Februaby 3. 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENER. 319 
That it is difficnlt to preserve Fungi is quite a mistaken 
notion, as, in adtlition to what I have aheady said about 
drying the higher groups, as directed in the English Flora, 
the ])arasitic species are generally jiroduced on the leaves 
or bark of otlier plants, and may be collected and dried in 
tliousands, it being only necessary to dry the leaves or bark 
to preserve the Fungi. 
With respect to esculent species, if what I have already 
said has not been suflicient to prove their value, I fear any 
farther recommendation will be useless. Tire fact, however, 
of their attaining 2 >erfection so speedily, being so abundant 
in species, and also in their power of propagation, will 
increase their vidue as an article of diet, eitlier in their 
natural or cultivated state, as large quantities may be col¬ 
lected and preserved in a short time ; and it is much to be 
regretted that delicious food should be condemned on 
account of the mismanagement, or gross carelessness, of a 
few ignoiaut persons. The animal instinct is often a safer 
guide to follow than reason, which is frequently allured 
from the right path by vai-ious theories ; and who will not 
believe this, to his regret, when he sees Boletus edutis so 
devoured by rabbits, that he may sear-cli in vain to obtain 
a dish unblemished? But is not this mark to be relied 
upon by the collector with more confidence than Her Ma¬ 
jesty’s letters patent stamped on many articles presented 
to the public? I stated, that I should recommend no 
parties to commence collecting Esculent Fungi without the 
assistance of a botanical friend, to which I ought to add, or 
a person familiar with them ; for Esculent Fungi, I believe, 
may be recognised from their less-wholesome neighbours, 
in the same way as a parent knows her child amongst a 
multitude, from constant and attentive observation, which 
establishes an impression on the mind and in the eye not 
easily forgotten. A few years since, we had a deplorable 
case of poisoning by the common Mushroom reported 
in most of the public journals; and this year it is 
backed-up in one of our contemporaries with a ridiculing 
attack on Dr. Badham, attributing to him an instinct which 
teaches him those Fungi that are, and those that are not, 
poisonous. I beg to state that I possess no instinct pecuUar 
to the brute creation which teaches me which are good and 
which are bad ; and I imagine that what has taught me has 
taught Dr. Badham also; namely, a confidence in the 
opinion autl experience of my predecessors; an eye open for 
observation; and a firm determination not to be governed 
by the prejudiced opinion of others,—F. YobivE Brocas. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Doncaster. —We took occasion, in a recent publica¬ 
tion, to enumerate the different towns in Yorkshire in 
which poulti’y shows had been established. We have now 
to make the addition of Doncaster, in which place the 
first exhibition of poultry was held on the 2l3t of January, 
under the patronage of the Mayor and Corporation of the 
borough, and of a long list of neighbouring noblemen 
and gentlemen. The Show took place in the spacious 
corn mai'ket, a building as much adapted for the purpose as 
any we have yet seen. The pens exceeded 400 in number, 
and were ai'ranged in four parallel rows down the whole 
length of the market. Ample space was thus afibrded for 
inspecting the specimens exhibited, and the pens themselves 
were particularly light and neat. The whole arrangements 
did much credit to the committee of management, and their 
indefatigable secretary, Mr. Henry Moore; and, in this 
respect, those who have the conduct of much older shows 
might take a hint or two with advantage from their brethren 
at Doncaster. 
The exhibition itself was, upon the whole, very success¬ 
ful for a first attempt, more especially as it was confined to 
the district of twenty miles round Doncaster, a restriction 
which no doubt excluded many good birds, and which the 
committee determined to remove in future years. As this 
was but a commencement, it would be unfair to criticise too 
minutely; but, commencing with the first classes in the 
catalogue, we may say, that in the different varieties of 
Hambiirfjhs some good pens were shown, although we think 
the Doncaster amateurs might impart new blood with ad¬ 
vantage in these classes from their brethren in the vicinities 
of Bingley and Keighley. The Game classes were indis¬ 
putably the gems of the exhibition. There was scarcely an 
indifferent, not to say a bad, bird among them ; and a 
gentleman who had visited the recent Metropohtan Exhi¬ 
bition assured us, that the Game fowls shown there did not 
approach in quality to the collection at Doncaster. The 
judges added their testimony to the excellency of these 
classes by awarding that the premium prize (Class 40) for 
the best pen of fowls in the yard, should be equally divided 
between pens 101) and 185, botli containing Game fowls. 
