THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 
Dbosmbbr 19, 
! at« 
i 
I N kxt in our list for notice come the characteristics of 
| the Malay Fowl. 
fn this bird the Plumage is varied in respect of 
colour, good specimens being found of different shades 
of red, and deep chesuut in combination with rich 
i browns. There arc also black and white sub-varieties, 
in each of which the plumage should be uniform. The 
I hackle of the Cock thin at the base of the neck, which 
' is of great lengLh ; tail black, of medium size, and 
drooping, lien’s plumage varied: those of a very 
glossy, but clear, brown or chocolate, to be shown with 
the red and chcsuut cocks. Feather to bo bard and 
close in both sexes. 
Form of the Cock erect and tall; bead long, with a 
stout, curved, yellow bill; eye somewhat depressed, but 
of great brilliancy; comb wart-like, and with face, 
wattles (which are diminutive), and the skin beneath 
the lower mandible, intense crimson; back falling 
rapidly to the tail; breast wide and deep; thighs and 
shanks (which are yellow) strong, though greatly 
elongated; foot large and powerful. 
The hackle of the Hen with the same peculiarity as 
has been noticed in the Cock, but her tail is less de¬ 
pressed than bis; in her proportions and features 
generally, she should closely resemble the male bird. 
There are sub-varieties of the Malay which are termed 
“ Rangoon” and “Chittagong” Fowls. The former of 
these being a pile bird; the latter, grey, with dark 
markings. These last, however, are frequently open to 
the charge of being cross-bred, by an intermixture, 
probably, of Dorking blood. 
Weight. —The adult Cock should not be less than 
8lbs., nor the Hen than 7 tbs. This estimate, however, 
is often greatly exceeded.—W. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE PAST SUMMER, 
AS TO SOME FRUITS. 
It is scarcely necessary to remind our worthy readers 
that the past summer, as regards gardening aifairs, lias 
been an extraordinary one. Those not immediately 
engaged in gardening may fancy this somewhat over¬ 
charged ; but l really must lay claim to a little im¬ 
partiality in this matter, having been a witness to many 
extreme summers, as to their bearing on horticulture, 
commencing with, I think, 1815. I am certainly not 
well versed in meteorology; but 1 can, at least, pretty 
well remember the effects of weather, as to a practical 
view of the subject. 
That it has been what is commonly termed a fine 
summer, surely no one will dispute ; tourists, and ladies 
and gentlemen who travel about much, can, I dare say, 
attest this ; but I seek to show, that the great amount 
of solar heat and light we enjoyed was of a rather un¬ 
usual character, and not only of immense benefit to the 
products of the present year, but sure to exercise a most 
important iniluence on the succeeding year, more 
especially as regards horticultural affairs. As regards 
fruits, it is not easy to overrate its importance. I have, 
recently, been examining closely the wood of various 
fruit-trees, and, in general, I find the condition and 
character of the wood just such as we might be led to 
expect. I had made up my mind, in the spring, to keep 
down all useless spray in an unusual degree; and this 
determination was carried out, for when labour fell 
short, I had reoourse to the dubbing shears. The effects 
of this practice is liighly'satisfactory; and if so neces- | 
sary in a summer possessing almost double the usual 
amount of sunshine, how much more so in dull and 
moist summers? I verily believe, that one-half the 
bad setting complained of is the result of badly-ripened 
wood, and, of course, of badly-organised blossom-buds; 
indeed, I am quite assured it is the case. 
How often, in our tender Pears, do we find blossoms ! 
expanding three weeks, at least, after the proper period, 1 
especially after bad summers? A few scanty blossoms, 
perhaps, expand boldly at their proper period; and as 
they fall away, or even long afterwards, these abortions 
appear, and if examined carefully, most of them will 
be found monstrosities. Certainly, it may be urged, 
that in the character of a blossom-bud they are a late 
production of the previous summer. Such may be the 
case with some ; but can any one expect that an em¬ 
bryo blossom-bud, smothered with rampant shoots from 
May to September, shall produce a development equal 
to those plump buds fully exposed to the solar rays 
during this period? But the flavour of our winter 
Pears also appears to me equally advanced; and- now 
is the season for those who are inclined to raise 
seedlings to secure first-rate specimens. 
Our Marie Louise have been magnificent indeed ; per¬ 
haps, in part owing to our having had but half a crop 
this summer ; the trees having borne very considerable 
crops for some years. We had some which weighed as 
much as thirteen ounces, which I consider a noble 
Marie Louise. The texture of these Pears has been 
like butter itself. 
I have before informed our readers, that I have a 
Gloat Morceau on a Quince stock, which I planted 
about twenty-two years since, as an experiment as to 
soil; and that I had endeavoured to imitate what is 
termed, by scientific men, an alluvium, or water-deposit 
of various finely divided matters. Of this tree, I confess 
myself rather proud; it is a noble tree, some twenty 
feet in height, and the bole about thirty feet in circum¬ 
ference. It has borne, this season, nearly six pecks of 
fruit, which are very good-looking; and as to flavour and 
texture, why, 1 believe they will, in the middle of 
December, almost excel the Winter Neilis. If this bo 
not a triumph, in its way—what is? Only to fancy, j 
that at the period when this tree was planted, half-a- 
dozen acres bad been established on the same principle! 
Hundreds of bushels might have been long since sent 1 
annually to Covent Garden, for this tree has never 
missed a respectable crop; and now, as to buds and a 
prospect for a future year, I think I never saw such a 
picture. 
I am glad to observe that the Doyenne d'Hiver Nou¬ 
veau is a good-flavoured Pear; it, however, comes in 
too soon to merit the character of a true winter Pear. 
Winter Neilis is, as it always was, first-rale; the 
standard of excellence. 
Easter Beurre has always ripened somewhat pre¬ 
maturely here. This season, however, I gathered them 
earlier, by at least a fortnight; and they are now, I am 
glad to say (December 5th), quite hard, and as fresh as 
though just gathered. 
Althorpe Grassane, too; we bad one which weighed i 
twelve ounces. These have been exceedingly juicy and 
melting. No Pear that I am acquainted with requires 
so little mastication, providing you carefully pare it; 
the rind is rather thick aud leathery. 
Thompson’s has been delightfully juicy ; it has much 
of the honied flavour of Passe Colmar and Fondante 
d'Automne. Beurre Diel is yet quite firm; and the Gloat 
Morceau, from w'alls, strange to say, are still quite 
firm ; although those alluded to previously from the 
standard are melting. This it is which has long deter¬ 
mined me to consider the tender-Pear-question more a 
