31G 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 15, 1859. 
pit, at the end or back of a conservatory, for tbeir heads to be introduced 
for the summer months into the conservatory ; but the best feature of con¬ 
servatory decoration may be expected from that mode, judging from the 
little that already has been effected. All the best stove Passion-flowers, 
many fine Ipomicas, Bignonias, and Eehites, could, no doubt, be so grown. 
The violet-pink, and scarlet Bouganvilleas, which are just now coming into 
bloom on the open walls in Portugal, would, most likely, do here in the 
way you propose. The Solantlra grandifiora, which spreads as much as a 
Glycine, in Malta, would also have a good chance that way, and would vie 
with the Beauniontia itself when in bloom. But what we want, is actual 
experience; and without the proper conditions, gardeners can advance no 
farther than we have been for the last dozen years, on that point. 
Slates ovek Mulch (E. C.). —This plan, “ to keep birds from scattering 
it about,” will not be injurious to the Hoses; but we should prefer cover¬ 
ing it with earth. 
Iyadsura Japonica [If. I'.'j. —Your plant is Kaitsura (not Kassura) 
Japonica. Our correspondent grows it against a south wall at Belfast. It 
has never been covered during the winter. The soil, light loam and peat. 
Stocking an Aquarium.— “ Where can I procure plant to stock a fresh¬ 
water aquarium, or to fill a small pond? Carter, Turner, or Campbell, 
of Dublin, will not undertake to do it; and this county Cumberland), is 
too poor in specimens to reward the labour of searching. Ornamental 
ones required.”—M. 
Pea Hurdles (A Country Subscriber). —AVe have no experience in cul¬ 
tivating l’cas in drills so wide as six inches. Even for drills tw'o inches 
wide we use hurdles on each side; but we make two drills one foot apart 
and reaching directly across the kitchen garden. Your question about 
opening top lights needs inquiry. 
Daphne Inuica, &c. ( Clericus). - - Your letter shall be answered fully 
next week. It requires more than a slight reply. 
Removing Ciiyptomrrias and Yews (A South Yorkshire Subscriber). — 
The best time for their removal is the beginning of October ; but may be 
done now r , in mild, moist weather. 
Names of Tears (A Subscriber to The Cottage Gardener). —1. Passe 
Colmar. 2. Jean de Witte. 3. Easter Beurrd. 4. Passe Colmar. 
Names of Plants’ [Flora 0‘3f.). — The little crimson-tipped flow'er is 
the beautiful Oralis versicolor. The white-flowered greenhouse plant is 
not a Chrysanthemum, but Pyrcthrum frutesccns. A very desirable plant 
at thii season. Where can a plant of it be bought ? 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
February lGth and 17th, 1859. Poui.ton-le-Fyi.de. Sec., J. Butler. 
February 23rd and 21th. Bolton Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Show. 
Sees., William Chester and Robert Grcenhalgh, Bolton. Entries close 
February 17 th. 
March 15th, lGth, and 17th. Shropshire. Sec., T. W. Jones, Church 
Street, Wellington, Salop. 
May 25th and 2Gth. Beverley. Sec., Francis Calvert, Surgeon, &e. 
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. 
DISCURSIVE POULTRY PAPERS. 
(Continued from page 303.) 
All birds of the gallinaceous tribes should have to seek thoir 
food, in order that they may pick it grain by grain, and in the 
search come across numerous trifles that we know not if we see 
them, but which nature tells them are good for them. Their 
crops should not be full of corn alone, but of the dirt picked up 
with it, with pieces of clover leaf and grass, with the animalculte 
that swarm on the moist surface of the earth: above all, with 
small stones; and the meal should last along time. Tor this 
reason, all troughs and vessels to hold food are bad. A fowl is 
not intended to swallow a mouthful at a time, and has no grinders 
to assist digestion. When such vessels as I have spoken of are 
used, the cropful, which should have been the work of two hours 
and the reward of long and careful seeking, is accomplished in 
two minutes ; and worse than all, the food swallowed is scru¬ 
pulously clean. It stands to reason that discomfort follows, and 
then the poor bird goes to the water; and instead of one drop 
daintily taken, and the head raised after it, the beak is inserted 
in the water, and it tries to drink a draught. All this is against 
nature, and lays the foundation of all diseases. The birds have 
no disposition to prowl, no real appetite for food, and squat 
about useless aud pitiful objects. They should never be fed to 
repletion, hut should leave off hungry. Your fowls are now 
cured ; and if you will follow nature as you saw it on my "Wheat 
stubble, they will remain well. 
