182 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AiJD COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



[ August 29, 1865. 



The foreknowledge that any show of poioltry will not take 

 place under cover prevents many of the best and most valued 

 specimens being entered at all, and this of necessity detracts 

 materially from the interest of the exhibition. 



In case of rain not only are the birds seriously injured for 

 exhibition at all future meetings, but also, in the event of 

 absolute saturation of the plumage, as I have myself again and 

 again witnessed, the awards made under such adverse circum- 

 stances amount rather to a guesswork than otherwise, as per- 

 fection of combs and general outUne are the only data a judge 

 has then at command ; for the all-important point, plumage, is 

 temporarily placed beyond discrimination, and arbitrators are 

 compelled to satisfy themselves by simply doing the best they 

 can under so inextricable a difficulty. 



Nor does the damage arise exclusively from rain, for long 

 exposure to a burning sunshine causes as irremechable an 

 injury to bii'ds, if subjected continuously to its influences, as 

 does the most boisterous weather. In proof : No doubt many 

 of the readers of The Cottage Gakdener well remember the 

 truly magnificent Cochin cock so fi-eqnently and so continuously 

 shown by the late Mr. Gueldard, of Acrigg End, near Kendal. 

 It was apparently a fowl of extraordinarily strong constitution, 

 and the most protracted show, to use lli-. G.'s own words, 

 " never seemed too long for him, nor was he ever exhibited 

 without prizetaking." In fact, it was, I admit, one of the 

 very best Buffs I ever yet saw, being a pure even gold colour 

 throiighout, with comb, face, and wattles briUiant as coral. 

 At the last Anerley Show, this valuable specimen succimibed 

 to intense sunUght, and that alone. After this exposure the 

 comb suddenly blackened, the cock became inert, and alto- 

 gether hstless, and shortly afterwards fell down dead, to the 

 great annoyance and irreparable loss of its owner. Nor was 

 this the only bird by several, whose deaths took place shortly 

 after this one exhibition. It is beyond question that birds, 

 however much they may voluntarily enjoy bright weather, 

 cannot endure constant exposure to an almost burning sun. 

 It absolutehj hills them, and the space of time requisite is but 

 a brief one. These results can never ensue in cases where 

 adequate protection is afforded to the imprisoned birds, for 

 then every one connected with the exhibition has at least the 

 honest consolation, that aU things necessary to ensure success 

 were provided, and even should the mishap of unpleasant 

 weather ensue, stUl a Committee may reasonably calculate on 

 at least a portion of those visitors, who, if the whole affair is 

 " open to the sky," naturally abstain from coming at all. 



I should not have intruded this long letter upon your space, 

 but even this day two different amateurs have soUcited me to 

 give my own opinions on this important subject in connection 

 with poultry exhibitions, supposing " it might carry more 

 weight than their own," when labouring under the vexation of 

 seeing several pens of their own expensive poultry utterly 

 ruined, if not lulled outright, by the incessant rains dm-iug a 

 recent exhibition. I will merely add in conclusion, that simple 

 justice to the exhibitors who confide expensive poultry to any 

 committee's safe keeping, demands a suitable protection for the 

 bu'ds so sent, (luitc independently of the ob\'ious cruelty to the 

 fowls (or Pigeons, as the case may be), if a contrary course, so 

 so " penny wise, and pound foolish," is pursued. — Edwakd 

 Hewitt, Eden Cottage Sparkbrook, near Birminpham. 



[Until we received this communication we were not aware 

 that any Committee had been so thoughtless and barbarous as 

 to have the poultry entrusted to them exposed to all the vicis- 

 situdes of our climate. No one having a pen of birds would 

 allow them to be exhibited in this manner, unless he was 

 entirely neglectful of his own interests, and regardless of his 

 bird's sufferings. — Eds.] 



EOYAIi AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 

 IRELAND'S EXHIBITION. 



