300 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTORE AND COTTAGE GABDBNEB. 



[ April 19, 1877. 



hibitor, whose name we are not at liberty to publish, writes : 

 " I am quite tired of setting eggs, having had such terribly bad 

 luck with them this year." From another county a well-known 

 lady fancier writes : " I have had clear eggs, very many shell- 

 lesB eggs, chickens die in the shells, paucity of broody hens — in 

 fact, everything but chickens." While, to close the melancholy 

 part of our catalogue, we quote from a letter received this morn- 

 ing from a very well known breeder and exhibitor of nearly a 

 score ot years' duration : " I have never before had such bad 

 luck. I have nearly sixty hens put up for breeding, and I have 

 not a chicken for every hen. Nest after nest of clear eggs I 

 have had, and from runs where cockerels and two-year cocks are 

 with the hens I have to tell you of the same bad luck. White 

 Cochins have beeu the worst, if there has been one variety 

 worse than another; while in the face of all this at the farms 

 in the neighbourhood the hens have laid well and hatched well. 

 As I had eggs so early I had hoped to have been well to the 

 front this year, and am very vexed about the matter." 



In conclusion we will mention two little matters which we 

 gather from our friends' correspondence about this year's hatch- 

 ings — nearly all seem to say that the chickens they have are 

 nnnsually strong and hearty. Personally, we have not had one 

 die or even ail, and this we hear has been almost generally the 

 case; and then we are also told that egg-purchasers have been 

 less complaining than usual. We nearly all know doubtless 

 how those who buy eggs expect often more than they get, but 

 we are told that many vendors have had satisfactory letters this 

 year in place of complaint, and one or two purchased sittings 

 which have come under our knowledge have been singularly 

 successful. 



All we require now is pleasant and genial weather to make 

 the youngsters grow, for we know of many broods which require 

 Bome such start, and then we shall look forward to the chicken 

 shows with pleasant feelings of anticipation. — W. 



THE LANGSHAN FOWL. 



Their brilliant black plumage, the whiteness and delicacy of 

 their flesh, and the richness of their eggs .are worthy of high 

 commendation. After the Crystal Palace show it was suggested 

 that a club should be formed in order to keep the race pure and 

 make known its many excellent qualities. A meeting was ac- 

 cordingly convened at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, on 

 February 21bt, when the rules which appear iu your advertising 

 columns were drawn up and passed. In January of this year a 

 gentleman resident in Aberdeen, who is a great poultry farmer, 

 received an importation of Langshans from a friend temporarily 

 resident in China. He exhibited two pens of these birds at the 

 Koyal Northern Agricultural Show held there in February, and 

 they were not only acknowledged as a pure and distinct breed, 

 but were awarded the first and second prizes in the variety 

 class for pure-bred fowls. 



The Acclimatisation Society does not exhibit birds at private 

 shows, but a paper published by the Society in February gives 

 an account of the poultry show held at the Palais de I'Industrie. 

 It contains some interesting remarks on the Langshan, some 

 specimens having been exhibited by MM. Pichol and Roger. 

 These birds they speak of as magnificent; and in treaticg of 

 the Langshan generally great stress is laid on the fineness of 

 the flesh, the lightness of the framework, and the richness of 

 the eggs. 



A recent letter from China informs me that in the locality 

 whence the Langshan derives the name by which it is known to 

 Europeans it is held in great veneration as a joss or sacred bird, 

 as the Chineso offer of their best and most beautiful to their 

 gods, and have always been jealous of parting with them. It is 

 during moult th.at Europeans have the best chance, as they are 

 then considered unfit tor sacrifice. The writer adds, " Since 

 we have kept Langshans we have been spoilt for the birds pur- 

 chased in the markets. We do not now care to see what you 

 call a Cochin on the table. The flesh of the Langshan is supe- 

 rior, and so is also its egg in size and quality. As for the Black 

 Cochins you ask me about, there are no such birds in China. 

 The Chinese s:iy these birds are allied to the wild Turkey. I 

 do not vouch for the truth of this statement, but when denuded 

 of its feathers the Langshan has much the appearance of that 

 bird, and a well-fed Langshan is certainly equal to even the 

 most delicate Turkey put on table." — An Admlrek of the 

 TjJiNasHAN, Southampton. 



WANSBECK POULTRY, &c., SHOW. 



