^8 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTICDLTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



t Aptil 23, leaSi 



qualification at all, and I consider snch a bird a " coward," 

 ■utterly unfit for exhibition, and only in his proper place when 

 being handled by the cook. — H. Goodall, Lion Hozise, Kirk- 

 caldy. 



As my name in " Newmabket's " last article is brought 

 forward as an authority on Game fowls, I must say that I have 

 read his numerous articles with no little surprise, as they are 

 evidently very erroneous. 



First, " Newmakket " says that, " In awarding the cups at 

 exhibitions, judges are too prone to give them to stags, or 

 cockerels, and to pullets, instead of to full-grown birds, and at 

 the last two Birmingham Exhibitions cups were given to stags 

 at the last Show, and to pullets at the last Show but one, when 

 there were full-grown birds of equal merit there exhibited ; and 

 •in the opinion of the best judges the full-grown birds are more 

 entitled to cups than any birds not full-grown." Then he 

 goes on to say, " Game fowls, though numerous, were, perhaps, 

 scarcely so good as usual at the last Birmingham Exhibition, 

 as, if they had been, stags would not have won the cup, for 

 when adult birds fail in getting cups it is, I think, usually a 

 sign that the show of birds is scarcely ' up to the mark.' " 



If " Newmaehet " has studied the prize list of the last Bir- 

 mingham Show (which he ought to have done before writing 

 snch an article as the above), he must have seen that the cups 

 were especially offered " for the best stags ;" cocks being alto- 

 gether excluded from the cup competition. 



" Newmarket " names colour of skin as of importance to 

 distinguish the courage of birds. I can tell him that I have 

 had it in all colours from white to black, none more so than in 

 yellow skins and yellow and willow legs. 



Again, why keep the dirty, smutty, dark red face if you can 

 improve it with a beautiful pinky red ? 



" Newmarket" would also discard the grand yellow beak 

 land legs of our Pile Game for a washy white. It is evident 

 Ihis own taste is very much circumscribed ; to use his own 

 iwords, " he cannot see any beauty in any fowl but Game." — 



CaALONEB. 



or a slice or two of suet pudding, will make a variation in 

 the bill of fare. A little chopped egg and breadcrumbs are 

 good food for newly-hatched chickens, but they can do vrithont 

 the egg. Stimulants are not required by healthy birds. The 

 drinking pans should be kept clean, and where there is a dairy 

 milk is better for them than water. 



Place boards in the coop at night and remove them in the 

 morning, have them scrubbed and replaced at night, or sub- 

 stitute straw. Put the coop in a fresh place every day. Cold 

 does not affect them so much as wet. 



It is desirable to have birds that feather quickly. The 

 critical time is when they are getting the breast and head 

 feathers. This takes place at about the third or fourth week 

 of their lives, and they must be attended to as much as at 

 first. In fine weather a run with the hen during the middle 

 of the day does not hurt them after the first fortnight, as she 

 finds them many dainty morsels. They should be fed as early 

 as possible in the morning, as they are early astir. Grass 

 does not hurt them. I kept three broods in a five-acre mea- 

 dow in the severe frosts in March ; the water in their pans was 

 often a solid lump of ice, and out of twenty-nine only one was 

 rather sickly, and that is recovering. On a wet soil I find the 

 earlier chickens are hatched the better. — L. B. 



THIS SEASON'S HATCHING. 

 As OUT friend " Nemo " says it would be interesting if onr 

 poultry friends would give us their experience of this season's 

 hatching. Mine is as follows : — 



THE REARING OF SPRING CHICKENS. 

 i As lovers of poultry are now engaged in rearing chickens, I 

 venture to cSer a few remarks on the treatment of the sitting 

 hen and early-hatched chickens. 



Breeders of fancy poultry should never breed from birds re- 

 lated to each other if it can possibly be avoided. Breeding 

 from birds nearly related renders the offspring tender, smaller, 

 and more liable to disease. 



First, as to the treatment of the sitting hen ; cut a nice 

 smooth piece of turf, place it at the bottom of the nest, and 

 add hay or short clean straw. Some persons prefer hay, as it 

 lies closer; but whichever is used, never omit to dust the nest 

 over well with flowers of sulphur. It prevents the hen being 

 made restless by parasites. 



The number of eggs to be placed under a hen must partly 

 depend on her size, and also on the size of the eggs. The 

 weather and situation must also be considered. Some writers 

 on poultry consider thirteen sufficient, but I should never put 

 less under a large hen. In cold seasons and situations nine 

 are sufficient. 



If the place where the hen sits is much frequented by other 

 hens, it is as well to shut her in, and let her come out to feed 

 every morning, as other hens will sometimes lay in the sitting 

 hen's nest, and this should be avoided. 



