AprU 11, 1567. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



269 



(white legs and yellow pearl eyes). I also know two breeders 

 who both had Black-breasted Red cocks mated with Duokwing 

 hens, both willow-legged, and neither of them could ever obtain 

 a single Duckwing cock chicken, though Duckwing Grey pullets 

 were freely thrown, as were Partridge pullets, but all their 

 cock chickens were Black-breasted Reds. This does not agree 

 with those who assert that Duckwing cocks are easiest thrown 

 from the Black-breasted Red cocks. I have always found that 

 if you want good Duckwings, cocks especially, you must breed 

 from both Duckwing cocks and hens, and not from mixed 

 colours. Duckwing cocks are no more liable to spotted breasts 

 than the Black-breasted Reds are to brown-spotted breasts. 



I should have mentioned in the former papers, that good 

 solid corn and peas are far preferable to all slojipy, pulpy- 

 made mixtures as food for Game fowls, as hard corn and peas 

 harden both flesh and feather. — Newmaeket. 



COMB OF THE BRAHMA I'OOTRA. 



In corroboration of the remarks upon combs, contained in 

 the very able communications of your correspondents "Nemo" 

 and Miss E. Watts, I would observe that out of eighty-three 

 Brahma cockerels reared by me in 1866, I have only one with 

 a perfect comb, and to test the judge's knowledge and ob- 

 servance of its comparative scarcity, I exhibited the bird only 

 once, when he was not even mentioned. He is rather a small 

 bird, of beautiful colour, hackle well defined, and short legs 

 not very well feathered. Thus you will see that with many 

 good points, and one not to be surpassed — his comb — he appears 

 to be unfit for exhibition. 



As " Nemo " truly observes, there is no fowl bred with a 

 characteristic so peculiarly distinctive as the perfect triple 

 or pea comb of the Brahma. I endeavoured for several years 

 saocessively to produce, by all manner of crossings, a Brahma, 

 and although 1 managed to select from the results some fine 

 specimens very nearly approaching the required type, yet the 

 total absence of the triple comb, together with other points, led 

 me to give up further attempts as hopeless, as I am persuaded 

 we cannot produce the true and perfect triple comb with 

 any variety we have knowledge of. The great scarcity of birds 

 with perfect combs should induce judges to give way in some 

 other and less characteristic points ; for instance, I would 

 overlook a poorly-feathered shank, or a wing not barred in the 

 Dark variety, or a leggy bird proportionately heavy. Either of 

 these points I would willingly sacrifice to a perfect-combed bird 

 of fair average merit. — F. C. 



HATCHING BY AN INCUBATOR. 



The foDowing are replies to the questions put by " Tudok," 

 page 238. 



1. Chickens hatched in the dry heat of an incubator would 

 not be equal to those hatched under a hen. The incubator is 

 imperfect if provision is not made for the production of a moist 

 temperature. Chickens hatched in a dry temperature will 

 never be so strong as those hatched with moisture, besides 

 which numbers of them will, at maturity, die in the shell. An 

 incubator I had, which was imperfect in this respect, I reme- 

 died by keeping in the egg-drawer several pieces of moistened 

 sponge. 



2. Chickens hatched artificially, provided a moist atmosphere 

 is maintained, will, without doubt, be as strong in constitution 

 and as sound in feather as those hatched by natural means. 

 In the rearing without a hen there is a great advantage, the 

 chicks thriving very much better, owing to their eating more, 

 and becoming in a very short time independent. 



3. Artificial hatching will not m any way interfere with 

 correct colour of feather. — E. A. S. 



WIGTON POULTRY AND PIGEON SHOW. 



Although from the fact of this meeting being held at the same 

 time as the Accrington Show (April 3rd — 5th), the number of entries 

 was not so great as usual, the quality of the birds exhibited was praise- 

 worthy, and the general management all that could be desired. The 

 district around Wigton has long been noted for tho excellence of its 

 Ganie fowls, and the specimens exliibited by local breeders fully main- 

 tained its high repute, although, as the event proved, the two cups 

 given respectively for the best Game cock and best Game eocterel, 

 the competition for which was open to all comers, were both secured 



by Mr. James Fletcher, of Stoneclough, near Manchester. It m 

 very rarely indeed that two such extraordinarily perfect specimens 

 are shown at tlio same time by one iudividual. They were Black- 

 breasted Reds, true as could be wished for as to colour, and their 

 comlition such as reflected great credit on the feeder. These two 

 beautiful birds were to the majority of visitors the chief attraction of 

 the Show. Some remarkably good Brown Reds were also shown by- 

 local amateurs. The i^jmnish and Dorlchigs were both good, as were 

 the Cochin- Chinas. Of llamburgJis^ the Spangled were decidedly 

 superior to the Pencilled. Strange to say, the class for Any other 

 variety of fowls could only boast of a single entry, and that was for Dark 

 Brahmas. Some very good Black Bantams and Silver-laced Sebrighta 

 were also shown. 



In the class for Any other variety of Ducks, a pair of Shell Ducks 

 was exhibited by Mr. Armstrong, of Aikbead, in remarkably good 

 condition. This is, perhaps, in no slight degree attribntable to the 

 extraordinary fact that these lovely birds enjoy, as the owner informs 

 us, almost unrestricted liberty, though pinioned. The drake has now 

 been in the owner's possession for seven or eight years, and goes almost 

 daily down to the seacoast to feed and wash ; but sometimes it has 

 absented itself for days together, and in one instance for so long a 

 period as three weeks, yet it returned with the same willingness and 

 freedom as before, much to the satisfaction of its proprietor, Mr. 

