872 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICtTLTUBE AXD COTTAGE GARDENER. 



T ilty IS, 1S«. 



and having; thrco hcna that have rromising broods, there is n 

 sort of Ahiaschar ciiloiiliilion — "Each hen has ten chiekens, 

 and these are worth at least 4.i. eaoh. Fnr thirty ehiekeiis this 

 vrill bo £6; tho hens will lay again (llreclly, and second broods 

 may net niaUuas much, but they will sell well — say half price, 

 that will le £3 ; extra eggR will pay exi'enses, and my three hens 

 will pay £'J, £3 each." This dream ia not realised, and then 

 the pursuit is thrown up in despair, and that which affords a 

 pleasant employment and Will realise a small but almost cer- 

 tain return, is relinquished, because it will not carry out an 

 ideal prolit. 



As market poultry will be that which finds a certain fittle, we 

 would speak of it. It is with poultry as with everything else, 

 that which is produced in advance of its regular season is the 

 most remunerative, but there is one universal condition tockod 

 to all — it must have maturity. Thus, in the mouth of April, 

 there arc tens of thousands of spring chickens about ; they are 

 spring cbiokcns, inasmuch as they are hatched in the spring ; 

 but they arc not saleable for lack of si.-.e till the summer ; 

 they are not tit for market till Juno. The spring chicken that 

 is vnlnable must be mature aud tit for table purposes in April 

 and M.ay. It must be of good size aud fit for sale in the spring, 

 being as large as it would naturally be in the summer. This 

 quality makes its value. The smail spring chicken, so called 

 because it is hatched in the spring, does not bring the largest 

 price because there are thousands like it ; but that which is 

 hatched betweeu November and February, and tit for market 

 in April and May, having all the quahty of the spring chicken 

 and the size of a fowl, is valuable, aud realises a large price 

 because it is rare. Size is gold when joined to youth and good 

 quality. We believe this will give the key to many past dis- 

 appointments and prevent future ones. Those, however, who 

 cannot give the attention neces.^ary for rearing and fattening 

 spring chicken.s, will find summer fowls i-emunerative. The 

 demand for eggs and poultry generally increases yearly, aud 

 there is no doubt it will find a ready sale at all times. Tho 

 fact of supplying the market docs not interfere with exhibiting. 

 On the contrary, the winners of the winter may often be chosen 

 from among the market chickens of the spring. 



we shall enjoy Wednesday, Sind of August, at Kingsvood. — 



WlI.T.SHIUE 1(£C'T0II. 



SOUTHERN POULTIIY SHOWS. 



This is a subject which possesses peculiar interest to the 

 exhibitors and lovers of poultry residing in the part of F.nglaud 

 south of the mid'and counties. ' The different letters which have 

 appeared concerning poultry shows in the south have, I am 

 thankful to say, ended in something better than words. I'er- 

 mit me a little space about a show that is to take place near 

 Bristol in August next. I ask this, as our good friends in tho 

 north can walk alone, nay, do run alone, on tho poultry show 

 subject ; but in the south there needs every encouragement 

 and help, even the little my pen can give. 



There is, then, to be a Show on the 22nd of August at 

 Kingswood, near Bristol, attached to the Cottagers' Horticul- 

 tural Society, which it appears comprises six parishes. This 

 Society was only formed in 18G4 ; but it is not only youthful 

 but vigorous. It has this year been determined " to add to 

 the attractions of the Society's programme an exhibition of 

 domestic poultry; and to enhance the value of such exhibi- 

 tion, and to enable the cottager, for whom this is more parti- 

 cularly intended, to judge of the merits of first-class poultry, it 

 has been resolved to offer prizes open to all England." 'JThis 

 is well. In other respects all seems promising. Patrons, Vice- 

 Presidents, and Committee are numerous and influential. 

 There are special prizes for the cottagers' flowers and fruits — 

 sensible useful prizes ; among them " a pair of boots [I hope 

 they will fit the winner], a set of garden tools, a spade, and a 

 prong for working potatoes." May it never turn np a diseased 

 one! Now, these prizes are a thousand times better than 

 useless things. When I turn to the poultry part of the schedule 

 I find for the cottagers of the district suitable money prizes, 

 with an extra lO.s-. for the best pen. Then come prizes of 10». 