OF 



Tms took place on tlie ITtli instant at Clonmel. The show of 

 poulti-y was toleriihly good in some of the sections. Mr. Williams had 

 the medal as the exhibitor who won the greatest nnmbcr of prizes, and 

 Ml". Boyle and Mr. J. Hyland came off very well also. Mr. W. Ma- 

 grath, Blesinton, won with his Silver-Grey Dorldug cockerel and 

 couple of pallets, in which section Sir Robert Paul, or, rather, his 

 young son, who has in this way begun his apprenticeship as an exhi- 

 bitor, was also sttccessfol, both of the winning lots being nice fowls. 



Dorking fSilver-Grey).— First and Second. R. P. Williams, Glaslinn, 

 Ch utarf. Highly Commended. J. C. Cooper. Chickejis. — Fiist, W. Ma- 

 gr!»fh, Elcsinton. Peeond, Sir R. Paul, Bart.. Waterford. 



SrANiaH.— Fii-8t, R. P. Williams. Second, Miss F. E. Prittie, Oakville, 



ClonmeJ.1 [ Chickcm. — First, R. P. Williams. Second, R. W. Boyle, 

 Wicklow. 



Brahma Pootra.— First and Second, R. W. Boyle. C7n'cfc«iM.— FirBt 

 and Second, R. W. Boyle. 



CocniN-CHiNA.— First and Second, R. P. Williams. 



Turkeys.— First, J. Hyland, Dublin. Second. S. Perry, Clonmel. PoitZte, 

 — FiJHt, Miss A. Hyland, DubUn. Second. J. T. Abbott, Cahir. 



Geese.— First, R, W. Boyle. Second, S. Perry. Third, J. C. Cooper, 

 Limerick. 



Ducks (Aylesbury).— First, R. P. Williams. Second, R. W. Boyle. 

 Hiphly Commended, R. P. Williams, 



Ducks (Rouen).— First and Second, R. V. Williflms. 



To the exhibitor who has won the gixatest number of prizes in this 

 class, the medal— R. P. Williams. 



Judges. — Messrs. Darker and Stanton. — [Irish Farmers' Gas£tte.) 



FULFOKD POULTRY SHOW. 



The second annual Exhibition of poultry and Pigeons in connection 

 with the Floral and Horticultural Society, was held on the 16th inst. 

 The village of Fulford is of easy access from the city of York, and a 

 numerous and highly respectable company were present on the occasion. 

 There was a considerable increase in the exhibition of poultry this 

 year ; and the Pigeons, though not numerous, contained some very 

 g0od specimens. The following is the list of the awards : — 



Spahish.— First, W. Massey, Fulford. Second, "Miss Hustler, Stilling- 

 fleet. 



Dorking. — First, T. Mason, Green Hammerton. Second, Miss Hustler. 



Cochin-Chin A.— Fii-st. and extra for the best pen of poultrj-, W. Massey. 

 Second, J. Braddock, York. 



Game.— Prize, J. Barker. Dunnincrton. 



Hamburgh (Golden-spangled orPencilled). — First, J. Darbyshire, Green 

 Hammerton. Second, G, Hutchinson, York. 



Hamburgh (Silver-^pan^'led nr Pencilled). — First, — Cumberland, York* 

 Second. H. Steward, Bishtipthoiiie. 



Any Other Breed except Bantams. — First, Mrs. Carey, Heslington. 

 Second, J. Wamford. Dunnington. 



Chickens (Any Brecdj.— First, W. Massey. Second, Mrs. E. Ledgard, 

 Poppleton. 



Bantams.— First, Miss Hustler. Second, .T. Barker. 



Selling Class.— First, J. Barker. Second, — Cumberland. 



Geese.— First, A. S. Perfect, Fulford. Second, Mrs. Ledgard. 



Turkey.— Prize, A. S. Perfect. 



Ducks.— First, J. Elsworth, Wliixley. Second, A. S. Perfect. 



Pigeons. — Ca r)7r;-s.— First, J. Thackray, York. Second, W. Massey. 