 Hanison, of Hull, exhibited a pair of capital Mandarins in this class. 

 In the rigcon classes were to be found some first-rate Cairiers, Ice 

 Pigeons, Owls, Hyacinths, and Turbits. 



Wigton is noted for its show of Eggs, as very liberal prizes are 

 offered both for Ducks' and for hens' eggs. "They are exliibited 

 in dishes containing a dozen each, and a very severe competition 

 ensued. The twelve largest hens' eggs weighed 2^ lbs., and the largest 

 dozen Ducks' eggs weighed 3 lbs. 5 ozs. The Arbitrator very properly 

 excluded " double-yolked " eggs from competition, as being, unquestion- 

 ably, malformations ; and his discrimination in the first selection of 

 such eggs was openly tested in the presence of the Committee, two 

 dishes of hens' eggs and one of Dncks' eggs being disqualified on this 

 account only. Three eggs having been chosen, a small apeiiure was 

 made on one side of each of these eggs, fully exposing the double yolk 

 to all visitors who might inspect them during the time the Show 

 remained open ; in all three cases the eggs proved exactly as the 

 Arbitrator had predicted. 



Game (Black-brcasted and other Reds).— First, J. Banow, Jan., Bradley 

 Field. Second, T. Manduell, Aikbead. 



Gajie (White and Piled).— First, J. Brongh, Carlisle, Second, W. J, 

 Mellor, Colwick Rectory, Nottingham. 

 Game.— First, T. Dyson, Halifax. Second, J. Brough. 

 Gajue (Any colour).— Puiicta.— First, E. Ayki'oyd, Bradford. Second, 

 W. J. Melior. 



Spanish.— First, J. Thresh, Bradford. Second, J. H. Wilson, St. Beea. 

 Dorking. — hirst, J. H. Wilson. Second and Highly Commended, 

 Messrs. Gunson & Jefferson, Whitehaven. 



Cochin-China (Any variety). — First, Messrs. Gunson & Jefferson 

 (Buff). Second, Miss Agliouby, Esthwaite Lodge {Partridge). Highly 

 Commended, Miss Aglioiiby (Buffj ; Gunson & Jefferson (Buff). 



Hamburghs (Golden-spangled). — First, J. H. Wilson. Second, R. 

 Dickson, Selkirk. Highly Commended, ^^. & R. Ashton, Mottram, Cheshire. 

 Commended, Messrs. Bowman & Fearon, Whitehaven; S. H. btott, 

 Quarry Hill, Rochdale, 



Hamburghs {Silver-spangled).— First, J. Brough, Carlisle. Second, 

 S. E. Noble, Strickland Gate, Kendal. 



Hamburghs (Gold and Silver-spangled).— First, Messrs. Bowman and 

 Fearon (Silver). Second, R. Bun-ows, Longtowu (Golden). 



Anv other Variety.— Prize, Messrs. Uowman & Fearon (Dark Brahma 

 Pootra). 



Gajie Bantams (Black-breasted and other Reds).- First, W. Mabon, 

 Castle Gate, Jedljurgh. Second, H. Snowden, Great Horton, Bradford. 

 Highly Commended, M. Taylor, jun., Penrith (Black-breasted); D, Ash- 

 worth," Blackledge, Halifax. 



Game Bantams (Any other colour'.— First, W, Mabon (Duckwing). Se- 

 cond, Miss Aglionby (Piled). Highly Commended, J. bword, Jedburgh 

 (Duckwing) ; G. McMillan, Jedbm-gh. 



Bant.ams (Any other variety).— First, H. Snowden (Blacks). Second, 

 T. C. Harrison, Hull (Laced). Commended, S. & R. Ashton (Silver-laced). 

 Docks (Aylesbury).- First, Messrs. Bowman & Fearon. Second, E. 

 Leech, Rochdale. Highly Commended, J. S. Fair, GilUestongues, Jed- 

 burgh. 



Ducks (Rouen).— First, E. Leech. Second, Messrs. Gunson & JefTerson, 

 Highly Commended, S. H. Stott ; M. Redhead, Kendal. 



Ducks lAny other varietvi.— First, J. M. Armstrong, Aikbead (Shell 

 Ducks). Second, T. C. Harrison (Mandarins). Highly Commended, R, 

 Eeaty, Blennerhasset (Muscovy). 



PIGEONS. 



Carriers.- First, H. Yardley, Birmingham, Second, J. & W. Towerson. 

 Egremont. 



Tumblers.— First, A. Parry, Rochdale. Second, H. Yardley. Highly 

 Commended, R. Thompson, Moresdale Hall. 



Pouters. — Prize, H. Yardley. 



Fant AILS. —First, H. Yardley. Second, W. Gate. Wigton. „. . , 



jAroBiNS.— First, J. Sc W. Towerson. Second, K. Thompson. Hi^y 

 Commended, H. Yardley. 



Nuns.— First, R. Davidson, Jedburgh. Second, W. Stordy, Thrnston- 

 field. Commended, H. Yardley. 



Barbs.— First, H. Yardlev. Second, R. Thomr=on. 



Turbits.— First, E. G. Jones, Parton. Second. R. Thompson. Highly 

 Commended, J. W. C. Dugdale; H. Yardley; Z.:^ W. Towerson. Com- 

 mended, R. Davidson. , , 



O^vLs.— First, J. Fielding, jun. Pecond, J. A W. Towerson. Highly 

 Commended, J. Fielding, jun.; J, W. C. Dug-lale. Commended, H. 

 Yardley. 



