March SO, 1866. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



231 



After a great many years experience in Game Bantam breed- 

 ing, I must endorse the " WiLTsniiiF. Rector's" statement 

 that they are easy to breed good; and as " G.illus," "P.," 

 " W. F. E.," and " Cheshibe Pile," appear to be of the 

 opposite opinion, I would advise them without delay to pur- 

 chase the " Standard of Excellence " and digest the contents 

 thereof, and it is possible that their present opinions may be 

 altered. — John Crosland, Jun. 



THE FINALE. 



The time having now arrived when, in the judgment of the 

 Editors, this passage of pens should cease (verily a large amount 

 of type has been used on a very small subject ; it has been the 

 reverse of the mountain bringing forth the mouse ; and the 

 little birds, could they know it, would be more fussy than ever) , 

 it becomes me to say a few concluding words, as a remark of 

 mine originated this rush to pens, to my own great surprise 

 and infinite amusement. 



I stated that Game Bantams were " easy to breed." The 

 discussion has been conducted by two parties : one which 

 knows how to breed them good, the other which does not yet 

 know how. It is simply a case of knowing how to do it, and 

 of not knowing how to do it. It has been clearly proved that 

 Game Bantams are easy to breed good by those who thoroughly 

 understand the breeding of them. My opponents have been 

 " Gallhs," " P," and " A Cheshibe Pile," also "W. F. E.," 

 who wrote civilly, though differing from me in opinion. On 

 my side was the greatest breeder of these fowls, Mr. J. Cros- 

 land, who stated that " he quite agreed with me," and that 

 " he breeds every year a large number of first-class birds." It 

 was not wise for any one to speak in opposition to Mr. Cros- 

 land, for he breeds the best birds in the kingdom, for the simple 

 reason that he best linows how to do it. Then came my friend 

 "West Yoekshibesian," who showed that he had gradually 

 learnt how to do it ; his letter is very valuable ; then, lastly, 

 Mr. Newsome's long and able communication (I hope some 

 time or other to have the pleasure of meeting him), and he, 

 too, has learnt how to do it. I am extremely obliged to those 

 who have written on my side and proved the truth of what I 

 stated. I have not the least personal knowledge of any of 

 them, and not only do I thank them, but, as a gentleman, I 

 feel particularly glad that they all wrote in such a gentlemanly 

 manner. I think the results of this discussion will be, that 

 possibly fewer Game Bantams wiU be shown, but most probably 

 the}' will be better birds. Also the needless multiplication of 

 crosses will cease, and good strains will be kept to, while bad 

 ones will be destroyed. It is wonderful how true the little 

 creatures come if they be of a thoroughly good strain. In con- 

 clusion, I would remark that I shall in the future, as in the 

 past, state just what I think, quite independently of .any class 

 interest, but keep the interest of poultry on the whole always 

 before me. Thanking my friends, I also hope my opponents 

 will cease to stumble on the road to success, and will learn how 

 to breed their pets to their own content and the approval of 

 the judges. — Wiltshibe Rectob. 



[We think this controversy may now cease, for a quire of 

 letters would not convince any one of the combatants that his 

 opponents are right ; and the same amount of letters will 

 elicit no other information for our readers, than that some 

 poultry fanciers find it ditlicult to breed very superior Game , 

 Bantams, whilst others have experienced no such difficulty. 

 We know the exhibited birds of all the controversialists, and 

 we can testify that we never saw among them one inferior 

 specimen. — Eds. ] 



and will prefer any variation from the true blue, or original 

 colour, which, I think, is rather inconsistent ; if blue, let us 

 have the true blue. 



I am glad to notice that one of your correspondents objects 

 to the incorrect names applied to fowls. I have written much 

 on the subject, but generally met with more opposition than 

 encouragement. He is quite right in what he says, it is a folly 

 to call poultry by false names. The fowl that came from Ham- 

 burgh was a crested bird, still much bred on the continent, 

 particularly in Belgium, and now known there as " Brabanter." 

 Polands and Polish should be called Crested Fowls. Cochins 

 and Brahmas are properly Shanghaes, or Chinese. The Bebe, 

 or Black East Indian Ducks, have nothing to do with Buenos 

 Ayres or Labrador ; and the Musk Ducks come from Brazil, 

 not from Muscovy. — B. P. Beent. 



RAILAVAY CHARGES. 



