348 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND ' COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 12, 1870. 



two balance sheets, that one might almost assume tint the 

 diminution of profit each year was in the ratio of half the 

 amount of gain to double the amount of expenditure. I should 

 guard my readers against assuming this as an infallible law in 

 every case, for I fear that thus our profit would soon arrive at 

 a vanishing point. I am quite prepared to admit, however, 

 that there is great truth in the assertion which has been made 

 by a few in contradiction of many — that in proportion to their 

 numbers a small yard of fowls is more remunerative than a 

 large one. I extended my operations very considerably at 

 the beginning of the next year, tailing the management of a 

 much larger yard into my charge, with Dacks and Pigeons to 

 provide for also. — W. W. B. H. 



EPWORTH POULTRY SHOW. 



This was held on the 6th inst, and in comparison with any previous 

 show at the same place was a remarkable success, as regards the 

 number of entries, the fineness of the weather, and the attendance of 

 visitors. 



Messrs. Newbitt won both prizes for Sfpan&h, no other birds having 

 any pretension to that position. Dorkings were of fair quality, though 

 a little faulty in colour. Game were good,' Brown Reds winning in 

 both cases. The cream of the Show, however, was the pen of Brahmas, 

 winners of the extra prize. These were faultless in size, colour, and 

 marking, and were of the Dark variety. Cochins were also good ; 

 Partridge of great merit being first, and Buffs second. Hamburghs 

 were unfortunately shown only in one class for the Spangled and one 

 for the Pencilled, and in consequence the entries suffered, though the 

 first-prize winners in both classes were really good. 



Game Bantams were a large class, and we would advise a division 

 of colours, and also in that for the other varieties. The first prize for 

 Game Bantams was won by a capital pair of Duckwings, the Becond by 

 Brown Reds, and one of the best pens of Black Reds was left out, the 

 hackle of the cock presenting an unnatural appearance as though it 

 had been trimmed. 



Of single Game cocks a close-feathered Black Red was first, with a 

 "Brown Red of high quality second. Of single hens the first was a mag- 

 nificent Golden Poland, and the second a Golden-spangled Hamburgh. 



The first-prize Rouen Ducks were good in all points and large, but 

 most of the fancy varieties were out of condition, escept the first-prize 

 Garganey Teal. 



In the Pigeons Mr. Yardley was first with good Carriers, the hen being 

 very fine. The first-prize Almond Tumblers had capital heads, and 

 were good in ground colour and well broken in feather. Both the 

 winning pairs of Jacobins were about perfect. Fantails were mode- 

 rate and Turbits good, as also the Trumpeters, which were Black 

 Mottles. The extra prize and portrait of an Almond Tumbler was 

 won by a pair of Black Barbs of high quality in skull and beak ; and 

 the Red Magpies that won in the " Variety class " were an exceedingly 

 smart pair, well seconded by Black Swallows. 



The Rabbits were good throughout. The length of the ears of the 

 winner of the extra prize, a black and white buck, was 2H inches, and 

 the width 5 inches. 



There was also a creditable and well-arranged display of Cage Birds. 

 The first prize for Yellow Canaries wenL to a Norwich cock, and that 

 for Buffs to a Buff Belgian. The Goldfinches and Linnets, mostly 

 contributed by the locality, were a grand display, the specimens being 

 most exquisite and in faultless feather. 



The Hon. Secretary was never once from his post till all the birds 

 were dispatched to their homes, and not only superintended the work 

 but penned most of the birds himself. 



Spanish— 1 and 2, T. C. & E. Newbitt, Epworth. Domunos.-I. J. Stott, 

 Henley. R..ehdalc. 2, G. Andrews, Tuxford. he, w. Taylor, Belt«n ; W. Harvey, 

 Sheffield: W. Bearpark, Ainderby Steeple. Game.— 1, C. Chaloner. Whitweil. 

 Chesterfield. 2. S. Matthew, Stowmarket. he, C. chaloner ; J. Mowbray, Gate 

 Wood (Brown Red). BR»nMAs.-l, 0. Chaloner. 2, W. Whiteley, Sheffield 

 c, W. Harvey; T. Daw- - 

 Netherton (Partridge). ! 

