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JOTJENAL OF HOETICtnLTUEE AKD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ October 13, 18C3. 



POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



TO POULTEY EXHIBITOES. 



We -view the Crystal Pala<;e Show as one of the great 

 events in the poultiy world ; and as " X. T. Z." says that 

 some few instructions will be as useful for Birmingham as 

 for Sydenham, and as we aj-e, moreover, ass\u-ed by many 

 contributors that they benefit by such, we will endeavour to 

 supply the want. 



Send the poultry in round baskets, and covered with 

 canvass. Feed them before they start on sopped bread; 

 let them eat as much as they will immediately before stai-ting. 

 Send them early that there may be no doubt of their being 

 delivered in good time. We have seen many good bu-ds 

 delivered only "just too late" for competition, and others 

 hun-iedly thrust into a pen, and although very good, yet 

 showing to a fatal disadvantage against birds that had been 

 comfortably resting for hours. 



Let yoiu- Spanish have clean faces. Choose biids in good 

 feather. There must be no red face, nor must the cock 

 have a falling or a twisted comb, nor should it be too large. 

 The combs of the hens must fall. We would rather see a 

 little, very little, fall at the back of the comb than any red 

 on the face. 



Choose your Dorkings large and square; the cock with 

 good massive head and face, upright comb, sti-aight breast, 

 good straight legs, and well-formed five claws, the spur in 

 its proper place, and not outside the leg. Let the hens or 

 pullets match. Wash all theu- legs and teet clean, and wipe 

 them day. A faUing comb is a disadvantage but not a dis- 

 qualification. The same may be said of a crooked breast. 

 A deiicient claw is a positive disquaUfieation. Game exhi- 

 bitors have nothing to learn. 



Tom' Cochin-Chinas must have straight combs and yellow 

 well-feathered legs. They should not be vultur-e-hocked, 

 but we would rather see a slight vulture hock than a small 

 twist in a comb. In the Grouse classes the cocks must have 

 black breasts, and the less yellow there is about the hens 

 the better. 



Brahmas may be light or pencilled, pea or single-combed, 

 but they must be aD. one or the other. The Light should 

 be white, save a black-pencUled hackle, flight and tail. A 

 shade of cream on the white is not objected to. The Pen- 

 cilled should be pencilled all over. The cock should have 

 straw hackle and saddle striped with black, black thighs, 

 and black and white spotted breast. PencDled hens with 

 white breasts, and light ones with dark spotted backs are to 

 be avoided. Mixture of comb is a disqualification. 



In yoiu- Pencilled Hambm-ghs look for a straight, fii-m, 

 weU-piked and well-pointed comb. Nothing \riU compen- 

 sate for a faulty comb ; you must next look for a roimd, 

 small, but perfectly white deaf ear, a pencilled body and 

 tail, the pencilling distinct, not mossy or run into blotches 

 of colom- ; the hackle as clear fi-om spots as possible. If 

 we ai-e to speak comparatively, we should say we would show 

 a bird with a faulty deaf-eai- rather than one ivith a faulty 

 comb. The cock's tail should be black, edged with gold or 

 silver as it may be. Spangled Hamburghs should have 

 striped hackles, and well-spangled bodies and breasts ; wings 

 well baiTcd; perfectly white and round deaf-ears ; niU double 

 comb, but very firm and straight. The SUver should have 

 white tails tipped with black. The cocks of both breeds 

 must have spangled breasts. Here for a choice of evils 

 accept any one rather than a bad comb ; that disqualifies. 



The possession of a comb disqualifies PcHsh fowls ; it is, 

 therefore, the thing of aE others to be avoided. In the 

 Spangled breeds look for spangled breasts, laced and ban-ed 

 wings, topknots as fi'ee &-om white as possible. 



Select youi- Game Bautiuns for close feathers and wings, 

 small Game fowls, and not " pretty Uttle Bantams" with 

 saucy carriage and drooping wings. You want these latter 

 qualities in yoiu- Sebrights. In the Black and White choose 

 small birds with long tails. The Black shoiild have white 

 deaf-eaa-s. 



When your birds come home wash their faces and nostrils 

 with some warm water, give to each a table-spoonful of castor 

 oil, and feed them on sopped bi-ead, or meal, or ground oats 

 mixed with water, and slack enough to be almost fiuid. 



If youi- birds are beaten go and study the class in which 

 they are shown, you will probably see why they were un- 

 successful. 



LONGEIDGE (PEESTON) AGEICULTUEAL 

 AKD POULTEY SHOW. 



The fii'st Show of this Society was held at Longridge 

 on the 23rd Tilt. ; and, notwithstanding the unfavom-able 

 weather, there was a very numerous attendance. The 

 prizes, with one exception, were confined to old birds. 

