468 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. March 16 . 
which were to subsist upon them. It is evident, that if they 
had been formed devoid of the sugar, the oil, tho fat, the 
starch, the vegetable albumen, and other nutritious matters 
in which they all abound; if, for instance, they had been 
composed entirely of earths or metals, that then these could 
not have served as the food of animals. This is not entirely 
an imaginary case ; only consider those plants in which the 
earth Silica in unusual proportions abounds, and note how 
nearly devoid of nutrition they are. Take the straw of 
Wheat for an example, in which it is found in considerable 
proportions (while it is absent entirely from the seed)-, or 
the Dutch Rush, in which it exists in still greater abun¬ 
dance. In these, it is true, the Silica is fulfilling a very use¬ 
ful purpose, by imparting to the stems the requisite degree 
of hardness and strength to support the seeds; but how 
nearly devoid of nourishment they are, every poor beast win¬ 
tering in a straw-yard by his very appearance indicates. 
The marvellous difference between the chemical composi¬ 
tion of the seed of the Wheat, and the straw which supports 
it, can only be explained in one way—by the contrivance 
and the beneficence of the Deity. It is idle to say that it is 
all the offspring of chance; chance never yet accomplished 
anything so remarkable as even the formation of a common 
piece of mechanism. No one ever regards the possibility of 
the chance formation of a water-mill, or a steam-engine, 
even if eternity is imagined as allotted for the operation ; 
and yet the contrivance and the wisdom displayed in the 
construction of these machines is just nothing when com¬ 
pared with the operations going on in a vegetating plant of 
Wheat. 
The chemist detects many of these, even to him, mystic 
operations, by the examination of vegetable chemistry. He 
finds in the flour of the Wheat only three or four substances, 
such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, so that 
there is little reason to complain of the number of the in¬ 
gredients ; but how these three or four substances are 
united together, so as to form vegetable substances, he can¬ 
not, by any chemical reasoning, explain. He sees that the 
union is accomplished, that the gluten and the starch of the 
Wheat are produced with unvaried regularity, hut it is a 
process far beyond his powers of imitation. It is true, he 
can readily decompose them, and separate the elements of 
which they are formed, but it is in vain that he attempts to 
recombine those elements, so as to form the animal or vege¬ 
table substance in which they previously existed. Those 
marvellous combinations are the works of a Divine Author, 
and of Him alone. 
{To he continued.) 
DORKINGS, AS RECENTLY EXHIBITED. 
The writer of the article in your last number, under the 
above heading, is so conversant with his subject, and the 
whole article is so well written, it is the more necessary that 
some stricture should be placed on points in which he ap¬ 
pears to be in error. The observations on comb and colour 
are so correct, and well stated, they cannot fail to produce 
benefit, and will, it is to be hoped, have an effect beyond 
their apparent intention of giving a helping hand to tho 
judges in their decisions ; aiding their well known desire to 
cast to the winds all priority arising from these accidental 
appendages. If the great object wo have in view be the 
improvement of the various breeds “ of domestic poultry,” 
it should clearly bo our desire (especially in this class of the 
“ Farmers” Fowl) to induce every exhibitor to bring before 
the public, as “ Models,” the best birds in his possession. 
But under the present system of practically requiring, in tho 
same pen, hens and pullets of the same comb and colour, 
(good matches as tho phrase goes), I appeal to the expe¬ 
rience of every exhibitor of any note, whether for the sako 
of this object he does not frequently leave at home, not 
merely his second best, but frquently sends his sixth, or, it 
may be, his tenth best bird for the sake of effecting the 
“ match.” Nor does the evil rest here. Young Amateurs 
are constantly applying to eminent breeders to supply them 
with fowls, and either fail in their object altogether, or 
obtain a disparity in quality, because, following the error of 
the exhibitions, they are content only to secure “ good 
matches ! ” Now, as sisters of the same clutch frequently 
vie with each other in all points of excellence, and differ 
only in those of comb and colour (a fact acknowledged by 
good breeders), I ask, whether it is not desirable to discard 
these contingent and imaginary qualifications ? 
With respect to weights, also, the writer correctly observes, 
that vast improvement has been made in the last year with¬ 
out the sacrifice of symmetry. But he must permit me to 
consider him greatly in error, and unwittingly misleading 
the public, in stating that “ ten pound cockerels, and eight 
pound pullets have been no uncommon productions in tho 
exhibitions of the last year.” That such Dorkings have been 
exhibited, I can myself testify; but it is far from the fact 
that they have been common. And there is this important con¬ 
sideration attached to the error, that Tyros applying to prize 
winners for fowls, feel disappointed, and, perhaps, something 
more, in finding the birds sent fall far short of the standard 
stated to be “ common," on such good authority. Let any 
one doubting the above appeal to that best of judges, Mr. 
Baily, and the writer will readily succumb to his decision. 
There is one other mistake to which I must also allude 
in reference the Eeigate Show. That the limitation of this 
Exhibition to the three adjoining counties was an error, is 
admitted by the gentlemen who took the active part in its 
formation and management, and will be rectified for the 
future. But how far the “ limitation tarnished the laurels 
that were there won" may be decided by the following facts. 
All the first prizes in the Dorking class were taken by a 
clergyman in Kent; and the same fowls, in the same month, 
took all the first prizes at Hitchin, where one pen of 
chickens was claimed for fifty guineas ; and the same fowls 
were exhibited at the Metropolitan, in January, and there 
again earned the first three prizes. In classes five and 
eight, by the Rev. J. Boys, the exhibitor on the two former 
occasions; in class six, by Mr. Smith, the gentleman who 
claimed these birds at Hitchin. As these are the only 
occasions in which these fowls have been exhibited, I 
confidently appeal to the candour of the writer of the article 
in your last number, whether they have not amply redeemed 
the laurels which the limitation is said to have tarnished.” 
[In reference to the above remarks we readily admit, 
that if the expression of an opinion that “ cockerels of 
10lbs., and pullets of Bibs., have been no uncommon pro¬ 
ductions,” could be construed as equivalent to an assertion 
that such specimens were common objects of every day ex¬ 
perience, the statement would be inaccurate. The sentence 
in question, however, merely implies that birds of these 
weights have been shown on several occasions, and, conse¬ 
quently, that they may justly he held forth as models for 
the breeder’s imitation, although a degree of skill and judg¬ 
ment beyond that of tho novice will certainly be found re¬ 
quisite for the attainment of this result. 
The allusion to laurels won at Reigate being tarnished by 
the limitation of exhibitors at that show to inhabitants of 
the adjoining counties, refers simply to the credit of the 
prizes there gained. No disparagement whatever of the 
birds themselves was thereby designed, nor any inference 
conveyed as to their appearance, favourable or otherwise, at 
any other exhibition. It will hardly be questioned but that | 
a premium, even with unrestricted competition, reflects j 
higher honours than tho championship of a single dis- | 
trict.—E d.] 
VEGETABLES AND FRUIT OBTAINABLE 
IN MARCH. 
There is so little to he got in addition to those mentioned 
for last month (p. 305), that it seems a waste of time and 
space to repeat them. Many things, such os Cucumbers, 
Beans, Strawberries, &c., will just be getting more plentiful. 
I hope the sanguine will keep the preliminary remarks in 
that page in mind. I shall mention one or two matters to 
which my attention has been directed. 
1. Blanched Turnip Tops. —I have had these in use 
for a number of years. I did not, however, invent the dish, 
but saw it mentioned as a good one, if I mistake not, in an 
almanack published by the proprietors of the “ Illustrated 
News." Most people relish turnip tops when in a green 
state after they begin to grow in spring, and that is just tho 
