December SI, 1888. ] 



jocrnaij op horticulture and cottage gardener. 



607 



needful. That he did not, I can only tittributo to tlio fact that trim- 

 ming there was bo pros3 and general, ho may have been fairly 

 frighteuod at the task before him. I know what jadging often is, and 

 that llio lirst jud(;o who shall do his duty may expect eneh a " black- 

 guarding " as any gentleman may be jiardoncd for shrinking from. 

 Still, tnith is truth, and the last paragraph was chielly meant as an 

 assnraneo to arbitrators, that whattver the conFeqiienco may be of 

 doing justice, they shall havo the support of the best names in the 

 fancy. And only in the improbable event of their deliberate refusal, 

 now that at^mtion has been drawn to the matter, to act righteously, 

 will any censnre attach to them in the matter. 



Finally, Ijet mo apologise to any who may not have received a copy 

 of the protest for signature. It has been conducted entirely by corre- 

 spondence, and mere number of names was no particular object. In 

 some cases former acquaintances or friendly intercotvse guided the ap- 

 plication ; but want of time on my own part, and an anxiety to publish 

 the document at least before the last great show of the season, pre- 

 Tented many desirable names from even receiving a copy. I can only, 

 while recording the fact thaj nearly all applied to have gladly signed, 

 most of them adding kind expressions of the warmest sympathy, ask 

 those who have not had an opportunity of doing so, to accept my sincere 

 aiiologics for the ajjparent neglect, and I have no doubt that the Editors 

 will, if any desire it, add their names in a Babsoijuent list, as desirous 

 of joining in the movement. — Nemo. 



[We will readily publish not only additional names, but sug- 

 gestions towards preventing the fraudulent practices thus pro- 

 tested against. Vfe would not admit any exceptions except 

 those relating to dubbing. — Eds.] 



THE BIRMINGHAM MEETING OF POULTRY 

 EXHIBITORS. 



Allow me to suggest the following additions to the resolu- 

 tions unanimously adopted at the above meeting — viz. 



1st, The judges, without knowledge of the names or residences 

 of exhibitors, shall award the prizes by reference to the 

 number affixed to each pen, and solely in accordance with the 

 merits of the birds. 



2nd, No exhibitor, or other person, shall be allowed to be 

 present while the judges are making their awards. 



3rd, That the secretary and other officials immediately con- 

 nected with the show, be prohibited from exhibiting either in 

 their own names or in those of other persons. 



I think the necessity of these restrictions will be acknow- 

 ledged by tho great majority of exhibitors, for what can be 

 more unsatisfactory than the plan at present generally fol- 

 lowed? A catalogue containing the names of all exhibitors, 

 with the numbers of their pens, is published before the awards 

 are made, and placed in the hands of the judge, who makes his 

 awards, marking off the prizes on the margin opposite to each 

 name. Of this fact I have the strongest evidence, in one case 

 at least, and there is a general feeling amongst exhibitors that 

 it is the rule, and not the exception, at our local shows. How 

 much better to do away with all suspicion of unfairness by 

 adopting Eule 1. However just our judges may be, and I for 

 one believe that as a rule they conscientiously award the 

 prizes acooiding to the merits of the specimens, judges are 

 mortals, and a great name in any particular class may exercise 

 an influence of which even the judge himself is almost un- 

 aware. 



The practice condemned in Rule 3, has increased so much of 

 late, and is so very objectionable, that two opinions can hardly 

 exist respecting it. In the early days of my exhibiting, even 

 members of the committee were too modest to exhibit their 

 own birds. Eule 2 requires no defence ; except, perhaps, 

 where one judge only is employed, an assistant should be 

 allowed. 



lu the hope that Mr. Walker may undertake the somewhat, 

 I fear, difficult task of miking these few additions to the 

 excellent resolutions published in your last number, I beg to 

 ask him to add my name to his list of approvers. — George 

 BAiyoB, Bordyke, Tonbridge. 



OAKHAM POULTRY SHOW. 

