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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ March SI, 1870. 



In writing thus, let it be borne in mind that I have no com- 

 plaints to make of anything of a personal character ; I do not 

 Bmart under any disappointment. I see that poultry shows are 

 just now in a critical position, that they require to be carefully 

 handled, or they will degenerate into mere meetings for money- 

 making. Lot fanciers be contented with their fancy, and not 

 think morely, 'Will it pay ? and let fair dealing on the part of 

 exhibitors and thoughtfulness on the part of committees be 

 combined, and I am sure there will be an increased interest 

 in poultry. But if things go as they now seem to be drifting, 

 we may soon write " Ichabod " on their glories. — D., Deal. 



EXHIBITION PENS FOR POULTRY. 



I have had many opportunities of seeing the arrangements 

 for poultry pens at shows in the west of England, and I thick 

 the plan adopted there is most desirable. 



The cages supplied to the shows in Devon and Cornwall are 

 arranged in double tiers. The lower tier has an elevation of 

 21 inches from the ground, and the lower cages are 30 inches 

 square. The sides are of wood, tie backs wire, and the front 

 is wire in a wood frame, which slides in grooves similar to a 

 window sash. By this plan no injury is caused to the bird 

 by putting it in or taking it out of the cages. The tops of the 

 lower tier are board, which forms a floor for the upper tier of 

 cages. These are 24 inches square, and constructed in the same 

 way as those in the lower tier. If a centre block of cages is 

 required, they can be placed in double tiers back to back, with 

 a clear space of about 1 foot between, thus allowing good light 

 and ventilation, utilising space, and so giving in a small build- 

 ing increased facilities for promenading. I think, if the plan 

 were generally adopted, managers of poultry shows would find 

 that buildings of smaller dimensions would be more easily 

 obtained than those they are now compelled to use, owing to 

 the single-tier system. — James Cross. 



[If those who make the pens' and let them out on hire would 

 advertise them, many committees would avail themselves of 

 their use. — Eds. ] 



POULTRY SHOW LABELS. 



I am sure that many of my brother exhibitors agree with me 

 in wishing that secretaries of poultry shows would send them 

 labels with eyes at both ends, and also that the labels might 

 reach them a few days before the show. I have been an 

 exhibitor but for one year, but in that time, though I do not 

 often show, I have twice received the labels when it was too 

 late to send the birds. A pen of my birds was entered for the 

 Torquay Show, and was sent off by rail in good time ; but fancy 

 my horror at the birds being found next day at the station to 

 which they were directed for the return journey. The label, 

 having only one eve, had turned over, and my birds never went 

 near the Show. I sometimes receive labels with two eyes, and 

 I then fasten them down tightly, with a bit of string across, to 

 make sure of their not turning over. — Ckjjve-Cceue. 



WORTHY RULES FOR RAISERS AND 

 EXHIBITORS OF POULTRY. 



Never keep your favourito chicks 

 On floors of wood, of stone, or bricks; 

 But let them have a good grass run, 

 Where they may get both shade and BUD. 

 Feed on good food, oft during day. 

 'Tis best to hatch from March to May ; 

 And breed from well-selected lot, 

 "Whether for show, for spit, or pot. 

 Then you'll stand a chance, I know, 

 To win a prize where'er you show. 

 But recollect the judge's eye 

 Will soon detect tbe silk and dye. 

 With feathers tamper not, nor comb, - ? 

 But rather keep your birds at home. 

 If you should substitute false sickles, 

 You'll get exposed, as sure as pickles. 

 It needs a stretch of genius, friend, 

 To cheat the judge, and gain your end; 

 Bnt trimming sure will bring'disgrace, 

 Whene'er you show, where'er the place. 



— D. C E. W. 



[To be continued at intervals, with variations, if requisite.] 



nearly double those of last year ; it is evident that the Show 

 was successful. 



HOUDANS EATING EACH OTHER'S 

 FEATHERS. 

