3G 



JOUKNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 



[ January 14, 18CD. 



as the proper way to improve is to cross with better shades of 

 the same colour. In breeding and crossing colours of different 

 sorts together, I have noticed that when most of the progeny 

 take after the cock, the cross has " hit right," to speak tech- 

 nically, and, on the contrary, when few or the fewest chickens 

 take after the cock, and more or most after the hens, the cross 

 has usually been unsuccessful. If a first-rate cross, all or most 

 of the cock chickens will take after the cock, and when they 

 do not, I always think the cross inferior, unless the cock is of 

 weaker blood and colour, and not so good as the hens, which 

 would alone, perhaps, make the cross a bad one. 



In crossing colours all know, or should know, that dark 

 colours will always prevail, as, for instance, the dark original 

 colours, such as the Brown Eeds and Black-breasted Beds, must 

 prevail in all crosses. 



The selection of a first-rate brood cock is, I think, the main 

 point in crossing and in all breeding of Game fowls, as no good 

 stock can be expected except from a really good brood cock. A 

 first-rate brood cock in crossing colours will always make the 

 hens " throw to his colour," and when this is the case the 

 progeny is always vigorous and healthy, and this, together 

 with having plenty of cock chickens, is one of the best signs 

 of having a good brood cock. Chickens that do not take after 

 the male parent at all, are not so good as a general rule. 



A cock makes a good brood cock from rising two years old 

 until four years old : a cock five years old is too old in general, 

 unless an extraordinarily good bird, and stags are certainly 

 inferior for breeding from in my opinion, and in that of many 

 other good breeders of Game fowls, though many like them for 

 it. Pullets are in like manner too weak to make good brood 

 fowls, and their eggs are also too small. Some assert that 

 pullets will produce more cock chickens than hens will, but I 

 think most decidedly not. As to the age of brood hens it is 

 not material if they are strong healthy birds, but both cocks 

 and hens are well known to be in their prime at two years old, 

 and therefore, in crossing, this is the best age to breed from ; 

 but in breeding in-and-in, old cocks to two-year-old hens, and 

 young cocks (not stags) to old hens, will be best, avoiding, 

 if cousin blood can be had, breeding from father and daughter, 

 mother and son, and brother and sisters, as this is breeding too 

 near, and is unnatural. 



Many bad chickens have been bred from excellent brood 

 fowls, owing to not paying attention to not sitting the eggs 

 laid after the hens become broody, which eggs never produce 

 good chickens, nor does the first egg of a clutch, as it is in 

 general too small. The same brood fowls may thus have pro- 

 duced both very good and also bad chickens from this cause. 

 Hatching too late, as in August or September, or later, may 

 also produce an inferior brood or broods of Game chickens. I 

 have never hatched later than the middle of July, and never 

 earlier than the end of the first three weeks in March. April 

 and May are the proper months to hatch Game fowls in, and 

 most other poultry as well, for stock, as most breeders well 

 know. 



When very small Game fowls were required for making 

 Game Bantams with, such were usually hatched in September 

 or thereabouts, and in breeding Bantams small they should 

 not be hatched earlier than July, or later still, but cold weather 

 must be avoided in such cases, if very late birds. It is also 

 known that early spring-hatched birds will run longer in leg 

 and in thigh, with less proportionate flesh than the late- 

 hatched birds, which are shorter in leg and thigh, and also 

 more fleshy, though with less bone than early -hatched birds. 

 For these reasons the shortest-legged birds should be bred 

 earliest, and the longest-legged should be bred the latest. 



No hen should have more than twelve chickens to take care 

 of at the most, otherwise she will not do justice to them, and 

 in cold weather eight or nine, or, as some say, only six, are 

 quite enough if choice chickens. 



Some object to buckwheat, or " brank," as food, but I think 

 it very good ; but for young Game chickens small wheat and 

 dry stale bread-crumbs, with insects and small worms, do best, 

 without anything else, except good pure water in a shallow pan, 

 and this often changed. 



If breeding from old or oldish hens they will seldom lay 

 before February, even if placed together with the brood cock at 

 Christmas, and this is early enough to have eggs for hatching ; 

 but if breeding from two-year-old hens, these may lay before 

 their eggs are required for sitting, and their first clutches of 

 eggs will be their best eggs. In any case the brood fowls 

 should not be put together until Christmas, and some do not 

 put them together until February, for fear of the hens laying 



their first clutches of eggs too early for sitting. I think it is 

 better, if convenient, to keep brood cocks from any hens, except 

 during the breeding season, and the best brood hens from 

 any cock during the same period, as from midsummer till 

 Christmas for instance. — Newmakket. 



BRISTOL AND CLIFTON POULTRY SHOW— 

 TRIMMING. 



