THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Octobek 11, 1859. 
27 
guard, who didn’t seem quite comfortable about the joke, to have 
the place entered for the future in his line of route as 1 the 
Mushroom Station.’ ”—( Guardian.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Cyclamen yernum (J. F. Armstrong).— You will very greatly oblige 
Mr. Beaton by sending him a bulb. His direction is “ Surbiton, Surrey.” 
Deal Timber (G. T. X .).—The Scotch Fir (Pinus sylvestris) produces 
the Red Deals of our timber-yards; and the Norway Spruce {Abies 
excelsa) produces the White Deals. Of the Austrian Pine ( Pinus Aus- 
triaca), Mr. Gordon says in his “ Pinetum.” “the timber is strong, tough 
and resinous.” We do not know Pyrus Mcillardii. 
Stephanotis floribunda Seeding (It. B. L .).—It is not common for 
the Stephanotis to seed in cultivation; but many such instances are on 
record. We ourselves ripened seeds of it ten or twelve years back. The 
long Pear-shaped fruit is the seed-pod, and the seeds are placed most 
beautifully in a bed of much liner stuff than the finest floss silk. The seeds 
may be the most deadly poison in the vegetable kingdom, or they may be 
harmless. The plant belongs to a suspicious family. 
Name of an Amaryllid ( TV. IT. M., Kill ala). —Your bulb is Valletta 
purpurea, a very different thing from Amaryllis aulica, which is a Hip- 
peaster. A child might be soon taught to tell the difference between two 
hundred kinds of Hippeastrum, which have been flowered, and the only 
two Vullottas known to us. The Equestrian Stars (the meaning of Ilippe- 
asters) have the stamens fixed to the bottom of the flowers, and free all 
the way up. The Vallottas have them fixed there and to the sides of the 
flower half the way up, or adnate, as botanists term it. 
Phlox {A. Robertson). —The flower was smashed by the post office; but 
if not, we could not name a flower of such common aspect from a head. 
Champagne Gooseberry (J. C. A .).—There are three Champagne Goose¬ 
berries—the white, the yellow, and the red. You may get either or all of 
them at any respectable nursery where attention is paid to the cultivation 
of fruit trees. 
Garden Plan. — S . E. L. omitted to indicate the situation of the house, 
or drawing-room windows, or where the flower garden is mostly seen from, 
without which his style of garden cannot be understood or planted. 
If he let us know to which of the figures the drawing-room faces; to 
23—32 ? to 11—35? to 16— 18 ? or to 3—12, then we will help him. 
Grubs, &c. (A. M . It.). — The Leatkercoat, or Underground Grub. 
Nitrate of soda strewed round the plants is said to destroy this marauder ; 
but we examine the soil where a Cabbage plant is eaten off, kill the grub, 
and plant another Cabbage. The insect (No. 2) is the Vine-scale ( Coccus 
vitis), to be killed by a mixture of sulphur, soft soap, &c., as often pre¬ 
scribed for the scale in these pages. No, 3, your plant is Aster lividus. 
Names of Plants (A Correspondent). —The variegated leaf is from the 
Croton variegatum. The other deformity, or bit of a leaf, appears to us 
to be from a species of Caladium. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
October 11th, 12th, and 13th. Worcestershire. Sec., Geo. Griffiths 
7, St. Swithin Street, Worcester. Entries close September 24th. 
November 18th and 19th. West of Scotland (Pigeons and Canaries). 
Sec.. Tlios. Buchanan, 74, Argyle Street, Glasgow. 
November 19th to 23rd. Crystal Palace. (Canaries and British and 
Foreign Cage Birds). Sec., Mr. W. Houghton. 
November 28th, 29th, and 30th, and December 1st. Birmingham. See., 
Mr. J. Morgan, Bingley Hall, Birmingham. 
January 7th, 1860. Bradford. Single Cock Show. Secs., Mr. Hardy, 
Prince of Wales Inn, Bowling Old Lane, and Mr. F. Blaekbrough, 
Black Bull Inn, Ive Gate, Bradford. 
February 11th to 15th, I860. Crystal Palace (Poultry and Pigeons). 
Sec., Mr. W. Houghton. Entries close Jan. 14th. 
BENEFITS FROM POULTRY SHOWS. 
The records of the different Shows prove the progress that is 
being made by poultry. ' It may not be uninteresting to follow 
it, and to trace sucli points as may enable us to communicate 
useful knowledge to beginners, and, it may be, to give some 
hints to those who are more advanced. But our duty is net 
only to exercise the formed soldiers, but to beat up for recruits. 
For that reason we may point out some of the results of the 
pursuit; and we are more particularly led to do so by noticing 
the weights of the Aylesbury Ducks at the recent Shows : they 
have been from 7 fils, to 8 tbs. each, and this not the result of 
excessive feeding or of ugly fat, but good honest framework, 
covered only with sound meat. Goslings commonly weigh from 
14 lbs. to 16 lbs. each. Dorking fowls have inci'eased 2 lbs. each 
in weight. All these results have been accomplished by choosing 
those breeds that are most profitable from their aptitude to fat, 
and this aptitude has been discovered through Exhibitions. 