I will not deny you the pleasure of giving them odd pieces of 
bread, or anything else, in order that they may become attached 
to you ; but let them he in that condition that it will also he a 
pleasure to them. Bo not supply imaginary wants. Indulgence 
in fowls, as in men, causes sickness; and as you seldom see a 
farm labourer subject to gout, so you never sec a cottager’s fowls • 
suffering as yours were when 1 took them in hand. 
The lesson was not thrown away, and the reward soon came. 
They looked like Pheasants ; and, when the moulting season was 
over, they took to laying. Visiting among the circle that had 
been formed in the course of a few months, sundry pieces of plate 
had been seen gained by fowls, and pretty pieces of furniture 
bought with the produce of a pen shown and claimed at Birming¬ 
ham or elsewhere. We do firmly believe the love of dealing is 
inherent in man. It may he Protean—it may assume all manner 
of shapes—but there it is. Money is not generally plentiful 
among boys at school, but bartering is ; and later in life some 
carry it into trade, which is to furnish the livelihood; in others, 
it uegociates the rent of farms, or it expends itself on sheep, or 
oxen, or horses. It takes curious vagaries. We once knew u 
very rich man who could not resist the temptation of buying the 
cheap worthless sponge carried about the streets by boys : another 
was continually tempted by bargains in the way of cheap um¬ 
brellas. When they died, mysterious cupboards were opened ; 
imagination had been taxed for years ; speculation had worn 
itself out in guessing the concealed treasures. In one caso it was 
sponge; in the other umbrellas. We will note only one more 
peculiarity. There are men who are princely in giving, and 
whose generosity ns friends or hosts knows no bounds; but try 
to have a deal with them, and they are the veriest screws (pardon 
the expression), you can meet with. In trading they will skin 
you alive. 
This is a digression. "We would not for a moment infer that the 
young lady whose poultry progress lias formed the basis of some 
of our papers had any idea of this sort; but she became haunted 
with the notion that she, too, might will prizes and have pens 
claimed. It beset her continually ; and everything she wanted 
and could not have, she was going to get from her poultry. To 
compass it, she must have early chickens. Her fowls wore in 
capital condition, and there was no difficulty. On the twelfth of 
January there were thirteen hatched. The weather was cold: 
what was she to do ? There was an old summer-house in the 
garden which was never used: that was too far from the house. 
There was an empty stall in the stable; but the man showed so 
little alacrity in falling into her views, she would not press it. 
There was lier first poultry-house, the red-brick one with the 
brick floor; it had not been used—she would put them there. 
She spread a carpet on the floor, and the hen was installed. But 
they did badly; and she resolved to consult her oracle, Mr. 
Taplin. She had not done so of late, because her sisters teased 
her about him. Teasing is a very had habit in families ; and 
steps have been taken through teasing or from teasing, that have 
given a sombre tinge to a life. 
(To be continued.) 
CHESTERFIELD POULTRY SHOW. 
( Communicated.) 
Tins Show was successful in every point of view; and the prizes 
and all bills, we know, are paid, leaving a balance in the hands 
of the Treasurer. The classes most worthy of note, were the 
Game of both classes. Single Game Cocks (54 entries) ; Dork¬ 
ings ; Silver-spangled Hamburghs; Gold-pencilled Hamburghs ; 
Polands ; Bantams (Laced) ; Ducks, &c. Pigeons were tried as 
an experiment, and some very good ones were there. There was 
a total of 454 pens, which is very good for a second Exhibition. 
EXTENSIVE ULCERATION IN A GAME FOWL. 
I feel quite secure, that as you have had a most extensivo 
experience in poultry matters, you may take some little interest 
in the fate of a favourite hen, which I now proceed to lay before 
you. 
The hen in question is a Game hen, of a rare breed, being,—as 
the friend who gave her to me when she was only four months 
old, pithily described her,—“ as thoroughbred as Eclipse I 
lent her to a game-keeper two years ago to hatch Pheasants, and 
she was returned to me last September. On examining her, I 
perceived a considerable protuberance on her breast, parallel with 
her crop. I fancied that she must have received some injury 
there; but, on making the most minute inquiries, I could' not 
discover that such was the case. However, the tumour got larger 
every day, and at last its weight so seriously inconvenienced the 
