280 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 0, 1859. 
ovary of another. This is occasioned by an extension of the axis of the 
plantbeyond the usual point. Tou will not find the character permanent. 
Binding Gravel (J. ‘Marshall).— Our correspondent would be obliged 
by any one stating where, near Liverpool, he can obtain “ the best-coloured 
binding gravel fit for the top of garden walks.” lie requires enough for 
half a mile of walks. 
Chemical Lectures [P. IT. F.). —You cannot attend a better course than 
that you mention. We presume you have read some elementary work on 
the science. 
Seedling Calceolarias [II. Major).— The specimen flowers you have 
sent are among the most richly coloured and most beautifully marked that 
we have ever seen. They are also good formed flowers. 
Name op Plant [A Cottage Gardener). —Your plant belongs to the 
Mallowworts (Malvaceae), and is one of the greenhouse or half-hardy 
evergreen shrubby kinds, in the way of Laratera unguiculata (the clawed). 
This we believe it to be from the solitary flower sent, and you can make as 
many plants from cuttings as you please. The sooner they are put in the 
better. Strong plants turned out into the open border, or as single 
specimens upon the lawn, are very ornamental at this time of the year. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
August 10th. Ormskirjc and Southport. Sec., Mr. James Spencer, 
Ormskirk. Entries close the 22nd of July. 
August 19th and 20tli. Bradford. Secs., Mr. A. Hardy, Bowling Old 
Lane, Bradford, and Mr. E. Blaekbrough, Black Bull Inn, Ive Gate, 
Bradford. Entries close August 12th. 
August 23rd and 24th. Whitby. See., S. Burn, Esq., 1, East Terrace, 
Whitby. Entries close August 13th. 
Auoust 25th, 26th, and 27th. Macclesfield. Sec., Mr. W. P.oe. Entries 
close August 10th. 
August 27th. Halifax. Sec., William Irvine, nolmfield, Ovenden, near 
Halifax. 
August 29th, 30th, 31st, and Sf.ptf.mbf.r 1st. Crystal Palace, Poultry, 
Pigeons, and Rabbits. Sec., William Houghton. Entries close Saturday, 
July 30th. 
September 22nd. Bridgnorth. Sec., Richard Taylor, Bridgnorth. 
October 11th, 12th, and ,13th. Worcestershire. Sec., Geo. Griffiths, 
7, St. Swithin Street, Worcester. 
November 28th, 29th, and 30th, and December 1st. Birmingham. Sec., 
Mr. J. Morgan, BingleyHall, Birmingham. 
N.B.— Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
RECRUITING THE POULTRY-YARD. 
It is ns true of poultry-yards as it is of everything else, that 
certain duties belong to certain seasons. The fowls have now- 
fulfilled their parts as breeders, and are, most, of them, beginning 
to moult. There will be no return for food consumed from 
ordinary birds till next spring. Walks may he broken up, and 
all may run together promiscuously for a time. 
Some weeks ago we advocated a razzia among the chickens, 
and a merciless slaughter of all that did not promise to make the 
outlay on their food a good investment. We are now just as 
cruelly disposed towards the adults. In every yard there are 
some venerable old hens that have long been useless; but they 
have been used as sitters. They do not make very good mothers ; 
but there is a kindly recollection of past services. Headers, such 
hens are useless. We advise you to kill them, or to sell them, 
or to get rid of them in any way you like; hut do not keep them. 
There is no probability of their doing you any good; their 
moulting is more difficult every year; they do not enjoy life, and 
it is a charity to put them out of their misery. Be hard-hearted : 
do not listen to nice little girls, who want this hen saved because 
she is so tame, or that because you have had her so long; but if 
you wish your poultry-yard to pay its expenses, do uot keep 
these useless mouths. They will not lay an egg for more than six 
months. Admit they cost you three-halfpence per week for keep. 
Three shillings and sixpence before they earn a farthing—and you 
must recollect their idle season is that when their cost is greatest; 
when they have no food but what is given to them; and when, 
from the weather, they want more nourishment. Well, then, 
three shillings and sixpence added to eighteenpence, which the 
old lady will make to a higgler, or at the nearest market, make 
five shillings ; and if ten of these w'orn-out fowls are kept, there 
is a clear loss of fifty shillings. 
For the utility of a poultry-yard, there should every year be 
a relay of pullets fit to begin laying in the winter,—say in No¬ 
vember. These should not he in excess of the usual number, 
but iu lieu of old birds. By this latter term we do not mean 
two-year-old hens, but those that have seen four or five summers. 
