January 4, 1877- 1 



;OUP.KAL 01-' U0STICULTUR3 AND COTTAGB GAKDESEK. 



19 



bftve become heieditary, and with a guaranteed pedigree certain 

 qnalities may be depended upon. 



It is iu thia sense shows are useful. Tieymake comparison 

 €aay, and they afford an open book in whicli anyone mav reafi ; 

 they are always well atteuJed, and consequemly proQtalile. 

 They attain the end they bava in view, for it is known to Ihose 

 ■who have t.) do with them that some breeds cannot be kept lean, 

 and are obliged to be reduced at certain periods of their lives. 



Our poultry shows have differed, inasmuch as mauy have not 

 daring the year been ancoeasful. With a very few exceptions 

 they have shuwn a falling-off, and have ended in a loss. Com- 

 mittees and exhibitoi-s do not understand each other. The first 

 bowto dictition in tbe matterof publishing judges' names be-fore 

 the show ; the others fancy the show cannot go on without them, 

 when in fact their birds are valueless and useless without shows. 

 Th^y forget nuiess they attract the public their birdH mi>»ht as 

 well stay at home- This is true of the largest as well as the 

 smallest shows, and independent exhibitors are in consequence 

 oanvassed and solicited to exhibit. The shows are too numerous 

 by half, and tbe best class of exhibitors have ceased to show, 

 hence the widesproid discouragement. Tbe declension has 

 been gradual but incessant since new rules and practices sprung 

 up. Admission while the judges are at work, surronnded by 

 people with open catalogues in their hands; tbe kno vb'uge 

 that any good cheap bird will be snapped np by those who 

 attend for that purpose — these thingi do mischief that no 

 nnmber of selling classes will remedy. The strainiug after a 

 large number of entL-ies, and the accomplishment of the fact by 

 showing only single birds, causing a weariness of sight and body 

 at the monotonous class of fifty hens, each occupying a single 

 pen, and all so much alike that an unpractised eye can see no 

 difference in them. 



Those who eschew the shadow of exhibiting, and seek the 

 snbstance in the shape of table poultry, dream only of very large 

 establishmente of thousands of hens, rows of buildings and 

 poultry farms. There is always an idea that the supervision 

 necessary in a small place may be avoided in a larger. This is 

 a mistake : success in poultry as in anything else is the result of 

 labour and painstaking. We hear much of eking out a small 

 income by its means, but we are sorry to say such *' eking" 

 meauB to put more work on a maid who has already more than 

 she can do. Nine out of ten of the failures of those who have 

 tried poaltry only to be deceived, arise from the fact that pride 

 is too powerful with the ladies who wish to adopt poultry an a 

 means of income. They would exact from the buyer as much 

 deference as from a seller. It cannot he- Just as Solomon said, 

 " the borrower is aerviut to the Imder," so the seller must give 

 way to the buyer. There is not the semblance of anything bat 

 " kindliness " in this, but we must tell the truth. As usual she 

 is at tbe bottom of t je well, but we will guarantee when she is 

 found she will say there is help to be had from poultry. There 

 will always be a difference between buying and selling. Bat it is 

 not so marked as people fancy. A m*n who wants to bny will 

 buy where he gets the best quality at the lowest price without 

 asking the social standing of the seller. 



There mu?t be a limit to everything, and it Dorkings were 

 had larger than they were some years ago they would rival 

 Geese. They maintdn their fall weight, nor do we think tbey 

 decrease in numbers. There were formerly but t-s-o claessa for 

 each breed, now there are six — adult and young cocks, hens and 

 pallets, Belling classes of cocks and hens. The same may bo 

 said of almost all the classes. Cochins are stationary, if not 

 inferior. Brahmas increase in numbers but not in quality. In 

 these two breeds the competition decreases for tbe reason that 

 prizes are awarded to hideous vulture hooked birds. People 

 know not what to breed or what to show. Spanish havrj re- 

 mained stationary, but they will again come to tho fore. Game 

 as usual hold tboir own, and always will ; as a rule at all our 

 large shows they are the best judged of any of our classes- The 

 cross of the Malay is visible in many of tho birds shown, but Iho 

 jadgHB avoid it. The Malays are on the increase in numbers; 

 there are not wanting excellent specimens among them, bnt 

 there are also many birds that are not pare-bred — for instauce, 

 many are shown with an ample dewlap. We do not know to 

 what to attribute it, but among the Hamburghs, favourites 

 with everyone, in both breeds the Golden are much better than 

 the Silvers. Some of the Golden-pencilled have been almost 

 everywhere perfect. The Silver-spangled are better than the 

 Silver-ppucilled. 