The annual Show was held at Morpeth, on the Terrace (in a 

 tent erected for the purpose), on the 14th inst., when the entries 

 were nearly a hundred in advance of those of last year. The 

 Show was very well attended, the place being crowded the 

 whole of the afternoon. 



There were two champion pieces of plate, one of which was 

 won by Buff Cochins, the hen in which pen was a marvellous 

 bird; the other going to a grand pair of Dackwing Game. 



Brahmas were a fair lot ; the first, an adult pair, were large and 

 true to marking, and the hen particularly good on fluff and 

 cushion. Dorkings, first a gi-and pair ; the second hen was the 

 best, bat cock in bad order. Of Sjjanish there were but two 

 pens, but these were very good. Samburghs were a capital 

 section and the entries large, the cocks iu the Silver-spangles 

 being particularly good in tail. There were several very good 

 pens of Gold-spangles, but the first were as near faultless as we 

 ever expect to find them. Silver-pencils were more regular in 

 quality than we generally find them, but the Golden were not 

 as good as we usually see northwards. Black Reds won in the 

 Red Game classes, a pair of young birds being first. The 

 cockerel a capital bird, but the pullet (though gamey and full of 

 style), rather ragged in feather. Beyond the cup Duckwings 

 there was nothing striking in the next two classes, but single 

 hens were a large and exceptionally good class. Game llnntams 

 were good in all the classes. The pair of Piles in the Variety 

 and the Pile in Single cocks were very grand in style and colour; 

 and in the next class Blacks were first and White-booted 

 secaud. Both pairs particularly good. Cochins won in both of 

 the Single-bird classes. In cocks a Spanish was second, and in 

 hens a Dorking obtained that position. Ducks were a mixed 

 lot. A grand pair of Aylesburys were first, Rouen second, and 

 Carolinas very highly commended. 



Pigeons had a few classes, of which Pouters were first on the 

 list, the winners being a Blue hen in grand form, and second an 

 equally showy White. Carriers. — First a Dun cock good in eye 

 and beak wattle ; second a Black, a fine promising young bird. 

 Tarbits were a good class. First a very correct Yellow, and 

 second a Blue, good in head but a little foul on thigh. Antwerps. 

 — First a R-d Chequer, very good in head but failing somewhat 

 on the beak; second a Silver Dun. Nuns poor except the first 

 hen ; and Magpies a good class, though some showed too great a 

 familiarity with coal dust. In Dragoons first was a Yellow 

 cock grand in head and colour ; second a Blue, also good. The 

 Variety class was excellent. First and champion cup a perfect 

 little White Owl ; extra first an Almond cock, which, however, 

 showed the effects of the cold ; and second a capital Black Barb. 



Of Cage Birds there was a capital collection, but the place was 

 too cold, and many fine specimens showed the effects thereof. 

 Norwich were very good; first a Mealy and second a Jonque, 

 but the first in best bloom. Marked Canaries were first a 

 Jonque and second Buff, both four-pointed birds. Mules were 

 a grand class, every one being noticed; first a four-pointed 

 Linnet, aud second an almost clear Jonque Goldfinch Mule. 

 The first-named was the best in the Show except that it looked 

 sSdly stained, otherwise nothing could have wrested the medal 

 from it. In common Canaries there were some neat slender 

 birds. The first and medal for best in the Show was awarded 

 to a Silver Lizard in the Variety class ; the second a very good 

 crested Jonque Norwich. 



Fothergill's pens were used, and most was made of the room 

 at disposal; Messrs. Nichol and Arkle, the Secretaries, being 

 constantly in attendance. 



POULTRY.— CocHiNS.-Cup and 1, G. H. Proctor. 2, T. Pye. Brahma 

 PooTKAS.— 1, J. Anderson. 2, Mia3 Coatea. vhc, J. Sorbie, R. Shield, R. Sewell. 

 DoRKiNOS.-I, W. Swan. 2. W. Morfltt. Spanish.— 1, R. Shield. 2, R Chari- 

 ton. Hamburohs —SHvcr-spangled.—\, G. Alderson. 2, J. Stnttard. vhc, G. 

 Walker, R. Blackburn. GoWen-sjxinglciJ.—l, J. Jackson. 2. J. Roberts, vhc, 

 R Keenleyside, P. D. Henderson. Silver-pencilled —1, D. Clow. 2, Rev. I. N. 

