July 13. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
281 
friends to try and see what could be done with one some 
Jive or six feet wide, with cross rows a foot apart, they 
would lind it took a great many plants, and if proper 
pains be taken to ensure them sufficient nourishment, 
the produce will be good likewise. 
L cannot close this chapter without adverting to the 
practice ol Celery trench-making (so-called), and must 
condemn the mode of making them so deep as to 
deprive the plant of the best part of the soil for growing 
in, for it is no unusual thing to seo Celery trenches dug 
out with mathematical care and precision, and the poor 
plants stuck in and condemned to exist at the bottom 
of a trench on little else than mere clay, or whatever 
may be the subsoil; in this case, success is out of the 
question, for the plants rarely see their way over the 
ridges, let alone requiring earthing up; this is of far 
j more importance than anything else in the way of 
Celery growing, and ought to be attended to accordingly. 
It is not necessary here to enter on the merits of the 
early or late system of earthing up. Some of the advo¬ 
cates for the latter, carrying their notions to an extreme, 
have evidently overshot the mark; one thing may be 
said, that it is the other means that aro adopted that 
cause the Celery to grow; this, however, will be noted 
on hereafter. J. Robson. 
DEVON AND CORNWALL POULTRY 
EXHIBITION. 
Tun south-western districts of England cannot be charged 
with remissness in aiding the onward progress of the 
poultry cause, since the immediate vicinity of Plymouth 
alone has witnessed no less than four exhibitions during 
the last twelve months. The last of these was that held at 
Antony, the beautiful seat of W. H. P. Carew,' Esq., on the | 
27th and 28th of June last, and the prize list of which we 
published last week. 
On this occasion the poultry were arranged beneath sheds 
erected near tire magnificent clump of Ilex, supposed to be 
among the finest specimens in this country, while in close 
proximity were tents, marques, and other buildings appro¬ 
priated to a flower shower, a bazaar, an exhibition of 
machinery, and various other purposes. 
The labours of the Committee, however, were sadly dis¬ 
composed by weather of the most unfavourable description, 
and the canvass shelter of the poultry became insufficient 
for the full protection of the birds from the continuous and 
heavy rain. In many instances the occupants of different 
pens had suffered severely in their plumage from this cause. , 
Coloured Dorkings, though unequal to those exhibited at 
the Bath and West of England Agricultural Association at 
Pennycombequick, in 1853, were a decided improvement 
on the average of the breed in this part of England. 
Wherever chickens are shown it seems advisable to require 
a certain proportion of the sexes; a pen consisting wholly 
of cockerels is of somewhat difficult comparison with one 
containing the same number of pullets only, especially 
where, as in the Dorking family, growth and weight exercises 
so powerful an influence on the arbitrations. Here the 
Dorking chickens had various proportions of the sexes, 
entailing, in part, the difficulty above alluded to. 
Among the white Dorkings there was a singularly neat 
pen of chieken, belonging to Mr. Francis Coleridge, of 
Ottery St. Mary, but we can say but little for the adult birds. 
Spanish also, were a manifest advance on what has 
usually been witnessed at our local shows; both the birds 
belonging to Mr. Rowe, and those of Mr. Square, were of 
great merit, and we would more especially notice the hens 
exhibited by the first-named gentleman. The undecorated 
pens, however, must not be passed over in silence, since 
among their inmates were many birds of good quality, but 
unfortunately matched with unworthy companions. 
The adult Shanghae fowl is at all times difficult to produce 
in good feather at this season of the year. Drawbacks on 
this account, however, were now aggravated by many of the 
competeing pens, being thoroughly drenched. All the prizes 
I in the buff or cinnamon class fell to Mr. Parkhouse, of 
Plymouth ; Mr. Lawrence, of Penzance, being commended 
for a cock of remarkably good colour, but rather lightly 
hooted. 
Among the chickens of the same colours, Mr. Burton, of 
Truro, deservedly took a first prize for a pen of great 
promise, Mr. Square, of Plymouth, being second. 
I he Shanghaes of other colours were but indifferent, if 
we except the two pens of white chickens, belonging to 
Mr. Turner, of Northbrook, near Exeter, which were of 
very high excellence. Green or otherwise discoloured 
legs, it should be remembered, must ever prove a bar to 
j success in the white Shanghae. 
The Game fowls were decidedly good, but our oft-repeated 
observations of the carelessness with which pens are matched 
| for exhibition were here again noticeable. Individual birds 
equal to any of their competitors were in several of the 
| pens that received no honours, but companions of a very 
1 faulty character could not but mar their chance. One of 
the best cocks, for instance, was cast by the unlucky circum- 
! stance of one of the hens having broken its leg. 
Among the Pencilled Hamburgh, both Gold and Silver, we 
were glad to observe an onward progress; our complaints of 
their general character in this district having been oft 
repeated. Pen 101, of the former variety, the property of 
Mr. Rowe, of Milton Abbot, being especially deserving of 
our enconiums. The Spangled birds being also meritorious, 
we confidently look forward for a better general repre¬ 
sentation in this neighbourhood of all the breeds arranged 
under this name. 
A good pen of White Polands were rewarded, as were also 
specimens of high pretensions among the White-crested 
Black, the Golden and the Silver varieties. Of the first of 
these, more particularly, our recollection would be severely 
taxed to recall better examples. 
In Bantams, Mr. Adkins, of Edgbaston, was successful 
with some good white birds, but the other varieties were 
not well represented. 
Some American Turkeys, the property of Mr. Lawrence, 
and bred from Captain Hornby’s stock, were disqualified 
from there being but one hen, the schedule requiring two. 
A pen of young Geese gave practical evidence of what 
may be attained by these profitable birds. 
The Aylesbury Ducks were but an indifferent lot; the 
characteristic colour of the bill being generally wanting, 
while size also, in several instances, was far below the 
requirements of the present day. Of the Rouen breed 
tberc were present good specimens of both young and old 
alike, while the rejection by the judges of some black East 
Indian Ducks, should instruct breeders that a brown breast 
is unbefiting that race. 
Among the miscellaneous fowls we noticed singularly 
good specimens of booted and tufted black tailless fowls, 
which, we were given to understand, were a recent importa¬ 
tion from Persia. A novelty was also effected by exhibiting 
hens with their broods, but the unavoidable injury to the 
chickens, and the hazard 'of accidents, will always, we 
apprehend, be regarded as serious objections to this practice. 
The Pigeon class was well filled, and among them the 
Carriers were certainly pre-eminent. Equal first prizes 
awarded severally, to an old and a young bird, attested the 
severity of the competition. The prize Fantail, Barb, 
Runt, Archangel, and Turbit, were also exceedingly good. 
We conclude with a word of advice to exhibitors, as well 
as poultry societies, and those who on such occasions may 
be entrusted with judicial responsibility. Birds of any 
description sent to a show with any apparent marks, such 
ns string or ribbon round the leg should, in our opinion, be 
disqualified. This does not, of course, include the private 
marks of breeders which are impressed on the foot, bill, 
or elsewhere, and which are seldom conspicuous, or likely 
to be readily recognized. The Birmingham Committee 
have here acceded to the wishes of their judges on a recent 
occasion, and their example may be advantageously followed 
by all other similar bodies. 
DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
The Meeting for the month of June was held hy the 
Members at tho Rooms of the Society, 212, Great Bruns- 
