293 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 7, 1860. 
■would do; add for your greenhouse you need at least fifty feet of four-inch 
pipes. If you contemplated forcing the Tines at all, you would need half 
as much more piping. The mode of constructing small flues has been given 
frequently of late. 
Peaches and Nectarines Leafless (TF. B. I?.). —Tour case is only one 
among many brought to our notice. We consider the entire fall of the 
leaves to be owing to the severe early frosts of last autumn which prevented 
the maturing of the young wood. Unless the trees have produced new 
foliage, and seem moderately vigorous, which 13 not likely, we should 
purchase fresh trees; and, in future, use tiffany protectors like those of 
which we published drawings in our last volume. 
Strawberries (Poverissima ).— There is no manure better for them 
than thoroughly decayed leaves. A slight surface dressing in the spring 
with superphosphate of lime is also beneficial. Guano is too stimu¬ 
lating. If grown in a single row, a foot is sufficient distance between the 
plants; but double that space is not too much if planted two or more rows 
together. The rows, also, should be two feet apart. Strawberries will 
not be prolific on the same ground for many years in succession. We have 
no information relative to the price of Alpine Strawberries picked for the 
market. We fear they would not fetch a remunerative price. Dessert 
fruit must please the eye as well as the palate. 
A Few Common Hardy and Greenhouse Plants [GreenockSubscriber). 
—As you have a greenhouse you ought to have some scarlet and variegated 
Geraniums for the beds —Tom Thumb and Flower of the Bay to begin 
with ; then a few yellow Calceolarias, as aurea floribunda and some 
variegated Alyssum to get cuttings from in the spring, and blue Lobelias 
from seeds sown in March in a Cucumber-bed; also Robinson’s Befiance 
Verbena for scarlet, Purple King Verbena for dark, and Mrs. Holford 
Verbena for white. But in the spring you should have Crocuses in the 
beds ; also some dwarf early Tulips, as Royal Standard, Vermilion Bril¬ 
liant, and Rex Rubrorum, and also some border Auriculas, Polyanthuses, 
American Cowslips, and any spring flowers you con get. Late in the 
autumn Chrysanthemums and Pompones are the best for the greenhouse 
till Christmas; then a few Camellias, Chinese Azaleas, and forced Tulips ami 
Hyacinths, which will bring you on to Chinese Primroses and Cinerarias. 
Spf.rgula (B. S .).—Your specimen is Spergula subulata. It blooms 
more freely, and is more dwarf than S. saginoides, and less suitable for a 
lawn. 
Name of Rose [Mrs. Pcttat ).—Your Rose is not General Jacqueminot, 
but General Brea. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
August 15th. Omskirk and Southport. Sec., Mr. James Spencer, 
Ormskirk. Entries close July 31st. 
August 22nd and 23rd. Settle (Yorkshire). Hon. Secs., Revs. J. R. 
Blakiston and .1. Robinson, Settle, Entries close August 1st. 
August 25th, 27tli, 28th, and 29th. Crystal Palace. Summer Show of 
Poultry, Pigeons, and Rabbits. Sec., Mr. William Houghton. Entries 
close July 2Sth. 
September 3rd. Heckmondwike. Sec., Mr. Frederick Brearby. Entries 
close August 24. 
September 5th. Keighley Agricultural Show. Sec., R. Fawcett. 
Entries close August 29th. 
September. 19th, 20th, and 21st. Portsmouth. Hon. Sec., Mr. E. Clarke, 
26, Wish Street, Southsea, Hants. Entries close August 11., 
September 25th. Bridgnorth. Sec., Mr. Richard Taylor, Bridgnorth. 
October 9th, 10th, and 11th. Worcester. Hon. Sec., Mr. G. Griffiths. 
December 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Birmingham. Sec., Mr. John B. Lythall, 
Offices, Unity Buildings, Temple Street, Birmingham. Entries close 
November 1. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
HOW TO DISPOSE OF OLD HENS. 
The good old hens that have proved so useful in sitting and 
so attentive as mothers are now rather in the way; the old worn- 
out plumage, broken feathers, and perished combs are not orna¬ 
mental; their room is wanted for the chickens and the younger 
hens; and it is a question asked daily, What shall we do witli 
them ? Ours is a Draconian code, and the sentence is always 
death—even for the slight offence of being one too many in the 
yard. But we do not insist on this sentence if they can be 
otherwise disposed of. It is, however, possible there may be no 
market for the old ladies in the neighbourhood ; we wish, there¬ 
fore, to publish that there is always a sale for them in London 
at Leadenhall Market. They are wanted for shipping. Young 
poultry will not stand a sea-voyage—they die ; but these seasoned 
creatures bear it well. We suppose goodness of food is only 
comparative; and that it is, therefore, by being compared with 
salted meat these are considered food. But these ancient biddies 
are said to eat well. Only fancy that old brown hen that the 
children called “Mother Cackle,” because she was never still, 
and that was considered too hard for the table three years ago. 
Taney her, we say, having passed through the hands of the clief 
of some naval captain, and figuring as a remove at rather a crack 
dinner, and being called a “ Poularde a la Toulouse.” Poor old 
creature.! the very thought would make her laugh, if possible. 
Old hens will generally sell alive for about 18s. or £1 per 
dozen. This is far better than wasting them ; and as they will 
pack closely and a goods’ train will deliver them, the expenses 
attending their transit arc not great. 
