March 3, 1870. 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



The classification adopted by the Society is a pledge that plumage 

 shall be considered as fundamental to the standard. Whenever, 

 therefore, a chequered blue, a bastard black, a dappled red, or a 

 mealy yellow obtains a prize, owners of standard-coloured birds are 

 clearly wronged. In such cnlpable disregard of the schedule may 

 again be seen the baneful influence of over- rated theories. The 

 rivalry between factitious and true standards is producing the most 

 bewildering uncertainty, and is answerable for that tape-line system 

 of judging which at nine-tenths of our shows, for the sake of mere 

 length, is overlooking valuable properties. A system so inartistic is 

 not worthy of a judge's fee, for any child who can handle a tailor's 

 measure may judge a Pouter show by such a method. But if instead 

 of the whole standard structure alone is to be petted, why not away 

 with the misleading pretence of plumaga divisions ? Let all Pouters 

 be thrown into a single class, to be judged by a standard solely struc- 

 tural. Let such standard insist upon those refinements, developments, 

 and niceties of form, those subtleties and nuances not to be found in 

 too great a profusion, even at a Glasgow show. Let the tape Hug be 

 discarded, or so applied frontwise as to take in the rotundity of the 

 crop, when many a specimen of presumed length would have to yield 

 to the vastly superior measurement and structure of apparently lesser 

 birds. This, and this only, is the logical sequence of plumage 

 neglect. 



The Judges and Tin: Judgment. — The appointment of a judge 

 assumes his fitness for his office ; why, then, should the Committee 

 have made the amazing mistake of pairing the two Judges in the face 

 of their heaiy duties? If a judge is competent, no necessity exists 

 for pairing him with another ; if incompetent, such a process cannot 

 qualify him, but only results in annoyance to his more talented co- 

 adjutor. In Messrs. Corker and Esquilaut the Committee were fur- 

 nished with Judges of admitted experience. The former gentleman, 

 as a sometime successful Pouter-breeder, might fairly have been left 

 to deal justice to the Pouter classes ; and the latter is so versed in his 

 office, that the general classes could scarcely have been in safer hands, 

 while each could have acted as referee to the other. This division of 

 labour would have doubled the time available for the awards, to the 

 far greater comfort of the Judges, whose arduous duties were respon- 

 sibly performed nnder totally inadequate conditions. 



The moral of the Glasgow Show is contained in the fact that year 

 by year it exactly summarises the progress and position of the Pouter 

 classes. Bv its light we have endeavoured faithfully to depict the 

 Pouter of 1869. 



strange to say, with fewer really good specimens. English Owls were 

 very good, and in fine bloom. 



Of Cage Birds the Scotch Fancy Canary predominated, though 

 there were good specimens of Goldfinch Mules, Goldfinches, Star- 



In,- 



&C. 



We published the prize list and Judg 



; last week. 



PIGEONS AT WOLVERHAMPTON SHOW. 



I notice in the remarks of your correspondent about the 

 above Show that the Dun Carriers exhibited by Mr. While, 

 and obtaining second prize, were not so good as that gentle- 

 man's Blacks. This is a great mistake, the Duns, in my judg- 

 ment, being far superior. Io Fantails, my pair that took the 

 second prize is mentioned as being far superior to the first- 

 prize pair of Mr. Tomlinson. I need only say I would give 

 my pair and £4 to exchange. In Dragoons the first-prize pair 

 is mentioned as being coarse ; I consider it the best pair I ever 

 saw. I have made the above remarks, judges being so often 

 censured without cause by persons who do not thoroughly 

 understand. — H. Yaedley, Market Hall, Birmingham, 



MELROSE POULTRY, PIGEON, AND CAGE 

 BIRD SHOW. 



Last, but not least, of the Scotch exhibitions was that of the 

 "Waverley Association. No building is more appropriate for such a 

 Show than the Corn Exchange at Melrose, the light from the roof 

 being abundant and equally diffused. The care bestowed on the birds 

 by the Committee will, doubtless, be duly appreciated by the exhibitors, 

 and great praise is due to the Secretary, Mr. Mason, for his incessant 

 superintendence. 



