March 28, 1872. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICXJLTUBK AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



281 



stoct was afterwards represented in tigli positions amongst 

 prize-winners at the public exl-'ibitious. So now, being blessed 

 with somewhat hopeful dispositions, we place before ourselves 

 the cheery prospect of getting in due time within the charmed 

 circle of successful exhibitors, having weeded out from our 

 breeding pen all the birds of a doubtful character, and re- 

 tained only a small but veiy choice stock, which " self and 

 partner " complacently anticipate will win renown in the sphere 

 within which poultiy interests reign supreme. 



Now, having given for the edification of your readers a very 

 fair account of the rise and progress of a would-be successful 

 poultry-breeder, permit me to call the attention of " the fancy " 

 to a point which has more or less perplexed me in reference to 

 the judgments passed at some of our larger shows. I have 

 scarcely learnt to understand as yet how it is that birds first, 

 perhaps, at one exhibition, are " nowhere " at another, in cases 

 which evidently cannot be attributed to a faUing-off in condition, 

 and where the competition is almost betn'een the same birds. 

 It has occurred to me as being vei-y desirable, if it can be ac- 

 complished, to select fi'om the highest ability in the kingdom a 

 committee of well-qualified judges, who should prepare and 

 publish at a moderate charge detailed particulars of the points 

 of excellence required in each class of fowl, so that all breeders 

 may know to what standard to breed, and thus avoid many of 

 the uncertainties which at present exist in the judging. I have 

 no doubt the suggestion, if a practicable one, would promote the 

 interests of the " craft " if acted on. 



And now especially as to the question of hocked birds. If it 

 be clearly decided that all hocked birds are to be disqualified, 

 though they may be perfect in other respects, let exposure and 

 disgrace follow aU cases of plucking, and let judges carefully 

 examine every feathered candidate for honours, irrespective of 

 his or her quality in other respects, whether good or iDad. Let 

 the iron heel come down sternly on aU fraudulent practices in 

 this respect ; and when it is clearly understood by all exhibitors 

 that every bird will be thus closely examined, and the conse- 

 quences referred to inevitably ensue on discover}' of fraudulent 

 plucking or ti'imming, depend on it the practice will soon dis- 

 appear, and that which casts its blighting shadow on an innocent 

 and even laudable pastime will be most certainly stamped out, 

 to the delight of all honourable exhibitors. 



And now, having said what I had it in my heart to say, 

 to while away an hour of a dark and wintry night while the 

 stoi-m fiend howls without, I conclude by respectfully and most 

 cordially wishing an increase of prosperity for "our Journal" 

 and making an acknowledgment of my indebtedness to its 

 various contributors. At the same time I would express my 

 confident assurance that, as in the present, so in the future, one 

 of the highest positions in the world of pordtry will be accorded 

 to the gentle, the profitable, the really handsome — Beahma. 



FOWLS FOE PKOFIT, AND AS A MEANS OF 

 SUBSISTENCE.— No. 4. 



PouLTEY HorsE. — Most people, if living in the country, have 

 a building of some description attached to- their house, and which 

 with a little ingenuity, at a trifliug outlay, may be made avail- 

 able for a poultry house. I am referring to the cottager desir- 

 ing to do all things properly, but at as little cost as possible. 

 If, however, a poultry house must be erected, I woidd advise 

 that it be made of rough wooden planks, tarred outside, with the 

 roof, which must slope to allow the water to i*un off, covered 

 with roofing felt. This will form the cheapest and warmest 

 house. The boards must overlap each other, and care must be 

 taken to build them closelj', so that all draughts, so injurious to 

 fowls, may be avoided, The door should face the south-west. 



The size of the house will depend on the number of fowls 

 kept, and whether they are confined or not ; if they have a run, 

 a house 20 feet square will accommodate fifty hens. It shoiild 

 be divided into two parts, one for roosting and laying, and the 

 other for hatching. Where two distinct breeds are kept the 

 roosting divison must be again divided, as the male birds must 

 be allowed their liberty during the evening, and in the morning 

 before the henwife makes her accustomed visit. Where many 

 hens are kept a shed must also be constructed to shelter them 

 when the weather is cold or wet ; this may be made with a slop- 

 ing roof, thatched with gorse or straw, and the same material 

 may also compose the two sides, the hen house forming the 

 third. The cheapest hatching boxes are of wickenvork, when 

 they can be made by the farmer himself, othenvise wood is the 

 cheapest material. The laying nests may be made of anj't.hing 

 that presents itself as suitable, but there must be no lack of 

 them, as neglect in this particular may cause a hen to lay away. 

