NovEjtBF.n 2'J. 
THE COTTAGE GAllDENER. 
1.')! 
that the Cochin-Cliiiia breed possesses this property in a 
pre-eminent degree — seeing that their chickens at four 
months old will outweigh those of Spanish or Dorking at 
six. And with regard to the quality of their flesh, the 
general opinion expressed by your correspondents is, T 
think, decisive that, although there exists as yet some little 
prejudice against the long legs and colour of the skin, 
tiiey come behind no breed in the essentials which render 
this description of food so valuable an adjunct to the table. 
And, certainly, my own opinion, founded on pretty exten¬ 
sive trials in this agreeable particular, is not opposed to 
that conclusion. 
Take, now, the other commodity, to the remunerative pro¬ 
duction of which the attention of the cottager would be more 
especially directed in forming his estimate of the most 
suitable breed, namely, “ Eggs.” In the full-grown laying 
hen, as in the growing chicken, only a veiy inconsideiable 
part of the nutriment, as compared with tiie whole extracted 
from the food eaten, is required to replace the loss occa¬ 
sioned by the waste which, to a certain extent, is continually 
going on in the bodies of all animals. By far the larger 
portion of it is diverted to supxhy the specific drain which is 
necessary to, and results in, the formation of the egg; and 
it will be found, with here and there perhaps an exception, 
that in proportion to the food consumed will be the fertility 
of the hen in her yield of eggs. So that here, again, if we 
regard the hen as an “ egg-producing machine,” the ques¬ 
tion of preference with the cottager ought to be—not which 
breed of hens are the smallest eaters (for the number of 
eggs laid being in the ratio of the food consumed, he will 
assuredly with small eaters also have but indifferent layers) 
—but, which breed will manufacture their food most expe¬ 
ditiously; which, in short, possesses the greatest egg-pro¬ 
ducing power, irrespective of the food consumed, which, 
however, will bo a true reflex of that power. Now, my own 
opinion is, that nothing can excel tlie Cochin-China breeds 
in the number of eggs they produce. Spanish, I believe, 
may equal them in this respect, and even surpass them in 
w-eight of eggs, and though, the quality of the eggs being 
the same, I should esteem this an important point, it would 
be of little benefit to the cottager so long as eggs are sold 
by number and not weight. But the superior richness and 
flavour of the smaller egg will, I think, in the long run, 
prove more than a set-off against any deficiency in its size, 
for I am quite of opinion that when the breed becomes 
more general, this supeinority will be so notorious as to 
enable them to command a better price than the eggs of 
any other breed, particularly in our large towns, where 
quality, in all that conduces to the gratification of the palate 
at least, is so well appreciated. Allowing, however, the 
merits of the two breeds as layers to be equal (I do not here 
include Dorkings, as from my experience of them they do 
not, as layers, merit a comparison, and this defect will, I 
think, partly account for their being, which they indisputably 
are, so excellent a fowl for the table), there remains one 
Xioint, and to my thinking only one, on the question of the 
alleged greater cost of keeping Cochins over Spanish, and 
that is in the supposed case of a cottager who may have 
no market for his chickens, and whose sole object, there¬ 
fore, in rearing poultry, would be for the profit of their eggs. 
I Being told that both breeds are equally prolific layers, but 
that Cochi)is, from their quicker growth and greater size, 
were the most expensive to keep as c/u'cAcvis, unless he could 
dispose of them as such, he might not unreasonably ask 
whether there were any advantages in the large breed, over 
the small, which would compensate for this difference in the 
cost of keeping, prior to the period of laying. On this xmint 
your readers liave had such ample means of forming an 
opinion, both from the excellent ai'ticles of Anster Bonn, 
and the interesting communications of so many able corres¬ 
pondents, tliat I am unwilling to say anything on the 
subject, further than that in my own opinion, more than an 
equivalent, for this small additional cost, will be found in the 
fact of the Cochins excelling, not only Spanish, but all 
other fowls, as far as I am conversant with them, as winter 
layers. A consideration of all others xierhaps the most im- 
Xiortant to the cottager.— Siianghae Mandarin. 
