44-2 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— September 10,1856. 
would be a pood medium to make your wants known. Most likely a 
premium would l)e required, and you would have to spend at least three 
years in a pood garden somewhere in the country, and then a year in a 
London nursery. If you would, during that time, exert your energies, 
and conduct yourself with propriety, we have no doubt you will obtain 
at least a comfortable situation as head gardener. Lid you compose 
and write vour letter yourself? If you did, we have no fear but you 
will attain to eminence as a gardener, or, indeed, in any profession, pto- 
viding you add to your ability a determination to obtain, by diligent 
study and practice, the knowledge of every branch of horticulture and 
floriculture. Head over and study Mr. Appleby’s papers entitled, 
‘•Advice to Young Gardeners.” • 
Plan for Heating {G. W.). —The lamp would have no perceptible 
effect. It would not by any possibility exclude frost. 
Meteorological Instruments {J. G.). —We cannot recommend 
any maker in particular. The best mode is to make personal inquiries 
of several, and compare their charges. 
Grubs on Pear, Plum, ano Cherry Leaves {Stockport). —They 
are the black, slimy larvie of the Black-winged Saw-Fly {Tenthredo or 
Selandria JEthiops), Dust the leaves well with powdered lime, or 
syringe them with lime-water. — W. 
Diseased Geranium Leaves ( F . A. S.).— Your Geraniums have got 
what is called the spot, and it is bad to get rid of. A damp state of the 
roots, and a rather moist atmosphere, when there is not sun enough to 
cause rapid evaporation, are the chief predisposing cause. The opposite 
course is alike the best remedy and preventive. But we can hold out 
no prospect of your getting rid of it entirely this season. By cutting the 
plants down early, allowing them to rest, repotting in sandy soil when 
the buds have broken, keeping them rather dry and airy in winter, and never 
giving a drop of manure-water until the flower-trusses show, you may 
get your plants healthy again ; hut whether the spot becomes constitu¬ 
tional or not, it frequently comes again on the same plants, season after 
season. It you had a friend with clean stock, we would advise you to 
get cuttings, and keep them separate from your own. 
Name of Fern (G. L.). —No abortive frond came to hand, but we 
believe your Fern is a single pinna taken from the Pteris Chinensis, 
which is also called Pteris crenuta. 
Names of Plants {Eliza). — The shrub is Leycesteria formnsa. 
No. 2. Nigella Humana. 3. Platystemon Californicus. 
Name of Prlargonium {W. H. Wright ).—Your Pelargonium is 
Leah. A very good kind. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Dorchester. Sept, 1/tli and 18th. Sec., G. J. Andrews, Esq., Dor¬ 
chester. Entries close Sept. 1st. 
Essex. At Colchester, 8th, 9th, and 10th of January, 185/. Secs., 
G. E. Attwood, and W. A. Warwick. 
Gloucestershire. Nov. 2f)th and 2/th. Sec., E. Trinder, Esq., 
Cirencester. Entries close Nov. 1st. 
Leominster. Thursday, October 16. 
Nottinghamshire. At Southwell, December iyfh and 18th, 1850. 
Sec., Richard Ilawkslev. jun. Entries close November 19th. 
Nottingham Central Poultry Association. January 13, 14, and 
15. 7 Ion. Sec. Frank Bottom. Secretary to the Canary Department , 
Jno. Hetherintrton, jun., Sneinton. 
South West Middlesex. Sept. 30th. At Hampton. Sec., Mr. J. 
Gotelee, Hounslow. 
N.B .—Secretaries vull oblige vs by sending early copies of their lists. 
GETTING UP A POULTRY SHOW. 
“ I cannot answer for the happiness consequent on 
matrimony,” said an old bachelor; “lint of this I am sure 
—that wedding-cake is all the better for keeping.” 
On this principle we do not follow the same subject week 
after week ; perhaps it is the “ better for keeping.” 
Our last article referred to the diseases of the “ getters 
up” of Poultry Shows; but as we propose to follow every 
phase of the “ mania,” and to show that in each there is 
not only excitement, but pleasure, utility, and positive good, 
so now we shall treat of exhibitors. Many causes may 
make exhibitors, and we shall endeavour to point out some 
of them. We wjll premise that this malady is more 
common than that of wishing to he a committee-man, 
because it is easier of accomplishment, and entails less 
responsibility. 