Y< > were the first and strongest class, all varieties competing 



together. The first prize was awarded to Dark Grey, aud the second 

 to«Silvers, and the class was generally good. At this advanced period 

 ol the season it is surprising to fiud Spanish shown, after so much 

 bard work, in such faultless condition, and this speaks well for the 

 soundness of constitution of the birds. The two winning pens were 

 perfect, and most of the others good. The cup for this section was 

 won by the first- prize pen. There were many good pens of Cochins, 

 the winners being Buffs of high merit. The Bra/mars were above the 

 average in quality. In this class we noticed the largest and best- 

 formed hen we have seen this season, but altogether too rusty in 

 colour for prizetaliing. Mr. Hardie won the cup for Game with a 

 good close -feathert'd pair of birds. Hamburgks were in good order, 

 the winners in all classes being almost perfect. The cup was awarded 

 to a fine pen of Gold-spangled ; the hen in this pen was particularly 

 good. The " Any other variety " class was one of striking excellence, 

 every pen being worthy of winning a prize. This result was doubt- 

 less brought about by the offer of a gold medal, which was borne off 

 by a splendid pen of Cnve-Caurs, the second prize being taken by 

 Silver Polands. The rest were Polands and Hondans. Although 

 Bantasns of all varieties were in great force, there were few in the 

 fine condition so desirable for success in prizetaking. Of Duels there 

 were good classes. The Rouens, to which the gold medal was awarded, 

 were "the pink of perfection " in all points, closely pressed, however, 

 by a handsome pen of Aylesbury. Pintails, Bahamas, and Carolinas 

 were successful in taking the best positions in class for other Ducks. 

 In Turli ye Lord Binning was successful with a fine pen of Cambridge ; 

 and in the Gccse, those of Mr. Hardies pen were of large size and 

 perfect form. 



No extra prizes were offered for Pigeons, and the entries suffered in 

 proportion, but the birds shown were good, and in fine condition. The 

 first-prize Fantails were not the flat-tailed style of bird so much ad- 

 mired by some sections of the fancy, but the small, nervous, high- 

 carriage, fairy-looking style, that must eventually make their way to 

 the front. The first-prize Tnrbits were perfect, and that 



THE ROLLER PIGEON. 



Having flown a flight of Sky Tumblers and Hollers daily for 

 the last twenty-five years, I am in a position to give your 

 readers a little history of the breed of these birds. About fifty 

 years ago there were many 'nimbler fanciers living in and near 

 the town of Birmingham, The late ilr. G. Phillips, of Hands- 

 worth, near Birmingham, was the first to have this kind of 

 birds, being fond of always having a good flight of Tumblers 

 that would fly high, pack closely together, and all tumble at 

 the same time. He was such an enthusiast of these Pigeons, 

 that I am told he would go fifty or one hundred miles to buy a 

 good Tumbler. The birds flown by him were Lialdheads and 

 Black and Red Mottles. At that time they were short, com- 

 pact, full-chested birds, with short beaks and round heads. 

 Some of them being better and quicker tumblers than others 

 were selected aud paired together ; some of the birds bred from 

 these were what are called mad Tumblers — that is, birds that 

 tumble so much and so carelessly that tbey were usually called 

 mad Tumblers. By putting these mad Tumblers together 

 their young ones would roll. It is not to be supposed that 

 all birds which are feather-legged and having the characteristic 

 markingsjof Boilers can roll; on an average there is not one 

 out of a score that can roll. Killers are to be found in most 

 of the shires, but the breed comes from either Birmingham or 

 the Black Country. The coarse look of the Boilers arises from 

 their being bred irrespective of colour, shape, or properties of 

 head, eye, and beak. They may have been bred only for their 

 high flying and rolling properties. 



It is a pretty sight for a high-flying fancier to see a kit of 

 Kollers, say fourteen or fifteen, turned out of a loft or yard, and 

 watch them gradually ascend till they climb into the clouds, 

 where they have been known to remain eight or nine hours, 

 and about every two minutes they would all roll together, put- 

 ting you in mind of the fireworks called serpents, issuing from 

 the e'xplosion of a rocket when it is at an immense height. I 

 have known Rollers that could roll 8 or 10 yards, breed nothing 

 but single Tumblers, and single Tumblers to breed the best 

 Rollers.' 



They should be kept as thin as possible, for if they get fat 

 they are sure to roll down and kill themselves. 



The best food is the best malting bailey ; fed on this they 

 will fly on an average an hour or two daily. If weather is likely 

 to be fine and not cloudy, their food can be changed to beans, 

 or peas, or Indian corn for a few days. 



I purpose shortly to give your readers a few hints on the 

 management and selection of small Sky Tumblers, a breed 

 that has been very much neglected. — G. Hardy, 10, Fulhani 

 Road, Broiiqrton, London, 5.TI". 



TRUMPETER PIGEONS. 

 If I were bound to find some fault wilh any of Mr. Firth's 

 ideas of the standard of a Trumpeter for the show pen (see 

 page 119), I would say, Give me a little more than " 2 inches in 

 diameter of mottling "on the shoulder," and 1 would specify the 

 whole of the bird to be black, with the exception of the shoulder 

 being half white, well mixed and airangud, but not to inter- 

 .rauch, for there is none of the Toy varieties more "common, and yet) I fere wittl tlie secondary, and much less the primary or flight 



