4or. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 29, 1859. 
said. What would he think of her ? She should be ashamed 
to meet him at dinner; but she hoped ho was not prosy. 
Dinner-time must come once in the twenty-four hours; and, as 1 
have no sympathy with those strong-minded and natural people 
who think that meal should be a slice of underdone meat, held on 
a huge piece of bread with the thumb, while the knife-of-all-work 
divides it ; and there is a conversation when the mouths are not 
too full to talk. 1 will, seeing 1 am only recounting that which 
occurred in my middle-class, but, thanks to my good wife, well- 
regulated home, tell you what we had for dinner. It would be 
nonsense for me to say I am not a poultry fancier. Well, then, 
we had a real good Dorking pullet boiled ; with a piece of cherry- 
coloured Hampshire bacon at the other end; a dish of stewed eels 
in the centre ; the whole removed by a leg of mutton, a pudding, 
and a salad. “ What boots the dinner?” say some. “ Nothing,” 
is my answer. Bnt— oh, that horrid “But!”—the Times has 
been filling columns about dinner’s, and “ S. G. O.,” —no mean 
correspondent, whom I have often mot, and whose really good 
deeds I would always chronicle; whom I have seen by the 
sick bed in the cottage; who is equally ready to help the dis¬ 
tressed, to put up with the fancied ailments of a consumptive 
girl, the daughter of a cottager in his parish, or to assist the 
parish constable in arresting a man, the terror of the village of 
Durweston—he has brought his sound common sense to bear on 
the question. When I was a boy, I knew’ a quotation, that it was 
no shame to follow where Teucer led ; but, as the great Duke of 
Wellington is said to have advised a young member never to 
quote Latin, and as I never took honours in that class, I will 
abstain. I will follow' “ S. G. O.,” and bo proud if I can keep near 
him. The curse of the present day is, not that £600 per annum 
cannot live, but that it will try to compete with £6000. Next, 
that honest, successful industry has learned to be ashamed of its 
rise and origin, and would fain rival in everything its gentle 
blood competitors. The successful contractor or tradesman may 
settle in the neighbourhood of the poor gentleman. He may 
spend thousands where (he latter cannot spend hundreds; but the 
gentle blood belongs lo the last—and case and bringing-up, with 
conscious descent, will carry off a scanty dinner served on stone 
china, with an ease and a charm that will be wanting where the 
table groans under the massive plate, and is covered with the 
most delicious viands. * * * I am sorry to digress, but I 
cannot help it. 
Our dinner was served by an apt waiting-maid, and there was 
nothing about Charles that did not at once make all feel at home 
in his company. 
My wife soon found we were all at home; and, after dinner, 
w r e chatted over old reminiscences, school days, boyish plans, the 
hopes, fears, and results of adolescence. Markham’s history w'as 
that of many oihei’3. lie had arrived in London, and had sought 
for all those employments which seemed to open a career to a man 
of talent—hut he had long sought in vain. His scanty means 
were exhausted; and then he.consi.dted with his mother as to his 
future course. The good woman could not doubt her son’s 
success; nor would her mother’s love shrink from any sacrifice. 
He was her only son, and she w'as a widow. He had denied 
himself everything to spare her; and his regret was, that his 
expenses straitened liis mother’s means. But lie was suro of 
success. He soon found an expedient. She would let her house 
and come to London, she and her daughter. They would take a 
cottage in the suburbs, and Charles might live with them. It 
was his turnihg-point. liis mind was relieved from the thought 
he was draining liis mother—-it was a relief to him to have a 
home where he met with unvarying kindness and constant en¬ 
couragement. A scientific paper attracted the notice of an 
eminent man—a fortunate discovery proved profitable, and his 
rise was rapid. But he paid the price. The anxieties, privations, 
and disappointments of liis early years had weakened him ; and 
the physicians lie consulted had advised that he should entirely 
avoid all study, and seek a change for a time. My letter reached 
him Hie day this was advised, and lienee his visit. 
(To le continued.) 
THE BRAHMA CONTROVERSY. 
In support of my pets, I must reply, briefly, to “ \Y. II.” 
(Exeter), and “ Alpha.” 
The former has settled the question, by making out that nearly 
all our breeds of poultry are, more or less, cross-bred. Perhaps, 
after this Tory authoritative statement, those who have rated the 
B 5 
Brahmas will let them and their owners have a little peace. He 
suggests a bit of bacon as an addition to Mr. Botham’s Brahmas 
on tlie table ; but, may 1 ask, if he objects to the same addition 
when any other fowl is in the piece de resistance ? For my part, 
I think the addition less necessary to them than to many other 
of our breeds. 
