THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— May 20, 1856. 
Ill 
seed are to be sown ; in that case the pans should be placed in a warm 
aspect, and on ground where the worms cannot penetrate ; it placed in a 
frame, it will be an advantage, or a hand-glass, when only a single pan 
is sown, placed over it, to protect it from violent rains, as well as to 
forward the germination. A thin mixture of common whitening-and- 
water, and a thin coat of this laid on the inside of the hand-glass or 
frame-light, with a soft brush, will be an effectual shade from the mid¬ 
day sun, and at the same time will admit sufficient light for the seeds to 
germinate and grow till they are strong enough to bear exposure to the 
sun and air. 
Potatoes going Black (J. W.). —Potato tubers always become 
more or less black when boiled after sprouting. It is probable that it 
arises in some way from the Solanin , a violent poison found in the 
Potato after it has vegetated, but not before. This explains why Potatoes, 
after they have sprouted, disagree with stomachs which digest easily 
unsprouted Potatoes. 
Fence (A Two Years ’ Subscriber). —If you have flints build a flint- 
wall eight feet high; but without knowing the nature of your soil, or 
whether you wish for a live or a dead fence, how can we advise you? 
You might as well tell a shoemaker to send your wife a pair of shoes, 
without stating anything about the size or material. 
Pear witiiout Bloom (E . T. D.). —The produce of “six bushels ” 
last year is a very sufficient reason. Next year the bloom will, probably, 
be as abundant as usual. * 
Melon Plants scorched (A Gardener in Trouble).— It was, pro¬ 
bably, caused by the heat being raised too high, and the fumes of the 
sulphur not being allowed to escape. 
Spotted Camellia Leaves {Michael). —The markings upon the 
Camellia leaves seem to lie the punctures of some kind of insect; for 
instance, the Chermes will puncture the young leaves of plants in this 
manner for the purpose of placing their eggs. But the raised spots may 
proceed from some parasitical fungus. Such cases arc generally brought 
on from inattention to fumigating, and neglecting the use of the syringe 
occasionally; there is no doubt but these two points have been much 
wanting in the structure where these Camellias, &c., have been grown. 
We would close such a structure on a calm evening, give it a thorough 
good fumigation with tobacco, and paint with sulphur; give no more air 
the next day than was required to prevent burning or scalding the plants ; 
after which we would re-place every plant in the house, removing all 
decayed leaves at the same time, stir the earth upon the surface of every 
pot, and thoroughly water any one that might need it; and if we found 
any plants with leaves filthy at all, these should be well washed sepa¬ 
rately. Then, all being neatly placed, and the house sweeped out, the 
following evening after fumigating, and the house being closed, we would 
give the whole a syringing. The leaf sent we cannot recognize. It 
may be one from Photenia urbutifoliu ; but it is doubtful. 
Names of Insects {A. K. P .).—The very minute hairy caterpillars, 
which have so much gnawed the leaves of your Peaches, are the young of 
some moth quite recently hatched from the eggs. It is not possible, at 
this very young state, to determine the species they belong to; but from 
their appearance they may be the produce of the Lackey, or the Vapourer 
Moth, the caterpillars of which, at a later period, do much injury to 
Plums, Green Gages, &c., by eating the leaves. It will, therefore, be 
necessary for you to keep a sharp look out to prevent their attaining the 
full size. (F. D.). —The grubs which have eaten the roots of the turf of 
your lawn are the larvce of a species of Daddylonglegs. They are very 
difficult to get rid of; but, probably, repeated waterings with lime-water 
would have the effect. A better plan is to set children to catch all the 
flies as soon as they appear in the winged state in a few weeks' time, 
which will, at all events, prevent a fresh brood making its appearance 
next year.—W. 
Names of Plants ( Clericus ).—The blue flower with long linear 
leaves is one of the Grape Hyacinths, Muscuri racemosum , or commonly 
called the Starch-scentcd Hyacinth. The little purple Crosswort is the 
Aubrietia purpurea , and the showy little Crosswort is the Alyssum saxa - 
tile, or the Rock Madwort. The white Crosswort is Arabis alpina. The 
double white flower is the Saxifraga granulatu; the other blue liliaceous 
flower is a species of Squill, Scitlu It illicit , we think ; and the yellow- 
flowering shrub, which belongs to the natural order Berbery-worts, we 
believe to be Berberis ( Mahonia) aquifolium. (IF. R.). —Your grass¬ 
like plant is the Scirpus sylvaticus, known by the name of the Wood 
Club-rush, or Millet Cypress-grass. It is found in moist woods. 
Plants for a Water Cistern (R. H. C .).—There is no hardy 
water plant that would droop down so far to hide the outside of the 
cistern ; but many plants would answer to hang on a pot-hook to cover 
or break the line of the kerb-stone. Hydrangeas are the best for the 
purpose. Why not plant Tree Box as high as the cistern, and close to 
it, and keep them cut to that height ? Try planting them now. 