Mr. M. had kept Bantams for years, and had liked them; 
he had superintended hatching, rearing, and everything 
connected with them, hut he had never dreamed of showing 
them, although lie knew them to be good. In his innocence, 
he thought their merits were eclipsed by all others. He 
attributed his notions of their merits to his own partiality, 
and when folks said they could not he beaten, he shook liis 
head, called them his pets, talked of tlio cruelties of Shows, 
and of the pokes from sticks and umbrellas, and said their 
value would not he enhanced by a medal or first prize. 
I 
A friend was once present when lie said so. 
“ Suppose,” said lie, “ they brought you home a Silver 
Cup ? ” 
The good man was staggered. 
“ T own,” said lie, “I should like a Silver Cup." 
“ Exhibit them,” said the friend. 
The owner hit liis nail, assumed a thoughtful expression 
of countenance, and at length said ho would think of it. 
The friend saw that inoculation had taken place, and, 
therefore, left on the table an entry-paper for a neighbouring 
Show. He had judged rightly—the Bantams were sent. 
This will bring us to another phase of this malady, or 
mania, or disease, and it may he well to inquire into the 
different forms it assumes. We have, deferred it, because, 
in the case we have named, the result is not told, and the 
promoting cause is twofold. We will now speak of the 
malady as divided into three. We class them thus—dis¬ 
tinction lor pets, distinction for self, and positive gain. This 
may not seem sufficiently varied, Imt after chapters will, we 
think, prove that, at this period of our story, we are 
sufficiently prolix. 
There are natures so kind that it is difficult for them to 
expend themselves oti ordinary objects. We write to please 
all, and should we by an unhappy word offend any, we 
d'avance humbly lieg their forgiveness; hut there are 
certain persons in life, single as regards themselves and 
human nature and mankind, inasmuch as they are not 
married; but let our marrip.d friends overlook the digres¬ 
sion, for their happiness in that stale may forgive the little 
digressions. Those who liRve not entered into that blessed 
state have yet within themselves a fund of sympathy for 
animals, which takes the place of love for human beings, 
which has never been called, into action. 
We cannot help digression ; hut many a married single 
person grins over the advertisement for the lost pug, who 
will spend days, nights, and hundreds in search of a 
peculiar coin or hook, the intrinsic worth of which is not 
the paper on which it is written, or the metal on which it is 
impressed. Who has not read in “ Peter Pindar” of the 
friend of “Sir Joseph,” who, despising his Tulips, scattered 
them all in pursuit of the Emperor Butterfly? 
This may give some index to the feelings of many who 
find an outlet for checked or pent-up feelings in loving pets; 
and that fancy which expends itself on out-door objects 
we hold to he superior to that which exalts an “in-door,” 
or, as it is sometimes called, “ a domestic animal,” to the 
place of a member of the family, and gives a plate, a knife 
and fork, and a bed to a roquet, or the ugliest dog that 
can he found. 
Thank goodness, the pets of which we have to speak are 
different, and are tlioso that cause health, and a natural 
dvlnissemeut among the thousands who read our columns. 
We know there are all classes and conditions. While this 
increases our difficulty in pleasing all parties, it also makes 
us more prolix. 
The. love for feathered favourites may arise from two causes 
—either because they minister to the pleasure of children, and, 
therefore, interest the parent; or, lacking this claim, they 
interest the bachelor, who lias no children, by filling a void 
in his mind and affections. Is it wonderful that he is in¬ 
terested in their success, or careful of their welfare ? We 
contend lie is the best of exhibitors, and in a future paper 
will carry out our views. 
THE ANERLEY PROTESTS OF 1856. 
I An article appeared in "The Cottage Gardener a few 
I weeks since, which asserted that the reason the firs^ prize 
was not awarded to my Brahma chickens was on account of 
| some brown feathers being found in the pen, which some 
of the committee had in their possession. I beg to state 
that the chickens had not any feathers of that colour when 
they left my premises for Anerley ; they had not any when 
the first prize was awarded them at Clifton, nor have they 
now. They were seen by a celebrated breeder of Brahmas 
before they were sent to Anerley, and he can assert that 
they had not any brown feathers at that time. If brown 
feathers (supposing my birds had any) were a disqualifica¬ 
tion, why was not a prize withheld last year from a pen of 
