THE COTTAGE G ARDENER, AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 20, 1859. 
183 
tlo it with; also its size, its duration, its manner of growth, and everything 
about it have been given over and over again. However, we will repeat it 
for you. Both of them are hardy perennial plants. Nature intended the 
Cineraria maritima for a rock plant facing the sea from the shores of the 
Bay of Biscay, round by the Straits of Gibraltar, and on along the basin of 
the Mediterranean. It is onlv perfectly hardy, therefore, with us high up 
on rockworks, where it has stood all our frosts for the last forty-two years 
to our own knowledge. The plant is, in looks, much after the manner of 
the tall, nasty, yellow weed called Ragwort, which is seen on badly-farmed 
land ; only that the leaves are silvery and more soft, and the stems more 
woody and more lasting, and rise to five or six feet in a few years in rich 
soil. . It does not ripen seeds, but is easily got from cuttings in the spring, 
and less easily in the autumn. In fiower-gardening young plants so 
obtained are the only right ones ; and every nurseryman in the three 
kingdoms can sell it to any one who is likely to pay, as, if he has not got 
it, he can order it from his trade-houses, where no end of it is always kept 
on purpose. Being a hardy plant so far, and being less expensive than 
variegated Geraniums for edgings, it will hold its ground as such: and 
such is all we can add to the pages that this customer has occupied in our 
series. The Cerastium tomentosum is a hardy plant in the coldest parts of 
Europe ; very low, very spreading, very fast growing, very good looking, 
very silvery looking, very simple and innocent-like, very easy to propagate, 
too easy to keep, as barrowloads of it must be got rid of every year of out¬ 
lives where it is much used as edgings. But there is no seed from it—or, 
if there were, it would not pay for gathering; as a sixpenny plant, or a 
shilling patch of it, is quite enough to stock a garden of ten or twelve acres 
with enough of it. They can be had from any first-rate nurseryman. 
Miniature G reenhouse [John Turner). — We presume your model 
greenhouse or frame is placed inside the common greenhouse. It seems 
much the same as the Waltonian Case spoken of so highly by Mr. Beaton, 
but without all its advantages, one of which is the moveable glass top. Your 
pipes should have risen instead of declined. Larger pipes, or more of them, 
would give you more heat; and less sand covering would give more heat 
in the air of the house. The damping must be neutralised by more air and 
a drier atmosphere. The too-much condensation you could greatly neu¬ 
tralise by a calico covering over the whole at night. If the outside of the 
glass is kept warm, there will be little condensation of vapour. With 00° 
and this cover, we think you would have heat for anything in winter. 
You will shortly see an aiticle on atmospheric moisture, and also a notice 
of heating a small greenhouse from a gas-jet. We think, however, that 
yon will succeed with your present arrangements, though we cannot com¬ 
mend them. 
Name of Plant (.7. li. Ii.). — Euonymus Europceus, the common Spindle 
Tree, Prickwood, or Gatteridge Tree. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
December 28th and 29th. Sheffield and IIallamshire (Fancy 
Pigeons). Sec., Mr. Inman New, Sheffield. Entries close December 12th. 
December 28th and 29th. Poulton-i.e-Fylde. See., Mr. J. S. Butler. 
January 2nd and 3rd, 1860. Paisley. Se.c., Mr. Wm. Houston, 14, Ban- 
Street. Entries close December 2Gth. 
January 4th and 5tb, 1860. Preston and North Lancashire, Sec., Mr- 
Henry P. Watson, Old Cock Yard, Preston. Entries close December 
17th, 1859. 
January 7th, 1860. Bradford. (Single Cock Show.) Secs., Mr. Hardy, 
Prince of Wales Inn, Bowling Old. Lane, and Mr. E. Blackbrough, 
Black Bull Inn, Ive Gate, Bradford. 
January 11th, 1860. Devizes and North Wilts. Sec., Mr. G. Saunders 
Sainsburv, Rowde, Devizes. Entries close December 24th. 
January 31st and February 1st and 2nd. Chesterfield and Scarsdale. 
lion. Secs., Mr. J. Charlesworth, and Mr. T. P. WJood, jun. Entries 
close January 11th. 
February 11th to 15th, I860. Crystal Palace (Poultry and Pigeons). 
Sec., Mr. W. Houghton. Entries close Jan. 14th. 
February 29th, and March 1st, 1860. Ulyerstonf,. Sec., Mr. T. Robson. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
TREDEGAR POULTRY SHOW. 
At the first Poultry Shows held in England—those at the 
Zoological Gardens, now many years ago, and long before even 
Birmingham thought of one, the classes were curiosities from the 
incongruous pens of which they were made up. No breed was 
understood by exhibitors, and the requirements of the judges 
were deemed utopian; but, as the pursuit grew in popularity 
and importance, it was found worth while to attend to the breed¬ 
ing and rearing of good specimens. Till then a really good fowl 
was only to be found in Surrey, Sussex, and parts of Kent. 
