October 9, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTDRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



2S1 



bills, and therefore prettier. This view lit up by a bright Sep- 

 tember sun was perfect. The exterior of the cathedral has been 

 restored and looks scarcely venerable ; the new face on the stone- 

 work, and the slates instead of lead, rather pain one. Though 

 it contains all styles of Gothic, the light early English moat 

 catches the eye. Inside, all is bustle and confusion ; carpenters, 

 and masons, and other workmen are busy and have set up their 

 temporary workshops. The noise of hammer, and saw, and 

 plane jars on one's ear. In some parts the very pavement is up, 

 and throughout all is shavings, and stone chips, and mortar, 

 and wood. I long to see it when finished. The airy lightness 

 of the interior is very pleasing. It was only in some parts that 

 entrance was allowed, and I walked up to the ankles in shavings 

 and dirt. King John has a better tomb than he deserved ; and 

 the most touching epitaph that I read was that on the tablet to 

 the memory of the wife of good Izaak Walton — " Here lyeth 

 buried (so much aa could die) of Aune, wifo of Izaak Walton. 

 She died (alas ! that she is dead) 17th April, lti62, aged 52." 

 All disciples of old Izaak and lovers of the angle should pause 

 over that epitaph. In the cloisters I looked for and found the 

 famous black slab in the north side of the cloisters, with only 

 one word on it — " Mi.serrimus," " The Most Miserable " is the 

 meaning. Wordsworth wrote a touching and fine sonnet on it ; 

 but alas for poetry ! the one who thus ordered his grave to be 

 marked was no love-lorn one, no interesting being, no deeply 

 penitent man, but a rich, selfish, and cantankerous old bachelor, 

 who made everybody around him miserable, and as a just retri- 

 bution made himself the most miserable of all. Thus it was, 

 and is, and ever will be with selfish tyrants. 



I leave the cathedral, and never since the parliamentary soldiers 

 were quartered in it, and stripped it of its ornaments, and com- 

 mitted every depredation was it, I should think, in such a topsy- 

 turvy state as now with its troop of, not, happily, destroyers, 

 but restorers. May the work be safely and skilfully finished. 

 The battle of September 3rd, lli-51, was begun a mile from the 

 city, and finally raged in the main street. I saw in the hand- 

 some Guildhall before mentioned two cannon and nine suits of 

 old armour left by Charles II. after the battle. The GuildhaU 

 is a most noticeable and handsome building, standing a little 

 back from the street, with a statue of Queen ."Vnne in a niche 

 over the door, and one of Charles I. and II. on either side of the 

 door. The interior is well worthy of a visit, containing among 

 its full-length portraits one by Reynolds of George III. One 

 thing is much needed by visitors to Worcester — viz., a guide- 

 book. Strange to say, not one is published. I was taken by Mr. 

 Grainger, Vice-Chairman of the Committee of the Poultry Show, 

 to see his beautiful china show-rooms ; and he courteously 

 offered me a card of entrance to his porcelain manufactory, but 

 I had not time to go, but I saw in his show-rooms the lovely 

 results. 



Both Worcester and its Show were well worthy of a visit. I 

 never received more kindness, nor was I ever more interested. 

 I have two pieces of advice for all, and especially for young, 

 poultry.fanciers. One is. Go to as many shows as you can. The 

 other is, Take in, read, and digest Mr. Wright's new book; then 

 you cannot fail to learn and understand prize poultry. May 

 Worcester Show always flourish ; and as to Worcester itself, 

 " Floreat seynper fidelis civitas." — Wiltshire Rector. 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY SHOW. 



As the time for this Show draws near, I wish to state through 

 the Journal what appears to me to be a real grievance. Last 

 year I was not there during the judging, because I consider the 

 presence of exhibitors at such a time objectionable, but I slept 

 at one of the hotels near the Palace, and at nine o'clock the next 

 morning I joined others that I knew were going into the Show. 

