March 20, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



251 



which may change rank occur at once to the mind, siich as 

 birds being at times shown singly, at others with mates {vide 

 Southampton already quoted), sometimes in company with their 

 own a;^es, at others all ages together. But I have said enough 

 to show that many apparent inconsistencies would disappear 

 upon patient analysis and reflection. 



Many errors remain; all I can say as to these is what I have 

 said so often already. It is no use railing at gentlemen who do 

 their best to serve us. The one tangible remedy is to provide 

 more judges, and to give them time for their work. The pro- 

 portiou of fair and good awards under the present scandalous 

 overwork they have is to me really extraordinary, and I can 

 only believe that with a little more consideration shown to them, 

 the real causes of complaint would be few indeed. — L. Wright. 



THE FORTHCOiVIING POULTRY SHOW OF THE 



HANTS AND BERKS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



I HAVE before me the schedule of the above Show, to be held 

 this year at Southampton, and although it may in many ways be 

 called Uberal, I am fain to confess that the reason by which the 

 prizes are apportioned is to me a mystery. To Polands, which at 

 the Society's Show last year could only muster four pens, we 

 now have allotted three classes, and i'G 10.s. in prize money. To 

 Hamburghs, which put in but a miserable appearance last year, 

 four classes, and £ij in prize money. While to Dorkings and 

 Cochins, the principal features of last year's Show, are given 

 but one class each, and ,i'3 in prize money. The framers of the 

 schedule may say, '* We wish to encourage these neglected 

 breeds ; " if so, why do they not give a class to Malays, which 

 last year mustered four pens, though they had to compete in 

 the Variety class ; or to Leghorns or Silkies, which mustered as 

 strongly as Silver-pencilled Hamburghs ? — C. B. T. 



HANLEY POULTRY SHOW. 



I HAVE before me the Judge's book and the catalogue. In the 

 Judge's book, Class 130, Ducks, any variety, first is pen 351 ; 

 second, pen 350 ; third, pen 354; highly commended 353. No. 

 354 is Mr. J. Walker's, 353 is Mr. Watts's ; and whatever was 

 the intention of the Judge, the above is correct. Such being 

 the case, how could the Committee act different ? But on 

 Mr. Martin (the Judge) giving his impression that it was dif- 

 ferent we forwarded another third prize to Mr. Watts, although 

 we had recceived a most imjustifiable letter from him, which 

 merited a solicitor's reply. With us our desire was to do right, 

 and for the paltry sum of 5s. it is wrong to accuse any body of 

 men of premeditated dishonesty. In Mr. Fletcher's case it was 

 our mistake, and I am sure he will be sorry when he sees your 

 remarks ; as on receiving his courteous letter expressing his 

 disappointment I at once referred to the kind of prize, and by 

 the same post wrote and ordered the manufacturer to forward a 

 most handsome tea service, and also "^vrote to Mr. Fletcher ; and 

 was much pleased at receiving a kind acknowledgment, and a 

 guinea as his subscription to the Show. As to the management 

 of the Show, the only unkind remark that we have received is 

 through your Journal, and why it should be so I am at a loss to 

 understand, as no trouble or expense was spared to make it a 

 success, which for your infornaation it was ; and the only com- 

 plaints that came to our notice were Messrs. Watts's and Fletcher's. 

 I would observe that every bird and dog were in the hands of 

 the Railway Company by twelve o'clock the day after the Show. 

 Not so bad for a " badly-conducted Show." — Geo. Bradford, 

 Chairman of the Hanle// Show. 



[We readily insert the foregoing. The " unkind remarks " 

 were from those who considered themselves wronged, and from 

 one of the Judges. We made no comment, although we should 

 have been justified in commenting, since even the Secretary 

 wrote that there seemed to he " something we (the Committee) 

 cannot get to the bottom of." — Eds.] 



