118 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 22, 1859. 
A very excellent collection of Pears was sent by Mr. Web¬ 
ster, gardener to bis Grace the Duke of Richmond, Gordon 
Castle, near Fochabers, N.B. This was interesting, as consist¬ 
ing of varieties which have hitherto been considered not to ripen 
in so high a latitude. They were all grown against a south 
wall: and among them were Passe Colmar , very line and band- 
some : Marie Louise , excellent; Beitrre Biel, most delicious; 
and Fondants de JBois or Flemish Beauty , large and handsome, 
but over-ripe. Each of these was superior to many other 
specimens of the same varieties grown in the south. 
A prize offered for Cornish Gillfioiver by Mr. Newton was 
not taken, there being no exhibition of that variety; and also 
one offered by Mr. Turner, of Slough, for Cox's Orange Pippin, 
was not taken for the same reason. 
Prizes of One G-uinea and Half a Guinea were also awarded 
for the best and second best dishes of any variety of dessert 
Apples. The first to E. Webb, Esq., of Calcot, Reading, for 
the old Golden Pippin , very tine; and the second also to Mr. 
Webb, for CocJcle Pippin. 
Messrs. Milne, Arnott, and Co., of Vauxliall, produced a 
basket of six fruit of a new seedling winter Cucumber, which 
was named the Winter Prolific Cucumber, from its property of 
bearing an abundance of handsome fruit during the winter 
months. The fruit is white spined, of a dark green colour, 
averages about fourteen inches long, is very straight, and of a 
uniform thickness of about an inch and a quarter throughout. 
The flesh is very solid, and of excellent flavour. It was con¬ 
sidered a very valuable and useful variety. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Pocket Chess and Draughts.—A simple but convenient combination 
of these games has been submitted to us. A small box contains flat 
counters stamped with chess characters in gilt on one side, while the 
reverse forms draughtsmen. A folding-hoard is also enclosed. All goes 
easily into the pocket; and may be had free by post for seven stamps of 
Mr. Beal, 4, Grove Terrace, West Ham, Essex, E. 
Wintering Calceolarias and Verbenas (A Subscriber ).—You can 
keep them very safely in a cold pit with half-brick-thick walls. You did 
quite right with the frosted Geraniums; hut you must he very watchful 
over them in the cellar. We have repeatedly given directions about this. 
Consult our indices. What do you wish to be told about growing Sea- 
kale? Buy our “ Garden Manual,” it gives the whole routine. 
Information needed.—W ho is James Ingram, of some place in Maid¬ 
stone, who is writing to various ladies, enclosing packets of seeds, re¬ 
questing that they may he taken as an act of charity ; and then, when they 
have been taken and paid for, writes again for payment ? 
Small Gas-heated Boiler ((?.).—If you made the cylinder air-tight 
which encloses the gaslight this would not burn. Why not have an iron 
bottom fixed to the cylinder, and a pipe from the side communicating with 
the outer air to support the burning of the gas ? Of course we are only 
guessing at what might be done, for we have no particulars as to your 
arrangements. We know of several gas-stoves and gas-lieated boilers, 
producing no offensive smell. They have a good supply of air from the 
outside, and a tube or chimney to carry off the fumes into the open air. 
