THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



41 



ticed. They had all to succumb to some black Suflblks 

 of especially fine quality ; Mr. Crisp's most direct op- 

 ponent, as exhibiting the same sort of pig, being dis- 

 qualified as above " the six months" old. These 

 offenders were placed on the catalogue \Tithout any age 

 whatever attached to the nomination. The show of 

 pigs is always excellent here, but it perhaps never was 

 so generally good, and we should like to have seen 

 a few more of those encouraging Medals which 

 at one time the Council were wont to distribute 

 so liberally. 



Bad a time as it may have been for stock, according 

 to the argument here maintained, most assuredly it 

 could not have been so for the growth of roots. In 

 fact, never before was there such a collection of long 

 mangolds, and globes, and swedes, and carrots and cab- 

 bage. Mr. Smith of Woolston of course traces his success 

 to steam cultivation, but practical people shook their 

 beads over some other of the fine specimens when they 

 came to remember the season of the year in which they 

 had been " reared." No doubt a prize, root like a prize 

 beast, will take a deal of feeding and tending ; but it 

 is something after such a year to show mangolds and 

 swedes like Sir William Heathcote's, kohl-rabi like Mr. 

 Smith's, carrots equal to the Duke of Portland's, or " a 

 mouthful " of ox-cabbage to compare with that of Mr. 

 Robinson. We never remember seeing so many empty 

 poultry pens, but the merits of the birds were in an 

 inverse ratio, and people begin to know better than 

 to send merely for the questionable eclat of 

 being beaten. The judges appended long strings of 

 high commendations to many of the premiums they had 

 to award, and the Midland Counties Herald, of which 

 the poultry show has been from the first a pet child, 

 declares : " The improvement is very remarkable in the 

 game classes ; the single cocks in the class for brown 

 and other reds, except black-breasted, comprising several 

 admirable specimens of this popular breed. The same 

 remark will apply to the other classes for game fowl, 

 both old and young, which are exhibited in very fine 

 condition ; the only exception being the white and piles, 

 and the black and brassy-winged. The Dorkings com- 

 prise some of the most marvellous specimens ever 

 brought together. None of these birds were weighed 

 here, but a second prize pen of two hens weighed 191bs. 

 The silver grey Dorking cocks are imperfect in the plu- 

 mage, which will doubtless be rectified another year. It 

 is decided that they should have no white feathers in 

 their tails, and no brown feathers in their wings. The 

 coloured Dorkings, old birds, are a very excellent class, 

 as will be apparent from the fact that Captain Hornby 

 has this year to be content with a fourth place. 

 The chickens are quite equal to their seniors, 

 and comprise as fine a collection as were ever as- 

 sembled within the walls of Binghley Hall. The white 

 Dorkings are also in most excellent condition — far su- 

 perior to any hitherto exhibited. The Spanish fowls 

 are inferior to those we have seen in former years, 

 the general condition of all the birds being indifferent. 

 This degeneracy may generally be attributed to the un- 

 favourable season. The chicken classes of this variety 



are also very backward in condition. The Cochin 

 China, both coloured and white, are an admirable col- 

 lection, the plumage of the cock in the prize pen of the 

 partridge-feathered being equal, if not superior, to any- 

 thing we have ever witnessed. The Bramah Pootras 

 appear in excellent feather ; and the peculiar charac- 

 teristics of the breed are well exhibited. The Polish, 

 which for the last few years have been degenerating, 

 appear likely to resume their former status, the pre- 

 sent collection being in as excellent condition, and of as 

 good a quality, as they were in their most palmy days. 

 The Hamburgs, which are chiefly admired for the beauty 

 of their plumage, are in exquisite feather and condi- 

 tion. The Malays are also exceedingly good. In the 

 single cock classes, the Dorkings muster in great 

 force, and in splendid condition — so much so, that many 

 birds which a few years ago would have carried off first 

 prizes, have now to be content with a simple commen- 

 dation. The Spanish suffer, in conjunction with the 

 other classes of this variety, from inferiority of con- 

 dition ; while Cochin Chinas, Polish, and Bramah 

 Pootra are fairly represented. The Hamburg cocks, 

 with the exception of the Golden Spangled, are as good 

 as could be wished. The most striking improvement is 

 exhibited in the Turkeys, Geese, and Ducks, in proof 

 of which we may mention that the prize pen of Turkeys, 

 the property of Mrs. Fowler, of Prebendal Farm, Ayles- 

 bury, consisting of a cock and two hens, weigh no less 

 than Gllbs., the second prize pen 551bs., and the third 

 541bs. ; highly commended pens also weighing 471bs. 

 and 481bs. each. The young birds are equally good, 

 the first prize pen weighing 47lbs., and the second and 

 third respectively 431b9., three other pens being within a 

 quarter of a pound of the latter weight. Ducks are equally 

 excellent, the first prize pen weighing Sllbs., other pens 

 271bs. and 281bs. The improvement in the weight of 

 Geese is still more remarkable, the gander and two geese 

 in the first prize pen weighing 601bs., while the first 

 class pen in the grey and mottled class exceed 71lbs. ; 

 the second and third prize pens weighing respectively 

 661bs. and 561bs. In the extra class for Ducks of any 

 other variety there are several novelties, the most 

 striking being a pen of White-eyed Bahama Ducks, ex- 

 hibited by Lady Lilian M. Paulet, and to which the first 

 prize is awarded. These birds are very great curiosities, 

 and the present are the first that have, ever been exhi- 

 bited at Binghley Hall." 



Once out of the Hall, and our next turn is for the 

 Repository, where the Dog Show has already out- 

 grown its house-room. As we said last year, "there 

 was no reason why it should not work on ; but it should 

 be nearer to Binghley Hall, or why not in the Hall 

 itself ?" This suggestion is to be acted upon, as it 

 would be utterly absurd to again brave such a crush 

 as that of Tuesday last. With the exception of the 

 otter hound, almost every known breed of dogs was to 

 be found here ; but some of the classes, such as the fox- 

 hounds, greyhounds, terriers, and sheepdogs, were 

 not very strong, while the large pointer dogs, the small 

 pointer bitches, and the Irish setter dogs were espe- 

 ially good, the entry of pointers alone exceeding a 



