402 



JOUBNAL OF HOKTICaLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



I May 15, 1S73. 



Dunn has been appointed as my successor. I take this oppor- 

 tonity^ of thanking exliibitors for their patronage and sup- 

 port to our Show, and hope they will continue the same. — 

 Henby O. Blenjonsop. 



OTLEY (WHABFEDALE) POULTRY SHOW. 



This Show was heUl at Otley on the lUth inst., and was in 

 every respect a success, the day being hue and the visitors 

 numerous. The schedule ha'ving been remodelled and the value 

 of the prizes greatly increased, the entries in all sections were 

 much better than usual. 



Game were of fair quality throughout. The cup was awarded 

 to a single Brown Red cock. Sjja^iish were few in number, but 

 extremely good as regards the winners. The cup was awarded 

 in this class to a pen containing a most extraordinary pullet. 

 The Cochins and Brahmas were good, and in Folands the com- 

 petition was extremely keen ; all the prizes were awarded to 

 Golden Polands. HainhuriiJiSj as usual here, were a grand dis- 

 play, scarcely one bad pen being shown. The cup was awarded 

 to the Silver -pencilled. There were five classes for Bantams, 

 three of which were for Game. The winners in Reds were all 

 of the Black-breasted variety ; and in the next class Duckwings 

 and Piles were respectively first and second, and the cup was 

 awarded to a stylish Black Red cock, wanting somewhat in 

 colour, but otherwise good. Black Bantams were large, but 

 otherwise good, and a handsome pair of Golden Sebrights were 

 first, and Whites of rare cxuality second in the Variety class ; 

 and in Any other variety the first and second prizes went to 

 Creve-Ccem-s, and the third to Silkies. 



Ducks were not numerous, and the Rouens failed in beak and 

 plumage, but the Aylesbury were wonderful for the time of 

 year. In the Variety class of Duck, which is always attractive, 

 Bahamas were first, and Carolinas second. 



The Pigeons were well protected under a marquee, and were 

 very numerous. The cup was awarded to a capital Red Pouter 

 cock ; the second and third prizes in that class were Blues of 

 good quality. In Carriers all the winners were cocks, shown in 

 high condition; the first and second-prize birds were I31ack, and 

 the third Dun. Barbs and Jacobins were well represented, and 

 the winners good specimens ; but in point of uniformity of 

 quality no class approached the Dragoon, no bird winning by 

 many points as compared to those in arrear. The Short-faced 

 Tumblers were also a good lot, bat the winners were all Almonds. 

 The Long-faced prizes were divided among Red Mottles and 

 Black Bald, a very grand Blue Baldface being commended. Of 

 Turbits the first was a shell-crowned Red, second a spike- 

 crowned Red, and third a most exquisite coloured Yellow. 

 Trumpeters were all of the newly-imported kind. In English 

 Owls a Light Blue cock of the correct type M'as first, and a 

 Powder Blue, wanting only in colour of eye, second. The 

 Magpies were good, as also Antwei-ps, both Long and Short- 

 faced. The entries in this section amounted to no less than 

 fifty-seven. The Selling class was an anomaly it is difficult to 

 explain; no price having been fixed, and the consequence was 

 that the winning birds were of great value, and evidently never 

 intended for sale. 



GiME.— j;«i.— 1, J. Lundit Son, Silsden. 2, J. W. Thornton, Bradford. 3, E. 

 Aykroyd, Eccieshill. )ic, H. E. Martia, Fakenbam. Any other culour.—l, E. 

 Aykrovd. 2, B. Burton, bbeffield. S, >Y. F. Entwisle. Cock.—X, Cup, and 2, E. 

 Aykroyd. 3, H. E. Martin. 



Spanish.— 1 :xnd Cup, J. Powell, Bradford. 2, H. BeldoD, Bingley. 3, J. 

 Thresh. Bradford. 



CocmNs.— 1, C. Sidgw-ick, Keighley. 2, W. Harvey, Sheffield. 3,H.C.&W. J. 

 Mason, Drigblinglon. 

 iiRAHMA i:'ouTRAS.— 1, R. HutchiDson. Littleborough. 2 and 3, H. Beldon. 

 DoEiiiNGS.— 1, J. White, WarUby. 2, AV. H. King, Ruchdale. 3, J. Newall, 

 York. 



PoLASDS.— 1, "W. Harvey. 2 and 3. H. Beldon. 



