348 
stem which is as much branched as the Scimetar, or 
Blue Imperial, and possesses the valuable property of 
growing and producing pods till very late in the season. 
We have seen this variety subjected to a regular system 
of pruning by having the tops pinched off, so as to 
induce it to throw out lateral shoots, and by such a 
system a continuous crop of young pods has been kept 
up till late in the season. When full grown, the pods 
—of which the annexed figure is a representation— 
are from three-and-a-quarter to three-inches-and-a-half 
long, somewhat curved, terminating abruptly at the 
point, and full and plump. They contain from seven to 
eight Peas in each, which are always closely compressed. 
The ripe seed is white and wrinkled. 
The plant of Knight’s Dwarf White is only about 
two-feet-and-a-half high, and also very much branched, 
and a most abundant bearer; but the pod is not so long 
as that of the tall variety. 
The seed of both of the above was sown on the 4th 
of April, and the plants bloomed on the 28th of June. 
On the 7th of July the blooms dropped; aud on the 
28th the pods were filled.—R. H. 
The Birmingham Society have just issued their schedule 
of Poultry Prizes for the next meeting in Bingley Hall. 
The early appearance of this document should be ap¬ 
preciated by every exhibitor and breeder in the United 
Kingdom; for we do not in any way exaggerate its 
importance when we say, that, proceeding from such a 
source, it merits the careful consideration of every com¬ 
mittee that may have a Poultry Show in contemplation, 
whether as a first essay, or as the continuance of former 
exhibitions. The liberality, it is true, with which this 
present yeas- has been distinguished, even beyond its 
predecessors, by the Birmingham Society, can he followed 
but at a distance. But the classification of the birds, a 
single instance, to be alluded to in its proper place, alone 
excepted, should guide the arrangement of all proposed 
exhibitions, as being based in the judgment of those 
confessedly the most able to urulertako such a task, and 
supported as it is by the experience of most successful 
practical experience. If we are told that necessary 
considerations of economy forbid, in any instance, of fail- 
prizes being offered for every distinct variety of the more 
important fowls, and the Birmingham list is limited to 
such; better at once to abandon the attempt, than, by an 
arbitrary and unwise selection of certain breeds or 
varieties, to abolish the first principle of such associ- 
tious, viz., the fair competition of all poultry on equal 
terms. This, it is clear, cannot be attained, if, among 
other iustances, the Hamburghs and Polish, as often 
happens, are jumbled together into a class for each race, 
since the judgment which prefers, on however good 
grounds, a pen of Spangled to one of Pencilled Ham- 
burghs, or a White-crested Black to a Golden Polish, 
lacks one of the most important elements for correctness 
in such a decision ; for such we certainly hold to be the 
presence in competing pens of the same main character¬ 
istic features. Hence the failure and disappearance of 
February 6. 
several of our minor shows, whose loss is by no means 
to bo deplored, since they ministered but too often to the 
bickerings and jealousies of neighbouring and rival 
districts, without conferring any benefit on the cause 
they professedly supported. 
Tuesday, the 11 th of December, and the three following 
days, are appointed for the exhibition at Bingley Hall, 
and the prize-lists and rules, with some few exceptions 
to be mentioned in their respective places, follow the 
example of the year just gone by. 
Thus “Hamburghs,” “ Polish,”" Spanish,” “Dorkings,” 
and “Shanghaes” reappear as formerly, with, and 
would that it were otherwise, “ Brahma Pootras ” as a 
distinct and separate race. Even did it seem necessary, 
this is not the proper place to renew our objections to 
their occupying this position. But the question may 
well remain with the simple expression of our continued 
conviction, that the birds hitherto shown under this 
appellation .are nothing more or less than either Grey 
Shanghaes, or an illegitimate amalgamation in various 
proportions of the Shanghaes, Dorking, and Malay 
races. Have even the prize pens been always of the 
first-named character? 
“ The clauses for sincjle cocks ” are wisely renewed, 
and after these “ Game fowls,” “ Malays,” the class 
“ for any other distinct breed,” and “ Bantams ” have 
undergone no alteration. Wo then, however, notice a 
change,—“ Geese ” being divided into two classes, 
“ grey " and “ mottled.” At last, therefore, justice has 
been rendered to these well-deserving birds; the most 
profitable, under favourable conditions of locality, with 
which the farmer or cottager has to deal. We have 
long urged this extension of their class, and we trust 
so good an example will be generally followed. “Ducks” 
no longer include the “ Musk or Brazilian” bird ns a 
separate class, and the owners of these justly but little- 
esteemed birds, must exhibit them in the miscellaneous 
sub-division of the family. 
Turkeys stand as last year; as is also the case with 
Pigeons. 
The money prizes remain as formerly, .£'3, £2, and 
,£l, being respectively the first, second, and third, except 
for “Pigeons,” where the first and second take jgl, 
and ten shillings each. But the committee have not 
been unmindful of what the celebrity of their past 
exhibitions would naturally require of them; hence, 
the seven six-guinea silver vases of 1854, have this 
year been augmented in both their value and their 
number, as will appear from the following notice. 
“Nine silver cups of the value of ‘ten guineas’ 
each will be awarded, instead of money prizes, for 
the best pen of Pencilled Hamburgh, Spangled Ham¬ 
burgh, Polish, Spanish, Dorking, Cochin-China, Game, 
and Gold and Silver Bantams; and for the best four 
pens of Pigeons, to be exhibited specially for this prize.” 
“ A gold medal of the value of ten guineas is offered 
by Mr. Otley, as an extra prizo for the best pen of 
‘ Polish fowl ’ of any colour.” 
Among the regulations we find the following inser¬ 
tion. “ The council have determined, in order to 
THE COTTAGE GAE.DENER 
