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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 11, 1866. 



Polands arc at last increasing in numbers, and are as good as ever in 

 quality. Every class was meritorious, and they brought fifty-one 

 pens into competition. Mr. Adkins's Silver and Mrs. Pettat's Golden 

 deserve especial mention. Mr. Edwards, of Lyndhurst, has tho gift 

 of breeding Black with white tops. 



Our notice of Gamr. classes must be a run of commendation. They 

 were all good. One thing, however, cannot fail to strike any one 

 who observes them closely, that is the increase in size and weight. 

 What would one of the old school think of the average of 51 lbs. in a 

 class when the same at the end of the last century was ?A lbs. ? Fight- 

 ing has disappeared, and the cocks are certainly better and stronger 

 than they ever were. It is almost invidious to mention any, where all 

 were so evenly meritorious ; yet some should not be passed over. 

 Messrs. Williams, Gilbert, Moss, Wood, Burgess, all deserve mention ; 

 also the Dnke of Newcastle and Sir St. George Gore. The chief 

 honour of the Game classes must, however, be awarded to Mr. Wood, 

 who showed the best Brown Red pullets we ever saw. They deservedly 

 took the piece of plate for the best pen of Game in the Exhibition. 

 Black and Brown Red hold their own, and produce grand i 

 Duckwings keep about the same; but the Black . Whites, and Piles 

 do not increase in numbers. 



It is the province of the Various class to ; .1 ground of all 



new introductions. They remain there only so long as their entries 

 are comprised in a certain limit. Last year the Creve Cceurs out- 

 grew it; we fancy this year the La Heche will do the same, and the 

 Houdans also. This class was made up of the following : — La Flcche, 

 Houdan, Cuckoo, Silkies, Sultans, Guelders, Bri da, Black Shangbae, 

 Magpie Tarifans, Andalusiar.s, White China. White Poland, Buff 

 Polish, Many-spurred Indian Game, Wild Jungle of India, and Phea- 

 sant Malays, making forty-five pens. 



Gold and Silver-laced Bantams were good, but not numerous. The 

 old complaint is still made, that the Silvers show too much of the 

 Golden colour. AY bite and Black were both good. Letter than they 

 have been of late : but some, even the prize pons of Black, might be 

 improved by a whiter deaf ear. Game Bantams were very good, es- 

 pecially the first- prize Duckwing cock. 



For the first time in our experience the Rouen Ducks have out- 

 weighed the Aylesburys. They have gained while the latter have lost. 

 We cannot better do our duty than by] . that being perfect 



in all points they weighed— Ronens, 10 lbs., 18; lbs., 17| lbs. ; Ayles- 

 burys, 18 lbs.. l\-\ lbs., lGi lbs. 



There is no standing still or going back about Geese and Tu 

 Old White, 57£ lbs., -17} lbs. ; voung, 42Ubs., 40| lbs., 36$ lbs : Grey, 

 59£ lbs., 50£ lbs. ; young, 421 Ihs., 4&\ lbs,. 37 lbs. Turkeys, old 

 birds, 49$ lbs., 47£ lbs.. Ai\\ lbs.; young, 39$ 11 ., 36j lbs., 354 lbs. 

 It must be recollected these pens are composed of two birds only. 



The beautiful Buenos Ayrean Ducks were very good, and the Man- 

 darins and Carolinas showed how lovely plumage may be even in con- 

 finement. 



We do not pretend to say of this great Show that its management is 

 perfect; but we do not hesitate to say that nothing is neglected that 

 can reuder it more useful or more attractive. Conducted by men of 

 the highest standing and position, who do not hesitate to superintend 

 even the smallest and apparently most trivial details, it has had a 

 long career of success. It needs no gift of prophecy to foresee a con- 

 tinuance of it. It is deserved. From the hour the Show opens till 

 the Hall is empty, the officials remain at their post : no question can 

 arise that cannot be immediately answered ; no difficulty that cannot 

 be solved. For months before the Show continued meetings are held, 

 and there is constant labour. All this is done so cheerfully and so 

 well, and is so entirely free from any selfish object or result, that we 

 cannot forbear from offering all parties our hearty congratulation on 

 their success. 



