86 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— November 4, 1856. 
best hardly the coveted premium to boast of when won 
by a lady. That a sideboard of “Silver Cups” is in- 
trinsic.vlly valuable is at once allowed; but they are not of 
so much utility as many more feminine requirements, which 
‘certainly might be procured with equal ease at the like 
original expense and trouble. To some such of our fair 
competitors a silver fish-knife, pair of salts, or various little 
items for the tea-board, would be far more acceptable, accord¬ 
ing to individual tastes or household requirements. 
Arrangements might, by every committee, be effected 
with some respectable silversmith or other in most towns, to 
grant to each successful competitor an after-selection from 
his stock of plate generally, in strict accordance with the 
value of the prize, or prizes, previously awarded. By this 
very simple change I fancy all parties would find their pre¬ 
judices unruffled, as, of course, the selection would be in 
consonance with their own ideas; at least, the fault would 
then rest decidedly with themselves if their individual pre¬ 
dilections were not satisfied. As having attended so very 
many meetings on poultry publicly held in most parts of 
the United Kingdom, and thereby knowing this prevalent 
opinion, I trust my present intrusion, Mr. Editor, will by 
you be favourably accepted, as I assure you my only object 
is, like your own, to render such annual reunions as pleasing, 
faultless, and satisfactory as possible. — Edward Hewitt, 
Eden Cottage, Spark Brook, Birmingham. 
NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HOUSE 
MARTIN. 
At Bishop’s Waltham, Hants, near the ruins of the 
Episcopal Palace, is a large pond, anciently formed by 
damming up a rivulet which flows through the grounds from 
Northbrook (so called from the brook itself) to Botley. This 
pond, no doubt, in former times, was a valuable appendage 
to the Palace for supplying, as it was intended to do, our 
Venerable and Right Reverend Prelates with choice fish 
when they had their residence there, before Cromwell’s de¬ 
vastating forces battered the noble structure, and, by virtue 
of his Protectorship, rendered it, as it has been ever since, 
uninhabitable. 
The old historian, .John Leland, who, I believe, wrote in 
the reign of Henry VIII., speaking of Bishop’s Waltham, 
says in his Itinerary, “ Here the Bishop of Winchester 
bath a right ample and goodly Maner Tlace motid aboute, 
and a praty brooke running hard by it.” By which we may 
infer that in his time the fish pond had no existence, and 
the “ praty brooke ” only was found there. 
The pond, like the buildings near it, has been neglected 
(though still noted for pike and eels, and a few small finny 
fry), and is grown over very much, particularly about its 
borders, with Bulrushes and tall Sedge, making a convenient 
shelter for a few wild fowl that occasionally resort thither ; 
and this brings me to the object I had in view in troubling 
you with this paper. 
In the summer evenings, and particularly during the late 
very warm weather (in August), I noticed that the House 
Martins took up their nightly abode in these Bulrushes 
and Sedge. If I say that hundreds of them were to be 
found there I am sure I am within the truth. They kept 
up a continual twitter at nightfall, till some time after 
sunset, when the sound gradually died away, as if Morpheus 
had hushed them to repose, and induced them to rest in 
peaceful slumbers till the dawn of another day should call 
them forth again to take their active and airy flight in 
search of food. 
But the question I wish to ask, arising out of the above, 
is, if it is usual for these birds to congregate in those places, 
as I have never observed it before? I know some natu¬ 
ralists have said that instead of emigrating, as it is now 
well known they do, some of this hirundine family cluster 
together like bees in a swarm, and sink in a torpid state 
beneath the water, during the winter season. May not this 
absurd notion have arisen from the circumstance now first 
observed by me as above stated, and the fact that the birds 
are generally, or often, first seen in the spring, skimming 
on the wing over some lake or pool of water for the insects 
there found, which constitute their food?—T. M. W. 
BIRMINGHAM POULTRY SHOW. 
We are enabled to state that the applications for certifi¬ 
cates of entry in the several departments of the approach¬ 
ing Show in Biugley Hall have been very numerous ; suffi¬ 
cient, indeed, to lead to the conclusion that there will be a 
fine display of stock, roots, and domestic Poultry. Among 
the exhibitors of stock, in particular, there will be found 
some influential additions, while the old supporters of these 
meetings will not be absent. The change in the fixture, as 
we had anticipated, will add strength to the Show, by offer¬ 
ing two opportunities to those who are anxious to take part 
in competitions of this nature, and who will send on their 
stock to London at the close of our own Exhibition. For 
this purpose it will be most desirable that special railway 
accommodation should be afforded, so that there may be as 
little delay as possible,—a matter which we hope will not be 
lost sight of. The entries close on Saturday, the 1st day of 
November; and we may add, for the information of exhi¬ 
bitors of poultry, that a sufficient sum has been placed at 
the disposal of the Council to enable them to offer two 
Silver Cups, of the value of six guineas each, for Brown and 
Partridge-feathered Cochins, instead of the ordinary prizes 
in the two classes. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
“ How Towdies.” — An Old Subscriber wishes to know what “How 
Towdies” are. They are mentioned every week in the Inverness 
Courier in the market notices, and the price is 3s. 6d. a pair.” 