In poultry, as in cattle, roots, and other things, premiums have 
been necessary to stimulate exertion, and competition has com¬ 
pleted whatever prizes left undone. Exhibitions have also 
provided a sale for good specimens at remunerating prices ; and 
those to whom it is an object could give cheering accounts of 
the sums annually brought from some of our large Shows. If, 
then, Exhibitions have been thought useless by any of our 
readers, we think the facts we have stated may convince them 
that they have accomplished great results. 
If any statistics could he arrived at showing the increase in 
the weight of poultry now brought to market, compared to what 
it was twelve years ago, before Birmingham set the example, 
it would astonish even those most enthusiastic in the pursuit. 
It has also defined the properties of every breed, and has taught 
people to choose those most suitable to them soil, conveniences, 
or requirements. 
On one point we remain in the dark. While we know the 
exact number of eggs imported, and are aware that France, 
Holland, Belgium, and even parts of Italy, are ransacked to 
supply us, we know nothing of the number produced at home. 
We are sure of one thing—if more care were used by agricul¬ 
turists, and those who have opportunity for keeping a large 
number of fowls, to choose the winter stock in the preceding 
spring, the number might be greatly increased. This has been 
rendered easy by the introduction of Brahmas and Cochins, 
both winter layers, and both breeds that do well in every respect 
in confinement. Yet there remain places where eggs are not 
to be had in the winter. Railways have annihilated distance ; 
and just as milk is now sent to London from every part, so 
attention to the hints we have given above would, through the 
winter, make a pretty weekly return in the shape of new-laid 
eggs sent to the metropolis.- 
Speaking to the initiated, and even to some old exhibitors, 
we would remark on the evil of crooked combs in the Cochin 
classes. Whatever the other merits of the birds may be, this is 
a disqualification ; and the only thing that can justify the award 
of a prize to such a pen is a class where there is not a perfect 
one. In Dorkings the prevalent mistake is to send them so 
fat, that symmetry and condition are alike sacrificed. We know 
the tendency in these birds to fatten, but that which is put on 
while running about in perfect health is firm, and exists with hard 
feather, bright eye, and perfect condition; while the fatted bird 
is dull, heavy, loose feathered, and capable only of squatting in 
a corner of the pen, instead of coming forward to challenge a 
prize. In the Polands crooked and hump-hacks must he 
avoided; they are disqualifications, as are combs, spikes, or gills 
in the cocks. It is hardly necessary to say now that trimming 
in Spanish fowls is a fatal step. 
We will conclude with two remarks applicable to all classes. 
In those where weight is an essential it is far better to make the 
sacrifice of one or two pounds than to send a faulty bird because 
it is heavy. Where feather is most important it is better to 
have a little difference in that respect, than absolute similarity 
and perfection in that particular at the expense of a crooked 
hack. These remarks are caused by observation at recent 
Shows ; and while we know that perfection is not to be attained, 
we are anxious our readers should be as near to it as may be. 
WESTON-SUPER-MARE POULTRY SHOW. 
This Society held its Exhibition on Wednesday, the 5th inst. 
The following is the list of the awards :— 
Spanish. —First and Second, J. II. llodbard, Aid wick Court, near Bristol. 
Dorking (Coloured).—First, J. R. llodbard, Aldwick Court, near Bristol. 
Second, Rev. F. Meade King-, Walford House, near Taunton. Commended, 
i Miss Wilcox, Nailsea Court, near Bristol; H. D. Harper, Sherborne. 
Dorking (White).—First and Second, Rev. G. F. Hodson, North Pether- 
ton, near Bridgwater. Highly Commended, J. I. Coleridge, Manor House, 
Ottery St. Mary, Devon. Commended, Mrs. Fookes, Whitchurch, Bland- 
ford, Dorset. 
Cochin China (Buff).—First and Second, Mrs. Fookes, Whitchurch, 
Blandford, Dorset. 
Cochin-China (any other colour).—First, Rev. G. F. Hodson, North 
Petherton, near Bridgwater. Second, Mrs. Fookes, Whitchurch, Bland¬ 
ford, Dorset. Highly Commended, B. J. Ford, lde, near Exeter. 
Game (Black-breasted and other Reds).—First, H. Williams, High Street, 
Weston-super-Mare, Second, W. J. J. Fox, Devizes. Highly Commended, 
A. Foster, North Petherton; J. H. Braikenridge, Chew Magna, near 
Bristol; Hon. G. Howard, Charlton near Malmesbury. Commended J. H. 
Braikenridge, Chew Magna, near Bristol. 
Game (any other variety).—First, Rev. G. S. Cruwys, Cruwys Morcliard 
Court, Tiverton. Second, J. R. Rodbard, Aldwick Court, jaear Bristol 
(Black Game). 
Hamburghs (Gold and Silver-spangled).—First, W. J. Newich, Hinton St. 
George, near Ilminster. Second, H. Leworthy, St. John’s Cottage, New¬ 
port, Barnstable. 
Hamburghs (Gold or Silver-pencilled).—First. T. Keable, Rowdefield 
Farm Devizes. Second, Messrs. J. and W. Holland, Sansome Walk, 
Worcester. Commended, Miss II. Meade King, Walford House, near 
Taunton. 
