December ]8. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
173 
Rumpless fowls, it must be confessed, are more droll than 
symmetrical; still we were glad to see them represented here, 
j How can one account for the absence of their uropygium ? 
Did their ancestors unwarily venture under a portcullis, like 
Baron Munchausen’s horse, or were they guillotined at the 
wrong end?- A popular solution is, that they came from the 
Isle of Man, famous for similar Insus natures; the true 
Manks cats, for instance, being unadorned with tails. The 
Frizzled fowls (078 and seq.) were not less delightfully 
ridiculous. They, it is said, owe their peculiarity of plumage 
to the accident of coming out of the shell backwards. The 
lavender-grey Guinea fowls were good; and the dark pair, 
with the white spots nearly obliterated, and looking much as 
if they had emerged from a bath of ink, were really rarities. 
The iirst we ever saw were in the Royal Poultry Yard, at 
Windsor. His Royal Highness Prince Albert contributed a 
pair of great curiosities (652, Scotch breed). They would 
take the place among fowls that the turnspit does among 
dogs, having large and long bodies, with short, dumpy, 
feathered legs. They would suit any fancier who was 
nervous lest his poultry should escape by running away ; or, 
if Procrustes had been an amateur, he would make such as 
these out of some long-legged variety. The cock, too, had a 
strange duplicate comb, like a single comb split in two 
vertically. 
The geese and ducks were both most praiseworthy classes, 
exhibiting a good assortment of their kinds. Thus, 880 
contained three good Brown China geese from Lord Howe. 
The weights were extraordinary. The first prize geese 
(895), weighed 28] lbs., 17 lbs., and 15] lbs. respectively; 
of course, the ponderous bird was the gander, who was 
deservedly decorated with an extra medal. Others showed 
20:]-lbs., 19-]-lbs., and 17]- lbs.; again, 19 lbs., 17] lbs. and 
17 lbs.; again, 19] lbs., 18] lbs., and 17] lbs. These results 
are after the deduction of the bag in which they were 
weighed. Among the ducks were equally well-fed spe¬ 
cimens. The first prize, Aylesburys, weighed, a drake and 
three ducks, together, 24] lbs.; the second prize birds, 
hatched only last May 25th, 24] lbs.; the third, 23] lbs. 
But the Rouen ducks were more than a counterpoise even 
for them; the four best birds (939), from Mr. Edward 
Hewitt, weighed jointly 20] lbs. Besides these, there were 
several good pens, as of Call ducks, whose merit does 
not lie in their size, but the contrary. Their forte lies in 
their loquacity—dare we print it?—-in their \oquack-\ly. 
Even in Bingley Hall they could not maintain a respectful 
silence. Some handsome Black East Indian ducks were 
shown. Specimens of this kind have been fitted with one 
more new synonym, having been alluded to as the “Black 
Botany Bay” breed. Not less commendable was the class of 
turkeys. 
The Pigeons (704-883) -were an improvement on the 
muster of last year. Good Toys, of varieties which are now 
becoming scarce, Turbits, Jacobins, Black Fantails, Ac., 
made their appearance. Several pairs of Archangels, gloving 
in bronzy hues, were especially beautiful. To see these 
birds to advantage, they should be basking and cooing in the 
sunshine. 
To complete the collection, extra pens for sale were sent 
by Messrs. Baker, of Half-moon Passage, Gracechurch 
Street, consisting of Bantams, Black and Aylesbury ducks, 
Dorking and Spanish Fowls, Ac. From Mr. Baily were very 
good Aylesbury and Call ducks, some Sebright Bantams of 
great beauty, besides other specimens of poultry, quite up 
to that gentleman’s usual standard of excellence. 
The general arrangements were admirable. The localities 
assigned to the several classes were such as to facilitate the 
inspection, both by the judges and the visitors. Without 
this excellent system, it would have been difficult for either 
parties to do justice to so vast a collection. 
In our next number we will give a list of the chief 
prizes. 
GARDENING GOSSIP. 
Another horticultural chief has retired, hut not into 
private life, like Mr. Beaton. Mr. William Barnes, 
who, during the last nineteen years, has borne off no 
less than eight hundred prizes at the great metropolitan 
shows, has left the service of R. Hanbury, Esq., at the 
Poles, Hertfordshire, and is now the occupant of the 
Camden Nursery, Peckham, Surrey, lately held by Mr. 
Watts. 
Potatoes have been raised by J. Gaskell, Esq., of St. 
Nicholas, from seed potatoes received from New Zea¬ 
land. The seed was obtained for the purpose of testing 
an opinion, that the produce from seed raised in those 
islands, where the potato disease is unknown, might be 
free from its attack in this country. Mr. Gaskell’s expe¬ 
rience proves the contrary, as, in three experiments, 
the produce was as much infected as was that from 
English-raised seed. 
NEW PLANTS. 
THEIR PORTRAITS, BIOGRAPHIES, AND CULTURE. 
Charming Siphocampyl (Sipliocampylus amcenus ).—- 
Gardener s Magazine of Botany, vol. iii. 273.—This has 
the richest-coloured flowers of all the species of this 
genus, that have been yet described, besides being one 
of the newest. They are of the richest deep-red-orange, 
and are produced on the spike more numerously than 
our woodcut represents. The flower-spikes, as is usual 
in this genus, are terminal, and the leaves are much after 
the shape and size of those of Torenia Asiatica. The 
history of the plant is involved in some obscurity. It 
is said by some to have sprung from seeds, or portion of 
the roots, in soil which was sent with orchids from the 
Brazils, to the garden of the king of the Belgians, at 
Laaken, about two years ago ; while others assert, and 
with more reason, that it is a native of some part of 
central America. Be that as it may, it first flowered 
under cultivation in Belgium, and was named by Dr. 
Planclion, in the Flore des Serves, vi. 619. The Messrs. 
Knight and Perry introduced it to England in 1850, 
