November 7. 
used to force them at tlio back of a fruiting Tine-house, 
I setting them on the tan when first introduced, and bending the 
j canes down until the buds broke ; they were then plunged 
i in the tan, and watered more freely. By this means I have 
; had from five to nine good bunches of Ctrapcs ou each Vine 
ripe in March and April. The soil used was good old turf, 
enriched with deer dung, a little charcoal and broken hones, 
good drainage, and occasionally liquid manure.—H. Howi.ett, 
Haverland. 
RTPENING THE WOOD OF YOUNG FRUIT- 
TREES. 
I was once under the necessity of planting a quantity of 
j Teach and Nectarine trees from a nursery where the soil 
was very strong and wet, consequently, the trees were like 
so many Willows. Had I left them alone until November 
I or February, and then transplanted them without the pre¬ 
vious preparation, they would, most likely, in the following 
summer, have produced a quantity of curled and blistered 
leaves and shoots—a prey to insects and mildew; but seeing 
I what they were early in September, I got the nurseryman to 
lend me a man, and after selecting my trees, I let the man 
open a trench round each tree, at the same time cutting 
most of the strong roots; this arrested their rampant 
growth, and by the end of October, when I transplanted 
them, whilst their leaves were still upon them, they began 
to show signs of nice brown and firm wood, and, finally, by 
the time the weather became severe, I had wood almost as 
hard and brown as a nut-shell. The consequence was, 
firstly, getting the wood ripe, by a timely check to ram¬ 
pant growth; and, secondly, early planting, and whilst 
the trees still retained their foliage ; consequently, active 
energies. The roots took hold of the new soil before winter, 
and in the following spring the trees broke into vigorous 
and healthy growth, and have, I doubt not, continued to do 
so ; though 1 cannot personally speak to it, as I loft them to 
other hands. 
It is now too late in the season to adopt the first course in 
a case of the kind; but much may bo done by planting 
immediately, whilst the trees are still full of foliage, and, 
indeed, not with Teaches and Nectarines alone, but with 
most deciduous as well as evergreen trees, up to the Oak. I 
believe, witli Mr. Robson, that it is good practice to plant 
before the leaf falls .— H. Howlett. 
THE WRINGTON AND BURR1NGTON POULTRY 
SHOW. 
Perhaps few if any Poultry Exhibition in the kingdom 
can boast of so spirited, liberal, or energetic support, as the 
one of which we are now speaking. The aristocracy of the 
county of Somerset not only universally patronising the 
Exhibition (as forming part of an agricultural ono), but 
presenting very liberal premiums for general competition. 
It was held on We tines day, October 28, at Redhill, and the 
day was most certainly as truly uupropitious as any on 
record; the rain fell from morning to nightfall fearfully, 
| and in torrents, never abating in the least, and giving a 
: desponding character to the whole proceeding. A reference 
I to the list of the prizes awarded, however, will best attest 
i the fact, that some of the most celebrated breeders con- 
i tested, and that birds of long-reputed character, as to prize- 
: taking, here vied with each other. 
Every effort of the acting committee was used that the 
j exigencies of the case suggested to prevent injury to the 
I imprisoned poultry; bags were hung before the pens to 
keep out the driving rain, but proved only very partially 
successful, though never removed till Mr. Edward Hewitt, 
of Sparkbrook, Birmingham (who officiated as the judge), 
entered the field to make the awards. These frequently- 
occurring “ mishaps ” prove, most full}’, how desirable it is 
to have both visitors and poultry well secured from the in¬ 
clemencies of our variable climate, and, no doubt, poultry 
committees will find their own interests best secured by 
careful attention to this rather too-commonly-neglected 
appointment. On the present occasion, even access to the 
107 
field was almost impossible, from the combined results of 
heavy traffic and fast-falling rain. 
The Game classes were very good, all the prizes falling 
to the well - known breeder, ,T. R. Rodbard, Esq., of 
Aid wick Court. The Spanish prizes were monopolised 
by fowls from the yard of Mr. William Tlummer, of 
Bristol; the cockerel and one pullet being very superior 
birds, but the second pullet somewhat inferior. The 
Buff Cochins presented many very excellent specimens, 
but some otherwise first-rate birds lost position from the 
introduction of “ waived combs,” an objectionable feature, 
from which every exhibitor should be carefully guarded. 
