436 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
principle, we think, is incumbent on any Society that 
proposes as its object the general improvement of our 
poultry-yards, although, where Bantams, Polish, and 
Hamburghs are specially acknowledged as the main 
objects of attention and regard, no one would have a 
right to complain of such a distribution as we have 
now alluded to. 
Besides the class for “ any other distinct breed named," 
we find one (No. 38), for “ the best and second best cock 
and four hens of any of the above breeds," involving the 
difficult, and, under every condition, the unsatisfactory, 
task of the judges being called upon to decide between 
fowls of totally distinct form, feather, and properties; 
and this in addition to the unprecedented number of 
hens required at a season the most unlikely to have 
them in readiness for their appearance. 
But Geese, as they stand on this prize list, claim a 
word at our hands, since LI 2s. 6d. is all that the 
Newcastle Society is disposed to offer for the encourage¬ 
ment of this most useful and valuable bird, while 
Ducks have £5 5s. between them. 
Ganders only, we observe, are invited, and this, doubt¬ 
less, on account of the duties in which their spouses 
will be then engaged; but by parity of reasoning, we 
might expect to find cocks, drakes, and male Turkeys, as 
the only representatives of their different races. 
Class 47 is for “ extra stock," but it is not stated 
whether fowls are here admissable, or whether Pheasants 
and other birds are thus designated. The former, we 
think, should always be limited to their regular classes, 
especially where a provision is made by “any other” 
class for their proper representation. 
The Cottager “ who exhibits the best lot in any of 
the above classes,” has three prizes for his encourage¬ 
ment, but “ no entrance is required for this class!" The 
meaning, probably, is, that no entrance/^ is to be paid; 
but surely, it would be difficult to refuse admission on 
the morning of the show to any such persons bringing 
their baskets without any previous notice or entry, for 
the rule would fairly bear that interpretation, and how 
would the Secretaries be prepared with accommodation 
for an indefinite number of pens ? 
In Pigeons we have a most arbitrary selection. 
Runts, in their different varieties, a most valuable bird 
even for domestic purposes, while their estimation, in 
some instances, stands so high with the most critical 
fanciers, are unnoticed. The Bearded, Bald-pate, and 
self-coloured Tumblers the same. And although Nuns, 
Turbits, Pouters, Jacobins, and other fancy birds, are 
admitted, Owls and Archangels are summarily banished. 
The class for “ any other variety of Pigeons,” lately pro¬ 
ductive of many beautiful specimens, is not in this list 
to be found. 
How are the best eggs to be determined on ? Is size 
alone to carry the day, or are the judges to test their 
quality at breakfast ? at which time the merits of the 
“butter," (of which the connexion with the objects of a 
! “ Poultry” Society is not quite apparent) will also, we 
i presume, be submitted to their judgment. 
These remarks, we need hardly observe, have no 
March 9. 
origin in any desire to depreciate the efforts, or prejudice 
the success of the Society in question; but at this early 
season of the year, when numerous other prize-lists are 
in course of preparation, it is but just to our readers to 
call their attention to any such arrangements as may 
appear inconsistent with the judicious management of 
such Associations. 
CAMELLIAS. 
I am not about to attempt a monograph of the 
Camellia, our space will not admit of it; although I 
must confess I have never seen the Camellia done 
justice to as yet in “gude black print”, as the Scotch 
poet said. I wish merely to impress on the minds of 
cultivators a few important facts or features in its 
culture; and I am encouraged to do so, from having 
(people say) the finest bloom of these noble winter 
flowers that can be imagined at an early period ; for my 
bouse has been in full blossom constantly since the 
beginning of December, and will continue so until the 
early part of April. A lady of distinction, who was 
here the other day, paid us a rich compliment about 
them. She said, “ Mr. E., your Camellias are beyond 
beautiful!” and I do think she was right, for they are 
noble as well. I have paid much attention to their 
culture for many years, with a desire to ascertain how 
far appliances could be carried, in order to obtain the 
greatest profusion of flowers of the largest size with 
the thickest and darkest foliage; and I believe I can 
now scarcely push the effort any further. 
These Camellias are all in pots, and are shifted, or 
repotted, about once in two or three years. On the 
repotting, which I never allow any one to do for me, I 
lay the utmost stress. I use, perhaps, more liquid- 
manure than most other cultivators, and I have long 
discovered that the man who thus practices must use 
composts and modes of potting specially adapted to that 
practice. Here lies one of the chief points in the 
general and systematic use of liquid-pianures. My 
mode of draining the pots would, by many, be thought 
pushed to an unreasonable extreme ; I do not find it so, 
but the reverse. About one-fourth of the depth of the 
pot, of whatever size, is occupied with drainage mate¬ 
rials ; but, be it observed, not entirely of non-absorbent 
or imperishable materials : one-half of these is turf. 
As on the mode of preparing this turf in part depends 
the beneficial efforts sought to be produced, I may 
here state my practice. I procure what is termed strong 
or sound loam, as gardeners call it; that is to say, a 
loam slightly adhesive, such as gardeners love for 
fruit-trees—Melons, Pine Apples, &c. This, from an 
old pasture, which has lain for many years untouched 
by the plough, and on which there is a sward or turf, as 
thick and as closely woven as the best blanket, is the 
material, as far as loam is concerned, and the turfy 
portion for this drainage affair is pared about two 
inches thick, the rough grass, &c., being first mowed-off. 
This, then, is cut into small lumps of various sizes, from 
that of a walnut to that of a potato, and then charred, or 
rather steamed, by putting out the fire from a furnace, and 
introducing the lumps on an iron plate; at the same 
time stopping up the fire-hole and ashpit-doors, and 
throwing an old wet sack or mat on the chimney-top. 
This is concentration with a vengeance. If matters 
have been well carried out one cooking may do; if 
not, why, I give it a second ordeal; sometimes nursing 
some slumbering embers in the ash-holo to keep the 
game agoing. These lumps, when withdrawn, are 
almost singed, and possess such a pyroligneous scent as 
to be annoying to delicate nasal organs. In this state 
