302 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 9, 1858. 
could grow Cucumbers as early or as late as you liked. We cannot 
speak authoritatively of your plan for bottom heat, and top heat, by 
placing tiles on the flue, to rise above the soil; as you say nothing of 
the position of the soil, or height to the rafters. You would notice some¬ 
time ago, pineries, and Cucumber, and Melon houses heated by flues, as 
described by Mr. Fish ; but in that case, the flue was in a chamber, and 
there were openings from that chamber to let the heat into the atmo¬ 
sphere. If the roots come in contact with the flue, much damage may 
ensue. We have heard good accounts of Carter's Champion, but we have 
not tried it; we have given some cottagers Hunter’s prolific, and with 
rather tattered frames, but great attention, they have made them to 
answer well in a pecuniary point of view. There are just two roads to 
extra fruitfulness known to us; use old sod, or give the plants little 
root room. See various articles on this subject, and notice of Mr. 
Foggo’s mode of treatment at Shrubland. 
Twelve Hardy Shrubs and Dwarf Conifers (A Subscriber ).— 
1. Laurustinus. 2. Silver, Gold, and Hedgehog Variegated Holly. 3, 
Minorca Box. 4. Common Alaternus. 5. Common Phillyrea. 6. Ever¬ 
green Berberis ( Berberis aquifolia). 7. Common Arbutus. 8. Aucuba 
Japonica. 9. Guelder Hose. 10. Weigclia rosea. 11. Deutzia scabra ; 
and 12. Common Syringa (Philadelphus coronarius) ; but the scent ot 
the Syringa is too powerful for many people, therefore you may choose 
Philadelphus Gordonianus, which blooms much later. The last four 
or five are deciduous, and the rest evergreens ; and all of them will do 
anywhere in the three kingdoms. But you, who seem to be a young 
gardener, ought to know that a vast number of trees and bushes, both 
ornamental, and for their fruit, will not do well in the half of England, 
or in Scotland, and many parts of Ireland ; and knowing that, you 
ought to say in your letter what part of the three kingdoms your plants 
were to grow. As to Conifers, you might just as well ask us to make out 
a list of Dwarf Conifers for the man in the moon ; but we have not the 
slightest idea of what would best suit your place, not knowing where 
it is. The following will grow in most places :—1. Juniperus macro- 
carpa. 2. J. Chinensis. 3. J.JVirgmiana (Red American Cedar). 
4. Thuia (Arbor Vita;) plicata. 5. T. Orientalis. 6. Cupressus Go- 
veniana, 7. Irish Yew. 8. Golden Yeto. 9. Abies Clanbrasileana. 
10 . Abies Fraseri. 11. Taxus (or Yew) adpressa. 12. The new dwarf 
kind of Cryptomeria. There are more of the Firs, Larches, and 
Cedadar, dwarf'enough to be so called. 
Hardy Fruits for Yorkshire (York). — The following selection 
will suit you. Apples :—Bedfordshire Foundling ; Blenheim Pippin ; 
Keswick Codlin; Court of Wick ; Dumelow’s Seedling ; Fearn’s Pip¬ 
pin ; French Crab ; Gooseberry Pippin ; Greenup Pippin; Hawthorn- 
den ; Kerry Pippin; King of Pippins; Early Nonpareil; Oslin; 
Pearson’s Plate; Golden Rennette ; Sir W. Blackett’s Favourite; 
Stunner Pippin; and Tower of Glamis. Pears: — Bergamot cl’Es- 
peren; Beurre d’Amanlis; Beurre de Capaiaumont ; Beurre Diel ; 
Williams’ Bon Chretien; Catillae; Althorp Crassanne; Dunmore ; 
Green Chisel; Jargonelle; Louise Bonne of Jersey; and St. John’s 
Swan’s Egg. Plums :—Long Damson; Denniston’s Imperial; Orleans , 
Prince of Wales; Victoria; Washington; and Winesour. We have 
selected only from the list you sent, and have kept in mind that you 
require them for market. Drain where the subsoil is clay ; and there 
plant on stations. 
Names of Plants (J. M — , Dundee). — The pod, twenty-two inches 
long, is the produce of the Purging Cassia, or Pudding Pipe tree, 
Cassia fistula. It is a native of the East Indies, requires a stove, and 
attains a height of fifteen or twenty feet. It is interesting to know, 
that the seeds have vegetated after remaining in the pods for eighteen 
years. (E. S.). —Your shrub now blooming for the first time, near the 
Devonshire coast, is a Viburnum ; and, we think, from the imperfect 
specimen V. cassinoides. (A Young Hand). —You should send your 
plants to be named when in flower, saying all you know about them 
yourself. 1 is one of the Helianthemums, probably vulgare. 2. Tru¬ 
er ium chamcedgs. 3. Helianthemum serpyllifolium. 4. Hypericum, 
uncertain which. 5. Cistus creticus. 6. Staiice rnonopetala. Shorten 
the upper shoot on each side of the espalier Apple trees to within four 
or five eyes, in order to fill up the tree with a sufficient number of main 
branches, letting the others go at full length. (TV. Upright). —1, We 
believe to be Prenanthes alba ; but we are raising a specimen, and shall 
then be certain. 2 Used to be called Cactus salicornioides ; but it is now 
called Rhipsalis salicornioides. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
February 10th and 11th. Ulverstone. Secs., T. Robinson, and J. 
