January 8. THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 233 
and Extra Medal, Mr. Thomas Sturgeon, Manor House, Greys, Essex; 
60 /. First Prize, 15s., or small Silver Medal, for White Cochins, Mr. 
Edmund Herbert, Powick, Worcestershire ; 5/. 5s. each. Second Prize, 
10s., William Cust Gwynne, Esq., M.D., Sandbach, Cheshire; 12 /. 
Second Prize, 10s., for White Cochins, Mr. Edmund Herbert, Powick, 
Worcestershire; 51. 5s. each. Third Prize, Mr. Thomas Sturgeon, 
Manor House, Greys, Essex ; 60/. Extra First Prize, 15s., or small 
Silver Medal, Mr. Thomas Sturgeon, Manor House, Greys, Essex; 60 /. 
Extra Second Prize, 10s., Mr. Thomas Sturgeon, Manor House, Greys, 
Essex; 60/. Extra Second Prize, Mr. George James Andrews, Dor¬ 
chester ; 30/. Extra Third Prize, Mr. Charles Frederick Steggall, Wey¬ 
mouth ; 63/. Extra Third Prize, William Cust Gwynne, Esq., M.D., 
Sandbach, Cheshire ; 81. 
Class XII. — Cochin China. —( Cock and One Hen.) —First Prize, 10 s., 
Mr. James Cattell, Hartfield House, Moseley; 12/. Second Prize, 5s., 
Mr. Frederick Charles Steggall, Weymouth; 51. First Prize, 10 s. 
(White), Mr. George Graham, Yardley, Worcestershire; 21 /. Second 
Prize, 5s. (White), Mr. Edmund Herbert, Powick, Worcestershire ; 21/, 
Class XIII. —Malay. —( Cock and Three Hens.) —Third Prize, 5s., 
Mr. Edward Armfield, Edgbaston; 31. 3s. No first and second prizes 
awarded. 
Class XIV.— Malay. — {Pen of Six Chickens.) —First Prize, 15s., or 
small Silver Medal, Mr. James Oldham, Nether Whitacre; 6 /. 6 s. 
Second Prize, 10 s., Mr. James Oldham, Nether Whitacre; 6 /. 5s. 
Class XV.— Malay. — {Cock and One Hen.) —Second Prize, 5s., Mr. 
Edward Armfield, Edgbaston ; 1/. Is. 
Class XVI.— Game Fowl. —( Cock and Three Hens.) —First Prize, 
1 /. is., and Extra Medal, Mr. Edward H. France, Ham Hill, near 
Worcester ; 5/. Second Prize, 10s., Mr. Benjamin Williams, Lozells, 
Handsworth; 3/. (Black-breasted Red). Third Prize, 5s., Mr. James 
Thomas Wilson, Kedditch; 10/. (Worcestershire Black). Extra First 
Prize, 1/. Is., or large Silver Medal, Messrs. William and James H. 
Parkes, Camphill, Birmingham; 3/. 3s. (Grey). Extra First Prize, 1 /. Is., 
or large Silver Medal, Mr. Edwin L. Bullock, Hawthorn House, Hands- 
worth; 4/. 4s. (Worcestershire Pile). Extra Second Prize, 10 s., Mr. 
Isaac Avery, King’s Norton, Worcestershire; 10 /. (Birchen Grey). 
Extra Third Prize, 5s., Mr. Thomas Smith, Cheapside, Birmingham; 
21. 10 s. 
Class XVII.— Game Fowl. — ( Pen of Six Chickens.) — First Prize, 
15s., or small Silver Medal, Mr. Edward Glover, Olton Green, Solihull; 
3/. (Black-breasted Red). Second Prize, 10 s., Mr. William Williams, 
Ox Hill, Handsworth; 6 /. Third Prize, 5s., Mr. Edward Barber, 
Monkspath; 81. 8s. 
(To be continued.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Cochin-China Fowls.— A correspondent, Ornis, says, “ The article 
on poultry in your number of the 18th of December will have attracted 
the notice of all those who, like myself, think that the rearing of poultry 
may be converted into a large source of profit to the farmer. And we 
South Essex men are not a little proud to find our district stand forth so 
prominently in the Midland Counties Show ; indeed, considering the care 
and judgment which Mr. Sturgeon has displayed in bringing the Cochin- 
China to perfection, one cannot be surprised at his success. The cottage¬ 
like buildings in which the poultry are housed, and the general attention 
exercised, will surprise all who will visit Grays, and take advantage of 
the courtesy with which all these- arrangements arc shown. My object, 
however, is not the laudation of any individual, but to point out what 
most of us consider as a misapprehension on the part of the Rev. E. S. 
