286 



JOURNAL OP HOBTIOULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ September 24, 1874. 



The plumage should be entirely buS from head to foot, from 

 the throat to the tail a beautiful clear yellow colour, and it is 

 important not to have any black marks. The marks are only 

 admissible in the larp:e tail feathers, the others are almost 

 hidden by the contiguity and abundance of the covert feathers. 

 No mark should appear on the neck hackle. The feathers of 

 the different parts of the body should be lifted to see if there 

 are not hidden some grey spots in those beneath. A large 

 number of hens have the visible stem of each feather a little 

 lighter than the beard of the feather, which sometimes gives 

 it a regular and light appearance, with small prolonged marks 

 rather lighter than the rest of the plumage. If the hen is 

 whole-coloured and of fine form, you must not object to this 

 peculiarity. 



Laijiiig. — The productiveness of the Cochin-China has been 

 exaggerated, as it has been extended to the number of three 

 hundred eggs in a year. The Cochin-China hen does not lay 

 more than sixteen to twenty-four eggs on following days, after 

 which she wants to sit. The time for wanting to sit and begin- 

 ning to lay again lasts from iifteen to twenty- five days, and the 

 layers as the year advances become less productive, sometimes 

 not going beyond twelve eggs. When the hen is in good con- 

 dition the laying lasts all the year, and produces from 150 to 

 180 eggs, a very remarkable number, especially as a considerable 

 portion of it is in the depth of winter. The eggs are of 

 medium but unequal size in different birds ; the yolk, the best 

 part of the egg, is very large, to which is attributed the size of 

 the chicken. Their quality is neither inferior nor superior to 

 the eggs of other breeds, but it depends on the food the heua 

 have. 



Incubation. — This is the excellence of the variety; it sits at 

 all seasons, and hatches and brings up early or late chickens. 

 The desire for sitting, which is peculiar to the Cochin-China, is 

 imparted by crossing with other varieties. This quality is so 

 often wanting in the most valuable varieties, that a certain 

 number of pure Cochins are indispensable in a large establish- 

 ment, so as always to have sitters ready to take to the nests. 



NOKTHALLEBTON POULTRY SHOW. 



The Agricultural Show of the capital of the North Eiding of 

 Yorkshire took place on the 18th iust., and was a most decided 

 success both as regards number of entries, quality of stock, and 

 number of visitors; and as regards the poultry section it was 

 almost double that of previous years. The pens were substantial 

 wooden ones with wire fronts, and were bo placed that no wind 

 disturbed the birds, although no other cover was provided. 



Dorkings were a grand class, and Mr. White beaten on his 

 own ground, in the first case with an old cock and a most ex- 

 traordinary pullet, and in the second with young birds. Game 

 were poor if we except the winners, which were Brown Reds 

 and Black Beds respectively. Spanish were old birds and out 

 of order ; but the two winners in Cochins, which were Buff 

 chickens, fine in all respects. Brahnias were also very good ; 

 the first-prize Dark cockerel beautifully striped throughout, the 

 puUet nicely pencilled, but losing a little on the breast. Second 

 were Light chickens, very good in all points; the third prize 

 going to a pen of Darks, chiefly on account of the pullet, which 

 was exquisitely pencilled. Polands were not in good order ; the 

 first Silver, the second Gold. Gold-spangled Hamburghs were 

 poor, except the first and the winning Silvers. The two pens 

 of winning chickens iu Gold-pencilled were good in all points. 

 In the Variety class the first were Creve-Co?urs, and the second 

 Malays ; both pens very good. In Game Bantams the first- 

 prize pen was composed of a really good cock and a pullet ; the 

 second young, very stylish, but a little out of order. In the 

 Variety class of Bantams Blacks were first and Silver Sebrights 

 second. 



Rouen Ducks were particularly good in both size and quality, 

 with scarcely one bad pen. Of Aylesburys there were but three 

 pens, and of fair quality. Ducks of any other variety were 

 first Black East Indian, and second Carolinas. Turkeys were 

 very large and good, especially the first, which were of the 

 Cambridge variety. Geese were also good in every respect ; the 

 first Toulouse, and the second White. In the Selling class the 

 winners were a nice useful pen of Gold-pencilled chickens, 

 second Aylesbury Ducks, and third Dark Brahmas. 



Pigeons. — There was, unfortunately, only one prize in each 

 class, though there was a very fair entry for this ; but with the 

 exception of the Red Pouters, Fantails, Almond Tumblers in 

 the first-prize pens, and the whole of the Magpies, there was 

 nothing worthy of note. 



