238 



JOUBNAL OF HOETICtJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



[ March 28, 1867. 



from two first-rate hens put to a first-rate full-grovm cook in a 

 good !;iass run. 



It phould be recollected in breeding Game fowls that the 

 relationship as to blood stands as follows — viz.: — 



1st, Brown Eeds, Dark Birchens, Dark Greys, and the dark 

 or gipsy-faced Blacks are all closely allied in blood, and are all 

 dark-combed or dark-faced birds, and all from one origin, that 

 of the Brown Eeds, which is their original colour. 



_2nd, That all the red-ej-ed breeds are closely related, all 

 originating from red-eyed Black-breasted Eeds, and red-eyed 

 Gingers. 



3rd, That all yellow or daw-eyed breeds and strains are 

 closely aUied iu blood of whatever colour, they are all springing 

 from the yellow-eyed Gingers originally. 



The colours of the eyes are not sufliciently looked to by most 

 breeders, who do not seem to be aware that this is the very 

 best criterion of the difference in blood of all. No good cross 

 can result from breeding different colours of eyes together, 

 too much difference existing for the blood to amalgamate pro- 

 perly, as may be seen on trial for experiment. — Newmabket. 



BEINDLEY'S INCUBATOIl. 



I HAVE no wish to enter into a controversy with Col. Stuart 

 Wortley about the supposed merits of his nesv incubator or the 

 supposed demerits of my own ; but in justification of my pre- 

 ■vious remarks iu the Journal, perhaps you will allow me space 

 to quote from aletter which I have to-dayreceived from St. John 

 Coventry, Esq., to whom I supplied an incubator some six or 

 seven weeks ago. I could adduce further letters, but this one 

 shall suflice. — John Brindlet. 



" Mr. St. John Coventry is glad to say he finds the incubator 

 work perfectly, only requiring a little attention, and less as one 

 understands the working of the machine. The last few days 

 have been a very trying time for incubators, the thermometer 

 varying from .SO" to 50° ; and by a very little management of 

 lamp, &o., he has kept his incubator at 100°, not varying during 

 this changeable weather 2°.—Wimborne, March 25th." 



were the original breeders so long struggled for. I am aware 

 I have been sometimes beaten this season because of my 

 strong prejudices as to colour, but I feel confident that in the 

 end I shall prove to be right. I seldom trespass on your 

 columns, but this question now assumes some impoltauce, and 

 now that I have had my say, 1 shall not trouble you on the 

 subject again. — J. K. Fowlek, Prcbcndal Farm, AijU^hunj. 



DAEK BRAHMA POOTRAS. 



As I was one of the earliest breeders of these excellent 

 fowls, and one who in the early days of their recognition in our 

 prize lists, exhibited constantly, and, as the records of your valu- 

 able paper will show, with pretty fair average success, I wish 

 to make a few remarks upon the question of colour. I am 

 aware that my views will be attacked, as they are diametrically 

 opposed to those of "Nemo," " Y. B. A. Z.," and all of the 

 writers on this subject ; but I am quite sure that these are all 

 wrong in advocating the dark breasts of pullets, and the black 

 breasts and thighs of cocks ; and how Mr. Lacy and his sup- 

 porters can contend that brown is the proper ground colour, I 

 am at a loss to conceive. 



I forget the year of the Anerley Show, but I was a young and 

 a very successful exhibitor at that place ; I do not think I ex- 

 hibited Brahmas, but one of the best breeders at that time 

 complained of the decision of the Judge, and thought his 

 Brahmas the best ever exhibited. Mr. Hewitt was the Judge, 

 and he called myself and several others round him, showed us 

 some feathers pulled from the breasts of the disappointed 

 exhibitor's birds, laid them on a white sheet of paper, and said, 

 " Why, they are almost as brown as a Cochin's ! It is useless 

 to show birds with any strain of brown in the ground colour, and 

 I have, of course, passed them over." I mention this to show 

 that in our early days we aimed at a beautiful silvery-grey hue, 

 and in all my early pullets I am glad to say I still continue it. 

 After the first moult, however, they gradually become browner ; 

 I, therefore, persist in saying, the breast of pullets should be 

 a Ught silvery grey, thoroughly and delicately pencilled with 

 black, and rising almost to white in the throat. If our breeders 

 would aim at this, and not at obtaining dark-pencilled breasts, 

 they would not be so apt to get brown patches on the wings of 

 the cockerels. I also think it desirable to have a well-spangled 

 breast on a jet black ground for the cock in preference to a full 

 black breast. 



I am confident that the brown shade has l,een imported into 

 the Brahmas during the last few years by an attempt to cross 

 with a Partridge Cochin. I, therefore, mean to adhere to my 

 original strain, and I feel sure breeders will continue to come 

 to me, as they do now, for my birds, as they find they are 

 losing that silvery-white ground colour which all of us who 



HATCHING BY AN INCUBATOR. 

 A FEiEND of my mine last year had an incubator which 

 proved quite unsuccessful, independently of its causing great 

 loES of time and annoyance by its non-success. Probably he 

 might have failed to carry out all the instructions, though I 

 am fully aware he did his best to adhere to them. I should 

 feel obliged if some of your numerous readers would give 

 detailed accounts of incubators where their use has been at- 

 tended with success, and answer the following questions : — 



1, Will the dry heat from an incubator prove as beneficial 

 as natural means ? 



2, Are the chickens when hatched by this artificial means 

 as strong in constitution and as sound iu feather as those 

 hatched by natural means ? 



o. Do those birds hatched by incubators — viz., Hamburghs, 

 Polands, and Game, whose chief merits depend upon correct 

 colour of feather when adults, display the same feathering as 

 when natural means have been employed ? — TnnoB. 



