434 



JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



r November 21,1865. 



deformed toe, somewLat analogous to what is met with in club- 

 foot in the human subject ; and you might as well expect to see 

 a man with the latter deformity win a foot race, as a duck- 

 footed Game cock hold his own in an encounter with a bird not 

 so affected. Although Game fowls may not always be bred for 

 fighting-purposes, yet in an exhibition pen, 1 think they should 

 certainly come up to the standard of birds so required, for in 

 other respects they have to be shown as fighting birds, and I 

 cannot but agi-ee with Mr. Hewitt in his verdict of disqualifica- 

 tion for dnck-footeduess. 



From my investigations I have come to the conclusion, which 

 I hope will be confirmed, or if wrong disproved by other ob- 

 servers, that duck-footedness may arise both from hereditary 

 tendency, and also where there is no hereditary cause {the 

 former, I believe, being more frequently the case), but that it 

 may also be induced by causes acting detrimentally on the 

 health of the gi-owing chicken, especially unwholesome and in- 

 digestible food, damp, &c. The long continuance of such 

 causes tends to lower the bird's vital powei'S, and acts as an irri- 

 tant in some cases to the nervous centres and nerves, causing 

 contraction of certain muscles, which may exhibit itself in duck- 

 footedness or wry tail, or some other defonnity, especially where 

 the constitution of the parent birds is not good. I have only 

 treated the theoretical part of the subject very cursorily, as it 

 requires further investigation ; but as I believe that all cases 

 of defoi-mity cannot be traced to hereditary causes, I have 

 attempted a solution of them by the aid of scientific research 

 and reasoning, in the hope that others better able than myself 

 to give an opinion, may be led to add their experience. — Man 

 OF Kent. 



CHELMSFORD AND ESSEX: POULTRY 

 EXHIBITION.— Nox-EMBER 15th. 



The Ponltry Show just closed is the first that has been held in this 

 district, and vre are glad to announce that the entries numbered more 

 than three times as many as the most sanguine promoter of the Exhi- 

 bition had anticipated. It was held in connection ■n-ith a show of 

 chrysanthemums, in the Com Exchange, a building most excellently 

 suited to the purpose, for, the whole roof being of glass, the hght is 

 equally dispersed throughout the entire area. As so many more fowls 

 were entered than anticipated, recourse was had to a small tent raised 

 in a yard at the rear, for the accommodation of the Turkeys. Geese, 

 and Aylcsbni-y Dnchs. All things progressed most satisfactorily ; the 

 whole building was bedecked with a most profuse display of banners, 

 and music was introduced as an addendum ; though the introduction 

 of music at a poultry' exhibition, in too near proximity to poultry, is 

 open to a second opinion, as it unquestionably alarms many of the 

 birds exceedingly. The Committee men stood well to their respective 

 appointments, and, from present results, no doubt another season 

 woiild add most materially to the number of pens exhibited — a matter, 

 however, that need not cause a moment's anxiety, as the Com Ex- 

 change would accommodate, with comfort, from five to six hundred 

 pens, if devoted exclusively to a poultiy exhibition. 



In Coloured Dorkimjs, the want of perfect condition was most con- 

 spicuous thronghont the gi-eater portion of the class, though there were 

 several excellent pens. In fact, the entire restoration of feather this 

 season, throughout all lands of birds, seems both tardy and veiy diffi- 

 cult of attainment, and we hear great complaints of losses of exhibi- 

 tion birds in conse(|uence. Not a single specimen of White Dorkings 

 was shown, though the Silver-Greys were good. In Spanish, the 

 evidence of the intense frosts of last winter was conspicuons in more 

 than one instance. A cock, that had been an exceedingly good one, 

 had evidently been so frost-bitten as to have lost about one-half of the 

 serrations of his comb, a hopeless defect in an exhibition bird. No 

 Spanish fowls should be turned out at an early hour in the day in very 

 cutting frosty winds, more paiiicularly if roosted in a warm situation, 

 or frost-bite is almost inevitable. The Game classes were not so good 

 as might have been wished for. BufE Cochitia were well shovm, though, 

 unfortunately, several pens were here entered ** not for competition,"* 

 from a false deUeacy of not exhibiting for prizes by Committee men. 