 When men have given much time and care for no other 

 purpose than for the public good, they are surely entitled to 

 the sympathy, if not the praise and thanks, of those for whom 

 they have more particularly laboured ; yet there are some 

 who are always too glad and ready to heap insult upon injury, 

 and pronounce everything sour they cannot grasp. As one of 

 the committee of the Oikhara Poultry Show, I must select a 

 few of the many complimentary remarks accorded to us by 



exhibitors who have written in those terms since the close of 

 our exhibition. Ist, Dr. Campbell writes, "I was much 

 pleased with the condition the birds returned in from Oakham, 

 contrasting most favourably with some other shows." '2nd, 

 Mr. W. Tickner, " Allow mo at the same time to thank yon for 

 tho care bestowed on my fowls, they arrived home quite safe, 

 apparently none the worse for their long journey." :ird, the 

 Rev. G. Baynor, Tonbridge, " And to thank you for the care 

 bestowed on my birds, which reached home in excellent con- 

 dition." 4th, Mr. Tomlinson, Newark, " I am obliged for the 

 attention my birds had whilst at your show, and fur the good 

 condition I received them in on their return." 5th, Mr. G. W. 

 Boothby, Louth, " I received the fowls back again in very good 

 condition." Surely I need quote no more from such letters, 

 because I feel these are already more than enough to prove 

 that great care and attention were paid to the many valuable 

 birds entrusted to our care at the late exhibition, contrary to 

 the assertion put forth in your impression of December 10th, 

 by your correspondent " J. W." 



I make bold to say we afford such comfort to all birds sent 

 us as is seldom afforded at other shows, and to which comfort 

 I very much attribute their clean and capital appearance and 

 condition when reaching their owners again — viz., that we 

 have some good, clean, dry straw cut into long chaff, and 

 their pens kept constantly and well bedded, thereby keeping 

 their feathers from getting dirty, and making their new lodg- 

 ings quite warm and comfortable. — WiLLisGH.iM Fowlee. 



NOTES AT LEIGHTON BUZZARD. 



A VISIT to the Leighton Buzzard Poultry iShow has suggested 

 one or two points to my mind, which you may consider worthy 

 of notice in your Journal. 



First, the Corn Exchange in which the Show was held is ad- 

 mirably adapted for the purpose. A handsome building in itself, 

 it aff irds ample light and air, while the birds are exposed to no 

 risk, such as appears to have been the case at Ashfoid and Oak- 

 ham. All the pens could be readily inspected, and the arrange- 

 ments generally were good. Great credit is due to Mr. Gotto, 

 the Si-cretary, upon whom the lion's share of the work seems to 

 have fallen, and who was indefatigable in his endeavours to make 

 matters work well, and, moreover, succeeded. I was glad to find 

 that the entries were one hundred more in number than last 

 year, and that the frnauoial success of the Exhibition was as- 

 sured. 



One change, however, might be made with advantage before 

 next yeir. In the nrize list it was stated, that prizes in certain 

 classes would be awarded to a "a cnck and one hen." To my 

 surprise I found cockerels and pullets entered in these classes, 

 and some of them noticed by the Judge. Of this I do not com- 

 plain ; it would, however, simplify matters, and probably in- 

 crease the entries, if in future the words " of any age," were 

 added. Had they been so in this case, I certainly should have 

 sent some birds which remained in their yards. 



A question arose there upon whicli I should like to have the 

 opinion of experienced fanciers. " What fault can you find," 

 I asked of an eminent breeder wlio is probably one of the best 

 judges in England, "with those birds?" pointing to some 

 Dorking cockerels' which I happen to know. 



" They are excellent birds, one of them particularly, just the 

 colour I like, with a faultless comb ; but there is, I fear, some- 

 thing wrong in your breed. They each have a white feather in 

 their tails." 



" Surely this is no defect in Col )ured Dorkings," said I. " In 

 Silvers, I admit a white feather is fatal to success ; but the case 

 here is different." 



" Go to the large shows," he replied, " and you will nerer 

 see a prize bird with a white feather in his tail." 



Puzzled and somewhat concerned, I mentioned the matter to 

 another friend, one or two of whose birds were noticed this year 

 at Birmingham. 



" I think Mr. is wrong, white feathers are quite aUowabl* 



in Coloured Dorkings." 



Arrived at home, I went to my poultry shelf, and turning to 

 " Baily on Fowls," read as follows--" Exhibition fowls, Dork- 

 ings, cocks, black, or black and white breast and tail, light 

 hackle and saddle." Not content with this, I proceeded to con- 

 sult Mrs. Ferguson Blair, who in her " Henwife," writes thus — 

 " Tail, black, large, and sweeping ; a white feather will not cast 

 an otherwise perfect bird." 



Here the doctors somewhat differ, which of them is right 



