158 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Juke 14, 1859. 
ject, entitled “ Indian Hand-book of Gardening.” Its author, whom wc 
well remember, was Mr. G. T. F. Spcedc. It was published by Messrs. 
Ostell and Co., at Calcutta in 1810, and is probably obtainable there. 
Messrs. Elder and Co., booksellers, London, are not unlikely to have a 
copy. There is a supplement giving the native and English names of 
plants, &e. Your son will also find much useful information in some of 
Hie early volumes of the “ Transactions of the Agricultural and Horticul¬ 
tural Society of India.” 
1’ka Bugs (IF. Fletcher, jan .). — If by this name you mean woodlice, 
which is probable,—as when curled up they look like a pea cut out of 
slate,—you will find all we can suggest at page 113 of our present volume. 
Destroying Thisti.es C—)• —We know of no mode except cutting them 
down as deeply as possible as often as they appear. 
Names of Plants (Sweet iVilliam ).—The large flower is Magnolia pur ¬ 
purea . The Pea-shaped one is Ononis fruticosa. The blue one, Centanrea 
Montana . ( W . U.). — Your “sort of moss,” is Alchcmilla arcensis, or 
Parsley Pcirt. Thanks for the note about Geraniums. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
June 16tli. Essex. Sec., Robert Ellison, Halstead, Evscx. Entries close 
June 1st. 
June 29th and 30lh. Newcasile-on-Tyne. See., Mr, W. R. PorE, 44, 
Westgate Street. 
July 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th. Sheffield. See., Wm. II. Dawson, Sheffield. 
Entries close the 15th of June. 
July 21st. 1’rkscot. Sec., Mr. James Bceslcy, Prescot. 
August 27 th. Halifax. Sco., William Irvine, llolmlield, Ovendcn, near 
Halifax. 
August 29lh, 30th, 31st, and September 1st. Crystal Palace. Poultry, 
Pigeons, and llabbits. Sec., William Houghton. 
Septemueii 22nd. Bridgnorth. Sec., Richard Taylor, Bridgnorth. 
October 11th, 12th, and 13th. Worcestershire. Sec., Geo. Griffiths, 
7, St. Swilhiu Street, Worcester. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
HAMBURGH FOWLS. 
We buliovc it is beyond contradiction that Pencilled Ham- 
burghs are the best layers among fowls ; also, that they are very 
small feeders, and, consequently, inexpensive to keep. For many 
years they were known in England as Bolton Greys and Bays ; 
also, in some parts as Cliittaprats. About thirty years since they 
begatt to be imported from Holland ; but the wretched way in 
which they were packed, having neither room to stand nor to cat, 
the want of care during the voyage, the long fasting, and the in¬ 
judicious feeding on their arrival, either caused them to be roupy 
on their arrival, or to have the seeds of it in them, which were 
soon developed. Hence they acquired the reputation of being 
sickly fowls, and it was true of the imported birds. They were 
obliged to be put in quarantine on their arrival, and, however, 
desirable the fresh blood might bo, it was necessary the new 
comers should undergo a long probation before they were made 
use of. 
Mr. E. Archer in Silver, and Mr. W. Worrall in Golden, will 
always be identified with these breeds, as havhig redeemed them 
from the sweeping condemnation of fowls without constitution, 
and also as having shown amateurs what they should be. Their 
birds have full rose-combs, firmly fixed on the head, ample but 
not monstrous, well spiked behind, the spike turning upwards ; 
cur-lobes like a new fourpenny-piece; accurately pencilled bodies 
and tails. Every feather when pulled out, shows eight or ten 
distinct markings, and the tail-coverts of the hens from seven to 
ten stripes ; clear hackles ; no mossing of the plumage. 
When young the cocks are speckled, and become lighter as 
they gain adult plumage; the pullets are often cloudy when 
young, and the markings indistinct. These improve as they get 
older. If any capital defect show itself, such as five claws, single 
comb, or nearly white body, kill at once—these will never improve. 
But do not hurry to destroy those about which you have doubts. 
When they are three-parts grown, kill all that are not good. 
They will only be middling if they live. 
