390 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 22, 1859. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Erratum.— The references to the ground plan of Mr. Luck’s excellent I 
design for a country house, published in our last hut one week’s number, I 
ought to have been as follows:—-Porch (a), Conservatory (o), Ilall (n), 1 
Parlour (c). Without this explanation the plan cannot be understood. 
All the other references are correct. . , 
MR. Hat.i, (./. B. M .).—We will inquire. The communication was from 
a trustworthy correspondent. , . 
PaorAG atin o Clrmatis — Azvrea Grandifiora (A new Subscriber ).— 
The Clematis may be raised by cuttings or layers ; hut is generally propa¬ 
gated by grafting on the montana, or other hardy sort. See general 
directions as to sow ing- of late; ami sow your seeds in pans, covering them 
slightly; and place the pans in a close, cold pit, or where there is just a 
little artificial heat. Be sure you do not wash away the seeds with the 
Propagating Daphne Indica (3/. —When the plant has bloomed, 
and the young shoots arc about three inches in length, slip them off with a 
sharp knife close to tile older wood, and insert ill sand, in a well-drained 
pot, the lower part consisting of sandy soil; water, and cover with a bell- 
glass ; place in bottom heat, and prevent flagging and damping. Or you 
may graft last summer’s wood with a hud or two on the scion early in 
spring, and keep close and warm until the union is effected. See a late 
number as to stock, &c. , . 
Periodical [Turnips). —There is none such as you impure about. Any l 
agricultural queries you may require answering shall have a full reply in I 
our columns. . ' 
Coomraii. — C!. B. L. saystliis is only another native name for the Chinese 
Tam, Dioscorea Batatas. 
Grlen Ply on Calceolarias.- Well-wisher recommends our corre- , 
spondent at page 545, to try'he “ Gisliurst Compound.” He says, one or j 
two applications, according to the directions given with it, will be eftectuiil. 
Rose op Jericho (</. F. If .).—We do not feel sure what you mean by 
this title. There is a Rose called Bose Jif Jericho; and there is the | 
Aneistatica llicrochttntina, which is called “ Rose ol Jericho, butisaciu- 
ciferous plant. It is an annual. Apply to any of the seedsmen adver- j 
tising in our columns. , . ; 
Flower Garden Plan [Fanny).— Exquisitely done. A Rose garden in 
the bottom, and on the sides of a sunk panel, is surrounded at the 
rim of the basin, so to speak, with a circle of twelve flower-beds, just like j 
the twelve hours on the face of a clock, and planted all but symmetrically. 
The hour-twelve bed, and the half-hour bed, six, to correspond; the j 
quarter-past twelve bed, and the quarter-to-one bed the same. These lour 
cardinal points have each an independent bed on each side of them, and each j 
of these harmonises that next to it. Here is a practical illustration of a 
certain fact which few have vet got hold ol. The fact is, that twelve beds, 
in circles, are the best number to place, and the easiest number to plant . 
round a given centre. The four cardinal-point beds might be a trifle wider 
in diameter, to exhibit more clearly the connection between them and | 
their right and left-hand supporters. The rustic basket would be much , 
better if tilled with three kinds of Geraniums, a variegated, a Turn Thumb, j 
and a stronger one for the top. . . , ,,,,,, 
E.P 1 ) Spider [G. II.).— If you have the red spider it is not probable that ] 
has been introduced with the Oak leaves into your new hothouse. The j 
air mav have been kept too dry, or the insect came in with some ol the I 
plants.' Paint the walls all over with lime and sulphur. We are not satisfied 
that you have the red spider from your description. J 
Ringing Tines [Subscriber).— There is no doubt that ringing a branch 
of the Vine causes the Grapes on that branch to attain a much larger size. [ 
The ring of hark should he quite removed ; but the alburnum, or young 
w ood next below it, be uninjurul. Ringing should he performed as soon 
as the berries are about the size of No. 2 shot. We only ring such shoots 
or branches as will be removed at pruning time. 
Cyclamens [A Constant Subscriber).— Mr. Mitchell sent us your note, 
hut no answer to your inquiry. The specimens had better have been 
sent to our otiice, which, you will see, we are about to remove. 
Name of Insect (X W . (?.).— The insect you have sent, found in a 
vinery, is one of the field-bugs, Acanthosomu hamiurhoida/e. It is not 
uncommon; and, like all its congeners, smells very unpleasantly when 
handled. It obtains its food by inserting the extremity of its long rostrum 1 
into the tender parts of plants, extracting their fluids.—W. 
Namfs of Plants [J. Forster).— Your Peril is the Last rasa Fihx-mas, 
the male or common buckler Pel'll; called, also, Aspidium lilix-mas. 
