126 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August li, 137' 



justice to the honest exhibitor, the names of the juJges should 

 always be made kuowu, and I am satisfied committees will 

 find it to their interest to give publicity to the matter in the 

 future. 



Two of the best breeders and exhibitors in- the kingdom in- 

 formed me recently that they would not send their birds unless 

 they knew who was to be judpe, for they had frequently been 

 thrown out, even when showing Birmingham cup-winners, by 

 some of the most miserable specimens. I give one case in 

 pomt. At a show not two hundred miles from London one of 

 the gentlemen referred to sent two of his best pens, both of 

 them cup-winners at several of the leading shows. They were 

 placed first and third, and a pair only fit for the spit was second. 

 He asked the judge why the birds were thus placed, pointing 

 out the glaring defects of the second-prize pen. Tlie judge 

 acknowledged he was wrong, but he did not see it thus when he 

 awarded the prize, at the same time saying, " You ought to be 

 a better judge of that variety than myself." A few minutes 

 afterwards the owner of the second-prize pen made his appear- 

 ance, and, not knowing the owner of the first and third-prize 

 birds, acknowledged to a friend that he was surprised and highly 

 delighted at winning a 30s. prize with his pair of birds, as he 

 only gave 7s. Gd. for them in Leadenhall Market. This is a 

 specimen of the uncertainty of the awards mode by one of our 

 present poultry judges. Referring to the same judge, a Ham- 

 burgh-breeder said, "I know what pleases his fancy ; he never 

 gives the prize to the best birds, but if I know any of the north- 

 <'<""'tiT judges are to award the prizes I alwavs send my best 

 stufi, or else I stand no chance. Last season I visited a show 

 m the eastern counties, where a Spangled hen, worth about 5s., 

 won the cup, and the best hen in the class, shown by Mr. 

 Beldou, was left out in the cold." In the face of the above 

 facts IS it any wonder that many exhibitors owning good birds 

 are determined to keep them at home, unless they know who is 

 to officiate aa judge? I hope other exhibitors and secretaries 

 mil give their opinion upon the matter. As Secretary of the 

 Lowestoft Poultiy Society I may say we always have published, 

 andintend to continue pubHshiug, the names of the judges.— 

 L. When. 



A DISTINCTIVE FEATURE BETWEEN 

 BRAHMAS AND OTHER FOWLS. 



Tkeke is a feature in the Brahma Pootra fowl which appears 

 to me to distmguish it from all other kinds that I have noticed 

 —VIZ., that the comb is placed entirely in .advance of the eye. 

 A perpendicular drawn through the inner corner of the eye 

 will define the posterior extremity of the comb of the Brahma, 

 whereas a perpendicular between the centre and the posterior 

 comer would define that of the Cochin, Dorking, Game, &c., 

 they having the comb running over the eye. The French breeds 

 of fowl I do not include, as their combs are of quite another dis- 

 tinctive character. 



The position of the Brahma's comb to my mind militates 

 strongly against the idea of the Brahma fowl being a cross be- 

 tween any of these breeds, and I am in the habit of judging the 

 °^F®e of purity of a strain of Brahmas in a great measure by 

 this character, other things as per established standard being 

 normal. Further, I believe I may say we do not find this 

 anterior position in any degree in any cross-breeds without 

 there having been an iniusiou of Brahma blood-royal at some 

 time. 



Not having seen this character noticed in print, and it 

 being an observation solely of my own, perhaps you wilt obho-e 

 by publishing it, that I may see what can be said for or a'^ainst 

 it.— J. R. Choker, Malvern Link. 



