244 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 2G. 
intelligent men, upwards of fifty years of age, both of them 
of clear intellect, and one of them a minister of the Gospel, 
and an author, both of whom have practiced the “ art,” in 
my presence, without being able to account for the influence 
which causes it. 
The clergyman having learnt from the other gentleman, ! 
is, of course, not so well practiced, as to be able to judge, j 
with the same amount of certainty, as to the depth and j 
strength of the spring over which the stick may turn in his 
hands; but I have seen it turn with so great power as fairly 
to twist tho stick, the cuds, which he held, in his hands, 
remaining fast and firm, the pointed end obeying tho 
attraction of the water. 
It may be inquired, Why were the metals removed from 
tlie clothes and persons of the seekers ? I feel it a duty to 
clear up this part of the apparent mystery, by stating, that 
they have so great a power of attraction in themselves, with 
certain individuals, as to frustrate, to a greater or lesser 
extent, the attractive power of the water in drawing the 
stick to it, which proves metals to be also a centre of 
attraction ; but I have not heard any one of the gentlemen, 
with whom I am acquainted, possessing this attribute, state, 
that they could discriminate any difference between the 
influence felt over water, and that felt over metals. I know 
of no individual practicing it for “interest;” but could 
direct any incredulous person to a “ spring-finder,” who 
would give him “ocular proof” of the efficiency of the 
“liazelrod,” by passing over a recognised spring (as 
proof), and then passing over another piece of ground, and 
point out, by the stick’s performance, where springs of 
water may be dug for with a great degree of certainty. An 
individual possessing this attribute, holding the stick as 
before described, with his watch in his waistcoat pocket, or 
fob, has an instant intimation given him of its presence, 
the qioint of the hazel-rod turning towards it. 
The most remarkable instance which I presently recollect, 
occurred about ten years since. A body of proprietors built 
a lino of houses on the brow of a hill, near to its summit, 
and it was not until after the houses were built, they 
bethought themselves of the necessity of a supply of spring 
water. They thought, having arranged a plan amongst 
themselves, that one well should supply tho whole line of 
bouses, they needed only to bore in a convenient place, and 
find what they required ; but, in doing so, they came upon 
rock, within a few feet of the surface; and after a fearful deal 
of dangerous labour, they quarried out the well, ninety feet 
deep, without success. In this dilemma, they called on one 
of the aforementioned gentlemen, who kindly went to the 
place with his stick, and told them, that if they bored side- 
| ways about six feet, at sixty feet deep, they would, in all 
probability, get a supply of water. As “drowning men 
catching at straws,” they thought they would try the experi¬ 
ment, and directed the quarrymen to do so, who, leaving 
their tools at the bottom of the well, one evening, on leaving 
their work, have been obliged to leave them there ever since, 
as there were thirty feet of water in the well next morning, 
and an abundant supply has been there ever since for the 
whole row of ten houses. Many individuals can corroborate 
this fact. 
Under mystification, reason applies for a cause to produce 
an effect. We have hero an effect produced without any 
assignation as to the cause that produces it; nor have I ever 
been able to trace it. I am not “ maidish ” in the matter. 
I know there are many things above my humble compre¬ 
hension; but I have asked scores of intelligent men, hoping 
some one of them would be able to give me a direct answer, 
but without avail. And it is now that I find other indi¬ 
viduals thinking the matter of sufficient importance to claim 
I a share of their attention, that I am induced to apply pub¬ 
licly for information. Shaking tho head, and mystifying the 
j matter, by looking very much concerned, will not do, now-a- 
; days. AVc must have reason, cause and effect, linked one 
into tho other, so as to form a consecutive, unseverable 
chain. I should like to know what causes tho forked Hazel 
stick to turn in the particular direction of water, as well as 
any man living. Tliero is no man would be better pleased 
with tho information than I should, provided the chain were 
complete by the explanation. I should, also, like to know 
why it should turn so effectually in one person's hands, and 
not in another’s. Here is a question for solution! The 
fact that it does turn, is already proved; but the reason of 
its turning is not discovered, unless it be “ magnetic attrac 
tion.” What is in one man's composition, as far as matter 
is concerned, seems to exist in another. Is it so ? Or, 
would the combination of parts, if subjected to “ analysis,” 
prove so different in different individuals, as to justify the 
supposition that the cause existed there ? This, Mr. Editor, 
you will doubtless consider, is a broad digression from “gar¬ 
dening topics ; ” but what gardener, I would ask, could, or 
would, do without a “ spring of wafer,” if he were not 
obliged ? And if Mr. Jones can find a spring, why should 
not Mr. Jenkins be able to do so also, and in the same way? 
