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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



[ November 20, 1873. 



The Spanish classes, as a whole, were not good ; the first and 

 ^econd-prize hens, and also the prize pullets, were the most 

 worthy of notice. 



In French fowls the Houdans appear to have made the greatest 

 advance ; many very excellent Creve-Coeurs were also e:£hibited. 



Hamburghs were all good classes. 



In Game the Black Reds were not so good as we have formerly 

 eeen. The Brown Eeds were very good. Undoubtedly the best 

 Game cock in the Exhibition was the first-prize Duckwing cock. 



Polish were all good classes, especially the Silvers ; Mr. 

 Adkins taking the lion's share of the prizes in the latter variety. 



Game Bantams were very numerously exhibited ; all the great 

 breeders competing. 



Ducks were excellent, the cup going to splendid Rouens. 



THE PIGEONS. 



Once more I stand among the Pigeons at our truly-named 

 " Great National Exhibition." A few words will describe it — 

 " Larger than ever, and better than ever." There are 1159 pens 

 of Pigeons; and when we consider that twenty of these pens 

 contained each four pairs, and that there were many pairs of 

 birds as well, the number rises to an extraordinary magnitude. 

 But this is not all. Not only are the numbers so greiit, but in 

 many classes the number of birds of the highest merit was so 

 great, that the Judges were in a perfect dilemma as to how to 

 select the very best, so many wei'e as nearly equal in merit. 

 They would willingly have given more prizes, but this could 

 not be. So that it comes to this : A fourth prize would be fre- 

 quently a first at other shows, and v.n.c. and h.c. would else- 

 where represent prizes. But I opine that the difficulty of 

 judging such a Show is not so great as the difficulty of report- 

 ing it. There are many judges, but one reporter. It is the 

 work of hoiU'S, and head and eye-tiring work, to go steady from 

 pen to pen. I found myself this Monday, Nov. 17th, in a 

 wilderness of Pigeons, like a man thrust into the maze at 

 Hampton Court, not knowing where the straight lines would 

 lead him to, and whenever and wherever he would or could get 

 out. I dismiss at once all the surroundings of the Show. The 

 place is well known ; the perfect light, the good arrangements, 

 the pleasant meetings of brother Pigeon-fanciers; they would 

 have been much more pleasant if one bad had time for a chat 

 instead of a hasty, though hearty hand-shake. 



According to catalogue the first class of Pigeons is Class 112, 

 Pouters (Blue -pied), cocks, any age. This was a class fair, but 

 nothing extraordinary. First-prize a fine bird, colour very 

 good ; second also fine, but nothing out of the way, and not so 

 well-shaped as first ; third-prize had Kite bars, but in crop beat 

 all in the class. Black-pied, cocks, any age — First-prize a grand 

 bird, not quite raven black, being a trifle sooty; second-prize a 

 better colour, but wide in limb ; the third was heavily flagged, 

 but an enormous bird, splendid as a stock bird. Eed or Yellow- 

 pied, cocks, any age. — These colours should not have been 

 mixed. First-prize a Yellow. Second a Red, a little thick in 

 girth. Third also a Red, a neat bird. I must notice No. 2325, 

 a bird splendid in form, but of a bad colour. "White, cocks, any 

 «ge. — Nothing could be finer than this class, and none were ever 

 aeen that could beat them, as English, Scotch, and Irish fanciers 

 all allowed. First-prize all that a Pouter should be ; the second 

 also first-rate, and fit for first anywhere ; and of the third the 

 6ame may be said. The Judges had hard work with these birds. 

 Any Colour or Markings, cocks, any age. — These birds ought 

 not to have been in the Show. Glasgow has now excluded 

 them, and they must not appear any more ; admissible in the 

 loft, detestable at an exhibition. The first-prize, a Mealy, was 

 a perfect giant ; if his owner has no name for him I suggest 

 "Anak," a most grand fellow, but a horrid colour. Having 

 noticed "Anak," I purposely omit any mention of the rest; 

 their colours at such a Show injured my eyesight ! Any colour, 

 •cocks of 1873. — A fine class of young birds. First-prize a 

 Black. Second and third both fine cocks, and equal to the 

 ifirst save in colour. 



Pouters, Blue-pied, hens, any age. — The first prize and cup a 

 perfect beauty, better far as a bird than any Blue Pouter shown ; 

 she has one only fault — viz., one of her wings is a little 

 " bishoped." (N.B.— I am glad that neither of mine are !) 

 •Black-pied, hens, any age. — First was splendid, but surely 

 ehe had been rubbed down and down to make what was good 

 better. This was foolish, and she looked sleek and queer, and 

 not natural. If the Judges could but have detected any colour- 

 ing matter, no doubt "Disqualified" would have marked that 

 pen. 'Tis stupid to try and scent the rose or paint the lily, as 

 Shakespere says. The second-prize good ; the third very hand- 

 some, but short in tail. Red or Yellow, hens, any age. — First a 

 Red, and good in colour. Second a Yellow, and a large bird. 

 White, hens, any age. — So level and so good was this class, that 

 the Judges must have been puzzled terribly. First- prize ad- 

 mirable. Second a nicely-shaped bird. The third a lovely 

 little bird, greatly admired, but a trifle small ; this a Wiltshire 

 Pouter, belonging to Mrs. Ladd, of Cabie. Any Colour and 

 Markings, hens, any age.— A very small and poor class. May 



this be its last appearance. Any Colour or Markings, hens of 

 1873. — First and cup a beautifully-shaped bird, one of the very 

 best as a Pouter in the Show. Third plucked in the thighs. 