During the third week of incubation the eggs should be 

 sprinkled with warm water occasionally. If the hen hatches 

 a small brood it can be placed with another a little older by 

 putting the newly-hatched chickens into a basket, and placing 

 the hen with a brood rather older than her own. Shut them 

 in together, and after an hour or two add the younger ones. 



Feed the hen liberally, as she requires it after sitting. The 

 chickens should from the first be fed with great regularity. 

 Every two hours they will come with an appetite. It is of no 

 use leaving food to be trampled and wasted. Give them only 

 as much as they will clear up. They should never be neg- 

 lected, for if they once sicken, they seldom go on well after- 

 wards. Ground oats should be the staple food ; tlis maybe 

 wetted with water or skimmed milk. Tail wheat is much 

 relished, and rice boiled enough for each grain to separate 

 when thrown into meal. Bice is poor food by itself, but pre- 

 vents diarrhcea and makes a ehange. Wheat must be sparingly 

 used, on account of its being hard. A little bread and milk, 



10 . . 15 Creve Ctenra 



Xo. 

 hatched. 

 .. 4 

 .. 8 

 .. 7 

 .. 7 

 .. 7 

 7 

 5 

 .. 11 

 .. 11 

 10 



March 11 



„ 11 



„ 16 



„ 18 



„ 21 



„ 21 



„ 23 



No. <r- Sort. 



1 10 Brahmas . . 



( 5 CochlBs . . 



(11 



[ 4 Creve Coetirs 

 ..15 Brahmas .. 



(10 



I 5 Cochins 

 ..15 Brahmas .. 

 ..15 



f 9 Creve Coeurs 

 I 6 Cocliiiis .. 



No. 

 hatched, 

 .. 10 

 4 



5 







11 



3 



3 



IS 



12 



7 



3 



— Phllip Crowley, Cuh-erton Bouse, Alton, 



WHARFEDALE POULTRY SHOW. 



The ai nnal Exhibition of the venerable Wharfedale Agricnltnral 

 Society, for it is more than seventy years old, took place under most 

 favourable anspices at Otley, on the 17th inst. There was a visible 

 increase in the entries for poultry, notwithstanding the many dis- 

 advantages of an April Show. Game mustered in good force, while 

 Hambiii-ffJis kept their own against aU comers. In the latter exten- 

 sive class Mr. BelJon, of Bingley. took the first prize in all five 

 divisions. Spanish carried away the cnp for the best pen in the Show. 

 The larger kinds of fowl seem to find little favour or enconragemfint 

 at this Show, for while the enti-y for llorlciniis was very meagre, 

 Bra/imas, CocJtin.f, and the Fretah kinds had to creep in the '* Any 

 variety " class. The day was beautifully fine, and the attendance of 

 visitors unusually large. Subjoined are the awards : — 



Spanish.— First and Cup lor best pen in Show, H. Beldon, Goitstocki 

 Bingley. Second, J. Thresh, Bradford. 



DoRKisos. — First, J. White, Northallerton. Second, T. E. Kell, 

 Wetherby. 



PoLANDS.— First, H. Beldon. Second, W. Shaw, Boroughbridge. 



Game (Red).— First and Cnp for best pen of Game, E. Ajkroyd, Brad- 

 ford. Second, B. Allen, Baildon, Leeds. 



Game (Greys or Blues).— First, C. Travis, Thm'goland, near Sheffield. 

 Second, D. Ashworth, Halifax. 



Game (Any other variety).— First, E. Turner, Drighlington, Leeds. 

 Second, A. D. Edwards, Huddersfield. 



Hambup.ghs (Golden-spangled). — First and Second, H. Beldon. 



llAMBURGHS ( Silver-spanglcd). — First and Second H. Beldon. 



Hambcegh (Golden-pencilled).— First, H. Beldon. Second, F. Lees, 

 Guiseley. 



Hambubghs (Silver-pencilled). — First and Second, H. Beldon. 



Hambueghs (Black). — First, H. Beldon. Second, C. Sigdwick, 

 Keighley. 



Game Bantams.— First, Moody, Habishaw, St. Steel, Otley. Second, W. 

 Edmondson, Denton. 



Bantams (Black!.— First, H. Beldon. Second, S. & R. Ashton, Mottram. 



Bantams (White).— First, H. Beldon. Second, A. B. Peirse, Bedale 

 Hall. 



Bantams (Any other variety).— First, T. Nettleton, Knaresbro'. Second, 

 J. Walker, Halifax. 



Any othee Variety. — First, C. Haworth, Haslingden. Second, H 

 Beldon. 



Ducks (Rouen).— First, J. Dixon, North Park, Bradford. Second, J. 

 White. Netherton, near Wakefield. 



Ducks (AylcBbury),— First, J. T. Robinson, Thirsk. Second, Miss Baw- 

 son, Yeadon. 



Ducks (Any other variety).— First and Second, J. Dixon. 



