214 



JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTDEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. 



[ March 12, 1868. 



However muoli they may approve of nnion for its own sake, they ' 

 feci that a mere amalgamation of the Societies they represent would 

 iu itself be powerless to effect any radical change, li has already 

 been stated that the practices and constitntions of both Societies are 

 identical, and, it may be added with equal truth, are totally inadequate . 

 to the examination and settlement of the questions under review. 

 Neither Institution can boast anything beyond the most meagre ar- 

 rangements for social intercourse ; while tlie opportunities for discus- 

 sion are of the most flimsy, not to say delusive character. 



In every other respect the coustitutions in question are far too con- 

 tracted for the growing requirements of our recreation, and stand con- 

 demned by the indifference with which members treat any advantages 

 they may offer. 



Your Committee, therefore, propose and earnestly recommend a 

 scheme of thorough reorganisation as indispensable to the awakening 

 of new interest, and as paramount in importance to any scheme of 

 mere amalgamation. Such reorganisation might and should include 

 the nnion of our two Societies on a basis at once comprehensive and 

 progressive, and with a constitution sufficiently broad to secure the 

 intelligent consideration of any and every matter of moment relating 

 to Pigeon culture. In view of the ample materials which exist for the 

 energy and occupation of every member, and in consideration of the 

 objects proper to such a Society, your Committee are of opinion that 

 the proposed reorgauis.itiou should include the following matters as 

 prominent features of its scheme : — The formation of a literature ade- 

 <|uate and accurate iu character, and the dijEfusion of useful informa- 

 tion ; the development of an internal public opinion for the reform of 

 abuses ; the formation of authoritative standards for all the important 

 varieties of Pigeons ; the better classification of prize lists ; the im- 

 provement of judging. 



Such a Society should also undertake and establish a grand metro- 

 l>oUtan competitive show as an annual feature of its scheme ; should 

 he a tribunal for the investigation and authoritative settlement of 

 controverted questions within prescribed limits ; should develope and 

 encourage proper methods of breeding ; should discourage diffuse and 

 uuscientitic breeding ; should consider the mischief arising from indis- 

 criminate exhibition, and the deterioration going on in almost every 

 strain ; should assist beginners in their formation of a stud, and thus 

 protect them from loss, disappointment, and the designs of unscru- 

 pulous sellers. 



Such a Society should also include the fullest opportunities for 

 orderly discussion, and should invite papers from experienced fanciers, 

 nataralists, physiologists, and other men of science on any and every 

 matter directly or indirectly relating to Pigeon cnlturc, its advance- 

 ment, or past history ; should enlist the arts of painting and photo- 

 5?raphy ; should encourage and keep up communications with provincial 

 and foreign societies, and thus centralise and consolidate the fancy 

 throughout the kingdom. Such a Society, in addition to the facilities 

 at present offered to subscribers, should also arrange for the enrolment 

 of honorary members, especially gentlemen of naturalistic science, 

 and should afford eveiy convenience for the occasional introduction of 

 visitors ; should keep careful records of its tr.ansactions, and do all in 

 its power to place its objects on an equality with other naturalistic 

 pastimes. 



Such, then, briefly, is the scheme your Committee are prepared to re 

 commend. If at the first glance it may appear too comprehensive, they 

 urge that it by no means implies that all and everything they have 

 proposed should at once find exposition or development. Their'object 

 is rather to make proposals sufficiently broad to appeal to workers in 

 every department, however varied their taste or inclination, so that no 

 item of advancement or improvement may be wasted for want of op- 

 portunity or encouragemeut. 



But little need be said as to the practicability of this scheme. Its 

 prompt initiation may be compassed by the union of the PhUoperis- 

 terou and the National Columbarian Societies under a constitution 

 and code of regulations expansive enough to include the suggestions 

 of this Report. The tv,-o Institutions thus united wonld form'a centre 

 of no inconsiderable attraction, not only to the fanciers of the me- 

 tropolis, but of the kingdom, in view of our present and increasing 

 strength in counti-y members. And your Committee again submit, 

 that the strong feeling iu favour of union, together with the fact that 

 many gentlemen are aheady members of both Societies, is eridence 

 sufficient to justify such amalgamation. They are convinced, too, 

 that their scheme of a thorough reorganisation, coupled with amalga- 

 mation, will not only advantage both Societies, but will be of untold 

 benefit to the art generally ; and will be accepted as a boon by all in- 

 telligent fanciers, many of whom have long felt the necessity for an 

 Institution more authoritative and dignified iu character than can be 

 found amongst existing Societies. 



In conclusion, your Committee beg to express the pleasure they 

 have had in accomplishing the important task entrusted to them". 

