November 10. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Ill 
Class 30.—BANTAMS. Cock and two Hens. 
3 . First prize, Henry Edward Hampden Turner, Leigh Place, God- 
stone. Black. G. First prize, Cassteel Cooper, Guildford. Gold-laced 
Sebright. 7 . First prize, Cassteel Cooper, Guildford. Silver-laced 
Sebright. 9 . First prize, William Hack block, Reigate Hill. White 
Cochin-China. 13. First prize, Samuel Ridley, junior, Clayton, Hurst- 
pierpoint. White. 20. Second prize. Col. Goulburn, Betchworth. 
Gold-laced. 
Class 31 .—GEESE. Gander and two Geese, hatched in 1853. 
1 . First prize, Christopher Rawson, Esq., The Hurst, Walton-on- 
Thames. 2. Second prize, Christopher Rawson, Esq,, The Hurst, 
Walton-on-Thames. Toulouse. 
Cla8s32.—DUCKS. Drake and two Ducks, Aylesbury, Rouen, or any 
other variety. 
1 . First prize, Christopher Rawson, Esq., The Hurst, Walton-on- 
Thumes. Aylesbury. 11. First prize, Robert Glutton, Hartswood, 
Reigate. Black Lahrador. 18. First prize, Thomas Price, St. Leonard’s- 
on-Sea. Rouen. Age, six months. 7 . Second prize, William Dray, 
Farningham, Kent. Rouen. 9- Second prize, Mrs. Elizabeth Forman, 
Pippbrook House, Dorking. Muscovy. 21. Second prize, James 
Ormiston, Shabden, Chipstead. Aylesbury. 
Class 33.—TURKEYS. Turkey Cock and two Hens. 
2. First prize, Albert Way, Wonham Manor, Betchworth. Black. 
5. Second prize, James Giles, Betchworth. White. 
Class 34 .—GUINEA FOWLS. For the best Pair. 
4c First prize, Charles Charman Elgar, Reigate. 3. Second prize, 
Charles Charman Elgar, Reigate. 
SHOULD POULTRY BE EXHIBITED IN 
PAIRS ? 
I find many of my poultry friends averse to the plan now 
generally adopted of showing two and three hens with a 
cock ; they consider that an exhibitor who is in a position to 
show four good birds, could certainly select and exhibit his 
best pair, so that such an exhibitor would not be excluded, 
while one possessing only two birds of superior excellence, 
would, by such modification of the conditions, he enabled to 
show them. They, moreover, consider that extra cost of 
baskets and conveyance would be saved, and that when at 
the shows, the birds, from being fewer together, and having 
more space, would be less liable to disease. It appears to 
me, what is wanted at a show, is the greatest excellence and 
not the greatest number; a pair of birds being sufficient to 
perpetuate any good qualities they may possess. I must 
confess I cannot see the necessity for exhibiting more in 
one pen, and to go still further, I like the exhibition of 
sinr/le male birds ; they are of the utmost importance, and 
at spring shows it is very convenient to be allowed to pur¬ 
chase a single stock-bird without encumbering yourself with 
a number of hens, probably of the same blood as the cock; 
a deal of in-and-in breeding would be avoided. I well know 
the trouble that was occasioned to the officials at Birming¬ 
ham when the division of pens was allowed; but I am sure 
amateurs were better able to improve their stocks under that 
regulation. If pairs and single birds were allowed to con¬ 
stitute a pen, there will he less necessity for dividing, and 
purchasers would be much benefited. 
Although I can now scarcely consider myself an exhibitor, 
being very inconveniently situated for railway accommoda¬ 
tion, yet I feel much interested in whatever may promote 
the success of these useful poultry institutions.—W. Lort, 
Great Heath, near Tenhury. 
HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. —ACHILLEA. 
This genus belongs to the Natural Order of Composites, 
and though the members of this genus are very numerous, 
amounting, in number, from fifty to seventy known species, 
yet there are but few which are worth keeping, or growing 
iu the ornamental (lower-borders. Of course, it is desirable 
to see them all in botanical collections, where, by all means, 
they should be kept and grown for the sake of botanical 
knowledge ; but for the flower-border but few of them are 
to be coveted. 
The best and most noble plant of this largo family is the 
Achillea Eupatorium, or Caspian Milfoil, so called from 
being a native of the shores of the Caspian Sea. It was 
introduced to this country in the year 1803. 
