August 2S, 1806. J 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



173 



and placed near a fire till dry. It must not bo at liberty any 

 more till after the show. Wo have known Poland exhibitors 

 who for days before a competition confined all topknots with 

 indian -rubber bands in order to keep them clean. Fowls should 

 be sent to shows with clean logs. They should be liberally fed 

 on soft food before they start, and should be packed in round 

 baskets that will allow them to stand upright without injury or 

 inconvenience to their combs. Many Spanish cocks have lost 

 prizes by being put in baskets that would not allow the bird to 

 stand up without pressing the comb down. The bottoms of 

 all baskets should bo covered with straw, and if it can be 

 arranged, fowls should travel by night. On this latter point 

 we are of opinion that whore fowls are received during the 

 whole day previous to an exhibition, those which are sent by 

 a night train, and arrive early in the morning, are tenfold 

 gainers by their few hours of extra confinement, owing to the 

 care and comfort bestowed on their unpacking and feeding while 

 there are few birds to attend to compared to the hurry of the 

 evening, when all arrive en masse. 



VULTURE HOCK IN COCHINS AND BRAHMAS. 



Hating a slight remembrance of some conversation with a 

 friend about vulture-hocked Brahmas, I take the blame, if any 

 exist, of answering the charge (which seems to have impressed 

 itself so strongly upon the mind of your correspondent 

 " Justitia," " that the vulture hock was a sign of weakness 

 in the leg-joint." " Justitia " is troubled with a bad memory, 

 or he would remember some other points in the statements he 

 only partially announces. The reply I gave was not definite, 

 and the point alluded to was a portion of a question put, to 

 which I received no reply — viz., as " to whether vulture hocks, 

 like a cat-hocked horse, were not a sign of, or resulting from, 

 weakness in the leg-joints." As my words have been so far 

 misconstrued, I will venture to give my own opinion upon the 

 subject, and reply to " Justitia " at the same time. 



"Justitia" alludes to the so-called challenge of "T.B.A.Z." 

 not being replied to. I considered the subject discussed and 

 proved against the vulture hock, and that it was actually of 

 recent introduction. I have not observed judges make altera- 

 tion in tho acknowledged standard of excellence in poultry ; 

 they could not do so. The question is not " an open one," 

 it has been definitively settled : it, therefore, should not "un- 

 settle breeders;" if it do so it is their own fault, as the conse- 

 quences are known beforehand. I never met with breeders 

 who admired vulture hocks. The lady alluded to truly says, 

 " There must be a tendency to vulture hocks." This is a long 

 way from actually being so. It is not one judge but all who 

 exclaim against them. The Birmingham judges will, I have no 

 doubt, act according to the acknowledged standard, and not 

 merely to suit the few who happen to breed vulture hocks, and 

 have thereby become attached to them. The rule to disallow 

 them is old, to allow them would be new. If by agitation the 

 rule could be set aside, then birds of both kinds might be 

 shown, but for my part I do not see any good reason for doing so. 



In conclusion, I beg to say I have a friend who has kept 

 Brahmas from the earliest importation, and he quite agrees 

 with the remarks made by the judge who replies to " Justitia," 

 that vulture hocks are a new introduction. As far as my own 

 experience is concerned, I have always found vulture hocks 

 most frequent amongst leggy birds, and whether you look at 

 them sideways or in front, they appear knock-kneed and weak, 

 and continually desiring to sit down. 



It is well known that Dorkings have been crossed with 

 Cochins to give them stamina, and birds have actually been 

 exhibited with feather stubs still peeping through the scales of 

 the legs — perhaps our friend "Justitia" would have awarded 

 such birds a high premium ; I should not, because they are 

 evidently a fresh importation, and should be treated only as 

 a cross deserves. 



I think it would be much more correct to make a fresh class 

 for White Brahmas than for vulture-hocked, since most of last 

 year's winning birds were without any pencilling in the neck 

 hackles, and the preference was given invariably to size, and 

 not to markings, as it should be according to rules. — F. C. 



as tho grumblings of " disappointed exhibitors," how can they 

 expect any redress ? Though I am not at present a breeder of 

 either Cochins or Brahmas, yet my opinion would load mo to 

 advocate the whole vulture, hock. — B. P. Buent. 



Witt should one judge rule against all fanciers? Why do 

 not the Brahma fanciers demand a poll ? I do not quite agree 

 with " Clbricus," for I think exhibitors are most to blame, and 

 while they are content to have their just complaints set down 



KLNGSWOOD TOULTRY SHOW. 