The prize Partridge Cochins, belonging to the Rev. Granville 
Hodson, of Banwell, well maintained that gentleman’s high 
repute in this really beautiful, though too-neglected variety; 
these were a well-matched, even pen of fowls, perfect in 
colour, and obtained the most coveted premium, viz., the 
Society’s Silver Medal for the most perfect pen of poultry 
exhibited. The Dorkings, for an agricultural district, were 
indifferent. The prize for Polands was secured by a good 
pen of White ones, the property of T. Brackenbridge, Esq., 
of Chew Magna. In the Hamburgh classes (all varieties 
competing), the premium was given to a very promising pen 
of Gulden-pencilled chicken, belonging to Chas. Edwards, 
Esq., of Brislington, who also secured the prize for Turkeys, 
with a most excellent male bird, but the hens were com¬ 
paratively deficient. Geese did not show very numerously, 
nor was their quality superior. The Aylesbury Ducks were 
exceedingly good, as were the Labradors; consequently, 
independent of the winning birds, several lots were com¬ 
mended. It will be seen that a “ sweepstakes,” independent 
entirely of the general premiums, had to be awarded; it 
consequently sometimes occurred that the first-prize birds 
(not competing) received an inferior amount of prize 
money to others that they, in general competition, had de¬ 
feated. The policy of this arrangement, therefore, appears 
somewhat questionable; while, doubtless, the awards would 
be more generally satisfactory if the combined prizes were 
competed for by all exhibitors. Tast experience, no doubt, 
will suggest future improvements in the general arrange¬ 
ments, and, most probably, before another meeting, some 
plan will be adopted, by which common shelter will be 
secured to both visitors and poultry, as the committee are 
proverbial alike for their extended liberality and deter¬ 
mination to overcome every obstacle that may present 
itself, in the way of their success. 
Class 1.— Game. —136. First prize, J. R. Rodbard, Esq., Aldwick 
Court, Blagden. Sweepstakes. —137. J- R. Rodbard, Esq. 
Class 2.— SPANisn. —140. First prize, Mr. Wm. Plummer, Bris¬ 
lington, Bristol. Sweepstakes. —140. First Mr. Wm. Plummer, Bris¬ 
lington, Bristol. 
Class 3.— Buff Cochins. —152. First prize, Rev. Granville Hodson, 
Banwell. Commended. —148. Rev. T. Mathew, Chelvey. 154. T. L. 
Bean, Esq., Ashcoat. Sweepstakes. —152. Rev. Granville Hodson, 
Banwell. Commended. —148. Rev. T. Mathew, Clielvey. 154. T. L. 
Bean, Esq., Ashcoat. 
Class 4.— Partridge Cochins. —15C. First prize. Rev. G. F. Hodson, ; 
Banwell. Sweepstakes. —156. Rev. G. F. Hodson, Banwell. 
Class 5.— Dorkings. —157. First prize, Miss Wilcox, Nailsca. 
Sweepstakes. —l6l. J. R. Rodbard, Esq., Aldwick Court. 
Class 6.— Polands. —164. First prize, T. Brackenbridge, Esq., Chew 
Magna. Sweepstakes. —No entries. 
Class 7— Hamburchs. — 168 . First prize, Chas. Edwards, Esq., 
Brislington, Bristol. Sweepstakes.^- No entries. 
Class 8.— Cross Breeds. — 171. First prize, Rev. Robert Baker, 
Compton Martin. Sweepstakes. —171. Rev. Robert Baker, Compton 
Martin. 
Class 9-— Turkeys. —175. First prize, Chas. Edwards, Esq., Bris¬ 
lington, Bristol. Sweepstakes. —176. J. It. Rodbard, Esq., Aldwick 
Court. 
Class 10.— Geese. —-179. First prize, Mr. Jas. Keel, Redhill, Wrington, 
Somerset. Sweepstakes. —No entries. 
Class 11 .— Aylesbury Ducks.— 183. First prize, .1. R. Rodbard 
Esq., Aldwick Court. Commended. —184. Miss Wilcox, Nailsca, 
Sweepstakes. —188. Chas. Edwards, Esq., Brislington. 
Class 12.— Any other variety of Ducks. —195. First prize, T* 
Brackenbridge, Esq., Chew Magna. (Rouens.) Commended. —192. Rev- 
W. Woodhouse, Worle, Weston-super-Mare. (Labradors.) ig3. Chas- 
Edwards, Esq., Brislington. (Labradors.) Sweepstakes. —No entries- 
The Society’s Silver Medal for best Pen of Poultry of 
any kind.— 156. Rev. Granville Hodson, Banwell. (Partridge Cochins.) 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
T 
