THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 2. 
346 
superior growth. Keeping them from flowering causes the 
same result; hut this requires great judgment, a 3 plants 
have been killed by the sudden decay of the stalks of 
the flowers ; the safest way is not to take off hut one flower- 
bud at one time, and that after the stalk is grown the full 
length, and so one bud after another, for a week, and then 
to cut off the flower-stem when it naturally begins to die; 
thns the leaves will receive all the nourishment which the 
flowers would have consumed. 
Although the hottest temperature of our stoves would 
perfectly suit them, they content themselves, nevertheless, 
with a much lower temperature, like other hothouse plants, 
and then the watering must be comparatively diminished. 
In Ceylon, and, likely, also in the other islands where 
they grow, the natives name them King of the Forest, and 
that with great propriety, although they grow so low on the 
ground among plants of like habit as the sphagnum of our 
own woods ; and, certainly, the sphagnum agrees with them 
best, and with many cuttings as well, when it is surrounding 
them in a living, growing state. Therefore, it is very pro¬ 
bable that the use of live moss, or sphagnum will shortly be 
much extended in the propagating-house for many other 
purposes besides that of growing the living genus under 
consideration; or, failing that, I shall be happy if my 
account of what is now proved about the use of live moss, 
will be of use, or add to the pleasure of the English 
amateur, to whom, and to all with whom I have become 
acquainted in England, I owe my sincere gratitude for 
liberality and kindness.— H. G. Haack. 
[The author of the above original and interesting com¬ 
munication is a young student from Germany, who is over 
here for the sole purpose of learning our language, and our 
ways of doing business in the nursery trade, in order to 
qualify himself for superintending the British and American 
branches of that trade at home. How far he has made use 
of his means, may be judged of from this communication, 
when I say, from personal knowledge, that he could not 
speak a word of English this time last year. —I). Beaton.] 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Liverpool Grand Poultry Show. —This Show took place 
on the 18th and 19th of January, and though, from the 
vicinity of Knowsley, and the fact that many good breeders 
of poultry reside in that neighbourhood, we had been pre¬ 
pared for a good display, we confess the reality far exceeded 
our expectations, and we have no hesitation in saying (and 
we heard the Judges express the same opinion), that ( num¬ 
bers considered) it was the very best Show that has ever 
yet been held, there being scarcely a bad bird there. That 
the number of entries should not have exceeded 357, is a 
matter of surprise to us; but it was a first attempt so well 
carried out, however, that we venture to predict, that with a 
little judicious increase to the prize-lists, the next Liverpool 
Poultry Show will be second to none in the kingdom. 
This Show was held in Mr. Lucas’ Carriage Repository, 
which had undergone such alterations and improvements 
as left nothing to be desired in light, ventilation, accom¬ 
modation, and effect, and testified to the “ good taste,” as 
well as energy, of the Working Committee. 
The Spanish , which was a good class, consisted of 29 
pens. It proved a walk-over for Captain Hornby, who with 
two beautiful pens (which we fancied were not his Bir¬ 
mingham birds, but new faces at a show) took 1 st and 2 nd 
prizes in the adult class, as well as 1 st in the chickens, the 
2 nd prize going to a pen belonging to Mr. Hardy, of War¬ 
rington. 
The Coloured Dorkings were pronounced by the Judges 
to be “highly meritorious," and well, indeed, they deserved 
the praise. The 1st and 2nd prizes for aged birds went 
j to the Knowsley pens ; and those for chickens to two beau- 
| tiful lots belonging to Mrs. Townley Parker and Capt. 
j Hornby. The commendations were numerous and well- 
j merited. 
Of White Dorkings we need only say, they were a mode¬ 
rate class, and shown in scarcely “ moderate" condition. 
Class 7, for adult Cochin-China (cinnamon and buff), 
j produced only eight entries, but they were good birds, and 
in much better condition than has lately too often been the 
case. Mrs. Stowo taking the 1st prize, while the 2nd went 
to a pen belonging to Mr. Mitchell. 
Class 8 must have given some little trouble to the Judges, 
as it contained 50 pens of much more than average merit. 
