February 17. 
GOSSIP. 
The long-disputed question, whether a Shangliae hen 
ever lays three eggs in a dag, seems quite determined by 
the following letters from a lady with whom we have 
corresponded;— 
“ So much has of late been said touching the merits 
and demerits of the Cochin-China fowls, as compared 
with others, that it is only right that anything remark¬ 
able respecting them should be stated. I have a pullet 
which was hatched in April, and on the 8th of December 
laid her first egg. Since then she has five times laid 
three eggs in one day, and this occurring twice in one 
week. On Monday last she laid three eggs ; on the 
three following days one egg daily; and on Friday, 
again, three well-formed, good-sized eggs; and this 
morning (January 22nd) one. 
“The pullet is a well-shaped hii'd, bufif colour, and 
bred at New Brighton, from a pair sent as a present 
from America.” 
Wishing for fuller particulars, and for a detail of cir¬ 
cumstances, we ventured to send a list of queries, which 
elicited the following satisfactory reply :— 
“ In answer to your inquiries respecting my Shanghae 
pullet, the strongest proof I can give you, and I think 
an unquestionable one, of the eggs being laid by her is, 
that she was the only fowl laying amongst my small 
stock, which then was only four, and is now sLk. The 
first day she began laying she gave three eggs ; I am 
sorry I have not taken note of the number of eggs she 
has given since beginning, but I was from home until 
the 3rd of this month, and unable, from ill-health, to pay 
particular attention to them, but tbe servant who has 
attended to her, says she is sure, during the first five 
weeks, she laid upwards of fifty eggs. 
“ I have only had four pullets laying, and can tell for 
a certainty the egg each lays. This one lays eggs very 
deep coloured, and nearly round in form. The eggs 
have never all three been found in the nest at once, 
such frequent visits are paid during the day that 
the egg is brought in as soon as laid; but having 
now only three pullets laying (my fourth has been 
sitting the last fortnight), and getting five eggs in 
one day, and two of those so dift'ercut to the other 
three, there can be no mistake, 1 am sure, about 
them. The bird is, of course, a gi’eat favourite, and an 
object of much interest, and is, I should say, in good 
health, lively, and takes her food; but whenever she is 
going to give the three eggs becomes very heavy, and 
unable to move about much ; when this is the case we 
frequently lift her into the nest. Slie has not been 
laying the last week, but has commenced again this 
morning (January 28th). 
“ I am quite willing that notice should he taken of 
this in The Cottage Gardener, but should prefer (if 
the purpose will answer as well without it) that my 
name should not appear in print.” 
We are very glad to observe that the Caledonian Hor¬ 
ticultural Society have oftered a silver medal to be 
awarded to the journeyman or apprentice gardener, who 
379 
shall produce the most approved original plan for laying 
out a flower-garden and shrubbery (together not e.Kceed- 
ing an acre), with a list of the plants best suited for the 
design, and a brief detail of the management best cal¬ 
culated to produce ornamental effect throughout the 
year. We equally rejoice that the same Society offers 
another silver modal to the journeyman or apprentice 
gardener who shall produce an original plan for the best 
arrangement of a hitchen-garden (not exceeding an acre, 
and which may include the space allotted to Melons 
and Cucumbers); and a third silver medal to the 
similar party who shall produce the best plan of similar 
extent (one acre), being a combination of the flower 
and kitchen-garden. In both there are to be full details 
of the plants to be employed, their management, &c. 
The plans, &c., must be sent to the Secretary, Professor 
Balfour, before the 31st of next July. Any one desirous i 
of competing, had better apply to the Secretary for full ! 
particulars of the conditions and requirements. We 
repeat, that we rejoice to see such prizes offered by one 
of our national Horticultural Societies, and we hope 
that other similar societies will follow the example. By 
so doing they will more fully carry out the objects spe¬ 
cified in their charters than by all their annual ex¬ 
hibitions. We should be sorry to see these FiXhibitions 
diminish, but we certainly do wish to see some more of 
the funds directed to the object emphatically named in 
their charters—“ the useful.” If they offered such prizes 
as those now ofi'ered by the Caledonian Horticultural 
Society, they would soon have original materials for 
publications worthy of being published in their at 
present mis-named journals or transactions. 
Tlie right course is being pursued by Mr. IM'Glaslien, 
of Edinburgh, to effectually bring to notice his Patent 
Tree-lifting Machine. Next month, in the gardens of 
the Horticultural Society and elsewhere, he is to exhibit 
I practically its efficiency.. 
I The Gardeners Journal states that the Brazilian 
I Pampas Grass ( Oynerium argenteum ) is in such demand, 
; that although half-a-guiuea is the price of a small plant, 
' and one guinea that of a large one, the supply is not 
equal to the amount of orders received. 
So gross has been the mismanagement of The Royal 
Forests, that in the year 1831-52, the total returns 
I from them amounted to no more than X'(}1,437. To 
i obtain this, the mismanagement cost T38,920, so that 
little more than 1122,500 was received as profit to the 
revenue. The only crop which the Forests excel in pro¬ 
ducing, is a crop of poachers. We once heard a Magis¬ 
trate say, that from the purlieus of the New Forest it 
would be no difficult matter to collect (5000 well-armed 
good shots from among the labouring classes. 
The following is extracted from the first number of a 
very excellent and cheap periodical, entitled The Scottish 
Florist and Horticultural Journal. The essay, which we 
give nearly entire, is by Mr. James Cuthill, of Camber¬ 
well, and is entitled 
“ 3URKET gardens ROUND LONDON. 
“ The readers of this periodical must understand that the 
London market gardeners are a most exclusive sot of people, 
