400 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
proved Sussex or Surrey fowls, improperly called “ Coloured 
orkmgs. Now, may I be allowed to ask two questions? 
1'lrst, why was one of our breeds of fowls called Dorkings ? 
i bis finds a ready answer, because they were bred° at 
Dorking, in Surrey, and there gained great notoriety. We 
must bear m mind that a Dorking may bo a Surrey fowl, but 
not every Surrey a Dorking. Let us, then, enquire what sort 
ot a fowl the Dorking is, or was ? By careful enquiry it will 
, i° un d to be a plump, rose-combed, white fowl, with short 
legs and five claws. This, then, is the true and only Dorking. 
It was bred in Dorking. Where the inhabitants of that town 
obtained their original stock is not the question ; the fact is, 
they are the fowls bred there, with which the Romans had 
nothing to do. 
The so-called “ Coloured Dorking ” derives its origin from 
the old Sussex fowl. These may or may not be originally of 
Roman descent, but certain it is they are not Dorkings. 
I he improved Sussex or Surrey fowls are of this old Sussex 
bleed, bred to the Dorking standard, in form of breast, toes, 
arc., but their breeders deny any cross with the true or old 
oikings; therefore, I ask, what right have they to the name? 
JNone, I say, and the sooner it is disused the better. Every 
breeder of them knows how prone they are to produce 
chickens without the fifth toe, but this is a distinctive mark 
ol a pure Dorking; but it is not every five-toed fowl that is 
a Dorking ; there are many others that have that appendage. 
I think it is worth the notice of poultry committees that 
these fowls should not be called Dorkings, but Sussex, or 
buirey fowls. Colour, comb, or toes are no criterion of the 
i rr ThlS being the far mer’s breed, the sooner these 
absurdities are forgotten the bettera large breast and short 
white legs should be their guide.-B. P. Brent, Bessel's 
trreen, near Seven Oaks. 
August 22 . 
I grow them in beds in the open air, where they thrive 
luxuriantly. They require a light soil, and protection from 
the severest frosts. I plant the rows six inches apart, and 
the bulbs four inches deep, and three inches from one 
another in the rows. 
The proper season for planting them is September or 
October, and their season of blooming May and June. 
I find that Mrs. Loudon agrees with Mr. Beaton in stating 
that the true Peacock Iris is not this variety, so generally 
I sold under that name; and I take the liberty of linking my 
: opinion unto theirs ; but, whilst declaiming against the trade 
for making such a mistake, would be inclined to overlook 
; their fallibility in this particular, provided they always sent 
j out . mtcli pretty flowering plants as this under “ good 
I selling names.” “ There are correct names, and sellin" 
names." The name of Peacock Iris is certainly a pleasing 
i one > aQ d conveys to the mind pleasing thoughts of great 
and contrasted beauty, but I cannot help thinking the in¬ 
dividual who first named the (major) variety, deserves to 
be snubbed, for endeavouring to increase the confusion 
already existing in the nomenclature of bulbs, for a secular 
purpose.—C. B. S., Jersey. 
FOWLS.* 
A second edition of the above work has been published 
VIEUSSEUXIA GLAUCOPIS. 
(Iris pavonia, or Peacock* Iris of the trade.) 
“ S’il ya une plante celeste, ce’st elle,” were the words 
applied to this beautiful little flowering Iris, by M. L. Van 
iioutte, of Client, in one of his catalogues, and well were 
the words applied for it is one of the chastest, prettiest, 
and most prim-looking of little plants that I have seen, 
when in bloom. . Its grass-like foliage is prettily ribbed, and 
is easily distinguishable from that of other plants, whilst its 
flower-spikes and spathes have something ires distinaui 
about them, and when they expand their first blooms," of 
which there are several in the same spatlie, all florists who 
have a knowledge of French, and see it, will be inclined to 
enter into M L. Van Houtte’s line of thought, and say as 
— * there’s a celestial plant, that’s it.” 
