December 19, 1B»7. 1 



JOURNAL OF HOaTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



469 



I eKaminoJ her back, aud am quite certain I was correct. I 

 think I convineoil tlie attendant I was right. I must, therefore, 

 now leave others to judge of the value and ju.stice of my remarks, 

 aud apologise for occupying so much space for personal defence. 



As to " ExHiniToit'.s " proposal to leave out the judging of 

 certain classes when there is no time, itc, I feel certain he 

 will hardly find nuv exhibitor to second it. ^^y own propo- 

 sition, which Mr. Hewitt kindly noticed, was intended rather 

 to avoid groat errors, aud need not occupy much time. Shall 

 I add that to Mr. Hewitt, more than any other judge, we must 

 look for the correction of the grievous fault of wasting the 

 time of judging by waiting " for late pens?" This is either the 

 fault of the exhibitor or the rail. In the former case, exclu- 

 sion from competition is a just punishment. In the latter case, 

 damages might, I fancy, be obtained. At any rate it is not 

 justice on the part of the Committee to favour one exhibitor 

 at the expense of those who have complied with the regulations. 

 I think all too-late pens should be so ticketed during the .show. 

 Committees owe so much to Mr. Hewitt, that I think he may 

 fairly fay he will not undertake the post unless the time is 

 strictly adhered to. 



A few words to "Delta." Every breeder will agree with 

 the truth and justice of his remarks, but it may be fairly said 

 that birds deficient in an important member must, if exhibited, 

 stand a soiry chance against those that possess the member, 

 especially when the loss of the member may serve to hide 

 other defects. It is quite possible that the pen I alluded to, 

 Mr. Mapplebeck's, might h.ave been first the week previous. 

 The corupetitors might have been fewer, and other things 

 might have influenced the decision. I greatly regretted their 

 po.sition at Bristol, for I thought them a most splendid pair; 

 liut perhaps that is one of my errors, and I know nothing about 

 it.— Y. E. A. Z. 



BTtonNGHAM SUMMER POULTRY SHOW. 



The success of the Show just past should suggest to the 

 Birmingham Committee the question of a Summer Exhibition, 

 say at the same time as the Horse and Hound Show. I'rom 

 conversation with some of the exhibitors, I am led to believe it 

 would be largely aud greatly patronised by them. — Exhieitok. 



LIGHT BRAHMA POOTRAS. 



I VENTCKK to address you on behalf of my old and valued 

 friends the Light Brahmas. 



It seems to me to be rather hard for Light Brahmas that the 

 silver cups offered at Shows (to both varieties) are invariably 

 awarded to the Dark. I know an instance of a Light Brahma 

 cock belonging to a friend of mine winning eleven first prizes, 

 and though in most of these victories be competed for a cup, he 

 never had one awarded to him. If the judges are determined 

 to give the cups always to the Dark let the Committees honestly 

 say, "the Light having no chance against the Dark ; we will 

 increase the number of prizes offered to the Light, and not put 

 them in competition for a cup they have no chance of winning ;" 

 or, better still, let them offer a cup to both varieties. 



I write thus strongly as I am an exhibitor of both varieties, 

 and I am not aware of a single instance of the Light triumphing 

 over the Dark. — Aluert 0. Wokthisctox, Xeu-ton Park, 

 Biirtou-on-Trent. 



GAME COCK MUXn^ATED. 



I FEEL confident of your sympathy and moral support in 

 exposing a most flagrant act perpetrated upon the Black Bed 

 Game cockerel, shown in pen No. 13;t.3, at the recent Birming- 

 ham Exhibition of poultry. The cockerel has had, previously 

 to his being returned home, both sickle feathers cut off about 

 1 inch shorter than the upright tail feathers. They have been 

 cut with a sharp knife, and by an expert hand. I judge no 

 man, but suspect the motive must have been selfishness. To 

 secure a better chance for the Manchester cup it was deemed 

 expedient to place this bird — a dangerous opponent, hors df 

 roniltiit. 



I ask for the sympathy of all honest exhibitors of poultry, 

 and with their moral support I will endeavour to counteract 

 the evil design of the base person who did, or caused to be 

 done, this vile act. I will exhibit the bird, all being well, at 

 the forthcoming Manchester show in his mutilated state, bat 

 otherwise with his inherent tine characteristics of an English 

 thorough-bred Game cock still present, both in hand and out 



of it, and rely vrith perfect confidence on the honourable feeling 

 of the Messrs. .Jennison to instruct their appointed judges of 

 Game fowl, not to depreciate the natural fine quality of u bird 

 they find disfigured for the present only through the wilful 

 act of a jealous opponent. 



Failure in the object intended, together with tho risk of 

 detection, is, I believe, the best method of putting a stop to 

 such abominable practices for the future. 



Tho bird is sufliciently well-known to all parties interested 

 to be at once recognised as tho winner of second honours both 

 at Bristol and Birmingham this year, where his sickle feathers 

 wero perfectly sound and free from fault. — TnoM.is O'Gbajjy, 

 lloijnuslon f'icaraije. 



[We fully sympathise with Mr. O'Grady, and the Birming- 

 ham Committee will do well to trace as far as they can into 

 whose hands the bird was last passed unmutilated. "We think 

 it would not be safe for judges to award prizes to mutilated 

 birds. It would open a wide door for the entrance of decep- 

 tion. — Eds. J 



ASHFORD POULTRY SHO^V. 



