28G 
T1IE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 2, 1858. 
they will bloom yet, freely enough. We never could succeed 
in getting healthy plants from dividing the bulbs of Cy¬ 
clamens.] 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Dr. Bevan (77. TV. N.). —Dr. Bevan is still alive; but blindness and 
other inroads of time have disabled the venerable apiarian. 
Quince Stocks ( W. Belfast). — Write to Mr. ltivers, Nurseries, 
Sawbridg-eworth, Herts. 
Cocoa-nut Fibre (77. A. S .).—Write to “The Manager, Cocoa-nut 
Fibre Manufactory, Kingston-on-Thames.” 
Sulphur Composition (71 T. S. 77.).—The mixture recommended 
for the destruction of the Vine scale, will not injure Peach trees, if 
used for painting them. W r e do not know what will prevent the grubs 
attacking your Apple and Raspberry buds. 
Illustrated Book of Plants (X.). — Buy “Loudon’s Encyclo¬ 
paedia of Plants.” 
Names of Plants (An Old Subscriber ).—We believe the following 
are the names:—i. Enrcrnia prunastri. 2. Borrera ciliaris. 3. 
Mamalina fraxinia. 4. Marchantia polymorpha. 5. The pretty little 
Bcziza coccinca. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
February 3rd and 4th, 1858. Preston and North Lancashire. 
Secs., Mr. It. Teebay and Mr. H. Oakey, 25, Fishergate, Preston. 
Entries close January 16th. 
February 10th and 11th. Ulverstone. Secs., T. Bobinson, and J. 
Kitchin, Esqrs. Entries close January 25th. 
February 16th, 17tli, and 18th. Wellington, Salop. See., Mr. T. W. 
Jones, Church Street, Wellington, Salop. Entries close Feb. 8th. 
February 22nd and 23rd. South-East Hants. Sec., Mr. James 
James, Fareham. Entries close February 10th. 
February 25th, 26th, and 27th. Hereford. Sec., Mr. Thomas Birch, 
Hereford. 
June 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Bath and West of England. Sec., Mr. 
John Kingsbury, Hammet Street, Taunton. 
N.B.— Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
THE CENTRAL NOTTINGHAM EXHIBITION 
OF POULTRY. 
(Continued from page 271 .) 
Perhaps it would be difficult to point out any among our 
many public Poultry Shows where the active exertions of an 
enterprising Committee have been rewarded with an equal 
amount of success as those of the Central Nottingham. 
The arrangements this season supplied all the deficiencies 
of the one previously held in the Mechanics’ Hall; a very 
large temporary building, well-lighted from the roof, being 
this year added for the accommodation of the poultry : whilst 
the plan of placing each class in the same tier of pens pre¬ 
vented the possibility of any complaint as to disadvantage of 
light, or position, influencing the awards. The pens, also 
made use of, were sufficiently commodious—a feature which 
should never be lost sight of, as tending far more than is 
commonly supposed to both the present and the future well¬ 
being of the poultry competing. The wdiole interior of the 
building was tastefully adorned with evergreens ; and the 
general attention paid to the feeding of the poultry was all 
that could be wished for by the most anxious exhibitor. 
The competition in the Spanish classes was a severe one; 
Messrs. Fowler, Botham, and Rodbard, securing the money 
premiums; closely pressed by various Highly Commended 
pen 3 . 
The Grey Dorlcings were a very distinguishing feature of 
this meeting, and most of the principal breeders of this really 
useful table-fowl competed. The specimens of Mr. Henry 
Smith, of Cropwell Butler, were extraordinarily weighty birds, 
and secured for their enthusiastic owner both "first and second 
i prizes in the class for pens of three birds; and also first 
| prize in that for single cocks. Among the Highly Commended 
birds were several pens quite capable of securing first prizes at 
I the generality of our Poultry Shows—pretty sufficient proof 
! of the unusual excellence of the fowls exhibited. Among such 
was a pen containing a cock of extraordinary general perfection 
(No. 57) ; but the spurs were literally standing on the out¬ 
side of the legs — a glaring malformation, and one w’hich our 
home-experience proves is frequently hereditary. 