Rabbits were in pairs, a system we cannot sufficiently con- 

 demn, and we hope that notice will be taken of this point, as 

 entries in greater numbers will accrue from the alteration. 



DoBKlNGS.— 1, Lady A. M. Pierse, Bcdale. 2. A. Jackson, Broushton, North- 

 aUertoD. /ic. J. White, Warlabv, Northallerton (4). 



Game.— 1, W. Bearpark, Aiiiderby Steeple. 2. W. YounKhusband. Darling- 

 ton, he. G. Carter, Beda'e: W. Bearpark; W. F. Pett. Mlddteabrough. 



SPiNisH.— 1. G. Dale. Northallerton. 2, T. Fliutoff, Newbj, Stockton-on- 

 Tees, c, G. Pounder, Kirbymoortiide. 



CocHis-OHiNi.— 1 and 2, D. & J. Iheston, Whitby, c, W. J. Frank, Eagles- 

 cUffe, \ arm. 



EiiiHMi POOTIH— l.MisaE.O. Powlett, Bedale. 2, G. &W. Smith, Bath. S, 

 W. J. Fjauk. he. Miss K. O. Puwlett. Bedale ; P. C. BeoliCKton, Whitby. C, 

 Lady A. B. Pierse (2): T. P. Carver, Latiffthorpe. Eoroughbrifige. 



Polands.— 1, VV, Bearpark. 2 and c, C. Walker, Borous^bbndcie. 



Hamburghs —Goldipangled—X, R. Keenlyside, Aycliffe, Darlie^'ton. 2, T. P. 

 Carver, c, J. Johnson, Northallerton. Silver-spantfhd.—x, G. Alderson, West 

 Hartlt-puol. 2, R. Keenlyside. he, J. Robshaw. Whixlev, York. 



H!,yluvH(.ns.— Gold-pencilled. —1, R. Keenlyside, .\yeliffe, Darlington. 2, 

 Wall, r S: Wriahtaon. btokesley. he, Wells & Sherwin, Ripen. Hdver-iienciUed. 

 — 1, J. N. Williams, Knaresborongh. 



ANY OTHER Yahiety.- 1, T. P. OarvBr (Creve-Cceur). 2, R. Hawkics, Sea- 

 ham. Sunderland (Malays), u/ic, Mrs. Jaques, Hichmond. /tc, G. slater, Ripon 

 (Black Hamburghs); ElakeBborough& Holdsworth, High Harrogate (Japanese 

 Silkies). 



Bantams.— Grtme.—l, W. C. Dawson, Whitby. 2. Wells & Sherwin. fcr. W. 

 C. D;t\VMon; G. H. Pennock, Whitby, c, Wells'iS: Sherwin ; T. P. Carver; Miss 

 Ellerby, Easingwuld. Atty other variety.— I, R. H. Ashton, Mottram. Man- 

 chester. 2 and vhe, T. P. Carver, he, T. P. Carver; W. F. Pelts, Middles- 

 brough, c, R. C. Chaytor, Middleham : Wells & Sherwin. 



Ducks —i?0U(!7i.—l. Parkinson & Marshall, Dewsbury. 2, T. P. Carver. S, 

 W. J. Weatberill, Whitby, vhe, ParkioMon & Marshall, Dewsbury ; P. C. 

 Bedlington, Whitby, he, G. Graham, AJdborough, Borouehbridge ; Mrs. C. 

 Tarbotton. Cawtuu. Giiling, York, e. Miss Jordan. Dniheld; G. Pounder. 

 Aylesbury.— \ and 2, T. P. (Carver, he, T. Dobson, Kirbymoorside. Any other 

 variety.— [ and 2, T. P. Carver (Black East Indian and Carolina), vhe and he, 

 Col. Cathcart, Spennithorne, Bedale. 



TuKKtiVS.— 1, T. P. Carver. 2, J. B. Braithwaite. North Otterington, North- 

 aUerton. he, T. C. Booth, Warlaby, Northallerton; Miss Jordan, Driifield; 

 Mrs. C. Tarbotton. 



GO-.LINGS —1, Mrs. C. Tarbotton. 2, Wells & Sherwin, Rlpon. he, T. C. 

 Booth ; J. Storey, Seamer, Yarm ; L. Mantield, Thirsk. 



