Febrcary 13, 1866. ] 



JOUEKAL OF HOETICULTIJKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEB. 



135 



RAILWAY CHARGES. 



The first of the two suggestions by "T. B. A. Z.," wliicli 

 apiJearcil in your issue of January 23rcl, I consider decidedly 

 tlie better and by far the more practicable. The Poultry Club 

 should, I contend, take the matter up with the railways, and I 

 do not see a better plan than by petition. Some amount of 

 .trouble and inconvenience must attend it, but in that I shall 

 /be happy to bear a share. " Our Editors " are in possession of 

 my name and address. If any one should feel disposed to 

 communicate with me. it can he done through them. Not 

 being yet a member of the Club, I can do very little more. 



^Vith regard to " expense," I believe that we are urging a 

 reduction of railway rates to save the pockets of exhibitors 

 fi-om what we, the poultry exhibitors, consider unjust charges, 

 at the same time generously taking into consideration the 

 benefit of railway companies who convey our jjoultry, and not 

 forgetting the extension of poultry exhibitions, and the same 

 being made accessible to a class who at the present time cannot 

 show their specimens simi)ly because of the various '• expenses " 

 attending it, the most grievous being, perhaps, " railway 

 charges." But why make it more expensive by devoting some 

 part of our incomes to the attainment of the object in view ? 

 Tmust confess I cannot clearly understand this, and, not under- 

 .Standing, think it decidedly imnecessary. Is it not maldng bad 

 worse ? I am open to correction on this point, being but a young 

 exhibitor and totally unacquainted with the rules of the Poultry 

 Club. Now, I would add to " Y. B. A. Z.'s " recommendation, 

 ;tliat the Poultry Club advocate in their pietition — that is, if they 

 •■will consent to take the matter up, that exhibition poultry be 

 conveyed to and from jilaccs of exjiibition at the ordinaiy rate 

 of parcels. This would reduce the expense considerably, for, as 

 J stated in a previous letter, the rate for conveying poultry is 

 50 per cent, more than for parcels, or half as much again. I 

 think this proposition would be more readily listened to by the 

 railway officials, for, having unsold specimens returned free is 

 open to much confusion and dishonesty. We must give the 

 companies as little trouble as possible, and I would also point 

 out to them the advantages to be gained on both sides. 



If these suggestions are considered of any service, I shall be 

 hap]iy to place myself in communication with the Secretary of 

 .the Poultry Club (a member of which I hope shortly to be), and 

 at all times shall be only too glad to render any assistance that 

 jnay lie in my power for the benefit of poultry exhibitors, and 

 poultry shows. — F. H. 



It was my intention to have commenced the campaign with 

 the London and South-Western Itailway. This is the railway 

 that I mentioned in a previous Krmiber as always charging the 

 return journey but repaying it en application, so that I was 

 not surprised to see " J. I)e L. S.'s " commimication on the 

 subject. Youi' next correspondent, " P.," however, would be 

 astonished how crotchety some companies are on the point he 

 alludes to. I know a company that for two years allowed this 

 privilege, and when the committee, taking it for granted, 

 printed it the third time in tlie regulatious before they asked, 

 making sure that there would be no difficulty, the boon was 

 refused ! I have no doubt that if aU secretaries made it a 

 point to apply, railway authorities would begin to see that it 

 ■was a grievance. 



The plan suggested liy " Caxtus," that six gentlemen should 

 form a deputation to the various railway companies, is a very 

 good one, if they can be found. This could be done in ad- 

 dition to the Poultry Club, and a petition by breeders inde- 

 pendently of the Club ; and it would be a great thing for the 

 deputation to be able to say, " We represent the whole of the 

 leading exhibitors, as proved by these signatures." 



A uniform rate by all railways would be capital could it be 

 managed, and if printed and sent to each exhibitor and station- 

 master, prepayment would be an easy matter. At present it 

 is a great soirree of inconvenience and annoyance, as some of 

 -my correspondents have already shown me, and as I have felt 

 myself. 



Another correspondent has mentioned to me that one rail- 

 way will take birds by the longest possible way to make the 

 carriage come heavier, and monopolise it for themselves. This 

 is very unjust. 



In conclusion let me urge all exhibitors to take the matter 

 up together. " Our Editors " have kindly consented to act 

 as treasurers of the independent fund, and, I believe, the 

 Poultry Club have begim to move in the matter ; hut we may 

 act independently of each other with better effect. It, how- 



ever, we are to do anything with a petition we must start the 

 matter at once. Several exhibitors have written me, saying they 

 will sign, putting down their names for lUs. C</., and soma 

 guaranteeing more. The former smn would not be felt much 

 by any of us, and would form a handsome total, whilst, if we 

 are successful, its repayment will be rapid. I hope next weei 

 to give a Ust of those who have promised their help ; meanwhile, 

 I shall be very glad to hear from others, and, perhaps, it will 

 simplify matters and save postage, if I sign myself — JosErn 

 HiNTON (Y. B. A. Z.), Hinton, near Bath. 



MIDDLETON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The first Exhibition of tliis Society was held on Friday aud Saturday 

 last. The foUomiig is the prize Ust : — 

 C.iXARIES. 



NonwicH (Clear Yellow\ — First jmcl Second, G. F. 'Weleh, Wilson Hall, 

 Derliy. Hiijbly Cummended, W. Walters. Winchester j J.Moore, North- 

 aniptMn. Commended, J. Wynne, Northampton. 



Norwich (Clear Buff). — First, G. F. Welch. Second, W. Walters. 

