44 
April 20. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
of Virginia, in North America, and was introduced to this 
country in the year 1699. 
Although readily increased by root division, this should 
he done with a little care, as its fleshy tuberous roots and 
crowns are rather brittle. To avoid breakage, the whole 
plant should be taken up when increase is required, and the 
separation made carefully. 
In replanting it there should be equal carefulness, so as 
not to break its roots more than is necessary. To effect this, 
work the soil well with the spade, and plant with the hands. 
This plant is not a very rapid increaser, so that if once well 
planted in the flower-border, and as a front row plant, since 
| its height is no more than from nine inches to a toot, it 
might remain in the same spots for one’s lifetime, and then 
not be too large for its situations. A little top-dressing may 
be given to it every spring when it puts up its stems. 
We have a plant of this which has stood in the same 
place the last nineteen years. It is now a noble bunch, but 
not a bit too large for its place, nor should we think it 
would be so at the end of another nineteen years. 
The main thing to mind is that it does not get injured 
! with the spade, trowel, or hoe, during the many months it is 
; out of sight. As it is an early llowerer (from the end of 
| March to the first of May), its leaves and stems have all 
died down by the end of Juno, and, of course, where it is not 
kept labelled, it is very liable to be destroyed before its time 
to put up again. 
The whole plant is quite smooth, and of a peculiar blueish 
or glaucous-green colour. Its flowers are large, numerous, 
and of a reddish-purple before opening, becoming of a 
light bright blue when expanded. 
There arc two other species of this genus much allied to 
the preceding plant, namely, the Pulmonaria siberica, and 
| P. marilima. All three are pleasing plants, and may all b» 
treated in like manner as front border plants, in the dry, 
warm borders, particularly noting where they are planted, 
so as not to disturb them during their months of rest, when 
their leaves and stems have died away. 
P. angustifolia, P. officinalis, and P. officinalis alba, these 
names are to be found in our English Floras, but, notwith¬ 
standing this, they are generally to be found classed among 
our hardy border plants, and very properly so, too, and 
though of a coarser habit and growth, yet as they flower 
early, that is, from March to the end of May, and will 
flourish iu any soil or situation, they are very useful mar¬ 
ginal or front row plants, dowering freely. They are often 
called “ Jerusalem Cowslips,” or “ Bethlehem Cowslips,” or 
“ Common Lungworts.” They are all readily increased by 
division, at any season, but, of course, spring or autumn is 
the most proper time for division. 
P. grandiflora and a: are a may be called the two next best, 
j and most worth our notice, as hardy border kinds, but in 
private gardens we are advocates for choice selections 
rather than collections. T. W. 
BRAHMA POOTRAS CERTAINLY ARE GREY 
SHANGHAES. 
The question, whether the so-called Brahma Pootra 
fowls are anything more than Grey Shanghaes, is now, I 
think, pretty well settled, although there are some parties 
who still cling to the idea that they are a different variety of 
fowls altogether; and the fact that some of our poultry shows 
have offered premiums for them under that name is rather 
calculated to mislead the public. 
I would ask, whether any specimens have reached this 
country direct from the neighbourhood of the Brahma 
Pootra River (for I presume they have their name from that 
neighbourhood, being their supposed native country), for,, 
doubtless, were they to be found there, we should have had 
some specimens of them here years ago. The remarks you 
have made on the subject, at different times, are sufficient 
to convince any unprejudiced person, but if further evidence 
was wanting, you will find it in the enclosed review of a 
poultry show held in the United States, which I have cu,t 
out of The New York Tribune. You will there find that the 
committeee have agreed to drop the name of Brahma 
Pootra altogether; and even Mr. Burnham, who has, 1 
believe, sent numbers to this country, now exhibits his 
birds under the name of Grey Shanghaes.—T. S. 
“The New York Poultry Show. —We continue our 
descriptive notes of varieties in the exhibition, and first oi 
the Shanghaes, which is the general name which should be 
applied to all the large class of Asiatic fowls in this country; 
to which we might add a prefix to indicate the various 
colours, as black Shanghaes, white Shanghaes, red Shanghaes, 
buff Shanghaes, grey Shanghaes, speckled Shanghaes, <fcc., 
and drop tlio names of Cochin-China, Brahma Pootra, Ac., 
and so on to the end of the catalogue. This the N. P. Society 
have agreed to do and recommend to all others. 