Hardy Herbaceous Plants [Excelsior ).—You may choose from the 
following, they will all do for exhibiting :—Achillea tomentosa, A. rosea, 
A. Eupatorium, A. ptarmica plena ; Aconitum speciosum, A. versicolor, 
A. variegatum ; Alyssum saxatile ; Anemone apennina, A. sylvestris, 
A. pulsatilla, A. Japonica; Anthericum lilliastrum; Aquilegia Canadensis, 
A. glandulosa; Arenaria grandiflora; Asclepias tuberosa; Aster alpinus; 
Astrantia major; Aubrietia purpurea; Betonica grandiflora ; Campanula 
Carpatiea, C. Carpatica alba, C, glomerata alba, C. speciosa, C. pumila, 
C. azurea, C. persicifolia plena, C. persicifolia maxima, C. trachEeiium 
rubrum plenum ; Cardamine pratensis plena; Centranthus rubra; Cheir- 
anthus Marshallii; Chelone barhata, C. obliqua ; Delphinium formosum, 
D. grandiflorum plenum ; Dianthus Garnieranus, D. superbus; Dictamnus 
fraxinella, D. albus; Dielytra spectahilis, D. formosa; Digitalis ferru- 
ginea ; Dodecatheon Meadia, D. elegans ; Erythronium dens-canis; Draco- 
cephalum grandiflorum, D. Virginaeeum; Funkia lanceolata ; Gentiana 
asclepiadia; Geranium Ibiricum; Geum coccinea, G. Cliilense; Gnapha- 
liura arenarium, G. margaritaceum ; Helianthus multiflorus plenus; 
Hesperis matronalis plena; Inula glandulosa; Liatris spicata; Litho- 
spermum purpureo-coeruleum ; Lobelia syphilitica; Lupinus polypliyllus; 
Lychnis Bungeana, L. Chalcedonica plena, L. visearia plena; Lysimachia 
verticillata; Matricaria grandiflora ; Melittis grandiflora, M. melisso- 
phyllum; Mimulus cardinalis; Monardia didyma, M. purpurea ; Myosotis 
Azorica, M. alpestris ; (Enothera splendens, O. fruticosa, O. glauca, 
O. Frazerii, O.speciosa, 0.macrocarpa, O.prostrata; Papaver bracteatum, 
P. orientale; Pentstemon campanulatus, P. azureus, P. digitalis, P. Mur- 
reyanus, P. ovatus, P. procerus; Phlox divaricatus, P. Nelsonii, P. subu- 
lata, P. procumbens, P. setaeeus; Potentilla Macnahiana, P. Garnieriana; 
Pyrethrum Parthenium plenum ; Ranunculus aconitifolius plenus, R. gra- 
mmeus; Rhodiola rosea ; Rudbeckia hirta, R. purpurea, li. columnaris ; 
Salvia azurea; Saxifraga granulata plena, S. crassifolia, S. cordifolia, 
S. cotyledon; Sedum oppositifolium, S. populifolium; S. sexangulare, 
S. ternatum; Silene Shal'tii, S. maritima plena ; Spiriea Japonica, S. fili- 
pendula plena, S. venusta, S. ulmaria variegata ; Statice latifolia, S. sinu- 
ata, S. tartariea, S. speciosa; Stenactis speciosa; Thalictrum aquilegifolium, 
1. purpurascens; Tradeseantia Virginiea plena; Trillium grandiflorum; 
\ erbascum Phcpniceum ; Veronica elegans, Y. laciniata, Y. incana, V. Can¬ 
dida, V. latifolia, V. maritima, V. spicata; Y. australis ; Vinca herbacea 
plena; Viola niontana, V. comuta; Phyteuma Ilispanica ; Prunella Pen- 
sylvamca. 
A Ribbon-border (E. T- -, Dublin).—in England a lady thus taking 
time by the forelock would not he considered a novice ; hut you may lose 
the fashion for next season. The latest pattern we have seen looked very 
beautiful. The first nine inches of the border were of Cerastium lomen- 
tosum; the next nine of Lobelia speciosa; the next fourteen of a pretty 
dwarf variegated Geranium of the Nosegay section; the next twenty inches 
of Calceolaria uurca Jloribunda ditto, and two feet of Tom Thumb. 
Nothing more cheap, more gay, or more easily managed have we seen this 
season. The Cerastium was from March cuttings ; the Lobelia from seeds 
sown at the end of March—and both planted at six inches apart, in two 
rows each. The rest were dwarf, nice, bushy plants ; and the border was 
soon quite covered. The colour of the flowers of the dwarf variegated 
Geranium was cerise. 
Name of Grapes (./. W.). —The Grapes you sent 'are Black Morocco, 
and require more heat than what is furnished by an ordinary vinery. 
