186 



JOTJENAIi OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ August 18, ISCI. 



it is killed by dislocation of tlie neck it is juicy. As soon 

 as the bii'd is deiid, indeed I Bliould say directly it is 

 dead, it should be picked. The lai-ge feathers, the wings 

 and tail, should be piilled fii-st. The reason why they should 

 be picked is that the fowl then gets cold ; it is lor the same 

 cause essential that they should be killed early in the morn- 

 ing or in the evening ; the latter is preferable. Even in 

 hot weather the fowl is spoiled nine times out of ten by 

 the fermentation of the food, or the decomposition of the 

 water that was in the body at tlie time of death. The bh-d 

 fasted and killed as we have described may be drawn and 

 trussed for the spit some houi's before it is wanted, and spite 

 of hot weather it wOl be sweet, tender, and jiucy. 



POITLTEY SHOW AT STOWMAKKET. 



On the 30th and 31st ult. the fu-st Exhibition of a Society 

 just started at Stowmai'ket, the object of which is to hold a 

 show of poultry every year, took jJace. It was announced 

 as the " Eastern Counties Grand Poultry aiid Horticidtm-al 

 Show," — a somewhat high-sounding title. The Exhibition 

 was held on the grounds of Abbott's HaU, the i-esidenee of 

 Wm. Prentice, Esq., by whom they were kindly offered to 

 the Committee ; and they are admirably suited to the piu'- 

 pose to which they were put. The time of year is very much 

 against a good Show, the bii'ds being just nov? in full moult, 

 .-ind this tended to keep down the number of entries. Never- 

 theless the Show, even as regarded the number of entries, 

 which was neai-ly ninety, or about 250 bu-ds, was good : and 

 as to the quality of the bh-ds, better could not have been 

 erpected. This fii-st meeting ma.y, therefore, be pronounced 

 an unequivocal success. The arrangements of the Com- 

 mittee and their Honorary Secretaries, Messrs. Eanson and 

 A. h. Simpson, were excellent, the pens being an-anged in 

 two rows, one above the other all round the tent, while 

 the spaces between them were filled with evergreens, and 

 flags were suspended from the top. 



There was no competition for the prizes offered for Spanish 

 fowls. The show of Colom-ed Dorkings consisted of five peas, 

 several of which were first-class birds ; this is evident, IVom 

 the fact that the Judges aiter awarding the two prizes con- 

 sidered a third pen worthy of high commendation, and also 

 commended a fourth. The first-prize birds (Mr. Lingwood's) 

 were beautiful specimens of the breed, and have taken prizes 

 at the Crystal Palace, Birmingliam, and other places. The 

 cock in the second-prize pen (Mr. H. Payne's), was well 

 worthy of special distinction; the characteristics of the 

 Dorking — short on the legs and broad in the breast — were 

 fully developed. There was really no competition in the 

 White Dorking class ; the only two pens shown belonged to 

 Mr. H. Lingwood, of Needham Market, who is so celebrated 

 in this breed. There were six pens of Cochiii-Chinas, on this 

 occasion divided into two classes — Colom-ed and White, and 

 Partridge. The first-prize cock in the former class, which, 

 although termed Coloured and White, consisted entirely of 

 Buif, looked a giant among fowls. The second prize was 

 taken by a cockerel and two pullets under five months old, 

 and very fine birds of then- age they were. The entries in 

 Partridge Cochins were only two ; but the fii'st prize, belong- 

 ing to the Eev. H. Curry, are a very celebrated lot. In the 

 Dorking chicken class Mr. Jas. Frost, of Parham, took both 

 prizes with some of his celebrated stock ; and Mr. H. Payne's, 

 which are chickens of the birds which took the second pi-ize in 

 Class 2, were highly commended. In Black-breasted Game 

 there were nine exhibitoi's. Mi'. Matthew, of Chilton HaU, 

 Stowmarket, whose Game stock is very celebrated, taking 

 both fii'st and second prizes. An extra prize was awarded 

 to Mr. James Goodwin, of Hollesley ; Mr. Eeason Goodwyn, 

 of Woodbridge, re ceiving a high commendation. The whole 

 class was worthy of commendation. Mr. Matthew's cocks 

 were decidedly superior to the others in height, iji the clean- 

 ness of their heads and squareness of their )jody. It must 

 have been a difficult matter, however, to say which was the 

 better of the two prize cocks. There were only three exhi- 

 bitions of Duckwing Game, but the Judges thought them 

 aU worthy of commendation. Mr. S. Matthew was the 

 only exhibitor in the White and Pile Game. The Game 

 chicken class had five entries, of which three were Mr. S. 

 Matthew's, and with them he took first and second prizes. 



and Ms third pen was lughly commended. In the class for 

 Any variety not included in other classes, thera were cij.''. t, 

 pens, and both prizes were taken by Mr. Samuel Abaters. <■.' 

 Ipswich, with French bu'ds of the Creve Cceur breed — black 

 birds, wit'u crests. Mi's. S. Nunn, of Buxhall, showed some 

 Africans in this class — white fctwls whose plumage moiv 

 resembles hair than feathers ; these were highly commended. 

 Mr. J. Oxer, of Shelland, had a couple of pens of ca')itaJ hali- 

 bred Spanish fowls. The other fowls shown in this class 

 were Gold and Silver-pencilled Hamburgh. The lii'st piize 

 in Game Bantams was taken by Mr. J. Frost, they were of the 

 Blaok-breasted sort. Mr-. E. Goodwyn took the second prize, 

 and he also showed the cliickens of these bu'ds. The otlier 

 sorts of Bantams were worthy of note : the first-j>rize pen 

 belonging to Mr. Kdey, of Onehouse, were Gold-laoed; thu 

 second, Mr. H. A. Oakes's, were Eumiiless or rloblets. 



