2 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 6. 
I 
like the Cummin, or for hoth its leaves and seed like 
the Anethon. By instancing these three plants, our 
Saviour clearly referred to the minuteness with which 
they included all plants cultivated for use in then- 
catalogue of things titheable, and then, without con¬ 
demning their carefulness, contrasts such carefulness 
with their neglect of the far more important duties— 
“justice, mercy, and faith.” 
The question then arises, what plant is meant by the 
Greek word Anethon ? There is scarcely a doubt that 
it is that which we know as Dill ( Anethum graveolens). 
Misled, perhaps, by the somewhat similar sound of the 
words Anethon and Anise, the translators of our version 
of the New Testament adopted the latter name as the 
interpretation of the other. This appears to be clearly 
an error, for if we refer to Leontinus, or others of the 
Geoponic writers, or to Dioscorides, we invariably find 
Anison and Anethon are different plauts. We may 
remark that no other version but our own has adopted 
this slight mistranslation. 
The Talmudists call the plant in Hebrew, Shavatli, 
adding, that “in the Roman language it is named 
Anethum," and that it was tithed, whether gathered 
green or ripe. Now, Anise is not so called in Latin, 
nor is it used in a green state. Dill, on the contrary, is 
called Anethum, and is gathered for use whilst green, as 
well as when its seeds are ripe. We are expressly told 
by the Talmudists that the Shavath or Anethum was 
eaten uncooked after meat by the Jews. 
If we refer to the earliest English writers on Plants, 
we shall find them all agreeing that the Anethon of the 
Greeks, and our Dill, are one and the same plant. They 
are equally unanimous in ascribing to it certain me¬ 
dicinal qualities, such as assuaging pain arising from 
flatulency, and giving immediate relief to those attacked 
by hiccough.* 
Dill, and Dill Water, are not banished eVen from 
modern medicine. They are retained yet in the London 
Pharmacopeia, and Dr. Duncan, in his “ Dispensatory,’ 
says—“ The seeds are recommended as carminative in 
flatulent colics.” 
The general encouragement that has been so freely 
accoided to the efforts of those who, some few years since, 
recognized the importance of improving the different 
breeds of our domestic Poultry, has been amply justified 
by the position now occupied by the objects of their solici¬ 
tude. The substantial benefits thus accessible to all 
classes anyways concerned in the economy of the 
poultry-yard, have turned the current of public opinion 
from the smile that ridiculed the mania, to expressions 
ot astonishment at the prejudices which so commonly 
forbad all hope of profit from these sources. 
* It is curious to note the progress of variation in spelling the latt 
affection. Turner, our earliest herbalist, spells it, in1551 hkhkok, 
Lyte. in 1578, calls' t hiquet ; Gernrde, in .597, writes it A,X l 
Parinnson, in 1640 names it hickock , and in the next century we fi, 
it spelt variously, hicket, hickouch, and hickup. All these diversities a 
‘u WOr ! i 1 h l CkeU > » convulsion! It is cp.ite usual to fir 
hiccough, called yex, in the old herbalists ; nearly the whole of who 
medical directions are merely translations from Dioscorides Plinv u 
other earlier writere. * y> 
If the public, therefore, has been benefited; and, not 
to dwell on individual opinions, we may here cite the 
interest now manifested by the Royal Agricultural and j 
other important societies of the like character, in proof ' 
that that has really been the case; the public thanks are 
assuredly due to those whose personal exertions have 
mainly contributed to this end. Had not the cause 
been thus warmly taken up by gentlemen whose time, 
consideration, and capital, were freely given to carrying j 
into effect the objects of our Poultry Associations, the 
latter would, at least, have occupied a far larger period 
in emerging from the obscurity to which popular ideas 
of their visionary character were inclined to consign 
them. 
Among those who were most anxious in the cause, 
and whose efforts, as tested by the results of past Ex¬ 
hibitions, have been most successful, Captain Hornby 
has always occupied a most prominent position ; and 
his triumphs, moreover, are the greater from the fact, 
that they have not been attained merely in one or two 
varieties, but have extended throughout a large majority 
of the denizens of our poultry-yards. Each succeeding 
year of the period to which we allude has added to the 
laurels previously gained by the Ivnowsley stock, and 
this despite the influence of rapidly-increasing com¬ 
petition, and the dangerous antagonism of the many 
specimens that had passed from his own possession into 
that of his opponents. 
In the midst of success, such as without any dispa¬ 
ragement to others embarked in the same career may 
certainly be termed unrivalled, Captain Hornby lias 
now requested us to announce his retirement from the 
poultry arena, and the disposal of his whole prize stock 
of Dorkings, Spanish, and Toulouse Geese to H. D. 
Davies, Esq., of Spring Grove, near Hounslow. From 
February, 1852, at Halifax, to January, 1854, included, 
no less than 198 prizes, comprizing the most honourable 
at Birmingham, the Metropolitan, Cheltenham, Ply¬ 
mouth, and the Royal Agricultural Society’s Exhibition, 
at Gloucester, not to mention many minor triumphs, 
have fallen to Captain Hornby’s birds, and, by reference 
to the various catalogues, it appears that he has never 
shown Spanish and Dorkings without receiving a first 
prize either in the adult birds or the chickens. At Bir¬ 
mingham, indeed, both first and second prizes for the 
adult birds in these classes were won by him in both 
1852 and 1853. 
To maintain the elevated position of his birds under 
their late owner, Mr. Davies will, doubtless, have to 
exert all his energy, and,.heartily wishing him success, 
we shall always be glad to hear that his poultry-yard, 
thus reinforced, has done as much credit to Middlesex 
as the birds he has now obtained have hitherto reflected 
on Lancashire. 
Great as has been Captain Hornby’s success in “Dor¬ 
kings,” it is as a “Spanish” breeder that his name has 
been more particularly distinguished. Here, in the 
earlier part of his career, he may fairly be said to have 
had no rivals. He both bred and purchased largely, j 
and the constant infusion of fresh blood thus attained, ; 
