490 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENER. 
March 31 
I wanting, as they not only apparently add to their strength, 
I and form a base to them, but by seeming a part, they 
increase the extent, importance, and rioliness of the whole. 
I In places of pretension the entrance court and stable yard 
should also be enclosed (as shown in the general plan for a 
]ialace or mansion grounds) by proper ornamental walls, 
embellished with vases, urns, d;c.; and in arranging these 
accompaniments I should place the terrace wall (as I have 
stated a few i)ages before) from twenty-five to forty-five feet 
from the house, according to the extent of the building. 
But this must be apportioned with judgment and caution; 
for, on looking from the house, were the distance of it too 
great and the wall too high, the lawn heyond would on the 
one hand ajipear too contracted, and on tlie other, in ap¬ 
proaching the house from the park, the connection of the 
I two would be completely destroyed, for it would prevent the 
wall, with its decorations, and house from appearing as a 
whole with a variety of composition—a thing I am most 
anxious to secure. Midway between the house and wall 1 
should have a straight walk, from seven to twelve feet wide, 
extending the whole length of the building, and in some 
cases even as far as the walls, enclosing the various offices 
or outbuildings, if the extent and magnitude of the residence 
should seem to demand it (as represented in both general 
ifians). On each side of this terrace walk I would have 
formal flower beds for the reception of early flowers, and 
other pleasing plants, to be introduced from the greenhouse 
or reserve garden as they come into bloom. These beds 
should have an edging of rich ornamental cast-iron work, or 
stone, or clay, or terra cotta, from six to nine inches deep ; 
and for the sake of variety, especially in the round beds, j 
strong wire basket work. Thus a gay, beautiful, and har¬ 
monious display would he produced. dVith the present 
cheapness of glass, tlie propriety of ornamental iilaut pro¬ 
tectors, made to fit the beds within the baskets, suggests 
itself. These should be octagonal. The frames would he 
best made of cast-iron, from four to five feet in diameter, 
and from two feet six inches to three feet higli, and as light 
as possible. They should be provided with moveable tops, j 
to prevent the frame ha\ing to be removed more than is j 
absolutely necessary, and in order to be convenient for 
ventilation and watering—(a small lid would be convenient j 
for that purpose when much ventilation was not re(iuired). j 
In this way beautiful plants, too tender to stand without | 
occasional protection, might be exhibited in the spring 
months in the beds in front of the windows. So far, then, I 
admit and entirely approve of the formal style, without at all 
taking into consideration the character of the edifice; but, 
beyond this, the formal or geometrical style has no right 
whatever to be claimed by any style of edifice; and to copy 
the stiffness and absurdities of antiquity in the formation of 
a new place, is not ojily erroneous, but absolutely barbarous.” 
We have been asked by several correspondents where 
they can procure the lar(je Bell-glasses which we have 
more than once mentioned as being at the Horticultural 
Society’s Eooms, in Regent-street, and which are so 
extensively employed by the market-gardeners round 
Paris. At present we can only reply, that any glass ] 
manufacturer can su(iply them, if he ])loases; and that j 
the price ought to be from ten to twelve-pence. In | 
Prance they cost about eight-pence. As they have been 
employed there for more than two centuries, w’e can 
only account for their not now being employed here 
I upon the supposition that the glass manufacturers have 
I not yet sufficiently become acquainted with the wants 
they can supply now that the excise duty is removed 
from their material. We say, not now employed here, 
because we believe, in the days of Switzer, and even 
earlier, these largo “bell-glasses” were commonly em¬ 
ployed by gardeners, and that their manufacture was 
extinguished by the imposition of the excise duty on 
glass in 1094. 'The number of these Bell - glasses 
[Cloches) employed about Paris only is estimated at 
more than onc-million-and-a-half, and are used in the 
raising of early salads, melons, drc. 
Mr. Stephens’ collection of British Insects has been 
purchased by the Trustees of the British Museum, and 
will be added to its Entomological department. 
There was an extra sale of Poultry, by Mr. Stevens, 
on the 22nd, at which the high prices w'e have recently 
had to report were fully maintained. Of Mr. Fletcher’s 
stock, I.ot 4C, a buff Shanghae pullet, was knocked 
down for T17 17s. Lot 47, a Shanghae cock, about 
21 months old, and which gained a prize at Bir¬ 
mingham in 1851, when exhibited by Air. Andrews, 
^17. Lot 48, a light cinnamon Shanghae hen, of 
similar age and histoiy, T9 los. Lot 52, Shanghae 
hen, exhibited by Mr. Sturgeon, at Birmingham, in 
1851, and in the pen to which a first prize was awarded, 
T'12 12s. Of Air. Gilbert’s stock, a buft' Shanghae 
pullet. Lot 73, sold for TTO 10s. The great prices given 
for tliis kind of poultry has suggested the breeding 
of them in a warm district of Prance, and bringing 
them here for sale. There were about seventy lots of 
poultry, brought from AJarseilles, sold on the present 
occasion. They were very good buff birds, and many 
of them fetched from four pounds to nine guineas. A 
white Imperial Malay cock and two hens (Lot 1G4) 
sold for T4 15s. 'Phere were also some moderate 
Golden-spangled and White Polands, which realised 
from T'3 to T'4 5s. each The AVhites were the best, 
but all were remarkable for the extraordinarily large 
size of their crests, or top-knots. There were a few 
lots of what were called Chamois fowls, but they seemed 
to bo no more than mongrel White Polands, difi'ering 
from them chiefly in having a tinge of yellow upon the 
points of some of their feathers. 
The Great Northern Association have announced 
their Exhibition of Pigs and Poultry to be held at 
Doncaster, on the 30th of November and 1st of Decem¬ 
ber next. Their prize-list is both libei'al and well- 
arranged ; and we are glad to find that the “ Shanghae" 
has there succeeded to “ Cochin-China” in the heading of 
those classes which are destined for the birds, which, 
erroneously as we think, have been commonly called ' 
by the latter name. No should have liked to have , 
seen a prize for young Geese, as we are inclined to think ! 
that all poultry less than a year old should compete 
among themselves only; and we miss Guinea fowls, ■ 
which, in a strictly economical point of view, have so 
many good points, both as layers and dead poultry, 
that we should have pleaded for this continuance in ■ 
the list. The regulations of this Society are among 
the best we have yet seen; and the arrangements for 
selling the prize and commended birds by auction will 
obviate, as we trust, the ditficulties that occurred at the 
late Aletropolitan sale. A fine for parties who enter 
pens, and fail to exhibit, or to give due notice of their 
intention not to do so to the Secretary, would he a 
useful addition to the rules of other societies.—W. 