—C. B. S., Jersey. 
MAIDSTONE POULTRY SHOW. 
The annual Exhibition of Poultry was held at Maidstone, 
on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 12th and lflth of December, 
and when it is considered that this show is one of the. most j 
recently-established in that part of the country, the com¬ 
mittee of management have certainly great reason to con¬ 
gratulate themselves on the success of the meeting of 1854. j 
The accommodation provided in the yards of the Kent 
Cattle Show was of the first order, both as regarded the j 
feathered bipeds and their admirers, of which latter a very j 
largo number visited the place of exhibition, amongst whom I 
were many ladies, who took great interest in contrasting and ; 
admiring the various species, from the diminutive Bantam, | 
to the gigantic Cochin, which, however, have, in tho “ garden | 
of England,” lost favour as suddenly as they gained it, as 
but two pens were exhibited, and these were not considered 
worthy a prize. The display of Dorkings was numerous, 
and, for the most part, very fine ; the prize birds were .mag¬ 
nificent specimens of that useful class. The elegant 
Spanish were well represented; the prize cock was a most 
symmetrical bird. The Polands of Messrs. Cutbush obtained 
two prizes, and well they deserved them, as they far dis¬ 
tanced their compeers in beauty and size of crest. No less 
than twenty pens of Bantams appeared in the field, to 
contest the palm of supremacy, and in this class the judges 
must have had some difficulty; although those adjudged as 
No. 1, were the smallest, still it appeared to us that Mr. 
Braddick’s birds possessed the superiority in regularity of 
plumage. The IJamburghs, both gold and silver-spangled, 
were mostly exceedingly well-shaped birds ; and the Ducks 
numerous, and so excellent, as to warrant three eom- 
• mendations in addition to the prizes, which, it is to be hoped, 
will another year be more extended, both in number and 
value. We would suggest cups or medals for the best col¬ 
lections, the individual pens of which might be also entered 
separately for the premiums of their respective classes. 
The judges were Mr. Fisher, of Eeigate, and Mr. George, 
of Merstham. We annex the prize list. 
Spanish. —Cock and two Hens.—First prize, Mr. John Moucliton, 
Maidstone. Second prize, Mr. W. Dray, Farningham. Commended.— 
Mr. T. H. Spencer, Maidstone. 
Dokking.—C ock and two Hens.—First prize, Mr. J. Blinks, Bid- 
denden. Second prize, Mr. J. Blinks. Commended.—Mr. W. J. Epps, 
Maidstone. 
Dorking. —Cockerel and two Pullets.—First prize, Mr. I’. S. Punnett, 
Chart. Second prize, Mr. P. S. Punnett. Commended.—Mr. J. Blinks. 
Cociiin-Ciuna.— Cock and two Hens.—None worthy. 
Game. —Cock and two Hens. — First prize, Mr. Charles Gibbs, 
Yalding. 
Poland. —Cock and two Hens.—First prize, Messrs. Cutbush, Maid¬ 
stone. Second prize, Messrs. Cutbush. 
Gold-spangled Hamburgh. —First prize, Mr. E. L. Betts, Ayles- 
ford. Second prize, Mr. E. L. Betts. 
Silver-spangled Hamburgh. —Cock and two Hens.—First prize, 
Mr. J. Clinton, Maidstone. Second prize, Rev. G. B. Moore, Tunstall. 
Highly Commended. — Rev. G. B. Moore. Commended.—Mr. J. Clinton. 
Bramah Pootra. —Cock and two Hens.—No entry. 
Bantams. —Cock and two Hens.—First prize, Mr. J. Clinton. Second 
prize, Mr. W. J. Braddick, Boughton. Commended.—Mr. Braddick. 
Any other breed. — Cock and two Hens.—First prize, Mr. Simmonds, 
Rainham. (Malay.) 
Any other breed. —Cockerel and two Pullets.—None worthy. 
Turkeys. — Cock and two Hens.—First prize, Mr. H. Solomon, 
Shorne. Second prize, Mr. T. H. Pack, Dittou. 
