August 1, 1667. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGK GAllDENER. 



89 



keep Pigeons flying with a neighbour's stock one hundred 

 strong, and only 10 yards distant, was clearly impossible; but 

 when a boy sets liis lioart upon anything uilliuullies soon 

 vanish. ^Ve happened to have an unused building tolerably 

 large and liigb, having no coiling, and, boat of uU, \\ith two 

 aides of latticework, to it was light uuJ airy. But how get the 

 consent of the one boys call, I fear irreverently, " Oovernor." 

 I dreaded a talk, for I might be cut short by one severe reply, so 

 I wrote a note, an early etiort of penmauship, I sealed it — by. 

 the-way, in so doing I scorched the paper — and then I laid my 

 note with a trembling hand on my father's desk, whore he would 

 be sure to see and read it just after he had dined ; for I knew 

 oven then that " a hungry man was an angry man," but the same 

 man is a good easy soul when toasting his toes comfortably 

 after a good dinner. Anxiously I watched through a glass door 

 the opening of that note and the reading it, for stay in the 

 room I dared not, but I saw it caused a smile, and took that as 

 a good omen, although, of course, the paternal pocket and 

 corn-bin would of necessity have to be drawn upon. My 

 stratagem succended, and after a little 'oanter about my scorch- 

 ing the letter, I had a hearty ally iu the one to whom I ad- 

 dressed it. and who then and after saved hia boy from much 

 sin by allowing liim to till tlio garden of the old house at 

 home (blesa its old roof-tree and the venerable one whom it yet 

 cover."), with many pets — Lantams, Hawks, Plovers, Eabbits, 

 and at length I'igcons. 



Like most beginners, T went year by year through the gra- 

 dations of common birds, half bred birds, less good fancy 

 Pigeons, andiu my thirdyearlrose to the possession of excellent 

 fancy Pigeons. 



So I began. I kept each pair shut up at night in hutches 

 arranged one above another, in which they also bred. Soon 

 «aoh learnt its home, was readily caught, and by being handled 

 became tame. The Imtches were barred with iron, and so 

 secured from vermin intrusion. During the day the Pigeons 

 flew about the building and came out to a latticed box on the 

 sunny side, in which tliey loved to strut and look out to the 

 expanse of garden. Of an evening when there was a party of 

 young folks, I was accustomed to bring in choice specimens, 

 which were fondled and made much of. Then there were visits 

 to the lofts of other fanciers, and giving or receiving hints. I 

 liked to choose a bright morning in winter for a round of such 

 visita ; then the biids' plumage is in good trim, and themselves 

 lively, and then the Tumblers tumble to perfection. Fanciers 

 differed, some were stupid and bought bad birds at large prices, 

 aome were excellent for one rariety, most were good-natured 

 and readily allowed a boy to see their birds as often as he hkcd, 

 and felt a pleasure in giving pleasure. But there was one cross 

 old curmudgeon (be had the best birds nevertheless), who had 

 to be wheeilied and managed before his loft-door was to be un- 

 locked ; but at length he mounted a short ladder, threw back 

 the door, and revealed the treasures within, revealed them 

 to " my ravished eyes." lie possessed the best Carriers, Black 

 ones ; and Pouters also Black, and the only Almond Tumblers, 

 for ho was a high-class fancier, except that love of eating 

 being his failing, he kept huge Spanish Pamts, and boasted 

 how few it took to make a Tisual-si;;ed pie. 



Years rolled on, and I had to leave home to be trained for 

 the University, at a cathedral grammar school. How I missed 

 my pets need not be told, nor the long letters of inquiry that 

 I wrote about them. Then came college days, and no Pigeons 

 could be allowed within academic walls, though dogs, cats, 

 and even bees were allowed. College days over, I lived for 

 four years in Scotland, just south of the Grampians, in an old 

 house formerly a place of strength and pretension, and finding 

 an old tower suitable, I resumed the fancy. Miles I rode after 

 a certain strain of Tumblers, right from Forfar.^iire into Kin- 

 cardine. Then the Provost of the town near me was an ardent 

 fancier, and being n Baltic merchant imported Pigeons from 

 IJaesia. A worthy Scotch carpenter was another ally of mine, 

 and to him I gave my birds when I left Scotland. Then, again, 

 in Sussex I had my pets, and now lor years in Wilts, I have 

 tended them with undiminished regard. 