We offer no apology for treating of these common things ; 
because the neglect of them often affects the balance unfavourably, 
while attention to them will enable many who cannot afford even 
a small sacrifice to keep their pets profitably. But there are also 
methods of cooking that will make them eatable and even delicate. 
We will say nothing of pounding and potting, any one can do 
that, and it is a laborious operation. But the value of a hen, 
however old, in the stock-pot for soup or for broth, is three times 
her own weight of any other meat; but she must not be put in 
entire—she must be cut up in small pieces ; and if the stock-pot, 
is only allowed to simmer instead of boiling hard all the time it 
is on the fire, the meat of the poor old victims may be eaten. 
“ Ah !” says the advocate of straightforward roast and boil, “ a 
pound per head and no bone. You may eat it, boiled to rags.” 
It may be we are older stagers than some of our readers, and 
that we have roughed it more; but we will tell them what we 
have been glad to eat, and found it savoury—the rags as they 
are called, the shreds of the old hen, and older meat of every 
kind, cold, mixed with cold potatoes and served with salad 
dressing. We were hungry, but wo found it excellent. It is, 
however, sometimes desired to make a pie; and here the old 
hens will do as good service as the youngest chicken—we are not 
sure they are not better. Cut them in joints, and season them 
according to your taste; put them in an earthenware dish with a 
lid to it; add to them any scraps of meat you have. Nothing is 
too hard or too common. Odd pieces of bacon are excellent, the 
fat end of the ribs of beef, the flap of the loin of mutton, and the 
scraps of meat that are left of any joint—above all, the pieces of 
fat. Fill up your dish by making a mosaic of meat, or by trying 
to imitate the old-fashioned marble chimney-pieces; put a piece 
of fowl, then a piece of lean bacon, then a piece of fat, and so on. 
Fill up the corners with any scrap, shred, or morsel. When the 
vessel is full pour in some gravy, or, failing that, some water, 
filling it to the top. Tie the lid down, put it in a slack oven at 
evening, and let it stay therein till the morning. Then put it 
aside to get cold ; and, believe us, you will have an excellent arid 
a delicate dish. Let it not be supposed the goodness is due to 
the scraps of meat, because it will bo better if there is nothing 
but fowl in it. It is a capital thing for breakfast, it is very 
useful on the side-table at dinner time, and may take the place of 
the “Pate defoies gras aux trujfesf just as Beau Tibbs’s cow- 
hcel took the place of the Ortolans and venison. It is a glorious 
dish in cold weather, and cut3 out half frozen in tempting slices. 
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S 
POULTRY SHOW. 
This was held at Pontefract on July 31st and August 1st 
and 2nd. 
The Judges, Mr. Naylor, Wakefield, and Mr. John Jolly, 
Acomb, York, awarded the prizes to the following exhibitors : — 
Spanish. —First, XV. Cannan, Bradford. Second, J. Dixon, North Park, 
Bradford. Five entries. 
Dorking.— First, II. W. B. Berwick, Helmsley, York. Second, II. 
Himsworth, Lupset Hall, Wakefield. Six entries. Chickens. —Prize, H. 
Ilimsworth. Five entries. 
Cochin-China (Black or White).—First and Second, W. Cannan, Brad¬ 
ford. Three entries. 
Cochin-China (any colour not Black or White).—First and Second, W. 
Dawson, Hopton, Mirfield. Six entries. Chickens. —Prize, W. Dawson. 
Two entries. 
Game.— First, W. M. Julian, Beverley. Second, T. Dodds, Ovenden, 
Halifax. Eleven entries. Chickens.— Prize, F. Hardy, Bradford. Ten 
entries. 
Hamburgh (Golden-spangled).—First, II. W. B. Berwick, Helmsley. 
Second, H. Adams, Beverley. Seven entries. Chickens.— Prize, J. Dixon, 
Bradford. Five entries. 
Hamburgh (Golden-pencilled).—First, J. Milner, Armin, Ilowden. 
Second, W. II. Dyson, Swap Farm, Bradford. Four entries. Chickens. — 
Prize, S. Smith, Northowram, Halifax. Six entries. 
Hamburgh (Silver-spangled).—First, W. Cannan, Bradford. Second, 
J. Dixon, Bradford. Five entries. Chickens.— Prize, J. Dixon. Two 
entries. 
Hamburgh (Silver-pencilled).—First, W. Cannan, Bradford. Second, 
J. Dixon, Bradford. Three entries. Chickens. —Prize, J. Dixon, Bradford. 
Two entries. 
Poland (any variety with or without ruffs).— First, W. Cannan, Brad¬ 
ford. Second". J. Dixon, Bradford. Six entries. Chickens, — Prize, 
J. Dixon, Bradford. One entry. 
Any Distinct Breed not Previously Mentioned. —Prize, H. Hodge, 
Hull. Four entries. Chickens. —Prize, W. Dawson, Hopton. Four 
entries. 
Bantams (Black or White).—First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, J. Cros- 
land, iun., Wakefield. Six entries. 
Bantams (any other colour, not Black or White).—First, J. Crosland, 
iun., Wakefield. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Nine entries. 
Spanish C;ci<. -Prize, J. Dixon, Bradford. One entry. 
