JOURNAL OF HOBTIOULTOBB AND COTTAGE GAKUENEB. 



[ Jane U, 1877. 



jnst published. In the Appendix is an epitome of the chief con- 

 tents to facilitate reference. 



A NEW HEN COOP. 



I HAVE endeavoured to constrnct a hen coop which would 

 effectually shelter young chickens from the cold and wet. The 

 ordinary hen coops are useless for outdoor chicken-rearing ; the 

 rain drivicg in at the front of them thoroughly drenches the hen 

 and chickens, and in very heavy showers the wet runs in at the 

 bottom. In this coop these disadvantages are avoided, and with 

 it no shed is requited. It protects the chickens from vermin 

 when shut up, and at the same time allows them plenty of ven- 

 tilation. The roof projecting over the front keeps out the rain, 

 whilst a raised board placed under the coop (and which should 

 always be covered with dry sand or ashee) keeps the chickens 

 ont of the wet. 



It is made from wood three-quarters of an inch thick. Fig. G3 

 shows the front side of the coop ; it is 2 feet long and 18 inches 



Fig. 63. 



high, a a a a are the apertures through which the chickens 

 pass, the openings being 12 inches high, 2J wide, and are divided 

 by thin iron rods a quarter of an inch in diameter, the middle 

 rod being loose, and when pushed up permits the hen passing 

 in and out; b is the slide which closes the apertures at night; 

 c c c are holes for ventilation three-quarters of an inch across : 

 these being under the eaves the chickens are not exposed to 

 cold winds, yet they always have plenty of ventilation. 



Fig. 64. 



Fig 04 shows the coop with raised floor placed underneath. 

 d is the door, which terms part of the front side of the roof. 

 The roof projects over about an inch at each end and S inches at 

 the sides. The end is 21 inches high at the highest point and 

 21 inches wide, e o are ventilating holes, which should only be 

 made at one end, thereby avoiding draught. — W. Smith, ton., 

 Easthorpe, Bottexford, Notts. 



THE ALEXANDBA PALACE POULTRY SHOW. 



From the peculiar circumstances in which the directors of 

 the above building wore placed last year no show of poultry was 

 within their power, but a new company has since been formed, 

 and the second Exhibition is proposed to be held on October IGth, 

 17th, and Ifith. It will be entirely for chickens, and will, we 

 hope, be as successful as on the last occasion. There will be a 

 rule in the schedule to the following effect : that all exhibitors 



discovered trying to obtain a prize by any dishonourable or 

 fi'.iudulent means will be disqualified and forfeit all other prizes 

 they may have won. This should at least act as a preventive 

 to trimming, showing old birds for young, or, in Pigeons, cocks 

 for hens. In making this rule the authorities will have done 

 their part, but we do hope the Judges will be very careful. 

 It would be a grievous wrong with this new rule if they dis- 

 qnalitied wrongly, as has been done, and quite as unjust to 

 others if they fail to disqualify because of any uncertainty 

 when the case really deserved exposure, as has been also done. 

 In a case where any real doubt or uncertainty exists a parlia- 

 ment of fanciers chosen from those present would be a good 

 thing, who would be able to confer with the Judge, and so not 

 throw all the onus on him. The birds will be admitted on 

 Monday, judged, and the Show opened the following day, closing 

 on Thursday. They will be dispatched the same evening, 

 reaching their homes on Friday. The Honorary Secretary is 

 Mr. W. J. Nicholls, who will be glad to hear from any person 

 who is wishful to advance any particular variety by providing 

 money for prizes or a cup. We hope he will gain outside 

 support, for we hear the promoters have not been met over- 

 liberally by the Palace Company. Within a few days after this 

 Exhibition will come the old-established and popular Oxford 

 meeting; but we do not think either Society will wish each 

 other anything but success, and we hope both Secretaries will 

 co-operate where necessary, as on a former occasion, so that in 

 spite of the close proximity of dates they may both be well sup- 

 ported and deserve the great fame and prestige which they have 

 hitherto enjoyed. To return, however, to the Alexandra Palace; 

 for their Show to be the success they deserve and wish for, not 

 only must they make their classes as palatable as possible to 

 all, but we hope to find that the name of each Judge with his 

 classes will be publiahed, that double baskets will be in use, 

 and above all that the promoters will set an example to the 

 ether metropolitan shows by placing on each class the prize 

 cards as soon as the awards are made. Neglect of this at the 

 Crystal Palace and the Aquarium has caused much disappoint- 

 ment to far-distant or busily-employed fanciers, who only come 

 up for the day and frequently have to leave utterly ignorant of 

 the awards in very many classes. — W. 



PICKINGS FROM AN AMERICAN POULTRY 

 PAPER. 



I HAVE somewhere read, where I know not, that an American 

 was talking to an Englishman, and in friendly converse the 

 former remarked, " One thing is, you Britishers don't speak the 

 English language properly." A smile of incredulity was seen 

 passing over the Englishman's face. The American perceived 

 it, and added as explanatory, " You see you speak English with 

 an English accent." The explanation was more odd than the 

 remark. If the English language can be spoken correctly it 

 must be surely in England — in its home, and an educated 

 Englishman has no accent at all. I have always held that there 

 is a most enjoyable, and piquant, and pleasing difference in 

 American English and cur own, and also in American ways and 

 our own. Thus American ways of advertising and our own 

 differ, and very amusingly too. Before me lies a recent copy of 

 an American poultry paper, and a very excellent one it is, paper 

 and copy. Some of the gems I must quote for the amusement 

 and profit of our readers. First comes a piece of poetry as a 

 heading to the exchange and mart portion cf the paper:— 



" THE TWO MERCHAKTS. 



" When trade grew slack and notes fell duo 

 The merchant's face grew long and blue; 

 His dreams were troubled through the night 

 With sheiift's bailiffs all in sight. 

 At last his wife nnto him said, 

 ' Arise at once, get out of bed. 

 And say these words unto all men: — 

 My goods I wish to sell to yoo, 

 And to your wives and daughters too; 

 My prices they shall be so low 

 That each will buy before they gd.' 

 He did as his good wife advised. 

 And in the papers advertised. 

 Crowds came and bought of all he had, 

 His notes were paid, his dreams made glad, 

 And he will tell yon to this day 

 How well did printer's ink repay. 

 The other in a place as tiebt. 

 Contented was the press to slight. 

 And did not let the people know 

 Of what he had or where to go. 

 His drafts fell due and were not paid, 

 A levy on his goods was made ; 

 The store was closed until the sale. 

 And for some time he was in jail. 

 A bankrupt now without a cent. 

 At leisure he can deep repent 

 That he was foolish and unwise. 

 And did not freely .idvertise." 

 Who will say this is not both amusing and instructive ? 

 Let me now turn to extraordinary advertisements themselves. 