 Williams, ufcc, D. Clow, J. Stnddard GoMen-penciIfeli.-l, A. Stephenson. 2, 

 H Sanders, vhc, T. Dodds. Game.— Biock or Brown Redn.—l, J. Young. 2, 

 W. Johnson, iiftc, R. Niobol, W. Davison. Any other variety.— Cn]^ and 1, J. 

 Nel-on a. Wilson & Hetherington. Any variety —Cock.— \, Wilson and 

 Hetherington. 2, J. Nelson, vhc, 3. Pattiaon. Hen.—\, W. Yoanghusband. 

 2 T Hutcheson. vhc, W. Johnson. W. Faax. Game Bantams.— BiaCK or 

 Brou'iiReiis— 1. J. Ferry. 2. G.Downey, iilic, J. Nelson, H Sharp. Any other 

 variety.— \, Wilson & Hetherineton. 2 and vtic. T. Paisly. Any variety.— 

 Cock.-l, Birlev & Walker. 2, T DoweU. vhc. G. Dowie. Miss I. Seymour. 

 Hen.—l, G. Btll. 2, Mias Seymour. vlic.J. Nelsun, J. Allison, T. Young, A. 

 Todd. Any Vahiety EXCEPT Game Bantams.— I.J.Anderson. 2, S. Clapham. 

 vhc R. H. Ashton. Any Vakiety except Game -Coed —1, G. H Proctur. 2, 

 T. Newlands. vhc. R. Sewell, F. Young, G. Latlimer. Hen -1, G. H. Proctor. 

 2 P.Henderson. vhc.T. Newlands. T. Ni.ton. J. Rogers. Sellino Class —1, 

 R. Blackburn. 2, Purvis & tryer. Docks. -1, F. E. Gibson. 2, J. Nelson, vlie, 



PIGEONS.— PODTERS. —Cocfc or Hen.—\ and vhc, Wilson & Orange. 2. A. P. 

 Bylord. CABEIERS.-Cocfc or Hen.—l, H. Yardley. 2 and vhc. WUson and 

 Orange. Fantails.— 1 and 2, W. J. Warhurst Turbits.— 1, N, Frazer. 2, G. 

 Alderson. ANXWEBPS.-Cock or Hen.— I and 2. H. Yardlev. NuNS.-Cocfc or 

 Hen—1, W. J. Warhurst. 2, R. S. Magee. MAOPiEa.— Cock or hen.—l anda, 

 Wilson i Orange, vhc, W. J. Warhurst. Wilson i Orange. Draooons.- 1, W. 

 W. Jacks. 2 and vhc, W. C. Moody. Any othfe Variety.— Cup, G. Alderson. 

 Extra 1 and 2, H. Yardley. Selling Class —Cocit or Hen.—l, N. Frazer. a, 

 Wilson & Orange, vhc, A. P. Bytord, J. Bell, jun , Wilson 4 Orange. 



CAGE BIRDS.— Norwich —Yellow or Buff.— I. C. Nevin. 2. J. Robaon. vhe, 

 J. f^pence, Baxter & Hobleirk (2). CANARiES.-ilfor*«ii.— Cocft or Ben.— I, J. 

 Robaon. 2, Baxter & Hobleirk. vhe, C. Nevin. Common, Buff or Yellow.— 

 Cocfcor Hen- l.D.Lunman. 3. T. Marehall. u/ic. C. Novin, J Smith. Moles. 

 —Cock or Hen.—l, J. Spence. 2, J. Smith, vhc, Stevens & Tenniswood, Bax- 

 ter & Hobleirk. Any other Variety.- Cocfc or iJen.— Medal and 1, Stevens 

 and Tenniswood. 2, Baxter & Ho*>leirk. vhc, D. Lunman, J. Robaon, C. 

 Nevin Selling Class.- Cock or Hen.-l. J. Spencc. 2, J. Robaon. 



CATS-ToMs.- Medal and 1. T Weigbtman. 2, W. G. Bolam. vhc, T. 

 MoUatt. Queens.- 1. Mias M. Nichol. 2, Miss Taylor. Any other Variety. 

 —1, G.Owen. 2, T. Weigbtman. 



The Judge was Mr. E. Hatton, Pudsey. 



Toads Eating Bees. — Apropos of the question (which has 

 been disputed) whether toads eat bees, M. Brunei states iu La 



