THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 18, 1859. 
258 
diate neighbourhood. It must ho for the use of the Sassanechs who fre¬ 
quent Strathpoffer Wells, that the people of Dingwall want hothouses, 
and all this grandeur ; and to back them up to it, with heart and hand, 
Donald Beaton has been to the Crystal Palace,—a much colder place, by 
the bye, than Dingwall,—and seen what Mr. Eyles has done in the way of 
a model hothouse. But as to the consumption of smoke, people must read 
the last Acts of Parliament about it.—D. B. 
Gi.azino Roofs [An Old Subscriber). —When the parties have advertised 
we shall have something to refer to. 
Abell Poplar (C. P. C.).— Any nurseryman could get it for you. We 
always give replies without avoidable delay. 
Works ok Botany (S. Tatton). — Buy Henfray’s “ Rudiments of Botany,” 
and Hogg’s “ Vegetable Kingdom.” 
ArrLE Mildew ( P.P. ).—Wc cannot give advice, as we do not know 
whether the trees are on the open ground, or under cover. Nor do you tell 
us anything about the soil. 
Double Primroses ( A Subscriber). —Apply to some of the respectable 
florists who advertise in our columns. We cannot recommend one in pre¬ 
ference to others. 
Mushroom Culture [T. Page). —Buy our No. 521, and you will there 
find “ Mushroom culture simplified,” by Mr. Errington. 
Name of Plant ( ]•'. W. F.).— We believe, but we are far from being 
certain, that your trailing plant is Polygonum complement. 
Work on British Mosses [F. TF. <?.).—Stark’s “Popular History of 
British Mosses,” which may be had by enclosing 10s. 6 d. in stamps to Mr. 
F. S. Angel, 11, Lovel’s Court, Paternoster Row, E.C. 
Magnolias graxdiflora and purpurea (F. J. Wilkin). —If the “north¬ 
west” aspect is against a church, or a tower, or a railway station, or an 
iron foundry, or a prison wall, or a hill, or a mountain, or a bank, or a 
brae, it makes all the difference, and “if” your Magnolia grandiflora is 
not too green, that also makes the difference more still. There are very 
green Magnolias that never flower satisfactorily, because perhaps they 
arc green on both sides of the leaves ; and others are green on the upper 
side, and rusty brown below ; and to make amends for this foxy appear¬ 
ance, they flower magnificently ; and we should think they might do so on 
any aspect so near London. The flowers of Magnolia purpurea, which is a 
dwarf shrub, by the bye, are neither sweet, nor scentless, nor bad smelling; 
and the best soil for Peaches, Plums, and Apricots, is the best for the Mag¬ 
nolias ; but purpurea will do entirely in peat. Pray get a nice half¬ 
standard of Magnolia conspicua: it is an open-border, spring-blooming 
plant, which never fails, in your latitude, to bloom yearly. 
Names of Ferns (/. Thomas). —Your Ferns sire:—1. Polgstichmn pro- 
liferum, a warm greenhouse Fern, from Van Diemen’s Land. 2. A sterile, 
frond of Doodia caxulata, a pretty greenhouse species. 3. A small sterile, 
frond of Niphobolm Lingua, sometimes called Niphobolus Cliinensis. 4. A 
Lastrcca; but specimen too imperfect to be certain what species it is. 
(Iloughspricg ).—The specimens are variations of the same Fern, Tri¬ 
comanes brevisetum. [M. G ). —Your Fern is the Asplenium adiantum- 
nigrum, the Black Spleenwort. The Centaurea ragusin*, or Cretan Cen¬ 
taury, is a half-hardy, under-shrubby plant, very rarely to be seen in 
gardens; but, without doubt, it is to be found in some of the nurseries in 
and around London, where there is a pride in keeping up a good collection, 
or selection, of plants, particularly where there is respect and regard for 
old favourites. This ornamental and curious old plant is a native of 
Candia, and of several places on the coasts of the Mediterranean, both in 
Europe and Africa, and was introduced to this country in the year 1710. 
Those who keep it should always have a plant or two in pots, for 
winter protection, in the frame or greenhouse, where it looks both curious 
and pretty amongst the other plants w ith green leaves; and, as Miller 
says,—“ If planted in dry lime rubbish, it will bear the cold of our ordinary 
winters in the open air, and is readily increased by slips or cuttings, planted 
in a shady border under a handglass, during the summer months.” 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
January 18th, 19th, and 20th. Chesterfield and Scarsdale. Sees., 
AV. M. Hewitt, and J. Charleswortli. Entries close January 4th. 
January 20th and 21st, 1859. Liverpool. 
February 3rd and 4th, 1859. Preston and Nortii Lancashire. 
Secs. R. Teebay, and II. Oakey. 
February 9th and 10th, 1859. Ui.verstone. See. , Thos. Robinson. 