Thus I have been connected with the fancy for thirty years, 

 and my experience, bought dearly at first by many mistakes, 

 has been considerable. — Wiltshire Ekctob. 



DRIFFIELD POULTRY SHOW. 



It 13 sotnowbiit snrpriain^; that tbonf^h ponUrv CTluhitions are now 

 so general, most of tiiose which hnve been Ion?* o^tablishcil can bon?t 



Drifijeld, and as the day, though at times threatfniug, proved find, the 

 immber of visitors was vcrj- largo. Most of the fowls, as might ba 

 cxpcctod, were lu very bad condition, but the Ginne were, on tho con- 

 Inirv-, excellent. Strange to say, the Humburr/ki were not cqnal to 

 what they shonUl have been — in fact, it appears tlial Yorkshire ia he- 

 ginnini; to lose its prestige for theao btnotifnl varieties. Tho Turkeys 

 anil 6Vc,-f were nnnsnally good- 



'I'he pens employed ul Driflield are of a very primitive character, 

 being, iu lact, nothing but brown open-work wicker baskets, of the 

 shape of a beo hive, and have evidently seen much Bcrvici;. The 

 anungonieuts for the Fijcuus and Itabbits were nnaauallj exacting, 

 for exhibitors of both were obliged by the rules to find their own 

 baskets, conseqnently a more irret'ular appiaranco than these divisions 

 l)rc3eutcd could scarcely lie imuKined. A few specimens had excellent 

 show-jious, whilst many, both of Itabbits and Pi^^cons, were so cramped 

 up, that oven to move at all was an utter impossibility ; and all were 

 alike in tho open, cntiiely unprotected from the weather. A thoroughly 

 wet day. had it occurred, must have done incalcnlahle damage to 

 many of the more tender breeds. Now that the Driilield Show ia SO 

 well "supported, it would bo adnsatlo for the Committee to procnte 

 some loldiuK exhibition pons, which, independently of doing good 

 service at their own meetings, would very speedily realise the fall 

 outlay if lent on hire. Wo drop this f ricadij lunt, as in poaltry shows, 

 like all other things, progress is expected. 



DonKlxr.s.— First. F. K.iy, Bovorlov. Socond, W. Chorter, Drifflold- 

 IlicMv Couimondcil, Mrs. Dale. Scurborongh. C'lictfm.— Prize, D.White, 

 Driflield. IliKhly Comcnonod, F. Key. Cocl.-.— Prize, G. Holmes. 



Spanish.— First. G, Holmes. Second, O. A. Young. Cock.— Prize, M. 

 Robinson, Cottingham. 



GA5IE (Bl^ekbroasted nnd other Rods). -First and Second. W . Boyes, 

 Beverley. Uommended, J. W. Pickering, Cob-Dale, Pocklington. Vock. 

 — W. Lavcup, Driffield. 



Game (DuckniuK imd other Greys).— First nnd Socontt, \v. Boyles. 

 Cod-.— Prize, J. Laycup. _ ._ ,. 



Gamk (Any other variety).— First, Iteasrs. Tuto * Holmes, DrifflcW. 

 Second, .T. Lnycoek. Coci. — Pri2e, O. Holmes. CTiic';cn«. — Priae, W« 

 Uoves. Hisbly Commended. IX Wool, WiUholmo. Lockiugton. 



Cmiils-CHrSA.— First, T. H. Biirkor, Hovinijhaui, York. Second, O. A, 

 YonniT. CViic.'.en*.— Prize, R. Lnft, Woodmansey. Highly Commended. 

 T. H. Enrker. Cod-.— Prize, T. H. Barker. 



PoiANDS.— Prize. O. A. Youu«. Cotlc—Vrizp. O. A. Y'onne. 



HAMKL-wnis (Golden-spangled).— First, T. Holmes, Driffield. Second, 

 C. Holmes. Commended. .T. BUnch.ird, Driffield. (7o<-*.— Prize, O. A. 

 Youn;j. Commended..!. Blnncbttrd. , /^ -d 



HAinnTRons iSilvcr-t-pfnclcd). — First, G. Holmos. Second, G. K. 

 Young. CocJ.-.- Prize, J. A. Blanchard. ^ _, „. . 



HAiiBi-nons fGolden-poncilled).— First, G. Holmes. Second, W. Charier, 

 Driflield. roc/.-.— Prize. T. Holmes. , „ „ , 



HAMDirsons iSilver-pencUlod).— First, H. Holmes. Second, T. Holmes. 