Decembeh 10th and IIth. 

 Thk entries last year were under ISO, this year they were over 300 ; 

 and the Show contained, besides, a larj^eunmber of Pheasaut3, Pigeons, 

 and specimens of useful and fancy poultry. The interest taken in the 

 Show by the public has vastly increased, and we should think the pro- 

 moters of the Show could hardly have auticipated so great a success. 



The Dorkiug.'i were again veiy strong, and the merit possessed by 

 some of them was, we should imagine, almost unsurpassable. Tho 

 famed Goodnestone breed of liriJgcs Plumjitre, Esq.. and the Saadling 

 fowls of Col. Deedes this time took first honours, nud well they de- 

 served the awards. \V. Stuttield, Esq., aud F. W. Pittock, Esq., had 

 also entries which were highly commended. Some of the adult 

 Dorkin'j cocks probably weighed about 13 lbs. each, and the cockerels 

 about 9 lbs. each. The Gamf breeds were well represented, there 

 being upwards of fifty entries in this class, and several new names 

 appeared on the list, notably that of 3Ir. .James .Jeken. of Eltham, 

 who gained four first prizes, and E. K. Rice, Esq., of Tilmanstoue. 

 The former gentleman eihibited some of the most e.xquisite types of 

 the breed in the Black and Red-breasted varieties that we have ever 

 seen ; and the latter gentleman sent most beautiful specimens of Duck- 

 wing Game fowl. Many of the entries in this class were highly com- 

 mended, the Black-breasted chickens being noted by the .Judge as 

 particularly good. Captain Lambert's Rlue and Dun Pile birds 

 attracted much notice by the beauty of their plumage. The Cochins 

 were considered by the Judge to be the best class in the show. Some 

 of the birds were very beautiful in colour, particularly the Partridge 

 variety exhibited by Mr. Phillips. The Spani.ih fowls were not so 

 numerously represented as others ; but the chickens exhibited by Mr. 

 Cork, of Maidstone, were admirable types of the breed. The Brahnm 

 Piiotra-H were for the most part ver}' choice birds. The Hamhurfihs the 

 Judge did not consider to be good, although there were thirty pens of 

 these " everlasting layers." Mr. C. Havers, of Ingatestonc, Esses, 

 came in for three first premiums ; Mr. Spice, of Kennington. taking 

 two seconds this year; and Miss Chesshyre, of Canterbory, took a 

 first prize for SUver Hamburgh chickens. Among the fancy va- 

 rieties the pens of Crire Caur, IlouiJim, and La Fhcl>e fowls exhi- 

 bited by Colonel Stuart Wortley were particularly admired by con- 

 noisseurs. Mr. Bootbhy gained a first prize for a pen of Golden 

 Fnlish fowls, and he had a i>en of Silver ones which the Judge con- 

 sidered so good that the Committee voted them an extra prize ; Mr. 

 Kipping, of Bearstead, having taken tho second. Mr. Pittocks PoUah 

 chickens obtained a first prize ; but the M'hite-crested ones exhibited 

 by Mr. Ledger attracted great notice from their grotesque appearance. 

 There was a large collection of llmif-niis. including most of the known 

 varieties, and many were very beautiful. The pen of SilM' Bantams 

 exhibited by Mr. Foord, of WestweU, were much admired ; their 

 ycUowish-white glossy plumage being very remarkable. 



Mr. W. F. Harvey, of Chartham, exhibited some verj- fine Aylesbury 

 Ducks, and Mr. Barnard, game-keeper. Hemsted, a pen of excellent 

 Painted Ducks. W. Stntfield, Esq., of Mjstole. was not so success- 

 ful as last year. The Qe^se wero poor in qnahty ; the Tin-b'ijs were 

 placed in rather an unfortunate position and could not be seen to 

 advantage. Among the extra poultry were two pens of a peculiar 

 variety of tho Wood Pheasant, exhibited by Sir C. Honywood. There 

 were also Guinea Fowls, Fancy Pheasants, and most of the known 

 breeds of Pigeons. The following is the list of prizes : — 



DoKKiN.iS (Coloured).— First, Col. Deedes. Sandling Park. Second, B. 

 Plumplre, O.iodnestone, Wingham. Third, I. Bates, Ivycburch. Fourth, 

 W. Stutacld, Mvstijle, Canterbury. Chicketu.—F'iTit, Second, and Third, 

 B. Plumptro. Fourth, F. W. Pittock, Scllindge. Fifth, F. Kipping, Bear- 

 sted. Commended, E. Rice, Tilmnnstone; F. W. Pittock ; W. Stutfield. 

 Cocl;.—FiTat, F. \V. Pittock. Second, B. Plomptre. Commended, T. 

 Perkins, Willesborongh. 



DoBKt>o (White).— First. — Butter, Aahford. Second, H. Harms, Ash- 

 ford. c'/iicHrtnu.- First, R. J. Andrews, AshJord. Second, Mrs. L. Brent, 

 Buxted, near Uckfield. 

 Si' AStsH.— Prize, Lady Kuatchbnll, Mcrsbam Hatch. CTiicVcnj.— Firs 



