m 



JOJJ#^AL. OF PPBTWULTP]^ AJIP OOTTAGB QABDENEB. 



l3taMl3.imL 



Willa. Geese, Turkeys, Guinea Fowls, a goodly number. Then 

 those supreme pets, IHgeons. Just as 1 was goinfi to look at 

 them my feelings were greatly hurt by my next neighbour — 

 from Ba»tia I should think— saying to his friend, " Therc^ 

 there ! don't go along there, them's only Pigeons." Mr. Ord, 

 Mr. Else, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Yardley, Mr. Heath, and Mr. I'igeon 

 (by name and nature a fancier), sent good birds. The Show 

 was remarkable for the number of Magpies exhibited, there 

 being more of that variety than any other, except Carriers, 

 which exceeded but by one. Among the Dragons 1 greatly 

 admired a pair of White — they were elegance itself. 



The poultry tent was all that could be wished, large, airy ; 

 but I regretted to see so many empty pens. Query, 'U'us it the 

 fault of those foes to poultry, foes by expense and delay, the 

 railway companies ? I think if to each railway director, wear- 

 ing nickerbockers for the occasion, a few nice fierce (Jame 

 cocks were permitted to set to, in an empty room, with no 

 stick or any weapon allowed, it would be a proper punishment. 

 How charming to see a gouty director hop and kick, kick and hop ! 



In conclusion I have a suggestion to make. The barley 

 given is, of course, very heating at this time of year, and more 

 especially to birds in confinement in a hot and crowded tent. 

 This leads them to peck each other. I noticed a hen of Lady 

 Holmesdale's second-prize Dorkings literally picking to pieces 

 the rose comb of the cock — eating it, or getting the blood. 

 This, I think, might be obviated by giving at the summer 

 shows stifHy mixed oatmeal instead of barley. Three times I 

 went among the pretty birds, and as the day advanced many 

 were deterred entering from the great crowd ; and, indeed, it 

 was struggling back-bruising work, for poultry are popular with 

 all. Many who do not keep them, nor even know their names, 

 make a point of visiting their tent. 



Four o'cloik the show-yard became fuller than ever, and I 

 take my exit. Often had I turned to look at the gracefiJ spire 

 of the beautiful cathedral, which silently in its beauty looked 

 down upon the crowds. I now pay it a brief visit — see the 

 wonderful chapter-honse, now restored at the cost of £8000: 

 very beautiful it is. In the centre of the octagonal building 

 stands a pUlar. High is the roof, and it seems to branch from 

 the pillar as from a stem. The idea is that of a palm tree, 

 and in truth it looks a petrified palm with its trunk chiselled. 

 ■Welcome cool cloisters ! Welcome a sit in the mighty nave, 

 now happily used for service after centuries of disuse ! Then 

 shortly I go out to the cathedral close, so old world-like and 

 quiet ; a peep next at the " poultry cross," suitable after a 

 poultry show ; and one reverential look at the statue of Sidney 

 Herbert in front of the Town Hall — a good likeness, and the 

 figure very like — on the pohshed block of granite upon which 

 it stands simply the two words " Sidney Herbert ;" then on 

 to the station, where punctual to a minute was my excursion 

 train. — Wiltshibe IJector. 



PROFIT FROM DUCKS. 



The following account of an experiment in feeding Ducks 

 may interest some of your readers. Ten Ducks were hatched 

 on April 11th, and eight on April 10th. Of the last brood one 

 died, two were stolen by a dog, and one was accidentally injured. 

 Of the remaining fourteen, one was killed when eight weeks 

 old, and weighed * lbs. 



Estimating the value of the ten at 3s. each, and four at 2s. Gd., 

 we have the following result : — 



£ c. d. 



COST. £ 



Eggs 



Toppings 



Food for two hens . . 



Ijoss of liens' time. . 



Oatmeal 



Xndiau com meal . . 



Grains (beer) 



I. d. 



3 



3 



1 



1 



3 



2 



1 10} 



Estimated valne 2 



Dednct cost 12 



£0 12 1| Profit £1 7 lOj 



The Ducks were the common farmyard breed. They Were kept 

 shut up, but for the last fortnight have been allowed to go into 

 the water for one hour a-day before their midday meal. The 

 only addition to the food here mentioned has been the refuse 

 of the house and garden. — B. A. 



Black Baktams at Bibuixghah Exhibitios. — Mr. E. Cam- 

 bridge, t, Brunswick Terrace, Stoke Croft Itoad, Bristol, wishes 

 to have the names of exhibitors who would subscribe towards 

 extra prizes. 



HANTS AND BERKS AGRICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY'S POULTRY SHOW. 



Triis Society is growing wiser ns its ytam inrrcase, and it is not 

 above following a good cxami>le. It sees how the Bath and West of 

 Kngland and the Northamptonshire Shows have increaited and proe- 

 pered by moving from place to ploeo. It finds oUo the Ik uqlit of en- 

 listing variong towns as itji friends and supporters. Its Show wa« in 

 ISC.l at Bosingstokc ; iu IhiiS at Winchester ; and 18tj6 at It«ading. 

 Its advoeates already spi-ak of having m two instead of one day's tholr. 

 This year wiJl long be memorable as a txying one for agricultoral 

 meetings. It is a largo gap that is mode in the show-yard, when the 

 rows that are devoted to hurutxl cattle arc empty ; and as the attend- 

 ance ma.st bo considered one that ia made up of visitors to aQ the 

 diilerent classes, it may safely be said that if the number of admittances 

 is a satisfactory one U(»w, when happier days dawn upon us and the 

 rinderpest has become a thing of the past, when the addition is made 

 of all that come to see and are interested in homed cattle, it may be 

 estimated that a large success will be achieved. Vie arc enabled by 

 the courtesy of Mr. Downcs, the excellent and able Secretary, to «ay 

 now that the prizes will be increased in number next year, and new 

 classes will bo added to the present Ust. 



