330 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTCBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. 



( October 21, Vm. 



Btntams were allowed by Mr. Howes to ran in a jaid with 

 Dorkings. 



There is, therefore, every reason to suppose that this is a 

 new and distinct yariot; of Buntams, whii^U can be called by 

 >o other name than Dorking Bantams ; and Ihey are as mnch 

 entitled to it as the Game Bantam, which is the reeiilt, in the 

 first instance, of a cross between a email Game cock and a 

 Bantam hen. 



The birds exhibited were nnnsnally small, even for Bantams, 

 but they were not well shown as to condition, and the legs of 

 the pullets did not match well. 



Perhaps some of your readers may have met with this kind 

 elsewhere, and if so, it would be interesting if they would send 

 to yon the particulars of itn breeding. 



The birds in question, then, may have been produced by an 

 accident, but they have now for several years been reared 

 and rendered so far permanent by the care of Mr. Uowes. — 

 Geobue Makming. 



AUCTION AT THE BIRMINGHAM POULTRY 

 EXHIBITION. 



I QUITE aRree with Mr. Wood that the time for the sale of 

 birds at Birmingham is too early on the Monday, but I also 

 think Monday is the wrong day tor the sale. Clergymen will 

 not perhaps, at least do not like to travel on Sundays ; besides, 

 there are many others living at a urcater distance than Mr. 

 Wood, who could not possibly arrive at Birmingham in time 

 on the Monday. From this cjunty some will be there, and 

 will go on Monday ; they will not be able to be at Bingley Hall 

 before 2.30 p.m., at the earliest, or three hoars and a half after 

 the sale is stated to begin. Again, if the sale were fixed for 

 Tuesday, we should have time to look the birds over on the 

 Uonday, to make our comments upon and notes for whieh 

 birds we should bid ; it would give everyone a more equal oppor- 

 ttmity, and there would be a greater competition. — Henry P. 

 IiKAcn, }Vuolpit, Suffolk. 



side several of the leading breeders and exhibitors, and at many 

 a sabnrban villa may be seen from the passing railway train 

 valuable specimens of poultry. The m»tropolia can boast every 

 advantage of railway access, and also several convenient locali- 

 ties for a large exhibition. In London reaide morn than one 

 of the best known poultry judges. Barely, with all these ad- 

 vantages, London may undertake what many a Yorkshire 

 village already boasts — namely, an annual exhibition of poultry. 

 An active and able committee will doubtless make use of all 

 these advantages, and insure the enosess of a show worthy of 

 the place where it is held. 



The week of the Cattle Show seemii a very suitable time, 

 and if the locality chosen for the poultry be not far from the 

 scene of the Cattle Show, many who came to sea the latter 

 will pay to sea the former also. Wu may count, moreover, 

 upon hundreds, including many of the fair sex, who would 

 never take the trouble to visit a show of fat boaats, flacking to 

 see some of the be?t poultry iu England gathered together for 

 competion ia the metropolis. 



In conclusion, let mo state that I shall be glad to add my mite 

 to the subscription raised for the purpose. — Jomi Pabes. 



THE LONDON POULTRY SHOW. 

 The adjourned meeting for the purpose of receiving a report 

 from the Committee appointed at the last meeting, took place 

 on Tuesday last, Mr. E^quilant in the chair. Mr. Crook, Hon. 

 Secretary, ftaled he had received promises of money towards 

 the guarantee fund and expenses to the amount of £150. The 

 estimated expenses would be about £450, and the sum expected 

 to be received from all sources would probably reach the sum 

 of £420, leaving a deficit of £30. This, or any further outlay 

 incurred would, of course, have to be paid by the Committee, 

 besides the amount already guaranteed by each member. In 

 this estimate the Committee had entirely ignored the prizes 

 and entries, as they only expected the latter to pay the prizes. 

 After some discussion as to whether the Committee would 

 be justified in commencing operations, so that a show might 

 be held this year, it was finally resolved that it should take 

 place simultaneously with this year's Cattle Show, and that £300 

 should be offered for prizes, also that the Corinthian Bazaar, 

 Argyll Street, be engaged for that purpose. 



