Septemb.r 10,1868. ] 



JOUKNAIi OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



197 



NtTNs.— First, J. Thompson. Second, E. Iloruer. 



Tdmblers.— First, J. Fieldinp. jun. Second, J. Hiiwley. 



Antwerps.— First, Master E. CroflHlati'l. Second, J. Thompson. Highly 

 CoQimeudod, Master E. Crosbliuid ; J. Hawley. 



Any other Variety.— First, K. Hi)rncr. Second, It. Yardley. Highly 

 Comraf-nded, E. Horner; J. Thompson. 



IUbbits (Any variety).— First and Socend. A. H. Fasten, Hull (Lop- 

 earod eawns, and Silver- Greys). Third, C. ll.iysou, Prestwrich. 



Judges. — Poulfri/: Mr. J. Donqlas, Clumber, and Mr. E. Hutton, 

 Padsey; Piffcous : Mr. T. J. Charlton, Bradford, aud Mr. J. Dixon. 

 North Park, Bradford. 



KNArtESBOROUGH POULTRY SHOW. 



This Show improves from year to year, and tho Committee seem to 

 be determiut'il to spare no effort to command BUccess. The day on 

 wliich the Show was held — namely, the 1st iust., was line throughout, 

 though at intervals the sty threatened heavy rain. Tho Show even- 

 tually proved more successful than any of its predecessors. It was 

 remarkable for the excellence of the Hamburgh classes. 



Cochin-Chinas.— FirEt, G. Hohues, Groat Drifiiold. Second, W. Lord 

 Stnrbeck. Chicken<:. — First aud Second. W. Lord. 



DoRKtJios.— First, G. Holmes. Second, C. Triffitt, Cattal. Chickens.— 

 First, G. Holmes. Second, A. C. Thompson, Kirby Hall. Highly Com- 

 mended, C. Triffltt. 



Spanish —First and Second, W. & F. PicUard, Thomer. Highly Com- 

 mended, W. Bearpark, Ainderby Steeple; G.Holmes. Chickens, — Fu-st. 

 W. & F. Pickard. Second, G. Holmes. Commended, W. Bearpark : F. 

 Powell, Itnaresborougb. 



Game (Auy Description). — First aud Highly Commended. J. Watson, 

 KnaresborouKh. Second, G. Holmes. C/(ictc;i3.— First, W. Bearpark. 

 Second, J. Watson. Commended, A. C. Thompson ; J. Watson. 



HASlBunGHS (Golden-spangled or Pheasant). — First, J. Walker. Second, 

 B. Marshall. Highly Commended, G. Holmes. Commended, C. TrifBtt. 

 Chicken^.— First, J. Walker, Second, B. Marshall. Commended, G. 

 Holmes. 



Hahbubghs (Golden-pencilled). — First, F. Horsman. Second, G, 

 Holmes. Chickens.— FhsU J. Walker. Second, F. Horsman. Com- 

 mended. A. C. Thompson ; G. Holmca. 



Hambcrghs (Silver-spangled or Pheasant). — First, G. Holmes. Second, 

 J. Walker. C/iiclcii.).— First, G. Holmes. Second, J. Walker. Com- 

 mended, W. Bearpark. 



Hambheghs (Silver-pencilled or Chittepratt).— First, H. S. Hardcastle. 

 Second, G. Holmes. Highly Commended, J. Walker. Chickens. — First, 

 J. Walker. Second, W. Bearpark. 



Brahsia Pootra — First and Commended, F. Powell. Second, J. 

 Walker. Oiickeits.— First and Highly Commended, F. Powell. Second, 

 J. Wa'ker. Commended, F. Powell ; J. Walker ; S. Rhodes. 



Game Bantams (Any variety . — First, G. Holmes. Second, C. TriiStt. 

 Highly Commended, F. Powell ; J. Watson. Commended, J. Watson. 



Bantams (.\nv variety not before mentioned). — First, G. Holmes. Se- 

 cond, T. Whcatiey, York. 



Geese — First, J. Walker. Second, G. Holmes. 



Docks (.\ylesbury).— First and Second, C. Triffitt. Highly Commended, 

 G. Holmes. 



Docks (Any other breed). — First, C. Graham, Boroughbridge. Second, 

 H. S. Hardcastle. Hishly Commended, .J. Walton ; G. Sadler. 



TORKEVS.— First, J Walker. Second, C. Triffltt. 



GcENEA Fowls.— Fir-t, G. Holmes. Second, M. & R. Gray. 



Barndoor Fowls. — First, G. Holmes, Second, M. & K. Gray. 



Extra Stock. — Commended, J. Walker. 



Pigeons. — Tumblers. — First, M & R. Gray. Second, G. Holmes. Com- 

 mended, G. Sadler. Fantails. — Fii st, M. & R. Gray. Second and Highly 

 Commended, G. Sadler. Croppers. — First, G. Salder. Second, J. Walker. 

 Jacobins. — First and Second, G. Sadler. Carriers. — Fu'st and Second, G. 

 Sadler. 



Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Sparkbrooli, BirmiDgham, officiated as 

 Jndge. 



PIGEON-JUDGING. 



I EELiETE I express the opinion of evei^ fancier, and in 

 general of every exhibitor, when I say that we cannot possibly 

 afford to lose the most valnable serviees of the greatest of 

 English Pigeon judges, Mr. Harrison Weir, nor those of Dr. 