Granting such may not he entirely useless, they cannot be as 
profitable as younger birds. You will now be able to select the 
choicest from among the chickens. Give these every advantage. 
Feed on ground food; and if any birds do not moult well, give 
them castor oil—a table-spoonfull every third day. If they 
show dry and naked spots, rub them with compound sulphur 
ointment. Do not let your young promising cocks be beaten 
and driven by the old birds; rather remove the latter, or confine 
them in a roomy, healthy pen. Ho heaten cock ever grows into 
a first-prize h'vrd. 
Bestow your best run and best attention on your chickens, 
but do not let the old birds be neglected, or get out of condition. 
Nothing is so costly, tiresome, and short-sighted, as that manage¬ 
ment which knowingly allows birds to get thoroughly out of 
condition, with the intention of getting them up again when 
necessary. Recollect the moult of a fowl is an effort and a drain 
on the constitution. The loss, then, must be constantly supplied. 
EXHIBITION OE POULTRY AT DRIFFIELD, 
YORKSHIRE. 
As many of our readers are probably aware, this Show of 
domestic poultry forms part of the exhibition of the Agricultural 
Society of this district. It ba9 now been established six years; 
and, as public journalists, it gives us great pleasure to announce, 
that annually improvement has been manifested, and that even 
more particularly as regards the Show just concluded. The 
popularity of this portion of an agricultural meeting was never 
more apparent than at Driffield ; the poultry proving itself the 
most attractive as to the bulk of visitors of any department in 
the Show-field, and the attendance of lady visitors with their 
families was, perhaps, more extended than we can call to recol¬ 
lection at any similar local meeting. This result is in strict ac¬ 
cordance with our past experience in these matters; and our 
opinions are emphatically endorsed by the results at the Royal 
Agricultural Society’s Show, held so recently at Warwick. Re¬ 
porting on this latter Exhibition, the Birmingham Daily Post, a 
newspaper undoubtedly enjoying one of the largest circulations 
in the midland counties, “ regrets the paucity of attendance of 
the fair sex at Warwick,” and justly attributes the falling off to 
the want of personal interest of females generally, in horses, cattle, 
and agricultural implements alone. Except in rural districts, 
this will ever be the result, and a comparatively reduced attend¬ 
ance must ensue. The Warwick Meeting affords a practical 
proof of this fact, whilst the Driffield Show as fully illustrates the 
other side of the question. It is well, therefore, for agricultural 
societies to reflect ere they expunge one of the most attractive 
items from their prize lists. The Warwick returns proved a con¬ 
siderable deficiency in the amount of admission-monies ; whilst, 
on the contrary, it was publicly stated at the dinner by Lord 
Hotham, that the amounts received at the gates at Driffield were 
never before so good. Let it not be supposed, however, these 
results were attributable to the weather; for the Warwick Meeting 
took place during weather the most auspicious, whilst the morn¬ 
ing of the Driffield Show was ushered in by heavy rains, that were 
facetiously stated to be “ fair weather for turnips only.'” Most 
luckily, however, towards 10 or 11 A.M., the clouds cleared away; 
and the thousands attracted by the Show to Driffield enjoyed to 
their hearts’ content the treat prepared for their inspection. 
We will now make a few brief remarks on the poultry generally. 
The entries were far more extensive than heretofore, and the 
quality of the birds exhibited wa3 singularly in advance of those 
of last year. From the fact of this being the moulting season for 
old poultry, of course their condition as to feather was somewhat 
impaired; but that of the generality of the chickens was most 
excellent. 
Grey Dorkings headed the list, and a goodly number contested, 
the chickens being especially commendable. 
In Spanish, Dr. Pcirson, of Bridlington-Quay, stood foremost 
with his usual display of excellent specimens ; whilst the chickens 
of Mr. Samuel Robson, of Pocklington, attracted the undivided 
attention of the admirers of Spanish fowls. The Doctor also 
secured the prize for Single Cocks of this variety, 
i In Game fowls the competition was excellent, first-rate birds 
being everywhere general. Here, however, the most convincing 
proof of the all-important item to success, viz. condition, was 
most convincing. Mr. ITarrv Adams, of Beverley, simply by 
undeviating attention to this ever-necessary feature in exhibition 
fowls, almost entirely swept away all the prizes in the different 
Game classes. It was remarkable to see the effect of handling 
his birds on the awards of the Judges. It was condition, and 
that alone, that in many instances decided the matter in his 
favour where the competing fowls to the eye presented but little 
difference. Exhibitors of Game fowls, more particularly, will do 
well never to omit this necessary qualification. 
