Januaey 0. 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENER. 
257 
Exhibitions for Chickens only, to be held in August, 
or the early part of September, are, we believe, in con¬ 
templation, and the “Cornwall Society” will probably 
tiy the experiment in the course of the year ISbd. For 
such young birds distance wmuld be a most serious 
objection, and the smaller districts, which might be 
unable to muster a sufficient number of pens for the 
regular annual contest for birds of all ages, might thus 
gain an excellent opportunity for comparing the progress 
of their different poultry-yards; the more so, indeed, as 
the younger members would suffer no depreciation from 
the presence of their seniors. At any rate, it will be 
worth consideration how far such a scheme might be 
carried into effect, since it would certainly aid in a very 
material degree in adding to our knowledge of the com¬ 
parative merits of chickenhood in the different classes. 
This leads us to notice the recommendation conveyed 
i in the report furnished us of the late Birmingham meet¬ 
ing, that “ old and young poultry should not he shown 
in the same classes;” and if, as is there suggested, the 
question as to which will be the best bird at a subse¬ 
quent day is permitted to influence the judges, our vote 
should unhesitatingly be given for the summary exclu¬ 
sion of all chickens from the classes assigned to the 
older fowls. Nothing should be more positive than that 
the prize-pen should be that which is best at the actual 
time of the shoic. 
But, we imagine, there are very few persons of expe¬ 
rience, with fowls of any variety, who, on the eve of a 
show, where they proposed to exhibit, have not looked 
with dismay on the tattered plumes and evident ill-con¬ 
dition of many of their older birds at that season of the 
year, and many a pen would thus have been necessarily 
unoccupied had not an early cockerel or pullet been at 
hand to supply the deficiency. A late moulting season, 
or a prolonged one from unfavourable weather, is con¬ 
stantly productive of these results, and the present 
popular favourites, Shanghaes and Spanish, are, per¬ 
haps, of all others the most subject to this untimely 
disfigurement. The most hurried glance, indeed, at 
some of our late exhibitions told this tale most forcibly. 
While, therefore, we heartily concur with the principle 
advocated for the separation into distinct classes of 
the chickens of the year and the older birds, the 
management of our poultry-yards, must, we fear, be 
conducted on some more skilful principle than has 
yet been acted on, if, without a very large flock to select 
from, creditable specimens, as regards both plumage and 
other points, will be always forthcoming at that season 
from among the senior members of our yard. W. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
When this department was added to the pages of our 
Journal, and this heading adopted, it was not intended 
that the subjects treated of should refer exclusively to 
the great Metropolitan mart; but rather, taking it for 
our type, we might from it cull observations which 
apply to every phasis of horticultural commerce and 
finance. And whilst it is our intention to continue to 
furnish, as we have done, a faithful and critical report 
of what goes on weekly in Covent Garden market, we 
shall also, as opportunity offers, entertain any subject 
which has any reference to garden produce. It was 
in the carrying out of this principle that we commenced 
the subject of orchard-planting, which has engaged 
our attention for some weeks past; and the more we 
think of it, the more we are convinced of the great 
necessity there is for our suggestions being earned 
out with as little delay as possible. Scarcely a day 
passes over our heads but we are experiencing prac¬ 
tically, that what we have stated is true, and indeed 
too true. We have been requested by several country 
fi'iends to procure, for their enjoyment during this fes¬ 
tive season, something in the way of choice fruit as a 
dessert; and this we have done after much difficulty, 
but with much gi-eater reluctance, for it is anything but 
agreeable to have to pay 3s. and 4s. per dozen for Pears 
of very ordinary quality; and that is a low price when 
compared with some others, which cannot be had under 
(is. Such subjects we shall continue to refer to as 
opportunity offers. But there is another matter which 
also comes under this department, which has been sug¬ 
gested to us by a correspondent; and we have in our 
own experience frequently met with cases similar to that 
of which he complains. As there may be many of our 
readers similarly situated we shall insert his communi¬ 
cation in full. 
“Will you allow me to suggest that now and then 
(say monthly or fortnightly) a list should be given in your 
paper of the Flowers, Fruits, and Vegetables, in season, 
in order that a numerous class of your readers may not 
be so completely at the mercy of their servants as at 
present? For my own part, I know hut little about 
gardening; but paying two men’s wages, and by no 
means stinting the nurseryman’s account, I do not like 
to have excuses in the stead of produce, which I see in 
the markets can be produced elsewhere. True, some 
may he of foreign growth; but I fancy if employers 
like myself knew more about it, their gardeners would 
■make a much better show. If I saw in The Cottage 
Gaedeneb that Mushrooms or Brussels sprouts were 
plentiful, I would take care they should not be scarce 
with me. But at present, if I am told that those at 
market come over from Holland, although I may not 
believe it, what can I say? Gardeners soon find out 
whether their masters are ‘up’ to them or not, and act 
accordingly.” 
This is written from the suburbs of London, where 
there is a set of men, falsely called gardeners, continually 
prowling about—a little time in one situation, and again 
a short time in another. They never remain long in 
one place, and they rarely, if ever, entirely leave the 
locality. They have pot companions and kindred asso¬ 
ciations, which keep them hovering about as unclean 
birds hover about carrion ; and we very much fear the 
man of whom our correspondent complains is one of 
these. Of such, we counsel him to beware. It is such 
men as these who bring disrepute on the profession, 
and, indeed, on all professions; and wdien we entered 