 Cottle, whose absence from the greatest of English shows last 

 year has been severely felt. 



I respectfully suggest to Mr. H. Weir the following plan for 

 judging. In my opinion there is no judge or fancier in exist- 

 ence who admires every variety of Pigeons ; we all have our 

 likes and dislikes : therefore I consider it injudicious for any 

 judge to undertake the judging of any variety which he dis- 

 likes, as in such a case, never having kept birds of the variety, 

 he would not be sufficiently acquainted with their merits. For 

 example, t'le author of " Pigeons " is not the judge for Antwerps. 

 What he has written alout them proves that he has not dis- 

 covered their merits, which are invaluable to every fancier, as 

 lately proved in this Journal. I consider that a judge must 

 only judge the varieties he admires, as this being the case, he 

 must have studied them, consequently must know their merits, 

 and can do them justice. 



From careful observations I have discovered that in some 

 oases there is too much attention paid to " ill-matched," 

 "■worse matched," and "badly matched " pairs, for in certain 

 classes it is impossible to match the birds exactly in colour, 



and this being tho case, birds of a superior quality have been 

 passed over for those which are inferior, but well matched. In 

 tho varieties I allude to quality is a much more valuable pro- 

 perty than colour, and should not be sacrificed because there 

 is just a shade of difference between the cock and hen. 



I know well that a certain judge says that a certain variety 

 has had enough prizes yearly, and his opinion is that others 

 must have a turn, which is anything but just ; and I know that 

 certain judges do not like to patronise too much one variety, 

 otherwise they will be told that they are too partial to it. — 



A I'OREIGSEK. 



[^VE have a communication from " AYounci Fanciek," from 

 which we extract what follows. We have omitted all he repeats 

 about Mr. Hedley being appointed a third judge of Pigeons 

 "at the eleventh hour" at Eirmiugham. He was aprointed 

 as soon as it was evident that a third judge would be required, 

 and there could ho nothing unfair in the proceeding. — Eds.] 



" I am well aware that the oiljce of judge is anything but a 

 pleasant one, for two reasons — first, I consider it almost im- 

 possible for auy man to go through two hundred pens of bircis, 

 consisting of nearly all varieties, without making some mis- 

 takes ; aud secondly, that exhibitors' views as to what con- 

 stitutes a good bird differ in many cases. However good a 

 judge the gentleman may be who is ac^judicating, and what- 

 ever birds he may have bred, or compared, he cannot please 

 everyone. I hope for the future my own and fellow-fanciers' 

 birds will never meet with worse judgment than they will 

 receive at the hands of Harrison Weir. 



" Now, a word to exhibitors. I should be pleased to sea 

 judges disqualify all birds either trimmed or dyed, or in which 

 the tail or wing feathers are wanting, and likewise when two 

 cocks or two hens are shown as a pair. Trimming and dyeing 

 are the most paltry tricks a man can practise. An intimate 

 friend of mine purchased about nine months ago two pairs of 

 birds exhibited in the selling class by one of the largest prize- 

 takers of the present day, and, to his utter disgust, when they 

 had been at homo about a fortnight they were worthless, 60 

 badly had their feathers come up. — A Youxo Fanclek." 



DRAGOONS AND ANTWERPS, 



The Dragoons have for many years been kept by English 

 fanciers, with little improvement in them in any way, until Mr. 

 Percivall brought out his matchless Blue-rumps. Most of your 

 readers will remember the handsome pairs of Blue-rumped 

 Dragoons exhibited by him at the Birmingham Show, and de- 

 servedly admired by all. Mr. Percivall's strain has not been 

 equalled by any fancier as yet. No show would be complete 

 without a Dragoon class. 



Antwerps, as they are caUed, are useless for exhibition pur- 

 poses ; they are about equal to other mongrels of the Skinnum 

 tribe, and do very well to feed the young of valuable sorts, but 

 I find any other half-bred Pigeon does as well. 



To prohibit dealers exhibiting would prevent many good 

 birds from being shown, especially by the wealthy fanciers, 

 who generally buy tho prize pens at our shows. Those who 

 cannot afford to compete with the dealer should not try to 

 deprive him of bread. 



Mr. Ludlow gives a good description of what a Dragoon 

 should be, but cannot help touching upon the worn-out 

 crotchet that White-rumps are equal to Blue-rumps. Three 

 of the best judges in England have decided that Blue-rumps 

 have the palm, and I believe it is the opinion ol most good 

 fanciers. — An Old Fakoier, Binnwgham. 



LEAVE WELL ALONE— ARE BEES 

 CARNIVOROUS ? 



I HAVE three hives of bees ; now, if I thought it advisable, 

 for the sake of better stocks, not for the honey, I would unite 

 some two of the three. I say " not for the honey," because 

 maiden honey in the comb is being offered for sale in Galway 

 at od. per lb. I am sure you will agree with me, that whilst I 

 can obtain honey at that price it would be foolish to risk the 

 bees, except for the sake of making the stocks stronger. As 

 they are, they appear healthy and strong. Would you advise 

 me to drive any of the bees ? 



It is customary with bee-keepers in this and other parts ol 

 Ireland to give their bees in winter chickens or birds for food. 

 They pluck the feathers off the fowl ; some give it to them 