[We are told that they are two-year-oid fowls of any breed.] 
Cleaning the White Top-knots op Black Polands (G. Hay). 
—They should be washed with warm soap and water, either with a 
sponge or a painter’s brush ; the latter is preferable. The bird should 
then be put in a basket before a fire. 
LONDON MARKETS. —November 3rd. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
Markets still continue inactive, and the consignments from abroad 
have not been near so extensive during the week, comprising chiefly 
some rough descriptions of Apples from Jersey and the adjacent parts of 
France. Good samples of home-grown, such as the Wellington and 
Blenheim Orunge, realise high prices where they are sound and in keep¬ 
ing condition. The Potato trade is dull, and the bulk to hand this 
week very inferior. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
bushel. 8s. to 12s. 
,, dessert .. .. 12s. ,, 20s. 
Pears, per dozen .... Is. ,, 3s. 
Peaches, per doz. 6s. ,, 10s. 
Nectarines, do. 6s. ,, 10s. 
Pine-apples, per lb... 4s. ,, 6s. 
HothouseGrapes, per lb. 3s. ,, 6s. 
Strawberries, per lb. Od. ,, Os. 
Foreign Melons, each Is. ,, 3s, 
English Melons. Is. ,, 4s. 
Morello Cherries, per lb. Is. ,, 2s. 
Cherries, per lb. Od. ,, Os. 
Oranges, per 100 .... 10s. ,, 20s. 
Seville Oranges, do... 0s. ,, 0s. 
Lemons. 10s. ,, 15s. 
Almonds, per lb. 9d. ,, Is. 
Nuts, Filberts, perlb. 9d. ,, Is. 
,, Cobs, ditto.. 9d. ,, Is. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 20s. ,, 22s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 12s. ,, 14s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 9s. ,, 12s. 
Chestnuts, per bushel 0s. ,, 0s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, perdoz. Is. to Is. 6d. 
,, Red, perdoz. 2s. to 4s. 
Cauliflowers, each.... 2d. ,, 4d. 
Brocoli, pel bdle. Od. ,, Od. 
Savoys. 0s. ,, 0s. 
Greens, per doz. bnch. 2s. ,, 4s. 
Spinach, per sieve .. — ,, 4s. 
French Peas, per bslil. 0s. ,, Os. 
French Beans, per hlf. sv. Is. 6d. 
Carrots, per bunch .. 4d. to 6d. 
Parsnips, per doz. fid. to 9d. 
Beet, per doz. Is. to Is fid. 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 3s. to Cs. 
,, Frame, per lb. Od. „ Od. 
,, New, per lb .. Od. ,, Od. 
Onions,Y’ng,perb’ncli. 4d. ,, Cd. 
,, Old, per bushel 0s. ,, 0s. 
Turnips, per bunch.. 3d. ,, Cd. 
Leeks, perbunch .... 2d. ,, 3d. 
Garlic, per lb. 6d. ,, 8d. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is. 6d. to 2s. fid. 
Shallots, per lb. fid. to Is. 
Lettuce, Cos, per score Is. ,, 2s. 
,, Cabbageperdoz. Od. ,, 3d. 
Endive, per score .. Os. Od. ,, 0s. 
Celery, per bunch.... 9d.to ls.6d. 
Radishes,Turnip, per 
dozen bunches .... — to Cd. 
Water Cresses, ditto.. 6d. ,, 9d. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet.. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Artichokes, per lb. — ,, 2d. 
Asparagus, per bdl. Os. ,, Os. 
Sea-lcale,per punnet.’. — ,, — 
Rhubarb, per bundle 3d. ,, 6d. 
Cucumbers,each. 4d. ,, fid. 
Mushrooms,perpot Is. fid. ,, 2s. 
HERBS. 
Basil, per bunch .... 4d.to fid. 
Marjoram, per bunch 4d. ,, fid. 
Fennel, per bunch .. 2d.,, 3d. 
Savory, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Parsley, perbunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Mint, per bunch .... 2d. ,, 4d. 
Green Mint . 6d. ,, 8d. 
POULTRY. 
There is still an ample supply of everything, while the demand is 
rather less than otherwise. Pheasants arc more plentiful than they were. 
Large Fowls 4s. fid. to 5s. Od. each. Hares .... 3s. Od. to 3s. 3d. each. 
Smaller do 
Chickens .. 
Grouse .. .. 
Partridges.. 
Pheasants .. 
3s. 6.1. to 4s. Od. 
2s. Od. to 2s. fid. 
2s. Od, to 2s. 3d. 
Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. 
3s. Od. to 3s. fid. 
Ducks.... 2s. 6d. to 3s. Od. ,, 
Geese.6s. Od. to /s. Od. ,, 
Rabbits.... Is. 4d. to Is. 5d. ,, 
Wild ditto. 8d. to lOd. ,, 
Larks . Od. perdoz. 
London: Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar ; and Published for the Proprietors 
at The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in 
the Parsh of Christ Church, City of London.—November 4, 1856, 