Propagating Sweet Brier (A Constant Reader). —It Is best raised 
from seed, saved in the autumn, and sown in drills in the March 
following. 
Runners for a Screen {F. II., Old Ford ).—In your neigbourhood 
nothing will be so quick growing, so efficient, or more ornamental than 
Runner Kidney Beans; two scarlet and two white-blossomed sown 
alternately. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Agricultural Society (Royal). At Chelmsford, July 14th to 19 th. 
Sec. J. Hudson, Esq., 12, Hanover Square, London. Entries close 
June 1st. 
Anerley. July 29th, 30th, 31st, and August 1st. 
Bath and West of England. June 4th, 5th, and 6th. Sec. Mr. J : 
Kingsbury, 10, Hanimet Street, Taunton. Entries close May 14th. 
Bristol. June 25th and 26th. Sec. Robert Hillhouse Bush, Litfield 
House, Clifton, Bristol. Entries close 26th of May. 
Essex. At Colchester, Sth, 9th, and 10th of January, 185?. Secs. 
G. E. Attwood, and W. A. Warwick. 
Exeter. At Exeter, May 29 th and 30th. Sec. Mr. T. William Gray. 
Hull and East Riding. At Hull, June 25th. Sec., B. L. Wells, 
Esq., 23, Bishop Lane, Hull. Entries close June 18th. 
Leominster. Thursday, October 16. 
Manchester and Liverpool Agricultural Society. At Wigan, 
Thursday, August 7th. Secs, for poultry, J. H. Peck, and J. S, 
Marshall, Esqrs. Entries close July 24th. 
Norwich. June 20th. (Norfolk Agricultural, for Subscribers only.) 
Sec., Mr. E. C. Bailey, Little Oxford Street, Norwich. Entries close 
May 31st. 
Nottinghamshire. At Southwell, December 17 th and 18th, 1856. 
Sec., Richard Hawksley, jun. Entries close November 19th. 
Nottingham Central Poultry Association. January 14th 
and 15th, 1857- Sec., John Spencer, Nottingham. 
Paris. May 23rd to June 7th. Sec., M. M. E. Ilouber, Division de 
l’Agriculture, rue de Varennes, No. 78 his, Paris. 
Prescot. July Sth. Sec., Mr. J. F, Ollard, Prescot. Entries close 
June 2lst. 
Windsor Poultry Exhibition. At Windsor, 4th, 5th, and 6th of 
June. Secs. Thos. Chamberlain, and Henry Thompson. Entries 
will close May 10th. 
Yorkshire Agricultural Society. At Rotherham, Wednesday 
and Thursday, August 6th and 7th. Sec., J. Hannam, Esq., Kirk 
Dcighton, Wetherby. 
N.B.— Secretaries vnll oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
THE CAUSES THAT FREQUENTLY PRODUCE 
COMPLAINTS AGAINST TIIE DECISIONS OF 
POULTRY JUDGES. 
No subject seems so generally interesting, in connexion 
with Poultry Shows, as the decisions of the parties ap¬ 
pointed as judges. The matter is continually appealing 
before the public, in some shape or other, either as a dis¬ 
quisition on some particular award, or a wholesale decla¬ 
mation and exposure of any inconsistency that may per¬ 
chance arise. From whichever cause they proceed, the 
result is invariably the same ; the judges are denounced as 
the only delinquents, and publicly set forth as the scape¬ 
goats on whom it is justifiable to pour unmitigated dis¬ 
approbation. 
Of late, this has more particularly assumed the nature 
of a “ fashion,” and many a disappointed competitor feels 
but little compunction to act as fugleman on the occasion, 
in the hope his own particular interests may possibly be 
indirectly advanced by this procedure. In most of such 
instances, the inquiry rests exclusively in the exposure of 
the shortcomings of the successful ones ; whilst those of the 
defeated are as frequently “ glossed over,” and should they 
happen to possess an important good feature, this latter is, 
in the same spirit, unduly magnified and prominently in¬ 
sisted upon. If calmly considered, we have no doubt that good 
may arise, even out of this prevalent evil; and with that 
single conviction we have introduced the subject to the 
attention of our readers, more particularly as we indulge in 
the hope of being enabled to point out a few causes that not 
unfrequently lead to disappointment, and hope (thus ex¬ 
posed) their recurrence will be proportionally limited. 
It by no means is certain that first impressions are the 
most correct ones; and, as on every occasion the judges 
appear to he held alone responsible for the awards, it cannot 
fairly be asserted, that to point out other causes that may 
lead to error is labour lost and trouble thrown away. One 
of the principal mistakes in conducting a poultry exhibition, 
under present management, is, undoubtedly, the by far too 
limited period allotted to judges for the deliberate per¬ 
formance of their thankless and truly arduous duties. If 
any poultry amateur, possessing a large stock, will only 
reflect on the time and trouble he has himself devoted to 
the selection of his five or six pens of fowls, prior to des- 
