216 



JODBNAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ March 25, 1875. 



second a grand Tmmpeter; and third to a good Bloudinette. 

 This class was thoroughly well judged. Two Selling classes 

 containing upwards of eighty entries wound up this section. 

 There were five pieces of plate awarded as point prizes, and the 

 whole were won by Mr. Baker. 



Eleven classes, with four pieces of plate, brought together a 

 splendid entry of Rabbits ; but unfortunately the awards were 

 not made by the advertised Judges. In the first case we know 

 not why, but in Mr. Allison's case through serious indisposi- 

 tion. In Li.p-eared Bucks Mr. Boden was rightly placed first 

 with his Black, which was second at Northampton, and which 

 has mightily improved since that time; length 22J, Second 

 was a good Fawn-and-white, 22J ; third a thoroughly crooked- 

 legged Eabbit, Tortoiseshell ; and extra third a Fawn, 22 inches 

 measuiement. In Does Mr. Irving won both first and third 

 with Black-and-whites, the first taking the cup also, this being 

 a little short of marking, but a really grand Babbit, ear 

 23 inches; the third being 22J and better in marking, we 

 thought should have been placed before the second, which, 

 though a grand Eabbit, wants condition. Mr. Cranch showed a 

 Black-and-white, which we thought should have been noticed. 

 Angoras were a good clkss, and Mr. Swetman beaten with an 

 excellent Rabbit quite as large and much finer in far; the third 

 going to a small but well-woolled animal. Silcer-Grctjs were a 

 bad class, although the prize Rabbits were good ; but it is quite 

 certain that Mr. Firth's buck, which has attained fine condition, 

 should have been first, and Mr. King's second. Mr. Hallas 

 won three thirds, the silvering of the bodies being good, but 

 the beads a little too dark. jlr. Hudson's buck (not for com- 

 petition) spoiled the lot. Belgian Hares were a good class, and 

 the awards well made. Any other variety followed with a very 

 pretty so-called Siberian (which is neither more nor less than 

 a cross between the Himalayan and Angora) first, and Silver 

 Creams second and third. Dutch v era next, with Black-and- 

 white (rather large) first and cup; a small neat Blue second; third 

 Blue; and extra third Black. if/??m?aya«s were a good class, and 

 the winners pretty well chosen, (he Secretary purchasing and 

 awarding an extra himself to the first, although we confess a 

 preference for the second-prize Rabbit; the third also very 

 good. There were two Selling classes, and some good Rabbits 

 shown, the special going to a capital Fawn-and-white buck. In 

 the next class the first was a Silver-Grey ; but this was nothing 

 nearly so good as one shown by Mr. Hincks, nor that by Mr. 

 King, and should not have been in the list; second was a nice 

 Angora ; and third Belgian Hare. 



In Cats there were no entries for Tortoiseshell. In Any 

 other variety the Tabby Lion wasplaced first, but was evidently 

 ill at ease in his den ; second and third were also Grey Tabbies, 

 but in marking, which we understood to be the point expressed 

 in the schedule, the third was far ahead, although the first was 

 best in other points. 



FozTEis.— Blue or Black.— Cock or Ben —I smd c, W. Nottage, Northampton. 



2. J. Baler, Kew Bridge. 3, H. Yardley, BirmiEghani. vhc, J. Batter; H. 

 Severs, Middle tiborcugh. /iC, J. Baker ; P R.Sptnter, Htreford; W.Nottage: 

 J. 1 icbmoDd. Aicrirgtf n ; R. H. Btaekloeli, irunderland. 



P0VTER3.— Any other colour. —Cock or Hen.— I and c,. I. Baker. 2, J. E. Spence, 

 BroughlvFerry. S, T. Wood, York, udc, A. Spencer. Driflield. (ic, W. Nottage 

 (2): O.Eobinson, Sunderland: 1,. 4 W. 'Walkin, Notthampton. 



Cashiers.- Cock.~1, 9, and vhc, J. Baker. 2, H. Yardley. Extra 3. H. Yard- 

 ley; P. K Spencer, he, B. Hudaou, Driffield; P. R. Sptncer: R. H. Blacklock. 

 c, E. Hodfbuc, Driffield; W. Blacker, Hull. Hcn.—l snd vhc, H. Yardley. 2 

 and 3, P. R. spencer, c, F. Hodgson ; J. Baker. 



Barbs.— Black.- Cock or Hen.— I, J. Stanley, Blackburn. 2 and 3, H. Y'.ardley. 

 vhc, J. G. Adams, he, W. Brjdone. c, J. Baker; H. Crosby; J. C. Adams ; (j. 

 W. Dutlon; J. Holden. 



Babbs.— ^1".!/ other colour.— Cock or Hen. — Equal 1. J. Baker; J. E. Spence. 



3, H. Yardlev.' 2, J. Stanley, /ic. J. Baker, c, J. C. Boot!. by. 



Owls -Cock or Hcn.—l and Extra 3, G. Anderson, \Vest Hartlepool. 2, G. N. 

 Lythe, Cotlingham, Hull. 3, J. Baker, vhc, J. Baker (a) ; J. Stanley, he, J. C. 