Kitchin, Esqrs. Entries close January 25th. 
February 10th, 17th, and 18th. Wellington, Salop. Sec., 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. 
Iebruary 25th, 26th, and 27th. Hereford. Sec,, Mr. Thomas Birch, 
Hereford. 
June 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Bath and West of England. Sec., Mr. 
John Kingsbury, Ilammct Street, Taunton. 
^ Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
SCRAPS FROM, AND TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Although it be unquestionably true, that “les jours se 
juivent, et ne se ressemblant pas,” yet, everything has its 
season. The great Shows are over ; the victorious birds, in¬ 
stead of struggling for the decoration of their owner’s side¬ 
boards, are bent on the more natural and every-day process of 
rearing families that are destined to compete with them; and, 
finally, perhaps, in the common course of things, to supplant 
i them in the post ol honour. The defeated exhibitor, like a 
careful general, while his army is in winter quarters, is re¬ 
pairing that which was faulty, and strengthening that which 
was weak in the last campaign. Our list of shows is becoming 
“ small by degrees, and beautifully less and we were disposed 
to rest, and “ take it easy.” "We, therefore, gave ourselves up 
to a half-somnolent state, and humming— 
“Writer, rest, the Shows are over,” 
we thought of the “Lady of the Lake,” blue mountains, 
murmuring streams, perfumed heather, sleeping in a plaid, 
making our lair with the stag, and snuffing the morning 1 
breeze. We were half disposed to join the projected “cliasse” I 
in Algeria, and to eclipse M. Jides Gerard. We believe it is 
common for men to forget, or to try to forget, the present, 
and to look forward. 
We had arrived at a comfortable competency—just two j 
thousand per annum. Such a garden, that The Cottage 
G ardener should be full of our doings and experiments ; 
and such a poultry-yard, that the Chronicle of that ilk should 
have nothing to do but to record our successes. We were 
thinking over the different styles of building, with a view to 
select that of our cottage, when there was a rap at the door, 
and an imp appeared with stripped-up s hir t sleeves, bibbed 
apron, and paper cap—“ Poultry Chronicle, Sir! ” 
We were just in the position of Alnascliar, when, in his 
indignation, he kicked liis wife, the Vizier’s daughter, and 
upset the basket of glass, the foundation of his fortune. Of 
all our riches and happiness, there remained only this fact, 
that the Poultry Chronicle was waiting with open mouth, 
and we had nothing to feed it with. 
Now, a newspaper is like the late Chuny, the elephant of 
Exeter Change—very tractable and attractive when well fed; 
but, if starved, the most unmanageable thing in the world. 
Their daily wants must be supplied. No man, it is said, is 
a hero before his valet de chamhre ; nor is the editor to the 
boy who runs from the compositors to the editor’s room. The 
boy (we feel why he is called “ the Devil ”) has no feeling ; and 
thus, when the knock became fainter, the voice louder, and in 
tones so sharp they passed through our head, he said, “ Please 
Sir, Poultry Chronicle l” we felt we must do something. 
Let us examine our pile of letters :—“ I have shown my 
fowls nine times lately : at eight Shows they have gained first 
prizes. With the same Judges at-they were entirely 
passed over. Pray print this remonstrance; as, if such vagaries 
are allowed, I shall discontinue showing.” A good loser— 
nothing to say to that at present—just possible their previous 
successes somewhat impaired their condition. 
The next, in a neat lady’s hand, asks, “ What am I to do with 
all my poultry ? I have twice as many as I want, and can only 
get now the same price that I could have had last September. 
Only think, Sir, it will be a positive waste of all the food they 
have consumed; and such a sacrifice to sell such beautiful 
birds at a market price.” 
You should have sold in September; and that which is a 
loss now, would have been a profit then. 
Then we read a curious letter from an old friend :—“ I think 
I shall give up—I am tired of success—I win every where; and 
yet, in 1857, made only half as much profit as in 1856. I 
can’t sell my birds.” We laughed at this one. In 1856, 
when his reputation was not so great, he put good but mode¬ 
rate prices on his birds, and they were sold : but now, if he 
sends four or five pens, all are marked at prohibitory prices. 
So much for him: but we thought there was room here for a 
little serious advice to the poultry world generally. Qareful 
selection, and successful exhibiting, will prevent loss ; but, to 
ensure profit, there must be sales. A sufficient sum may be 
put on each to prevent a great sacrifice in the event of un¬ 
foreseen success; and yet not so large as to deter a moderate 
purchaser, who would buy a first-prize pen. Those who march 
from prize to prize, and yet make but little money at it, 
wonder how those manage who never rise beyond a high com¬ 
mendation, and are nevertheless satisfied. The truth is, they 
always sell. A man who breeds a good number of early 
chickens, and begins at the summer Shows, owes his first 
success almost as much to the precocity as to the merits of his 
birds. Now, three chickens hatched in February, and sold in j 
July, say at £3 3^., pay very well. If the same thing be done 
six times, and the price remunerative to the breeder, is tempt¬ 
ing to the purchaser, and therefore renders such salos probable 