Other counties were content with the barn-door poultry, which 
occupied, and had occupied, yards from time immemorial without 
interference or improvement; unless it were now and then that 
a bird was kept because it was a present, or was bought on 
account of its beauty: this was the only introduction of new 
blood. In certain counties there were Game fowds of note; in 
others Bolton Bays and Bolton Greys. Lancashire had its 
Moonies. But all these were fancies. Poultry had not become 
part of the stock of a farm-yard. For a long time fowls had 
been looked upon as the producers of eggs, the occasional pro¬ 
viders of a meal, and perhaps they paid for candles for the stable 
lanterns; but they were pooh-poohed as stock, or as things of 
any value. Although they aro far from receiving their deserts at 
the hands of the agriculturist who has so good an opportunity 
of keeping them, yet they arc now better looked upon, and are 
increasing in estimation. We are still behind; and we could 
not help thinking of the able remarks in The Times, when noticing 
the Birmingham Show and speaking of eggs, as we read in that 
paper of Deo. 4, that one of the Peninsular and Oriental boats 
brought as part of her cargo 251 cases of eggs. 
Holland, France, and Belgium all send us poultry, and find a 
remunerative sale for it. We hope and believe there is some¬ 
thing more encouraging “looming” in the future. We had 
last week to speak of the Arundel Show in connection with that 
of fat stock, where the principal prizes were given by the Duke 
of Norfolk; and now w r e have to do with the Tredegar Show held 
at Newport, Monmouthshire, and indebted for its chief prizes to 
Lord Tredegar. We therefore hope, as we are entitled to do, 
that poultry is being recognised as part of the stock of a farm. 
There are other features which all these shows present which are 
encouraging. The Dorking is, beyond dispute, the best table- 
fowl ; and it is now discovered by all, that if a number of them 
are taken into a market, there is no sale for any others till they 
are sold. In the same way Spanish are beyond comparison the 
best egg-producers, because their eggs are double the size of 
ordinary ones. Now that which we said last week at Arundel 
holds good at Newport. The best table-fowls and the best layers 
w r ere the strongest and best classes. Attention has been drawn 
to them; and they are not only found the most profitable in the 
yard, but the most saleable at the exhibition. We would not be 
thought to esteem other breeds lightly, as all have their useful 
points ; but we are bound to notice these two. We believe these 
noblemen are setting a good example, and we hope it will he 
extensively followed. It may be the R.A.S.E. will see its mistake, 
and again make its meetings what they should be—thetrysting- 
place and tilting-ground of all the inhabitants of a farm-yard. 
The Tredegar Show was held on Tuesday, December 13th, and 
brought 280 pens. In noticing the classes we are compelled, 
save in some few instances, to refer to the prize list for names, as, 
at the time we write this, we have not access to a catalogue. 
There were sixteen pens of excellent Dorkings. The best was 
99, which not only took first prize for chickens, but also a special 
prize for the best pen of birds shown. We could not help 
noticing them as being of unusual merit, and were not surprised 
when we found they belonged to a relative of Mr. Town el cy 
Parker. Thus the old strain that had triumphed so often at 
Bingley Hall has not degenerated in another county. Ben 98, 
was first for old birds, and these were very good. We can speak 
most highly of every pen mentioned in the prize list. 
Nineteen pens of Game. Pens 182 and 193, first for adults 
and chickens ; 175 and 176 second, all good and shown in capital 
condition. 
Nineteen pens of Spanish. We may say of these as we have 
of many others lately, that we never saw classes with so few in¬ 
ferior birds; but sufficient care was not taken to select cocks 
with perfectly upright combs. These remarks do not apply to 
the prize birds; but some of those that were beaten would, 
perhaps, have done better had a different cock been selected. The 
chickens were better than the adults, and judging from them hero 
and elsewhere, we anticipate for 1860 such Spanish as have 
seldom been seen. Good birds arc the rule. Bens 128, 79, 209, 
and 129, were very good. 
Brahmas made a tolerable show ; but Cochins were very badly 
represented. The order of some late shows was reversed, the 
Silver were better than the Golden-pencilled Hamburghs. Mr. 
Conway James’s old, and Mr. Llewellyn’s young birds were highly 
meritorious. The old Golden-spangled were better than the 
young. In the Silvers, the drooping comb was fatal to many 
pens. It cannot be too strongly impressed on exhibitors that a 
falling or even a loose comb is a great, and in close competition a 
fatal, defect. 
We can speak well of the Polands, especially the Golden and 
Silver-spangled. Some of the cocks, however, had spikes in front 
of the topknot, and this should be guarded against. We would 
not wish our Newport friends to think us hypercritical, as our 
only desire is to warn them against capital faults. 
The Golden and Silver Sebrights were not good, but the Game 
Bantams were very beautiful, especially pen 198. The same may 
be said of the Black and White. 
The Distinct Varieties brought as good Black Hamburghs as 
we have ever seeu, and some excellent Silkies. 
Ducks are becoming thoroughly understood; and although 
among the Aylesbnrys there were some imperfect bills, yet, as a 
