448 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 10, 1868. 



they can be afforded more room. It is better — i.c^ more profitable, to 

 plant 4 feet aiiart, and give more room as required, than to plant at a 

 greater distance, and crop the ground betweon the trees, as justice is by 

 that method rarely done to either crop, and disturbing the ground about 



fruit trees is destructive to the roots and lessens fertility. Pyramid 

 Cherry trees are formed in the same way as pyramid Apple tre es. 



Name of Plant (D. B.).—A Nephrodinm, probably N. arbusciilam. 

 Capsicums are often larger than those you mention. 



POULTRY. BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



BIRMINGHAM rOULTRY SHOW. 



We can now epeak more at leisure of the Birmingham Show. 

 We will give the weights of some of the breeds where such 

 qualities are of importance, merely premising that weight is 

 only important where it is joined to other, and, in many in- 

 stances, more valuable properties. 



The adult Dorking cocks ranged between 12 lbs., and 

 lOJ lbs ; these were mostly faultless birds. The cockerels, 

 eighty-three in number, ranged between 11 lbs. and ',){ lbs.— 

 such of them as appeared in the prize list ; but many of them 

 were not perfect. There was a defect we have often had to 

 point out of late years — viz., the spurs growing outside the 

 legs. The average weight of the prizetaking Dorking hens was 

 8 lbs. each. The twelve suoeessfal pullets weighed 'J3 lbs. ; 

 the Silver-Greys were little behind in weight. 



In the Cochin-Cbina cockerels there were many bad combs, 

 which disquahfied birds that would otherwise have held good 

 positions. Among the Cochin pullets and hens there were 

 many with stained and marked hackles, otherwise they were 

 classes of very high merit. 



We repeat that which we said last week about the Game ; 

 the Black and Brown Beds and Duckwings were all perfect, save 

 that in some there is a tendency to breed them too long in the 

 thigh, and to look too much for weight. Many of the birds 

 exhibited were fit for shake-bags ; Blacks, White's, Piles, Duns, 

 and Brassy-winged seem disappearing, at any rate they cannot 

 hold their own. 



The same may be said of the Golden Polands, unless they 

 increase in number and quality they must give way to their 

 Silver brethren. 



The Brahmas are now established and form large classes, 

 both Dark and Light. We shall be glad to see the time when 

 no sign of a vulture-hock will be seen. 



We considered the Creve-Cctur cocks a show in themselves, 

 and we anticipate popularity for them and the Houdans. We 

 can say nothing for the La i'leche. 



The result of Duck-breeding by the cognoscenti is a curious 

 one. Some years since the Aylesbury was always heavy, the 

 Bouen was a bird of feather ; the latter having acoompiished 

 feather took up weight, and has now passed the Aylesbury in 

 the race. The three prize pens of Eonens weighed 5.5J lbs. — 

 respectively, 19! lbs., 18} lbs., 18i lbs. ; the Aylesbury collec- 

 tively .505 lbs., separately 17i lbs., 17', lbs., IGi lbs. We were 

 much pleased with the Black Ducks. They improve every 

 year, and are now all that was desired years since. 



white Geese beat the Grev and Mottled in weight — old 

 White 55 lbs., 51 lbs; young, 50 lbs., 40i lbs. Old Grey, 

 55J lbs., 38 lbs. ; young, 45 lbs., 44 lbs. 



Old Turkey cocks weighed 33 lbs., 32 lbs. ; young 24 Iba. 

 23J lbs. Two hens, old, 37J lbs., 30 lbs; young, 29 lbs., 

 26J lbs. It will thus be seen that a pen as exhibited of old, 

 containing a cock and two hens, might have been shown 

 weighing 70.J lbs. 



We were amused to find many persons during the show, 

 speaking of the Aylesbury and Rouen as the edible Ducks, and 

 putting the Black and the Call Ducks among the fancy birds. 

 It is a great mistake ; both these breeds are excellent for the 

 table, the former being distinguished, even among the good ones. 



The amount of money taken at the doors was £1037 ; the 

 number of persons admitted, 44,583. 



It was throughout a deservedly successful meeting. 



DETAILS OF POULTRY SHOWS. 



The Meeting called by advertisement was held on Monday 

 evening, November 30th, at the Acorn Hotel, Birmingham, a 

 considerable number of poultry and Pigeon exhibitors from 

 various parts of England being present. There were many 

 subjects freely discussed, and several resolutions unanimously 

 adopted. See advertisement. 



The Members of the Meeting, wishing to consult the con- 

 venience of the various shows as much as possible, expressed 

 a wish that it should be understood they do not dictate to the 

 Committees that they shall adopt the regulations ; at the same 

 time they thought it would be to the advantage of all parties if 

 they could be carried out. It was the general opinion that 

 large shows should appoint more judges, and instead of two or 

 three persons having to judge the same classes, assign to each 

 of them a certain number of pens, and then it would be seen 

 who were the most competent to arbitrate, and if mistakes 

 were made the judge committing the error would be known. 

 It was thought the trimming of birds was not sufficiently taken 

 notice of by judges, and if they need their discretion more 

 frequently in disqualifying birds it would be advantageous. 



OAKHAM POULTRY SHOW. 



When exhibitors send valuable fowls to shows they expect 

 that they will receive ordinary care, but the way this Show 

 was managed is a disgrace to the Committee. Instead of the 

 show being held in the Biding School, as exhibitors had good 

 reason to expect, especially at this time of the year, it was 

 held in a tent, which was blown down two days previous to 

 the show, and the ground saturated with rain. After it was 

 repaired the fowls were penned and kept in this cold, damp, 

 draughty place for three days and nights — quite enough to 

 injure them all, and make them unfit for exhibition again this 

 season. Some of my birds arrived on Saturday morning, and 

 the rest on Saturday night, so that it is probable they were two 

 days without food. 1 think it right these facts should be known 

 to exhibitors generally. — J. W. 



DORKING POULTRY SHOW. 



(From a Correspondent.) 



This was held on the 3rd inst., in the Assembly Room, Dorking 

 With the exception of classes for adult and chicien Coloured Dorkings 

 the competition was confined to members of tho Society only. 



This Show was a decided success, being far superior to any former 

 exhibition in that town. Its chief characteristics are that, with the 

 exception of aquatic fowls and Turkeys, it is confined solely to Dork- 

 ings ; and though the prize list is particularly liberal, it is thrown 

 open to all England by an entrance fee of 5^. per pou, whatever num- 

 ber of pens may be exhibited. I believe that next year a larger 

 building will bo available, which will add to the comfort of the visitors, 

 and provide better accommodation for the birds ; and, as the entries 

 increase every year, this will be a necessity. 



The cup in the adult class was deservedly won by Dr. Campbell, and 

 that in the young class by Mr. Gellatly. This case was the only one 



