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JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



[ January 4, 1872. 



we shall, -we believe, be in strict order when we express our 

 opinion that no other class shows so many faultless birds. 

 The exliibitors seem to understand their birds, and the condi- 

 tion in which they are sent proves it. Many of the old varie- 

 ties that were commonly seen thirty years ago have almost 

 disappeared, and the large entries are made up of Black Beds, 

 Brown Eeds, and Duckwmgs. These last are the weakest, and 

 do not keep pace with the others. Hamburghs barely hold 

 their own. The Silver-pencilled have certainly deteriorated. 

 The Golden in both Pencilled and Spangled classes have been 

 8 iperior 1 1 the Silver. The French breeds may have some- 

 t'.iing to do with this. They lay almost as many eggs, and 

 they lay them much larger. The Houdans and Creve-Cteurs 

 are good birds. They are excellent for the table, and are very 

 hardy. Their fellow breed, the La Fleche, finds few admirers. 

 We are not surprised ; they have not good constitutions. Vi'e 

 believe the two former ynii make large classes, but we do not 

 think the latter will ever bring a sufficient number of entries 

 to pay for the prizes offered. 



A revolution has almost taken place in Bantams. The once- 

 popular and numerous Sebrights are fast disappearing. It is 

 rare to see a dozen pens of them, even at the largest shows, 

 and unless some one come to the rescue and keep up the ma- 

 nufacture of them, it will be difficult to keep them fair speci- 

 mens of these beautiful birds. The Blacks and Whites, taken 

 as a whole, have hardly been as good as formerly, although 

 some very good pens have been shown. All the energies of 

 Bantam-breeders appear to be centred in the Game. They 

 not only show in large numbers, but their quality leaves 

 nothing to desire. We have the Black Eeds, Brown Eeds, 

 Duckwings, and Piles. They do not confine themselves to 

 feather, but they faithfully produce the Game cock in all his 

 points. In the varieties of Bantams, some introduced from 

 Japan a few years since show in tolerable numbers. The 

 Cochin Bantams would appear to be difficult to breed, for 

 although a ready sale at very good prices awaits them, yet 

 they do not increase in numbers. There are also Cuckoo 

 Bantams, and we are promised some Dorkings for next year. 



If we may believe the entries at the different shows, the 

 Aylesbury Ducks are losing ground, compared with theEouens. 

 These latter are heavier an 1 far more numerous. It would be 

 a great mistake if the former were allowed to degenerate. 

 They have properties few others have, they lay very early, and 

 they fatten at an age when others are only beginning to grow. 



Geese have been shown well, and the birds have been very 

 heavy. We have no average increase to mark as compared 

 with last year, but it must be borne in mind that the weight 

 of these birds has more than doubled in the last twenty years. 

 Everywhere the increase m the numbers of Turkeys entered 

 for competition has increased, and so has the weight of the 

 birds. The Americans have lost somewhat of the beautiful 

 plumage they had, but they have gained largely in weight. 



It has been a harmonious year. There have been no great 

 questions of division among the followers of this healthy and 

 humanising pursuit. Judges have been indulgently treated by 

 those who judge their awards. They are only now and then 

 attacked. It is admitted by many that at even some of our 

 largest shows they have little Ught and less time. Some of 

 the critics remind us of Mr. Boatswain Chucks, inasmuch as 

 they begin by aU sorts of little amenities, and end by an on- 

 slaught. " To every man his opinion." We have endeavoured, 

 and we shall continue to do so, to practise the strictest im- 

 partiahty. We rejoice to believe that the hue we have adopted 

 meets with the public approval and support. We are not un- 

 mindful of the obligations we are under to our many readers. 

 We tender them our hearty thanks. Endeavouring to realise 

 the ties that bind us to aU interested in our weekly issue, we 

 say to every one of them in the fullest sense of the words. 

 May they have 



A Happy and Pbosperous New YEji.B. 



To prevent poultry being sent at the date originally advertised, 

 a printed post card could be sent to all those who entered up 

 to 25th January, which is the date given for entries to close. 



I am aware that this will cause trouble and expense, but I 

 think the entries would be far more numerous and so make up 

 for this. I feel sure the Committee will not mind that, as long 

 as they can bring the Show to a successful issue. If anything 

 in the matter can be done, it must be done at once. — Ose that 



WOULD LIKE TO EXHIBIT AT BOTH. 



