January 6, 1670. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



one of the largest and most attractive classes throughout the 

 year. 



We want more Malays. Forty years ago in the east of Lon- 

 don there would be a better show of these birds at a public- 

 house than there is now at Birmingham. 



Cieve-Creurs and Houdans have held their ground well. The 

 former have been shown of great size, coupled with faultless 

 plumage and symmetry. The number of entries also justified 

 separate classes for these breeds. The Houdans have been, as 

 a rule, very good ; but the La Fleche are not successful in 

 forming a class, or in becoming popular. 



Hamburghs deservedly retain their hold on the public favour. 

 The Blacks have much increased in numbers and in merit. 

 The Golden-pencilled have been excellent, and so have the 

 Golden-spangled. Everywhere the Golden have seemed to us 

 better than the Silver, better bred, and more judiciously 

 selected. 



We have to note a manifest improvement in Polish. The 

 quality has been excellent, and at some shows they have 

 mustered as in days of yore. 



Game fowls are perfect, so far as the Black and Brown Reds 

 are concerned. These two classes form a show of themselves ; 

 but the Duckwings, Blacks, Whites, Piles, and Brassy-winged 

 do not stir either in numbers or quality. The Game classes 

 at the large shows form an exhibition of themselves. 



We sigh when we look at the Sebright Bantams. They ap- 

 pear to be going. The numbers of Blacks and Whites, and 

 the " legion " of Game Bantams, have outshown our old Se- 

 bright favourites. 



Aylesbury Ducks seem to have quailed before the Rouens ; 

 they have shown again and been beaten in weight by their 

 coloured antagonists. It is no mean thing to show a number 

 of Ducks that will average over 84 lbs. each, but it has been 

 done. The beautiful Black Ducks are also now well shown — 

 small, svmmetiical, and of marvellous brilliancy of plumage. 



There have been shows where the distinguished Geese have 

 averaged 25 lbs. each. Turkeys in the same way have averaged, 

 cocks 27 lbs., and hens 18 lbs. each. 



We have had no startling Dovelties in the " Variety class," 

 nor do we hear of anything of the sort. We shall be curious 

 to see the next, for it will doubtless come. Let it be what it 

 may, the question is now so well understood, that the require- 

 ments of a new breed are at once discovered and provided for. 

 This is among the benefits of the poultry pursuit ; the question 

 is thoroughly understood. Fowls are no longer sickly, as they 

 used to be. Death does not enter a yard to leave it only for 

 want of victims. Fowls, Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys have in- 

 creased their size greatly, and while doing so they have in- 

 sured better constitutions and health. Poultry in 1369 is in 

 every respect better and stronger than it was in 1819. The 

 pursuit has ceased to be a mania. It is more than a rational, 

 it is a beneficial employment, May it prosper ! 



The year has glided smoothly along. There have been few 

 difficulties, no quarrels. Even the subjects that some years 

 since seemed to engender bitterness, do so no longer. The 

 world is becoming wiser, and, let us hope, better. Our cham- 

 pions tilt with blunted weapons, deriving as much honour, 

 with only part of the risk and injury. We have endeavoured 

 to bring about this state of things, and we shall endeavour to 

 perpetuate it. We have not, and we will not knowingly say 

 an unkind or painful word to or of anyone, unless such be pro- 

 voked by misdeeds. We will not spare such. If we have 

 caused pain, or omitted to give pleasure, it has been unwittingly 

 done. If anyone reads this and can recollect one grievance, 

 we pray his forgiveness. We would have no alloy. Strong 

 with the hope of the new year upon us, we would that all 

 should be equally blessed, and therefore to subscribers, contri- 

 butors, and all friends we cordially wish 



A Happi axd Prosperous New Year. 



WHITEHAVEN POULTRY SHOW. 



WrEH a long-practised Committee this Show has obtained a very 

 high position among such meetings. This year twenty-seven silver 

 caps brought entries from very distant localities. We cannot but note 

 also most favourably the great care and attention bestowed on the 

 poultry ; and the quality of the soft food fa composition of good bread 

 and bar.ey Hour), awaiting the arrival of many lots of fowls that had 

 travelled long distances to the Show, proved that everything connected 

 with the well-doing of such valuable specimens as were to be seen at 

 Whitehaven on December 23th, 29th, and 30th, after the fatigue and 

 chill of so long a transit, depends on the simple fact of whether or not 



those who take upon themselves the management are practically con- 

 versant in the best means of treating exhibition birds. The most 

 anxious owner could not have desired a greater amount of attention, 

 and we have little doubt that many of the pens of poultry actually 

 left the Whitehaven Show in better condition than that in which they 

 were forwarded to it. 