My only association, until yesterday, August 2'2nd, with Kingswood, 

 near Bristol, was the preaching of YVhitolicld to the colliers, some of 

 whom came with brickbats and fool's cap to injure and insult the 

 preacher, but stayed with tears on their blackened cheeks beseeching 

 his forgiveness, und praying his further instruction. I shell now, in 

 addition, connect Kingswood with the sight of a Tery pretty flower 

 show, and a spirited first attempt at a poultry show. Kingswood is 

 not an easy place to reach from Wiltshire, tit least now that railways 

 have made must places so easy of access, and we have come to think a 

 few miles of hilly road terrible to face. I determined to go on to 

 Bristol rather than stop at Keynskani, being afraid of not obtaining a 

 conveyance there. 



Entering Bristol station I noticed amid the smoke, dirt, and black- 

 ness, a bright little garden amid the great breadth of railway lines 

 crossing and recrossing each other. It belonged to a pointsman, who 

 had also decorated his black sentry-box with creepers. The garden 

 was a perfect little gem, though only a few feet square. Pointing oat 

 this specimen of gardening under difficulties to a surgeon, my vis-a-vU 

 in the carriage, I said, " That's a good sign." u Yes," he replied, 

 " I never knew a drunkard who took pains with his garden." I found 

 that Kingswood was four miles from Bristol, and " four such miles !" 

 siud tho cabman. Once started, 1 thread the narrowest and dirtiest of 

 streets, the abodes of tho lowest class — streets ripe and ready for tho 

 cholera — the adults begrimed, the little children like half-washed 

 chimney-sweeps. Onwards and always upwards we go. I was early 

 and quite alone on the road. After the thickly crowded streets are 

 passed, blackened cottages succeed, everything has a collier look. 

 Whitefiehl, a great orator, but no organiser, had left no enduring 

 mark upon Kingswood. Not so quiet John Wesley ; Westeran chapels 

 and " Wesley Buildings " are there. Still upwards I climb and reach 

 Kingswood village, which had put out its llags for a gala day. Small 

 flags peep out at bedroom windows, larger ones float over our heads, 

 little collier boys cheer me — no, my horse, as I pass along. Turning 

 down a lane I at length get into the pure country, and stopping at a 

 gate enter a park in which the Show is held. It proves to be the park 

 of Mr. Budgett, the son, I believe, of the Mr. Budgett whose memoirs 

 under the title " The Successful Merchant," have found their way 

 into many homes. He was one who rose to wealth by industry, and 

 better still, set a good example by his princely liberality and Christian 

 kindness. 



I arrived early, imagining that the Show would be opened at twelve 

 o'clock, but it was not so. However, no one barred the way to 

 " Wiltshire TlEctor ;" he walks in, the attendant policemen doing 

 him reverence, and no question, and not even a ticket asked for. 

 Possibly the "Wiltshire Rector" was taken for some Canon, or 

 even — who knows ? — for the Dean of Bristol — some one so great that no 

 ticket was required of him. The Judges are a^ their work, so I find 

 a seat ont in the open, and watch and enjoy the proceedings. I note 

 tin bustle and eager desire to have everything proper on the part of 

 the officials. I listen to the marvellous Gloucestershire dialect of tho 

 workmen who are busy around me. I enjoy the pretty views, and 

 half-dozing look-on at the bedding plants in the garden a little way off. 

 At length one o'clock comes, and with it a band eaters, then a second 

 band, and the Show is open. 



I walk straight to the poultry trent. It is of the " Classes open to 

 all England," that I shall speak. It must be borne in mind that this 

 wfl s tin- first poultry show at Kingswood, and that the time of year is 

 against showing birds. Indeed, I was surprised to see so many in 

 good plumage. The great desire of the Committee was to bring 

 together, by offering liberal prizes, at any rate a few good birds, and 

 this wish was realised. 



In Spanish Mr. Parsley, of Bristol, took the first prize with birds 

 which were very superior. Mr. T. Bamfield, of Clifton, was second. 

 In DorHngs and in Buff CocMns Miss Milwardwas first. Mr. Rod- 

 bard was first and second in Parti ■ !■ ■ : Ions, all his birds in this 

 class being of great merit. The ' the largest class. It is 



wonderful how all over England the Game fowl is beloved. Mr. Dupe, 

 of Evercreech, was first with a pen of Brown I i b were to my 



thinking the gems of tin- Show. Mr. Dupe took second with Duck- 

 wings — indeed he carried off all the honours : his three pens were a 

 pleasure to look at as they stood side by side. Br more 



numerous than Cochins. Thi pen was Mr. Boyle's. Rev. C. L. 



Cruwys had his usual place with Sebri] M I a ' and Mr. Rodbard 



carried off the second Bantam prize with a pen of very good coloured 

 Duckwings. The special prizes for the bes; cockerels of any vt 

 offered by Mr. Rodbard, fell to a good Spanish cod rel 1 lug to 



Mr. Parsley ; the secol I >al I belongi t< Mi - . Rol ts, while 

 Mr. Cornwall's Dork: i amended. The Rev. Mr. Hodson, of 



North Petherton, acted as poultr ; 



While looking at the poultry a number of " Reformatory " boys 

 passed through — very little boys they were. I was delighted to see 



