December 11, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



47S 



condition. This is another of the breeds that are indeed food- 

 producers. The samemay be said of the ffdurfani. These two 

 breeds showed sixty-nine pens. The La FVche, introduced at 

 the same time, have proved themselves worthless, and they have 

 returned whence they came, to the Any other variety class. 



We were very glad to note an improvement in the Spanish. 

 These old favourites have of late years seemed to lose merit and 

 popularity. It would be a pity they should do so, as they are 

 not only exceptionally good egg-producers, but they are hardy 

 birds. 



Hamburgha mastered strongly with good birds in every class. 

 The Blacks were beautiful ; tne Golden-pencilled as good as we 

 have ever seen ; the Silver-pencilled much imjjroved. The 

 Spangled held their own, but, as we have often had occasion to 

 remark, the Golden pleased us more than the Silver. These 

 were among the most attractive classes in the Show. 



There were thirty-eight pens of exceUeut Polands. We can 

 note for this breed the continuance of high quality ; we are sorry 

 we cannot see an increase in their numbers. The Silvers and 

 the Black with white crests were unusually good. 



The Varieties mustered as usual useful and nondescript birds, 

 but there was nothing to call for especial notice. 



There were 296 pens of Game; and notwithstanding that now 

 and then a stilty bird was seen, and here and there the evidences 

 of a m-salliaiice were visible in the Malay characteristics, yet 

 we do not know that we have ever seen so good a show. The 

 cup bird was perfect, and so was the Duckwing that achieved 

 the same distinction : indeed we thought the Duckwing classes 

 showed a great improvement. The Blacks, Brassy-winged, 

 Piles, and Whites hardly hold their own against the others. 



The same may be said of the Sebright Bantams, poor in 

 numbers and not remarkable in quality. The White were also 

 badly represented. The Blacks were very good, and showed 

 more numerously. There were some good Japanese, good 

 Booted, and Cuckoo in the Varieties. The Game Bantams 

 were a very large class, and many of the birds highly meri- 

 torious. Exhibitors have now learned that a Game Bantam 

 should be a Game cock in miniatm-e, and that both must be 

 judged by the same rules. The increase in these birds is great, 

 and they bid fair to swamp the other classes. 



Ducks must have reached the extreme weight. Formerly the 

 palm was always to the Aylesburys, now the Ronens take the 

 lead in numbers, weight, and condition. There were many 

 drakes in this class heavier than the Geese were some years ago ; 

 we mean, of coarse, in a country market — average birds. The 

 new class in the Dorkings was repeated here, and prizes offered 

 in a Selling cla-is in which the pair of birds must not exceed 

 two guineas in price. The Black East Indian were superb ; 

 their colours surpassed anything we ever saw, but some of them 

 were rather large. The Mandarins and Carolinas were mar- 

 vellously beautiful — so faultless it was difficult to decide be- 

 tween them. We were disappointed in the Call Ducks, not 

 in quality but in numbers. The ornamental varieties were 

 Bahamas, Kasarkas, and Whistling Ducks. 



The Oecse were very good and very heavy, but they do not 

 increase in numbers. Wonderful Turkeys; and here again a 

 transformation has taken place. The hens now weigh as much 

 as the cocks did some time ago. They showed in good numbers. 



JUSTICE NEEDED AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 



In 1371 the rules seated that birds must be in the Palace on 

 the Monday night ; but being wishful to have my birds as fresh 

 as possible, I wrote to ask the Secretaries if they would be taken 

 in on the Tuesday morning (the day of judging). The reply was 

 they must be in on the Monday, otherwise they might be ex- 

 cluded However, from information received, as the police 

 reports say, I decided to take the risk, and presented myself 

 with my birds along with a brother exhibitor on the Tuesday 

 morning, and after a great deal of difficulty managed to get 

 admitted with my birds, and found a London exhibitor, not on 

 the Committee, busily sponging away at his birds and looking, 

 I thought, rather surprised to find that some one else had been 

 as wide-awake as himself. Last year I presented myself with 

 my birds at the proper time according to rule, and was again 

 refused admission ; but happening to be accompanied by a poultry 

 judge, who was also a Pigeon exhibitor, we sent in our names, 

 and once more I managed to get in, probably through the in- 

 fluence of my companion. Again I found an exhibitor penning 

 his own birds. This year I took the birds in on the Saturday 

 according to rule, accompanied by Mr. Hedley, who had charge 

 of Mr. Walker's birds. We were refused a!dmission, and on 

 appealing to Mr. Howard, who happened to be near, he politely 

 but firmly declined to admit ns, saying, " I have no authority 

 to admit anybody." At the same moment I believe one exhi- 

 bitor at least was inside penning his birds ; at any rate I have it 

 on what I believe. t.i be good authority that certain birds were 



Senncd liy their owners, and if this is not left-handed justice I 

 o not know what is. I do not complain about tho exhibitors 

 getting inside ; what I complain about is that there should not 



be even-handed justice aU round. And I put it now to the au- 

 thorities whether it is fair to bring country exhibitors hundreds 

 of miles from their homes and then say, " You can't come in," 

 but to allow exhibitors who live on the ground, so to speak, th© 

 privilege denied to us ? 