MELROSE POULTRY SHOAV. 



This Show, held in Melrose Corn Exchanj^e on tbe 21st and 22nd 

 inst., was most successful iu every respect, there bein^ nearly 

 250 entries, and the hall of the Exchange, was on both days crowded 

 with visitors. 



Dorkings. — First, T. L. Jackson, Bush Ewes. Second. Lord Binning, 

 Mellerstain, Kelso. Third, J. White, Warlaby. Northallerton, Yorkshire. 

 Highly Commended, T. Raines, Bridgehaugh, Stirling. Oomuiended, 

 Coimtess de FlahauJt ; Lord Binuing. 



Spanish.— First, J. Thresh, Bradford, Yorkshire. Second, blaster A. 

 Redpath, Edinburgh. Highly Commended, W, Paterson, Langholm. 

 Commended, D. Wnngh, Melrose. 



Cochin-Crina. — First. E. A. Aglionby. Esthwaite Lodge, Hawkshead. 

 Second, W. R. Park, Abbotsmeadow. Highly Commended, E. A. .Aglionby. 

 Commended, Mrs. Dickens, Cornhill ; Mrs. Waugh. Castlehili. Lochmaben. 



Brahma Pootras. — First, D. Annan, Torr of Moonzie. Fife. Second, 

 E. A. Aglionby. Highly Commended, Mrs. Waugh ; C. Peaye, Southend, 

 Darlington. 



Game. — First, Lord Binning. Second, D. Gellatler, Meigle. Highly 

 Commanded, W. Eiddell, Newton. St. Bosivclls ; .J. Brough, Carlisle ; W. 

 Tait, Heatherlie, Selltirk; Lord Binning; W. Easton, Canongate, Jed- 

 burgh ; J. J. ^Vilson, Darlington ; W. Mabon, Jedburgh. Cummended, 

 "W. Easton. 



Ha:\iburghs (Pencilled'. — First, H. Pickles, jun., Earby, uenr Skipton. 

 Second, W. R. Park. Highly Commended. T. J. Harrison, Singleton Park, 

 Kendal. Commended. P. T. Paterson, Langholm ; T. .J. Harrison ; G. 

 Walker, Selkirk ; W. Smith, Ainderhy Steeple, Northallerton ; T. Mnsgrave, 

 Liingtuivn. 



Hamburghs (Spangled). — First, H. Pickles, jun. Second, U. Dickson, 

 Selkirk. Highly Commended, Messrs. S. & R. Ashton, Mottram, near 

 Manchester. Commended, Mrs. Blacklock. 



Any other Variety. — First and Second, Countess do Flabault (La 

 Fleche, and Creve Cceur). Highly Commended, W. R. Park (Crt-ve Cceur); 

 J. Hastie Commended, W. it. Park (Silver Poland) ; Lord Binning 

 (Scotch Grey). 



Bantams ("Any variety!.— First, W. Mabon. Second. T. C. Harrison, Hull. 

 Highly Commended, h. D.Johnstone; P. A. Renwick, Ktlso; Messrs. S. 

 and >:. Ashton ; W. Mabon ; D. Broomfield, Kelso. Commended, W, 

 Easton, Jedburgh ; F. L. Roy ; W. Scott, Jedburgh. 



Sweepstake for Bantam Cock (Any variety). — First, W. Brown, 

 Selkirk (Black Red Game . Second, Countess de Flauhault (Black Red 

 Game). Highly Commended, T. Raines (Game); W. Scott, Castlegate, 

 Jedburgh (Bl:ick Red Game). 



DccKS (Aylesbm-y).— First, A. Haggart. Leshe, Fife. Second, Lord 

 Binning. Highly Commended, J. ,\. S. E. Fair, Gilliestongues, Jedburgh. 

 Commended, T. Paterson, jun. 



Ducks (Any other variety). — First and Second, T. C. Harrison, Hull 

 (Mandarin, and Carolina). Highly Commended, A. Thomson, Mainhill, 

 (Muscovy). 



Selling Class.— First, J. M'Millan, Jedburgh (Jlanorldes'. f^econd, 

 T. R. Paterson, Langholm i Golden-pencilled). Highly Commended, 

 J. A. S. E. Fair (Black Bed Game) ; T. L. Jsckson (Dorking) ; J. Mnsgrave 

 (silver-pencilled. Commended, J. Harvey (Duckwing Bantams) ; T. Mus- 

 grave (Golden-Hamhm-gh);F. L.Roy (Game Bantams) ; R. Blirrow,Long- 

 town, Cumberland (Goliicn-pencilledt ; J. Dickinson. 

 PIGEON.'*. 



Fantails. — First. H. Y'ardlev, Market Hall. Birmingham. Second, W. 

 R. Park. Higlily Commended, H. Yardloy; W. R. Park; T. C. Taylor, 

 Marton Lane, Middlesbro-on-Tees, Commended, J. M. Watson, Gatton- 

 side. 



Pouters. — First. H. Y'ardley. Second, R. Paterson, Melrose. 



Nuns. — First and Second, R. Patersou. Commended, P. A. Renwick, 

 Kelso ; W. R Park. 



JACOBINS.-First, R. Paterson. Second, J. Gray.jnn.. Melrose. Highly 

 Commended, Countess de Flahanlt ; R. Paterson ; T. Moffat. Newtown ; 

 P. A. Renwick; J, Gray, jun. ; R. More, Melrose; H. Yardley; T. Tarn- 