[We thank you much for your interesting query. It had never 

 struck us before ; but on reading the above, we immediately 

 caught up two good specimens, one Brahma, one Cochin, and 

 submitted them to a close examination. We found, as you 

 observe, a line drawn touching the inner corner of the eye all 

 but cleared the comb and touched only the bare extremity of 

 the point. We may mention the bird was a large and good 

 specimen, with a fully developed comb. On submitting the 

 Cochin-China to the same test, we found a straight line simi- 

 larly drawn divided the comb as nearly as possible m the centre 

 We had no others at hand, but we will take an opportunity of 

 trying many other breeds. Being firm believers in the pui-ity 

 of Brahmas, we hail your discovery, not because it makes our 

 opinion stronger— we did not need that, but because such a fact 

 tends to the conversion of those who will not believe becxuse 

 they never have beheved. We have had them from the be<nn- 

 ning m large numbers. They come always pure, .and always 

 true— no sports, no throwing back, no varieties of comb, no un- 

 certainty as to the number of toes, no clean legs. From small 

 beginnings they now form some of the most numerous classes ,at 

 all shows. Inferior to the Dorking as a table fowl, tliey are 

 equal to almost any, and they have a great virtue, that they are 

 as hardy as a fowl can well be. They are content in confine- 

 ment, and we have hatched and reared them in snow. 



Cross bred birds are often described as pure ones, and their 

 breeders or owners try to sell them as such. The unfortunate 

 purchasers, breeding all sorts of oddities, condemn the breed as 

 " composite." It is for this reason that discoveries like the 

 above are really valuable. — Ens.] 



SEDQEFIELD POULTRY SHOW. 



The poultry prizes were not such as to induce any great 

 number of entries, the amounts given being only 10s. and 5s. in 

 each class, with a cup for the best pen in the Show; neverthe- 

 less some capital birds were shown. The cup was won by Mr. 

 G. Procter with a grand pen of White Cochins, which were in 

 condition in which Whites are seldom seen at this time of the 

 year. The first-prize Spanish were fair in quality, but the rest 

 bad, and in Brahmas only the winners were of value. In Game 

 the first were Brown Reds in very good feather a"nd good in 

 handling and style ; the second. Piles, a little too heavy in 

 feather, but otherwise correct. Sambiirr/hs were mixed classes 

 .and the entries poor in consequence ; the winners were tolerably 

 fair specimens. The only other birds at all noteworthy were 

 the first-prize Creve-Cojurs in the Variety class, and the winning 

 Game Ban fa m s which were Black Reds ; the first-prize chickens, 

 the second-prize adult birds. 



The entries of Pigeons were numerous, there being three 

 prizes in each class, with four silver cups for the four sections, 

 and the birds were shown singly. The Carrier cocks were a 

 large and good class, but, on ttie contrary, the hens and both 

 classes of Pouters were only poor ; the cup for the section was 

 awarded to a Carrier cock. Almonds were a nice class, the head, 

 beak, and eye properties being striking. The first prize went to 

 a hen, and the second to acock. Barbs were tolerably good, but 

 some of the best were rather out of bloom. Of ForeignOwls there 

 were but five entries ; the first prize went to a good Blue, and the 

 second to a good White. Trumpeters were poor, but the Fantails 

 — an extraordinary class, carried off the cup. Jacobins were good 

 and numerous, and Turbits also a strong class, in which were 

 many capital birds. English Owls were fair in quality, as also 

 were some of the Dragoons, while others were inferior. Mag- 

 pies were exceedingly neat and small. The class for Ice pro- 

 duced some good birds, and the winners were of the Spangled 

 variety. The Variety class contained some good Pigeons, and 

 the cup was carried off by a new variety termed the Whiskered 

 s-1 — a rather plain-faced bird, with a half-frill starting from the 

 shoulder points, and turning inwards towards the furl or ruffle. 



The Babbit classes were well supported, and more particularly 

 in the Lops, in which class there were twenty-four entries, with 

 not one really bad Rabbit among the lot, and six prizes were 

 allowed to bs awarded ; the first prize going to a fine Black-and- 

 white doe, exti-a first to a Black buck. The second prize was 

 taken by a Grey-and-white doe, and extra second by a Fawn- 

 and-white doe. The third prizes were awarded — one to a Fawn, 

 and the other to a Blue doe. The Himalayans were very good 

 in marking, and the Silver-Greys in fur ; but the Angoras were 

 not in the best order, though there were some good specimens 

 shown. 