The Spangled are still more difficult to judge when they are 
young, as their plumage is less distinct than the Pencilled at that 
time. Their combs should be shaped like the Pencilled, but some¬ 
what larger, firmly fixed on the head ; ear-lobe faultless white; 
liens’ tails, and cocks’ in the Silver, tipped with black ; liackle of 
hens striped; wings laced and barred, ground colour pure white, 
or licit bright brown, every feather marked with a moon of black, 
with metallic lustre on its tip; no mossing or mingling of moons, 
or spots. The under feather of the Golden variety a rich bright 
yellovv brown. It is essential that the cocks, both Silver and 
Golden, shall have well-spangled breasts. Black ones are dis¬ 
qualifications. In all the varieties, blue legs. 
The Spangled are excellent layers ; but, unlike the Pencilled, 
they will sometimes sit and rear their chickens. The tail of the 
Pencilled cock should be black for the ground colour, and every 
feather edged with either silver or bronze. 
GLASGOW POULTRY SHOW. 
(From a Correspondent.) 
The Poultry and Implement Show here to-day (June Oili) 
was a very poor affair. There were only eighty entries for 
fowls. First, second, and third prizes being given where there 
were only three entries. There was only one pen of Turkeys, 
and they were the worst I ever saw. 
BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND POULTRY 
SHOW. 
The Show just concluded forms, as many of our readers are 
aware, part and parcel of the Bath and West of England Agri¬ 
cultural Exhibition. Notorious as this Society lias ever been for 
the general excellence of its arrangements, and the untiring 
energy with which such arrangements arc carried out, never lias 
any previous meeting been so completely successful as the one of 
tins season. 
The laudable efforts of the Committee seemed to meet with the 
universal response of the inhabitants of Barnstaple; everything 
on which the eye of a visitor could rest bespoke a great amount 
of careful preparation for this general holiday. A profusion of 
evergreens, flags, and banners lined the streets, whilst bands of 
music added much to the general excitement; and certainly it 
will be long before the inhabitants meet with a week of such 
pleasurcable recreation at their very doors. 
The day previous to the public admission was stormy, accom¬ 
panied with a severe amount of the heaviest rain. Continuous 
flashes of lightning, combined with violent thunder, made the 
prospect dreary enough for the time being ; but the next day 
proved all that even the most anxious among the Committee-men 
could desire. 
On the morrow Nature seemed revived, the glittering sunbeams 
of early morn had finally dispelled alike both the misgivings of 
those most interested and the dampness of the preceding day. 
Backets, railways, and vehicles of all kinds, contributed to the 
general muster. It will be a scene not readily forgotten by those 
who witnessed it. All seemed joyous and exhilarating; the happiest 
of faces were to be met with on every side; the gay holiday 
attire, too, of the ladies, contributing no unimportant feature to 
the whole. 
The ground selected for the meeting was most extensive and 
suitable; a few most covetable additions to the accustomed 
routine of an agricultural meeting proved excessively attractive. 
The botanist could here enjoy to the utmost his partialities, by 
careful inspection of a temporary avenue of shrubs, some hun¬ 
dred yards or so in extent; many being of the most rare and 
valuable character, combined with the utmost perfection of growth 
imaginable. Again, by those whose misfortune it was not to 
personally visit the show-yard, the building set exclusively apart 
for the arts contained a profusion of contributions that will not 
be readily conceivable, and language would almost fail to describe. 
In fact, days might be readily spent in the inspection of this 
portion only of the exhibition, and yet a multiplicity of its 
beauties be overlooked. No doubt exists but that this com¬ 
bination of interests between agriculture and the arts will be 
highly beneficial to all parties, leading to much personal con¬ 
sideration among individuals upon subjects hitherto unthought 
of, and adding a material interest in this meeting among visitors 
whose only object is sight-seeing. The variety of objects pre¬ 
sented then to tlie attention of visitors caused the grounds to be 
well filled ; and tlie gratification everywhere manifested proved 
the labours of the Executive Committee were not misapplied. 
We will now at once proceed to a short review of the various 
classes. Spanish fowls were excellent; and we were much pleased 
to find the all-important requisite of perfection of face did not 
destroy the character of the birds, as too frequently happens, by 
involving a deterioration of frame. Most of the birds in this 
class were faultless, and the now-unnoticed among the remainder 
would only a very few years ago have proved certain prize-takers. 
