800 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENER. 
January 20. 
The white birds (much the best specimens) averaged 
^3 18s. 9d. each; the Buffs, an indifferent lot, XT 3s. lOd.; 
and the Blacks, X3 Os. Od. Mr. Stafford’s aiTangements 
were excellent. 
It is determined to have this year a Cheltenham Sum¬ 
mer Exhibition of Poultry, and the days fixed upon are 
the l»t and 2nd of June. The secretaries are Messrs. 
Jessop, Brothers, Nurserymen and Poultry Fanciers, 
Cheltenham. 
We are very glad to be informed that the government 
of Belgium have appointed commissioners to obtain 
reliable evidenee as to the merits and best modes of cul' 
tivating the various species of fruits and their varieties. 
The commissioners are eight Belgian gentlemen, but 
corresponding members in other counti’ies are eonnected 
with them; those for England being Mr. Rivers, of 
Sawbridgeworth, and jMr. R. Thompson, of the Horti¬ 
cultural Society’s Garden at Chiswick. The results of 
their inquiries are to appear in jiarts, at an annual 
charge of 24 or 30 francs, according to the quality of 
the paper, &c. Each part is to contain four coloured 
plates, and the requisite amount of description and 
detail. It holds out a promise of settling many disputed 
points in fruit-culture, and removing a mass of misap¬ 
prehension by determining synonymes. 
As the present winter, by its wetness, has absolutely 
prevented Wheat-sowing in many districts, it deserves 
notice that Talavera Wheat has for many years been 
sown in the midland and southern districts of England 
as late as the end of February, and the produce well 
housed in September. It yields quite as good an average 
of grain as any other variety, and more flour is obtained 
from it than from most other varieties. 
We have recently met with a very amusing and intel¬ 
ligent little volume, entitled Walks after Wild Flowers, 
by Richard Dowden. The following extract, giving the 
derivation of the word Mustard, is by no means the 
only spicy specimen we could give from its pages:— 
“Muslum urdens is ‘burning hot vinegar.' There was 
always in the world’s surgical practice some method of 
counter-irritation ; St. John Long’s proceedings were not an 
original idolatry, but an aggravated revival of ancient prac¬ 
tices, for we find that there was an old cure made with boil¬ 
ing vinegar, or wine—for both were called must —and adding 
to these the powder of sinupis made the nnistum arden.s. It 
was applied as a cataplasm when boiling hot, and it was 
often a cure, no doubt; but at times its only effect was to 
‘ scaud poor \vretohes.’ This eschariotic was, in a milder 
form, diverted from the outside to the inside of the body, 
and was taken by flapdragon-drinkers, and other fire-eaters, 
as a dram; of course the vinegar decreased, and the >vine 
and ardent spirits increased, in this mvstum ardeiis. At 
length, however, it settled down into our table mustard, and 
was eaten, as Tusser tells us, with everything ; 
‘ Brawn, pudding, and souse, 
And good mustard with all.* 
To this day some housekeepers make their mustard wdth 
vinegar; and the common dressing for cold and watery 
salads—the salso-acid of old cookery—is mustard, salt, and 
vinegar." 
The following is a list of the Poultry Shows of which 
we are at present aware. We shall be obliged by any 
of our readers sending us additions to the list, and 
giving the address of the Secretaries. 
Doncaster, January ‘21st. (Sec. H. Moore, Esq.) 
Eeiqate, February 1st and 2nd. {Sec. J. Richardson, 
Esq.) 
GENERAL RRINCIPLES OF FORCING. 
It may seem strange to those unacquainted with ; 
forcing matters to think of taking at one svvoop. Vines, 
Peaches, and other forcing fruits, and dealing out 
advice apjilicable to them all. Yet, a little generalising : 
is not amiss now and then, for it will assist the novice ' 
in so grouping his matters as to economise in regard of 
both fuel and labour, as well as to fix in his mind, in 
distinct characters, the necessity of observing certain 
laws, which at all times affect the well being of fruits 
under the forcing process. 
Now, the great principle which, under trifling modifi¬ 
cations, concern all forcing, are the following:—Light, 
Heat, Atmospheric Moisture, and Ventilation. These 
are placed purposely in a just sequence, according to 
our ideas; for a due amount of light justifies the ap- | 
plication of heat in the forcing sense of that term ; this I 
done, a necessity arises for a given amount of atmo- | 
spheric moisture; and as this kind of artificial excite- i 
ment continues, a slight contamination or vitiation of 
the enclosed air of the forcing-house takes place; hence 
the necessity for ventilation, which, in the main, may 
be said to be caused by heat, and this brings all the 
rest into action. This is manifest from the fact, that 
cold frames, or pits, in winter, if dry, may remain closed 
for days without injury. 
Light, then, would appear to be the chief mover of 
the whole affair, as concerns the forcing gardener; and 
we will point to its bearing in practice. To light it is 
we owe, in the main, the necessary solidification, or 
ripening, of the parts of our plants or trees; in other 
words, the maturing of their structure; also, the diges¬ 
tion of the sap ; and lastly, the colouring matter is 
almost entirely dependent on the light, as witness the 
process of blanching, which takes place in our Sea-kale, 
Mushrooms, Asparagus, &c., when puiq)Osely deprived 
of light. If this, then, be the prime moving power of 
the forcer’s machinery, how essential is it that the gar¬ 
dening student’s mind shoirld be duly impressed with 
its importance in the very outset of his practice. It 
may here very naturally be asked, what is to be done 
practically, since we cannot make light? True enough, 
indeed, or man would soon disturb the order of the 
seasons. But some things the forcer ean do; in the 
first place, secure clean glass to his structures; in the 
second, objects requiring a great amount of light placed 
very near the glass ; and thirdly, a negative bearing of 
the subject—he can reduce the stimulus of heat in the 
comparative absence of light. Added to this, he can, 
by training and thinning processes, secure that what 
leaves are retained may get the full influence of the 
light. 
And now for Heat; for without this, in a certain ratio, 
all the light imaginable would be inadequate to the 
purposes of vegetation. Of course, this is a matter of 
degree; we speak of it hero in reference to its power of 
exciting vegetation; and in order to accomplish this, it 
must, in the main, be above the freezing point, even with 
respect to plants from our coldest mountains. As to 
the forcing gardener’s subjects, there are few will be 
excited by warmth in any very sensible degree, until 
the thermometer has attained the point known as 
“ temperate,” or 55'^. However, the application and 
increase of heat practically requires much consideration. 
To theorise on lieat is not enough; a man should be | 
thoroughly conversant with the habits of his subject in | 
