February 11, 1875. ) 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTDBB AND COTTAGK GARDENER. 



131 



Society, settled and carried out ; and it waa because the said 

 Society excluded it aUot,'ether from their last Show, as well as 

 the other so-called off-colours, that I felt constrained to take up 

 the subject. 



But the querulous Editor iu question, it seems, must have 

 something or somebody to blow at, and requests an explanation. 

 My explanation simply is, that whether Mr. Wallace and his 

 friends do or do not object to a class for this and the other 

 colours before referred to, they certainly excluded it and them 

 (as Mr. Wallace frankly admits) from their Show. 



I am further found fault with for raising " an entirely different 

 and distinct question." Well, what of it '? Am I not at liberty 

 to raise any question ? Perhaps I have done so in the wrong 

 journal. I have " professed " nothing, but have given facts, 

 and intimated my own course for the future. — James Huie. 



DoKSET Show of Poultry, &c. — The cup for best pen in 

 classes 17 and 18 at the recent Show went to Mr. Hinton's 

 Polands. The first and cup for best pen of French fowls 

 in the Show was won by Mr. W. H. Crabtree with his Cnive- 

 Cifiurs. The fourth prize was won in class 28 (Selling Class, 

 hens) by Mr. Prosser, and not by Mr. Hinton, as misprinted iu 

 catalogue ; and third in class 51 went to Mr. W. Morris. We 

 are informed that the moneys for prizes and sales were all paid 

 within three or four days after the Show closed. 



THE DRAGOON CONTROVERSY. 



The suggestion of Mr. South in a contemporary is certainly 

 worthy of considerdtion if the vexed question relative to the 

 standard of a Dragoon is to be settled ; though I much question 

 whether all fanciers of the birds at present exhibited as Dra- 

 goons will ever become united, since on certain points they are 

 directly opposed. 



For instance, one " goes iu " for the broad-headed bird, while 

 another fancier eschews all that are not the very opposite in 

 this respect — viz., long and narrow. Then, again, the judges — • 

 ■what a variation in their awards ! Mr. A says, " A barrel head 

 is the first point I look for in a Dragoon, and unless possessed 

 of this, however good in other points, must be left out in the 

 cold." Mr. B fancies a Hat broad-skulled bird ; and Mr. C picks 

 out the large heavily- wattled fellow with short thick beak, while 

 Mr. D selects the small, graceful, and lightly-wattled friend of 

 the "Wiltshire Rectob." 



Sufficiently perplexing as this is, one gets deeper in the 

 mist by noticing that a judge not unfrequently contradicts 

 his previous judgment, and this in a very short space of time. 

 It would be invidious to mention names, but I could give in- 

 stances in which the same judge awards a bird the premier 

 honour at one show, and at the very next exhibition at which he 

 officiates (within a few days) the same bird is again exhibited; 

 but mark the difference — only to be passed unnoticed ! or 

 at most receive the judge's prize "commended." Some may 

 argue, "Want of condition would justify this otherwise unac- 

 countable variation;" but the fact of the birds being in the 

 same good condition as in the first instance completely nuUa 

 this argument. 



Does not this alone prove the unsound footing on which the 

 standard of the showDragoon is at present based? Undoubtedly 

 there are now many standards held up for the Dragoon, some 

 very much opposed to each other, others only varying on one or 

 two minor points. To reduce these many standards to one is 

 the desire of all true fanciers of this most beautiful and much- 

 abused bird ; and what we have to consider is the most desirable 

 manner in which to proceed. I for one, as I previously ex- 

 pressed, doubt very much whether this can be accomplished, 

 and shall, in the event of its being necessary, give my vote for 

 the recognition of two totally distinct standards. We must, in 

 my opinion, countenance both the tight little, closely-wattled, 

 narrow-headed " gentleman," so frequently and admirably de- 

 scribed by " Wii.TSHiKE Bectoe," and the large, heavily-wattled, 

 broad-skulled bird. 



Then comes the question of Which is which ? Which is to 

 be called the Dragoon proper, and what is the other variety to 

 be nominated ? I would suggest for the consideration of my 

 brother fanciers that the former retain the old name Dragoon, 

 or English Dragoon, since this bird illustrates more fully the 

 general descriptions of all the old writers upon the bird in 

 question, and that the heavier bird be designated Horseman, or 

 London Dragoon. 



Moreover, I am of opinion that the classes would fill to a 

 greater extent than they ever do at present were both birds 

 placed on an equal footing. Committeemen, make a note of this, 

 and provide classes at your next show for both varieties ; we 

 should not then see birds so totally different penned side by 

 side for competition with each other. 



There is another question worthy of the consideration of all 

 committees, and that is. Why should not classes be provided for 

 each sex of Dragoons, the same as for Carriers, Pouters, &c. ? 



Everyone knows the Dragoon class is invariably larger and 

 pays better than any other ; sometimes the entry fees amount 

 to double the amount of prize money offered for competition •. 

 t)iey have therefore a right to receive better treatment. If 

 greater inducement were held out for liens by thus providing 

 classes as I have suggested, it would, I doubt not, be one means 

 of making the Dragoon classes more uniform. 