Hamijubgbs.— ('0^d<'I^Si}a'l3^trf.— 1, U. Beldon. 2, VV. Driver, Keighley. 3, 

 J. Rollinson. Siivtr-spangltit—1. J. Kollinaou. 2, H. Beldou. 3, Aabtou and 

 Booth, Mottram. (iolden-ptincihcd.~l and 2, H. Beldon. 3. W. Driver, Keiirb- 

 ley. 6iU'fr-pencilled.—l, Cup, 2, and 3, H. Beldon. Black or any other variety. 

 —J, J. Smith, BingleV. 2. C. bidgwick (Black). iJ, J. Moore, Biu-lcv. 



Game Bantams —Aud —1, F. Sieel. Halifai:. 2, W. F. Entwisle. 3, H. Butler, 

 Brartlord. Any utn»r colour. — 1, F. Ste^-l. 2, G. Noble, Dewtibury. 3, F. Steele. 

 Cock.—l and Cup, F. Steele. 2 and 3, W. F. Entwi»le. 



Bantaus.— iJ/<icfc —1. W- H. Shackleton. Bradford. 2, J Waddington. Guiselcy. 

 3, J. Preston, Allerton. Any otiitr vanety.—l,H Sharp, Halifax. 2, H. Beldou. 

 3, R. Frew, liiikcaldy. 



Any other Vakilty.— 1, J. Smith, Ripon. 2, W. Harvey. 3, C. Holdaworth, 

 Harrogate (Japanese.) 



X>cciis.—Iionen—l,C. Holt, Rochdale. 2, H. B. Smith. 3, J. Newton, Sils- 

 den. Aylfsbiiry.— I.e. B.o\t. 2 and 3, K. Hutchinson. Any other variety. — 1, 

 W. BiuuH, rudsey (Bahama Teal). 2 and 3, H. B. bmilh, Preston. 



Selling Class.— 1. J. PowcU, Bradford. 2, H. Beldon. 3, W. Sunderland, 

 Bingley. 



PIGEONS. 

 PoDTERa.— 1 and Cup, T. Hawlcy, Bradford, 2, E. Horner, Harewood. 3, \V. 

 H. Tomlinson. Newark-uu-Trent. 

 CABKitRS.— 1, 2, and 3, E. Hoiner. 



Baubs.— 1 and 2. E. Horner. 3, H. YarJlcy. Birmingham. 

 Jacobinb.— 1. R Frew 2, \V. Harvey, .^htttield. 3. E. Horner. 

 Dbagoons— 1, H. Yardley. 2, E. Huruer. 3, J. A. Fi^rd. Cbeshire. 

 Ti_-MHi.EHs.— .s/io)(frtC('rf.— 1, G- Crcsswell, Huddersfiehl. 2, E. Horner. S, 

 H.Yardlev. /ic, W.Harvey (2); E. Horner. Li^H/j-Zacfti.— 1 and/tc.D.RidiUhough, 

 Jan., Braiiford. 2, W. Harvey. 3. A. BentUy, Buildon. 



P'antails.— 1, E. Horner. 2 and 3, J. F. Lovereidf^e, Newark. 

 Tliriiits.— 1, J. E. Crofts, Blyth. 2, G. Cresawell. 8, W. Harvey. 

 Tui MPETEKS.— 1, \V. Harvev. 2 and 3, E. Horner. 



O^vi.s.— JCnril ink— i, J. Thresh, Bradlord. 2, H. G. Poole, Bradford. 3, J. 

 Ingham, Halifax. 



Magpies.-I and 2, J. E. Crofts. 3, J. W. Yeadon. he, W. C. Dawaon. 

 AstwEHP.—Short-jaccd —1. E. Horner. 2,D. Kid.lihough. jnu. 3. H.Yardlev. 

 XDH;7-.ruf^(^— 1,. J. libudes, Harewood. 2, W. Ellis, Leeds. 3. J. Bitthou, Skiptou. 

 AM- OTHER VARifcTY.— 1, H. Btjldun. 2. J. E. Crofts. 3, W. C. Dawson. 

 Selling Class.— 1, E.Horner. 2, W. Harvey. S, J. Rhodes, Harewood. 



RABBITS. 



Long-eared.— Bucfc.— 1, F. Banks, London. 2, J. Oldham, Bradford. Doe.— 

 1, J. Hume, York, 2, J. Falldiug, Leeds. 



