380 



JOURNAL OP HORTIOULTDBB AND OOTTAQB GAKDENEB. 



( May 13, 1875. 



promptly as they were npon the former occasion. I was Hon. 

 Sec. in 1865 as now; and I think, before writiDg as he has, that it 

 would have been courteous in Mr. Cresswell had he made some 

 inquiry of me as to the probability of his being paid in case he 

 ehonid exhibit and win prizes on this occasion. 



It is not for me to vindicate the Essex Agricultural Society 

 from the aspersions cast on it by Mr. Cresswell in ignorance of 

 the facts. I will only pay that if he were acquainted with these 

 he would be aware that the Society had nothing to do with the 

 non-payment of the prizes at Stratford in 1874, and that the 

 Show to be held in July next is not " a proposed Essex Agricul- 

 tural Society's Poultry Show." — E. D. Postans, Brentwood. 



EPWORTH SHOW OF POULTRY, &c. 



The tenth annual Show was held at Epworth on the 7th inst.i 

 and was in all respects a great success, the entries being far in 

 advance of those of any former year, and the quality, especially 

 in Pigeons, such as is rarely seen at a spring show. 



Game were very many in excess of any previous year, the 

 quality throughout being of the highest character in all the 

 classes. Mr. Matthew's pens were empty, the baskets laying at 

 Crowle station when we left that place after four o'clock in the 

 afternoon. In Black and other Red cocks Mr. Martin won with 

 a grand bird, a Brown Red, in which it would not be possible to 

 find many faults ; second being a handsome bird of the same 

 colour and locally bred. The Black Reds were not so well up in 

 quality as the Brown Reds, the same remarks applying to the 

 hen class as well, the winners Brown Reds, the first very good, 

 and second losing only from being a little broody, while by far 

 the best pen in the class was left out on account of the face being 

 unnaturally black. Cocks, Any other colour, were first and cup 

 for Game and Yellow-legged Pile, very hard and close-feathered, 

 and second a smart nice-coloured Duckwing. Pen 108 was also a 

 good one of that variety. In hens was as good a Duckwing as 

 has been seen of late, and a Pile second. Dorkings good but few 

 in number, as also the Spanish, the cup for the next section 

 going to this class. In Mrs. AUsop's pen the hen was dying 

 when the awards were made. In Brahmas the winners were 

 very good, but the first-prize hen had a large tumr - on her 

 breast, and it is a question if this should have beer ^sed over, 

 though we observed her in the same position at ti vVharfedale 

 Show on the following day. Cochins were a fair lot, Buils 

 winning. Hamburghs and Polands were not large entries, but 

 there were some capital pens in all classes. Silver and Gold 

 winning respectively in Polish. La Fiuche and Black Ham- 

 burghs won in the Variety class. Sultans being also noticed. 

 There were classes for single cocks and single hens except Game, 

 in which Spanish were placed first, the hen referred to being 

 especially fine. Bantams were shown singly, and were good 

 classes. In Red Game Bantam cocks the first was by far the 

 best Brown Red we have ever seen, and this bird won the cup 

 easily; the second a Black Red was a grand bird, but minus one 

 sickle. In hens of that colour both winners were Black Reds, 

 both of which were good in all points, although the latter was 

 somewhat larger than is desirable. Cocks, Gams, any other 

 colour were first a real good Duckwing, and second a Pile ; and 

 in hens the first was an exceedingly neat Pile, and second Duck- 

 wing. In Bantam cocks, any other variety, the winners were 

 Blacks, the first in fine bloom, and second good but short of one 

 sickle feather; and in the hens the first was Black and second 

 Silver Sebright. The Selling class was bad except the first- 

 prize Spanish. Ducks seemed to be quite a failure. Some pens 

 were empty, many arriving late. 



Pigeons, as before hinted, were the best section, every class 

 being well filled, but on account of the unexpected influx of 

 entries the pens had to be placed so high as to prove most in- 

 convenient for the Pouters, which should in all cases be placed 

 under the eye, as is often proved by the reversal of awards in 

 the different positions. Carriers were a good class, but some of 

 the pens were a little too dark for easy inspection, while all the 

 rest were in much better positions. A Dan cock was placed first, 

 this bird being the cup- winner on the following day ; second a 

 Dun hen, and third a Black cock (Baker). The eye of this bird 

 having been slightly injured, prevented his taking a high posi- 

 tion. Pouters a grand display of twenty-one entries, and not 

 one really bad bird. The first a Blue cock of grand proportions ; 