 "Were this plan to be generally followed, few shows could be upheld ; 

 for it is the inherent love of the pursuit that alone can make anv 

 Committee unmurmniingly pursue the laborious duties of carrying 

 ont a poultiy show creditably. The prize Buff Cochins were birds of 

 very considei-able merit, and of excellent colour, and age will tend 

 much to their improvement. Three beautiful buds were highly com- 

 mended in this class, but they were very badly matched, the cock being 

 a very fine clear strong buff, and the hens of tlie lightest possible 

 etraw-colonr. The class for Any other variety of Cochins contained a 

 vei-y respectable pen (first prize) of Partridge-coloured, the rest being 

 all white ones, and "falcon-hocks" were universal. In the class for 

 Pencilled Tlarnhunjlis, Silver-pencilled were victorious ; whilst in the 

 Spangled class, (lohlen headed the hst. The dark Brahmas were very 

 good, the hght- feathered not being well sho\vn. The Game Bantam 



* All Mr. Manning's pens were so shown. 



class was one of the best classes of the whole meeting. Here Mr. 

 John Crosland took his customary position with a superior pen, in 

 faultless condition, and, if these bu-ds are to be regarded as evidence 

 of the strength of that gentleman's yard this season, for they are early 

 yoting birds, he ■will prove an awkward antagonist to shake off at most 

 of our large meetings. The second-prize bhds, belonging to the Rev. 

 G. Eavnor, were also no mean claimants to distinction. In the Any 

 other class of Bantams, an excellent pen of Cnckoo-colonred Japanese 

 (well matched) took first honours, Blacks second. Here again — " not 

 for competition " — Mr. Manning exhibited a pen of Gold-laced Se- 

 brights, the heroes of many an exhibition, a long detail of their 

 achievements being presented to the inquiring visitor on a card at the 

 front of their pen, also a photograph of the late Sir John Sebright. 

 It was really grievous to see the hens in this pen eating off the imma- 

 ture feathers from each other, as every unnaturally forced reproduc- 

 tion tends to eusm-e plumage faulty in colour. Some splendid La; 

 Fleche fowls were shown, also some dwarfed Black Hamburghs, as 

 " Forest Fowls " six months old. The cock had, without doubt, en- 

 joyed existence for very many years past, and possibly months was 

 simply a misprint for year?. Some Ring-necked common Pheasants, 

 and also some Silver and Golden Pheasants were shown, but their ex- 

 cessive wildness. under strange inspection, detracted much from the 

 pleasure of visitors. 



Some first-rate Tarhcy poults were shown, and also some splendid 

 Geese, but not matched so well in feather as is necessary' for exhibition. 

 Cai'olina Ducks were shown in superior feather, and a couple of pens 

 of Fca-/otch were veiy attractive. At Chelmsford a good proof was 

 afforded that the love of natural histoiy leads dii'ectly to the love of 

 pets, which, now-a-days, as inevitably leads on again to that of exhi- 

 bition ])oulti-y. Miss Mary Manning, the daughter of one of our most 

 spuited and well-known exhibitors, sent to Chelmsford a most singular 

 group, entered in the catalogue as " The Hare with many friends." 

 The Hare's present associates were evidently not precisely the counter- 

 parts of those represented in the old weU'-knowu fable. They were 

 all evidently friends, and a "happy family. " The pen in which they 

 were enclosed was of glass, sci'Upnlously clean, and so arranged as 

 to afford perfect ventilation. Amidst lier incongruous visitors the 

 Hare sat as unconcerned as the master of a household, but, most mdely, 

 not forgetting to insure a Uberal appropriation of the viands provided 

 to "No. 1 ;" for she ate as constantly as Hares always can do, and in 

 quantities few persons would beUeve but those who have kept them 

 in confinement. She was obviously in full enjoyment of the best of 

 appetites, and most nnpolitely looked exclusively to self, leaving a 

 Silver-Grey Rabbit and a Himalayan Rabbit to enjoy as best they could 

 the remnants of her feast. Nor were these the only friends compul- 

 sorily invited. A white cat \vith a bell on her neck sat harmlessly 

 among them, but evidently absorbed in deep thought, whilst a pair of 

 Game Bantams stnitted without injuiy wherever fancy led them. 