 I am trying the experiment of keeping a large mangold wnrtzel 

 or a turnip iu the pen, and so far I think it prevents the evil. 

 I do not find that the birds which had begun this most trying 

 practice have continued it since they have had a fresh root to 

 peck at. In my despair it occurred to me that my too busy 

 Houdans might find employment and cooling properties at the 

 same time in a mangold wurtzel, and I believe my hopes will not 

 be disappointed. — W. 



GAME FOWLS. 



I fully agree with all the remarks in the interesting article 

 on Game fowls by " Cornish Duckwino," in your number of 

 March 10th. I have read all the works on Game fowls men- 

 tioned in the article, except that by Howel Morgan, who 

 was the royal cockfighter to George II., and who dedicated 

 his work to Frederick, King of Denmark, who married the 

 Princess Louisa, daughter of George II. Howel Morgan sent 

 many Game fowls from London to Copenhagen for the King 

 of Denmark, who was fond of cock-fighting, as were the 

 Danes at that time. The Welsh were then considered to 

 be our best cockers and best breeders of Game fowls, and 

 many of our best English breeds of Game fowls originated 

 in Wales. The ancient Welsh chieftains used to make pre- 

 sents of Game fowls to their powerful neighbours the border 

 Anglo-Norman Barons, who lived on the " marches," or borders 

 of Wales. 



Dr. Cooper is an American doctor, and his work treats 

 chiefly on the Game fowls in the United States, to which 

 country, as well as to India, many Game fowls have been 

 sent of late years, and also some to France. The United 

 States breeders are, I believe, possessed of both Lord Derby's 

 and Lord Sefton's best old strains of Game fowls, both having 

 been obtained from Liverpool, near whioh they were bred. — 

 Newmarket. 



P.S. — I have omitted to state that Howel Morgan, before his 

 appointment as the royal cocker, united in his own person the 

 three professions of free methodist preacher, cocker, and rat- 

 catcher, in Brecknockshire, South Wales, where he lived, as my 

 account of him states. I quite agree with " Y. B. A. Z.," that 

 the Polish fowls, more especially the beautiful White-crested 

 Black Polish, are very ornamental, the most so, with the ex- 

 ception of Game fowls and Bantams. 



Epworth Snow. — This is of poultry, Pigeons, cage birds, 

 and Rabbits. We are glad to see that, in value, the prizes are 



THE INTRODUCTION OF THE WILD TURKEY 

 INTO ARGYLLSHIRE. 



At a recent meeting- of the Natural History Society of Glas- 

 gow a paper was read by Mr. John Gilmour on the introduction 

 into Argyllshire of the Wild Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo), 

 of which he received a male and two females from the southern 

 extremity of Lake Huron, in Canada, in the summer of 1866. 

 Since then, according to Nature, from which we extract this 

 account, various broods have been successfully reared in the 

 neighbourhood of Ardlamont, where the birds have been allowed 

 their full liberty in the woods. Mr. Gilmour concluded his 

 paper with a description of the wild bird as compared with do- 

 mestic breeds, remarking that it possessed greater symmetry with 

 a more compact form, standing higher on its legs, and exhibiting 

 other characters more like those of a Game bird than one of the 

 gallinaceous order. Mr. Gray mentioned that there are now 

 supposed to he three different species of Meleagris besides the 

 M. ocellata of Honduras and other parts of Central America — 

 namely, M. americanus, which is probably peculiar to the eastern 

 half of North America; M. mexicana of Gould, a species belonging 

 to Mexico and extending along the table lands to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, the Gila and the Llano Estacado; also the M. Gallopavo of 

 Linnams, or domesticated bird. This last species was perhaps 

 originally indigenous to one or more of the West India Islands, 

 whence it was taken in a tamed state to various parts of North 

 America, and thence to Europe about the year 1520. The do- 

 mesticated bird differs from the nearly allied wild species in 

 having a largely-developed dewlap extending from the base of 

 the under mandible down the fore part of the neck to its base, 

 and it cannot yet he said to be a settled question as to the 



