59 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN 
October 27, 1857. 
CHIYES. 
Chives are a sort of small under-ground onion with very 
small bulbs, throwing up dense tufts of long narrow grass, 
like leaves which are used in early spring in salads and 
soups as young onions are. They are propagated by divi¬ 
sion of the roots, which grow in clumps, during any of the 
spring months and in autumn. They may be grown in any 
out-of-the-way corner of the garden, and when a new planta¬ 
tion is made a clump of six or eight roots is inserted w r ith 
the dibble in rows, and about nine inches apart from each 
other. They will soon take root and form large patches, 
when they will remain several years, till they get so large as 
to require the same operation of division and transplanting. 
( To be continued .) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Plants round a Pond (T. A. G. S.). —The best effect produced 
with a small pond is by heaping large flints or stones roughly and 
highly around it, filling the interstices between the flints with light 
rich soil, and planting in it the tall-growing hardy Ferns, such as Pteris 
uqtiilinu, Lastrcea filix mas, Polystichum angulare, &c. 
Concreting a Vine Border (N. S.). —We never advise any one to 
concrete the upper surface of a Vine border. We consider a deep 
covering of leaves in winter and a free exposure to the sun in summer is 
much better cultivation. We will inquire how the concreting is done. 
Potatoes (An Amateur ).—What can we say upon the subject more 
than has been said by us so recently? Get of any seedsman or market 
gardener the early varieties w 7 e mentioned, and cultivate them as we 
directed. 
French Garden (31. 31. P.). —The diamonds 1, 3, 4, and 6 would 
look well in spring bulbs—a row of Crocuses three inches from the 
sides, and two other rows of the same across from corner to corner, 
dividing the beds into four quarters, and these quarters to be filled with 
one, or two, or four kinds of Tulips or Hyacinths, then scarlet Turban 
Ranunculus round the Rose beds, and 2 and 5 to be devoted to her¬ 
baceous plants, of which the white Arabis alpina and yellow Doronicum 
Austriacum are the best of the earliest kinds, and the easiest to 
manage. The plain and variegated yellow Alyssum are the next best, 
and the next Cheirunthus 31arshallii. In summer the bed opposite the 
entrance of this figure should be yellow, and that on each side of it 
scarlet; the next opposite pair white; the next pair pink or purple ; 
and the bed in front variegated Geraniums mixed. 
Apple (Poor 3Ian’s Well-wisher). —Your seedling Apple is of very 
good quality, as good as the generality of Apples at this season of the 
year, but it does not possess any merits superior to others which are already 
in cultivation. There are so many varieties of Apples already come into 
use in autumn that it is quite unnecessary to extend the number. 
Why not try your hand again and produce one which will keep till June 
or July ? 
Names of Pears (J. F. 31.).—A very fine collection certainly, and 
well grown. We have not been able to identify the whole of them yet, 
as there are many not nearly ripe, but we give you the following as an 
instalment:—1. Marie Louise. 2. Nelis d’Hiver. 3. Easter Beurr£. 
4. Vicar of Winkfield. 5. Glout Morceau. 6. Marie Louise, 9- Dun- 
more. 11. Suffolk Thorn. 12. Beurrd d’Aremberg. 15. Vicar of 
Winkfield. 17. Ne Plus Meuris. 22. Easter Beurrih 24. Marie 
Louise. 26. Marie Louise. 30. Napoleon. 33. Ducliesse d’Angoul£me. 
34. Beurr4 de Ranee. 37. Ne Plus Meuris. 39. Flemish Beauty. 40. 
Calebasse Grosse. The remainder will be noticed when ready. 
Names of Plants (B. 31.).—Calystegia pubescens. (A Constant 
Purchaser). —The light blue flower is Ccelestina ageratoides, and the 
white flower the variegated Alyssum, now called Glyce muritima. 
Names of Fbrns (J. Walsh). —We think your specimen is a varied 
form of Woodsia alpina, but we cannot be certain until we have seen a 
frond with sori upon it. (T. G. Dutton). —We are not sure about No. 1, 
but think that it is Adiantum hispidulum. No. 2 is Platyloma rotun • 
difolia. They are both natives of New Zealand, and worthy of culture. 
They require a greenhouse. 
Names of Orchids (S. T.).—Correspondents have been frequently 
warned that if they send flowers in dry paper they get so mutilated in 
passing through the post-office, and dry up and fade, that by the time 
| they reach us they are almost undistinguishable. Yours are about the 
[ worst we have ever received. We are quite willing to bestow our time, 
and will spare no trouble in trying to find out the names of specimens 
! sent to us, providing the sender will take due pains in packing them in 
a safe case in damp moss, so that they will reach us as fresh as possible. 
| The native country of Orchids, if possible, should also be sent, as that 
! assists greatly in determining species. As far as we can make out 
j yours are—1. 3Iaxillaria, a small species not named. 2. Epidendrum 
I vitellinum, small var. 3. Cyrtopodium rnaculatum. 4 . Billbergia vittata 
i sonata. 
