XoTember 20, 18TS. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICOLTURB AND COTTAGE GABDKNEE. 



409 



aud Beard at heart, firmly believing that many other fanciers 

 are able greatly to improve upon them, and regretting that some 

 pen abler and older than my own has not been emploj-ed on the 

 Bubjeet. I propose — 



1. That all those interested in the Mottle, Bald, and Beard at 

 once establish and subscribe to a fund for the purpose of en- 

 couraging these varieties, and that such foud be called, " The 

 Mottle, Bald, and Beard Fund." 



2. That the subscribers to the so-called fund elect from their 

 midst a certain number of gentlemen whom they constitute " a 

 committee," and another gentleman whom they constitute " a 

 secretary." 



3. That the Committee at discretion, whenever the finances 

 admit, direct the secretary to request the committees of such 

 shows as those of Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Edinburgh, 

 Glasgow, Manchester, Kewcastle, etc., to devote the sum of 

 i'lO 10s. to the purpose of providing three separate classes for 

 these varieties, with prizes of i'2, .i'l, and 10s. in each class; 

 offering, in case of compUance, to subscribe the sum of £5 5s. 

 to that object on condition that, should the entrance fees and 

 the ia 5s. subscribed exceed the i'lO 10s. given in prizes, the 

 surplus, or such part thereof not exceeding £5 5s., be paid over 

 to the benefit of the Mottle, Bald, and Beard Fund. 



4. That the Committee be empowered to offer what assistance 

 they may be able and deem proper to give to the committee of 

 any minor show on the same or similar conditions. 



Such a system, when once established, would, I am confident, 

 work well, and in a short time we should see the following six 

 classes at the great exhibitions — viz., 1, Mottle (black) ; 2, Mottle 

 (red or yellow) ; 3, Bald (soUd colour) ; 4, Bald (barred colour) ; 

 5, Beard (solid colour) ; 6, Beard (barred colour). 



In conclusion let me express a hope that some gentleman, 

 whose name has sufficient weight amongst Pigeon-fanciers, will 

 come forward and consent to be a secretary and treasurer ^^ro 

 inn., in order to test the practicability of the system herein 

 advocated. — Tcekxy Quill. 



NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE PIGEON SHOW. 

 {From a Correspondent.) 



CoMMXNXiNG with Pouters, Blue or Black, the classes con- 

 sisted chiefly of Blues ; the prizes for cocks of that colour went 

 to birds prett}' equal in length of limb and feather, yet the one 

 wanting style which the other showed to advantage. In hens, 

 first came a Blue and second a Black, neither extra in size but 

 of good limbs and slender make. In Eed or Yellow cocks, birds 

 of the former colour, of good length of feather, took the first 

 and second prizes. In hens. Yellow were first and Eed second, 

 the latter much the neater, but not so longin feather. In cocks, 

 any other colour, two very fine Whites won the prizes, the first 

 beating in style, yet the other having the better legs. But how 

 the Judges could give the cup to a White minus two properties 

 in preference to such Pied Pouters as were exhibited, was the 

 wonder of many. It would appear that to win a Pouter cup it 

 is only necessary to have a bird which shall measure well, not 

 only as regards length of feather but also round the waist, 

 aljowing nothing for slenderness, colour, and markings. In the 

 While hen class a very fine bird was first, and a nice slender 

 and good-limbed bird second. The Pouter classes contained 

 about fifty really good birds, and many disappointments were 

 of course experienced. 



In Black Carrier cocks the first-prize bird was up in head 

 points, yet wanting a little more boldness of front. The second 

 wjs also a very fair bird, being narrow-headed, with good eyes, 

 yet rather short in beak. In hens certainly a mistake occurred, 

 for, considering all points, the second was much to be preferred 

 to the first-prize bird. In the class for cocks of any other colour 

 Dans won both prizes ; first a capital-headed bird, yet coarse and 

 unshapely. The second-prize pen was very taking. In hens 

 both first and second prizes went to excellent Duns, and but for 

 the second bird being a little out of health it would certainly 

 have been placed first. 



In the Dragoon classes Blue or Silver stood first, and, as usual, 

 nearly all were Blues; but large as the class was, there were not 

 more than a dozen really good birds. The first prize went to, 

 what is much fancied, the Blue-rumped, a very fair bird with 

 exceedingly naiTow bars. The second prize was awarded to 

 a Silver of similar build, and pleasing to the eye. The Eed 

 or Yellow class was not so large, bat all the birds were good. 

 The first prize went to a splendid Yellow, a strong and noble 

 bird. Many might be preferred to the second, it being rather 

 light in build but of exquisite colour. The Eeds had no chance 

 against such rich Yellows, although one or two were highly 

 commended. In Whites or any other colour there was not 

 much quality of the Dragoon. 



