April 23, 187S. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICUIiTURB AND COTTAGK GARDENER, 



323 



birds for breeding purposes, yet how few new names appear in 

 the prize lists I Why should this be the case ? Because they 

 continue to breed direct from the clear birds ; and we may 

 naturally conclude that the clears have arrived at the highest 

 degree of perfection, which, should we continue to match clear 

 with clear, produces colour in a diluted degree. 



Colour is supposed to be derived directly from the Greens. 

 Many old hands who have gained high honours in their time 

 bear testimony to the fact, by stating it to be their belief if we 

 should lose the Greens we should lose colour. As these rules 

 have been carried out from the earliest times by great fanciers, 

 it seems proved that to obtain colour we must not breed direct 

 from clear birds, which at once justifies the correctness of selec- 

 tion and judicious crossing. 



In pairing, Jonijue should as a rule be matched with Buff 

 birds. Where Jomjue and Jonque are bred from, size is gene- 

 rally lost and an undesirable peculiarity of feathering produced. 

 Where Buff and Buff are matched it is generally at the expense 

 of colour but to the advantage of size, with an extraordinary 

 exuberance of fine feathering. 



On the other hand, we have a remarkable illustration of the 

 consequences of consanguinity in pairing in the rapid degene- 

 ration of the variety known as the London Fancy Canary, once 

 a favourite bird with all metropolitan breeders ; at one time 

 existing in goodly numbers, but now so nearly extinct that there 

 are not more than from six to seven breeders in the kingdom, 

 and possibly not one hundred representatives of the variety in 

 actual existence. Unless some decided measures are taken at 

 once to regenerate this beautiful but peculiar variety of the 

 Canary it must ultimately cease to exist. There are but two or 

 three breeders who have what may be considered robust repre- 

 sentatives of this class, one a veteran of London, the other a 

 gentleman amateur of Devonshire, to whom much credit is due 

 for their steadfast perseverance to maintain the continuance of 

 these birds. New blood to a limited extent has been infused 

 into their strains. — J. Packham. 



LONDON FANCY CANAKIES.— No. 2. 



A NOTED breeder relating to me his experience in Canary- 

 breeding, once remarked, ** Thirty years ago I first commenced 

 breeding London Fancy Canaries. At that period there were 

 estabUshed five Societies — viz., the Sovereign, the Boyal, the 

 Friendly, the Amateurs, and the Hand-in-Hand. The last- 

 named Society carried on its business at a tavern known by the 

 name of the ' Crown,' in Museum Street, Bloomsbury, Mr. D. 

 Home being the President. Other societies can be traced back 

 for a century. The Hand-in-Hand Club came to grief some- 

 where about the year 1870. The chief aim of the members, as 

 appears from the title page of the book of rules in my possesBion, 

 was to improve the breed of Fancy Canary birds." 



Before I proceed to remark upon the moulting process adopted 

 by the members, I will give the characteristics of the two kinds 

 known by the terms " Jonque " and " Mealy." 



Colour appears to have been a great consideration. The Mealy 

 birds should have their feathers fringed or edged with white, 

 which feathers falling closely over a bloomy-coloured specimen 

 shows to advantage that beautiful ilowery or frosted appearance 

 BO much admired both by judges and fanciers. The Jonque 

 birds should be the colour of a deep orange, with a silky quality 

 of feathers. The black feathers in the flights and tail should be 

 as bright as possible, but blackness of feather is considered more 

 when colour is equal in two birds. The cap is the principal 

 point; next breast, saddle, and back. Cap, saddle, and back 

 will surpass breast, saddle, and back ; cap and breast will beat 

 saddle and back ; but breast, saddle, and back will defeat cap, 

 although the first point. 



In a first-class show bird every feather in the flights and tail 

 should be black in stalk or web, and not one entire white feather. 

 Bach flight should number eighteen feathers, and the tail 

 ttvelve. The Hand-in-Hand regulations state, " No bird shall 

 be considered a fair show bird that has a feather or feathers 

 without black in stalk or web, in the flight or tail feathers, or 

 that has less than eighteen flying feathers in each wing, and 

 twelve in the tail." 



In close judging it is often necessary to take the birds out of 

 the cages to decide upon their respective merits, and this should 

 never be attempted but by those who are qualified for their 

 duties. There is an advantage in being what is termed or 

 known in the fancy as a good " handler." Quality of feather is 

 better decided upon with birds in the hands than when they are 

 in cages. But a judge with a good eye may quickly use his 

 power of discrimination, and settle matters which may appear 

 somewhat doubtful to those lacking that advantage. 