 Hatfield, Doncaster. H^ 



2, S. & R. Ashton. Mottram. he, J. F. Loversidge. Newark ; W. Bearpark. Gold 

 or Sil-rr-penciUrd.-l. W. Bearpark. 2, F. & C. Haworth. c, W. Harvev. 

 (jaaie Bantams.— 1, c. Chaloner. 2, W. Greaves. 3. Bellingham & Gill, 

 Burnley, c. J. Duggleby. Driffield. Bantams. -Any other Variety— I. T. C. 

 5°? E /„ N , e , w . bitt - 2 ' s - ' v r - AsHri.n (Blacki. he, - Arkwright, Sutton Scars- 

 dale (Gold-laced); J.White (Pekint. e. — Arkwright (Black). Ant other 

 Varxety — 1, W. Harvey. 2. Mrs. Cross. Brig,' iCreve-Cceurs). he, G. Andrews, 

 Taxford (Creve-Cosurs) ; G. W. Eoothby. Louth (Gold Pol and I ; A.. J.Wells, 

 Hatfield, Doncaster. Game Cock— 1, C. Chaloner. 2. Sales A Bentley.Crowle. 



3, S Matthews, he, C. Gravil, jun., Thome; C. Chaloner. c, J. Stabler, 

 Driffield. Any Variety.— Coefc.—l, Mrs. Cross (Oreve-C eur). 2, T. C. & E 

 Newbitt. he, R. Dawson, Beverley (Coohin); H. W. Illingworth, Idle (Black 

 Hamburgh), e, s. & R. Ashton (Hamburgh); A. A. Vander Meersch, Perry Hill, 

 Sydenham (Black Cochin); J. Coster. Chatham (Brahma). Ilen.—'l, W. 

 Harvey. 2, S. &. R. Ashton (Hamburgh), lie, Sales & Bentlev : J. J. Maiden, 

 Biggleswade (Creve-Cceur) ; T. C. & E. Newbitt. DTJCKB.—Aylesbuiry or Bouen. 

 —t, J- White (Rouen). 2, Mrs. Z. G. Maw. Epworth (Aylesbury). Any other 

 Breed.- 1, S. & R. Ashton. 2 and he, T. C. Harrison. 



, Harewood. Leeds, c, H. Yardley : J. F. While. Birin ngh...... 



Pouters— 1. E. Horner, Leeds. 2, W. Harvey. Tumblers — Ami Variety — 

 1, W. Harvev. 2 and he, H. Yardley. 3, Master Arkwri<rht (Redl. Jacobin* — 

 1 and 2, T. C. & E. Newbitt. he, R. Dawson: E. Horner. Fantails.— 1, E 



Horner. 2, H. Yardley. he, W. Harvey. Any Variety. — 1, H. Bnrnrp. 

 Epworth (Red Magpies). 2. E. Horner. 8, W. Harvev. he, F. Key, Beverley 

 (Blue Owls); H. Yardley. c, H. Yardley. Sellino Cass— 1, T. C. & E. New- 

 bitt. 2, H. Buraip. ALMOXn Tumbler Cock Sweepstakes.— 1, A. A. Vander 

 Meersch. 



CAGE BIRDS. 

 CANARlES.-TWZoir.— I, A. J. Wells. 2. J. Thomas, Sheffield, he, C. Grmnec, 

 Doncaster (Yellow Yorkshire); H. N. Fosbrooke "(Norwich). Buff.— I, A. J, 

 Wells. 2, J. Thomas, he, W.Taylor, Belton; T. Green. Green or Variegated. 

 —1, A. J. Weils, Doncaster. 2, J. Thomas, he, A J. Wells ; T. Maynara, Ep- 

 worth. GOLnFiNcii— 1, J. Richardson. 2, J. Balmforth, Epworth. he, (i. 

 Addy, Thome; C. Gravel, jun. ; T. Mavnard. Linnet.— 1, Miss R H. Beckett, 

 Epworth. 2, W. Balmforth. he, Master J. Beckett. Epworth; W. Maw, Ep- 

 worth. Any othir Variety. — 1. A. J. Wells (Jonque Cinnamon). 2, W. 