 The party I joined was admitted, but I and a friend who was 

 •with me were sent away for another hour, and the reason of 

 this was, we were told, " that we were not the servants of ex- 

 hibitors who were allowed admission to attend on their em- 

 ployers' birds." It was in vain we urged, " though not the 

 servants of exhibitors, we were exhibitors themselves, and that 

 our birds needed our attention quite as much as those which 

 were waited on by servants." Those in charge of the gate did 

 not doubt our word that we were exhibitors, but said "they had 

 orders to admit none but servants of exhibitors, and that they 

 meant to keep their instructions." 



I thought that if I could have returned in the coat I usually 

 wear when feeding my birds I might have got in, but as it was 

 I was kept out for an hour ; whereas, I owned more Pigeons 

 and poultry in the Show than any one employer of those servants 

 who were admitted. I believe all those whom I saw admitted 

 to be honest men, but I do not know how many servants there 

 were admitted who might not be honest men ; perhaps among 

 them might have been one who was seen by Mr. Hewitt waiting 

 on birds which he said " were foighting." I intend sending a 

 good many birds to the next Palace Show, and I hope they will 

 contend well in the lists, but I hope they will not be waited on 

 by any " servants " while I am kept out. 



The case mentioned by Mr. Hewitt was not a solitary one, but 

 merely exposed as au example to check a growing evil. Will 

 servants be allowed in the Palace on Sunday, November 16th ? 

 Will they be allowed in,, au hour before exhibitors on other 

 days ? If so, I hope the pubhc have more faith in their regard 

 for dangerous competitors than I have. I for one shall be very 

 glad if the Committee decide not to admit any exhibitors, much 

 less " servants," who are personally interested and have not the 

 same credit to maiutaiu, until a certain time, and then admit 

 them and the public together. 



If this subject were not so important to exhibitors generally, 

 I should not have trespassed so much on your valuable space. — 

 H. M. Mavn.ird, Holmewood, Byde. 



POULTRY EXHIBITORS. 



It appears to me a diificult and also an unwise plan to exclude 

 dealers from exhibiting. In the first place, what is a dealer? 

 and secondly, who ought to be considered amateurs ? I know 

 several gentlemen who would be otteuded at being called dealers, 

 but at the same time their birds are generally on sale, providing 

 anj'one be willing to pay their price. Now, there seems to me 

 one way of getting out of the difficulty — that is, have two classes 

 for those breeds that are likely to have the largest number of 

 entries ; a champion class (if I may be allowed to use the term), 

 and a class for birds that) have never previously won a first 

 prize. I have not the slightest doubt in my own mind this 

 would cause a greater number of entries and eventually repay 

 committees for their consideration, at the same time giving 

 many a chance who have hitherto frequently refrained from ex- 

 hibiting, feehng sure they had no chance whilst having to com- 

 pete against certain noted parties who invariably sweep away 

 the prizes wherever they exhibit. 



I quite agree with one of your correspondents as regards the 

 taking more than one prize in each class. I think if it were 

 made a rule to allow no one to take more than one prize in any 

 class, this would also be a means of increasing the number of 

 entries. 



-\nother point of great importance is having one uniform 

 standard to go by in awarding the prizes. Whilst there are so 

 many opinions as to points, how can an amateur, or, indeed, 

 anyone,' know what to exliibit ? Why not have a meeting of the 

 principal judges and settle this long- vexed question? I for one 

 am ready to contribute my mite towards paying the expenses, 

 and have no doubt, if the matter could be arranged, there are 

 plenty more who would be willing to assist. — T. W. D. 



MARKET RASEN POULTRY SHOW. 

 For a first attempt this meeting was good, and from the ex- 

 perience gained this year, no doubt the arrangements of future 

 shows will be improved. 



