April 3. COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
M 
D 
W 
APRIL 3—9, 1855. 
Wbathernear London in 1853. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.&S. 
Moon’s 
j Age. 
Clock 
af. Sun. 
Day of 
Year. 
Barometer. 
Thermo. 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
3 
To 
Agonum Simpsoni. 
30.49G—30.457 
' 58—26 
N. 
__ 
34 a 5 
33 a 6 
7a 49 
16 
3 
27 
93 
4 
W 
Aeonum rufipes. 
30.527—30.384 
61—28 
W. 
— 
32 
35 
9 9 
17 
3 
8 
94 
5 
Th 
Svnuchus rivalis. 
30.371—30.342 
65—27 
S.W. 
— 
29 
37 
10 29 
18 
2 
52 
95 
6 
F 
Good Friday. 
30.441—30.308 
67—28 
W. 
— 
27 
38 
11 52 
19 
2 
34 
96 
7 
S 
Prince Leopold b. 1853. 
30.392—30.344 
69—33 
w. 
— 
25 
40 
mom. 
20 
2 
17 
97 
8 
Sun 
Easter Sunday. 
30.229—30.058 
89-29 
s. 
— 
23 
41 
1 10 
21 
1 
59 
98 
9 
M 
Easter Monday. 
30.184—30.125 
65—31 
N.E. 
— 
20 
43 
2 16 
€ 
1 
42 
99 
Meteorology of the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last twenty-eight years, the average highest and lowest tem¬ 
peratures of these days are 56°, and 36°, respectively. The greatest heat, 78°, occurred on the 3rd, in 1848; and the lowest cold 21°, 
on the 6th, in 1851. During the period 116 days were fine, and on 83 rain fell. 
At this commencement of a new volume we have to 
announce, that, if the proposed alteration in the News¬ 
paper Stamp is sanctioned by Parliament, we intend 
adding to our contents a Summary of the general News 
of the week. 
By so doing we hope to make The Cottage Gar¬ 
dener not only The Country Gentleman’s, but The 
Country Family’s Companion ; and if it meets with 
sufficient encouragement to justify the outlay, we shall 
add to our number of pages, but without increasing 
their size or their price. 
We have arranged a plan whereby we can place 
weekly before our readers all the chief intelligence, 
foreign and domestic, with the opinions upon that 
intelligence of the Journals most entitled to con¬ 
sideration. In making our selections, and in our 
accompanying comments, we shall be influenced by no 
party feeling, nor will we minister to any vitiated 
taste. We shall endeavour to record none but the 
dictates of common sense upon current events; and 
our readers will not need our assurance that there 
shall be in our Summary no disregard of the kind feel¬ 
ing and purity of theme which are the charms and 
safeguards of a British family circle. 
On the 2nd of next June, within the Crystal Palace, 
will be held an Exhibition of Flowers and Fruits, such, 
we have reason to believe, as never before was placed 
before a British public. 
Sir Joseph Paxton, in a circular addressed to those 
having treasures to exhibit, says :— 
“ The Directors trust that they will have your 
valuable co-operation in their endeavour to add the 
resources of the beautiful and important art of horti¬ 
culture to the other attractive and instructive features of 
their collection. 
“ They believe that you will feel a common desire 
with them to make this Exhibition worthy of the 
Palace, and of the Art you cultivate, and secure its 
recurrence as a periodical source of gratification to the 
public.” 
This appeal, we have facts before us to show, will be 
responded to most numerously and most efficiently. 
This was to be anticipated, from the certainty that the 
Plants cannot be subjected to injury by exposure to the 
vicissitudes of our uncertain climate. They will ho all 
under glass; there will be ample space to arrange them 
so as “ to produce that artistic effect” which adds so 
much to the beauty of such exhibitions ; and it requires 
no forecasting of “ the prophetic eye of taste” to dis¬ 
cern what can be accomplished by the justly-regulated 
combination of Floral beauty with works of refined art, 
that will then be so unstintedly associated. 
Next to a consideration of the welfare of his plants, 
the Exhibitor is influenced by the prospect of a large 
assemblage to witness and applaud the successes of his 
skill; and the Crystal Palace will ensure this, because 
it secures the comfort of the visitors. 
Lastly, the Exhibitor is influenced by the liberality 
of the prize list. He is stimulated to do his best by 
that liberality, not merely on account of the mere 
money value, but because he knows that that money 
value will bring into the race competitors over whom 
it is the superlative of honour to triumph. The 
liberality of the prize list is most marked; for one 
thousand and fifty pounds will be distributed on the 
occasion. We do not particularise the prizes, because 
the list can be obtained by application to the Secretary, 
at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham; but we point to the 
fact, that the first prize of £30 for Collections of Plants 
is equalled, in liberality by the first prize of ,£3 for 
Pansies. This demonstrates that it is wished that the 
artisan as well as the nobleman should enter the lists. 
There are, probably, very few Poultry Shows that could 
be spoken of as not susceptible of improvement in some 
respect or other. The causes that lead to this conclusion 
are twofold ; first, such as proceed from want of necessary 
funds; and secondly, errors of management. The first 
of these is mainly attributable to the recent undue ! 
multiplication of these Associations, and will continue 
till the restrictions that we have long advocated on this 
point are generally acted on; but the latter class j 
embrace many details that are easier.within the reach 
of remedial measures. 
The place of Exhibition, the prize list, the arrangement 
of pens, and the appointment and duties of the Judges, 
are matters to which the attention of Committees and 
Managers should be especially directed. And such a 
recommendation is by no means to be understood os 
expressing any disparagement of the labours of those 
No. CCCXL. Vol. X1Y. 