The Judges were :— The Bev.R. Pulleine. Key. G. T. Hodson, G. J. 

 Andrews, Esq., J. H. Smith, Esq., Mr. Joseph Hindson, Mr. Baily, 

 and Mr. Teebav- 



CHIPPENHAM POULTRY SHOW. 



There are some country towns in England which look so very old 

 that no house seems to have been built this century ; then, they are 

 so very small, that in whatever street you stand you see right through 

 to the country beyond. You may often look straight before you, and 

 behold, there is not a man visible. A small boy whistling gives you 

 absolute comfort, and takes away the oppressing sense of solitude — twice 

 solitude, among old bricks and mortar. Even a toddling child playing 

 in the gutter is better than nothing, and a mother scolding the said 

 child is quite a relief. In regard to such towns there are said to be 

 market days ; but it has struck me, not without some proofs at hand, 

 that the good folks really hold then* markets in the evening — perhaps 

 when there is no moon, that their smallness may not be visible. There 

 are shops ; but how do their owners live ? — that is the puzzle. I once 

 went into one on a summer afternoon. There were two steps down in 

 order to enter it, so old-fashioned was it. I knocked, no answer ; bell 

 of course there was none. I belaboured the counter till my knuckles 

 ■were sore; when, just as I had grown hopeless, a drowsy-eyed little 

 man raised a heavy head from behind a pile of drapery goods, and 

 said, " I beg your pardon, sir, but I was having my afternoon's nap." 

 *' So it seems," said I, " and the whole town is following your ex- 

 ample.'' Ah, that was a quiet town ! I used to think that the inha- 



bitants sent their orders to the tradesmen through the post (for there 

 actually was a post office), and then that the goods were delivered, I 

 fancied, at the dead of night, The inhabitants seemed to have the 

 spirit and feelings of Tennyson's u , Lotos Eateis," and to say— 



" All things have rest— why should we toil ? 

 There ts no joy but calm".'' 



Now, my good town of Chippenham — I do not live there, mind, but 

 I only have adopted it as my town — is no such sleepy place. It is an 

 old town, an old borough. It has returned two members to Parliament 

 since Kiug John's time. It has old buildings, such as an old Town 

 Hall, old picturesque shambles, a tine old inn — but, Mr. Hotten, the 

 sign is gone ! A large-cheeked angel no longer blows a long trumpet. 

 Here and there is a fine old house, and one remarkably fine old house- 

 front, said to have belonged to a mansion near. Now, Chippenham, 

 very old and respectable, like a prudent bachelor who marries late, 

 wedded, some quarter of a century since, a young wealth -bringing 

 bride, one Miss Great "Western. She succeeded to the fortune of old 

 Mr. Roods, and greatly added to it. This lady brought new life to 

 ChippenhLi:.:. She bronght, too, a famous brotherhood who worked 

 in iron, and cunning Chippenham men said, " You South Wilts, keep 

 your ehal nd us your cheese ;' T and forthwith, by the aid of 



Miss Great Western, huge loads of cheese came, till, particularly at 

 certain seasons. Chippenham is full of cheese, and full of buyers and 

 sellers, and the old town is well pleased to have it so. Hence it has 

 come to pass that my town is both old and new. It has its old hall 

 and new hall, its old church and new church ; and each year it is 

 running farther and farther into the country, for new houses bright 

 and clean, made of Bath stone, abound. So Chippenham is now busy, 

 bustling, and go-ahead, while its old respectable look keeps it from 

 having the hast touch of Brummagem about it. 



Of course Chippenham has its Poultry Show. I should think so, 

 indeed; and this year's (held November *29th and 30th), was better 

 than last year's, and next year's will be better still. There were in 

 all 121 pens. eleven pens. First prize, Mr. Johnson, of 



Langley, a new exhibitor, I fancy. Second, Mr. Hawks, of Mahnes- 

 bury. Spanish, but four pens, and Mr. Heath carried off both prizes. 

 mned a large class, but the rocks were much better than the 

 hens — the husbands better than their wives ! — this rule does not always 

 hold good with featherless bipeds. First prize, Mr. Sisum, of Charlton. 

