414 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 23, 1867. 



Antwerps.— Coets. — Cup, First nnd Second. J. Bradley. Third, H- 

 Noyt'. Extra Third, J. Edge. Highly Commended, J, Ludlow ; J. Bradley > 



.Barnes. 



TuKBiTS (Single Birds).— First and Second, C. Barnes. 



English Owls (Single Birds).— First, C. Barnes. Second, J. Edge. 



Tumblers (Lonti-mufied. Single Birds).— First and Second, E. D. Care- 

 less. Third and Highly Commended, J. Edge. 



Any other Variety (Single Birds). — First, Second, and Extra Third, 

 H, Noye (Satinette, Brunette, and Satinette Tail Owlj. Third, C. Barnes 

 (Satinette). 



POULTRY AND PIGEONS AT THE BPJSTOL 

 SHOW. 



The morning of "Wednesday, November 6th, found me at the Bristol 

 station — the hnest November moruing I ever remember. If the 

 almanack had said September, the eyes and feelings would have en- 

 dorsed that statement, so bright and mild was the day. 



Before going up to the Poultry Show, I turn to the left and tliread 

 tlie narrow old-world streets of Bristol — not over-clean streets, but 

 highly interesting, speaking to us through their steep-gables and over- 

 hanging iirst-tioors of long-past years. I am bent on my usual pil- 

 grimage to St. Mary's Eedcliife Church. Fancy being in Bristol and 

 not going to see its principal ornament. This fine old ecclesiastical 

 structure has now been many years in course of restoration, but so 

 large is it, and the stoue in such a honeycombed crumbling condition, 

 that for some years the progress made seemed as nothing to the eye, 

 for the old stone had to be replaced by new. Now, however, resto- 

 ration has grown beyond decay. At least, there are three portions, the 

 old crumbling part looking as ever, especially the tower with its well- 

 known stump of spire, the spire to within a few feet of its base having 

 been blown down ; then there is the part restored a few years since, 

 bnt which Bristol air and smoke have discoloured ; aud the newly- 

 restored porfion looking fresh aud clean. What a compound — very 

 old. rather new, and quite new ! I enter and the morning service is 

 being chanted in one of the chapels at the east end, and as I stand in 

 the nave the hoys' voices, best of voices, charm me with their sweet- 

 ness, while the bright sunshine is streaming through the painted win- 

 dows, aud casting their colours ou arch aud pillar. I think of the 

 lines of Keats, in which he describes the lady kneeling beneath such a 

 ■window. 



*' All diamonded with panes of quaint device, 

 Innumerable, of stains and sijlendid dyes. 

 And iu the midst 'mong thousand heraldries 

 And twilight saints, and dim emblazonings." 



And how the moon-light 



" Threw warm gules on Madeline's fair breast. 

 As down she knelt for Heaven's grace and boon, 

 Rose-bloom fell ou her hands, together press'd, 

 And on her silver cross soft amethyst, 

 And on her hair a glory like a saint ; 

 She seemed a siilendid angel newly drest, 

 Save wings, for Heaven." 



Staying for the last chanted "Gloria," I, as the voices die away 

 down the aisles, walk slowly out of this, the finest church the west of 

 England can show, aud am back again iu the busy, bustliug, common 

 ■world of Bristol streets. What a contrast! What a contrast ! 



A quick walk of a mile or more and I was at my quarters of last 

 year, the Kitlc Drill Hall, but what different weather ! Then snow 

 and frost, now clean paths and sunshine. After tntrance-fee i? paid 

 (a heavy fee, being half-a-crown), and catalogue bought, I make a 

 hasty tour all round, to get an idea of the whole, a sort of bird's-eye 

 view of the birds, a bird's-eye view from its general impression, but 

 not from the height of the beholder. 



There were above six hundred pens of poultry, and nearly two 

 hundred pens of Pigeons. Of the former I shall not speak very par- 

 ticularly, but the Pigeons, being strangers ou their first visit, shall be 

 noticed fully. The fowls were, save the Bantams, chickens of this 

 year. Mrs. Arkwright carried off the Dorldng cup, and Mr. Tudman 

 that for Cochins (Partridge). The White Cochins were numerous and 

 ' pretty, and I was delighted to see a pen of Blacks, which was so 

 good as to obtain a first prize. The Game classes were not so brilliant 

 as usual, although Mr. i'letcher secured the cup for the best pen of 

 birds in tlie Show. It was a near ruu between his pen and Mr. 

 Parsley's Spanish. I prcfen-ed the latter. Mr. Boyle's first and cup 

 Brahma cock is a superb bird ; and the first pen of Light Brahmas, 

 Mr. Herbert's, was greatly admired. Of the Hambnrghs, the -largest 

 entry was the Silver-spangled, surely the prettiest of all Hamburghs. 

 The Polish aud French were not, I think, so good as last year. The 

 Bantams were up to the mark. I was very pleased to see a full 

 entry of Sebrights, as to feather the most beautiful of all fowls. 

 People with small premises should take up this fancy. Among other 

 classes of Bautams appeared some quaint-looking Pekins, and odd- 

 looking Japanese, the former, Mr. Cope's, being very good. 



I now turn to the Pigeons, which, appearing for the first time, deserve 

 especial notice. Perhaps they were the most numerous and the best 

 birds that have ever been shown. The Carriers were a good and 

 strong class, in number twenty-eight pens ; Black birds had the first 

 prize and cup. The Pouters were even abetter class ; the Judges said 

 *' An excellent class," and they were right. Out of the fifteen pens 

 there was not a bad one, for not only were the prize birds excellent, 



but the commended ones, witness Mr. Heath's White, were very good* 

 Almond Tumblers, ten pens. Such little round heads, such stops and 

 colour. In the Tumblers, of any variety, Mr. Stewart was first, as in 

 Pouters. 



