THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 28, 1858. 
Himalayan Seeds [J. 77'——, Preston). —'They ought to be sown im¬ 
mediately, and in gentle heat. Many of the plants, such as Abies Smithiana, 
-w ill be hardy. We do not recognise any of the native names. Harden off 
the seedlings. • 
Transplanting a Large Tiiorn ( rinctum ).—We would not venture 
to risk the removal of so valuable a tree without its being previously well 
prepared for the change. Cut the roots all round within three feet of the 
stem, now, or in February, and thin the head considerably, if it was not 
regularly pruned in former years, and at the end «of next October it will 
remove as safely as a common Plum tree. 
Names of Fruits («/. M. I).). —Your Pear is Passe Colmar, and the 
Apple Braddick's Nonpareil. ( J . M. D.). —3. Passe Colmar. 4. Bur- 
germeester. 6. Beurre Coubaulf. 7. Rotten. 9. Duchesse d' Anaouleme. 
10. Flemish Beauty (rottenb We cannot judge of the Grape, from the 
specimen sent being so small, but it is a very fine one. Can you tell us 
anything about it. (O. 77'.).—1. Beurre Nance , 2. Doyenne blanc . 3. 
Van Mans {Leon le Clerc). 7. Beurre Nance. 8. Gloat Morceau. 9. 
Black Worcester. 10. Delices de Jfardcnpont. 11. Winter Nelis. 13. 
Cat iliac. 14. Vced ale's St. Germain. The others unknown. The Conifers 
are—1. Finns Austriaca. 2. F. Montezuma;. 3. F. Cephalonica. 
Names of Plants (./. Stafford). —Your plants are as follows :—1. Ipomma 
LTorsfallicv, Mrs. Horsfall’s Ipomcea. 2. Fleroma hctcromalla, or Mclas- 
toma heteromalla of the “ Botanical Magazine.” Onc-woolly-sijed-leaved 
Flcroina. 3. Franthemum pulchellum, the nervose Eranthemum. (W. 
H.M. ).—Your Ferns are as follows:—No. 1 is the sterile frond of the 
Flcris crenata ; Fteris Chinensis of some authors. No. 2 is too imperfect 
to be certain about, but we believe it to be Asplenium acutuni (?). No. 3. 
lfypolepis repens. A large-growing, handsome Fern. The plants, from 
which the leaves sent were taken, have been woefully punished by the 
red spider. A free use of the syringe will soon put all right, at this 
cool season of the year. 
im POULTRY CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
December 29th and 30th. Burnley and East Lancashire. Sec,, Angus 
Sutherland. Entries close December 10th. 
January 3rd, 1859. Kirkcaldy Poultry and Fancy Bird Snow. 
January 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th, 1859. Crystal Pat.ace (Winter 
Show). Sec., W. Houghton. Entries close December 11th. 
January 18th, 19th, and 20th. Chesterfield and Scarsdale. Secs., 
W. M. Hewitt, and J. Charles Worth. Entries close January 4tli. 
January 20th and 21st, 1859. Liverpool. 
January 28th and 29th. Bolton Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Show. 
Se-cs. Win. Chester and Robert Greenhalgh, Bolton. Entries close 
January 15th. 
February 3rd and 4tli, 1859. Preston and Nortw Lancashire. 
Secs. R. Teebay, and H. Oakey. 
February 9th and 10th, 1859. Ulverstone. Sec., Thos. Robinson. 
February 16th and 17th, 1859. Poulton-le-Fylde. Sec., J. Butler. 
June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1859. Bath and West of England. At Barnstaple, 
Devon. Director, S. Pitman, Esq. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
TREDEGAR POULTRY EXHIBITION. 
This Exhibition is annually held at Newport, Monmouthshire, 
in conjunction with an agricultural society, which was instituted, 
and is supported, by the generosity of Sir Charles Morgan, Bart.; 
and common justice enforces the remark, that no public exhibition 
could be more satisfactorily conducted, than the one of which wo 
are now speaking. The cattle market, at Newport, possesses 
peculiar advantages for holding a poultry show, being surrounded 
on three sides with extensive and excellent shedding. Beneath 
this, the fowls were arranged, and visitors had thus ample room 
afforded them for closely inspecting every pen. 
In the classes for Grey Dorkings , both old birds and chickens, 
the first prizes were secured by fowls, the property of Captain 
Townley Parker; and, although for many years we have had 
tlio opportunity of seeing various prize pens belonging fo this 
gentleman, we cannot call to recollection an instance where the 
true characteristics of this breed were better developed, or a more 
perfect match for colour selected. Mr. William David, of St. 
Nicholas, Glamorganshire, showed some excellent “ speckled .” 
fowls of this variety. 
