320 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN S COMPANION.— July 20, 1856. 
! “ It is not the paltry sum of 10s. that I care about, but 
a principle is involved in such cases as these ; and I look 
upon your truly valuable journal, having a circulation 
; perhaps unequalled in the kingdom, and if such a system 
of deception cannot bo stopped, I take it that persons will 
; soon cease to take any notice of advertisements at all, 
| because they so often arc deceived in the execution of their 
orders ; thus the inuocent will suffer with the unprincipled. 
“ I shall be glad to hear your opinion on this case, and 
I shall probably cany the case still further.—L. R. Lucas, 
I Louth" 
[Putting Moss over the surface of the soil in your plant- 
1 pots will not injure the plants. 
: We certainly think you have just cause for complaint, us 
1 you were led, from the advertisement, to believe that you 
were to receive tallies of such a thickness as to run nine 
and twelve to the inch; you were deceived by being supplied 
i with those which were sixteen to the inch. We quite agree 
j with you that respectable traders should not do such things, 
and far less reply in such terms when a complaint is made.] 
TO WHICH CLASS DO I BELONG? 
In the Halifax Hoeticultueal and Eloeal Society, 
the sixth rule provides that there shall be four classes of 
exhibitors, viz.;— 
“1st. Gentlemen’s Gardeners. 
“2nd. Nurserymen and Sale Growers. 
“ 3rd. Amateurs, Florists, and Cottage Gardeners employ¬ 
ing nrtilicial heat, or who occasionally employ an assistant. 
“1th. Cottagers and Cottage Gardeners.” 
A Subscriber, who sends a copy of this rule, adds, “ I beg 
leave to submit the following proposition to your decision, 
as to which of the above classes a person belongs, pro¬ 
viding he grows his plants honestly in a cottage window, 
according to the rules of this Society, the person alluded to 
being employed under a gentleman's gardener ? ’’ 
[If you refer to our 14th volume, page 361, you will hud 
this very question answered. The person alluded to is 
clearly an under-gardener, and ought to compete in class 1. 
The object of the classification is to protect “ Cottagers and 
Cottage Gardeners ” from an unequal contest with those 
who have superior resources, and acquire skill by their 
employment in a gentleman’s garden. In the case referred 
to us we should be inclined to think that the wisdom of the 
rule is illustrated; for we are much mistaken if our 
“Subscriber," though lie cultivates “plants in a cottage 
window,’’ is not more than a match for most “ Cottagers 
and Cottage Gardeners,’’] 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Back Numbers (31. C.). —If you send direct to the office you can 
have all back numbers; but do not delay, and do not blame us for the 
neglect of others. 
Swarming of Bees (J. G.). —Although your bees were prolific in a 
western aspect, we prefer a south or south-east one, in order that the 
hives may have the benefit of the morning sun. Your copious feeding 
may account for your swarm on the 11th of May, which is the earliest 
we have heard of this season. A “colt swarm” is of rare occurrence j 
now-a-days, being a second one from a swarm of the current season, j 
We cannot exactly understand the cause of your losing it by the “ bees 
flying about in all directions.” If they did not fly far off there was, 
probably, no queen with them; if otherwise, they may have lost her; 
the bee’s in either case would return to the hive. But there are often 
several queens in late flights, each having a small cluster of bees about 
her. In such cases it is best to collect them into one cluster, leaving 
the bees to choose a queen. If you want proper humane hives, see those 
advertised in The Cottage Gardener ; but you may have pure honey 
from a common hive without destroying the bees by making a hole, on 
which you put a small hive or cap. It should be done before the hive 
swarms; and the best plan is to put the cap on a round, thin board, 
having a hole in it to admit the bees, by which means the treasure is 
easily taken away.—J. Wigiiton. 
Lin dm grandiflorum. —We are much obliged to IK. Boyd, J. L., 
and many others, for their notes; but the subject needs no further 
comment until a better supply of seeds has enabled more extended 
experiments to be tried. 
Rudiments of Gardening (A Subscriber). —We know .of no book 
such as you require. One or two of our “ Manuals,” shortly to be 
published, will supply your wants. 
Book on Gardening (IK. IK.).—We answer all letters that we 
receive. The Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary would suit you. 
It is the common Forget-me-not at Trentham. 
Fruit-garden (J. R. Potter ).—We shall publish a “ Manual ” which 
will just meet your wishes. 
