November 24. 
pared sap is beneficial in enhancing both size, quality, 
and colour in the fruit, is amply proved by the effects of 
ringing; by which means a preternatural supply is 
arrested above the ringing point. In such cases, not only 
the fruit, but the young wood and the embryo bloom-buds 
become altered in condition, albeit, at the expense, in 
some degree, of the longevity of the tree; here, however, 
thero need be no cause for alarm, as the Pear is naturally 
so long-lived as to make this point totally unworthy of 
consideration. 
We think, too, it may be safely inferred, that the 
temperature of the ascending sap is a matter for serious 
consideration. Surely, the moisture absorbed by roots 
at three feet in depth, cannot be precisely the same, in 
this respect, as that absorbed from within a foot of the 
earth’s surface! The soil at the former depth being, 
probably, in July and August, about fifty degrees, whilst 
that within a foot is nearer to seventy degrees: surely 
both cannot produce precisely the same results ! 
However, it is a well-known fact, that whatever the 
merits of the Quince may bo as a stock, the Pear-stock 
will succeed, in ninety cases out of a hundred, without 
preparation ; whilst of the Quince, probably not twenty 
would suit. The deep roots, then, got rid of, we have 
little doubt that the ordinary stock would suit well the 
majority of cases. And how shall these deep roots be 
got rid of? If right in our antecedents, this will be a 
small difficulty. Frequent transplantations, beginning 
from the very seed, sucker, or layer, of the stock, and 
station planting, according to the maxims first made 
patent through the medium of The Cottage Gardener, 
offer, in our opinion, the only solid chances of success. 
The rest, we fear, is all “ but leather and prunella.” 
R. E. 
We certainly had imagined that the published prize- 
lists for the Poultry Shows of the present year had 
made sufficient reference to all the necessary details of 
management. Great, therefore, was our surprise to find 
that the one put forth by the “Essex Association for 
the Improvement of the Breeds of Domestic Poultry," 
commenced with the notification that w r e now place 
before our readers.—“The following list of prizes is 
issued, conditionally, on the amount of receipts for 
subscriptions and admissions to the Show realizing a 
sufficient sum to pay the proposed premiums, after the 
necessary expences of the Exhibition have been pro¬ 
vided for; and in the event of such a sum not being 
realized, then the surplus, after payment of expences, 
will be divided amongst the prizes in a proportionate 
rate.” 
It is the part of prudence, doubtless, to calculate well, 
beforehand, the probable receipts and expenditure of 
such institutions ; but surely all this should be pre¬ 
liminary, and not subsequent, to the formal issue of the 
prize-list; when it is but fair to suppose that the Ex¬ 
hibitor, who incurs the trouble and expense of pre¬ 
paring his birds for the show on the offers there held 
out to him, has a positive right to expect their strict 
135 
fulfilment. This, however, becomes, we should imagine, 
a positively legal claim, when, by an actual payment for 
the entry, a consideration is given for the chance of the 
premium. 
Few, we believe, would contest the manifest right of 
the Exhibitor who has complied with all the requisite 
conditions to receive, if successful, the full amount of 
the prize originally published; but we would go some¬ 
what further, and would endeavour to persuade the 
managers of the Essex Association of the great impolicy 
of their proviso, for, surely, thus to anticipate failure, is 
nothing less than stepping out of their way to court its 
unwelcome presence. Numerous as have now become 
such Exhibitions, no want of success has yet reached 
our ears, wherever ordinary attention, and a business¬ 
like system of conducting the various details of the 
arrangements has been had recourse to. 
The “ N.B,” at the close of this same list, is certainly 
original; it runs thus“ In the event of the entries 
for the Exhibition not being considered sufficiently 
numerous to insure the success of the Show, if held on 
the days named, the Committee reserves to itself the 
right of postponing the Exhibition to some future 
opportunity; in which event the entrance fees will be 
returned to intending Exhibitors, in due time, before 
the day named for transmitting their specimens.” 
Truly kind and considerate on the part of the Honorary 
Secretaries, but, unless we are greatly in error, few 
persons will be satisfied to keep up their birds, declining 
to send them elsewhere in anticipation of their appear¬ 
ance at Colchester, with the trouble, risk, and expence 
of packing and travelling, when it remains a matter of 
grave doubt, up to the eleventh hour, whether thero will 
be any Show at all. Many Exhibitors, to whom the 
mere amount of the prizes already referred to would be 
a matter of utter indifference, will give a most decided 
negative to any such proposition as the Managers of 
the Essex Association have thus authoritatively set 
forth. 
We should be sorry to damp the ardour either of 
individuals or Societies, but surely, the notifications we 
have referred to, as heading and closing this prize-list, 
stultify the whole proceeding, and an earnest remon. 
strance becomes our bounden duty. 
Turning from the general arrangement of the Ex¬ 
hibition to the particular classification of the birds, the 
first remark that occurs to us would refer to the puddling 
together of the White and Coloured Dorkings in one 
class. Now, in every point of view, these should have 
stood apart. Why, again, may we ask, in the classes 13 
or 14 for “ Duckwing, and other Grey and Blue Game 
Fowls,” are three hens and three pullets respectively 
required; while, in every other instance, two hens and 
two pullets are the required numbers? 
Silver-Pencilled and Silver-Spangled Hamburghs must 
here compete together, an arrangement as unfair to the 
birds as onerous to the Judges, whose opinion must be 
pronounced on the relative merits of birds perfectly 
distinct from each other in several important features. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