Since the first list of those willing to sign the requisition to 

 the railway authorities, I have received communications from 

 others, as the subjoined list will show. There are many who 

 have not taken any notice of my circular, but I have only 

 received one direct refusal, a name we shall miss here, though 

 very rarely missing in the prize list. As the refusal gave no 

 reasons, I could not, as in one or two instances I have done, 

 show the necessity of helping, but I regret the omission, and 

 can only hope that before the requisitions are presented, ex- 

 hibitors may yet be persuaded to sign. 



From the many communications I have received, I am dis- 

 posed to think that a uniform rate, considerably lower than 

 for other parcels, both ways, would meet the general wishes ot 

 exhibitors more than returning specimens feee. I should be 

 very glad to receive the names of any exhibitors who would 

 form part of the deputation. 



The following are the additional names that I have received : 



Hon. H. W. Fitzwilliam. 



.T. Holme. 



E. .Tones, 10s. M. 



J. H. Piekles, 10s. M. paid. 



National Poultry Co., lOs. Gd, 



.T. Wood, 10s. 6i(. 



H. Linrrwood, 10s. 6(f. paid. 



E. Tudman, los. 6rf. paid. 



John Nelson, 10s. 6d. paid. 



J. Cattell, 10s. paid. 



H. Bates. 



John Poole. 



Elijah Smith. 



J. Fletcher, lOs. Bd. 



Mrs. D. Haig, 10s. 6rf. 



A. Heath, 5s. paid. 



John Pares, 10s. Gd. paid. 



A. WorthinKton, 10s. 6d. paid. 



G. S. Sainsbury. 



Rev. G. Hustler, lOs. M. 



Rev. J. de L. Sinimonds. 



H. Mnpplclieek, 10s. 6d. paid, 



E. Cambridge, 10s. Gd. 



C. Sidffvvick, 10s. 6d. paid. 

 G. K. Geyelin, 10s. 6rf. paid, 

 J. ■\\Tiite, 10s. Gd. paid. 



F. B. Walker, 10s. paid. 



-Joseph Hinton (Y. B. A. Z.), Hinlon, near Bath. 



VULTURE HOCKS— WHITE RUMPS- 

 ERRONEOUS na:mes. 



I PEECEivE there has been some discussion in the Journal 

 as to the vulture hocks in Shanghaes or Cochins, and I quite 

 agree with those of your correspondents who advocate vulture 

 hocks in Cochins. In my opinion they are quite in Iceeping 

 with the general form of the birds, and really belong to them as 

 much as feathered legs, of which, indeed, I consider them a 

 part; and, consequently, I admire them. 



As to Blue Dragons having white rumps, I consider it quite 

 natural and as consistent for blue Pigeons to have white rumps 

 as for them to have black bars across the wings. It is part 

 and parcel of the true blue colour. Some fanciers, I am aware, 

 object Iq any colour like that of the wild bird or natural colour ; 

 such, of course, will discard blue altogether on that account. 



SOUTHERN POULTRY^ SHOWS. 



I AM truly glad that my words on this subject have called 

 forth " Bbahma Pootba's '' letter. I have also received a note 

 announcing that there will be a poultry show at New Shore- 

 ham, Sussex, next autumn, to be called " The South of Eng- 

 land Poultry Show." This is well. " May I be there to see ?" 

 Another letter has reached me, naming Bristol as a most 

 suitable place for a show. Some widely-known first-class 

 poultry fanciers reside in and near that city, and Pigeon- 

 lovers, especially of the flying varieties, abound; some pens 

 of these latter, stating the distances they have flown, would be 

 an acquisition. 



I certainly think there ought to be several efforts made to 

 establish shows in the south. Some of our greatest and most 

 successful fanciers, whose names will at once occur to the minds 

 of all readers of this Journal, live in the south of England, or, at 

 any rate, not in the north. An outlay of many pounds is ex- 

 pended by them in sending to northern shows ; surely, then, it 

 would only be fair to them that there should be shows nearer 

 home, and doubtless northern fanciers would send their birds 

 south. I would say, There shoidd be no show imless there is 

 a fairly-good population, and a railway station near. Why 

 not engraft a show upon a horticultural exhibition, or a plough- 

 ing match, or a meeting of a county friendly society or club, or 

 a fair. Wherever numbers are drawn together for any purpose, 

 there might be a poultry show, and, I will venture to predict, 

 the tent will be full. ^ 



" Egomet " speaks an encouraging word when he says, " Our 

 Show (not in the north), was a surprise, for we had not only a 

 balance sheet, but actually a balance in hand— a mce little 

 nest-egg for this year." By the way, I hke " Eoomei," he has 