Dixon, with whose report of the Midland Counties Meeting you conclude 
your remarks on poultry. Mr. Dixon, speaking of the Cochin-China, 
observes, ‘ that it is a mistake to suppose, in forming a judgment on the 
merits of this breed, that mere weight is, or ought to be, the main 
qualification.’ And on that score he gives the preference to a pen of 
much lighter birds. Now it is generally thought that weight is the main 
qualification, added, of course, to delicacy of fiavour; a combination 
which renders the Cochin-China breed at once peculiar and profitable. 
I have no wish to raise any ‘ vexed question,’ but it seems to me desirable 
that the Rev. E. S. Dixon’s assertion should not pass unnoticed, espe¬ 
cially when it concerns a point which is a distinguishing feature in the 
breed alluded to.”—We are glad to find a practical farmer like Ornis 
agree with us in our estimate of poultry as profitable farming stock, and 
we have no doubt that when Mr. Dixon reads the above he will speedily 
inform us that his judgment is somewhat in unison with ours. We 
think, with Ornis, that weight is the main qualification of the Cochin- 
China fowls, but Mr. Dixon says very accurately it must not be “ mere 
weight.” It must be weight of serviceable flesh, and not of bone, a 
compact fleshy Cochin fowl is more meritorious than one much heavier, 
of which the weight arises from an over-growth of bone and giblets. 
Vines in Pots ( Leytoniensis). —We had delayed a full answer to your 
query, thinking that a paper on the subject would be the best reply. 
A second glance at your inquiries, however, shows that the order of them 
would not be quite compatible with the article. We take your queries 
seriatim. Are vines in pots troublesome, &c. ? Yes; much attention 
is requisite. Do they repay the trouble ? Not as a commercial specula¬ 
tion, we should say. What weight of grapes to each pot ? This depends 
on size and head room ; say three to six pounds. Vines in pots do not 
bear so well continued year after year, as by a renewal system. What 
sorts ? The Black Hambro ’, the Muscadine, Frontignans, and Muscat 
of Alexandria; the first the most certain, What number of pots to un¬ 
dertake ? That depends on house room. We should say that at least 
two square feet of roof may be allowed to each pot vine, for it is a roof 
atfair after all. Your gold pits would do to rear young stock in. What 
size ought the pots to be? We should use about 12 to 14-inch pots, with 
plenty of holes in the bottom. If you have pits of fermenting material, 
they will enjoy being plunged, and will root through the pot holes. 
Whether your labour is adequate, depends upon the other calls on the 
time of the gardeners; although, if the houses are occupied with pot 
vines alone, we are not assured that they will consume more labour than 
miscellaneous affairs. Pot culture of vines, for profit, we consider a retro¬ 
grade course. As a hobby, and as occupying spare spaces, they are very 
commendable, and, indeed, sometimes very useful ; but it is a notorious 
fact that but few excel in theii culture. 
Unfruitful Plums (S. C .).— Your case is by no means uncommon. 
Some standard plums and the summer damson are very uncertain bearers, 
or rather bad setters. The plum blossom is very delicate. Could you 
not cover them with bunting or canvass, putting it over them in the end 
of February, to retard the blossom ? You may prune them carefully on 
the top, thinning out interior shoots, and shortening back strong young 
wood, and by all means root-prune. Whilst root-pruning, for which see 
back numbers, take occasion to weed out all suckers. 
Cock Guinea Fowls. —In answer to W. Mason, “A Clergyman” 
replies :—“Attentive observation of the flock of Guinea fowls is the only 
way to arrive at a knowledge of the number of cock birds it contains. 
They can generally be detected at feeding time, when every now and then 
they seem actuated by an irresistible impulse to make an assault upon 
their companions, especially the other kinds of poultry who are unfor¬ 
tunate enough to have to feed with them; they have also a peculiar strut 
when walking upon the lawn, frequently rising upon their toes, and 
curling their necks in a most conceited way; they never join in the 
chorus of “come back,” that sound issuing exclusively from the hens. 
I can always, by these rules, detect the cocks when they have arrived at 
mature age. There is no possibility of distinguishing them when young. 
I may also add, that the cocks have generally larger wattles.” 
Verbena Cuttings (E. C.). —Shanking is the name of the disease 
which affects your young Verbenas, when they turn brown below. Sul¬ 
phur and soot have no effect on it. If the bottom is alive, the best way 
is to cut them down quite close, and stir the surface of the soil, and the 
lowest eyes will push again, but if there are no bottom eyes, there is no 
known remedy except making cuttings of the fresh tops. 