Currant Trees (G. W. H.). —You need have no fear about moving 
them. Dig well round the roots, and lift with as good balls of earth as 
you can get. 
Onward Potatoes (H. S.). —We will endeavour to arrange for the 
sale of the very small surplus of this variety. 
Brussels Sprouts (R. E. T .).—We never knew the stems of 
Brussels Sprouts broken down for the purpose of making the Sprouts 
larger. _ It might promote that result, the same as ringing the branch of 
a Vine increases the size of the Grapes on that branch. 
Small Lrones (Apiarian). If you send us a note of your experience 
we will publish it, that many may benefit by it. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
October 28th and 29th. Dorsetshire. Sec., G. J. Andrews, Esq., 
Dorchester. Entries close October 14tli. 
November 25th and 26th. Gloucestershire. Sec., Mr. E. Trinder, 
Cirencester. 
November 30tli, and December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Birmingham. 
Sec., Mr. John Morgan. Entries close the 2nd of November. 
December 8th and 9th. Crewe. Secs., S. Sheppard and D. Mar- 
getts, Esqs. Entries close November 26th. 
December 16th and 17th. Nottinghamshire. Entries close No¬ 
vember 18th. Hon. Sec., Mr. R. Hawksley, jun., Southwell. 
December 30th and 31st. Burnley and East Lancashire. 
Entries close December 1st. Secs., Mr. Angus Sutherland and Mr. 
Ralph Landless. 
January 1st, 1858. Paisley. Poultry, Pigeons, and Fancy Birds. 
Sec., Mr. W. Houston, 14, Barr Street, Paisley. 
January 4th, 1858. Kirkcaldy Poultry and Fancy Bird 
Show. Sec., Mr. Bonthron, jun., Thistle Street. 
January 9th, 11th, 12th, and 13th, 1858. Crystal Palace. Sec. 
Mr. W. Houghton. Entries close December 12th. 
January 13th and 14th. Dublin. Secs., T. M. Hutton and R. P. 
Williams, Esqs., Council Rooms, 212, Great Brunswick Street. 
Entries close November 2l3t. 
January 19th, 20th, 2lst, and 22nd, 1858. Nottingham Central. 
Sec., Mr. Etherington, jun., Notintone Place, Sneinton, near Notting¬ 
ham. 
February 3rd and 4th, 1858. Preston and North Lancashire. 
Secs., Mr. R. Teebay and Mr. H. Oakey, Preston. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
RAILWAY DELAYS. —UNION OF HAMBURGH 
AND POLAND CLASSES. 
It seems to me very unreasonable that the railway 
company should delay transmitting to their respective homes 
part of the birds from the Worcester Poultry Show. You 
state in your “ Chronicle ” that the birds were at the station 
by half-past seven o’clock p.m. on Friday. Now, my birds 
j and part of Mr. Dixon’s did not arrive here till Sunday 
; morning. Now, I think the length of time after the packing 
and delivery of the birds at the station and the arrival of 
them at the Bradford station inflicts an unnecessary punish¬ 
ment upon the birds that every amateur ought to protest 
against; and I may as well mention that I have heard 
several complaints amongst the exhibitors of Hamburghs, 
who would, no doubt, have exhibited at the Worcester Show 
had the Hamburghs been shown each in its respective class, 
instead of making four classes into two. They think (the 
Hamburgh exhibitors, and justly too) that it was unjust to 
give three prizes to the coloured Dorking and Spanish 
classes, and at the same Show make the four Hamburgh 
classes into two. It is also unjust to exhibitors of Polands 
to class Gold and Silvers together, and whatever may be a 
man’s qualifications as a Poultry Judge it is placing him, to 
say the least of it, in a very unpleasant position, for mis¬ 
takes are easily made even where good birds are shown each 
in its own class ; but where two classes are shown together I 
take it to be no easy matter to determine which is the best. 
I hope never to see them classed together again; and I have 
no doubt, had they been classed in the ordinary way, there 
would have been a greater number of entries in the Ham¬ 
burghs, and have given better satisfaction. I shall make 
no apology for the above remarks, as they represent the 
opinions of many of your readers. — Joseph Holdings, 
Horton, Bradford, Yorkshire. 
BRIDGNORTH POULTRY SHOW. 
This was held on the 8tli inst. The entries of poultry 
were not quite so numerous as those of last year, but there 
were some very excellent specimens amongst them. The 
Viscount Newport sent some pens of Game birds which 
were much admired; G. M. Kettle, Esq., was also an ex¬ 
hibitor. Mrs. J. Pritchard also sent a pen of fine Bucks, in 
which class Mr. G. Pritchard was also an exhibitor. Mr. 
I 