 The Pigmies were judged by the Pouter standards; the bare- 

 shanked birds not noticed. 



Carrier^:. — As a whole, in advance of other years, and very 

 heavy judging; indeed, extraordinarily good birds. Black, 

 cocks over one year. — First, fine stylo of bird, but bad wattle, 

 not fiUed-up in front. Secsnd a good- wattled bird, but trimmed. 

 Third excellent wattle again, but faulty in eye. 2-164 (h.c.) a 

 model of a Carrier ; 2i71 and 2472 very good birds. Black, hens, 

 old.— First and cup a fine-carriaged bird, good style, not quite 

 enough of wattle. Second and third and v. H.c. all first-class 

 birds. Dun, cocks, old.— First and cup the best Carrier in the 

 Show, the nearest to perfection ever seen. Second not a good 

 bird, short in neck, short legs, short flight and tail. Third a 

 good Pigeon in beak, wattle, and carriage. Dun, hens, old. — 

 First very grand all over. Second good hen, good beak, good 

 wattle, fairish eye, and stands well. Third a good-eyed Pigeon. 

 Cocks, any colour or age. — First splendid in every point but 

 colour. Two also splendid. Three good colour, but that is all. 

 2530, v.H.c, only wants age to make him a No. 1. Hens, any 

 age and any other colour. — First somewhat short in neck, and 

 wattle might be better. Second good in beak, wattle, eye, and 

 colour. Three good colour, bad wattle, too full in gullet. 

 Black cocks, young. — First a good Pigeon, rather Roman-nosed, 

 and rather ragged in wattle. Second as near perfection as a 

 young Carrier can be. 2585 and 258G models. Dun cocks, 

 young. — Fair only. Cocks, any colour, young. — First would 

 have looked better had his eye not been washed. Second and 

 third promising birds, will make good Pigeons. 



Dragoons, Blue, any age.— First and cup perfect specimen of 

 a genuine old-fashioned Blue Dragoon, black beak, good deep 

 blue throughout. Second good colour. Third too light ia 

 rump, otherwise good. 2711, Mr. Tegetmeier's, might have 

 well been placed second prize. Silvers (black bars). — First and 

 cup good head, beak a little aviry. Second not deserving its 

 place. Third a better Pigeon. Silvers (brown bars).— Mr. 

 Bishop's first, second, and third just the birds Hike; may he 

 exhibit more such. Yellows and Reds. — First grand all over. 

 Second quite as good. Third nearly as good. 2770 unnoticed 

 but good, many more in this class admirable. Judges would 

 have gladly given more prizes. 2804 a real blood red, only ona 

 in the Show. Whites or other colour.— First and cup, bad, 

 ragged wattle. Second, better Pigeon. An old-fashioned good 

 Grizzle and a good Chequer in this class. Dragoons were 

 wonderful, specially Mr. Betty's Yellows, which Were mar- 

 vellous. T^. i J 



/l?moii(Z cocks any age. — A richly feathered class. First and 

 cup, a very fine Pigeon. Second not too worthy. Third a much 

 better bird. Almond hens, any age. — First so good that it would 

 pass for a good cock. Second weU spangled all over. 2852 only 

 wants age to be excellent. 



Tumblers, Any other variety.— Cocks, first, Agate Mottle, 

 first-class in head, beak, eye, and carriage. Second Kite, good 

 Pigeon. Third Red, a perfect gem, worthy of any cnp or prize. 

 Hens, any other variety. — First, a well-known winner among 

 Agates. Second Kite, best head-and-beak hen ia the Show. 

 Third, Red and pretty. 



Barbs, Black or Dun, cocks over one year.— Extraordinarily 

 good class, and prizes well awarded. Cocks, any other colour. — 

 First, most extraordinary-skulled bird. Second, splendid bird, 

 grand colour. Third, good Pigeon, but one diseased. Black or 

 Dun hens. — First only wants age to develope wattle, then per- 

 fect. Second, a very fiue hen. Third, a good Pigeon all over. 

 Barb hens, any other colour.— First a Y'ellow, little too long in 

 face, but cleanest colour in class. Second Yellow, good little 

 hen, but bad colour. Third also Yellow. Young Barbs, any 

 colour.— First not so good as its next neighbour, 2f)6lB. Second 

 a firat-class bird. Third a mistake ; not good in beak, eye, or 



Jacobins, Red or Yellow.— First too long in face, too little 

 hood, too open in chain. Second an excellent bird. Third, 

 grand in hood, mane, and chain, but too low in cut. Jacobins, 

 any other colour.— First a very pretty little bird in mane and 

 chain, but not good in colour. Second and third nice birds. 



Fantails.—A grand class, which must have troubled the 

 Judges. First out of condition in tail. Second a gem. 



Nuns.— First a good bird, but not deep enough in bib. Second 

 very good. Third, a better bib than first. 



Trumpeters.— I'ii-st and cup an excellent Pigeon in rose, crest, 

 beak, colour, and markings. Second also a very good bird. 

 Third good, but out of condition. 



English Owls. — First and cup, grand bird. Second, first-class 

 but deficient in frill. Third perhaps even better than first. A 

 fine show of English Owls. Stick to them, fanciers. Not so 

 tender as Africans, and suit well flying fanciers. African Owls. 

 — First worthy of its place. Second small charming bird. Third 

 light in rump. 



lurbits, Blue and SUver.— First, very excellent. Second very 