The Spanish class contained many superior birds; hut cocks 
with falling combs being inadmissible, left the actual competition 
somewhat limited. 
The Game fowls were exceedingly good. 
In the Hamburgh classes, faulty combs were evidently over¬ 
looked by owners in their selections. Perfection in this particular 
is all-important. 
The Aylesbury Ducks were a show in themselves : all were 
praiseworthy. The Rouen and Muscovy Ducks were also well re¬ 
presented. 
In Turkeys, the Slack Norfolk variety easily took first honours. 
A most extraordinary feature of this Exhibition was, that, 
although prizes were offered for both old and young Cochins , or 
Brahma Pootras, not one entry was made in either class ; and, 
on inquiry, we found, “ that many amateurs in this neigh¬ 
bourhood had discontinued keeping them, as their local popularity 
was gone, as fowls for the table.” 
In Golden-spangled Hamhiirghs there were but few pens ; hut 
some few individual birds were highly praiseworthy. 
The Black Polands were a most respectable collection, but 
neither the Silver nor Golden were good. It is really a matter 
of regret, to find that this falling off in one of our most beau¬ 
tiful varieties of fancy fowls is becoming almost universal at 
our present Meetings, more particularly when it is considered, 
that such fowls, a few years back, formed one of the most in¬ 
teresting and attractive features to the public generally. 
There were good Black , and also Game Bantams exhibited. 
In the “any other distinct breed class,” Black llamlmrghs 
carried the day in both old and young. They were excellent 
birds, and are a really useful variety. 
In Geese , the prize birds were of immense size —“ cross-bred.” 
Some exceedingly superior Spanish Geese were likewise exhibited. 
The whole Exhibition was carried out in a most careful and 
orderly manner, and the general management of the poultry could 
not be excelled. 
Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Spark Brook, near 
Birmingham, officiated as. Judge on the occasion. 
We published the prize list last week. 
CONTINUANCE OF THE MALE BIRD’S 
INELHENCE. 
Looking over some of the hack numbers of The Cottage 
Gaedenee, I saw, in the number of November 2nd, which I 
had before overlooked, an answer to “ Amatede,” respecting the 
influence of the male bird ; likewise, the answer of “ Salot,” in 
the number of November 23rd. My experience is, that it lasts 
very much longer even than stated by “ Salop.” In 1855, I 
had a Black Cochin-China hen, that had reared a hatch of Buff 
Cochin chickens, and when she left them she began to moult. I 
then put her by herself, on purpose to match her with a Black 
cook. She ran by herself till recovered from moulting, and that 
was in November of the same year. By accident, a young Dorking 
cock got with her, and remained with her two days. From 
former observations, 1 knew my project was spoiled ; so I did 
not matrh her, but sold all my poultry off, with the exception of 
this said lien, and she did not begin to lay again till May, 1856. 
She layed all May, and till the last week in June ; then she 
wanted to sit. 1 sent for a sitting of White-crested Black 
Polands eggs, which were thirteen. I put those under her, 
as well as the four last eggs she laid, and the result was a 
chicken in every egg, true to time and true to breed—that is, 
half Dorking and half Cochin. 1 had no cock on my premises, 
neither was there one in the neighbourhood where I lived ; and 
no one had anything to do with her, but myself and wife, and 
we were both as particular about it, from beginning to end, as if 
it had been to gain a fortune. I was heartily laughed at by my 
acquaintances, for thinking I should have chicks from these four 
eggs; but so confident was I of the result, that I would have 
wagered either of them £10. I will say more on this subject 
if you wish, or think it worth notice.-— Woecestee. 
[We shall bo much obliged by further particulars, and by the 
private communication of your name.—E ds.] 
HALIFAX FANCY PIGEON ASSOCIATION. 
On December 17th was opened, for the first time in Halifax, 
a show of fancy Pigeons. The Exhibition, which continued 
throughout the day, was held in the large room of the Mechanics’ 
Hall. On entering the room, the visitor was forcibly struck with 
the general arrangement, there being seven tables placed longi¬ 
tudinally, and covered with neat wire pens, resembling cases, in 
which were confined not fewer than 401 Pigeons'of various breeds, 
plumage, and characteristics. The pens were not placed in tiers, 
one above another, but in single rows, thereby greatly facilitating 
the inspection of visitors, so that- all might gratify their curiosity 
without having to stretch themselves for the purpose. Un¬ 
doubtedly, in the matter of Pigeons, Halifax comes out Al, not 
only as regards the numbers shown, but the quality of the birds. 
The visitors were evidently taken by surprise, no one imagining 
that Halifax would take the shine out of the great Exhibition at 
the Crystal Palace in January last; but that such was the case is 
demonstrated by the fact, that the total number of fancy Pigeons 
shown on that occasion was but 385 ; and with regard to the 