It is a strong grower, rising from two-and-a-half to three- 
and-a-half-feet high, according to the soil and situation it is 
grown in. It is an excellent, plant for the centre of a 
medium-sized bed of any shape or form, or for a back row 
plant in long borders. It blooms from July to November, 
the flowers being of a beautiful golden-yellow colour. 
Its heads, or corymbs of flowers, are large and spreading, 
though of compact habit, their upper surface being almost 
flat. The leaves are long and narrow, twice cut, and the 
segments saw-toothed and somewhat hoary. The whole 
plant is of a pale green colour. It is readily increased by 
root division in the spring. The plant does well in any 
good garden soil. Once well planted in the proper places 
in the borders, or beds, the plants may remain untouched 
for many years, except by the slugs, who are very fond of it. 
Where the borders are not properly attended to, and kept 
clear of fallen leaves, and the like, during the winter and 
spring months sad havoc is often made by these marauders. 
Many a choice plant is either entirely lost, or so much 
injured by the slugs eating out its crown shoots, and secret¬ 
ing themselves round about the crowns, or elsewhere, as 
never to recover. This might be prevented by frequent 
earth-stirring about the plants, and the use of a little quick 
lime dusted over them now and then. T. W. 
. (To bn continued.) 
DISEASED CROP. 
TOST MORTEM EXAMINATION OF A COCHIN-CHINA COCKEREL, 
AGED ITVE MONTHS. 
Disease. —Hanging crop, hard at the upper part, apparently 
not painful on pressure. Duration. —Four weeks. Treatment .— 
None; was amongst a large number of fowls, and taken no 
notice of; it fed well, never sickened, and had no difficulty in 
swallowing. Death. —Killed by hand. Post Mortem appear 
ances. —Body very emaciated. On making an incision through 
the skin and integuments coveringthe crop, and through the 
crop itself, that organ was found extensively diseased. The 
whole of the outer portion was converted into a gristle-like 
membrane, three-fourths of its size was occupied by a hard 
tumour, which, when cut through, contained two abscesses 
of the size of marbles, each filled with inoffensive semi¬ 
transparent matter. The substance of the tumour partly 
cartilaginous and fibrous, with cheese-like deposits here 
and there. That portion of the crop, which, during life, 
could have been of any service, might have held about half- 
an-ounce of food; the passages to and from the crop were 
much thickened, the whole seat of the disease non-vascular. 
Other Organs. —Healthy.—C.F. Palmer, Betchworth , Surrey. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*,* We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should he addressed “ To the Editor of 
the Cottage Gardener, 2, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London.” 
Black Shanghaes (C. A .).—Some observations that appeared in one 
of our recent numbers, on Black Shanghaes, were dictated not merely by 
what had been noticed at very many of our principal Poultry Exhibitions, 
during the last two years, hut were also authorised by the opinion of 
many of our best breeders. That, generally speaking, they are character¬ 
ised by the absence of the glossy richness of colour that distinguishes 
the Black Polish and the Spanish, fowls, will hardly he contested ; nor have 
we, as yet, any certain record of a similar uniformity in the coluur of the 
produce, to what may he observed in those latter breeds. Whether the 
Black Shanghaes should he assigned the honour of a “ permanent and 
distinct variety," where like produces like, as a general rule, requfres 
further proof than the public is as yet possessed of. “C. A.,” and 
some other breeders, perhaps, may be fortunate in the possession 01 
birds that comply with the requisite conditions more fully than those 
whose public appearance originated the remarks that were further con¬ 
firmed by experienced persons conversant with this variety. But at the 
best, the good specimens are still the exception, not the rule ; and while 
we admit that there is often much to admire in the figure of Black 
Shanghaes, and that their merits are, undoubtedly, great as table fowls, 
“feather ” is a point in which they do not appear to equal advantage. 
11 'Chat the public should judge for itself,” is the very aim and design ol 
every article in The Cottage Gardener ; but surely this is best 
attained by the free admission of impartial statements and opinions on 
either side. " C. A.” may have a very high opinion of the variety in 
question, while “A. C.” is at variance with this essential. Both may 
have their say, and the byestanders may afterwards judge for themselves 
when the matter has been thus discussed. 