HARDY HERBACEOUS LOBELIAS. 
I 
Lobei.ia Syphilitica. —How rarely is this beautiful plant 
to be seen, in either a choice selection, or even in botanical 
collections, where anything and everjlbing should be kept 
for the lovers of plants. Notwithstanding the fine high | 
colours of the Lobelia splendois and fnlyens, and their > 
varieties, we think this much prettier, and very desirable | 
to mix with them in a bed or border. Indeed, we think I 
this the hardiest and handsomest of all of the upright- j 
growing “ Cardinal flowers.” It rises from two to three ' 
feet high ; tlie whole plant is of a pale green colour, and ! 
leafy from the root to the very tip of its flower-stems, and a [ 
profuse bloomer; its flowers are of a light-blue colour; 
indeed, the whole plant makes a very striking appearance in 
the flower-border at all seasons, for even its leafy crowns 
are always visible, forming evergreen bunches in the I 
borders during winter. It is a native of Virginia, and was j 
introduced to this country in l(iC5. 
In order to keep it growing to perfection it should be ' 
taken up, divided, and replanted every year in the spring j 
months. The soil cannot be too rich for it, and it should ■ 
be planted in rather a cool situation. We always choose i 
new spots for these plants every year in our borders, and I 
take care to keep a number of plants, in paiticular of 
any choice kinds, well working up the natural soil, and 
adding to it a spade or two of turfy-loam and leaf mould in 
equal parts; then planting a comxiact bunch of the plant, 
and with the hand pressing the soil about it snug and 
film. Its time of flowering is from August to October. 
Being anxious to have enough of it, we have often put 
a bit of it in the kitchen-garden, at the foot of some of the 
vegetable quarters, where rich enough is the soil, and 
which is a new place too to the plant. These make fine 
specimens to lift into pots, in September, to take to a 
Horticultural Exhibition. Sometimes w'e have turned 
this xilant out again to take its course like others in the 
borders until spring; and at other times we have in¬ 
dulged it with a place in the cold-frame, with others, for 
winter protection : and certainly this is a safe method to 
deal with it in localities where there is any fear about 
i losing it; but with us, self-sown plants come up annually, 
somewhere or other about the borders, without any care. 
Two-years’-old plants, however, we have always found to 
tire of their places, and to dwindle or die off. There is a 
white variety of this xilant which I have never seen : x^ro- 
bably it is not so hardy as the above and rarer. 
Lobelia Caedixaijs. —This is a native of Virginia too, 
and perhaps a rarer plant than the preceding. I have not 
seen it for many years. “Hardy as this plant is,” says Mr. 
Curtis, in the “ Botanical Magazine,” “ and long as it has I 
been introduced to this country, we do not find it generally | 
in gardens.” We attribute this to its having, in a greater | 
degree than many other idants, a partiality for a particular 
soil. In certain districts, where the soil is stiff and moist, 
it grows as freely as a iveed, and in others is continually 
going off Now, in most localities there is a place to be 
found to suit almost any plant, if due labour is given and 
attention to replanting in a soil prepared to receive the 
plants. Watchful attention, and love for the plants, will 
do wonders in securing the growth of any plant, — 
T, Weaver. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*«* We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gaedkneb. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of 
the Cottage Gardener, % Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London.” j 
Achimenes (L. S.).—The following will best suit you for a green¬ 
house— Coccinea and its varieties, Longijtora major, Grandijlora Liep- 
mannii, patens, Candida, and splendeits. These we find stand the best. 
The propagation and management have been several times given, but we j 
will repeat the main points in good time, if not shortly. You may yet 
try tubers any time during the winter, and keep them dry without 
shrivelling, and away from frost, until the end of March, and then they 
will want a little assistance in a hotbed, or under a hand-bght, in a 
warm corner of the greenhouse in April. 
Pigeons {.igricola).—V!nte to Mr. Adkins, Edgbaston, near Bir¬ 
mingham. 
Geraniums turning Yellow (A Constant Subscriler).~'We are 
much obliged for your clearly-written statement; but, judging from our 