The White Dorkings, as at most of the Shows of late, are 
evidently fast improving both in size and conformation. 
The White Game fowls were of the accustomed excellence, 
for which the Nottingham Shows are notorious; but many of 
the Pile Game w'ere matched most irregularly. The Black- 
breasted and other Bed Game were distinguished by the 
Judges as “an excellent class,” and well they deserved the 
encomium ; for rarely so closely-disputed competition has 
existed. The same may be said as to Duckwing Game. And 
it is well here to observe, that some four or five pens of 
otherwise undeniable fowls, lost all hopes of position from a 
careless selection as to matching the colour of the legs — a 
feature which must ever correspond, or success is impossible. 
There were also some first-class Black and Brassy-winged 
Game. 
In Brahmas , the general irregularity of character, for which 
this class is now proverbial, was strongly manifested; still, 
there were exhibited many most highly-deserving individual 
specimens. 
None of the Hamburgh classes were particularly distin¬ 
guished ; nor was their general condition equal to our expec¬ 
tations. 
The Malays were superior, and the competition generally 
good. 
All classes of Cochins were well represented; but we can¬ 
not allow the present opportunity to pass without drawing 
the attention of owners to the necessity of avoiding “ waived ” 
combs. 
The Poland classes were an exhibition in themselves; the 
Blacks w'ere particularly good. 
The extra class contained some of the best Silky fowls we 
ever met with; the Black Hamburghs,?ai& also the Andalusians, 
being likewise highly creditable. 
The Sebright Bantams were both numerously and w r ell 
represented, the Golden undoubtedly being the more perfect- 
class of the tw r o. In White , and also Black Bantams, there 
v'as no lack of really superior specimens ; in the latter variety, 
Mr. Hawkesley (as usual with that gentleman on all late 
occasions), stood far advanced before his rivals. The safe return 
of these unquestionably beautiful birds, was insured by their 
being entered as “ not for sale; ” or many were the wishes 
expressed to obtain them. 
The Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys were such as would have 
raised the character of any Poultry Exhibition. In the latter 
class, w r e are informed that each of the trio of successful pens, 
had previously never been beaten. 
It is now necessary to note a feature of the meeting 
especially commendable, and somewdiat unexpectedly, from 
the simultaneous competition in these classes with that at 
Liverpool; where the premiums offered to the successful, were 
of extraordinary value. We allude to the Single Game Cocks. 
The declaration of the Judges, Messrs. Hewitt, of Birming¬ 
ham, and Challoner, of Worksop, will add much to the 
validity of our opinion, viz., “ it is rarely a better Game Cock 
Class has been exhibited ; ” and, again in the second instance, 
“ the class throughout very good.” In speaking of these 
birds, we can truly say, rarely if ever, has competition been so 
closely balanced, as between the first and second prizes, the 
property respectively of Mr. G. Jarvis, of Bawdry, Yorkshire, 
and Mr. Thomas Edge, of Strelly, Notts.; nor could fowls be 
possibly shown in more unexceptionable condition. 
The show of Pigeons, and also of Canaries, appeared 
especially good and popular ; the Babbits, likewise, called 
together numbers of those most interested. 
The weather on the early morn of the day of opening was 
showery and unpromising; still the attendance of the nobility, 
and the general public, far exceeded that of the previous Meet¬ 
ing. The enthusiasm of not a few of the admirers of Game fowls, 
led them also to undertake a journey to the Liverpool Meeting, | 
to test the comparative superiority of the two Exhibitions in 
this particular class ; and nothing can prove how commonly 
such poultry is gaining place in public esteem, than the ex¬ 
traordinary excellence of both Shows as to these birds. 
The present Central Nottingham Meeting, has, we hear, 
been very satisfactory : and certainly, if the most anxious 
desire to make it so, by paying every possible attention to the 
comfoids of both the visitors and the poultry is deserving of 
such issue, the Committee have simply received the due 
reward of their unwearied exertions. We congratulate them I 