 Highly Commended, J. Bennett, Derby; W.Walters; J. Moore. Com- 

 mended, G. Cumniings. 



Norwich (Crested or any other variety). — First and Second.W. Walters. 

 Commended, J. McMilliu, Great Percy Street, Pentonville. 



Belgian (Clear Yellow).— First, W. Phillips, Old Basford, Nottingham. 

 Second, K. E. Aslitou, Oaklauds, near Bury. 



Belui.vn (Clear Buff).— First, J. Horrocks, Blackley. Second, W. 

 Ogden, Middleton. 



Crested Belgian (.Any colour). First and Second, H. Barlow, King 

 Street, Oldham. Highly Commended, A. Hamer, Oldham. Commended, 

 K. E. Ashton. 



Liz.vKD Golden-spangled).— First and Second, A. Hamer. Third, S. E. 

 Stanley, Manchester. Highly Commended, G. Cummings, Southgate 

 Street," Gloucester ; E. E. Ashton ; J. Tattersall, Oldham. 



LizAUD (SUver-spangled). — First, A. Hamer. Second, P.. E. Ashton. 

 Third, .J. Tattersall. Highly Commended, J. Tattersall. 



McLE (Jonquo Goldfinch).- First, Second, and Third, D. H. Noar, 

 Cannon Street, JIauehester. Highly Commended. E. Horsfall, Manchester. 



McLE (Mealv (ioldflnchl.— First and Second, D. H. No.ar. Third, E. 

 Horsfall. Highly Commended, W. Walters ; W. L. Chapman, Northampton. 



McLE (Linne't;.— Fu-st, H. Manners, Lower Broughton, Manchester. 

 Second, A. W. Booker, Allerton, near Liveiiiool. 



Mule (Canarj-, any variety).— First, W. Walters. Second, W. L. Chap- 

 man. 



ENGLISH BIEDS. 



Goldfinch.— First, C. H. Fisher, Stroud, Gloucestershire. Second, H. 

 Ashton. Highly Commended, X. Hamer. 



Linnets.— First, S. Reynolds, WilUam Street, Derby. Second, J. Tat- 

 tersall. Highly Commended, G. Cuminings. 



Skvlaeks.— First, A. Hamer. Second, E. Wolstenholme, Limefleld, 

 Buiy. Highly Commended. W. Walters. Commended, .J. Turner. 



Thecsh.— First, Mrs. Bagnall, Middleton. Second, J. S. L. Beaufort, 

 Prestwich. 



FOREIGN BIRDS. 



Paheot (Green).— Prize, A. W. Booker. Commended, J. Beaton, 

 Middleton. 



Love Birds. — Pi-ize, H. Ashton. Commended, W, W alters. 



Grass Paraquets.— Pi-ize, H. Ashton. Highly Commended, C. H. 

 Fisher ; J. Jones, Manchester. 



Any other sort of Lauge Foreign Birds.— Prize, A. W. Booker 

 (King Lory). Highly Commended, W. Walter (Bullah Bullah). 



Any other sort of Small Foreign Birds.— Prize, H. Ashton, Prest- 

 wich. Highly Commended. H. Ashton ; E. E. Ashton, Onldands near 

 Bury (Brisbane Fiucbl; W. Walters (Saffron Finch). Commended, 

 W. Walters (Madagascar Bird). 



PIGEONS. 

 C.iHKlEES.— First, C. & E. Royds, Green Hill, Rochdale. Second, J. E. 

 Robinson, Nile Street, Sunderland. Commended, J. Frith, jun., Dews- 



Almon-d TtJMBLERs.— First, J. Fielding, jun., Rochdale. Second, J. R. 

 Robiuson. 



TuBEBLERS (Any other variety).— First and Second, J. Fielding, 3un. 



Baubs.— First, J. Firth, jun. Second, H. Beldon, Blngley. Highly 

 Commended, J. E. Robinson. 



Jacobins.— First, C. & E. Eoyds. Second, H. Beldon. Highly Com- 

 mended, A. Middleton, Newport. Jlon. 



Fantails.— First, C. & E. Royds. Second. H. Yardley. Birmingham. 



OWLS. — First, C. & E. Royds. Second, J. Fielding, jun. 



DR.VG0NS. — First and Second. H. Yardley. 



Balds and Beards. — Fii'St and Second, C. &E. Royds. 



Trumpeters.— Fii-st, H. Beldon. Second. C. & E. Royds. 



TcREiTs.— First, R. Thompson, Kendal. Second, H. Yardley. Com- 

 mended, H. Beldon. 



Any Vametv.— First, C. & E. Eoyds. Second, Countess of Derby, 

 Knowsley Hall, Prescot (Isabels). Highly Commended, C. & E. Royds, 

 H. Yardley ; F. Broemel, Lcvenshulmo, Kent (Siberian Ice Pigeon). 



Judges: — Mr. A. Evans, 8.5, Chajiel Street, Salford: Mr. J. W. 

 Edge, Aston New Town, Bh-mingham ; Mr. G. J. Bamesby, Derby. 



PoLLEJJ-GATHEr.ING IN SCOTLAXD. BcOS firSt SCOU poheU- 



gathering at 3 p.m. this day (January '25th) upon flowers of 

 early striped yeUovf Crocus and Jasminum nudiflorum in front 

 of my house. In addition to Snowdrops, Christmas Koses, 

 Primroses. Hepaticas, Arabis alpina, &c., as spring flowers^ we 

 have, through the mildness of the season, autumn Stocks, Wall- 

 flowers, and some fair buds of China and Hybrid Periietual 

 Koses still in bloom. — I. ATebstee, Gordon Cattle. 



