June 9. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
177 
Wo are perfectly aware, while referring to the above 
passage, that, within the last few years, attempts have 
been made to demonstrate the descent of the cultivated 
wheat of tlie present day from the wild Sicilian grass 
“ AEgilops ovaia but, in common w'ith many others, 
this derivation presents to our mind greater difficulties 
than the evidence in support of the metamorphosis can 
possibly account for. 
We conclude, with the expression of what appears 
| most probable to our own mind in respect of the subjects 
of these remarks. The general descent of the present 
| varieties of the domestic fowl from any one original bird, 
' does not seem a necessary deduction either from the re- 
I cords of creation, or the observation of naturalists; while 
the contrary opinion not only removes obstructions from 
the path of enquiry, but is in perfect concurrence with 
the same authorities. Again, a wild original parent 
does not appear either probable or necessary to explain 
the course of descent, and a bird, or birds, originally 
destined for immediate domestication, would prove a 
more probable conjecture. W. W. W. 
Early-hatched Shanghae chickens are very scarce—we 
mean those hatched in February and early in March. 
Some were sold at Mr. Stevens’s, a few day’s since, at 
from £2 10s. to <£3 10s. per couple. 
In reply to enquiries which have been made as to the 
precise species of scale insect, selected by the Entomo¬ 
logical Society, as the subject of the next prize essay, 
which has been announced under the name of the 
muscle scale, it may be stated, that it i@ the Coccus 
conchiformis, the species which is extremely abundant 
in the neighbourhood of London, and probably also all 
over the kingdom, which, in the full grown state of the 
female, appears on the shoots and stems of the Apple 
in the shape of a minute muscle shell. We may add, 
that it is required that the prize essay should also 
coutain the most approved practicable remedies for its 
destruction. 
GLEANINGS. 
Dishonesty is one of the most ingenious of the vices; 
and it would be difficult to name any property high in 
man’s esteem, from a diamond dowui to a hen’s egg, 
which has not been the subject of fraud and deception. 
This was brought forcibly to our notice by the following 
extracts from two of our contemporaries; and we quote 
them for the purpose of warning guano buyers to have 
that analized before purchasing, and egg-buyers to be 
sure of the honesty of the vendor before they take steps 
for becoming the proprietors of a brood of Shanghaes. 
Adulteration of Guano. —It appears that the adul¬ 
teration of guano is largely carried on in Liverpool. 
The principal materials used, are damaged Roman 
cements and gypsum, liquid-manure from horse refuse 
being poured over the mixture to impart a smell similar 
j to that of orthodox guano. It is stated that one bag of 
guano is by this process mysteriously multiplied into 
twelve or fourteen!— Durham Advertize)'. 
A New Dodge. —A tradesman residing within one 
hundred miles circuit of Nottingham Exchange pump, 
lately bought a dozen of Cochin-China eggs, for which 
he paid 17s. 6d., and so delighted was he with his 
purchase, that he insisted that he and his fair spouse 
should taste the delicious but expensive morsels in a 
couple to breakfast. They were boiled, but when placed 
on the table, to his great astonishment and chagrin, 
the beautiful tint that before rendered them so inviting, 
had changed to common white ! On examining the 
remaining ten, they were found to be nothing more 
than small, and not very fresh, Irish eggs, which had 
been tinted to the requisite “ Cochin-China” shade by 
being steeped in a solution of raw umber.— Nottingham 
Guardian. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
We have oflen heard it remarked, that one can live 
cheaper in the country than in London. Of this we 
have had little opportunity of judging ; but, if all 
articles of consumption in the country bear the same 
ratio to those of London as garden produce does, we 
have this week had ample demonstration of the fact. 
We had occasion, within the last few days, to visit 
Cambridge, and, as a matter of course, found our way to 
the Market place. It was market-day, and every oppor¬ 
tunity was afforded lor forming a comparison between 
the prices there and those of Covent Garden. Our 
attention was attracted to quantities of very fine Rhu¬ 
barb, which was being sold at 4d. per bundle. We had 
rarely seen it of such fine quality produced in country 
markets before, and, on inquiry, we discovered that this 
had been brought by rail all the way from London, and, 
notwithstanding the distance and expence of carriage 
there, it was being sold at less price than it can be 
obtained for in Covent Garden, or any of the London 
markets. Such quality as we refer to cannot be had 
here under Gd. per bundle. 
In Covcnt Garden the price of very good Asparagus 
is 3s. Gd. a bundle of 100. Our readers may judge our 
surprise on finding, at Cambridge, the same quality sold 
at 8d. Almost every article was to bo had at the same 
low prices. Brocoli, of excellent quality, was sold at 
from Is. to 2s. per dozen ; while, in Covent Garden, it 
makes as much as 3s. to 4s. But while there is an 
abundant supply of these, the more common vegetables, 
at such reasonable rates, we found, on inquiry, that the 
more choice and rare productions of horticultural skill 
are not to bo so easily obtained. 
In Covent Garden, the supply of all sorts of vegetables 
increases, and there is a brisk demand. There is also 
an excellent display of Peaches and Nectarines, of good 
quality, at 24s. per dozen. They consist principally of 
Grosse Mignonne, Belle garde, and Royal George Beaches - 
and of Elrugc and Violette Native Nectarines. Forcer 
Grapes are also plentiful, consisting chiefly of Black 
Hamburghs, which make from 5s. to 10s. per pound. 