Some good Borkimjs were shown, but other pens would not 
have been much missed if they had been left at home. 
There were also some good Siuinish, but nothing of first- 
rate excellence. 'The same remarks apply to the B/tait<ihi(es, 
with the exception of some very fine specimens exhibited by 
IMr. Travis, of York, who, being one of the judges, would 
not, of course, compete for piizes. Our Doncaster friends | 
will, no doubt, before their next show, take a leaf or two 
from the book of Jlr. Travis. 'The Polish fowls were the 
worst classes in the exhibition. 'The Baulams were mime- 1 
rous and ju’etly, without aft'ording any pens of peculiar 
merit. 
The Geese were only moderate; the Ducks very good. 
A pair of white ducks, in pen 055, were, we think, the 
largest we ever saw. 'The Turkeys also were good. Where 
the general arrangements were so good there is little to 
suggest by way of amendment; but we may, perhaps, be 
allowed to recommend the Doncaster committee in future 
to require two, if not three, hens, to be showui in each pen. 
\Ve will only add a hearty and very confident, hope, that 
their future exhibitions may answer their own best expec¬ 
tations (as we are sure this must have done) ; and they 
I will soon become dangerous, although we hope friendly, 
rivals to their older neiglibours. 
AVe add the list of prizes awarded. 
Class \r>,—Golden-spangled Hamburgh Cock and Hen, of any age. 
103. First prize, Mr. E. Auckland, Red Lion Hotel, Doncaster. Hatched 
June 20, 1652. 
106 . Second prize, Mr. W. B. Tate, Doncaster. 
Class ll.— Golden-spangled Hamburgh Cock and Pullet, Chickens 
of 1852. 
109. First prize, Mr. J. Brooke, Rossington. Hatched April, 1852. 
Class 12. — Silver-spangled Hamburgh Cock and Hen, of any age. 
121. First prize. Rev. A. Fullerton, Thryhergh. 
118 . Second prize, Mr. J. Brooke, Rossington. Cock one year old. Hen 
four months. 
Class 13.—Silver-spangled Hamburgh Cock a)ul Pallet, Chickens 
of 1852. 
131. First prize, Mr, W. B. Tate, Doncaster. 
Class 14, —Chitteprat Cock and Hen, of any age. 
136. First prize, William Hall, Esq., Laughton, 
139. Second prize, Mr. George W. Morris, Doncaster. Hatched June, 
1851. 
Class 15, —Chitteprat Cock and Pullet, Chickens of 1852. 
144. First prize, B. H. Brooksbank, Esq., Tickhill. 
Class 16. — Game Cock and Hen, IWhite and Piles) of any age, 
148. First prize. Hall and Co., Doncaster. Hatched 1851. 
151. Second prize, William Mellowes, Esq., Carburton. 
Class 17. —Game Cock and Hen {Black-breasted or other Beds) of 
any age, 
169 . First prize, William Mellowes, Esq., Carburton, and equal with 185, 
in Class 40. 
167 . Second prize, H. Eddison, Esq., Gateford. 
Class 18. —Game Cock and Hen {Blacks and Brassy-winged) of any 
age. 
178 . First prize, Mr. E. Frith, Turner Wood. Two years and eight 
months old, price j6’5 5s, 
180. Second prize, H. Eddison, Esq., Gateford. 
Class 19. —Game Cock and Hen {Dackwings and olher Greys) of 
any age. 
185. First prize, H, Eddison, Esq., Gateford, and equal with I 69 , in 
Class 40. 
184. Second prize, Mr. E. Frith, Turner Wood. One year and seven 
months old, price j6'5 5s. 
Class 20. —Dorking Cock and Hen of any age. 
186. First prize. Sir T. W. White, Wallingwells. Hatched in 1851. 
1 87 . Second prize, R. J. Bentley, Esq., Finningley Park. 
Class 21. —Dorking Cock and Pullet, Chickens of 1852. 
217 . First prize, Mr. Thomas Hudson, Market-place, Wake6eld, 
Hatched April 15, 1852, 
Class 22.— Spanish Cock and Hen, of any age, 
223. First prize, Mr. T. Kendall, 9, Banks Terrace, Goole. 
220. Second prize, R. J. Bentley, Esq., Finningley Park. 