The Epworth and Wharfed-u^e (Otley) Shows. — These 

 Shows are arranged respectively for the iith and the 10th of 

 May. In the lirst instance the Show of the latter Society was 

 arranged for the 9th ; but on the case being represented to the 

 Council, these gentlemen with great courtesy decided to hold it 

 on the following day; and the Committee of the Epworth Society 

 followed suit by arranging for the conveyance of specimens from 

 their Show to that of the following day, the only condition being 

 that the labels of birds intended for exhibition at Otley must 

 be forwarded to the Secretary of the Epworth Society. The 

 schedule of the Epworth Society is much the same as that of 

 last year. For poultry there are twenty-two classes, mostly two 

 prizes in each class ; for Pigeons twelve classes, with tlu'ee 

 prizes in each; for Cage Birds seven, and for Rabbits four; in 

 addition there are five silver cups in the various sections. The 

 prizes offered by the Wharfedale Society are a great improve- 

 ment upon those of previous years, the classes being much more 



numerous in all sections ; and in each class there are three 

 prizes. Rabbits are for the first time introduced into the 

 schedule. Five silver cups are offered for competition. — 



E. HUTTOX. 



SEATON-BUKN POULTPY SHOW. 



The second annual poultry Show was held on the 15th inst. at 

 this, one of the Northumberland mining villages. Considering 

 that the Society is in its infancy, the gathering was very credit- 

 able, and the management unusiaally good. Unfortunately, 

 there is not a room sufficiently large to accommodate so many 

 pens as were shown and the visitors, and recourse was had ta 

 a marquee in an open field, which, notwithstanding the coldness 

 of the weather, answered the purpose admirably, and the abun- 

 dance of straw which was strewn upon the ground prevented the 

 dampness of the turf being felt. 



The Doi-}ci}igs, BrahmaSy and Spanish were really good, but 

 the Cochins poor. Gaine were a great feature of the Show, and 

 there were some good specimens shown, though many were 

 exceedingly coarse and roiigh in appearance ; in fact, it seems 

 to be a great difficulty to convince many in Northumberland 

 what an exhibition Game fowl should be, some adhering to the 

 old short-legged heavy-feathered style of bird. There were 

 some good Hamburghs in most of the classes; indeed th& 

 winners throughout were good specimens. The Silver- spangled 

 and Golden-pencilled were remarkably good, and a handsome 

 pen of Black cai'ried off the first prize in the Variety class, good 

 Crcve-Cosurs being second. In single cocks the first was a good 

 Brahma, and the second Brown Red Game. Perhaps one of the 

 best birds in the Show was the first-prize hen, Brown Red Game, 

 which left no point to be desired. Black and Brown Red Game 

 Bantams were a large class, but there were many worthless 

 specimens. Black Reds were first, and Brown Reds second, 

 both pens being very good. In the class for Any other variety 

 of Game Bantams a neat pen of Piles were first and Duckwings 

 second, the latter being closely pressed by another pair of the 

 same variety. In Bantams, any other variety, the birds were 

 poor, with the exception of the winners, which were Blacks. 

 Single Bantam cocks were all Game, and some of the birds very 

 good and showy, and we noticed one pure white, which, but for 

 the shortness of head and beak, would most decidedly have 

 attained the first position as Game. There were but six pens 

 of Ducks, but these were extremely good, the first-prize (Rouen) 

 finding a ready purchaser on the opening of the Show, the se- 

 cond being also Rouen, and the third Aylesbury. 



Dorkings.— 1 and e, W. Swann, Bedlin^on. 2, W. J. Thompson, Morpeth. 



Cochin'-China.— 1, A. Stephenson, Dudley Colliery. 2, W. Swaun, Bedlington, 

 c. W. J. Thompson. 



Brahma Pootba.— 1, W. Swann. 2, K. Shield, Swalwell. c, W. Sanderaonj, 

 Seghill Collierv. 



tiPAtiisu.—Blacl:—! and 2, Sanderson & Oliver. Whalton. he, R. Shield, 

 SwalweU ; W. J. Tlinmpson. c, W. .T. RobBon, Newcastle : \V. Swann. 