The French breeds, if by that name we mean the Crcve- 

 Cojar and the Hondan, show excellent birds, but they have jet 

 to prove they briug us any quality we did not already possess. 

 The La Flt-ohe show poorly. 



The Polish increase in numbers and maintain their quality; 

 we are glad of it. Tuey are old and worthy favourites. Bantams 

 are always popular. Sebrights make smaller classes yiar after 

 year. Tbe G-tme iucrease in numbers and are good in quality. 

 VVe Btill mourn the Cochins. In these as in their larger hrtjlbron, 

 the variooa class gives any meritorious breed the opportunity 

 of distinguishi'jg itself. Thsse seem to be the ante-rooms from 



which birds pass either to be returned tj their varied companion- 

 Hhip or to form classes. An attempt was made by the Le^horn8 

 to claim a class, and their claim was admitted. They contrived 

 to send three pens to compete for two prizes. We suppose they 

 should bo Bent back again. Turkeys appear stationary, Imt they 

 for some time took giant's strides, and cannot always do so. 

 The pure American seems to be disappearing from onr birds. 



Geese are as heavy but not as numerous as ever. The Rouen 

 Ducks have beaten Aylesburys in everyway, weight and num- 

 bers. The Labrador or Buenos Ayrean Dtick deserves every 

 mention of praise for symmetry, brilliancy of colour, and 

 diminutive size. The class for fancy Ducks has been a great and 

 a deserved success. Birds that a fow years ago were kept oat of 

 siijht and only looked at by stealth, now bear the scrutiny of 

 hundreds without blinking, and care nothing for it. Thay are 

 also shown in exquisite condition. Caroliuiia aud Mandarins 

 are become common. Tht y make room for Casarkas, Whistling 

 Ducks, Bar-headed Geese, Chilian Pintail, and many others. 



Oar task draws to a close. It has not been a satisfactory one, 

 but we have felt it our duty to speak plainly to our friends and 

 readers. Committees will find it difficult to please the business 

 and pleasure element at the same time- Tho latter will come 

 when it pleases, the former must come; " 'Tis its vocation, Hil." 

 There is no reason why they should be antagouistic, _ Every 

 pursuit under the sun ebbs aud (lows, and ao a rule it is at the 

 ebb it is most inclined to learn. 



We always defer speaking of ourselves till the end. It is tha 

 least pleasing of all our duties. There is no reason why it 

 should be so. We can lay onr hands upon onr waistcoats and 

 say we try to do right and to fill worthily tho place our friends 

 have given us. That which has been given us we will do our 

 best to keep. We never have nor will we cause undeserved pain to 

 anyone. We will be parties to nothing that may not he openly 

 published in our pages. We will, to the best of our ability, deal 

 kiodly tind seek the merited esteem of all with whom we hav.e 

 to do. We have prospered during the past year, and with full 

 hearts we wish, in this our first number of 1877, to eubscribers, 

 contributors, and all friends — 



A Happy Kew Yeab. 



PBEPABING FOWLS FOP. EXHIBITION 



When wb exhibited fowls, which we did at one time quite 

 largely, our birds intended for exhibition were taken in hand 

 some two weeks in advance, aad kept in a room or peu well 

 littered with straw or hay, under which wan spread sufficient 

 earth to soak up all moisture which might be dropped. Tho 

 morning feed was always cooked meal and bran, aud about a 

 table-spooufal of linseed oil-cake to each fowl. At noon it was 

 cooked meat and chopped onions, cabbage or other vegetables. 

 At night, raw meat and whole grain, either corn, wheat or barley. 

 Gravel and lime rubbish was always wittiin their reach, also 

 fresh wat^r with a little tincture of iron or tonic of soine kind 

 added. Twice a week we gave each bird a bit of assafmlida the 

 size of a hazel nut ; this increases the appetite, as well as acting 

 as a corrective and preventive of disease. 



Birds thus fed will acquire a hardness and lustre of plumage 

 which is forsigu to those picked up at random from among the 

 flock.— (--ImCTiCfHi Pet Stock Bulletin.) 



BROUGHTY FSRET SHOW OF PODLTEY, &c. 