The following are the chief points by which the birds are 

 judged : — 



Cap— for colour, magnitude, and regularity. 



Colour — for richness of yellow, not only in the cap, but 

 throughout the bird. 



Wings and Tail — black, home to the quills. 



Size — for largeness and general elegance of shape. 

 'Finions — for magnitude and regularity. 

 'Swallow-throat — for largeness. 

 "Fair breast — regular. 

 'Legs — blackness. 

 'Flue — blackness. 



Those points with an asterisk (♦) prefixed, are specified 

 " additional beauties." — Geo. J. Barnesdy. 



PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF PEIZES FOR THE 

 MANCHESTER BEE AND HONEY SHOW. 



CLASS A. 



1. For the best and largest results, or harvest, obtained from 

 one stock of bees managed on any system, swarming or non- 

 swarming, first prize, Mi ; second, £2; third, Ml. 



2. For the best and heaviest hive filled by a single swarm 

 of 1875, first prize, £3 ; second, ±'2 ; third, £1. 



3. For the best and heaviest second swarm, or turn-out, of 1875, 

 first prize, £'2 ; second, i'l. 



4. For best straw or wood super of honeycomb above 20 lbs., 

 first prize, £2 ; second, £1. 



5. For best glass super above 20 lbs., first prize, £2 ; second, £1. 

 G. For best straw or wood super above 10 lbs., first prize, £'2; 



second, £1. 



7. For best glass or wood super above 10 lbs., first prize, £2; 

 second, £1. 



8. For best glass super under 10 lbs., first prize, £1 ; second, 10s. 

 All the above to be the products of this year, filled in a natural 



way, and exhibited without bees, with their weights (gross and 

 tare) ticketed on them. 



9. For the best observatory or unicomb hive, first prize, £3 ; 

 second, £2 ; third, £1. 



10. For most ornamental hive — made of glass or glass and 

 wood, first prize, £2 ; second, £1. 



The above (9 and 10) to be exhibited with bees in them. 



11. For best sample of 10 lbs. of run honey, 10s. 



12. For best three cakes of wax, not less than 1 lb. each, 10s. 



CLASS B. 



13. For best bar-frame hive, £1. 



14. For best straw hive, £1. 



15. For beet and largest collection of hives, bee furniture, and 

 other necessaries for an apiary, first prize, £5; second, £2; 

 third, £1. 



16. For a collection of the best and cheapest supers (empty) 

 for general use in an apiary, £1. 



This schedule has been planned and written out with a view 

 to make the bee and honey corner of the Exhibition at the Man- 

 chester Botanical Gardens next September as interesting as 

 possible to visitors generally, and profitable and instructive to 

 bee-keepers. 



About £10 are offered for glass hives exhibited with bees in 

 them, which generally please spectators. As the Show will last 

 three days, arrangements will probably be made for the bees to 

 fly abroad. If the weather be fine the bees flying about may 

 smell the honey hives exposed to view. In such a case the bees 

 would have to be confined to their hives, for it would not do to 

 let visitors be startled and frightened by bees. 



The schedule is, of course, subject to improvement or altera- 

 tion. If more than £50 can be obtained by promise, more or 

 larger prizes will be offered ; and if any gentleman or number of 

 gentlemen combined would like to see any question in apicul- 

 ture fairly tested, and consent to give a prize for that object, we 

 shall be glad to put it in the schedule. 



At the Manchester exhibitions there are no entrance fees re- 

 quired, and the prizes are given at the close of the shows. 

 Entries and inquiries will be received by Mr. Samuel Yates, 

 16, Old Mitigate, Manchester, or myself, till the Friday before 

 the opening day, which, I believe, is the 2nd of September. 



All competitors and exhibitors will be permitted to sell their 

 exhibits in the gardens. — A. PETTieaiiw, Sale, Cheshire. 



LIGURIAN AND COMMON BEES. 



I REGRET much that Mr. Bagshaw's challenge to test the 

 working powers of Ligurian and common bees has not been 

 accepted. Letters of inquiry as to the relative and comparative 

 worth and merits of these bees are received from many persons, 

 which letters are answered privately, to the effect that there 

 exists no satisfactory evidence or proof that Ligurians either 

 breed more or work better than common bees. 



Some of my friends predicted that those who spoke loudest 

 in praise of the Ligurians would be the last to come to the test 

 of experiment ; and so it appears, for one of your correspondents 

 questions the wisdom of settling the matter, and thus removing 

 all doubt, while he would have us believe without evidence that 

 the Ligurians are superior. I have not his letter by me, but if 

 my memory serves me well Mr. Hunter said, " If the Ligurians 

 are better breeders, it follows that they will be better workers." 



