224 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 19. 
it at Gossan Than, in Nepaul. It flowered in May, at Dublin. 
It is probably hardy, is a small evergreen decumbent shrub ; 
leaves closely imbricated (lapping over each other like tiles), 
and so as to give the branches a four-sided form. The leaves 
are stalkless, with a deep broad keel, and a silvery finely- 
haired edge. The flowers are white. It belongs to Decan- 
dria Monogynia of Linnaeus, and to the Natural Order of 
Heathwortlis (Ericaceae).— Botanical Magazine , t. 4796.) 
Rhododendron citrinum ( Cilron-Jlowered Rhododendron). 
Messrs. Rollisons, nurserymen, Tooting, received this 
from Java, whence it was forwarded to them by their col¬ 
lector, Mr. Henshall. It bloomed with them in May of the 
present year. It was first discovered by M. Hasskarl, who 
found it at Java at an elevation of 5000 feet, in the marshy 
mountains of Tjiburrum, growing on old trees. Mr. Hen¬ 
shall found it as high as at 0700 feet above the sea’s level. 
Although included in the Decandria Monogynia of Linnaeus, 
its stamens are constantly no more than five. It is a small 
evergreen greenhouse shrub, and the flowers are pale lemon- 
colour, with bright orango-coloured anthers. The leaves are 
glossy, and like those of the Camellia. It is a desirable 
addition.— Ibid , t. 4797.) 
Primula mollis ( Soft-leaved Bootan Primrose). 
Sir W. Hooker says this is “ a charming new Primula of 
the Primulastrum section, and intermediate, as it were, 
between Primula sinensis and P. eortusoidcs, but very dif¬ 
ferent from either in foliage, corolla, and especially calyx. 
It is a native of the mountains of Bootan, where it was dis¬ 
covered by Mr. Booth, and the plants were reared from seeds 
sent by him to his relative, Mr. Nuttall, of Rainhill, near 
Prescott. They flowered in the April of the present year. 
That gentleman has hitherto treated it as a hardy green¬ 
house plant, but, probably, it will bear the open air, and may be 
considered as bearing the same treatment as P. eortusoidcs." 
j The leaves all rise from the root, bluntly ended, lieart- 
j shaped, with the edge deeply indented, and, liko the whole 
1 plant, covered with long, spreading hairs. The flowers are 
j deep rose-colour, and in three or four whorls, one above 
each other on the scape, or flower-stem.— {Ibid, t. 4798.) 
BIRMINGHAM POULTRY EXHIBITION. 
December 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th. 
! 
j Apprehensions have frequently been expressed, during 
the past year, that the greatly-reduced prices at which 
I several breeds of poultry have been quoted, and the failure, 
in a financial point of view, of numerous provincial ex¬ 
hibitions, were likely to depreciate the character of the 
Birmingham collection in Bingley Hall. We have never 
shared in these misgivings ; considering, that the very 
reasons we have alluded to would prove anything but 
prejudicial to the interest of an association occupying the 
position that must bo accorded to the Society in question. 
We apprehend, indeed, that the very fact of some descrip¬ 
tions of poultry having receded from an extravagant and 
unwarranted estimate of value, which did not appear to be 
sustained by the intrinsic merits of the birds, is positively 
favourable to the interests of both sellers or buyers, as also 
to the utility of an exhibition, and the financial prospects 
of its committee. With reference to the insolvency of those 
provincial exhibitions, which are reported as not paying 
their oxpenses, their unwise multiplication, and, in some | 
instances, their injudicious management, sufficiently account 
for their mishaps. The “ Birmingham and Midland 
Counties’ Society,” however, encounters no such perils, i 
The high character of ils previous exhibitions, its central ■ 
position, with the ability with which its officials have ! 
employed the largo funds at its disposal,—were just grounds 
for confidence of success, which has been amply realised 
at the meeting of December, 1854. 
The number of pens, it is true, fall somewhat short of 
those competing in 1853; but this is readily explained by a 
reference to the rules, which, on the present occasion, 
required a subscription of LI Is. from every exhibitor, 
instead of 10s. 0d., with a limitation to four pens instead of 
six. But what is lost in mere numbers, is, assuredly, more 
than atoned for by the necessarily superior character of the 
specimens ; and the zeal of the keenest amateur, in even- 
class, will have been amply gratified by the presence of such 
birds as best represent the various characteristic excel¬ 
lencies of their several breeds. 
A new feature, it should bo observed, in the exhibition 
of the present year, is the introduction of classes for 
“ Single male birds ” of most of the different breeds of 
fowls. The good policy of this measure is unquestionable ; 
for, not merely is the main object to which the attention of 
all poultry committees should be always directed, namely, 1 
the improvement of the respective races, effectively carried 
out by such a course, but many a good bird is thus enabled 
to compete, which, otherwise, from the want of fitting 
companions, must have remained in inglorious retirement. | 
We have no desire to see our poultry exhibitions turned 
into a mere bazaar; for to this circumstance may fairly be | 
attributed the ill-success of many an ill-directed effort to | 
establish associations of this description. But facilities for 
the purchase of single male birds cannot be too highly 1 
estimated; and many will thus change owners, to the 
mutual advantage of both parties, where the usual com- [ 
plement of a pen, from the probable near relation of its j 
inmates, would not have tempted an investment. The j 
progressive advance of the Birmingham Exhibition, from 
year to year, must have satisfied the most sanguine ex¬ 
pectations of its promoters; and the thanks of all who 
are interested in poultry matters is not merely justly due, 
but, we believe, most readily rendered. They have advanced 
the standard of excellence to a point far beyond what would 
have been believed capable of being realised within this 
period, at the time their labours were commenced; and this 
we say without any depreciation of the perseverence and 
skill of breeders, who, without such encouragement, could 
hardly have attained their present celebrity. One deside¬ 
ratum, however, still remains; and all that has been yet 
effected serves the more forcibly to mark the point to which 
their labours must be still directed. That what is yet 
required of them is a subject presenting many difficulties, 
is clearly no reason that thoso who have already done so 
much for poultry should anyways despair of success in the 
still more arduous task to which we would invite them. 
The promulgation of a general standard of merit, in all our 
poultry classes, is the matter now required at the hands of ' 
the Birmingham committee, and for which they, unquestion¬ 
ably, possess the means best calculated to insure the 
successful achievement of that task. 
Anxiety was manifest in many a countenance among the 
ci-owd that besieged the doors of Bingley Hall, on the 
morning of the 12th instant; and the building speedily 