Many of the birds that had been to Salisbury came here, and tho 

 condition in which they were shown reflected great credit on the 

 managers of that great Show. We shall renew the classes as th£y 

 occur in the Ust ; and. as the prizes are printed, we shall touch only 

 on those points that seem to demand notice. 



TJwkiu'js were verv* strong. Capt. Lane's pen was a remarkable 

 one. and if well cared for and judicionsly managed they arc destined 

 to many more triumphs where the numbers may be much* larger. MiM 

 Miiward's and Mr. Parlctt's were very good ; but the first prize waa 

 easily won. There were fourteen pens, and twelve of them excellent. 

 There was one pen of Itose-combs, but we saw with regret that they 

 were almost the smallest in the class, and we heard many remarks, 

 from which we differed, that tho Itose-combed were always smaller ; 

 and some were disposed to deny them rank as Dorkings at all. We 

 are at a loss to account for the next class. Three prizes were offered 

 for C'K^hitts — £2, £1, and 15s. They produced two pens, both good ; 

 but the entries astonished every one. The merits of this breed de- 

 serve better than this, and when poultry assumes its proper importance 

 we shall have no such classes as tliis. The G«hi^ were excellent ; the 

 Brown Reds of Mr. Cruwys, Mr. Dupe's Black Reds, and Mr. Crawye' 

 Piles left nothing to desire. PolatnU held their own, Mrs. Pettat 

 taking second to Mr. T. P. Edwards. Hambnyfih.t will next year require 

 four instead of two classes. We had to notice the superiority of the 

 Golden over the Silver-pencilled. Mr. Pittis, of the Isle of Wight, 

 took both prizes. It is curious that the old Golden retain the correct 

 and distinct pencilling, while the Silver become patched and mossy. 

 Mr. Wood, of Kendtil, showed an excellent pen of Goldon-spangles, 

 beating very pood birds belonging to Mrs. Pettat. The classes for 

 Light and Dark BralniwA would have done credit to any show. Mr. 

 Pares took both prizes in the first class deservedly. The competition 

 iu the second was much closer, not so much for tlie first prize, which 

 went to Capt. Lane, as for the second, which was awarded to Mr. 

 Piekles, of I'odmorden. Messrs. Johnson and Sherman deserve men- 

 tion. It is ijiteudod next year to have Bautam classes. This will 

 diminish the Various class, which had Game and Sebright Bantams, 

 Malays. Andalusians, Black Hamhurgbs. Mr, J. Button showed very 

 good Mnh7j!>, and Sirs. Pcttat verv* good Bantams. 



Mrs. Seamons took all the Duck prizes. There were but few Tttrheys. 

 Mr. Lang's were very large, and Capt. W'orren's white ones in beauti- 

 ful condition. 



The attendance was very large, and the Meeting a success. 



DoRKiNG.—First. Ciipt. H. B. Lane, Bracknell. Second, Miss J. Mil- 

 ward, Newton St. Loo, Bristol. Third, F. Parlett, Chelm.sfurd. Highly 

 Commended. Capt. H. B. Lnne. Commended, O. E. Cresswell, Hanworth. 



CocniN, — First, Miss ililward, Newton St. Loe. Second, Mrs. Seamons, 

 HnrtweU, Avlesburv'. 



Game. — First, S.' Dupe, Evercreecb. Bath. Second and Third, Bar. 

 G. S. Cruwys, Cruwys Morcbard. Highlv Commended, S. Dui»e. 



Poland.— First, T. P. Edwards, Lyndh'^^^t. Second, Mrs.Pcttat, Ashe. 

 Highly Commended, J. Hinton. Hiuton, Bath; Mrs. Pettat. 



Spanish.— Fir^t, A. Heath, Calnc. tiecoud, Kcv. J.deL. Simmonds, 

 Chilcomb Rector)'. 



Hamburghs (Silver or Gold-pencilled).— First and Seccnd, F. Pittis, 

 Newport, Isle of Wight. Highly Commended, A. K. Wood, Bumaide, 

 Kendal. 



Hambdbohs (Silver or Gold-spangled). — First, A. K. Wood, Bumside, 

 Kendal. Second, Mrs. Pettat. Highly Commended, U. Hannau, Cow- 

 lev, Oxford. 



Brahma Pootba (Light'.— First and Second, J. Pares. Highly Com- 

 mended, Miss Hayes, Arborfield Kectory. 



Brahma Pootba (Dark). —First, Capt. H. B. Lane, Bracknell. Second, 

 .T. H. Pickles, Bridpcroyd. Todmorden. Highly Commended, G.Jolmson, 

 Famham; E. >llemiau', Chelmsford. Commended, C. Cork, Sboreham. 



Anv Variktv. — First, Mrs. Pettat, Ashe (Silver-laced Bantam). Second, 

 .1. Hinton, Hinton, Bath (Malays). Third, Mrs. Pettat, Ashe (Game 

 Bantams). Hicbly Commended, F. G. Phillips, Chippenham (Block 

 Hamburgh) ; C. Coles. Fareham. 



LrcKB. — First and Second, Mrs. M. Seamons, Aylesbury. 



Tgrkevs.— First, S. Lang, jun., Bristol. Second, Capt. R- P. Wairen, 

 Worthing. 



Geese. — Prize, Mrs. M. Seamons, Aylcsbnrr. 



Rabbits.— Loniiril Ear:— Triie. E. E. M. 'Boyds, Whitchurch. Salop. 

 Sttf-colour, — PriEe, G. Hill, Winohester. Foreign,— ^rUe^ Mrs. U. 