Grey Dorkings were not especially good, but some very ex- 

 cellent Brown Red Game were among the prize-winners. The 

 Hambtirghs were a very creditable lot. Black Hamburghs and 

 Golden-pencilled ones more particularly. Spanish were not of 

 good quality, nor shown in good condition. Both Aylesbury 

 and Rouen Ducks were superior, and a few good Buenos Ayreau 

 Ducks in capital plumage were exhibited. The Geese, a class 

 in which single birds only were exhibited, were such as are but 

 rarely seen, the entry being not only large, but the whole of 

 them of very equal quality. Turkei/s were few but very good. 



The show of Pigeons was a remarkably good one, but many of 

 them were placed too high for general inspection. Canaries, 

 Parrots, Foreign and English Cage Birds were well represented. 



DoBKlvoa.— 1, — Cashmere, Loughborough. 2, — Waters. Elsham, Brigs. 



Gamk.— 1, A. Canty, Barton-on-Hnmber. 2 and c, H. R. Boucherett. 



Cochins.— 1, R. S. S. Woodgnte, Tonbridgo WellB. 2. — Casliinere. 



Brahmjs.— 1, W. R. Garner, Dyke, Bourne. 2, K. Swan, Lincoln, c, W. F. 

 Dunn, Middle Rason. 



Uamburghs.— land 2, — Caahmere. 7ic, J. PUkington, Lincoln, c, J. Smith, 

 Lincoln. 



Spanish.— 1, A. Canty. 2, G. S. Thompflon. Barton-on-Humber. 



Bantams.— 1, R. Wingfield, Ltdbury, W ircester. 2, H. Yardley, Birmingham. 



Cock —1, — Cashmere. 2, J. Johnson, Newark. 



Hen.— L R. S. S. Woodgato. 2. J. .Tohnson. he, T. G. Gilbert, Col'ingham, 

 Newark: G. Waters ; — Cashmere, c. J. M. Atkinson. .Vlfoid (2). 



Chickens.- 1 and Cup.— Cashmere (Bhick Hamburi^'tib). 2. A, Canty (Brown 

 Red Game), he, Mrs. Cross. Applebv, Brigg ; C. I>uckering. Kast Barkwith ; 

 Mrs. T. Fowler, North Willingham: W. G. Waters; U Chapman, Market Basen. 

 c, T. A W. Lievesley, Lincoln ; Rev. T. H. Wright, Market Itasen. 



Barndoor — Prize — Wilson, Market Rasen. 



DccKS.— iiouen.- 1 and c, R Swann. 2, — Tateson. Reasby, Wragliy. Ayleil- 

 bunj.—l. Lady E. Heneage. Hainton. 2, — Cashmere, tic. W. F. Duiiii. c, W. 

 i'. Dnnn ; — Coulbfck, Market Kaaon. 



Geese— 1,— Hodgson, sixhilis 2.— Ttinier.West Rasen. 7ic, Mrs. Marriott, 

 South Kclaey; Mrs. F'lwler ; J. Wilson: W F. Dunn. 



TcRKKV — 1, H. E. Boucherett 2, W. F. Dunn. 



Selling Class.— 1, Mrs. Cross. 2, Lady K. llencagc. he, W. F. Dunn. 

 PIGEONS. 



Carrit.rs.- 1 and Cup. — Baddcloy. Unreford. he, W. Lnrkins. Biggleswade. 



PooTEas.— L J. E. Crofts. BlTih. Worksop. 2. J. F. Loversidge, Newark. 

 e, P. R. Spencer, Hereford ; H. Yardley, Birmingham. 



Tombleks.— 1. H. Yarolcy. 2. — Uaddeley. , „ „ . 



Barbs.- L T. H. Do«s, Bo"l.'n. 2. H. Yardley. he, J. E. Crofts. 



Fantails.- 1, .1. F. Loversidge. 2. P. R. Spencer. 



Jacobins.— 1, J. E. Crofts. '2, U. Yardley. he, K. Chapman. 



Rocks.— i!Iue.—l and 2, C. Wilson, Market Rasen. 