Hoping my brother fanciers will state their views through the 

 medium of " our Journal," I beg to subscribe myself — Notting- 

 HiMsnuiE Rector. 



READING PIGEON AND CAGE BIRD SHOW. 



The first Reading Show was held on the .3rd and Itb inst. ia 

 the Corn Exchange, a spacious, well-lighted, and comfortably- 

 warmed building. There were 53lJ Pigeons, 300 Canaries, 

 78 British birds, and 55 foreign birds exhibited. All were ex- 

 cellently arranged and cared for, and the undertaking so great a 

 success that we hope it will become annual. We regret to say 

 that the awards in the Pigeon classes did not give general sati:'- 

 faction, and after carefully examining them we were not sur- 

 prised at the complaints we heard. 



First on the list came GarrUrs, shown singly, in two classes, 

 for cooks and hens respectively, of any colour ; both classes 

 contained a number of Blues, nice birds, though they could not 

 compete with the superb Blacks and Dans shown. In cocks 

 Mr. Fulton waa first and second with grand Blacks ; we ratheif 

 preferred the general form of the second, though his wattle waa 

 not equal to the first. Two third prizes were awarded : Mr. 

 Yardley's bird was a flue Black, with apparently a stiff wing; 

 Mr. James's a Dun, a beautiful bird, but disfigured by an ex- 

 cessive growth of beak with the end apparently pared off. A 

 nice Dun of Mr. Yardley's was very highly commended. In 

 hens, too, Mr. Fulton was first with a dark Dun, and second 

 with a Black, marvellously developed in wattle for a hen ; third 

 was an excellent Dun, slim and strong in form, not very largo 

 iu wattle. Dragoons had two classes, and were divided in the 

 same way as Carriers. Birds of all colours were shown ; but the 

 Judge seemed to have a partiality for one colour and for ono 

 type of bird — five out of the six prizes went to Biuea, all birda 

 quite devoid of wattle. This we think is to be regretted when 

 there are two recognised types of Dragoons. In cocks first waa 

 a stylish Blue in form, but iu our opinion not worthy of its 

 position; second and third much alike, long-limbed Blues. Two 

 good birds of Mr. Fulton's were left out, apparently for having too 

 much beak, and two beautiful Blues and a Yellow of Mr. Baker's 

 for the same reason. In hens, again, a Blue was first, a poor 

 little Blue second, and a nice Yellow third. Anfwerps had two 

 classes, which numbered sixty-three and thirty-two birds. We 

 could not see the principle upon which awards were made here, 

 some of the winners being neither Long-faced nor Short-faced, 

 and of no definite colour, 'irhe first cock was a nice-looking bird, 

 pale Blue Chequer. Where the merit of birds chiefly consists in 

 their performances on the wing it is impossible to criticise them 

 fairly in a show room. The first-prize hen was in form like a Blue 

 Rock, though dark blue in colour. Extra prizes were liberally 

 given in these large classes. Pouters were shown in pairs, and 

 very uncomfortable they looked in small pens ; we hope to see 

 them shown singly at the next Reading Show. Mr. Fulton was 

 first with Whites and second with Blacks; a flne pair of Yellows 

 were third, and Blues highly commended. Tiimhlers, Short- 

 faced, had one class for pairs ; the flrst winners were, as is 

 generally the case. Almonds. They well deserved their posi- 

 tion. Second were good Black Mottles ; and third Agates. Mr. 

 Fulton's and Mr. Yardley's highly-commended Almonds were 

 both good, but the latter not well matched. FantaUs were a 

 splendid class. We could not comprehend the flrst award; 

 doubtless the birds would carry their tails beautifully if they 

 had them, but every feather was broken off about 3 inches from 

 the roots. We know the birds, and know them to be good, but 

 for all the Judge knew their tails might have been black. 

 Second were coarse birds, but with large tails and fairly 

 carried ; third were small and nice Blues. Mr. Baker's com- 

 mended Whites and Mr. Cresswell's highly commended pair 

 should have been higher. Trumpeters. — A magnificent pair of 

 Russian Blacks were first ; second were Mottles, even Ijetter in 

 points, but out of condition ; third were far behind the other 

 winners, fair in points, but very light splashy mottles in colour. 

 Pen 217 (Baker) contained a single bird, a grand Black. Whites 

 unfortunately are now but second-rate; two pairs were shown, 

 one fair, the other very poor. Magpies were fortunate in having 

 a class to themselves, which was denied to Barbs, Jacobins, 

 Owls, and Turbits. Cleanly-cut Blacks were first and far ahead. 

 Black seems the natural colour of a Magpie, a:..d Reds and 

 Yellows but abnormal varieties. Second went to Yellows, third 

 to Reds. Any other variety class was a most interesting one 

 from the unusual number of popular breeds relegated to it. 

 Much grumbling over the awards in this class was heard ; but & 

 Judge may be pardoned for peculiarities in placing so many and 

 such excellent specimens. Extra second and third prizes were 

 most properly given. First were Yellow Barbs, confessedly flne 