This was held in the Good Templar Hall, Broughty Ferry, on 

 the 22od and 23rd ult. The foUowiugis the list of awards :— 



POULTRy.-Dop.ii[NG3-Coc*--lanaCup.G. S. Eobb 2, R Cram. 3, Mrs' 

 Armitstead. i,-1 Mackenzie, v^c, Mrs- J. Smart £f60i — ^ Mrs- Armitstoad* 

 2, G. S. Robb. S, J- Arthur, vhc. A. Tho 

 J. Wyde. 2, Mrs. Davidson. 3,"' 



1. CocfiiNa-— C06'te.— 1 and Cap* 



„. „ _, _. Arrnitatcad. -1, Mrs. W. Steven. hen.~l* 



Mrs. Davidson. 2, J. VVyse. 5 and -t, Mrs W. Steven, vhc, Mrs. Armitstead' 



2, J. H Winter. S, M' 



„„„. ^ ., „. 3, Lioot--Col. Rice, i, J. A. Dempster" 



he, Mrs. J. Smart. Hauz.— Brown Red.— Uock— I andCnp, J.Salmond. 2. W 

 Webster. 3. J. Barrie. u/ic, J- M'Ueth.W. Webster. Any other colour.— Cock' 

 — ], W. Baillie. 2- A. Brown. 3, J- Ramsay- Anit colour.-Hen—i and 2, J' 

 Barrie. 3, J. Mackintosh, vhc, W. calder. Hamburohs.— Spanffied-— 1, J' 

 .lackion. 2, W. Abel. 3, T. Gilruy. 4, J. Masterton. vhc, W. Straton, W 

 Lums ten. Pencilled.— \ and 3. W- Milne- 2, J. Cochrane. Blac>!.—1 a'ld Cap> 

 Mrs- Spence. 2, 3, and 4, T. Gilroy. vhe, J. Giierson. LeoBiaNs.— CocK — 1> 

 H. CunliSe. 2, S. Bradbary. 8, W- Baillie Hen.— 1 and Cup, S. BradbaiT. 2- 

 Mrs. Spenco. 3, A. Walker. FaESCH Fowls. -1. J. B. Brown. 2. J. M* 

 stronner. S.M.Todd. BiNTAMS —Game.— Coct.—l, A. Walker. 2, J. Dargie- 

 3, . I. D. Donald, ti/w. J. T. Shield. Hen.— 1, J. Kidd. 2. J. D. Donald. 3. A. 

 Walker. Any other varietij.-l. Cup. and vhc, J. U. Donald- 2, A. Pratt. 8. 8. 

 Milner. Spa»ish.—1 and Cnp. A. Grieve. 2 and 3, J. Maokie. ^/lo, W. H.Low. 

 Asv OTUIH Vamstv.-I, J. & A. Laird- 2. K. Scotl S, A. Walker. DucKB.— 

 l.A. Mackie- 2, D. A. Smaat- n. 3. Admiral M. Donjall. d)ic. I>. A. Smealon. 

 Sellisq Ci.iSS.— OocS: or ben.-l, J. Barrio. 2, Mrs A. G. Uancan. 3. D. 

 Ross 4, W. Smith, vhc, J. f oihtringham, Jan., T. Gilroy, A. Williamson, J. 

 Sftlmoni, A. Mackie- _ « . « a l ^ xr 



PlGEOMS.-PoDTKBS.— CocJe.— 1, .1. C. Lycll. 2- J. Uiuo. 8 and tiW, G. Ure. 

 Hen. -I. 2, and 3. G. Ure. i, J. 0- byell. Yoanr, Coekor Hen.—l, Cap, a d 2.G. 

 Ure. 8. O. Alexander, vhc. J Mitchcl'. i'ahbibi'.s or BAnB8.-Cpc« or Hen. 

 -I and 2. K. VV. Bryee. 3. J. Laniont- i'ln. vhc, D. Paton. loMBL,"Rfl.- 

 Shotlfueed.-Cock or Hen.-l. R. w. Br.v.ie, 2. .1. -M. Iv-.lil. 8. l). Brash. 

 Common-Cock or Hen.-1 and Molal, VV, & A. Crawford. 2 and 3, W- Steven- 

 son. 4, J. Cowe- JiO .mss.-Cocft or lien - 1, W. H. Poberls. 2 and 8 K. W. 

 Bryco. FAKTAH,8.-t'ocft or Uen.-\ and Cup. G. Ure. 2 and 4, A bimth. 3, L 

 Spence. vhe, W. H. Roberts, J. F. Loversi-Jgc. Tobbits.— C'ocA; or Ucn.-l, J 



