JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Jljy 19. 1S70. 



given by private subscriptions. Pigeons and Rabbits are in- 

 cluded. 



BROWN RED GAME BANTAMS. 



On opening my Journal of the 12th inst., I was glad to see 

 that my old opponent " Gallus," has now become a supporter 

 of Game Bintanu, and I can cordially endorse his remarks, 

 that it is high time a separate class for Brown Reds were 

 formed. I have for years bred them, but have only exhibited 

 them on a few occasions, and although successfully, I have re- 

 frained from exhibiting them regularly, owing to there being 

 no special class for them. I am of opinion, that Game Bantams 

 are now bred so numerously, and of such good quality, that 

 they should have as many classes as Hamburghs and others, 

 and I think their acknowledged position demands it. I cannot, 

 however, agree with " Gallus," in his opinion, that they 

 should be clashed with Duckwings and Piles. I think that 

 where the standing of the show will not allow a separate class 

 for them, the Brown Reds should be classed with the Black 

 Reds, although I am a breeder of all kinds of Game Bantams 

 and Game. No doubt my views, as well as those of " Gallus," 

 will be opposed, but I would remind such opponents that 

 I had to write through this Journal twelve or fourteen years 

 ago, to demonstrate the fact that it waB high time there were 

 separate classes for Game Bantams. My ideas at that time 

 were scouted as impracticable, but of their correctness we have 

 now ample proof, and I am sanguine that if a separate class 

 for Brown Rels be formed it will prove equally successful. 



I am simply adding my testimony in the favour of the 

 ideas of " Gallus," in the interest of poultry exhibitors and 

 committees generally, as I have just cause to look back on my 

 career as a Black Red Game Bantam breeder and exhibitor 

 with pride and satisfaction. This, I remark, in no egotistical 

 spirit, as a class for Brown Reds will be of no pecuniary ad- 

 vantage to myself. — John Crosland, jun. 



GAME FOWLS. 



Game fowls are, for the most part, tolerably well judged, but 

 occasionally we see prizes given to birds whose exterior is at 

 once both ugly and coarse. No doubt some of excessively large 

 size have rather an attractive and imposing appearance so 

 long as they remain stationary in a pen, but when they have 

 an unlimited run you will often find them both inactive and 

 listless, frequently lying down, their great weight and inor- 

 dinate length of leg incapacitating them from displaying that 

 active and restless spirit so natural to a bird of great purity. We 

 do not want a Game fowl to have the proportions of a Brahma 

 or a Cochin, but to be possessed of all the neatness and royal 

 beauty characteristic of this bird when not contaminated by 

 injudicious crosses. It is not a very pleasing eight to Bee the 

 judges in handling Game fowls, have to hug them in their arms, 

 the great weight and unseemly proportions of the birds alto- 

 gether preventing a more scientific and less ridiculous manner 

 of handling. 



Some bleeders have an inordinate passion to obtain great size, 

 but I think this quite a mistake, as we often find the future 

 progeny full of imperfections, such as crooked and deformed 

 backs aDd breasts, with less spirit and slower movements. The 

 young broods are also more difficult to rear, with feebler con- 

 stitutions and great tendency to cramp and leg weakness. 



I once heard a judge say, that the first glance was sufficient 

 for him to decide upon the merits of a pen ; but I should doubt 

 this, as we know too well that some birds have a very striking ap- 

 pearance at first sight, but on closer scrutiny their points do not 

 improve; whereas in others it will be found on closer acquaint- 

 ance that the desired excellence improves under inspection. 



I do not think it possible for any judge, however competent, 

 to form an accurate opinion of a Game cock's merits without 

 handling. Good condition, free from natural defects, soundness 

 of feather and constitution, are important points. Sometimes 

 we see prizes go to birds that are suffering from an impaired 

 constitution owing to being too often exhibited ; this I consider 

 a great defect, indeed, far more objectionable than a few stray 

 red feathers in the breast of a cock or the wing of a hen, or 

 even a slightly defective comb. In the first place it is cruelty 

 to exhibit birds whose pale and sickly faces, drooping tails (dry 

 and open feathered), and spiritless condition are evident signs 

 of failing health. Secondly, they are not fit to use for breed- 

 ing purposes, nor are they fit for a less legitimate use ; indeed, 

 no cocker would admit birds so ailing to his feeding pens. I 

 have heard, but never saw it, of exhibitors giving their birds a 



slight sponge bath a short time previous to the judges making 

 their awards ; for the purpose, I should suppose, of causing a 

 temporary renovation of their failing energies, and also to re- 

 duce the dry and open appearance of the feathers. 