[Anxious). —1. Appears to belong to the Cactus family; hut from the small - 
hit sent, we are unable to recognise what species it is. 2. Fried persohtta. \ 
3. Fpacris splrndidn. 4. Lavandula dcnlata. 5. Arabia Cmtcdsicu. This 
species is often called A. grandifiora. [A. II., An Amateur).— Vour 
plants, from which the two leaies wore sent, are:—1. Gontphocarpus 
arborescent, the broad-leaved 0om phoearpus ; and 2, we think, cithei 
Justicia picta, or Fran ike mum bicolor. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
May 25th and 2Gtli. Beverley. See., Francis Calvert, Surgeon, &c. 
June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1859. Bath and West of England. At Barnstaple, 
Devon. Director, S. Pitman, Esq. 
June 6th, 7tli, and 8th, 1859. Glasgow. See., Robert M‘Cowan, 17, Gordon 
Street, Glasgow. 
July 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th. Sheffield. Wilson Overend, Chairman. 
Entries close the 15th of June. 
DIPLOMATIC CORKESPONDENCE. 
From the —■— Committee to their Secretary. 
( No. 1. ) 
[Private and Confidential .] 
“ ®' r > 
“ Your enclosure, respecting trimming in Spanish fowls, 
has been laid before the Poultry Administration, You will please 
to observe to the writer, that the question is not. one which im¬ 
mediately affects this Show ; but, seeing that the duration of 
pence and quietness is put in jeopardy by recent proceedings, and 
that all exhibit ions have an interest in maintaining concord, the 
Committee feel it their duty to desire you to explain their senti¬ 
ments to those to whom you are accredited. It is needless the 
Committee should repent, that, situated as they are, they cannot 
bo supposed to have any other object in view than the general 
good. You will point out that, 
“ 1°. The rules of the different Shows, and their limits, or 
dates, were accurately laid down at the Congress held some time 
since. 
“ 2°. The advocates of trimming do not rely on their own 
strength—they trust to larger Shows for help. 
“ 3°. The arrangement at, the Congress before mentioned has 
been found to work well. 
“ You will represent that there is probability, if the advocates 
for trimming disturb the general peace, that, in the event of their 
defeat, they’ may not get as good terms in another Congress. 
“ That little reliance can be placed in the promise of any 
Secretary; seeing his position depends on his subscribers, who 
may not wish to disturb present arrangements. 
“ That it is, probably, more to the advantage of any Society, or 
Association, to improve its own resources, than to put itself forward 
as the promoter of change. 
“That we have many instances on record of Shows, quite as 
high-minded and pure, that have been broken up through their 
ambition and restlessness. 
“ That it must be fresh in the memory of all members of the 
Association, that the late Secretary of t he Trimmers was obliged 
to resign, after being defeated on every point. 
“ If required, you will leave a eqpy of this. 
“ I am, &c., &c., 
“ Naturee.” 
( No. 2. ) 
Answer to the Foregoing. 
“ The undersigned has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 
the communication from the -—-Committee. He considers 
t he main question is entirely lost sight of. It: is no longer confined 
to trimming. It is now', whether a large and powerful Show' shall 
oppress a smaller one with impunity. Whether t lie united voices 
of many small Shows shall not he entitled to be heard, or whether 
tlieir Committees shall sit down quietly and submit to whatever 
insult a more powerful neighbour may choose to inflict. The 
undersigned disavows, energetically', any ambition, or restlessness, 
as also the idea, that the line of conduct he pursues is personal to 
himself. lie is only (tie representative of others. lie is aw'are 
lie holds liis present position only so long as his conduct may be 
pleasing to his supporters ; and he ventures to remind the ——— 
Committee, that, on a late occasion, lie w r as happy in being aide 
(o render them assistance when they stood in need of it. 
“ With tiie highest-consideration, &o., See., 
“Shayedd." 
( No. 3.) 
i Circular by Shayedd, to the Secretaries of the 
Different Poultry Shows, on the Question of 
Trimming. 
“ The Committee of the-Show cannot but be aware 
j that, for some time, rumours of discord have unsettled the whole 
poultry world. The cause is said, untruly, to be traced to this 
Show. It is necessary the public should be disabused ; and the 
undersigned, strong in the justice of his cause, hereby appeals to 
every Committee by this circular. He admits that, the Show lie 
represents admits trimming—nay, more, it considers it an indica¬ 
tion of progress. It is an independent Sliow r , and has a right to 
maintain its opinion. Other small Shows are not so fortunate—■ 
they are under the domination of a pow'erful neighbour. They 
J are made to feel tlieir position, and are not in any case allowed 
to show trimmed birds. Can it bo considered surprising they 
should turn their eyes to this Show—that they should desire the 
like liberty'; and even sometimes dream of an amalgamation, which 
would place them, all being united, in a position that would carry 
i greater weight, and enable them to exhibit on tlieir own terms ? 
By no other right than that of the strongest can the powerful 
! neighbour seek a quarrel on these grounds. Yet, in tli£ field ad¬ 
joining to the Show of which the undersigned is Secretary, has 
this powerful neighbour brought pens, commendation cards, food, 
and water. Report already names the Judges who are to act. 
Although less powerful, the undersigned has no other course open 
