December 26. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
233 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
D 
M 
D 
W 
DEC. 26, 1854—JAN. 1, 1855. 
Weather np 
Barometer. 
ar London in 
Thermo. Wind. 
1853. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R. & S. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
af. Sun. 
Day of 
Year. 
26 
To 
St. Stephen. 
30.128—30.0/3 
36—19 
S.E. 
— 
8 a 8 
54 a 3 
morn. 
1 
0 
48 I 
360 
27 
w 
St. John Evangelist. 
29.972—29.873 
35—22 
N. 
— 
8 
54 
0 29 
8 
1 
18 1 
361 
28 
Th 
Innocents. 
30.083—29.902 
34—28 
N. 
— 
9 
55 
1 47 
9 
1 
48 1 
362 
29 
F 
Nitidula grisea. 
30 . 291 — 30.161 
32—15 
N.E. 
— 
9 
56 
3 4 
1ft 
2 
17 
363 
30 
S 
Yellow-line Quaker Moth. 
29 . 670 — 29.550 
37—22 
W. 
01 
9 
57 
4 20 
1 1 
0 
46 
364 
31 
Sun 
1 Sunday after Christmas. 
29 . 679 — 29.501 
33—19 
N.W. 
— 
9 
58 
5 34 
12 
3 
15 
365 
i 
M 
Circumcision. 
29.427—29.378 
32—17 
S.W. 
— 
10 
IV 
6 ill 45 
13 
3 
44 
1 
Meteorology of the Week. —At Chiswick, from observations during the last twenty-seven years, the average highest and lowest tem¬ 
peratures of these days are 43.2°, and 32°, respectively. The greatest heat, 5/°, occurred on the 26th, in 1827; and the lowest cold, 14°, on 
26th, in 1830. During the period 123 days were fine, and on 66 rain fell. 
Next of the plants of Scripture, following tho alpha¬ 
betical order, come the Bitter Herbs of our translation. 
In the original Hebrew the word is Mururim, meaning, 
literally, hitters, or hitter things. It occurs but in two 
I books of the Bible, Exodus xii. 8, and Numbers ix. 11. 
We entii’dy agree with Dr. Geddes in thinking that 
the bitter thing eaten with the Paschal lamb and un¬ 
leavened bread at the Passover was the Succory, Wild 
Endive, or, as some writers call it, the Wild Lettuce, 
Oiehorium intyhus. We so conclude, because we think 
as did Dr. Geddes, that the Jews of Alexandria who 
translated the Pentateuch, must have known what was 
usual to eat with the Paschal lamb, and they translate 
Mururim by the Greek words cm TuspiSoiv, which is the 
Grecian plural of the name for that plant. Jerom and 
Pseudo-Jonathan, two very early authorities, also agree 
that the Wild Lettuce was so employed. 
In confirmation of the opinion that the Succory was 
intended, we find that Mr. P. Forskal observed, that 
“ the Jews in Sana and in Egypt, eat Lettuce with the 
Paschal lamb,” and in England tho usual Easter dinner 
is the same. 
We seem to discern a corrupted connection between 
these constituents of the Paschal festival and the propi¬ 
tiatory charm of the heathen magicians, who directed 
those who sought to attain a wislied-for object to anoint 
themselves with a mixture of oil and the juice of the 
Succory. 
This bitter plant was well known to the early Greeks, 
and their name for it, Picris, refers to its characteristic 
taste. It is mentioned both by Dioscorides and Suidas, 
who seem to have agreed with tho later opinion of Pliny, 
who describes the Picris as “ the worst of the genus 
(Lettuce), and called Picris in condemnation of its 
bitterness.” (Nat. Hist. xix. 8.) In those days, no 
better report was made of its virtues than that it 
effectually cured warts (Ihul. xxii. 22.); but in later 
times it had a higher and more correct character as a 
stomachic, and as 'a disperser of eruptions. Perhaps 
one of the best accidental recipes in any of the old 
herbalists, for they had no correct chemical knowledge 
to guide them, is that in “ Lyte’s Herbal,” published in 
1578, where he says, “ The juice of tho leaves of Succory, 
with Ceruse and vinegar, is good for all tumours, im- 
postumes and inflammations which require cooling.” 
The ceruse, or white oxide of lead, and tho vinegar, 
acetic acid, formed that Goulard’s Extract, or acetate 
of lead, so commonly proscribed now for a similar 
purpose. Succory roots, in Germany, have, for more 
than a century, been used with Coffee, which it is said 
to improve both in flavour and healthfulness, and for 
such purpose it is now recognised by our legislature, 
and extensively cultivated. 
Our necessary limits, in respect of both space and time, 
prevented a reference, in) tbe report of the great Bir¬ 
mingham Exhibition, which appeared in our columns 
of last week, to many subjects that would interest both 
the Poultry exhibitor and breeder. 
In regard to the first-named individual, an opinion 
seems to be daily gaining ground, that the two rules 
which enforce the statement of tho age of chicken, 
and require absolute ownership for the two mouths 
previous to the day of exhibition, might be wisely 
dispensed with. Tho policy of these regulations, could 
they be practically carried out, is not questioned, for 
they are clearly of a most desirable tendency. But 
are they really and truly acted on ? There are too 
many instances where the assertion as to the age 
is, wo fear, wilfully and designedly falsely given; 
and there are others, also, where it is unintentionally 
in error. So common are the palpable self-evident 
contradictions that arise from theso sources, that 
judicial investigation, we well know, places little if 
any trust on statements of this description. If tho 
object of the rule fail of being effected, it necessarily 
follows that an act of injustice is perpetrated towards 
truthful exhibitors and the public generally. The re¬ 
gulation is continually evaded, and until a course is | 
adopted, by which discovery of false representations j 
may be of far easier attainment than at present, we 
would advise the limitation of this enquiry to the simple 
fact, of whether the birds in question are “ above or 
under one year old." 
At Christmas, the signs by which an early chicken of 
the year and one hatched late the preceding autumn 
may be distinguished arc frequently difficult to recognise. 
And still more arduous is the task of the Judge on this 
point when the January shows claim his attention. 
One of the most uncertain points in the Poultry Show 
is now before us, and which was lately sufficiently 
mauifest in some of the pens in Bingley Hall. Feather, 
form, and condition, may be reduced readily to a standard, 
which, although yet imperfect, is generally sufficient for 
No. CCCXXVI. Vol. XITT 