February 16th and 17th, 1859. Poulton-i.e-Fylde. See., 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. 
CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY SHOW. 
One of the great essentials of an Exhibition of this sort is a 
proper locality. Many Committee-men could explain the trouble 
they have had to meet with one, and the hard conditions that 
have been imposed on them. We have seen a whole Committee at 
work, unpacking in one part of a hall, while workmen were 
putting up pens in another. All were at their labour during the 
whole of the night, because they could have the building only for 
a certain number of days in the week ; and the nocturnal toil had 
to be renewed the moment the Show closed, because the building 
was wanted for some other purpose the following day. This was 
the death of many Shows. There was an amount of exertion re¬ 
quired, that all the enthusiasm of the most ardent amateur could 
not afford. Many, again, that were projected have not been 
carried out, because a locality could not be found wherein to hold 
them. 
In this respect, the Crystal Palace is very fortunate. The 
wing in which the Show is held is perfect for the purpose. The 
change effected previous to the last summer Show did great credit 
to the discrimination of Mr. Houghton. When it was held at 
the entrance to the building, there were many inconveniences. 
Visitors passed up one side, while the Judges were at work on 
the other, and at times the crowding became so great as to be an 
objection to many. Then, again, the inspection of a favourite 
pen became an impossibility : the stream of visitors coming in 
or going out rendered it almost impossible to remain stationary. 
The present arrangement renders it the most comfortable Show 
in England, and the poultry world has its wing to itself. 
Hitherto, the progress of this Exhibition has been continually 
onwards, and its increase is both in quality and numbers. The 
Show of which we treat produced 1,117 pens, and almost all were 
of the highest merit. As the notice of the different classes must 
occupy considerable space, we must now close introductory re¬ 
marks, and proceed at once to comment on them. 
Seeing the numerous entries of Spanish on former occasions, it 
was wisely determined to increase the number of the prizes 
offered, and accordingly four were substituted for three. They 
brought out the elite of exhibitors from every part of the kingdom. 
The first-prize birds of Mrs. J. C. Hall were very meritorious, 
but they were not in as high condition as many of their com¬ 
petitors. All mentioned in the prize-list were excellent. 
There was a good Show of Hens in the new class for two, 
shown without a cock. Thirty-seven pens competed for the 
Chicken prizes, and these alone formed a beautiful Show. Miss 
Rake’s birds well supported their fame. The weakest class, and 
one that greatly disappointed us, was that for Two Pullets: there 
were only four entries. Amends were made by the Single Cocks : 
they were thirty-four in number, and many beautiful birds among 
them. The Show, then, of Spanish was highly meritorious. We 
must, however, speak in terms of censure in some cases. 
Trimming was flagrant, and led to the disqualification of many 
pens that would otherwise have figured in the prize-list. Before 
we leave this breed, we are bound to notice the pens of Miss 
Rake, and Messrs. Botham, Fowler, Wells, and Rodbard. They 
deserve especial mention. 
The immediate vicinity of the Palace to the counties more 
especially noted for Dorkings may account for the great numbers 
of these birds: there were 208 pens. The greatest success in 
this class was achieved by the Hon. W. W. Vernon, who took 
first and second prizes with wonderful birds. There were nine¬ 
teen prizes to distribute among these pens, and the distinction 
between the prize-takers and some of the commended was so small, 
that it was only by much painstaking and handling that the 
awards could be made. We are bound especially to mention the 
class for Hens, where we should say that eighteen were shown 
such as had never been seen before in competition. The Single 
Codes were also a most remarkable class. All the prize and 
commended birds more than deserved their distinctions. Messrs, 
Lewry, Joshua, Punchard, Wakefield, and Robinson may well 
prize their birds. 
The White Dorkings again showed the increased size we have 
noted. Mr. Robinson was successful in both classes, but in 
different degrees. Captain Beardmore and Mr. Iveable took the 
others. 
The old Cochins were better than the chickens. This has been 
observed at many Shows this year. Perhaps the sight of Mr. 
Tomlinson’s splendid pen, which here repeated the Birmingham 
victory, may make others look less meritorious. We have again 
to say, we have never seen a bird so well-shaped in our lives. 
Many exhibitors may match the hens, but the cock, in his present 
condition, appears unique. We would not be thought to speak 
lightly of the birds belonging to Messrs. Moore and Stretch : 
they were excellent. All last year’s Cochins appear to be late 
birds, and their progress lias been small since the summer Shows. 
Mr. Stretch, in Chickens, took his old position as first, followed 
by Miss Musgrove and Rev. G. Gilbert: they were better in 
colour than the adults. We miss the beautiful Lemon birds : 
nearly all have a cinnamon shade. The class must, nevertheless, 
be considered a good one. 
The Orouse and Partridge Cochins are every day becoming better 