This was tlio third show of the Society, and we are glad to say it 

 was a complete success, as the entries amounted to 1300 pens, and 

 the quality of the bii-ds exhiUted has never been excelled, and but 

 rarely equalled. This is still more satisfactoi-y when it is remembered 

 that the Committee have, in establishing their Show, had many draw- 

 backs and dilHcnltJes to contend with. At one of Iheiv very first 

 attempts to establish this now successful meeting, on the opening 

 day a severe snowstorm, the snow covering the ground to 9 inches in 

 depth, absolutely " snowed them up," so that the attendance of visitors 

 was meagi'e in the extreme, and had the Committee not pursued the 

 dauntless course they have done, so perfect an exhibition as that which 

 has just closed could never have been attained ; hut the Bristol and 

 Clifton Committee is composed almost entirely of breeders and exhi- 

 bitors of fancy poulti-j', and the most remote thought of falling back 

 was by them never entertained. The consequence was one of the most 

 extraordinary exhibitions that has ever taken place in the locality. 

 The Drill Hall is decidedly one of the best-arranj^ed buildinjjs we have 

 seen for such a show, being spacious, well ventilated, and with abun- 

 dance of light from the whole length of the roof. The arrangement of 

 the pens themselves was perfect, with one little exception ; and to this, 

 with every goodwill, we wish to du-ect the especial attention of the 

 acting Committee, as it really needs an alteration. I''irst, then, the 

 pens allotted to the Tui'keys were too small ; and if at the same time 

 these noble specimens of poultry could be placed in a better light, 

 that, too, would be a great advantage. The worst oversight, however, 

 arose from placing the Extra variety Duck class, and the class for 

 Buenos Ayrean Ducks, in the veiy darkest and least conspicuous part 

 of the Exhibition, even under the other pens, on the floor of the room 

 itself. Now, to every one conversant with poultry exhibitions of the 

 present day, it is well known that the Mandarins, the Carolinas, and 

 a whole host of other varieties of ornamental water fowl constitute one 

 of the most attractive portions of a large exhibition. They are, in 

 fact, the especial pets of the ladies, on account of their resplendent 

 plumage ; and no doubt the managers of every show, when they know 

 they have a good entiy, cannot do better than give them as prominent 

 a position as they can. It is almost needless to say that Buenos 

 Ayrean Ducks, and, we may add. Black Hamburghs, lose all their 

 beauty of appearance if they do not enjoy a full amount of light. 



The Grey Dorkuxj^ were excellent in all classes, and we were pleased 

 to note that scarcely one with a deformed foot could he seen ; as this 

 defect has of late been more common than in years hack, the improve- 

 ment is the more worthy of mention. The whole of the Coik/ns were 

 such as are but rarely seen, and perhaps the competition for the silver 

 cup for single cocks of this variety has never been surpassed. The 

 two principal birds in this competition belonged respectively to Messrs. 

 Mapplebeck and Taylor, the extraordinary regularity of colour in the 

 latter gentleman's bird deciding the balance in his favour. The 

 Cochins throughout were, as we say, good and well shown ; and there 

 were a few pens of very good BraJiiiias, but certainly the Light-feathered 

 were the least meritorious. Of SjianisJty even Bristol itself may justly 

 he proud. Never before were so many and such perfect specimens 

 brought together ; and Mr. Hyde has good reason to pride himself, 

 both on his recent success in exhibiting, and again as to his parent 

 stock for the closely approaching breeding season. Hamhurijhs were 

 best in the classes for Spangled, thougli the Blacks were also first-rate. 

 Game fowls mustered strongly, and a few pens of excellent specimens 

 of this breed were passed by as being excessively trimmed in both the 

 front hackle and saddle feathers. The Game Bantams were superior, 

 the Duclnvings especially so. The Ducks, forming very large classes, 

 were extraordinarily good, and this was also the case with the Geese 

 and Tifrkei/s, an unusual weight being attained in most instances. 

 The FeeniJi fowls brought numerous entries, the Houdans and Creve- 

 Cceurs being shown well and in great force. 



The weather being favourable for pedestrians, there was no defici- 

 ency in the attendance of visitors, and it may truly be said this has 

 proved the best of the Bristol Shows. 



The old saying, that " fools rush in where angels fear to tread," 

 should he, perhaps, a warning to a tjTO not to commit to paper the 

 thoughts which come surging up as he recalls his visit to the Clifton 

 Poultry Show, nor would he run the risk were it likely that other fanciers 

 would devote their leisure moments to the service of the Journal and 

 the amusement of your readers. The free lance of " Y. B. A. Z." is, 

 for the present, laid at rest ; the winning ways and genial smiles of 

 the " Wiltshire Rector " have not, as I have reason to know, 

 cast their wonted chann over the regions of the Eifle Hall. Under 

 such circumstances, therefore, you may be glad of a contribution from 

 "E. M. B. A." 



Fii'st, I must note the extraordinary pluck and perseverance of the 

 Bristol folks, who, in spite of ill luck two years running — last year, I 