The l>ucJ:s were good in all classes. The Wliite Aylesbury s 

 shov/n by Mrs. Seamons, Hart well, Aylesbiuy, who took bot i; 

 prizes, were really wonderful birds, and one would hav./ 

 thought it scarcely possible that they could have arrived 

 at such a size in lour and live months. 



The Geese, as a class, were very fine ; Sir. Sporlintj'.". 

 which took the lu'st prize, were only twelve weeks old. Tb-- 

 first prize Turlceys {Mi: J. Bird, of Great Finborough), weru 

 beauties. 



The Pigeons were a very large and good class, the two 

 prizes being taken by Mi'. D. H. Feltham, of Kentish To\st.. 

 London, with Black Carriers. Mr. Feltham also exhibited ■■< 

 beautiful pair of Dun CaiTiers not for competition. Thu 

 following is the prize list : — 



DoEiKTNGS (Coloured). — First, H. Lingwood, Nerdham Market. Secont), 

 n. Hrfyiie, Stowmarket. liigiily Commeinl(id, J. frost. Cojimeaded, J. 

 Siiiiih. 



DoRKiNos (White). — First aud Second, H. Linfrwootl. Chickens. — Firs: 

 and S«;t;ond, J. Frost, Parllaul. Iligllly Commciided, II. Payne; J. Smith. 

 CuinMiendC'd. J. O. Fison. 



Cocuis-rniNA (Coloared and White).— First. Rev. G. Gilbert, Claxbamv 

 near Norwich. Second, Mr. C. T. Bishop, Leiiton. 



Cocni.N-CaiNA (PdrlridgoJ.— First, Kev. II. Curry, Bosinere Halt Second, 

 Rev. G. 'Tilbert. 



Game 'Bliicli-breasted and other Reds). — First and Second, S. Matthew, 

 Stowmarket. Third, J. Gojdwin, HoUesley. Ilighly Comnacnded, l: . 

 Goodwyn. Commended, J. K. Kersey. 



Game (Duckwings and other Greys and Blues).— First, S, Matthew. 

 Second, K. Gnodwyn. Ct>mmended, J. Goodwin. 



G^ME (Wliite riles. Blanks and Brassy-winced).— Prize, S. Mattlw:*. 

 Chickens.— i'ixii, Secoad, and Kighly Commended, S. ilaitlievr. 



Hambubghs (Goldeu-spangled;. -Prize, Mrs. A. P.ittisun, MaldoB. 



llAMBURGH (Silver-spingied). — Priae, T. Twose, Halsieai. 



Any orHEP. VAKiKrv. —first aud Second, M. Waters, Ipswich (Cri^'vc 

 CoDLirs). Highly Commended, J. O.-cer ; Mrs S Xuun. 



Bant.iMs (Game) — First, .1. Frost. Second, 11. Goodwyn, WoodbTL-lpe. 



Baniams (Any variety).— First, J. Riley, Onehou-e. Second, 11. A. Uakes, 

 Buxhall. 



Ducks (White Aylesbury).— First and Second. Mrs. M. Sear.ioaa, Hart- 

 well, Aylesbury. Commended, C. Tyrell, H«uglile>. 



White Uicics (Any variety;. — Prize, II. A. -Jakes. 



Ducks iRoueii).— l''irst withheld. Second. J. It. Kersey. 



Ducks (Mixed breed).— First, H. Wicks, Badley Mills. Second, J. Oxer. 



GEhSu.— First, A. Sparling. Second, W. Greeu. Commended, W. .1;. 

 Webb. 



Turkeys. — First and Second J. Bird, Finborough. 



PiGKoNS. — Fu'standSfjcond, D. H. Feltham, London. Highly Comute.nded, 

 n. A. Oakes. Comtnencljd, K. Parish ; A. Sparlmg. 



' Rahbits. — Prize, G. Gudgeon, StowmarI;ei. Mack. — Prize A. J. Alex- 

 ander, Ipswich. 



SwEEPsrAKES — Corhin-China Cock — Prize, Rer. H. Curry. Dork'uin 

 Cot/i. - Firrt, H. Linttwood. Second, Mrs. M. Scamoas. 



The Judges were the Rev. Thos. Lyon FeUowes, Beighton 

 Eectory, Norfolk, and the Eev. Morton Shaw, of Eougham 

 Eectory. — {Suffolk Chronicle.) 



Hedgehogs and Snakes Destkoting Chickens. — I ser- 

 in your Joiu'nal of the 11th a confu-mation of the fact of 

 hedgehogs destroying chickens ; and to me this is of im- 

 portance, as I have just had turned loose in my yard threr 

 young hedgehogs and an old one, and I shall now ordc 

 them to be caught again. My object for turning them loo^c- 

 was to drive away the mice and rats. I know that snakes 

 and blindworms will kUl chickens. I had a very choice lot 

 of these, which I sent to a splendid walk, as I tliought, it 

 being in the midst of a large coppice ; but I received word 

 that six out of thirteen were gone in one day. I set out 

 determined to watch ; aud towards twelve o'clock, the sun 

 being very hot, I went into the shade behind some trees. 

 The hen and brood were near an old wood pde, when all at 

 once the hen and chickens fled in aU directions. I jumped 