Of Cochins there were remarkably good classes, the Buffs and tha 

 White ones being perhaps the best of those competing. There were 

 some very good Brdkmas shown, the Dark being the better class of the 

 two. Of Dorkings there was a very heavy entry, and this year's col- 

 lection far exceeded in quality those of previous shows held in this 

 district. Spanish were never before so well represented at Whitehaven, 

 although several first-rate pens arrived too late for competition. , The 

 French fowls were well shown, and from their novelty in this particular 

 neighbourhood caused much attention. In Game this Show stood 

 well, and the competition was exceedingly severe, but a few lots of 

 extraordinarily good oneB being entered in the wrong classes were 

 necessarily thrown out altogether. Amateurs cannot pay too much 

 attention to the perusal of their prize schedules before making their 

 entries. The Hamlmr/jlis were of first-rate character, the Silver- 

 spangled ones especially, and to this beautiful variety the Hamburgh 

 silver cnp was awarded". The " barring " in the tails of some of the 

 Golden-pencilled hens was perfection itself. In the class for Silver- 

 pencilled Hamburghs it is a matter of regret to record one of the most 

 disgraceful and premeditated attempts at imposition to obtain a prize 

 that perhaps was ever brought to light Most justly the owner of 

 pen 264, belonging to and exhibited by Mr. James H. Pickles, of Earby, 

 Skipton, Yorkshire, was deprived of the first prize. After the first 

 prize was awarded to this pen it was whispered by some one who was 

 evidently fullv cognisant of the fact, that the sickle feathers in the 

 ! prize cock's tail were put in. The Judges, as a matter of course, im- 

 ] mediately proceeded to make a very close investigation of the truth of 

 | this statement, and the result was, that not only was the matter as 

 , described, but still more, the handiwork evidently proved it was carried 

 j out by a practised artificer. The pair of natural feathers were cut 

 ■ away within barely more than the eighth of an inch of the rump, and 

 ' two extraordinarily perfect sickles, such as are now very rarely seen, 

 were as neatly whipped on to the stumps, as though the work of an 

 adept at artificial fiy making. For the purpose, probably, of making 

 success doubly sure, the junction of the feathers was also stitched 

 through, and then a neatly applied coating of some quick-drying var- 

 nish, or some snch adhesive substance, left the whole an exceedingly 

 well-finished artifice. The sickles were themselves, perhaps, the best 

 marked seen for many years past, and, as rnmonr said, they had 

 before dene like service at other shows, being certain to take favour in 

 the eye of any Judge, as they were perfectly laced all round in the 

 markings. It was stated by one of the Judges, " Whoever owns them, 

 they shall never do duty again ;" consequently they were taken from 

 the bird, and would no doubt be on view during the greater portion of 

 , the time the Show remained open, never to return into the original 

 ! proprietor's hands. It really seems a matter of surprise that exposures 

 i at intervals like the present one do not bring with them a hesitation 

 ! to thus "try it on" with arbitrators. The personal disgrace on detec- 

 j tion, and the jeers ever resulting from these fraudulent practices, are 

 manifest. We sincerely hope it will be long before we have again to 

 record such an attempt, or even the removal of an objectionable 

 feather, as justice to exhibitors in general demands its exposure. 



The Selling class (of eighty-six entries, singularly enough precisely 

 the same number as at the 1S63 show), had a most liberal amount of 

 I prizes allotted, the principal one being a very excellent sewing ma- 

 [ chine, an article as useful in itself as it was novel as a poultry prize. 

 In this class, as in the Selling class for Pigeons, all the birds had to 

 be sold by auction, and we are told many pens realised very good 

 prices, as the majority of those entered were sufficiently good to hold 

 their own in the general classes of most exhibitions. Rouen Ducks, 

 though nnfortunately not enjoying a redundancy of light, were excel- 

 lent ; and in the Aylesbury Mrs. Seamons was compelled to sucenmb 

 to a couple of very superior pens shown by Mr. Fowler. The display 

 of dressed poultry and eggs was remarkably good. 



The Exhibition was very well supported, though the weather, with 

 snow melting quickly away, was not the most desirable, still the at- 

 tendance of visitors was about as large as usual. 

 Cochins (cinnamon or Ruff).— Cocl.\— Cup arid 3. H. Mapplebeck. Birming- 



ham 2 J Poole. Ulverstone. he. F.. Fearon. Whitehaven : J. H. Dawes. Bir- 

 mingham: Gunson & Jefferson; J.G.Broxup, Burnley. <\ W. A. Taylor. Man- 

 chester. Hens or Pullets.-l awl e, H. Mapplebeck. 2, J. Cattle, Birmingham. 

 3, W. A. Taylor, he, E. Fearon ; J. Poole. 



Cochins (Brown or Partridge).— CocA-.— 1, T. Stretch. Ormskirk. 2, J. K. 

 Fowler. Aylesbury. 3. E. Fearon. c, J. Wood, Cnorley. Hens or Pullets.— 



1. T. Stretch. 2, W. A. Taylor. 3, J. Poole, he. J. K. Fowler. 



Cochins (White).— CocA-.-l. J. Weeks. Boolle. 2. R. Smalley. Lancaster. 

 3, J. Poole, lie. G. Shrimpton, Leighton Buzzard: T. Ashbm-ner Dalton-in- 

 Furness; E. Fearon. c. E. Fearon. Hens or Pullets.— I and 3. R. smaUey. 



2. G. Shrimpton. lie. S. Sherwen, Whitehaven. 



Brahma Pootra (Dark).— Cock. — Cnp, Hon. Miss D. Pennant, Penrhyn 

 Castle. Bangor. 2, E. Leech, Rochdale. 3. J. H. Pickles. Earby. he, GjDixon, 

 jun .Whitehaven: Hon. Miss D. Pennant: W. Haxgreaves, Bacup. liens or 

 Pullets.-h H. Lacy, Hebden Bridie. 2. J. H. Pickles. 3, G. Dixon, jun. lie, G. 

 Todd, Monkwearmouth; Hon. Miss D. Pennant: W. Hargreaves. 



Brihma Pootra (Light).-l, O. A. Worthington. 2, F. Crook, Forest Hill, 



3. W. Whiteley. Sheffield. „ „ „ ,. „ . . ._. 

 Dorktngs (Silver-Grev).-l, Gunson & Jefferson. 2, D. Hardie, Sortie, Lang- 

 holm. 3, E. Leech, lie. J. H. Wilson, St. Bees. ^..y. 



Dorkings (Dark)— Coi *.— 1, P. H.Jones, Fulham. 2, J. Stirling, Bndekirk, 

 Cockermouth. 3, J. -White, Warlaby, lie. A. Thompson, Whitehaven ; W. 

 Bearpark; J. Stott, Rochdale; Gunson & Jefferson; Miss spending, Sumner 