 and 5s., first and second class respectively, for amateurs; and 

 "open to all England," first prizes of £2 2s., and .second of 

 £1 1.5. These will doubtless draw together some excellent 

 birds. But this is not all. Mr. Rodbard oiTers " two prii^es 

 of the value of two guineas and one guinea for the best cockerel 

 of any variety, to be exhibited separately." Thus, then, all 

 appears very favourable. May it be (ine weather, may there 

 be plenty of birds and plenty of visitors ; and then I am sure 



As one who has repeatedly grumbled at the Don-existence of 

 sonthem poultry showB, which, in the words of our Prime 

 Minister, have indeed been " conspicuous by their absence," 

 allow me to congratulate my brother fanciers that " the old 

 order changeth," and that henceforth wo have the promise of 

 a better state of things. I take up the last Number of " our 

 Journal," and instead of baring my bile disturbed, as the 

 " WiLTSHinE Eectoh's " was by reading with dismay a long list 

 of Yorkshire shows with outlandish names, culminating in 

 that crackjaw name of Heckmondwike (!), I now see with a 

 gradually broadening smilo of satisfaction a goodly list of 

 southern, eastern, and western cities, shortly to echo with the 

 " cock's shrill clarion." There is Woodbridge, in Suffolk, with 

 its working Secretary Mr. Dallenger; and a " genuine fellow," 

 a thorough poultry-faucier, is Mr. Wright. Then there are 

 Bury St. Edmunds, and Qhelmsford, and Ipswich. Bravo! say 

 I, to the pluck of the East Anglic.in fanciers ! Turning south- 

 ward — we will not stop at Maidstone, a " close borough," I 

 fear, as regards poultry, limited with sundry other restrictions 

 to Kentish fanciers ; and Porking, where they only show Dor- 

 kings ! — we pass with a sigh the Crystal Palace, scene of former 

 glories, tempting one to paraphrase Moore's lines, for there, 

 indeed — 



" Wc seem like ono 



Who truadfl alono 

 Some poultry show dodtrteil ; 



Whoso Kuests aru fled. 



The chickens doad, 

 .\nd tho manager dei»arted." 



Proceeding sonthward Brighton offers a more cheering spec- 

 tacle ; and though last year the cattle show there, given up on 

 account of that delightful " rinderpest," carried with it in its 

 ruin the poultry show, still we have reason to hope that another 

 Brighton show will rise like the pha^nix from tho collapse of 

 tho old one. The " South of England," at Shoreham, greets 

 us with a high-sounding title. May it float as lightly on the 

 waves of success as the name of its projector, Mr. Cork, would 

 bid us augur ! But, Westward, ho ! for tho stately spire of 

 Salisbury attracts us to that ancient city. There in a few 

 weeks will be gathered such a "cock parliament" from all 

 parts of England, as to make old " Mother Birmingham" her- 

 self jealous ! But from the more distant west we hear of other 

 shows. Kingswood by smoky Bristol has raised its standard. 

 Calne has a well-earned name for the love of fowls, and a 

 Gloucestershire show looms in the future! Southampton, 

 too, is "no mean city" for a gathering of the feathered tribe. 

 Lastly, I mnst not pass over one of, if not the very best of, 

 southern shows, and which may be pronounced in the language 

 of the poultry judges, to be " good at all points!" Thrice in 

 three consecutive years has the writer journeyed, on a pleasant 

 summer's day, to the annual gathering of the North Hants, 

 now the " Hants and Berl;s .Vgricultural ;" twice at quaint old 

 Basingstoke ; once at scholastic Winchester did we show our 

 respect for the Show, and give ourselves a treat. 



" Hiec olim meminissd juvabit." 

 Wo will not par " what our birds did," as we wish to be modest 

 and leave .all the "crowing" to them. But we will say, that 

 though our day at Winchester followed the day upon which, like 

 all the world, we kept what " Punch" calls " the feast of 

 Parbee " upon Epsom Downs, yet the Winchester day was to 

 us as jolly as the other ! Eemember that wo (for there were a 

 party of us), were poultry fanciers ! Now, Mr. "Wiltshire 

 Kector," we all owe you a good turn, for "many's the time 

 and oft," that you have entertained us ; so here is a wrinkle for 

 you in return. Go aud sec tho "Hants and Berks" Show at 

 Beading next mouth. If it is at all like its predecessors, yon 

 will find your fare from Wilts a good investment, repaid in 

 what I Imow you like — seeing folks enjoy themselves wisely 

 and well ! To my brother fanciers let me say. You have a 

 liberal prize list, good accommodation for birds, a tirst-rate 

 Judge, and in Mr. Henry Downs, the " Head Centre " of this 

 (not Fenian lot), Poultry Brotherhood, a most obliging and 

 aide Manager. A good list of prizes calls for a good cntr)', 

 and a good entry or collection is well worth looking at. So 

 when the 15th of June arrives, may the weather be " royal," 

 and may I with all who love poultry " he there to see ! " — 



BlLVHMA POOIBA. 



We, southrons, must rejoice in tho prospect held out in your 