The Bants were as usual now-a-days, all Blue or Silver. The Jaco- 

 bins were good; among them I was glad to see a pair of Blacks. The 

 Fantails were veiy excellent, but, if I remember, the White took all 

 the prizes. Mr. Baily shuwed some imported Yellows. Trumpeters, 

 nine pens. Nest the lovely, most lovely. African Owls. No one could 

 look at the first-prize birds without admiration, and they took the cup 

 from the Tumblers, Runts, Jacobins, Fantails, Nuns, Turbits, Barbs, 

 Dragons, and Auy other variety class. They belong to Mr. Joshua 

 Fielding. While delighting in the African Fairies, let me observe, 

 that the old English Owl ought to have a separate class. The Powder- 

 blue Owl is one of the very prettiest of all Pigeons, and the little 

 foreigner ought not to cause the English bird to be dismissed from 

 our Pigeon shows. Let them share a class or share the money devoted 

 to Owls. 



Next came the Nuns, which I also much admired. The first prize 

 ones. Mr. C. Bulpin's, were admirable, as also his second prize. Next, 

 Turbits; then Barbs, a very large enti*y — viz., nineteen, and only one 

 bad pen. They presented a fine array of broad heads, short beaks, 

 and well-wattled eyes. The Barb is a charming Pigeon, aud although 

 various colours are attainable, the Blacks are always the best. 

 Draf/oonSy happily not in this catalogue, as often vulgarly printed 

 Dra.'joi(S. Our ancestors had Horsemen, heavy bii'ds ; then Dragoons, 

 lighter bii-ds. I liked Mr. Crossley's second prize Blues better 

 than the first prize. The Whites of Mr. Pigeon which were highly 

 commended, were veiy pretty and good. The "Any other distinct 

 variety class " consisted principally of German Toys, but there was a 

 good pair of Frillbacks, an ancient Toy, which from its singularity 

 always pleased. The pair shown at Bristol exactly resembled those 

 described by Girton ; they were white, well-frilled, and Hunt-like, 

 though smaller. There were eight pairs of good Terns or Sea- 

 Swallows, improperly, through generally, raerely called Swallows. A 

 rare New Zealand Parrot completed this admirably -arranged and 

 beautiful Show, which we, in the west of England, hope will be 

 annual. 



I have no single fault to find, I only suggest iu regard to the Pigeon 

 pens, that where there are two rows together, the numbers should ran in 

 order, not the lower row one way and tlie upper auother, which neces- 

 sitates a constant turning over of the catalogue. The prizes being 

 printed in the catalogue was a great convenience. The riifrtishments, 

 as last year, were good aud reasonable in price. How different to the 

 Bath and West of England Shows, where I always get bad food, bad 

 waiting, and abominably dear. 



The Show at Bristol will, no doubt, increase the love of Pigeons in 

 the west of England. One pleasing fact I must record and then con- 

 clude. The Show closed at ten os^lock on Friday night, and at a few 

 minutes past live the next moi-uing, all the distant birds were at the 

 station, aud by half-past eight o'clock the whole of the eight hundred 

 and odd pens of poultry- aud Pigeons were at the station. Well done, 

 active, business-like, and careful Bristolians ! — Wiltshire Kector. 



THE SOMERSET COUNTY POULTRY 

 ASSOCIATION. 



This Society offers a splendid programme. Never did an Exhibi- 

 tion grow more rapidly, may its growth prove sure. During the summer 

 of this year Weston-super-Mare held its first show, a very modest 

 beginning, but its present venture means to bid high for the lead 

 as a Southern show. 



The classes at Weston are chiefly composed of a cock and one hen. 

 Thus, Spanish, Coloured Dorkings, Dark and Light Brahmas, have 

 each a class for aged birds, and a class for produce of 1807, with three 

 prizes — £3, £2, and £1. In the case of Light Brahmas, the chicken 

 prizes, whether iutentionall}' or by accident, are £'2, 30s., and 20s. 

 White Dorkings (any age) : Buff Cochins. Partridge Cochins, and 

 AVhite Cochins {over one year) ; Black-breasted and other Red Game, 

 Duckwings and other Greys, and Game Any other variety (all 

 over one year), have in each case three prizes of the same value 

 as Spanish and Dorkings. Cochin produce of 18G7, cockerel and 

 one pullet (any variety), and Game produce 18l>7 (any variety), have 

 to compete together ; aud four prizes are offered to each breed — 

 viz., £3, £2, 30.^", and 20.s-. The five varieties of Hamburghs (any 

 age) ; White-crested Black Polands (any age), aud Gold or Silver 

 Polands (any age) — a marked improvement this division to Bristol — 

 aud Freuch fowls (any age) have each three pnzes £2, 30s., and 20s, 

 *' Any other distinct variety " is most liberally dealt %ritb. This is a 

 curious class ; at Bristol, for instance, veiy poorly represented, but at 

 Salisbury last year a class that if I write correctly received and deserved 

 several extra prizes ; well Weston-super-Mare offers two first prizes, 

 each £3, two second, £2, two third, 20*-., two fourth. Ids. ; this is most 

 liberal and ought to bring together a splendid motley group, but, it is 

 an example that our great grandmother Birmingham might imitate. 

 Then come Game Bantams, the Reds with prizes equal to the Dork- 

 ings, the Duckwings to the Hamburghs ; Gold or Silver-laccd, and any 

 other variety having classes and similar prizes. Then a class for cot- 

 tagers only, entrance 2a\, for any variety of cross-bred fowls, three 



