Jaly 25, 1867. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HORTIOULTORB AND COTTAGE GABDBNEB. 



StronR, active, fierce, fine-boned, and symmetrical bij?b-bred 

 birds uro tlio true cup birds in Game fowls, I buvo only seen 

 one yood liirge bird exhibited yet. — Newmaiiket. 



MANCHESTER AND I.IVEUPOO]. CENTENARY 

 KXHIIJITION. 



OxK hundred years of aso ! Truly it is a great ago, and we 

 heartily wish that the aged individual may survive the throes 

 of th« approuching excitement ; yet surely thcro are most 

 alarming symptoms of second infancy, or even of a more danger- 

 ous Condition. Let us turn to the prize schedule and examine 

 for ourselves. I sent for it in the hope that at one hundred 

 years of age I could surely take a notch or two from it, enter 

 in every iiossible shape, even though I won nothing I I of 

 course nlludo only to the portion that interests us — poultry. I 

 expecteil to Mud a great variety of classes and a faultless 

 schedule. Who would not after the experience of a hundred 

 years '.' 



The Show is for produce of 181)7. To this there is no possible 

 objection ; but the schedule as regards poultry is headed thus : 

 — " By the rules of the Society poultry m'lst be sent in charge 

 of some person to the Show, and who will take charge of and 

 be responsible for it when the Show is over." Such a regula- 

 tion as this must defeat itself. None but the largest poultry 

 breeders could do this ; and if tho attendant is to stop four 

 days in JIanchester, a small portion of the gilt would certainly 

 be taken olT the prize niom>y by his expenses. To carry out 

 this regulation would, I imagine, greatly limit the entries. 

 Such an idea would seem to have presented itself totheframers 

 of the prize list, as there is an addition that " there will be an 

 assistant appointed to receive," etc. For this, however, every 

 exhibitor will have to pay " 2,>-. per pen extra ! " Now. I con- 

 tend that to place all exhibitors on equal terms, no servant or 

 person in charge of poultry should have access to the interior 

 of the Exhibition until after the .Tudges have awarded the 

 prizes. The less wealthy exhibitors should have an equal 

 chance, and there is a variety of ways in which an interested 

 party c;in improve bis position if ho have access to the interior 

 of the Kxhibition, and yet not mean to act in any way dis- 

 honestly. The above position is, I believe, sound, and would 

 meet tho views of the great body of exhibitors. 



The prizes are liberal, but at many even of the minor exhi- 

 bitions — tho Basingstoke Agricultural, for example, Brahmasare 

 divided into Light and Dark. At this grand centenary in the 

 year of grace I8C,7 they are exhibited together, although Dork- 

 ings have ten and (iame fifteen prizes ; but, as though insnlt 

 must be added to injury, this, now most decidedly one of the 

 very popular breeds in tho country, and one that is entered 

 more than respectably at every exhibition, is offered smaller 

 prizes. 



This, however, is not tho great blot of the " centenary 

 schedule." Will any north-country breeder believe the evi- 

 dence of his senses when he finds that there is no class cither 

 for (iiild or Silver-spangled Hambnrghs? To make amends 

 for this, there is a class and equal money offered to Black 

 Haniliurghs. \YeIl, I do not doubt that many exhibitors of 

 the French breeds expected, and, I confesi', with justice, classes 

 for these fowls. Where are they? Echo answers, "Where?" 

 These. Spangled Hambnrghs, Malays, &c., have three compa- 

 ratively small prizes offered between them ! 



I eIso regret very much the two bens necessary for a pen ; 

 there is no question that it will lessen the entries. Tho single 

 hen is now becoming the rule and not the exception, and all, 

 the poor birds included, rejoice at it ; but when we arrive at 

 our liundredth year perhaps we may see differently. 



I will only notice one of the concluding regulations — "All 

 pens will be disqualified if the plumage of the birds shall have 

 been trimmed," <tc. How will the Game and Spanish enjoy 

 the thorough carrying out of this rule ? 



I enn only add that I trust the centenary of many other 

 societies may be attended with a prize schedule more in accord- 

 ance with the requirements of tho day than is that of the grand 

 centenary, in which I doubt not many other breeders as well 

 as I have been so grievously disappointed. — Y. B. \. Z. 



the prelude, I trust, to many annual exhibitions, and I hope it 

 will be well supported by fanciers in the southern and wetftern 

 counties. The eohedales and forms of entry will soon be in 

 print.— Y. B. A. Z. 



Pon.Tr.v Snow at Weston-sppek-Matis. — I think I may 

 state nn tolerably certain authority that there is to be a poultry 

 «how in connection with the horticultural exhibition at Weston- 

 super-Mare about the ir>th of August. It is a first attempt. 



POULTRY AT THE ROYAI^ AGRICULTURAL 

 SHOW AT BURY ST. EDMUNDS. 