“ Here is a coop of black Shanghaes, exhibited by R. C. 
McCormick, Jr., of Woodhaven, L. I., who is a young man 
of means, who has turned his attention to raising poultry, 
more for the pleasure of the thing than profit, yet he must j 
desire a little of the latter, for he has sold this premium 
pair for 50 dol. He was the recipient of the 50 dol. premium 
for the best and largest variety, to which he is fairly entitled, 
not only for the quality of his poultry, but for the neat 
coops in which they are exhibited. Here is a coop marked 
‘ Pure blood Cochin-China, for sale for 15 dol. the three 
pair and no less.’ That is right; why should he take less 
for the long-legged red and yellow beauties? 
Here is a coop of Brahma Poolras, raised in Brooklyn ; 
the cock weighs 9J lbs. and the hen 8J lbs. They are of a 
sort of cream colour, with short black striped or pencilled 
necks, short tails, and forms which may be understood 
by the term ‘dumpy’ or ‘bunchy.’ They are a pretty lair 
variety, not mounted upon stilts. 
« Buff'Shanghaes are of a dirty light yellow colour for the 
hens, and a yellowish dirty red for the cocks. Pullets eight 
months old are marked 7j and 8 lbs. 
“ A coop of Chittagongs are of a cream-coloured white, 
the cocks’ necks yellowish, the necks of the hens pencilled 
black ; marked 15 dol. per pair. 
“ The first premium Cochin-Chinas, owned by George P. 
Burnham of Boston, are buff-coloured hens, striped with 
black, the cocks red and feather-legged, the hens of medium 
size, and round bodied. 
“ The first premium Greg Shanghaes, owned by the same 
extensive poultry dealer, are handsome round-bodied fowls, 
with legs of moderate length. The cocks are of a greyish 
cream colour, the hens dark on the back, and cream- 
coloured on the breast, with black striped necks and black 
tails. 
“A pair of nearly the same colour and general appearance, 
owned by H. L. Ballou, are named Eltagong, and marked as 
weighing 1!>1 lbs. 
“ Another coop, similarly coloured, are marked 3 ell""' 
Shanghaes. The cock 19 months old, 11 lbs., and hens, 7 
months old, 6f and 7.1 lbs. Price 15 dol. 
“A coop of Black Shanghaes from Bedford, L. 1., are 
marked, the cock, 18 months old, 11 lbs., hen 8 lbs. 
“ Chittagongs 10 months old, are marked, cocks 10 lbs., 
hens 8 lbs., nine months old pullet 7J lbs.; price 25 dol. 
for the trio. 
« Red Shanghaes from Newark, are about the same colour 
of ordinary red cocks of the farm-yard, pure blood ot 
imported stock, 10 dol. per pair. 
« Buff and white Shanghaes, from Paterson, 12 dol. per pair. , 
“A coop marked Malays, are of a yellow colour, black pen- j 
cilled, and are of the size and look of red Shanghaes. 
“ A coop of four Chittagongs, white hens with black pen- j 
cilled necks, and cocks black pencilled over the body, and of i 
handsome form, seven months old, were sold for 2-> dol. four 
grey ditto, same price. Four handsome black Shanghaes, 
and four brown ditto, from Blackwell’s Island, are marked 
50 dol. a coop. These are eight months old, and are very 
large. One pair of fowls are marked 10 dol. and the coop 
the same price, and cheap at that. All sorts of coops_ are ! 
used. One man has taken a cheese box and nailed slats to . 
the box and lid, elevating the latter for a roof. Others use | 
bird-cages. Some are wood, some iron, some brass, and ; 
some basket-work, and some were made with very little 
work. 
“ Somebody from Gowanus has sent in a coop of Shang¬ 
haes in their original unimproved native ugliness. The coop 
is labelled, ‘ not owned by any member of the Committee, 
and consequently the owner th ink s he has been foully dealt 