 A by no means inferior Yellow Jacobin Pigeon was also present, which 

 at intervals periinacionsly cooed its remembrances of "Auld Lang 

 Syne " into the very ears of its newly-foimed acquaintances. This bird's 

 noisy intrusions remained apparently quite unheeded, nor was it per- 

 sonally molested in the least by any of them. They proved the greatest 

 of favourites with the sight-seeing pubhc, and were the constant ob- 

 jects of attention. An extra prize of 5-v. was allotted to them. 



The day proved very favourable, and the attendance was so good, 

 that we are infoiined a gi-eatly increased prize list will be issued for 

 another year. This, in connection with the good management of the 

 present year's Show, will, undoubtedly, increase greatly its success 

 as to poultry, and if the exchequer would admit of classes for Pigeons 

 also, it would be an improved an-angement, over a class for every 

 variety of Pigeons exhibited indiscriminately for the same premiums. 



Dorkings (Coloured).— First, H. Lintrwood, Needham Market, Norfolk. 

 Second. F Pnrlett, Cbelmsford. Third. R. B. Postans. Brentwood. Com- 

 mended, G. Griggs, Romford; J. Frost, Pnrbam. Wickham Market; Rev. 

 J. Papillon, Lexden Rectory, Colchester; W.H.Walker, Shenfield. 



Dorkings (White or Silver Grey).— Prize, Dr. Campbell. Essex Asylmu, 

 Brentwood (Silver Grey). Higlily Commended, J. R. Hicks. EastBer£?holt, 

 Colchester (Silver Grey). Commended, F. Parlett, Chelmsford (Silver 

 Grey). 



Spanish.— First, R. B. Postans, Brentwood (Black). Second, Mrs- 

 Pattisson, Maldon (Black). Commended, S. H. Deal,Chelmsford(Black) ; 

 J. A. Townsend. Old Brompton (Black). 



Game (Reds).~First, J. Jeken. Eltham, Kent (Black-breasted). Second, 

 W. W. PjTie. South Lancing, Sussex (Brown-breasted). 



GAME(Any other variety ).— First, J.J. Hazell, Great Bromley, Manning- 

 tree (Duckwing). Second. T. Dyson, Halifax, Yorkshire (Duckwing). 

 Commended, J. J. Hazell (^Vhite). 



CocHiN-CHiXAS(Buffi.— First. H. Lingwood, Needham Market, Norfolk. 

 Second, W. H. Walker. Shenfield, Brentwood. Highly Commended, J. W. 

 Rust, Hastings. Sussex. 



Cochin-Chinas (Any other van etv).— First. J. H. Upson, RivenhaU, 

 Witham (Partridge). Second, R. Maskell, TiUingham fU'hite). 



Hamburgh (Gold or Silver-pencilled). — First and Second, T. J. Salt- 

 marsh. Chelmsford (Silver). Highly Commended, W, Marj-on, Chelms- 

 ford (Silver). 



Hamborgh (Gold or Silver- span j;led). — First, J. F. Loversidge, Newark, 

 Xotts (Gold). Second, C. Turner, Baddow House (Silver). Commended, 

 Mrs. Pattisson, Maldon (Silver). 



Brahma PooTBAs.— First and Second, E. Sheerman, Chelmsford (Dark). 

 Highly Commended, E. Pigeon, Lympstone, Exeter; Rev. T. C. Hose, 

 Wymondley, Stevenage, Herts (Dark). Commended, E. Sheerman 

 (Lightl; C' Cork. New Shoreham, Sussex. 



Game Bantams (Reds).— First, J. Crosland. Wakefield, Yorkshire 

 (Black-breasted). Second, P^ev. G. Raynor, Kelvedon Hatch Rectory, 