Gaub.— Black-breasted and uther Reiln.—l, T. Younp, Bebside Colliery. 2, T. 

 and J. Knbsoo, Bishop Auckland, he, J. Nelson, Cock^shaw. Bexliam; T- 

 Middlemass, Seaton Delavtil; T. Watson; W. Stewart, Dudley; Sharp and 

 Merry^veather, Dudley Colliery, c, W. Lindsay. Morpeth. Duckwings and 

 other Greys.— \, T. & J. Robson. 2, J. Nelson, he, Taylor & Hetberinf^ton, 

 Eedlington Colliery, c, W. J. Thompson. Any other rarietu.—l, G. Perey, 

 West Oramlington. 2, W. Wilkin, Dudley, he, W. Drysdale, Longhirat 

 Colliery ; T. Goliyhtly, Seaton Delaval ; J. Richardson, Seaton-Bum. 



Wh^'uvRGns.— Silver-spangled.— \, R, Moore, East Rainton. 2, G. TurnbuU, 

 Ashington Colliery, he, G. Stalker, West Sleekburn; G. Turubull. c, G. 

 Johnson, Choppington Colliery. Golden-spanoled.—l, G. Stalker. 2, G. John- 

 son, c, G. Johnson ; G. Stalker ; E. Bell, Brenkley. 



Haiiburghs. — Silver-pencilled. — 1. R. Moore, East Rainton. 2 and c, J. 

 Wilson. Shank House Colliery. Golden-pencilled. — 1, D. ChejTic. 2, R. Moore. 

 he, R. Shield, Swalwell ; J. W. Schofleld, Morpeth, c, W. Johnson, Cowpen 

 Collierv. 



Any otrkr VABiETy.— 1, W. J. Thompson. 2, T. & J. Robson. he, R. Par* 

 sons. Cock.— I. J. Neasham, West Sleekburn. 2, J. Nelson. vJie, T. & J. 

 Robson. he. T. Young; Taylor & Hetheriugton; T. Dortd, Seaton Bum ; W. 

 Lindsay, Morpeth ; Sharp & Merryweather. Dudley ; W. Swann. c. W. J, 

 Tliompson. Ht'H.— 1, T. & J. Robson. 2, J. Parkinson. New Delaval. vhe,K. 

 ShieM. Swalwell; W. Swann. hc.W. J. Thompson; W. Johnson, Burradon 

 Colliery, e, R. White, Cockshaw, Hexham; J. Pattison, Bebside Colliery; 

 Davison & Mitchieon. Netherton. 



Game Bantams.— B/ac/^6rcftsfe(i and other Reds.—l, J. Short, Bedlinston. 2, 

 W.Davison. 7tc. C. Cniddia, Seaton Delaval ; J. Nelson; G. Wi^ht, Dinning- 

 ton Collierv : Fairless & Robson. Wideopen ; W. C. Moody, c, J. Younj;. Anu 

 othervancti/.—i, J, Douglass, North Seaton. 2, R. White, vhe, T. Reavely. 

 he, R. J. Hartley, Altrincham. c, T. Gallon, Wideopen; J. Ross, Bebside 

 Colliery. 



B*ntams. — Any other variety.— 1, Taylor & HetheriuRton. 9. J. Neasham, 

 West sleekburn. he, W. Sanderson, Sefihill ; J. Neasham. c, W. J. Thompson. 

 Cocit.— 1. J. Short. 2, Miss M. Parsons, vhc. R.White, lie, Fairless & Rob- 

 son. c, C. Crnddis, Seaton Delaval; J. Dickinson, Stakeford; R. Gustard, 

 Seaton-Buin ; W. C. Moody, Newcastle- 



Ddcks.-I. J. Nelson. 2 and 3, Mias Wilson, Morpeth, he, K. White; J. W- 

 Schoheld, Morpeth. 



The Judge was Mr. E. Hutton, Pudsey, Leeds. 



Exemplary Punishi^ient. — At the Southwark Police Court on 

 the 17th inst., Elizabeth Coffey, a middle-aged woman, was 

 charged before Mr. Partridge with cruelly torturing a hen, the 

 property of Elizabeth Seager,by cutting off its comb. The com- 

 plainant said she Hved three doors from the defendant, who 

 was always quarelling with the neighbours and annoying the 

 children. Witness and her husband kept a few fowls in ashed 

 in the yard, and on Tuesday morning one of the hens got out, 

 and the defendant's door being open, it rushed into her front 