 The perches must be low for large and heavy birds, as they are 

 apt to become bumble-footed if they alight often fi-om a high 

 perch ; 2 feet from the gi'ound will be sirmciently high. Where 

 Hamburghs are kept, a higher perch may be given if thought 

 advisable. 



It will be necessary to cut off a portion of the shed for the use 



of the cocks during the day^say 2 feet wide from end to end, and 

 with a division in the centre to keep the two breeds separate. 

 Should the birds prove quarrelsome, a slip of wood can be in- 

 serted between each of them, but I do not anticipate any trouble 

 in this particular. In these compartments they must be daily 

 confined, and their liberty restored to them only morning and 

 evening, when their* hens are in their appropriate roosting 

 houses. See annexed plan. 



A. Roosting and laying division for I E, Shed. 



Hamburghs. F, F, Small sliding doors for foivls- 



B. Sitting house. G. Main door. 



c. Koosting and laying division for H. Doors to side apartments. 



Brahmas. * r. Wire netting for cocks' division. 



D. Coclis' apartment during the day. | 



A heap of small ashes, gi-avel, and moriar should be kept in 

 one corner of the shed, that the fowls may have the benefit of a 

 dust bath when deprived of that pleasure by rain. The best 

 floor for a hen house is made of earth, small stones, and ashe& 

 well beaten together. Bricks are the worst flooring material 

 that can be used. I must impress on the mind of my readers 

 that perfect cleanliness is absolutely essential to the well-being 

 of poultry, and that where this is neglected no one can expect 

 to reap the profit here promised. Ventilation is equally neces- 

 sary, and where fowls are entirely confined it must be carefully 

 attended to. The best place for a ventilator, as also for a vi-indow 

 pane to admit the light, is at the top of the house. A stove 

 must be used in cold weather, and should be so placed as to heat 

 all the different compai-tments, including the shed. A cheap 

 portable stove may be made by any ironmonger to suit the pur- 

 chaser's requirements for about 155. The heat of the house 

 should be about 60°, and be kept as equable as possible. Wood 

 is the cheapest matei-ial that can be used to bum in the stove ; 

 indeed, its cost can hardly be counted. — Vincent Skinnee. 



WALSALL POULTEY AND PIGEON SHOW. 



AxTHOL'GH it was so late in the season the Committee of the 

 Walsall Show succeeded in bi-inging together an admii-able col- 

 lection, and, we can add, the general arrangements were unusu- 

 ally good. The Guildhall Assembly Eoom at Walsall is well 

 adapted for the purpose of such an Exhibition, and with a little 

 more local support it is certaiu that the Walsall annual Show 

 might equal most others. 



Cochins were a first-rate class, any variety of colour competing. 

 The first and tlurd prizes were awarded to the Buffs of Mr. H. 

 Lloyd, jun., of Great Ban- ; the second to a capital-feathered pen 

 of Partridge-colom-ed belonging to Mr. Joseph Stephens, of 

 WalsaU. In Brahmas the Show was limited, the first and 

 second prizes being awarded to Dark birds, and the third to 

 Light-feathered. Spanish fowls, as usual at Walsall, were of 

 very high character, and were not only so in the Spanish class, 

 but also in the SeUing class, in which latter competition were 

 to be found fowls of this breed that would be a credit to any 

 show. The Game class was a weak one, -n-ith the exception of 

 the first-prize pen. Spangled Hamburghs were a remarkably 

 good feature in this Exhibition ; Golden-spangled taking the 

 first and third prizes, and an excellent pen of Silvers the second. 

 In the class for Pencilled Hamburghs the Golden were decidedly 

 superior to the Silver variety. In the Any other variety class a 

 pen of Grey Dorkings were first, and also won the silver cup for the 

 best pen of fowls in the Show, closely pressed, however, as to 

 the latter premium by pen 39 of Golden-spangled Hamburghs, 

 than which we rarely see a better pen at even much more pre- 

 tentious shows. Black Hamburghs took the second prize, Sul- 

 tans the third. The Game Bantams were decidedlypoor, but the 

 Sebright and Black Bantams were praiseworthy. In an open 

 Dtick class the prizes were given in the order named— to Caro- 

 linas, Aylesbirrys, and Rouen Ducks. 