To “Alpha” I would reply, that I do not think that pea- 
combed Bralnnas will (brow single-combed birds. He instances 
the Dorking—an acknowledged cross—as the only birds that 
throw' varied combs. I have seen single-combed Silver-spangled 
Ilamburghs very good in all other points save tho comb. I have 
seen a fair Cochin hen with a rose comb, said to have been of 
Sturgeon’s strain. Rose-combed Minorcas are not uncommon. 
I may be able to speak more positively as to this last question ere 
long. At present I have only one chicken feathered of a cross 
between Brahma and Dorking, and this far more approaches tho 
Dorking; though the last year’s birds, the first produce of the 
cross, and the parents of this chick, were very like the Brahma 
in all points save the fifth toe. In reference to the human subject 
I cannot answer his question.—J. H. 
MATING POWTER PIGEONS. 
“ I have a pair of Blue Powters which have produced a pair 
of young ones, of which the cock is a model of its male parent; 
but the hen is of a most remarkable colour—not the least ap¬ 
proaching to blue, but a delicate grey, with tail and wing-bars a 
strongly contrasted chocolate. In every respect marked like its 
parents. 
“ 1 shall he glad to know what coloured mate to provide for 
her, with a view of establishing the colour ; as I think it would 
prove an attractive addition to their limited colours.”—R. S. E. 
[ “ It. S. E.’s ” young hen Powder being of a delicate grey, with 
chocolate bars, is, without doubt, a silver, or silver-pied. The 
colour i s not very common among Powters—still not so rare 
but that “ It. S. E.” might procure a cock to match her. 
Failing w hich, either a Dun, or very light blue, would be the 
most likely match to reproduce the silver colour. But Mealy, 
Strawberry, and Ash-coloured, being inferior colours, and 
not admired by fanciers, are frequently palmed off on the 
novico ns Silvers—a colour which is generally pleasing. The 
first two may be known by a pinkish shade, and the neck 
and wing-bars inclining to red. They may be produced from 
red and blue : the last is nearly the tint of wood ashes, with 
moro or less inclination to lilac. Silver is a very favourite colour 
of mine ; and I will explain how to produce it. If you have not 
already a Dun, or a blue-black, couple a clear blue and a black 
together : these will, among others, produce a blue-black. That 
is to sav, a black on which, in some lights, you can notice slaty 
bars. Match this blue-black again with a clear light blue. These, 
among others, will throw some Duns. I have known two Duns 
in the very first nest. Lastly, match a Dun with a clear light 
blue, and a portion of the produce will be Silvers.— B. I’. Brent.] 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
CAroaisrsa [An Old Subscriber). —There is no safe- way of performing 
this very cruel operation. 
Scotch Poultry Snows [Mrs. Swinburne). — All Poultry Shows of 
sufficient importance to be advertised appear in our columns, and are 
then included in our permanent list. 
Crewe Prizes. —“In reply to ‘G.R.’s’ inquiry regarding the payment 
of tlie Crewe prize money, I would suggest that lie should adopt tho same 
course I did,—viz., issue a writ against Mr. Margetts, and the money will 
soon be forthcoming.”—Jons- T. Lawrence. 
Devizrs Poultry Prizes.— “ My attention has to-day been drawn to a 
paragraph in your Number (March 15), wherein ‘ G. R.’ w idles to know why 
tlie prizes awarded to poultry at the late Show of tlie Wilts Agricultural 
Society have not been paid ? I beg to inform ‘ G. R.’ that I am not aw are 
of any prize remaining unpaid.”—T. W. Phillips. 
[We are glad to hear it. If the prizes are not paid promptly, poultry 
will soon cease to be exhibited.] 
LONDON MARKETS.— March 28. 
POULTRY. 
Good poultry is getting very scarce, as tlie tendency of tlie warm weather 
is to make it forward, and, consequently, tough. 
Each. Each. 
Large Fowls. 5s. Od. to 6s. Oil. Goslings. 7s. Orf. to 7s. 6d. 
Small ditto. 4 0 ,, 4 G Ducklings . 5 G ,, G 0 
Chickens. 3 G „ 4 0 Pigeons . OS „ 0 9 
CockTurkeys. 9 0 ,, 10 0 Rabbits . 15 ,, 1 G 
Guinea Fowls 2 G „ 3 3 ! Wild ditto. 0 8 „ 0 9 
6 6 0 