I his plant is by no means scarce, although not so gene¬ 
rally known as it deserves to be. There are quantities of 
them grown in the Channel Islands, and sent to the London 
markets annually. And it has become so common with 
some of the London seedsmen, that they have taken the 
libeity of creating a new variety, under the name of Iris 
pavonm major , out of the original one (which is, par 
excellence, a much stronger grower, and freer bloomer 
than the original one), although it is identically the same 
thing, wuh the. exception of its being a better article of sale, 
with the word major attached to its name. So much for 
the name of a plant. 
It is an easy plant to grow. The treatment Mr. D. 
eaton recommended for growing Sparaxis and Ixias in pots, 
is applicable to it. Or this plan may be adopted. Crowing 
it in small pots in light, sandy soil, during the winter, and 
potting it into a larger pot in a richer soil, with good 
drainage, early in the spring, keeping the pots plunged in 
aslies, and sparingly watered during the winter months 
until the roots are made, and the foliage begins to grow! 
when it will require to be more abundantly supplied with 
moisture. I he spathes of flowers are produced, and their 
pretty florets expand, showing its contrasted starch - white 
and brilliant blue colours in happy contrast, and to great 
perfection Six roots planted in a 60-pot, and shifted from 
!° a 3~-smed one for blooming, I have had the gra- 
f!istidious ° find C ° WeI ’ and P lease the fancy of the most 
ny Mr. Bauy, in which the various details of poultry 
matters are brought down to the present day. The character 
ot the previous edition has been preserved, which necessarily 
limits the space allotted to the several varieties, but the 
leading features and characteristics are admirably set forth, 
and a valuable epitome of poultry excellence is thus formed. 
Shanghaes, in their several colours, are most impartially 
commented on by Mr. Baily, though we must confess our 
inability to accede to his opinions relative to the specific 
distinctions of the “ Brahma Pootra," or, as we should 
term it, the “Grey Shangliae.” His views, however, are 
very far from being dogmatically set forth, and even those 
persons who would be adverse to his conclusions, cannot 
but assent to the principle on which his observations are 
grounded. 
Careful, unbiassed enquiry, we have long been convinced, 
will do more for the acquisition of knowledge, in both the 
; Natural History and domestic capabilities of the inmates 
ot our poultry-yards, than will ever be attainable by the 
means that disputants on this subject are too fond of bavin- 
recourse to. 
In speaking of Spangled Hamburghs, we are glad to find 
the author upholding “ the fully developed dark tail,” to 
the exclusion of the “ henny ” bird, the more perfect 
spangling of the latter having always, in our opinion, been 
too dearly purchased by the absence of the well-plumed 
tail. Another mooted point, in respect of Poland fowls, 
viz., the colour of the crest of the Spangled variety, is well 
disposed of in the following sentence:—“ Some admit white 
feathers, indeed prefer them ; others would consider them 
a grievous fault. I hold with the latter. I have seen 
Spangled birds with pure white topknots, and they were 
very handsome, but I still think they should be entirely of 
the same colour as the fowls; every feather should be laced 
like those of a Sebright Bantam, though I admit it will be 
impossible to get them quite so distinct.” 
A fresh chapter treats of “ Ptarmigan,” and other fowls 
newly introduced, or less commonly known; the specific 
distinctness of the former being prudently left an open 
question. “ Andalusians ” receive their due award of praise, 
and the “Rangoons," a sub-variety of the Malay fowl, are re¬ 
commended on the score of size. 
The present edition concludes with a chapter on “Ex¬ 
hibition Fowls," in which the various points of excellence 
in the different breeds are concisely stated. This is surely 
a step in the right direction ; and although, to form the 
poultry judge s text-book, some further additions may be 
thought necessary, this summary of the merits and delects 
must, at least, tend to simplify present complications, and 
avoid those frequent contradictory decisions that now 
exercise so unfavourable an influence at many of our ex¬ 
hibitions. 
* Fowls. By John Baily. Henningham and Hollis, London. 