Growing Mushrooms, and Forcing in Boxes (A K.). —You will 
see an article by Mr. ltobson, on Mushrooms, applicable to your case; 
and as the winter advances, if your boxes are not in a Mushroom-bearing 
state, they may be planted with Sea-kale and Rhubarb as you propose, 
reserving one or two for Chicory , which is a useful winter salad plant; 
and as you say you can command an average heat of 60 °, you may force 
Asparagus very well there ; in fact, there are many ways of using such 
boxes at that time. But your present duty now is to see to the Sea-kale, 
Chicory , and other plants likely to he used in winter, and by encouraging 
their early grow th, tend to their early maturity, and the difficulties or 
uncertainties of forcing are thereby much diminished; but, in fact, with 
the vegetables named, there is no difficulty, if only warmth be forth¬ 
coming. The other conditions are simple enough. 
Strawberries (T. N.). —On the composition and situation of the 
soil depends whether the British Queen , or any other variety of this 
; fruit, degenerates in it after growing on the same site for several years. 
In a light, upland soil we have known the site require to be changed 
j every third year; whereas we know some low-lying, alluvial soils where 
j the same Strawberry-beds have been in full production for sixteen 
I successive years. There is only one British Queen , either among sove¬ 
reigns or Strawberries; any respectable nurseryman can supply the 
| latter. 
Linum grandiflorum (B. IK. R.). —Your flowers of IAnum grandi¬ 
florum are quite true. They came quite fresh, and they confirm our 
judgment. Any one who sees red or scarlet in these flowers has no eye 
| for colour. Dark crimson with a tinge of violet is the way to express the 
; colour of your flowers ; but generally they are not so deep. 
Wheat Grub. —The minute orange-coloured grubs in the ears of 
Wheat (commonly called the Yellows), sent by J. C. from the Routh-cast 
! part of Surrey, are the well-known larvae of the Wheat Midge ( Ceci - 
I dotnyia Tri'tici ), and the little black flies ( Platygaster Tipulce) are the 
! enemies of the Midge. We know no means of cleansing the growing 
I crop; but much benefit may be obtained both to the crop after it has 
been thrashed, and to the next year’s plants, by the use of Professor 
Henslow’s Midge Sieves.—W. 
, Cuckoo Spit (J. S .).—Remove this from your Strawberries by your 
I finger and thumb. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Anerlry. July 29th, 30th, 31st, and August 1st. Sec., C. Lawson 
Esq., Anerley. Entries close July 9th. 
Bridlington. August 27 th. Sec. Mr. T. Cape, Bridlington. 
Essex. At Colchester, 8th, 9th, and 10th of January, 1857 . Secs. 
G. E. Attwood, and W. A. Warwick. 
Gloucestershire. Nov. 26 th and 27th. Sec., E. Trinder, Esq., 
Cirencester. Entries close Nov. 1 st. 
Leominster. Thursday, October 1(5. 
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. 
Nottinghamshire. At Southwell, December 17 th and 18th, 1856. 
Sec., Richard Hawksley, jun. Entries close November 19 th. 
Nottingham Central Poultry Association. January 14th 
and 15th, 1857* Sec., John Spencer, Nottingham. 
Yorkshire Agricultural Society. At Rotherham, Wednesday 
and Thursday, August 6th and 7th. Sec., J. Hannam, Esq., Kirk 
Deighton, Wctherby. 
N.B.— Secretaries vrill oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S 
EXHIBITION. 
If there be any truth in transmigration of souls, and if at 
any time we are to become a member of the gallinaceous 
tribe, and as such to bo exhibited, we should choose the 
Royal Agricultural Society’s Show, if the choice were left to 
us. The season of year, the long days, the fresh air, and 
the eclat of the scene, together make up an exhibition which 
has not its equal. Till poultry was joined to it there was a 
“lack;” but that is supplied, and all the denizens of the 
farm-yard are now well represented, as they should be, at 
an agricultural meeting. Many causes prevent this from 
being a numerous Show; but the liberality of the prize-list 
will always bring the best birds, and thereby answer the 
| purpose the Society has in view. Those who have hut few 
i fowls will hardly dare to exhibit them in July,—this is one 
j cause, and another is, that there are no sales. 
The Royal Agricultural Society of England may be well 
| content with its success, inasmuch as it brings into compe¬ 
tition the great amateurs and breeders of poultry, and 
affords to those most interested the opportunity of profiting 
by the result of their efforts. 
i There is one suggestion we would offer, which is, that 
I 
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