 While they see in the past much of difficulty vanquished, and much 

 of success achieved, they look to the future with a measure of expec- 

 tation amounting to assurance, for advancement in those yet wider 

 fields of effort and amusement which remain to be traversed, con- 

 vinced also, that a yet more discriminating appreciation will be ac- 

 corded to the captivating branch of naturalistic recreation which so 

 toug and so deservedly has been our boud of pleasure and fellowship. 

 Signed for the Reorganisation Committee, W. Volckmax, IIoii. -*>'«;. 

 [We are very glad at this movement, for union imparts 



strength. We recommend Pigeon-fanciers generally to support 

 the new Society, and we shall readily find space for any relative 

 suggestions. — Ens.] 



BREEDING POUTER PIGEONS— CANKER AND 

 ROUP. 



I KEAD over carefully Mr. Volcknaan's article on Pouter 

 breeding, which appeared in your columns on the 6th of 

 February. As an old fancier, I must say that I cannot agree 

 with his remarks on breeding for colour. 



I have had considerable experience in Pouter-breeding during 

 the last thirty years, and have during that time seen the fancy 

 for those elegant birds sink until it seemed almost lost, but for 

 three or four who stood steadily by it ; but now it has risen 

 higher than ever, and long may it continue to gain ground ; for 

 if, as some or rather most writers say, the fancy breeds are all 

 derived from the Blue Rock, then, I think, the Pouter is 

 entitled to be considered the most wonderful of the whole, 

 showing such size, beauty of form, and colour, with the stately 

 walk so very different from the " pottering " style of the other 

 sorts ; and last, though not least, his extraordinary crop which 

 he can display at pleasure. 



Mr. Volckman seems to take it for granted that colour has 

 to a great extent been lost. In this I cannot agree with him, 

 unless, perhaps, iu the case of Red Pied birds ; they, certainly, 

 as a class are not so good in colour as they were twenty-five or 

 thirty years ago. This I am convinced has been caused by 

 crossing with blue, and a very ugly colour it produces. Blacks, 

 Blues, and Yellows are all in my opinion as good as they have 

 ever been. 



In one respect, however, I quite agree with Mr. Volckman, 

 and that is, that marking has fallen oil very much, which is 

 certainly to be regretted, as a fine bird is so much more 

 pleasant to the eye when regularly pied. The bib in particular 

 is now very often wanting, and bishop wings by far too com- 

 mon, but a few years' care will bring them up in this respect. 

 Foul legs I also think are more to be seen than formerly, and a 

 great blemish they are. At one time this was almost confined 

 to Black Pied birds, and it seems to have been the case as far 

 back as Moore's time, and to have been so common in Blacks 

 that he says it was not much heeded, unless very bad. I have 

 done all in my power to breed clean-limbed birds of this colour, 

 but must confess that I have not succeeded ; indeed, with only 

 two or three exceptions I have never seen a well-pied Black 

 Pouter with perfectly clean thighs, unless in show pens. Birds 

 that are too gay, have too much white on the wings or crop, are 

 always clean-limbed. 



Mr. Volckman is of opinion that Mealy and Chequer birds 

 have injured the colours. Now, I do not think this has ever 

 been the case where birds have been properly matched, it all 

 depends upon this ; but I can assure Mr. Volckman that many 

 of the finest birds that have been bred in Scotland have been 

 from Mealy, Chequer, or Sandy birds, matched with birds of 

 the standard colours. Some colours will not do long without 

 crossing. Yellows, for instance, bred together soon become 

 pale and faded-looking, but a well-selected Bed improves the 

 colour at once. I think I have tried nearly every cross in 

 colours. The worst result was from Black and Yellow, so bad 

 that I must say I did not repeat it often. The young were of 

 a dirty, sooty. Chequer hue. 



Mr. Volckman says that many of our birds are too long in 

 feather for the length of limb. This we are quite aware of ; 

 but he is, perhaps, not aware that when the Scotch fanciers 

 began the breeding of Pouters, they had little better than 

 Pouting Horsemen to commence with, but now they mean to 

 turn their attention more to length of limb and marking. The 

 former will require both time and skill, the latter will be more 

 easily managed. I have often heard of birds 7i and 7J inches 

 in limb, but never happened to see them. 



I hope Mr. Volckman will give the method of breeding he so 

 strongly recommends a trial, and let his brother fanciers know 

 the result ; but for my own part I do not think we can throw 

 aside Mealy, Sandy, Chequer, or Splash birds, any more than 

 the Almond-fancier can dispense with Kites, Duns, Grizzles, 

 &c., though he may have a large stocK of good Almond-feathered 

 birds. 



On looking at a Canary-fancier's stock lately (I am not a 

 fancier myself), I very much admired the yellow birds in pre- 

 ference to the buff or white, and asked how he did not keep 

 yellows only. His reply was, that they could not get on with- 

 out the light-coloured birds ; they would all run to "weeds," 