Selling Class.— 1, W. J. Weatherill, Whitby (Gold-pencilled Hambureths). 

 2, T. P. Carver. S, G. Carter, Bedale (Game), vhe, T. P. Carver ; W. J. Frank 

 ( Dark Brahmas). he.W. BovUle, jun., Osmotherley (Grey Dorkings); Wells 

 and Sherwin; T.P.Carver; G. Dale, Northallerton, c. Miss B.Peirse, Bedale 

 (Houdans). 



PIGEONS. 



Carriebs.— 1, T. P. Carver, c, T. Richardson. 



Pouters. — 1 and he. Wells & Shenvin. 



Jacobins.- 1, T. Dale, Scorton. he. T. P. Carver. 



Tumblers.— 1, Wells & ^her^vin. he, T. P. Carver, c. Wells &J5herwi]i; J. 

 S. Thompson, Brompton. Norihallerton. 



Fantails.— 1, W. ..V J. Wetherill. Northallerton. 



Trumpeters.- 1, R. J. Smith, Yarm. he, J. S. Thompson. 



TuRBiTS.- 1, Blakeborough & Holdsworth. he, J. Sbilbeck, Coulton, Hovillg- 

 hara ; R. Mais. Northallerton. 



Nuns — 1, Wells & Sherwin. 



Magpies. — 1, H- Gibson. Kirby Sigston, Northallerton. lOic, Hon. L. Powlett, 

 Bedale. he, J. W. Smith, York ; F. Heugh, jun., Northallerton, c, H. Clapham, 

 York. 



ANY OTHER Variety. — 2, T. P. Carver (Owls), vhe, G. Gibson, Kirby 

 Si;.'ston. he. Wells & Sherwin, Ripon; N. Russell, jun, Northallerton; T. 

 Richardson, Middlesbrough (Owls). 



Rabbits.- J»i/ variety —1, E. J. Thornton, York. 2 and he, E. W. Forster, 

 Middlesbrough (Himalaya and Lop-eared), c, J. S. Robinson, Darlington ; W. 

 Robaon, Mortou-on-Swale. 



Judge. — Mr. E. Hutton, Pudsey, Leeds. 



NOKTHAMPTON POULTRY SHOW. 



Long as this Show has been noted for the very superior 

 character of its competition, we may safely say the Show of last 

 week was far beyond its predecessors ; and the truly indefati- 

 gable Secretary, Mr. Lovell, was just as obliging aud attentive 

 to the wants of everyone as ever. 



Dorkings were grand, and as a whole were exceedingly well- 

 gi'owu chickens. The Spanish classes contained numbers of 

 most promising specimens. In Game fowls, except the winning 

 pens, %ve were quite disappointed; but the next classes. Cochins, 

 made ample amends. Brahmas were fine as a whole, the Light- 

 coloured having the best of the competition. Hamburghs were 

 few in numbers, but good in quality. Ducks of both the leading 

 varieties were unusually fine ; but of Turkeys only a single pen 

 was exhibited. The Selling classes were a great success, and 

 the "Miscellaneous" class, open to a pair of any kind of poultry 

 or ornamental birds, was a triumph in bringing forth competi- 

 tion. 



The Pigeons were of the highest possible character; but it is 

 a mistaken arrangement for every breed to compete iu a single 



{From a Correspondent.) 

 We have just received the catalogue of this Show. Such a 

 volume — pages aud pages of advertisements ! and in one or two 

 cases the advertisers not only have illustrations of the things 

 they sell, but of the shops they sell them in ! We like to see a 

 good catalogue, it shows the Society is flourishing. The last 

 time we saw Mr. Lovell with his Show he was at Kettering. 

 We call Northampton, this year's meeting place, much better 

 adapted for an exhibition. The poultry show was on the single- 

 bird system, aud the quality was on the whole unusually 

 good. We should have liked to have seen more entries. Mr. 

 Hewitt judged, and as usual gave general satisfaction. This 

 Society always has good poultry stewards, who know how to do 

 things well, and consequently the management may be relied 

 on. In these days this is worth knowing, for it seems nettling 

 short of scandalous for a society to hold its poultry show in 

 a field under a hedge, or on the open hill-side ; but we hope 

 these things are improving. While on the subject, however, 

 just one word on the care of the baskets. Often aud often the 

 birds are uuder cover and the baskets placed under the pens in 

 the tents ; a shower comes on, the rain runs oft the tents on to 

 the ground, aud the baskets get soaked. The other day we were 