I have often thought that the judgment at all poultry shows 

 ought to be fairly and honestly criticised. Judges are, as I may 

 say, public property, and ought not to shrink from seeing their 

 arbitrations justly animadverted upon. We have a few gentle- 

 men of taste who attend the principal part of our Ehows, who are 

 fully competent to do this, and whose comments would be 

 honest and free from the slightest prejudice.— Yolkshibe. 



PACKING EGGS FOR TRAVELLING. 

 I bad a sitting of eggs this season from the R^v. J. Ellis, 

 Bracknell, Berks, in number thirteen ; each egg was wrapped in 

 paper, single-folded, then packed in moss and hay, in a frail 

 hamper, sent by railway from Bracknell to Milnthorpe, near 

 Kendal, and they were brought from Milnthorpe Station to Old 

 Hall, a matter of three miles, in a heavy cart, jolting en a rough 

 road the whole way, but certainly by mistake. When I received 

 them one egg was broken ; I placed the others under a hen, and 

 eight strong chickens were hatched; other two eggs had chicks 

 in them, but they had apparently been dead about a week. I 

 quite believe freBh eggs can be sent any distance with tolerable 

 good packing, with like success. — Jas. Glessall, Old Hall, 

 Alilnthorpe. 



WHITE COCHINS AT THE GUILDFORD 

 POULTRY SHOW. 

 As we know from the letter of Mr. Pares, in the number of 

 May 5th, there is to be a poultry show at Guildford, in July 

 next, open to all England. This must be a matter of con- 

 gratulation to us all, and it is to be hoped that all ccunties will 

 muster well. Most of the varieties have cups. Mr. Pares is 

 getting up a cup for the Game classes, as he told us in his 

 letter. I am canvassing for a cup for White Cochins. Will 

 breeders of this variety come to my aid, and assist me ? I shall 

 insert a list of all contributions in the pageB of this paper, and 

 I trust many will support me, and send in their subscriptions 

 to me for this cup, which will be " for the best pen of White 

 Cochins in the show." — Reginald S. S. Woodgaie, Pembury 

 Vicarage, Tonbridge Wells, Kent. 



THE POULTRY FANCY IN AMERICA. 



In common, no donbt, witli some other of your reader?, I have re- 

 ceived the first nnmber of the Poultry Bulletin, just started by the 

 New York State Poultry Society, as the organ of the poultry and 

 other kindred " fancies," aud which is to be issued monthly. I have 

 read it with much interest of course, and as it has, besides, yielded 

 me a great deal of pleasure, and some amusement also in noticing how 

 strongly the American national character oomes out therein, I have 

 thought a few remarks on it may not be amiss before resuming more 

 serious business. 



This new periodical is only one of many signs that the poultry fancy 

 in America bos sprung again into vigorous vitality. Each season, 

 for at least three years past, has brought me fresh personal evidence 

 of this fact, and my impression is that ere long, without one particle 

 of " mania" or any sign of " hen fever," there will be a sustained and 

 serious interest in the subject not inferior to that felt by the readers of 

 " our Journal." For a considerable time scientific breeding has been 

 much neglected in America, and is even now little understood except 

 by a few fanciers, the result being seen in the fact that most of the 

 best stocks are advertised as " imported " from us ; but this will very 

 soon mend itself, and there are signs in this very first number of the 

 new journal that the energetic, practical working of the American mind 

 may speedily turn the tables if our breeders do not look about them. 



For instance, how often over here have we debated the extent and 

 duration of the cock's influence; but what has ever leen done to 

 determine it ? Our cousins do the thing differently, and this is the 

 way in which Messrs. Frycl" Co., well known as breeders and importers, 

 set about with the matter. " We propose," say they. " to place a 

 laying Black Spanish hen with a rose-combed White Dorking cock ; 

 then to remove her and pen her by herself apart from any cock, and 

 to place her eggs laid while thus apart, either in the incubator or 

 under hens, until we shall have established the fact that she is laying 

 eggs which are not fertile. We shall then put her with a Black 

 Spanish cock, and marking each egg that she shall t'aen lay we shall 

 hatch them. By this means we can establish how many of the eggs 

 are impregnated, and whether the influence of the cock extends beyond 

 thoBe actually fecundated. We shall be glad to furnish the result of 

 this investigation to the Society." 



I shall myself wait the result of this scientific mode of investigation 

 with much interest, and if no one forestall me will duly announce it 

 in your columns, but I only point is out here as a sign that our trans- 