Mr. Harrison obtained the 1st prize, the 2nd being awarded 
to Capt. Llornby, for a pen scarcely inferior, in which, by- 
the-by, was one pullet quite the best in the Show. 
Class 9, Brown and Partridge-coloured, was very mode¬ 
rate, but was redeemed by its follower Class 10 , in which 
Mr. Archer, of Malvern, took 1st prize with an excellent 
and very heavy pen, the 2nd going to Mr. Job for a good lot. 
In Class 11, White Cochin-Chinas, only one entry, and 
the prize was withheld on account of green legs; but Class 
13 was one of much more than average merit, Mr. Rawson 
most deservedly taking 1st prize, and Mr. Job the 2nd. 
The Black Cochin-Chinas were not in great force, and we 
observed, as is so general, coloured feathers in the cocks. 
Of the Malays we cannot speak with “high commenda¬ 
tion ; ” but must record our tribute of praise to the Game, 
which in all classes were much to be admired. More diffi¬ 
culty, however, might have attended the awards, had more 
attention been paid by their owners to proper arrangements, 
and had they remembered that in a prize pen the birds 
should match in colours of legs as well 41 s other things. 
We saw good pens put “hors de combat,” from the cock 
having yellow, and the hens -white, legs, Ac. For the various | 
prizes in these, as well as the Hamburgh classes, which j 
were of good average merit, we must refer our readers to 1 
the prize list. 
Of all the Poland classes we cannot speak too highly. 
They possessed great merit, and were much admired. Mr. 
Beesley, Mr. Conyers, and Mr. Baker, received 1st prizes 
for their birds, and well-deserved them. 
The Bantams had their usual crowd of fair admirers ; Mr. 
Moss and Mr. Rawson showing some first-rate pens. 
The Geese were well represented; the 1st and 2nd prizes 
being awarded to Mr. Townley Parker. There was not a 
pen in the class which was not fairly entitled to a prize, but 
the prize pens, especially the 1 st, defied all competition. 
They were in beautiful order. We subjoin their weights as 
we heard them reported—gander, 23 lbs. 9 oz.; goose, 
20lbs. 14 oz ; goose, 21 lbs. 10 oz.—or 72 lbs. 1 oz. the pen. 
The Aylesbury Ducks deserved great praise. The 1st 
prize in these went to a pair of Mr. Rawson’s, which, if we 
mistake not, were successfully exhibited at Gloucester, but 
(we regret to add) in very different condition from their 
present state. The 2nd prize went to a good pen of 
Mr. Weston’s. 
The Rouens were shown in good condition, and were a 
good class. The prize-takers were Mr. Pearse and Mr. 
Worrall. 
Class 42, for Ducks of any variety, brought twelve good 
pens to the post, the winners being Mr. Dixon, for East 
India Blacks, and Mr. Bird, with some beautiful Call Ducks. 
The Turkeys bring us to the end of the list, and, like the 
Geese, possessed very great merit. The 1st prize was 
awarded to Mr. Conyers, whose Turkey cock was almost 
the finest we ever saw. Mr. Neilson took the 2nd prize with 
a pen scarcely inferior, as well as an extra 1 st prize for 
“ purity of blood,” to a singularly good pen of wild Ame¬ 
rican Turkies, which, from their condition and beauty of 
feather, were the objects of general admiration. 
Every care and attention was paid to the feeding of the 
birds, and the courtesy and civility of every official con¬ 
nected with the Show ought not to be passed over. To Mr. 1 
Gilbert Moss is chiefly due the credit of originating and 
carrying-out so successfully the first Liverpool Poultry 
Show, and wo sincerely congratulate him on the result of 
his exertions, arduous as we know they have been. 
The Judges were Mr. Baily, of Loudon, and Mr. Hewitt, 
of Birmingham, and their judgments gave general satis¬ 
faction. 
A correspondent, and very excellent, judge of Poultry, 
writes to us as follows:—“ I consider the exhibition-room at 
the Liverpool Show one of the best adapted for the purpose 
I have yet seen, being well-lighted, and the ventilation of a 
very superior character indeed,—the latter being a neces 
sary acquisition, when looked upon in connection with either 
the health of the poultry, or even the convenience of visitors, 