 second a Black, almost equally good ; and third a Blue, very fine 

 in all respects. Mr. Nottage's pens were empty. Fifteen birds 

 received notices. Tumblers, any colour, were all Short-faces ; 

 the first and cup for best pen in the Show, an exquisite Almond 

 in every respect; second a Kite which we believe is unequalled, 

 and third an Agate. Some other good Almonds were shown, 

 but many were too dark and muddy in feather. Jacobins were 

 a large but not a gond class ; first was a capital Red, second a 

 Yellow, and third White, both very good. In FantaUs were 

 some grand birds. First a very small White of high carriage 

 and grand motion; second a larger bird but yet very good; 

 third a Blue, small and good in all respects. Turbits were al- 

 most a puzzle, BO close was the competition. First a Silver, 



second a Red, and third a Shell-crowned Black, all perfectly 

 clean-thighed, with good hog manes, gullet, and curl, although 

 some were not so short and stiff as to please those who go in for 

 head properties alone, and which we look upon as a great mis- 

 take. Magpies a good class. Yellow, Red, and Black coming to 

 the front. In Barbs the first was Y'^ellow, capital in skull, aud 

 second and third Blacks, the latter a little spouty. In Antwerps 

 the first was a very good Silver Dun Short-face ; second a Red 

 Chequer, very good in head ; and third a Silver Dan, not in the 

 best condition. Dragoons were about one of the best classes in 

 the Show. A Red of splendid colour and almost perfect head 

 was first; second a Blue, fine in all respects, and third a strong 

 Grizzle, all cocks, though there were some fair good hens, pen 

 •134 especially a perfect bird. In the Variety class the prizes 

 were awarded in duplicate, this being such a class as is rarely 

 seen. The first a Blue Owl (Foreign), the smallest and most 

 perfect in all respects but eye, which was a little yellow, the 

 bird being very young; extra first a Black Mottled Trumpeter, 

 evidently a cross from the English, and imported, good in all 

 properties and splendid in foot-feathering ; second and extra 

 second, Spangled Ice and Pigmy Pouter; third a Blondinette, 

 and extra third a Black Capucian. In the Selling class the first 

 was a Red Jacobin ; second a Red Barb, and third a Magpie. 

 Mr. Baker won the cup for points in Pigeons. 



Cage Birds were about as numerous but not as good a section 

 as that of last year, though winners, as a rule, were quite up to 

 the mark. In Yellow Canaries first was a Norwich, and second 

 a Manchester Coppy. Buffs containing a grand highly fed 

 Norwich. A specially good Green won in the next class; the 

 second being a Variegated. Neither Goldfinches nor Linnets 

 were as good as in previous years, but it would be quite ditficult 

 to meet with more perfect birds than the winners. In the 

 Variety class the first was a Dun Norwich, second a Bullfinch, 

 and third a Dan. 



Babbits had two classes, the Lops proving a good lot. First 

 was a yellow-and-white doe, said to be 24 inches in ear, but with 

 our known easy measurement quite 23 by 4J inches, and yet 

 these were not the best properties of this Rabbit, the style, 

 sleekness, and carriage being such as must be seen to be under- 

 stood. Second a tortoiseshell doe, 21 by 4J inches in fine order. 

 Highly commended fawn-and-white, 21 by 4} inches; fawn doe 

 21 by 4J inches; grey-and-white 21} by 4{ inches; fawn buck 

 21} by 45, and a tortoiseshell doe 21J by 45 inches. In the 

 Variety class first was a grand Silver- Grey buck; second a very 

 good Himalayan, and third Belgian Hare. Very highly com- 

 mended Mr. Swetman'a Angora doe, which, however, needs 

 grooming, her hinder quarter carrying as much matted wool as 

 woald make a small bolster. 



Of Cats there were but three, any of which was well fit for the 

 show pen. First a good Persian rather dirty; second a Black, 

 and third a Red Tabby. The whole Show was judged by Mr. 

 Hutton. 



GiviE.— Black-breasted and other Reds —Coek.—\ and he, J. Cock. ■Worcester. 

 2. Miaa F. RlmiDf^on, Epwortli. vhc, Sales 4 Bentley, Crowle : Spence and 

 CiTill, Stieffleld : J. F. Walton, RawtenBtall. Ben.—l, W. G. Waters. ElBham. 

 2. H. E. M irtin. Scalthorpe. vhc. Dr. A. Cameron, Epworih. he, Dr. A. 

 Cameron ; G Ou'ram. Belton. e, G. H. Fitzherbert. Sevenoabs. 



Game.— .4711/ other colour — Cocfc.— Cup and 1, J. F. Walt&n. 2, J. A. & H. H. 