'• TnKRP. always in sonuthing, I declare," says Mrs. Baldtrstone, 

 " whenever I make op my luiud to enjoy myaelf." So there was at 

 Bury St. Kdmuiidii. Wo went down with tho past aUve in our memo- 

 ries. Tht- goodly row of jii.ns wull tenanted te^tiiicd to the desire of 

 the t-Ute to gain one ..f thesKoyal prizes. Wo thought of what we had 

 so often scon— the luighty collection of stock and implements ; tho 

 urbane, practifird. and etheient staff; tho daily growing number of 

 viyitors ; uud the hot but pleasant snmmcr weather that made a ro- 

 treat nuder canvas very desirable from time to time. These luldcd to 

 the spocc enclosed, and the facilities for obtaining everything that 

 was ueeded, gave it the character of a/tfe t:kainp<'trr held in an en- 

 closed park. Sunday gave an earnest of the weather to be expected 

 at liury. All tho clemeuts were let loose; wind, thunder, and light* 

 ning. ruin. hail, and tempest. Streets were converted into rivers, and 

 hailstones had to be shovelled oil" roofs and out of gutters. There 

 was comfort in the idea that it would probably clear off and ensure 

 Hue weather. We ventured to say so to one of the '" oldest inhabitants " 

 whom we met while wo were strolling about the churchyard ; bnt he 

 answered ns rather testdy. " Ah ! " said he, " you don t know Bury. 

 There never was a line day yet for a public meeting;, or for a pabUc 

 occasion of any kind." We were discouraged, and thought wo would 

 (juietly pass on ; we essayed to do so, but were not lot off so easily; 

 the old inhabitant gave chase, overtook us, and touching our elbow, 

 said, " It will be a wet week ; 1 11 bet anything of it.' He was right 

 in this instance ; we had most abominable weather, casting gloom over 

 that which otherwise would have been a charming treat. 



The locality was well chosen, being separated only by the river from 

 the Abbey gardens. A most essential point that cannot be over-nUed 

 was here attained : it was close to two railway stations. It was a very 

 beautiful sight from tho railway on the road to Ipswich. The long 

 rows of covered sheds filled with stock or implements, the different 

 tents and offices gaily decorated with tho colours of all the nations 

 that ever were and those that have never existed. The long rowg of 

 stabling, and the circus or ring in ivhich the horses of different broods 

 showed their proficiencv in their varied characteristics, and last, not 

 least, the poultry. Beyond this the bcautifnl Abbey gardens and the 

 extensive gi-ound still nearly encircled by tho remains of this noble 

 pile. We doubt not if such institutions were still extant wo should 

 find the inmates among our best poultry amateurs and exhibitors. 

 Throughout tho Continent, at all the largo monastei-ics. Pheasants, 

 fowls, and Kabbits are bred by tho brethren, and we are in a position 

 to athrm they are clever and successful in the pursuit. 



Wo are bound to thonk tho Itoyal Agricultural Society of England 

 for again calling the attention of those whom they most seek to 

 benefit to the merits of poultry. Hundreds in Surrey. Sussex, and Kent 

 for fowls, Bucks and Oson for Ducks, may tell of the large sums 

 they have received this year. For weeks (i.<. each was an average 

 price for both ; exceptions in favour of a higher price were common, 

 and even the ill-fed and worsobred Irish chickens sold at 'As. each. 

 Fowls arc not extravagant eaters, they are not expensive to rear, half 

 the food they consume would be wasted if they did not eat it. Eggs 

 alono will pay for their food. They are vigorous destroyers of all 

 gi'ubs, worms, and other creepers on the surface of the earth. They 

 search for and devour those that hide and burrow boueath it. Th»y 

 are always turning over tho surface. The time must come when an 

 effort will bo made to keep at home the nkillions that are sent abroad, 

 and it will be effected by the instrumentality of such societies as this. 



The first class was that for Coloured Dui'l-iu;is, numerous and good. 

 In this, as in many other classes, the good feather of the birds was 

 remarkable ; considering that many regard the north of Kngland lu nn- 

 favourablc for this breed, it is astonishing how many first prizes in tha 

 teeth of great competition with the south go into those parts. The first 

 prize went to Stoffordshire ; tho second and third stayed nearer home, 

 they went into Essex. The show of chickens was wonderful consider- 

 ing the season. The prizes went to Sussex, Essex, and Bucks. In 

 these we have iigain to remark on the carelessness that seems to guide 

 tho choice of exhibitors when they take birds with legs that almost 

 amount to deformity. Twenty-eight liens of good dark lirahmas 

 justified the prizes offered for theui. We .an speak highly of them. 

 They answered the call of the Society fr. m all parts. In proof thereof, 

 we notice the first prize went to Ireland, tho second to Aberdeen, the 

 third to Yorkshire. Light Brahmas, fewer ia numbers, took prizes to 

 Surrey, Essex, and Kent. 



Tho Buff Corliiiis pnt us in mind in numbers and ijuality of the 

 olden times. There wore beautiful birds among them. Shetfield had 

 the first, Birmingham the second, and F.ssox took tlie third. These birds 

 were in capital feather; they were also honestly shown. In other 

 Cochins the Grouse were better than the White ; some of the former 

 were excoUont. 



Crrve Cfur and Lo Flr'ehf came to ns from France with the r«p«- 

 tation of being marrelloas layers, also excellent fur the table. The 



