 
Everybody knows that Celery is liable to be defaced 
by the slug, which, as I take it, is the greatest pest of 
Celery. We have been in the habit of applying slacked 
lime for many years in order to destroy these rogues, or 
set them at nought, and, with unvarying success; for it 
is seldom we have suffered from their ravages, although 
our quarter is famed for them. The lime is applied when 
the Celery is about half grown, and is dusted liberally in 
each plant. But about winter matters. Celery, as to 
protection, requires very similar care to the rest of 
our half-hardy things, for so I must call it. My 
practice is to cover with long, loose, and dry litter, on 
the first severe frost; say one in which the thermometer 
went down to 21°. The ground is, of course, frozen hard, 
and this is necessary ; for if covered up with the design 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