 Tumhlera. — First, J. Thackray. Second, A. Catlley, York. Poirters. — Prize, 

 E. Wilson. Jacobins. — First" and Second, W. Massey. FaniaiU. — Fii-st, 

 J. Thacki-ay. Second, A. Cattley. Di-agonn. — First, W. Massey. Second, 

 J. Thackray. Any other Variety. — First, W. Massey (Earbs). Second, J. 

 Thackray (Swallows). 



Judge. — Mr. Anton, York. 



UTTOXETER POULTRY SHOW. 



{From a Corresjioiulcnt.) 



The Uttoxeter Poultry Show, in conjunction with the Annual Floral 

 and Horticultural Exhibition, was held on Friday, the IHth inst., and 

 comprised a choice collection of different breeds of poultiy from all 

 parts of England. Great care was taken by the Committee that 

 satisfaction should be given to exhibitors, and pens of ample dimen- 

 sions were jirovided for the exhibition of their tlifferent specimens, 

 both great and small bii'ds alike occup\ang pens 3 feet wide by 2 feet 

 6 inches high, fac ii > ith two-inch wire netting, an an-angement which 

 was highly eulogi -* d by those exhibitors who were present. These 

 pens, we may add, were especially built for the occasion, and are the 

 property of the Society, and will be used at future exhibitions, when 

 more classes ■n-ill be thrown open and higher prizes giv( n for competi- 

 tion- On the part of the Committee, neither pains u ir expt;nse will 

 be spared to place the show for poulti'y on a first-class fonting, and to 

 render it acceptable to intending future exhibitors, which they hope 

 will secure a continuance of theii- valued support. Considering it 

 was a new thing in this place, it was a decided success ; the birds sent 

 for coiupetition were first-class. 



Spanish. — First, W. Eayliss, Walsall. Second, G. Walker, Sandon 

 Highly Commended, F. Bagshaw. Uttoxeter. Commended, E. J. Blair, 

 Uttoxeter. Chickens. — Prize, E. J. Blair, Uttoxeter. 



Dorking.— Fii-at. Sir St. G. Gore, Bart., Wirksworth. Second, F. Bag- 

 shaw, Uttoxeter. Chickens (any variety). — First, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart., 

 Wirksworth. Second, J. McConnell, Lime Crofts, 



Cochin China. — First, J. Stephens, Walsall. Second, J. Bakewell, 

 jun., Utoxeter. Highly Commended, Rev. S. C. Hamcrton, Stafford. 

 Chickens. — Frixe. F. Bagshaw, Uttoxeter. 



Game fDnckwings and other Greys and Bines).— First, Sir St. G, Gore, 

 Bart., Wirksworth. Second, W. F. Taylor, Doveridge Hall. 



Game (Black and Brown-breasted Reds).— First, W. S. Bagshaw, Ut- 

 toxeter. Second, Mrs. Hav, Sudbuiy. 



Game ( Any variety).— Pi-ize. Sir St. G. Gore, Bart., Wirksworth. Chiclc- 

 ^nj!.— First and Second. J. Bakewell, Draycott. Highly Commended, 

 Mrs. Hav, Sudbnn-; C. Minors, Sudbm-v; Sir St. G, Gore, Bart., Wii'ks- 

 worth; t. Lowndes. Cheadle; W. F, Taylor, Doveridge Hull. 



HAiiBURGH (Golden-pencilled).— Fir^l, The Hon. T. W. Fitzwilliam, 

 Rolheram. Second, K. Tate, Leeds. Highly Commended, Sir St. G, Gore, 

 E.irt., Wirksworth. 



Hamburgh (SUver-pencllled). — Fii-st, A. K. Wood, Kendal. Second, C. 

 Minors, Sudbury. Highly Commended, E. Bell, Burton. 



Hamhurgh (Golden-spangled). — First, A. K. Wood, Kendal. Second, B. 

 Tate, Leeds. 