 Adams; R. Shillitoe. r, J. Baker. 



TcBisiTS.— Coc/.- or Hen.— I, 2, and 3, J. Baker, vhc, "W. Brydone ; T. S. 

 Stephenson (2); J. Baker: E. A. Thornton, he, C. N. Lythe; C. Vf. Wash- 

 bourne : E. Heath, c, W. R. Rootes. 



Jacobins.— 1 and 2, J. Baker. 3, T. Holt, Bradford n/ic. W. Brydone; G. E. 

 North ; T. Holt, he, J. Baker (2) ; J Banks, c. VI. Notlage. 



TCS1BI.ERS.— Cocfe or Hen.- 1, J. Baker. Sand 3, H. Yardlev. r/ic, J. Baker 

 (2): R. Micnitt. he, H. Yardley; J. Stanley; J. Baker, c, W. Brydone; G. 

 Ho.loway. 



Fantails.— Coc/c or Hen. — 1, A. Smith, Broughty Ferry. 2, S. Laweon. 

 Preston. Extra 2, J. Warhi.r&t. Stalybridge. 3, J. Walker, Newark, vhc. .T, 

 Baker; 3. E. Spence: T. & W. Pcirsun ; J.Warhurst. he.l.C Boothby; J. F. 

 Loversidge; J. Bak*r. c, J. G. Boolhby; J. F. I.oversidge; J. Baker. 



ANTWEBP3,- Cocfc or Hen.— \, G. Blakev. Driffield. 2, R. While, i\Ianchester. 

 3,F. Eastwood, Littlebcrougb. vhc, H. Yardley; J. C. Boothby; H. Yardley; 

 R. "White, he, H. Yardley ; O. Jackson ; J. Gowley ; J. Stanley. 



Dragoons.— Coc^ or Uen.—\, J. Baker. Exira 1, H. Yardley. 2. Extra 2. 

 and S, B. Woods. vhc,i. Baker; J. Richmond, he, A, McKenzie; R. Woods 

 12); J. C. Boothby. r, J. Baker; J. Stultard; H. Crobby ; G. Halt; D. Way- 

 nard ; R. Woods. 



Any otber Variety.— Cocfc or Uen.—\ and Extra 2, H. w. Webb, Lower 

 Sydenham (Archangel and Frillback). 2. J. Baker. 3, E. Heath, Blackburn. 

 Extra S. H. Yaidlev. i(ic. H. Varolt v ; G. F. & W. B Umideby (Red Pricsll. 

 ;ic. H.W.Webb (Mngpiel: J Richmond, c, E. W. & S. W. Anderton (Arch- 

 angel); J. Baker; H. W. Webb (Pigmy Pouter); J. Banks (Magpie). 



Sei,lino Class.- CocA: or Hen.— Price not to exceed 25^.-1. P. R. Spencer. 

 2. J. W. Harling, Burnley (Barb), fl, J. Baker, vhc, W. A. P. niontgoinery 

 (Trumpeter); W. Brydone (Owl); J. Nottage; J. C. Adams: H. T. Hiccks. 

 hc.H. Yardley; J. Baker (2): J. Nottage; J. Banka {Red Swallow); W. Dug. 

 dale; E.A.Thornton (Almond), e, T. i W. Peirson (Tumbler); E. A. Thorn- 

 ton (Red Jacobin). 



Selling < lass.— Pric? not to erceed 60.* per Pair.—], L. Allen, London Road, 

 London, S.E (Black Bcardt). 2. H. Yaidley. 3, W. A. P. Montgomery, Belfast 

 (Yellow Owh). vhc, L. Allen I Yellow Oivls); J. Baker: G. W. DuUon (Yellow 

 SarbB); G, Stephenson tTumblers). kc, U. Crotby (White Dragoons); W. 



Brydone (Tumblers): G. Destner (Tumblera); J. Nottage (2); G. Stephenaon 

 (Magpie, Fantails, and Nuns); R. Stabler; R. White, e, J. Walker; G. E. 

 North ; J. Baker ; H. T. Hincks ; J. W. Harling (Pigmy Pouters). 

 RABBITS. 



Lop-eared.— Bucfc.—l, Dr. Boden, West Haitlepool. 2, Mrs. H. Pickworth, 

 Spalding. 3, T. Schi. field, Manchester. Extra 3, J. Ashley, Hull. he. T. Scho- 

 field, jun. c, J. FaUdiug. l)oe.—Cu-p, 1, S. and he, J. Irving. 2, Dr. Boden. c, 

 C- King. 



Lop-eared.— Special 1, T. Myton, Y'ork. 2, T. Schofield. Jan. 8, J. Wharton, 

 York, he, J. Ballas : A. Canty ; J. Wharton, c. J. Graham. 



Angora.— 1, A. Atkinson, Hudde-sfield. 2 and /ic, H. Swetnam, York. Sand 

 c, J. Hallas, Huddersdeld. txtra 3, W. Kuasell. 



Silver-Gkev.— 1, C. King, Henrv Street, London. 2, J. Firth, Leeds. 3, J. 