 Second, Mr. Robert EUing. Out of four pens of White Game, two 

 were ineligible for prizes, the cocks not being dubbed, and the first 

 prize was withheld ; the second prize went to Mr. Hawks. For t '< 

 the first prize was awarded to Miss Milward's Buffs, which ind< ed 

 seldom meet with a rebuff ; the second to Mr. W. W. Hulbert, an en- 

 terprising young tradesman in Chippenham, who won with a good pair 

 of Partridge. Brahmas. — First, Mr. Hinton. Second, Mr. Maggs. 

 and here, indeed, I note a change for the better ; three 

 years ago there were scarcely enough birds for the prizes, and now 

 they formed the largest class. The Pencilled seemed to be the favour- 

 ites, es >< ally the Golden. First prize, Mr. Maggs. Second, Mrs. 

 Yatmar. of l'etbury. Gold and Silver-spangled — First, Mr. W. W. 

 Hulbert. Second, Mr. Maggs. Polands. — Mr. Hinton first and second, 

 ■with Silver-spangled. These birds seem very robust, and of good con- 

 stitution, as well as of a good strain. Mr. Hinton also showed a pen 

 of Black Polands, but the birds were evidently of a brave English dis- 

 position, not intending to show the white feather in front to the enemy. 

 Tin / - were numerous, and the first prize ones very good ; 



they belonged to Mr. E. Bailey, of Chippenham; the second prize went 

 to Mr. Orledge. Bantams, " Any other variety, but three pens. First 

 prize, good Sebrights, belonging to Mr. Maggs ; the second, Mr. Cam- 

 bridge s well-known Blacks. The " Any other distinct breed " were a 

 middling lot. There were also five pens of cross-breeds, which I cannot 

 admire, j ■ ' - . ■ Miss Milward first. The cool: bird belonging to 

 Sir. Adney. though not a prize-taker, I must not omit to notice for its 

 exceeding beauty of plumage. Geese were abundant. DilcIcs ditto, but 

 the Aylesburys were the best ; of the little Ducks there were but four 

 pens. Last of all came " Sweepstakes for the best Game cock." Mi*. 

 Thompson, first : Mr. G. S. Sainsbury, second ; and Mr. Elling, third. 

 I was very glad to hear the Secretary state on the second day, at, or 

 rather after the dinner of the Society, that every prizetaker was paid 

 or would be by that night's post, so I hope there will be no complaints. 

 — WlLTSHntE Rector. 



ERIGHTON2POULTRY SHOW. 



This was held on the oth, Oth, and 7th inst., when the following 

 prizes were awarded : — 



Dorkings (Coloured).— First aud Second, Viscountess Holmesdale, 

 Linton Park, btarrtehurst, Kent. Third, Messrs. E. & A. r-tanford, Ashurst, 

 Steyning. Fourth, D. C. Campbell, M.D., Essex Lunatic Asylum, Brent- 

 wood. Highly Commended, C. Cork, New Shoreham ; Marchioness 

 Dowager of Bath, Muntham Court, Worthing. Chickens.— First and Fourth, 

 Viscountess Holmesdale. Second, J. White, Warlaby, Northallerton. 

 Third, £>. C. Campbell, MJ>. Highly Commended, Miss E. Price, St. 

 Leonard's-on-Sea ; J. G. Simpson, Springfield, near Chelmsford. 



Game.— First, W. W. Pyne, South Lancing. Second, S. Matthow, Stow- 

 market, Suffolk. Third, H. Gon-inge, Southwick Green. Fourth, J. 

 Jeken, Eltham, Kent, S.E. Highly Commended, F. Pittis, jun., Newport ; 

 H. Gorringe. Chickens.— First and Fourth, W. W. Pyne. Second and 

 Third, S. Matthew. 



