I 
December 10. 
TflK COTTAGE GARDENER. 
100 
ripens in November, and continues in nse during De¬ 
cember. 
We must now draw our observations to a close for 
this week, seeing our space for the market report is 
rapidly diminisbing. But as we bavo not a groat deal 
to communicate, there being few novelties presenting 
themselves, we must be content with merely making a 
general statement. 
The prices of fruit continue firm, and rather on the 
rise. Api’les, for kitchen uses, are making as much as 
from os. to 7s. (id., and 8s. per bushel. They consist 
chiefly of Hannell Souring, Winter Pearmain, AlJ'ris- 
ton, and a gi’eat quantity of nondescript varieties. 
Among the choice varieties, we observed Newtown 
Pilifins, Rihstons, Golden Pearninins, Court of Wick, 
and Downton Pipjnns. We do not observe many of the 
common kinds of Pe.\es ; but there are plenty of the 
finer sorts, such as Ne Phis Meuris, Nelis d’Hiver, Passe \ 
Colmar, Qlout Morceau, and Beuree de Ranee. Gr.vpes 
are plentiful, the supply fi’om abroad being rather large. 1 
These make from Is. to 2s. per lb. Home-grown Grapes | 
are also pretty plentiful, and make from 2s. (id. to 53., j 
and Os. per lb. | 
j In Vegetables there is the usual abundant supply, and, j 
j generally speaking, a good demand. Cabbages make 
I from (id. to Is. per dozen. Coleworts, Is. to 2s. per 
I dozen bunches. Cauliflowers of good quality, Is. (id. 
to 2s. Cd. per dozen. Brussels Sprouts, Is. Gd. per 
half sieve. Carrots, 2s. 6d. to 5s. per dozen bunches. 
Turnips, Is. to Is. Gd. per dozen bunches. Endive, Is. 
to Is. (id. per score. Potatoes maintain last week’s i 
prices, and are rather inclining upwards. j 
Plants and Flowers. —The supply of Evergreens j 
increases, and consists of Lauristinus full of bloom. 
Chinese and Siberian Arbor Vita:, Aucuba japoniea. Tree 
Box, Red Cedars, and Common Laurels. Cur Flowers 
are very plentiful, consisting of Chrgsantliemums, Scarlet 
Geraniums, Roses, Heliotropes, Chinese Primroses, Ca¬ 
mellias, Cinerarias, and Fuchsias. —H. ; 
than two days. We have received a very temperate 
letter on this subject, from “ One of the Hitchin Com¬ 
mittee,” which we will reply to next week. 
Tlie continued u-et weather throughout November, 
and down to the time wdien we are writing (Dec. Gth), 
has been too seriously felt to require in this column any 
general comment; but we refer to it for the purpose of 
stating facts demonstrative that the usual exclamations 
about never remembering such w'eather are more than 
usually well founded. At Chiswick, in the twenty-six 
years extending from 182(5 to 1851, both inclusive, the 
average fall of rain during November has been 2.182 
inches, whereas in the November just concluded 0.20 
inches of rain fell, or but little less than treble tlie 
usual amount! The excess is very great, even if we 
take the November when most rain occurred in those 
twenty-six years—namely, that of 1842, for in that 
mouth no more than 4.47 inches fell. 
Last month we ought to have expressed the genuine 
regret we felt at the loss science has sustained by the 
death of Dr. Gideon Algernon Mantell; and wo take the 
more blame to ourselves for the omission, because with 
him has always been associated the memory of his 
brother, Mr. Joshua Mantell, our friend of early days, 
who cultivated his Dahlias with no small success, 
attended to the physical needs of his neighbours, and 
indulged his literary tastes by writing his Essay on 
Floriculture, and editing Baxter’s Agricultural Library, 
whilst resident at Newick, near Lewes. He died in 
1839, and now, on the 10th of November of the present 
year, his more distinguished brother has followed him. 
“ Dr. jMantell was a striking instance of a rise in life 
amidst great difficulties. He was born in the parish of St. 
.lolm’s sub Easter, at Lewes, where his father was a shoe¬ 
maker in a small line of business, but of quick parts, and 
with a readiness of perception, and a strictness of integrity, 
which rendered liim extremely useful to Mr. AV. Cooper, the 
leader of the political iiarty supporting the AVhigs. 
“ Dr. Mantell has well described his father's virtues in 
some lines on a tablet erected to his memory in St. Michael’s 
cluu'ch in that town, reverently ending with the wish— 
GOSSIP. 
We are informed, and we think upon good authority, 
that our observations relative to the Great Metropolitan 
Poultry Show are not justified by the facts. We lose 
no time, therefore, in stating what has just reached us, 
namely, that the Exhibition has been instituted by a 
few gentlemen, and that no gain is to be made of the 
refreshments. We have also heard that Mr. Gilbert, 
who was one of the prize takers at Great Yarmouth, is a 
chief promoter of this Exhibition, and his experience 
will insure that it is well managed. These explanations, 
however, do not touch the general principle we ad¬ 
vocated, and still advocate, viz., that Poultry Shows 
should not be established for private gain, and, we 
think, Mr. Gilbert’s own experience will induce him to 
join us in recommending, the principal exhibitors to 
unite in signing a declaration, and publishing it in the 
public papers, that they will not exhibit at any place 
where their birds are required to be exhibited for more 
** Oh fain would he, who in these humble lays 
Attempts a father’s and a good man’s praise, 
Follow the bright example thou hast given, 
And humbly trace thy footsteps up to heaven. 
“The family consisted of four sons and two daughters, and 
it was with great frugality that the sons acquired their 
education. Dr. Mantell received his first instruction at a 
dame school in the same lane as his father’s house, and 
liere he was so great a favourite that on the old lady’s death 
she left him her little all. From her he went to the school 
of IMr. Button, in the Clitfe, where a sound and practical 
commercial education was given by a gentleman whose 
political sentiments were so accordant with those of Mr. 
Mantell the father, that he was known to be on the Govern- ' 
ment black list. 'The grammar-school at which Evelyn had ; 
been educated ivas not at that time available for a child of j 
Mr. Mantell’s political opinions, the twelve boys on the 
foundation being nominated entirely by tbe feoffees. Gn 
leaving Air. Button’s school, the kindness of Air. Gooper 
came to the aid of the young man, who had attracted the 
notice of his father’s friends by the diligence with which 
he devoted himself to his studies, and by his quickness and 
general desire to advance himself in knowledge; and the : 
consequence was that he was apprenticed to Air. .Tames I 
Aloore, a surgeon and apothecary of tbe old school, an I 
amiable and accomplished man, and a bon vivant. Here, j 
again, Gideon Alantell so far conciliated the good opinion 
of his master, that, after he had “ walked the hospitals,” , 
