15-1 



JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. 



[ Febnuiy 20, 1866. 



(owla are called Hambtirglis is a riJdlo to me. I lived fifteen 

 years in Hamburg, aud neither in that town nor in the eur- 

 rooudiug country are fowls of this kind bred. They were quite 

 unknown in that part of Germnny up to It^o'J. 



'• I3runnen Pigeons " is another misnomer. The correct 

 name is " Uruenu Pigeons," from the town of Bruenn, capital 

 of the Austrian province of Moravia. The German word 

 " bnninen " means " a well." The Poultry Club has certainly 

 enough authority to fix the names of poultry, at least in truth 

 to geography and nationality. — F. B. 



••WILTSHIRE RECTORS" GRIEVANCE. 

 Do not think the above a sensational heading. It is in a 

 certain sense — a poultry sense — true. Shows as a rule take 

 place in winter, and as a nile (I wish it were rescinded), only 

 in the midland and northern parts of Euglaud. Well, these 

 things being so, I am debarred the jdeasure of being present 

 at the majority of these charming exhibitions. I like to be at 

 shows, and I like to have my say afterwards. I like to notice 

 vfhere httle improvements may be made ; and I like to be 

 counsel for the birds, and look after their interests. But how- 

 can I in winter ti'avel so far, living as I do in Wiltshire ? If 

 I attempted to go to the distant shows there would be a do- 

 mestic mutiny, perhaps even I should be locked up in my 

 study. But to show that I have a real giievance I take up a 

 Number of "our Journal," and read without alteration the 

 "list of shows." First, Hauley, Staffordshire — too far off. 

 Then Wentworth, Yorkshire — worse still. North British Co- 

 lumbarian Society (Glasgow) — fancy going to Glasgow for plca- 

 suie in December ! Then comes Heckmondwike — queer name 

 that, I wish I knew its derivation. My " Clergy List " tells 

 me it is in Yorkshire. ITorkshiie again ! Sensible people liva 

 there, surely. Then, next Manchester, where it is said always 

 to rain. Fancy facing smoke and drizzle after a journey of 

 nearly two hundred miles ! Then comes the Paisley Show — 

 worse still. Then Fife and Kinross. I should like once more 

 to see Kirkcaldy, but — the distance. .Aberdeen — well, the 

 granite city and I are old friends, but no renewal of intercourse, 

 please, in midwinter. Next the show at Skye — no, my eye is 

 ■wrong ; it is at Dnmfiies and Maxwelltown, the braes of which 

 latter place we know are bonnie in summer and autumn, but 

 not later. But what do I read next ? Cork .-md South of Ire- 

 land. Fancy crossing the sea in a recent gale 1 it would have 

 been no gala day to me. Then West Cumberland and North 

 of England — why not South of England ? I read then Walsall, 

 Jedburgh, Kendal, and lastly of the Show at N.antwich. 



It is clearly impossible for me to be present at any one of 

 these shows. Have I not, then, a gi-ievance ? I am, in fact, 

 reduced to Bath and West of England when not held in Corn- 

 wall, and a very few small shows near me. By a tremendous 

 effort and screwing-up of courage I went last year to Bii-ming- 

 hom, but that was an exceptional case. I heard a whisper of 

 a show to be held at Cheltenham, but the whisper has died 

 out. I know of several fi-iends who would exhibit there, but 

 Cheltenham makes no sign. On the Great Western there 

 surely might be a show or two. Why not one at Windsor ? 

 The king of Light Brahmas lives near— JIi-. Pares. Then the 

 pens could be hired, as was the case at Calne, from Devizes, 

 which is on the same line of railway, and London fanciers 

 ■would be sure to send their birds. There is also Swindon, easy 

 of access, and abounding with fowl-loving mechanics. Or 

 there's Eeading. Or, again, why not have a show at Oxford? 

 Numbers of the nndergi-aduatcs would attend. 



I hope this appeal will meet with a response. I do not 

 myself exhibit, because my sense of fairness as a writer will 

 not allow me to do so ; but I will try and induce all my poultry 

 friends to send to such show or shows, and shall be dchghted 

 to attend and record my impressions. It is too bad that the 

 north-men should have all the pleasure to themselves. I am 

 jealous, and feel myseU a badly treated — Wiltshthe Eector. 



P.S.— Wherever there is a poultry show I plead that there 

 be a Pigeon show as well. 



