September 15, 1803. 



JOTJENAL OP HOETICtJLTITRE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 



221 



■whose energies are thus annually severely taxed in. con- 

 nection ivith this Meeting. Courteous to every one, and with 

 ready advice to any exhibitor requiring it, it is only fail- 

 thus to admit the Manchester and Liverpool Meeting is 

 in no slight degree indebted to this gentleman's personal 

 exertions for its present high position. 



To give a slight idea of the gigantic proportions of this 

 year's meeting we at once consult the printed catalogue. 

 In it we fmd registered no less than 3141 entries, entailing 

 ■an amount of labour in its management none others than 

 the actually experienced could imagine. This total of entries, 

 of course, included homed cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, imple- 

 ments and machinery, grain, roots, cheese, butter, fruits, 

 flowers, and last, though not least, dogs and poultry. So 

 vast a display as that of this year, and one so well calculated 

 to amuse and instruct the public eye, has rarely been exhi- 

 bited at a single meeting. 



The caiTying-out of the general arrangements was en- 

 trusted to the Messrs. Jennison, of Belle Vue Gardens, 

 •near Manchester ; and although compelled to do battle with 

 most unpropitious weather, these gentlemen eventually 

 brought all to a favourable conclusion. The day and night 

 also previoiis to the Show being opened was one continuous 

 heavy rain, nor at the break of day was there any symptom 

 whatever of abatement. About seven or eight o'clock, how- 

 ever, and this only just as the Arbitrators were about to 

 commence their duties, the sky suddenly cleared, the sun 

 broke brightly, and every face beamed with congratulation 

 at a residt all had deemed, tiU now, an utterly hopeless 

 one. But expressly to the poultry. 



This department contained considerably beyond 200 pens, 

 and as a whole, the collection was unquestionably a good 

 one. It is true many classes were damaged in appearance 

 (particularly to the inexperienced eye), by the bulk: of the 

 specimens being then in fixU moult ; but as at this season 

 it is useless to expect anything different (because naturally 

 so), the few remarks we purpose offering our readers will 

 not bear particularly on this shortcoming. 



The Black Spanish class was a strong one, the well-known 

 .breeder Mr. Eodbai-d, of Aldwick Com-t taking both first 

 and second positions. The quality of the faces of this 

 gentleman's chickens was quite beyond exception ; but we 

 cannot help noticing that these bii-ds were of a vei-y diminu- 

 tive size when compared with many shown from the same 

 yards dui'ing past years. The same amount of character, 

 combined with a larger size, would be a decided improve- 

 ment. In Grey Dorrkings Captain Hornby was pre-eminent, 

 all his specimens being quite above the remaining competi- 

 tion — in short, they were all exceedingly well-built large 

 early chickens, and matched most effectively. The moult of 

 the Game fowls told seriously against them, but hei-e again 

 Captain Hornby stood well. Mi-. Julian, of Beverley showed 

 also some very worthy birds of these varieties. In Cochins 

 the muster represented many of the first things of this year 

 from oui- most noted amateurs. Our attention was pai-ticu- 

 larly directed to a feature, that though somewhat general 

 in the Buff Cochin class, by no means justifies the practice — 

 ■viz., the exhibition of Silver Cinnamon pullets -with a Buff 

 cockerel. Another very fatal objection ruled rather heavily 

 against the interests of several exhibitors. It arose from 

 dropping and waved combs in one or more pullets, though 

 otherwise unexceptionable. From these shortcomings the 

 Cochin classes, though " very taking at first sight," would 

 in bear to be closely scrutinised. The Hamburghs were a 

 very strong feature of the Show ; and the Polands though 

 few in numbers were decidedly good. Harvey Dutton 

 Bayly, Esq., stood far above competition in the Bantam 

 classes. It was as complete a "walk over" as we could 

 imagine. 



In Aylesbury Ihiclcs, Mrs. Seamons stood as completely 

 beyond the reach of rivals, even a single glance of the 

 Judges deter minin g all the three prizes in her favour. In 

 Eouen Ducks faulty bills were sadly prevalent, though the 

 class was most extensive. It is well worthy of remark that 

 a faulty Duck of this breed as to her biU, nearly without 

 exception, perpetuates the faOing in every duckUng. To 

 breed from such is the certain forerunner of disappointment ; 

 and as a selection may be made at a very early age, to hand 

 over to the cook at once such ducklings as are evidently 

 not fit for exhibition would prevent much unnecessary 



outlay, besides providing for the table at a time when their 

 appearance thereon would be decidedly far the most accept- 

 able. 



The Tun-keys and Geese were as good as we have seen this 

 season. The rage for exhibiting two, or even three ganders 

 together instead of a male and two females seems, however, 

 to extend itself 



Decision on the part of om- poulti-y Judges must be here 

 called into action, or sales of these really useful birds will 

 fall sadly below what has been the usual demand. We 

 know several agi-iculturists whose hopes have been thus 

 frustrated, and their tempers not a little soured into the 

 bargain, by having eventually to roast a large proportion, 

 and perhaps all of a pen of so-caUed Geese thus " claimed " 

 at high prices. 