The Exhibition now seems to be thoroughly started, and 

 with eveiy prospect of success; but we hope some more gentle- 

 men will allow their names to be placed amongst the guarantors. 

 It was noticed that not one Babbit-breeder or exhibitor had his 

 name on the guarantee or prize-list fund. We are surprised 

 at this, especially as we have published so many letters from 

 correspondents complaining of injustice towards their fa- 

 Toniites. No doubt they will at once come forward with assist- 

 ance, or it is likely no prize will be offered for Babbits. 



Mr. F. Crook, Vine Cottage, Forest Hill, S.E., was appointed 

 Honorary Secretary, ta whom all communications are to be 

 addiessed. 



[Since the above was in type we have been informed that the 

 Corinthian Bazaar cannot be engaged on suitable terms, but 

 steps will be taken to becui e another place of exhibition. — Ens. ] 



OUR POULTRY SHOWS. 



Poultry shows are just now receiving a large shore of public 

 attention and support, and I wish, through the medium of 

 " our Journal," to call attenti^n to one or two things in con- 

 nection with them, which are unfortunately on the increase, 

 and which must ultimately, if not checked, destroy mnch of 

 their popularity. I aUnde to secretaries and committeemen 

 competing for prizes, and to local exhibitors being allowed to 

 compete with the same birds for both local and general prizes. 

 This was notoriously the case at the late Long Sutton Show, 

 where we find a local exhibitor, who is a member of the com- 

 mittee, taking the very modest number of four silver cups with 

 two pens of birds. Now, this is manifestly unfair to the other 

 exhibitors who do not reside within the limits of certain villages 

 near Long Sutton ; and why should local exhibitors have two 

 chances of a prize to other exhibitors' one ? The time has 

 arrived when exhibitors should make a stand against such 

 practices, and I hope that committeemen generally will see 

 the desirability of refraining from oompeting, and of con- 

 fining local exhibitors to local prizes, or most assuredly our 

 poultry shows will not hold their own, as exhibitors will not 

 care to send their birds to any show where these practices 

 are allowed. — Justice. 



PRIZES FOR HOUDANS. 

 Ik reference to the suggestion which has been made by some 

 of your correspondents, that a class should be reserved for 

 Houdans separately from other descriptions of poultry, I wish 

 to add my mite of recommendation. Certainly Houdans are 

 worthy of the distinction, whether wo regard them as egg- 

 producers or as ornamental poultry merely : and, indeed, while 

 about it, the Ctc-ve-Ca;urs might also be similarly favoured. 

 The object of the promoters of exhibitions of prize poultry is, 

 undoubtedly, to interest as many poultry fanciers as possible, 

 and omitting to give a separate class for the fowls I have 

 named, will shut out many from partieipating in the enjoy- 

 ment which such gatherings afford. — J. H. 



I BEJOicE exceedingly to see in your columns that it is pro- 

 posed to hold u poultry ahow in London. While all the large 

 towns and very many small ones hold annually a successful 

 axlubitiou, Louoon alone has nothing of the kind ; and yet in 

 and around Loudon are a host of gentlemen and ladies who 

 take an lulereai iu " ouuks and hens." 



Within a radius of thirty or forty miles of the metropolis re- 



JUDGES EXHIBITING AT THE BIRMINGHAM 

 POULTRY SHOW. 

 I TRUST this year we may be spared the ppeetaele of judges 

 exhibiting in the poultry classes at Birmingham. Without 

 wishing to impute that anything unfair has occurred in the 

 past, it must be admittel such a proeeeding cannot be justified. 

 The judge who exhibits is brought eonstantly into contatt, 

 both before, during, and after the judging, with his brother 

 judges, and however honourable or apright he may be, there 

 are persons who imagine that a hint may be given as to par- 

 ticular birds. This practice has net been in existence more 

 than two or three years, and ought never to have been per- 

 mitted.— A. B. 



Thb SoDTniMPTON PouLTBT AMD BiBD SHOW.— The enttioi 

 for this show close on Thursday, the 284h inst. We are informed 

 this will prove one of the most succeBif ul meetings of the season. 