Hyacinths ( Ibid). —These grown in moss need not be covered all over 
with it; neither should the moss be kept wet, but only a little damp on 
the surface, until the leaves are three or four inches long, and the roots 
well spread in the moss; then they require regular watering. They often 
mould a little at first, but that does no harm if the bulbs are sound ; we 
would wipe off the mould gently. Your rose, very large, flat and double, 
dark in the middle, paler outside, and buds like a horsechestriut, is Mi- 
crophylla. It requires a slight protection in hard weather. 
Cape Gooseberry {Ibid). —It does not stand the frost at all, at least 
but very little of it. We have used the berries in the dessert, and also pre¬ 
served, but they are not worth much. But if you can get us a more 
favourable account of it, we shall be obliged. 
Young Queen Bees. — A Country Curate says:—“In reply to the 
flattering note of your correspondent, “Another Country Curate," I 
have to state, that in my frequent mention of the advantage of maintain¬ 
ing a stock of young queens, I have, in agreement with the opinion of old 
apiarians, rather assumed than proved the fact, that their fertility is 
great, in proportion to their youth. But let us see on what grounds. The 
laws which regulate the economy of the insect world, with respect to the 
development of the animal powers, viz., that the insect grows and de- 
velopes itself only in the grub, or larva state, whereas it issues from the 
chrysalis perfect in every part ( reproductive , or otherwise), are well 
known. This law is, with few exceptions, absolute. Every insect as it 
emerges from the chrysalis state is, for all the ends of its being, a perfect 
insect, and fulfils its destiny at once, without improvement, or alteration, 
save that which proceeds and accompanies decay. I mean that its powers 
are not capable of improvement, though they are liable to decline; this 
is most noticeable in the case of the silkworm. Reasoning, therefore, 
from these premises, we must at once assent to the conclusion, that a 
young queen is at leust (and this has been abundantly proved), as 
vigorous in her first or second, as in her third year, and also that as her 
powers are undoubtedly liable to decay, at some time or other, they may 
decay gradually from the first. Yet, I am bound to say that I cannot, from 
my own experience, bring forward any certain evidence in proof that the 
queen bee is much (if at all) more fertile in her first, than in the two 
next succeeding years. I believe she is more fertile, but I repeat, I am 
without evidence to prove it. I have, however, I think, had evidence in¬ 
dubitable, that in hex fourth year, she is considerably less fertile than in 
either of the previous years. It will, therefore, I think, be conceded, 
that the advice is reasonable which recommends the maintenance of a 
youthful race of queen bees, on the ground of their being generally more 
likely to be fertile than older ones, I have certainly found young queens 
exceedingly fertile the very season of their birth; indeed, I have now 
several in my apiary, reared last summer (both artificially, and in the 
ordinary way of nature), who preside each over a most numerous family ; 
in fact, these are my most hopeful stocks. Some judgment, however, is 
required in managing an apiary on the data furnished by this principle ; 
by way of guide, therefore, to the inexperienced, I shall here quote a 
passage from “The English Bee-keeper ” (page 209 ), which is much to 
the point:—“ As a rule (I there say), where it can be done judiciously , a 
succession of young queens, not exceeding two years old, should be kept 
up by a biennial removal of the old ones. But it must be borne in mind, 
that all queens are not equally prolific mothers; therefore, in the event 
of a queen’s having proved herself an extraordinarily good breeder one 
year, it will be for the apiarian to consider whether he may not become a 
loser by exchanging her for a younger queen. I, myself, should by all 
means permit her to reign a third summer, and it may be even a fourth ; 
but this very rarely.The bee-master cannot greatly err, therefore, 
who exchanges the queens of his strong stocks triannually, &c.” As to 
the “ common notion ” with those who burn their bees, “ that stocks are 
best in their second year,” it can only be explained, if true (which, 
doubtless, it sometimes is), in this, viz., that where the hives in common 
use are too large to be filled the first season, of course they will contain a 
great deal more honey at the close of the season next following. In all 
other cases, where matters go on as usual, th e fact directly disproves the 
“ notion," lor it will be found invariably, that good swarms put into fair¬ 
sized hives, will, far more abundantly, repay the plunder of their stores 
the first, than in any succeeding year; because at least of the superior 
quality of the honey, if not of its greater quantity. 
Cinerarias and Calceolarias (A. B.). —Mr. Appleby, in due time, 
will write upon growing Cinerarias and Calceolarias for exhibition. 