DoKKiNQs. — First aad Second, Capt. W. Homby, Prescot. Third, 

 J. Robinson, Garstang, 



Spanish.— First and Second, J. E. Rodbard, Wrington. Third, -W. 

 Wooliey, t^unbury. 



Game Cock.— First, H. M. Julian, Beverley. Second, J. Fodden, New 

 Ferry. Third, C. -VV. Brierley, Eochdale. 



Game (Blacli-breasted Red).— First, H. M. Julian, Beverley. Second, 

 Capt. vv. Hornby, Prescot. Third, W. Gamon, Cheater. 



Game (Brown-breasted Ked).— First, Capt. W. Hornby, Prescot. Second 

 and Third, J. Wood, Wigan. 



Game (Any variety).- First and Second, J. Holme (Duckwin^), Third, 

 C. P. Aclters, Wigan (Duckwing). 



Cocuin-China (Buff or Cinnamon).— First and Third, T. Stretch, OnnB- 

 kirk. Second, 0. Fell, Warrington. Highly Commended, G. Fell. Com- 

 mended, E. Mupgrove, Ormskirk. 



CocHiN-CeiNA (Grouse and Partiidge).— First, T. Stretch, Ormskirk. 

 Second, E. Tudman, Salop. Third, Capt. Heaton, Manchester. Commended, 

 T. Stretch. 



HiMBnEOHS (Golden-pencilled).— First, Messrs. Carter & Valiant, Ponlton- 

 le-Fylcie. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Third prize withheld. 



Hambdkghs (Silver-pencUled).— First, H. Pickles, jun. Skipton. Second, 

 J. Dixon, Bradford. Third, J. Piatt, Bolton. Highly Commended, S. Field- 

 ing, Middleton. 



HAMBnBGHS (Golden-spangled).— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, 

 S. H. Hyde, Ashton-under-Lvne. Third, J. Roe, Manchester. 



Hambi'egbs (Silver-spangled).— First, J. Robinson, Garstang. Second, 

 J. Dixon, Bradford. Third, T. Rigby, VVinsford. 



PoLANus.— First and Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Third, P. TJnsworth, 

 Warrington. 



Bantams (Game).— First, T. H. D. Bayley, Biggleswade. .Second, J. W. 

 Morris, Rochdale. Third, J. Dixon, Bradford. Commended, W.Lawrenson, 

 Poulton-le-Fylde. 



BAMTAM3 (Any other variety).— First and Second, T. H. D. Bayley, Big- 

 gleswade. ( By some mistake both this gentleman's pens of Sebrights were 

 exhibited in one pen. The Silver-laced stood first, and the Gold-laced 

 second.) Third, J. Dixon, Bradford. 



Ant othee Breed.— First, J. Dixon, Bradford (Black Hamburghs). 

 Second, W. Dawson, Hoptou (White Cochin-China). Third, Mrs. M. 

 Seamons, Aylesbury (Brahma Poocra). Highly Conimended, H. B. Lee, 

 Bewdley (Brahma Pootra) ; J. Robinson, Garstang (White Dorkings). 



Goslings.- First and Second, D. E. Davies. Knutsfotd (White and Grey). 

 Third, T. Burgess, Whitchurch (White). 



Ducklings (Aylesbnry).— First, Second, and Third, Mrs. M. Seamons, 

 Aylesbury. 



Ducklings (Rouen). -First, J. Holme, Knowsley. Second and Third, 

 W. Gamon, Chester. 



Ducks (Any other breed).- First, F. W. Earle, Prescot (Black East-In- 

 dian). Second, J. Dixon, Bradford (Grey Call). Third, C. P. Ackers, 

 Wigan (Wild). Highly Commended, J. K. Jessop, Hull (Black East Indian). 



Tdekeys.- First, Capt. W. Hornby, Prescot. Second, J. Dixon, Brad- 

 ford. Third, J Ellis, Hale Bank. 



ExTEA Stock.— Commended, Mrs. G. H. Cook, Hartford Hall, Cheshire. 



Mr. John Douglas, of The Cottage, EUenhaU, near Eccles- 

 hall; and Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Spark- 

 brook, near Birmingham, were the Judges. 



KEIGHLEY POULTEY EXHIBITION. 



TwENTY-ON-E years have now passed away since the first 

 agricultural Show was held at Keighley, and for about the 

 half of that period the addition of poultry has led to a great 

 increase of its attractions. It is a gratifying result for us to 

 announce that the meeting of last week not only showed a 

 large increase in the number of entries over those of pre- 

 vious years, but a stiU more important feature was that the 

 ponltry competing was as good as can be met with at the 

 largest of such exhibitions. Although the weather for the 

 last few days proved most precarious and unpromising, 

 most luckily the day on which the Show was actually held 

 proved quite a fine one, and by this happy coincidence a 

 company far beyond precedent assembled at Keighley. 

 That the Committee reaUy work hard to insure success 

 must be obvious, even at first glance, among those who 

 attended last week, and this has always been so. Then- 

 just reward is pretty well expressed by the somewhat quaint 

 inscription that met the eye among some of the first on 