Any OTHER Varikty.— y;»c/:.— 1, S. Ball, Bradford (Himalayan). 2. C. Auton, 

 York. Doe.—l, O. C. Hutton, Bradford (Angora). 2, Glew &, Wiudman, Wake- 

 held. 



J VDG-Bs,^PouUry : Mr. C. W. Brierley,Middieton, near Man- 

 chester. Figeons and liahhits : Mr. J. Crossland, Wakefield, 



FERTILITY OF DUCKS' EGGS. 



On March 20th, at page 25-1, you replied to a correspondent 

 (" M. H.,") about the fertility of Ducks' eggs, and I supposed your 

 reply to mean that the eggs would not be fertile unless the birds 

 had access to water. If so, my experience does not agree with 

 yours. Last year I had a brood of It-ouen ducklings, aud I have 

 kept a Duck and drake till now. They ran with the hens iu an 

 enclosed yard, and had no water except in a drinking fountain. 

 There is no water near supposing them to escape from the yard, 

 and yet, so far, I have had a Duck from every egg I have set, 

 some of the ducklings being now seven weeks old. The drake 

 is very vicious, and runs the hens so much that I shall be obliged 

 to sell him. From this you will rightly suppose he was reared 

 by a hen, as ducklings reared by a Duck do not trouble the 

 hens. — K. E. 



POINT CUPS FOR PIGEONS. 



The desirability of giving point cups for Pigeons is still a 

 vexed question. There is no doubt that the system is unfavour- 

 able to the amateur who keeps only two or three varieties, but 

 at the same time it is a good thing for dealers, and those who 

 keep a great many different kinds. However good the birds may 

 be themselves, there is always a doubt whether they will win, 

 for in many classes only a certain standard of perfection can be 

 reached ; aud when there are several pens of birds of nearly 

 equal merit, but all differing from each other a little, then the 

 judge is guided by his own fancy at the time as to which he will 

 place first and second ; so that when a great number of entries 

 are made the exhibitor knows he must expect a certain number 

 of disappointments, but if he wins a point cup it makes up for 

 his losses. If an exhibitor wishes to make a great numher of 

 entries at a show, he looks to see whether there is a point cup 

 which will make it worth his while to run a Uttle extra risk. In 

 my own case, when a i)oint cup is given at any show at which I 

 exhibit, I generally make an additional entry; thus, to win two 

 prizes I should make three entries if there "were a point cup, but 

 if there were not, I should ouly make two to win the two prizes. 

 The third entry in this case would be for luck ; it would give m© 

 a better chance with the prizes, and I might possibly win the 

 cup. If I thought I should win the cup I should certainly make 

 the third entry. But theu, again, sometimes a point cup pre- 

 vents me from making any entries at all, for I only keep four 

 varieties, and there are often as many as twelve classes for dif- 

 ferent kinds of birds which I do not keep. Of course in such a 

 case I have no chance to win the point cup, and those who hope 

 to do so can afford to send better birds to win both the cup and 

 the prize money, than I can to win the prize-money alone. It 

 seems to me that the money spent on the cup had better be used 

 to increase the value of the money prizes, for dealers will always 

 make a fair number of entries when there are good money prizes, 

 and then hoth small and large exhibitors will have an equal 

 chance for the premiums. 



It is scarcely worth while for a small exhibitor to show where 

 a point cup is given, unless he can borrow birds to try and win 

 the cup as well. I never think it worth while to do this myself, 

 but there are some who do. I think, however, it is seldom done, 

 on account of the expense and trouble. I do not see anything 

 dishonest in borrowing birds for this purpose, though I think it 

 a pity that it should be done. It is generally supposed that birds 

 are shown to enable others to judge of the quality of tlie birds at 

 home, and in this way to obtain purchasers; if this is so, those 

 who borrow create a false impression as to the quality of their 

 stock. But while there are point cups there always will be 

 borrowing more or less, aud those who give the cups encourage 

 it. I think that on this account a point cup is even more objec- 

 tionable than a cup for the best pen in a given number of classes, 

 to win which is the greatest lottery I know. For my own part 

 I prefer money prizes for each class, and when they are worth 

 having there will always be plenty of entries, — H. M. Maynabd, 

 Holmeivoodj liydCj Isle of Wight. 



"White Jacobins. — If the Crystal Palace Poultry Committee 

 are agreeable I shall be pleased to join "Black Jacobin" in 

 offering a subscription towards prizes at their next show for 

 White Jacobins, single birds, and on hearing their decision will 