It would be impossible to picture a more suitable site for a 

 Sliow of this description than are the grounds adjoining Hard- 

 wicke Hall ; the heavy timber serving to protect from the rays 

 of the sun, and forming a welcome shade, while the scenery is 

 sufficient to repay the visitor without other attractions. We 

 published the awards last week. 



ORMSKIRK AND SOUTHPORT POULTRY SHOW. 



This was held on the 6th inst., when the following awards 

 were made : — 



T>OKm-SGs.-Colmtrei.—l, J. Slott. Healoy, Rochdale. 2, J. Robinson, he, T. 

 Hornsby. Chickens. — 1 and 2. T. Staffer. Manchester, he, T. HornBby, 

 Lftthom : Wren & Page, Lowestoft ; T. Brider, Earby, SkiptOD. 



pomiiSGS.— White. — 1 and 2, J. Robinson, he, M. Fairhurst, OrmsMrk. 

 Chickens.— 1, E. Williams. Henllvs, Berriow. 2, J. Robinson. 



Cochim-Chi.s*.— Biif.— I, 2. aid Cnp. W. A. Taylor, Maoc'icster he, T. 

 Stretch, Ormskirk. Chickens.— 1 and /«, C. Sidgwick, Ryddlesdcn, Keighley. 

 2, W. A. Taylor. 



Cocms-Cmsi.-Partridje or Oroiise.—l, T. Stretch. 2, W. A. Taylor, tc. T. 

 Stretch; T. Aspden. Church. Chiekem.—l, W. A. Taylor. 2 and/jc. 0. Sidgwick. 



Brahma Pootri.— flnrfc.— 1 and 2, T. F. Ansdell, St. Helens. Chickens.— 1. 2. 

 and he, .J. H. Pickles, Birkdalo. 



Bhahji* PoriTKK.— Light— i, J. Mitchell, Moseley. 2, C. Lepland, Warring- 

 ton. C/iiclTiis.— 1. T. A. Dean, Marden. 2, J. Watts. 



SPAVisn.— 1, A. Wilbmson, Karley. 2, J. Powell, Bradford, he, H. Beldon, 

 Bindley; Furness &9udall, Uawtenstall. CIlicfc^H.?.— l.J.Lecmin". Bronchton. 

 he. U. Beldon. 



HAMBURons.— SoJrf-spnnjIfii.— 1, G. & J. Bnckworth. Chnrch. 2, J. Robinson. 

 he, H. Beldon. Sileer-spanirU-(l.—\ and 2, J. Robinson, he, H. Beldon. 



Game.— 1 and Cnp, C. W. Brierley, Middleton. 2. T. P. Lyon Liverpool. 

 C/iicfc*-?!*— 1 and 2, G. Feet, Ormskirk. /iC. T. P. Lyon Liverpool 



Bantams. -ff(7m^ - 1 and 2, T. Sharpies. RawtenstaU. he, G. Maples. 

 Wavortree. Ann nther rxrietij.—l.H. B. Smith, Prcstnu. 2, E. H. Walton, 

 R iwtenatall. he. W. A. Taylor. 



Anv othek Varietv.-I and 2, H. Beldon. he, W. A. Taylor. 



Geese.— 1 and 2. J, Walker, Rochdale, he. Cant. L Anyon. Chorley T 

 Harrison: S. H. Stott. Preston. Go^Ufii;s. — i w Penny Preston 2 T 

 Harrison, ftc, R. Parr, Anghton; S. H. Stott ' 



TottKEYS.— 1, J. Walker. 2, J. BrookwoU. Wiran. 



DUCKS.— .-li/lesiiurj/.-l and 2, J. Walk»r. he, J. Kobinson, Garstang. Itjiteiu 