 There was a good entry and many really good birds were 

 exhibited in the different classes ; but some of them were 

 deep in the moult and did not show to advantage. The 

 following are the awards : — 



DoEKiNGS.— First, J. Robinson, Garstang. Highly Commended. D. Par- 

 sons, Cuerden, Pieston. 



Spanish.— First, T. Eastham. Highly Commended, T. Wareing. 



Game.- FirM, D. Parsons. Highly Commended, T. Eastliam. 



Cochin-China.— First, J. Robinson. 



Hambukcus (Golden-pencilled).— First, J. Robinson. (Silver-penciUed). 

 — rirst, E. Gardner. (Golden-spangled).— First, J. P.obinson. (Silver- 

 epangltd).— First, J. Robineon. 



Bantams fAny variety). -First, T. Eastham. 



Ducks (Aylesbury).— First, T. Philips, (liouen).- First, T. Philips. 



Chickk.vs (Any variety).-First, D. Paisuns (Spanish). Highly Com- 

 mended, T. Pomlret, J. Chapman, and J. Robinson (White Dorkings). 



The Judges were Messrs. H. P. Watson and James Tate, 

 Preston ; and Mi-. Thomas Burnett, Hutton. 



STJEFOLE POULTEY SHOW. 



The second gi-and annual poulti-y Exhibition was held 

 in the Abbey grounds, Woodbridge, on the 24th and 25th 

 of September, and the manner in which everything passed 

 off must be a subject of gi-eat congi-atulation to the Com- 

 mittee ; and the excellence of the arrangements made for the 

 comfoi-t of the visitors and safety of the bu-ds, reflects the 

 highest credit on the management. 



In addition to money prizes, there was a silver cup for the 

 best pen of Game fowls, which on a good competition was 

 can-ied off by a very handsome pen of Black Eeds, the 

 property of Mi-. Fletcher. Tliis gentleman also exhibited 

 some good pens of Duckwings, with which he was fii-st in 

 their class. The Spanish classes were weak both in muubers 

 and quality. Amongst the Dcn-kings were some good bii-ds, but 

 the best pen unfortunately came in too late for competition. 

 In the Cochins, BIi-. Fowler's Buffs and Mr. Wright's Partridge 

 well deserved theu- honoiu-s. Hamlurglis were very badly re- 

 presented, one prize only being awarded in the two classes. 

 The " Variety class " of chickens was one of the best in the 

 Show, Mr. Wright's Brahmas being, especially the cockerel, 

 remai-kably fine. The second prize was awai-ded to a pen of 

 Silver Polands, also belonging to the same gentleman. The 

 Game Cock Sweepstakes brought but two birds into com- 

 petition, the prize going to a good pen from Mi-. Dyas. The 

 Bantams were not numerous, if we except the Game Bantam 

 chickens. 



Mr. Fowler was as usual invincible in Aylesbury Ducl:s. 

 taking both piizes with beautiful pens. Eouens were well 

 represented, being both lai-ge and good. 



Mr. Fowler was fii-st in Geese with a remarkably fine pen, 

 such, indeed, as Aylesbm-y alone can produce. 



There were a few dogs exhibited, but no prizes were offered 

 in this department. Before closing oui- remarks we must 

 again congi-atuUite the Committee on their success and wish 

 them a continuance of it, and that in future years we may 

 have to announce, as we have now, that then- accoimts for 

 the season have been closed with a good balance in hand. 



Spanish.— Fij-st and Third, J. Wright, Woodbridge. .Second. Mrs. 

 G. Craigie, Woodlands, Essex. Chirkem.— First, Mrs. Pattison, Maldon. 

 Second, W. btubbs, Woodbridge. 



Dop.ii.NGS (Coloured or White).— Cup, H. Lingwood, Needhani Market. 

 Second, J. Frost, Parbam (Coloured). Third, J. K. Fowler, .Aylesbury. 

 Chickens.— First, H. P. P.evett, Patham. Second, J. Smith, Parham 

 (Coloured). Highly Commended, J. Frost (Coloured). 



CocBI.N-CHI^A (Coloured or White).— Prize, J. B. Wallhew, Ormskirk 

 (Paitridge). Cliitkciis.— First, J. K. Fowler, Arlesbury (Buff Cochins). 

 Second, J. Wright, v. oodbridge. Highly Commended. Ktv. G. Gilbert, 

 Cl,i.xton (Buff;. Commended, Rev. H. Currv. Needham Market (Partridge). 



Game (Black-breasted and other Red*).— First, A. B. Dvas, Madeley. 

 Second, S. Matthews, Ston-market. Thud, J. R. Kersey. Wiiislon (Brown 

 Reds). Chukeiis.— First, J. Fletcher, Manchester (Black Rcda). Second, 

 A. B. Dyas. Highly Commended, S. Matthews (Elack Reds). Commended, 

 S. Matthews. 