If I am wrongly informed I shall be glad to be corrected, but, 

 in any case this is a matter which demands a reply from the 

 Secretaries, and if my facts are correct I want to be informed 

 on what principle of justice they explain the difference of treat- 

 ment. 



I have been careful to avoid the needless mention of names, 

 not wishing to hurt anybody's feelings.— J. Fieth, Webster Hill, 

 Deicsbury. 



POULTRY JUDGES. 



While poultry shows are increasing on every side — so much 

 so, indeed, that almost every post brings a fresh schedule — the 

 number of qualified judges seems to diminish, and fears appear 

 to be entertained that a work of some importance and difliculty 

 is likely to fall into the hands of incompetent men. Even as it 

 is, the most experienced judges — if some of the criticisms we 

 read have any foundation in fact — make mistakes, how much 

 more those who are new to the work ! There are many who 

 are quite competent to decide the merits of one or two ciasses, 

 and yet who could not be expected to form a judgment of any 

 value upon the remainder; so that in the majority of shows, 

 where one judge only can be engaged, their services would be of 

 no avail. In short, the number of persons really capable of 

 judging every class in a show of any pretensions must always b© 

 limited — so limited, indeed, that I shall not apologise for naming 

 one person who, I am persuaded, would make an admirable 

 judge. 



My friend, and I might almost add my neighbour, Matthew 

 Leno (who has given me permission to use his name) knows aa 

 much about poultry, I believe, as most of our judges. An 

 enthusiast as a fancier from bis youth, he has succeeded in one 

 class of fowls so as to be absolutely unapproachable, while there 

 is scarcely any kind or sort in which he has not had some expe- 

 rience and some success. Recommendations are proverbially 

 dangerous ; nevertheless, after some years' acquaintance, I ven- 

 ture to mention his name as one who, I believe, would make an 

 upright, conscientious, and most competent judge. — E . BartiiuMj 

 Berkhamsted, Herts. 



CRYSTAL PALACE EXHIBITIONS IN 1874. 



1. Grand Show of Pigeons by the members 



of the Peristeronic Society 2nd Tuesday in Jan. 



2. Cage Bird Show Feb. 14th to 19th. 



3. Mule and Donkey Show April 28th to 30th. 



4. Spring Flower Show May 16th. 



5. Dog Show June 9th to 12th. 



6. Great Rose Show June 20th. 



7. Autumn Fruit and Flower Show Sept. 8th to 10th. 



8. Cat Show Sept. 26th to 29th. 



9. Poultry Show Nov. 16th to 19th. 



Mr. F. W. Wilson is the Superintendent of the Shows, except- 

 ing that of dogs, of which the Secretary is Mr. W. Roue; and 

 of poultry, of which the Secretaries are Messrs. Howard and 

 Nicholls. 



CLEVELAND POULTRY SHOW. 



[The following remarks were omitted last week from want of 

 space.] 



Dorkings were a very good lot, and all of the Dark variety 

 Coc/ii)W (Buff), also proved a grand lot, but the Whites were poor 

 Spanish were of moderate quality. In Brahmas the winners 

 were all Dark ; the first, old birds, very large but not so good in 

 colour as the second, which were young. Ga7«e (Reds), Brown 

 Red chickens were first, and Black Beds second and third, tho 

 latter being somewhat lighter in bone than is desirable ; wbilo 

 the Duckwings, though not so perfect in colour, were large and 

 firm in flesh. Hamhurghs were all fair classes ; the first-prize 

 Silver-spangles were a nice even pen, the Silver-pencils com- 

 prised a grand hen, while many others will improve with age. 

 Of Bantams the Red Game were poor, if we except the second- 

 prize cock, which was unfortunately mated to a ben with white 

 earlobes. In the class for Any other variety of Game Bantams 

 Duckwings were first and third, and Piles second. Any other 

 variety contained some good Blacks and Gold-laced, although 

 many poor pens were shown. In the Variety class were some 

 very good birds, Black Hambnrghs standing first, and Crdve- 

 CoDurs second. 



Pigeons were heavy classes throughout, and there were somo 

 good birds in all. Pouters, Blue, stood first; the winners being 

 all grand birds in both size, style, and colour. In the next class 

 two Whites were first and second, and Red third, the first being 

 one of the handsomest Pouters seen of late, closely pressed. 