We come next to the dariing little Tumblers, and hear all 

 around exclaiming, "What lovely little gems I" Here were 

 Almond cocks in good numbers. It is only a pity to see the 

 best birds passed over, the first prize falling to a coarse-beaked 

 bird, and wanting in width and height of head; second was a 



very fair bird, yet there were two or three others much to be 

 preferred. The hens were a grand class and properly placed, the 

 first beating the second in fineness of beak only, and both very 

 rich in colour. The class also contained some very grand birds 

 highly commended. In cocks of any other colour a good little 

 Yellow Agate was first, but by no means the best-headed bird. 

 A Mottle was second. Many Whole-colours superior to either, 

 and an exquisite little Red were amongst the commended birds. 



In Barb cocks Black was first and Ked second; four good birds 

 were highly commended. In hens, an excellent Black, good in 

 every way, was first, and a nice-eyed bird second, yet there was 

 a Dun much superior to the latter. 



For Foreign Owls, Blue or Silver, a very fine powdered blue 

 was first, a sky blue second, and a very fine bird highly com- 

 mended. Any other colour was a larger class, all Whites save 

 one Black, two very fine little gems taking the prizes. 



Of Trumpeters the Mottled class was small and destitute o{ 

 merit, every bird being wanting in some property, Mottles with- 

 out feet feathers being deservedly passed over. For Any other 

 colour a half-bred Black was first, and a very fair White second. 

 Only one of the new type was present, and it was not a complete 

 Black. 



In Fantails, White were a large class, yet only about a dozen 

 really good birds were shown ; large-tailed birds with coarse 

 bodies, and little and good-carriaged birds shabby in tail. In 

 Any other colour a good though large Silver was first, and a very 

 fair Blue second. 



Jacobins, Eed or Yellow, contained a few very good birds. A 

 little Yellow was first ; it was rather long in face, yet rich in 

 colour with a very fair chain. A good Eed was second, with a 

 nice chain and hood, but coarse and a little too large. The 

 Black class was very well filled, the first prize going to a model 

 Jacobin in every point, yet wanting brightness of colour ; the 

 second by no means the next best, it having some black flights 

 that ought of course to be white. 



Turbits, Pointheaded, Red or Yellow, were an unusually good 

 class although some were poor in colour ; a rather foul but fine- 

 frilled Yellow was first, and a rich Red second. Any other colour 

 Poiutheaded was also a large class ; a Blue was first, seemingly 

 an aged bird, yet good enough to beat all faulty ones. Black 

 taking second, exceedingly rich in colour and clean-marked, but 

 a little crested instead of a nice point. In Shell-crested, Red 

 or Yellow, a really good Yellow was first, and an indifferent Red 

 second. 



English Owls proved a profitable class. The best bird, arriving 

 too late, was an exquisite little Silver, well frilled and having 

 a proper Owl-like beak. 



The greatest feature and what caused much interest was the 

 Collection class, four pairs of any breeds except Carriers, 

 Pouters, Tumblers, or Barbs competing for a three-guinea cup ; 

 there were eleven entries, and each lot grouped as one large pen. 

 The winning coUection consisted of ]?oreign (Mottled) Trum- 

 peters, rich little Red and Yellow Jacobins, and White Fantails. 

 The second, forming a very nice lot, consisted of Mottled Trum- 

 peters, Blue Turbits, Red Jacobins, and Suabians. 



Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the ever-attentive 

 and energetic Secretai-y, Mr. J. G. Dunn. A word is also due to 

 the Committee at large (not forgetting the veteran little Jamie 

 Bell) who are all hard-workers, doing everything with a good 



will. — IMTAKTHL. 



[ We have omitted much that was noticed in our report last 

 week. — Eds.] 



BEE-FABMING IN 1873. 



For many years I have presented to the British public an 

 annual balance-sheet of bee-farming. As I keep bees for profit 

 it is of importance to me to have an account of income and 

 expenses. Though the last five years have in this neighbour- 

 hood been rather unfavourable for honey- gathering, our indus- 

 trious little servants have never failed to give a small balance of 

 profit. In 1869 my profit from bee-keeping was £32, in 1870 it 

 was £50, in 1871 £42, and in 1872 £07. The present year has 

 been more unfavourable for bee-keepers than any year since 1861. 

 In unfavourable seasons like 1873 the income from bees is not 

 only small, but the expense of feeding them is great. 



A highly respectable working man called here about ten days 

 ago to seek advice. For the last three years he has increased 

 his stocks from a small beginning to fourteen in number, but 

 this year he has spent £10 for sugar to keep them ahve. Being 

 a mere beginner, and having unfavourable seasons to fight 

 against, he was somewhat discouraged. My advice in all such 

 cases is not to abandon beo-kcopiug, but struggle on till more 

 propitious seasons come. Sell stocks or swarms for money 

 wherewith to buy sugar to feed rather than aI>andon bees, for in 

 my opinion there is nothing more profitable for working people, 

 or more easily managed by them, than a few hives of bees. If 

 next season be a favourable one for honey my friend with the 

 fourteen hives may reiiliso £40 profit. In an ordinary year ha 

 should realise from £20 to £30 profit, his expenses being com- 

 paratively small. 