 Chesney. Goole (Goldfinch Mule). Z, J.M. Kirke, Dnncaster (Weaver), he. Miss 

 A. Hudson (Weaver); J. M. Kirke (Weaver). 



RABBIT3. 



Lop-eabed.— Burt-.— Extra 1. A. H. Essten. 2, C. Gravil, jun. he, B. Hudson, 

 Hull: Master Arkwr ght. Doc— 1, A. H. Easten. 2, P. Ashton, Hull. 3, J. 

 Lee, Sheffield, he, Master Arkwright ; J. Lee. C.J.Howard. ANY Vabiztt. 

 — BucA- or I)oe.—\. W. Butterworth. 2, S. G. Hudson, he, A. H. Easten ; J. 

 Lnnn, York ; S. G. Hudson, Hull. 



The Judge for Poultry, Pigeons, and Cage Birds was Mr. E. Hutton, 

 Pudsey, Leeds ; those for Rabbits, Mr. E. Hutton, and Mr. J. Spinks, 

 Gainsborough. 



FLYING TUMBLERS— BIRMINGHAM ROLLERS. 

 No. 3. 



And now as to flying the birds. I have stated in a former 

 communication my opinion of the assertions of several former 

 correspondents as to their birds flying daily four and five 

 hours. I do not believe them. I would advise any young 

 fancier to rest satisfied if his birds fly well for an hour, 

 which is first-class flying, and will occupy quite as much time 

 (if he ha3 any business to attend to), as he can reasonably be 

 expected to bestow daily on hi3 birds. If he tries to make 

 them fly longer he will only end in flying them away, and the 

 reader has only to look at the communicalion from Mr. Levison, 

 in the Journal of March 21th, for a confirmation of my state- 

 ment. There are time3, however, during a peculiar state of 

 the atmosphere, when birds will fly higher and longer than 

 usual, but this does not occur very often. At such times I 

 have known my birds, when I kept them, to fly two hours ; at 

 times going beyond the range of vision ; and I have always ex- 

 perienced considerable relief when I have had them safely in 

 the pen again. An experienced fancier to whom I spoke the 

 other day upon this subject, treated the assertions of birds 

 flying, as a daily practice, four or five hours, as a little speci- 

 men of the exaggeration which I am sorry to say the flying 

 fanciers as a rule are not absolutely free from, when speaking of 

 the performances of their birds. He told me, however, that a 

 short time since his birds did fly two hours one day, and three 

 the succeeding one ; but he said he took good care to keep 

 them confined for a fortnight and put them on low diet, or they 

 would have gone altogether the third day. I would jast recom- 

 mend intending fanciers, who are ambitious to possess birds 

 that will do these long flights, to bear this little anecdote in 

 mind, but I would not recommend confining them more than 

 a day or two ; a fortnight I think too long. 



The birds should never be flown in windy or foggy weather, 

 or when there is any appearanee of a snowstorm, for they are 

 almost sure to be lost. They should bs flown morning and 

 evening during the summer, and once a-day in winter, about 

 midday. Keep the birds regularly up to their work, as many good 

 birds are spoiled by being kept down. Allow no skulking on 

 any account ; for if once a bird finds he can shirk a fly he will 

 always do it, and cause endless trouble by learning others the 

 same bad habit. If a bird becomes a confirmed skulker, send it 

 away at once, or keep it as a breeder. There are, however, birds 

 which are bad starters, but when once fairly on the wing fly 

 with the best. The way to tnanage such is as follows :— Torn 

 out only birds which are known to be willing starters, and which 

 there is no difficulty in driving up. Then carry the bad starters 

 as far as possible from the building, and throw them up among 

 the birds as they come round. It is of no use trying to drive such 

 birds up with the rest of the flight ; they will only spoil the 

 others, which will go when turned out of their own free will. 

 Many fanciers keep a long bamboo cane with a piece of rag 

 tied to the end to drive up their birds ; but this is not an orna- 

 mental appendage to any establishment, nor is it needful with 

 a well-managed and well-fed flight if the plan I recommend of 

 throwing up the bad starters is followed. Some fanciers make 

 a practice of taking their birds regularly off their eggs to fly 

 them. This can be done without much risk during hot weather ; 

 but if the fancier wants particularly to rear young ones, I would 

 recommend flying the cock bird in the morning, and the hen at 