 Oui-t.- Prize. H. Holmes. , , « 



Hambcrghs (Any other variety).- Prize, H. Holmes. Commended, K. 

 Mosey. Maltnn. 



.VSV OTHKR PCBE AKD DiSTrxCT BnEED NOT PBEVIOl!St.V CI.AB9HD.— 



First, )!. I.oft (Sultan). Second, G. K. Young (Brahma Pootra). Cock.— 

 Prize. K. Loft. . „ .. _ ^. 



FAastvARD Cboss.— First. Tt. Lott. Seconl. G. Robmson, North Froa- 

 ink'bnm. Coct.— Prize. W Wales. NortW FrodinRham. 



B.vxTAMs (Black and White).— First, R- .lessou, Hull (Black). Second. 

 Mrs. Dale (White.i CocV.— Prize, J. R. Jessop. _ ,. „ i 



Bavtams —First, G. Holmes. Second, J. A. BLanchara. Drimold. Cock. 

 —Prize, T. Holmes. .„,,,„ , ,. 



ExTUA PouLTKV. — Extra Prize, W. G. Purdon, Driffield (Spanish 

 Chickens.) ... , , ^ ,. 



Geese.— First nnd Second, Mrs. 0. A. Young, DrifBeld. CotUnijt.— 

 Prize, Mrs. O. A. Yonng. _ _ 



TCRKEYS— First. Mrs. H. Merkin, Jlrifflcld. Second. Mrs. T. Dawson, 

 Poundsworlh, DrilHold. Highly Conlmondad, Mrs. Dale. Poult*.— Prize, 

 Mrs. .Tordan, Eitslbum. . , ,t ,, , . 



GciKEA Fowls— Prize, O. A. Young. Highly Commended, H. Morkin, 

 DrifBeld. „ ,. ^ , 



DrcKs (Aylesbnryl.-Firsl, M. Harrison. Second, O. A. lounR. VueK- 

 lintis. — Prize. M. Harrison. 



Ducks (Uonen).— Second and Commended. Mi-s. Jordan. DucKUngt. — 

 Prize. W. Pierov. Driflield. j i,- t m 



Dicks (Any other variety).— First. J. R. .Tessop. Second, TV. * 1. 

 Hollbv. Rotseo. I)ucWini7«.-^Prize, Mrs. Jordan. „ _ „ 



Pi<;koxs.— CVopiirrs.- Prize, F. Key. Co rriVr,.— Prize, R. Bellamy, 

 I.rven. Boverlev. rriimp^l.m. — Prize. G. H. Stephenson. Beverley. 

 .rur.i'.in..— Prisie, P. Bellamy. Conimonded. F. Key. FnnlniJi.— Priia, 

 S. EllrinRtnn. Woodmansov.Bovcrley. Highly Commended, W. Gofton, 

 Driflield ; J W. Topham, iiainton : J. Train, West Lutton. TuMm.— 

 First nnd Extra, F. Kot. Highly Commended. O. H. Pickering. Drlffleld. 

 Commended. A Wnites. Driflield. Uarl.».— Prize. E. \\aites_ Highly 

 C.)mmfn.ied. J Blancbani. A-|m.. — Prize, C. N. Lytbe, totlmgham. 

 Extra Prize. B. Leason. Drilliold. /(iiy otUcr ranXj.-Prize. J. Marshal , 

 Drifllold (Turhils). Highly Commended, A. Leason, Driflloia (OwU). 

 ComraenJed. R. T^oft. « »- . tt n id 



lUnniTs (Any breed)— First nnd Second. A. H. Easten, Hnll (Pbtob, 

 Grov, and White). Highly Commended, T. Dufliil, BcvcrUy ; J. W. Top- 

 ham', Baiulon. Bitrn.- Extra Prize, A. H. Easten. 



The .Judges were Kdward Hewitt, Esq., of Sparkbrook, near Bir- 

 mingham ; nnd .Tohn Ord Jolly, Esij., of Green Hammertoa, York. 



STOCKTON-ON-TEES POULTRY SHOW. 



The Poultry Show in ccnneotion with tho Dnrham County Agrienl- 

 tnral Society was held at Stockton-on-Tees on Weduetday, .Iniy 24Ui. 

 The prizes otiorud were npon n somewhat hberal scale, bat the cntiiMt 



ox even a greater number of entries than ever. Sacb was the case at ' were not so numerous as might have been expected 