Names of Plants (A Young Beginner). —The bulbous flower is Vallota 
purpurea, var. minor. Treat the plants just, the same as though not frost¬ 
bitten ; only be more sparing with the waterpot, owing to the leaves having 
been injured. Prune, stake, and tie up the Raspberries without delay, and 
top-dress as you say. (Mrs. C. B. Clough). —The little evergreen shrub 
with sharp-pointed leaves is the Pernettya mucronata; the other is the 
i “ Groundsel Tree,” or Ploughman’s Spikenard Tree, Baccharis halimifolia. 
| This is a shrub hut very rarely seen in gardens. We know of no Begonia 
of a name at all resembling that you mention. ( Clericus ).—Your plants 
are—1, Loasa lateritia; 2, Swainsonia coronilifolia ; 3, Linanthus dicho¬ 
tomies, a hardy annual from California ; 4, Lysimachia nummtilaria, the 
common Moneywort. ( W. IT.). —The Oak leaves are from the Quercitron 
Oak, Quercus tinctoria and Q. discolor of Wildenow. No one could detect 
what is the specific name of your Cactus from such a fragment. (An 
Amateur Gardener). —From a mere leaf it is always difficult to distinguish 
the name of a plant, and it is only after repeated references that we find 
your plant is called Caladium argyrites. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
November 19th to 23rd. Crystal Palace. (Canaries and British and 
Foreign Cage Birds). Sec., Mr. W. Houghton. 
November 28th. Steel Bank, Sheffield (Single Cocks). Sec., Mr. 
F. Wragg, Steel Bank, Sheffield. Entries close the 26th of November. 
November 28th, 29th, and 30th, and December 1st. Birmingham. See ., 
Mr. J. Morgan, BingleyHall, Birmingham. 
December 13th. Newport (Monmouthshire). Sec., Chas. II. Oliver, 
Commercial Street, Newport, Monmouthshire. Entries close Nov. 30th. 
December 28th and 29th. Sheffield and Hallamsiiire (Fancy 
Pigeons). Sec., Mr. Inman New, Sheffield. Entries close December 12th. 
December 28th and 29th. Poulton-le-Fylde. Sec., Mr. J. S. Butler. 
January 4th and 5th, I860. Preston and North Lancashire, Sec., 
Henry P. Watson, Old Cock Yard, Preston. Entries close December 
17th, 1859. 
January 7th, 1860. Bradford, (Single Cock Show.) (Sees., Mr. Hardy, 
Prince of Wales Inn, Bowling Old Lane, and Mr. E. Blaekbrough, 
Black Bull Inn, Ive Gate, Bradford. 
January 31st and February 1st and 2nd. Chesterfield and Scarsdale. 
Hon. Secs., Mr. J. Charlesworth, and Mr. T. P. Wood, jun. 
February 11th to 15th, 1860. Crystal Palace (Poultry and Pigeons). 
Sec., Mr. W. Houghton. Entriesclose Jan. 14th. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of tlicir lists. 
BIRMINGHAM AND LIVERPOOL POULTRY 
SHOWS. 
Age lias its advantages. When we speak of our country we 
call her “ old England it is a term of endearment. The Lon¬ 
don pavior, who, to begin work at six, rises at five, and who, a 
few minutes before eight, feels the want of his breakfast, looks 
for the clean but homely figure who approaches with the yellow 
jug full of smoking tea and the slices of bread and butter, and 
seating himself on the earth he has been throwing up, addresses 
his partner, who often makes him feel there are many worse off 
than himself, with—“Well, old gal.” When the parting comes 
between the two school friends, and they have been friends the 
shake of the hand is accompanied with “ Good-bye, old fellow.” 
But age is not only a term of endearment; it implies, in most 
instances, stability, and challenges respect. Tlius, from the 
MacTavishes, who were not in the ark because they had a little 
boat of their own at the time, down to the jam-pudding shop 
established March, 1858, all refer to their antiquity as an 
advantage. 
Well, then, our old mother or father at Birmingham (we know 
not the gender of a poultry show), the great parent of all such 
gatherings, has issued her invitation-cards. She will he at home 
on the 28tli, 29th, and 30th of November, and 1st of December. 
This is the eleventh annual meeting. In this case age should 
certainly bring respect, the more so that there are no peccadilloes 
to be overlooked, no offences to be forgotten, no unkindnesses 
to be forgiven. Those who conduct have gone steadily on, even 
when things did not look bright and cheering. They have held 