Eggs ILvtchixg after being Chillec. — Some of your 

 readers may be interested to know the following circum- 

 stances : — I Bet a White Cochin-China hen upon eleven eggs 

 on the 9th nit. ; she had been sitting eight days, when, by 

 accident, she was shut off from her nest the whole of one 

 night, upwards of twelve hours. On the 31st, she hatched 

 eleven chickens.— H. J. Lucas, The Rcctonj, Edith Weston. 



ROCHDALE POULTRY SHOW. 

 Yonn correspondent in the Journal of February (jth, gives 

 such a favourable account of the Poultry Club's National Show, 

 that those who were not lucky enough to bo present, would 

 naturally suppose that the Show was a great success. My im- 

 pressions were not so favourable. The room was calculated 

 to hold about five hundred jiens of birds, whilst about one 

 thousand were attempted to be exhibited. I say '• attempted," 

 because when one class is shown in as many as three different 

 parts of the room, fair judgment seems hardly likely to be at- 

 tained. Some exhibitors found their birds so unfavourably 

 placed lowing to the overcrowded state of the place), that they 

 were not surprised their birds were not noticed in the prize list, 

 although they were breeders of many years standing, and 

 certainly ought to know what birds should be considered up to 

 the mark. Complaints of unfair treatment of Pigeons have 

 been sent to you. What steps have the Poultry Club taken to 

 discover the perpetrators of this outrage ? If the Poultry 

 Club make themselves responsible for another show, it is to be 

 hoped they will take care to have room enough for the fair 

 arrangement of all the classes, and provide servants who can 

 handle Pigeons without mutilating their feathers. There is 

 only one feature in the Show which is at all to be commended 

 — viz., making the pen consist in all classes of one bird of 

 each sex. — Audi Aliekam Pabtem. 



JUDGES AKD JUDGING IN SCOTL.VND. 



Now that poultry shows are over for the season, allow me to 

 make a few remarks on the above subject. Some time ago I 

 asked an old exhibitor if he was going to show at Paisley. 

 " No," he said, " I have been once too often there." Well, I 

 did not think anything unfair woiJd be done : so I entered a 

 few pens, and sent them in due course — the very best I had ; 

 and those who happen to know my birds would speak of their 

 merits in no disparaging manner, I think. After the show I 

 received my birds and a catalogue, and found that I had not 

 obtained a single notice. I thought I would see who had been 

 judging, when I foimd such a host of names, that one would 

 have thought they ought to have judged -properly. To com- 

 plete my siu-prisc, I found that a pen which I had just sold, 

 and which exhibited nothing like the size of markings or the 

 qualitj' of the birds which I had sent, had won a prize. 



I may mention another Show (Jedburgh), at which the deci- 

 sions perfectly astounded some old and experienced exhibitors 

 from England ; and I may also name that at Kelso. Some 

 birds arrived too late for competition ; but a gentleman on the 

 spot ascertained what position one pen that arrived late would 

 have held in the prize list provided it had been in time, when he 

 was infoi-med that it would have taken no position at all ; for, 

 said the gentleman writing (and I have his letter before me 

 now), he (the Judge) prefers small-spotted, hght hens before 

 large spangled ones. If such is the opinion of any " Judge " 

 of Hamburghs, the sooner he takes a look through all the 

 principal Shows in England the better : and he should also 

 obtain a copy of the " Standard of Excellence," that ho may 

 be better qualified next time he goes from home. 



I write with all kindly feeling towards the Scotch fanciers, 

 but my name for one w ill not appear in their catalogues again 

 unless I hear of some better Judges being appointed. I am 

 now like my friend, I have been once too often north, unless 

 the change" alluded to be made. If the Committees are not 

 acquainted with good and experienced Judges, let them ask 

 you or the Poultry Club, and I am snre you will give them 

 evei-y information in your power. — Justice. 



VULTURE HOCKS. 



Tbe letter of " Y. B. A. Z." on this subject deseiTes the 

 most careful attention of all Brahma breeders. That there is 

 a strong and growing objection abroad against any approach to 

 the profuse feathering at the hock is very obvious. Though not 

 a dealer, I have frequent applications for my birds, and almost 

 every letter that I receive contains this strict injunction " Be 

 sure not to send any that are ■\nlture-hocked ! " One cone- 

 spondent, who has been a verj- successful exhibitor, actually 

 remarked "A bird cannot be a true Brahma if it has the 

 vulture hock ! " If this objection be allowed to remain, and to 

 sway the decision of judges at our poulti7 shows, then farewell 