WOLYEEHAirPTON AND PORTSMOUTH SHOWS. 

 I OBSERVE that the Wolverhampton and Portsmouth Shows 

 clash with regard to date, or, at least, exhibitors cannot 

 exhibit the same stock at both. Now that is to be regretted, as 

 both schedules offer liberal prizes, and I have no doubt they 

 would each have a very good show if it were not for their 

 being advertised to take place at nearly the same time. I 

 should think that the Portsmouth Show could be held a week 

 later, and the date for entries to close could also be later. A 

 special advertisement might be inserted as to change of date. 



SELLING CLASSES— A SELLING SHOW? 



The remarkable success of the selling classes at the Crystal 

 Palace proves to my mind that they supplied a want keenly 

 felt by both breeders and buyers of good poultry ; and the 

 quality of many of the birds also demonstrated conclusively 

 that moderate prices do not forbid the entry of really fine 

 specimens. But, in common with many others, I confess I was 

 strongly struck with the absurdity of the whole affair as at 

 present managed, and especially as it bore upon the character 

 of the judging. I conversed with both the Judges, and both 

 fuUy agreed with me as to the utter impossibihty of awarding 

 any moderate amount of prizes in such varied and immense 

 classes. Even with regard to mere numbers, it may be suffi- 

 cient to state that one class numbered 126 entries, sufficient 

 for three classes at least; but beyond this, when all breeds are 

 thus jumbled together, how is it even possible that anything 

 in the shape of judging can be done amongst birds in sueh 

 ludicrous variety ? As one of the gentlemen upon whom the 

 enviable task devolved remarked to me, "When a man comes 

 tome and complains, ' Why haven't you given me a prize? 

 Arn't my Bantams as good as Mr. So-and-So's Cochins ? ' 

 What can I say to him? Perhaps they are as good, but how 

 can I compare two breeds so totally dissimilar ? " Anj'one 

 can see the reasonableness of this complaint ; and considering 

 how these giant classes swell the coffers of the Show, not only 

 through entries, but from the commission on sales, it becomes 

 absolutely necessary in common fairness to all parties that a 

 remedy should be found. I would suggest that each class might 

 be subdivided as follows : — Large Asiatic breeds — to include 

 Malays, Cochins, and Brahmas ; table breeds — to include 

 Dorkings, French fowls, &c. ; other breeds not Bantams ; and 

 Bantams to have a class to themselves. Other general classi- 

 fications might be substituted ; but I am well convinced that 

 without some such remedy as I have suggested for a really 

 crying evU, this interesting feature of the Crystal Palace Show 

 will " go down." 



But the success of these classes has suggested to me whether 

 even they have supplied a want, which is so evidently felt, of 

 procuring on the spot birds of really good quaUty at moderate 

 prices. I do not think they have, and I do not think they 

 ever will whUe the prices are so low. As a rule, I know by 

 experience, that reliable stock birds cannot be bred and sold 

 for two guineas — they cost more than that to produce. At all 

 events the question set me thinking, the consequence of which 

 has been a new idea, on which I should like the opinions of 

 some readers of this Journal. It is, that it would be a good 

 thing to have a Great Selling Show, some time near the end of 

 the season, at which the hmit of price should be five guineas 

 for single cocks, and six guineas for pairs of birds ; the prize 

 birds to be sold by auction, and any excess divided as usual ; 

 the other pens to be claimed, with the usual precautions against 

 owners claiming their own. 



I beUeve whoever first takes up this plan will make a good 

 profit by it ; and I may suggest that it would accomplish many 

 desirable ends. In the first place, while these prices would, in 

 my judgment, be quite low enough to meet the views of fanciers, 

 I have no doubt there would be no want of good birds. In the 

 second place, at the end of the season owners would have a 

 good chance of clearing off much stock, without the " alarming 

 sacrifice" our present seUing classes often involve; and the 

 classes would be filled by real breeders sending good birds. 

 In the third place, such a show would provide the field, which 

 a recent correspondence seemed to desire, in which fairly good 

 birds might make a good fight without the dread of being out- 

 distanced by the champion birds of the year ; and this object 

 would bo obtained without the evils of handicapping or the 

 other plans then suggested. Lastly, at a price moderate, and 

 yet enough to repay breeders for producing them, really valuble 

 stock might be secured. 



I may, perhaps, say that I have named this idea in private 

 to many experienced fanciers, all of whom have received it 



