March 20. THE COTTAGE 
We would press these viows most earnestly on that 
portion of our readers who are interested in the poultry 
movement, as essential to its full development. While 
matters are suffered to remain in their present state, 
discontent and grumbling receive but too often direct 
encouragement; it is not, indeed, to be supposed that 
regulations of any kind will, in every instance, silence 
those by whom they are uttered; but when the decisions 
rest not merely on the individual opinion of the judges, 
but on known principles, and the standard in the hands 
of the public, they will be at once dispossessed of the 
show of reason by which they may now be sometimes 
fortified and upheld. 
Tabulated statements of what should be required in 
the several varieties of domestic poultry have been 
recently laid before our readers in furtherance of this 
design, and we hope, in an early impression, to give our 
ideas of the mode in which they would best bo applied. 
In the meanwhile, we would repeat our caution to the 
Committees of proposed Exhibitions in these words, 
“ Poultry Shows are already too numerous.” It may be 
said, indeed, that if we have attached such value to 
them an an advertising medium, why limit their en¬ 
deavours? Our reply in such a case would be, that our 
remarks were diroctod only to such of these Associations 
as provided for the wants of a sufficient area around 
them, and were thus enabled to carry on their work 
without the ovils of neighbour’s competition, and, con¬ 
sequently, with abundant rosources, and the requisite 
liberality. Many of the smaller Societies are now 
passing away, some even where the pecuniary prospects 
were far from discouraging; but their projectors felt that 
they were no longer called for, other bodies in better 
situations having been brought into existence. Failure 
of means, however, has been a far more common cause 
of the present deficient state of many; and laying 
aside every other cause of meritod failure, we might 
point to the frequent error of their system in declining 
the expense of providing efficient judges. A Poultry 
Show thus deficient is palpably worse than useless, for 
it stamps worthlessness with credit, and does its best 
to perpetuate the very faults which it professes to 
condemn. 
The first Extraordinary Meeting of the British Potno- 
logical Society for the current year was held at the 
Rooms, 20, Bedford-strcet, Covont Garden, on Monday, 
the 5th inst., when the chair was occupied by Dr. Davies, 
of Pershore. 
The collections of fruit which were exhibited were 
neither so numerous nor so extensive as at the meeting 
in last November ; nor could it be expected they would 
be so, when the lateness of the season is considered, 
and also the almost total failure of the fruit crop of last 
year. Had the crop been such as the abundant bloom 
promised, there would, no doubt, have been at this 
meeting an interesting exhibition of many of the new, 
late varieties of Pears, which have recently been intro¬ 
duced to this country. As it was, however, there was 
GARDENER. 467 
abundant interest attached to the collections which were 
there. 
Tbo first which came under observation was from 
Di. Davies, of Pershore, who, boing present, contributed 
much interesting and useful information respecting tho 
different varieties. They consisted chiefly of Apples, 
among which was a specimen of the Flanders Pippin, 
a variety which that gentleman had also sent to a 
previous meeting. At this late season, it was as sound 
and well-flavoured as it was two months ago. Tho ex¬ 
ceeding tenderness of the flesh, the delicate and pleasant 
subacid flavour, and the agreeable aroma which this 
variety exhibits, together with its long-keeping pro¬ 
perties, render it worthy of general cultivation. It was 
stated at the Meeting, that this is a distinct variety 
from the Flanders Pippin of the Berkshire orchards, as 
described in Mr. Hogg's British Pomology, and on this 
account it would, perhaps, be advisable for the Society, 
at a subsequent meeting, to distinguish the variety of 
Dr. Davies by a new name, particularly as the name it 
now bears is one which is applied in Covent Garden, 
and in different parts of the country, to many distinct 
varieties. 1 he Queens Delight was a very handsome, 
little, conical-shaped, dessert Apple, which was highly 
commended. Several others, including some of the old 
cider fruits of Worcestershire, formed part of this col¬ 
lection. Dr. Davies reported upon three varieties of 
Seedling Plums, which had been raised in tho neigh¬ 
bourhood oi Pershore, and which, from the minute 
description and high character given of them, were 
thought to be worthy of notice by the Society; and that 
every opportunity for testing their merits might be 
afforded, Dr. Davies has very liberally placed a number 
of the grafts of these, ns well as of tho Apples, at tho 
disposal of tho Society, to be distributed among the 
members in different localities, to lie proved and reported 
upon. 
G. S. Wintle, Esq., of Gloucester, sent a collection of 
Apples, and specimens of a seedling Pear, from orchards 
in the neighbourhood of Gloucester. Amoug these was 
the Oarraway B.usset, a very fine and aromatic dessert 
Apple, which was highly commended; and a seedling 
variety, raised by Mr. Holbert, of Gloucester, which, 
though-tender fleshed and well-flavoured, was not con¬ 
sidered of very high merit. The others were chiefly 
cider fruit, of which the Society could form no opinion, 
without knowing the merits of the cider drawn from 
them. This fact gave rise to a suggestion, that in such 
cases specimens of articles manufactured from fruits 
should be sent to the Meetings; such, for instance, as 
cider, perry, preserves, &c., one of the objects of the 
Society being “ to ascertain tho economical uses ” of 
fruits. 
Messrs Lane and Son, of Berkhampstead, sent fine, 
large specimens of the New Ilawthorndcn Apple, a 
variety very similar in colour and in flesh to the old 
Hawthornden; but in good condition as late as 
February and the beginning of March. Also the White 
Admirable, one of those tender, white-fleshed baking 
Apples, which are in good condition at this season. 