 Hallas. Extra 3, J. Hallas (2); J. H. Brand, Barton-on-Humber. /ic, F. J. All- 

 press ; A. Canty ; T. Scbofield. c, B. Greaves ; R. A. Bossier. 



Belgian Hare — 1, B. Greaves, Cleethorpea. 2. J. E. Pilg'im. Hinckley. 

 3, J. Hallas. E,\tra 3, G. C. Livett, Soham. he, T. H. Dowa. c, J. Ballas ; G. 

 G. Livett. 



Any other Variety.— 1, B. Greaves (Siberian). 2 and 3, J. Hallas. c, J. 

 Boyle (Silver Cream). 



Dlich.— Cup and 1, B. Greaves. 2, W. Donkin. Driffield. 3, Sirs. H. Pick- 

 worth. Extra 3, A Lund, York, c, T. Scholield, juu. 



HiJiALAYAN.- 1, G. C. Livett. 2. A.Atkinson. 3, J. D. Fames, Great Driffield. 

 Extra 3, T. Garner, Northampton. he,C. G. Masnn, Rochdale, c, J. Pickworth. 



Any other Vahiety except Lops.- 1, A. Whitehouse, Northampton. 2, H. 

 T. Bincks. Leicester. 9, G. 0. Livett (Belgian Hare). 



Local Class.— 1 and 2, J. Ashley. 3, W. Rnasell, Hull, ftc, A. Wokes. 



OATS. 

 Any Variety except Tobtoiseshell.— 1, G. Baxter, Bath Place, London. 

 2, J. Hallenhy. 3, Misa Shepherd, Hull. Extra 3, J. Piatt, HuU. ftc, H. Witty. 

 c, W. Lumb. 



Mr. Dobson judged the Lops, and, Mr. Fletcher the other 

 varieties. 



Peesestation. — On the 11th instant the members of the 

 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Show and a 

 few friends presented Mr. H. O. Blenkinsop with a testimonial, 

 consisting of a beautiful marble timepiece, with the following 

 insciiption: — "Presented to Henry 0. IJlenkinBop by the 

 members of the Newcastle Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Show 

 for his past services as honorary secretary." 



0"WL PIGEONS. 



" WiLTSHiKE Rectoe" in your Journal of the 25th makes oat 

 as good a case as is possible for his favourites, but still to me it 

 is not convincing. The main point is still untouched. What is 

 an English Owl '? Is it a fancy bird with a standard of its own, 

 or is it a coarse form of the genuine high-bred bird ? 



As there is no standard we must conclude that it is the latter 

 — that is, a bird bred halfway to excellence, and then its ad- 

 mirers for some reason I cannot imagine come to a stand and 

 say this is our favourite. I will not dispute that they are not 

 beautiful birds (I cannot conceive of Pigeons being otherwise), 

 but as there are degrees of beauty I contend that they would be 

 much more beautiful still by endeavouring to rival the foreiga 

 birds. 



" WiLTSHiEE Rector" says they were beautiful birds a 

 hundred years ago. I have no doubt of it, and that they 

 were also finer in Owl points than the English birds of the 

 present day. How the foreign bird might be considered as 

 the degenerate form I cannot think. If so, then one might 

 think of the English Carrier as a degenerate form of the old 

 Horseman. 



As to colour, if we look at the gentle expression of the fine 

 white foreign birds and their equally gentle retiring ways, I 

 think no colour so suitable as white, as it gives the idea of purity 

 and innocence so fully. The blue birds lose half their charm 

 by their colour. There is wildness in their appearance from 

 the dark beak that tells greatly against them. 



The powder blue the old writers do not say a word about ; 

 but admitting that they had mentioned them, no good fancier 

 , would sacrifice other far more valuable properties for it. 



Next to white, I should say that a genuine yellow would be 

 the most beautiful if good in other respects. Baton says in 

 one of his quaint notes that " the Owl does not derive its name 

 from colour." He also says it ought to "rank third among 

 the Toy birds." Not in the least too high for its merits. 



Before leaving colour I may state that the so-called powder- 

 blue colour is of very recent introduction in Owls. 1 have a 

 confused recollection of an article that appeared in your Journal 

 I think, less than twenty years ago, describing how it was first 

 produced. The late Mr. M. Wickiug of London was one of the 

 parties concerned, but I cannot recollect particulars. However, 

 I am convinced that nothing can equal the fine white Owls. 

 They look like creatures not of this earth and yet are on it. 



The case of the flying Tumbler and the Almond I do not 

 think analogous to that of the Foreign and English Owls. 

 The Tumbler, if we want tumbling birds, must be kept in ita 

 original form, and this is the great point in those birds. The 

 Almond, on the other hand, is not meant for flying or tumbling, 

 it is a mere fancy to show the breeder's power over form and 

 colour, and this power is here made strikingly manifest, it is 

 quite out of the way ; whereas the Foreign and English Owl is 

 only a halfway difference. Instead of the common Tumbler 

 and Almond, I would say that the English and foreiga Trum- 

 peters make a case quite analogous to the Owls, though no one 