 Staveley, DiilEeld. vhc, H. Butler. Heanor he. G. H. Fitzherbert; W. O. 

 Walera. c, S Matthew, Stowmarket. Hen.— I, Sales & Bentley. 2, .1. F. 

 Walton, he, E. Winwood, Worcester; G. Yates, Thome; J. Wright; J. N. 

 Jackson. Newark. 



LfoRKiNoa.— I, W. Harvey, Sheffield. 2, J. Chester, Thome, he, J. H, 

 Heather. Retford (2): Mrs. E. Allaopp, Worcester. 



Spanish,— 1, H. Beldon, Bingley. 2, J. Powell, Bradford, he, E. Brown, 

 Sheffield c J Parker 



Brahman -l.'w. Wb'iteley, Sheffield. 2. J. F. Smith. Sheffield, he, W. G. 

 Waters; W. Harvey; J. F. Smith, c, Dr J. Holmea. Chesterfield. 



Cochins.— 1, Mrs. E. Allsopp. 2, S. R. Harris, Cuggarae. c, C. Wileon, Eton ; 

 Lowlfiy & England. Y<>rk ; T. Fieraon, Pickering. 



Hamb 'RGiia — fiolden-spangled. — 1, H. Beldon. 2, G. Holmea. Silver- 

 spannled —1, H. Beldon. 'J, G Holmes 



'H.k-^BiiRon^— Golden pencilled — 1, H.'Beldon. 2,0. Judson. Peckham. he, 

 J. Smith, Lincoln. iSilver-pencilled.—\, H. Beldon. 2, R. W. Bracewell, Earby, 

 Leed^. 



PuLisH.— 1, H. Beldon. 2. A. & W. H. Silvester. Market Hall, Birmingham. 



Any other VARiETy,— 1, E. Walton, Horncliffe, Rawtenstall. 2, H. Beldon. 

 he. A. & W. H. Silvester. 



ANY Variety Except Game.— Cotrfc.-l, J. Powell. 2, Wells & Ayre. hr, E. 

 Winwood. Hen—\, 3. Powell. 2, E. Winwood. he, J. F. Walton; J. Earn- 

 shaw, Rolhcrham : Wells & Ayre. c, A. Spencer, Driffield. 



G.\MR Bantams —Black-breasicd and other iied.*.— Cocte.— Cnp and 1, W. F. 

 Entwisle, Bradford. 2. E. Walton. rh'-.T. S. Stephenson, Newbepin, Beverley. 

 he, W. D. Li tie. Blackheath; C. E. Wallace, Wavertree; G. Holmes, c, W. 

 Taylor. Sculthorpe ; Dr. A. Cameron. Hen —1, W. F. Entwisle. 2, E. Walton. 

 ^j,W. Taylor; J. Clifton, Hatfield ; G.Lewia. 



Game Bantam —.4ni/ other colour.— Cock.— 1, E. Dawson, Epworth. 2, A. 

 Smith, Halifax, vhc. R. J. Hartley, Altrincham. he. Sales & Hcutley, Crowle, 

 c, \V, H\ Entwisle. llen.—l and vhc, E. Dawaon. 2, W. F. Entwiale. he, W. 

 G Galloway, Bowden ; A. Smith. 



BANTAMa.— *4hi/ variety except Game. — Coek.—l.R. H. Ashton.Mottram.Man- 

 ches'er. 2, Mill«r & Beanland, Keighley. vhc, A. & W. H. Silvester, he, W. 

 H Y.un?, Driffield. Hen —1, A. Smith. 2, A. & W. H. Silvester, /w, W. G. 

 Water ; K. H. Ashton ; Milner & BeanlaBd. 



Sf.llino OrA9s.—l, J. Powell. 2, J, Smith. 



DvcKs.— Aylesbury or Roncn.—l, U. Youhr", Driffield. 2, Z G. Maw, New- 

 land. Any other variety —1, A. C. Bradbury, Nu'.hall, Nottingham (East 

 Indian). 



PIGEONS. 



Cahriers.— 1. E. Horner. Harewood, Leeds. 2, H. Vardley, Market Hall, 

 Pirming'iam. 3, J. Baker, Kew Bridge. London, vhc, H. Yardley; E. Horner, 

 HrtrHW-.od, Leeds, he, J. E. Crofts, Worksop; E. Heath, c, A. H. Clark, Old 

 Si 6'.nton. 



PoDTBBB.— 1, J. E. CroftB. 2 and vho, J. Hairsine, Hall. 3, W. Harvej. he. 



