November 2G, 1874. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTIODLTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



481 



to become patrons. An influential workingand general Committee 

 was formed, and Mr. Apaley Smith, who has done so much to 

 popularise the poultry department of the Kent and Sussex 

 Agricultural Show, held iu October at Tunbridge Wells, was 

 appointed lion. Secretary and Treasurer. The Show, which 

 will be for poultry. Pigeons, Rabbits, Cats, and Cage Birds, will 

 be held on January Slat, 22Qd, and 23rd, and prizes and cups to 

 the value of i'200 will be offered for competition. 



KILMARNOCK ORNITHOLOGICAL SHOW. 



(From a Correspondent .) 

 The twenty-third Exhibition was held in the Corn Exchange 

 on the 13th and 14th inst. 



The Spanish were a remarkably good class. The first and 

 second were chickens, first-rate in quality, and had every ap- 

 pearance of having been bred in the same yard. Brahmas, Any 

 colour. — In this class many of the hens and pullets were good. 

 A few good old cocks were also exhibited, but none of these had 

 finished their moult. In cockerels there were few good ones. 

 Vulture hocks were very common in this class. In Cochins Mr. 

 G. H. Procter's grand well-known birds took the first-aud-extra 

 prize. The remainder of the class were not good. Silver-Grey 

 Dorkings were a beautiful class. The Coloured Dorkings were 

 also nearly every pen good. Game, Black or Brown Reds, 

 were a large class. The prize birds were all good, but many 

 hens in this class were only of medium quality. Game, Any 

 other variety, were a good class. The first and second-prize 

 were Duckwings, and very beautiful. The next class was 

 for undubbed Game ; these were a motley group, and, with 

 the exception of the first, were very indifferent birds. The 

 Hamburgh classes were well filled, there being many fanciers of 

 them in the neighbourhood. The Golden- spangled were very 

 good. The Golden-pencilled had thirty-four entries, and con- 

 tained many good cockerels ; but many of the pullets were 

 deficient in fineness of pencilling. The Silver-spangled class 

 was also a large one, and contained many very excellent birds. 

 The Silver-pencilled class was far the weakest class of Ham- 

 burghs. Po/aufZ and Crrz-e-CtTzn-s were exhibited together; the 

 Polands received the most favours. Scotch Greys were a grand 

 class. The cock in the first pen we believe was in the first pen 

 last year; he is a grand fellow. There was a class for Malays, 

 but they only mustered three entries ; all were good. Any 

 other distinct variety was a grand class ; Houdans first, Anda- 

 Insians second, and Sultans third ; the fourth a grand pair of 

 Silkies. 



Of Game Bantams, Black and other Reds, there were fifty- 

 three entries ; many of the birds excellent. The cockerel in the 

 second pen was a gem, but suffering from recent dubbing. Game 

 Bantams, Any other than Reds, were also a grand class. The first 

 were a beautifully-coloured pair of Duckwings. There were 

 several other first-rate pens in the class. Of the undubbed 

 Game Bantams the winning birds were good. Black and White 

 Bantams were a good class, first and second being Blacks; 

 third a nice pair of Whites. The Sebright Bantams were 

 divided into two classes — Gold or Creamy Silver, and Silver 

 Sebrights, clear white ground. Both classes were remarkably 

 good, and had quite a host of admirers. In Ducks the Rouens 

 were a grand class. The Auy variety class was also good. 



Pigeons were a very large show. All the eight classes of 

 Pouters were wonderfully good. Carrier cocks were also 

 splendid. Young Carriers were a beautiful class. Fantails 

 had thirty-two entries, many of the birds extremely beautiful in 

 style and action. Jacobins were a large class of fifty- four entries, 

 and many of the birds were very good. There was also a nice 

 exhibition of singing birds and Rabbits. 



{From another Correspondent.) 



The success of this undertaking far exceeded the most sanguine 

 expectations of the Committee. Notwithstanding the large 

 space at their command, the Committee, we understand, were 

 forced to refuse upwards of fifty entries in poultry and Pigeons. 

 We give but a cursory glance at the poultry department. 



The first class in the Show was Spanish, which was very well 

 represented by twenty-six entries. The birds were in fine 

 order ; another fortnight would almost have perfected their 

 plumage. We were glad to see such a fine array of those 

 elegant birds, which stood out in bold contrast with their semi- 

 shapeless neighbours, the BraJimas and Cocliins. Of the latter 

 class there were several pens of very large birds iu fine plumage. 

 The Dorking classes were small. The Game were well repre- 

 sented, particularly the Black-breasted and Reds. The special 

 feature in this department was the Hamburghs. Golden and 

 Silver-spangled, Golden and Silver-pencilled, and Blacks stood 

 a hundred pens strong. In each of those classes were many 

 beautiful birds, marked to perfection, and they gave the Judge 

 no small trouble. The Bantam class, as usual at this Show, 

 was a show of itself ; 188 pens contained the various classes — 

 viz.. Black-breasted Reds, Variety, Black, White, Golden and 

 Silver Sebrights. Amongst the Game birds were some most 



elegant specimens, very gamey-like and graceful in their mo- 

 tions. 



The Aylesbury and Rouen Duck classes were very well repre- 

 sented, and contained some remarkably large and fine speci- 

 mens. In the A'ariety class of Ducks were several pens of very 

 beautiful Mandarins, Carolinas, &c. The arrangements in this 

 department were certainly most complete — roomy pens, ample 

 passages, and good Ught. 



PIGEONS. 

 This department was most successful, and has year by year 

 been advancing to the magnitude of our city shows. The 

 Exchange Hall was, as usual, filled, and for the first time two 

 tiers had to be resorted to for the smaller birds, as well as the 

 use of the gallery. 



The Pouters amounted to 125 entries, and a finer collection of 

 those birds has not been seen for years. Black and Blue cocks 

 stood first in order. The first-prize was a Black, very handsome 

 in form, displaying a well-formed limb; second a good Blue, 

 rather heavy ; third also a Blue, somewhat out of order ; fourth 

 also a good Blue, and of considerable merit. Red, Yellow, or 

 Mealy Cocks.— First-and-special a beautiful Red of the old- 

 fashioned style and colour, long in feather and limb; second 

 also a good Red, but rather heavy in style, though well marked ; 

 third also a Red of fair markings; fourth a Y'ellow, evidently a 

 young bird of fine style and limb. Mr. Mitchell's Y'ellow highly- 

 commended was evidently past his showing days. Any-other- 

 colour Cocks. — First, second, third, and fourth were Wliites, all 

 very fine birds, the first nearly perfection in shape. Black or 

 Blue Hens. — First-and-special a Blue, a very fine bird in every 

 respect ; second also Blue, a good bird ; third a Black, well 

 marked, but rather heavy ; fourth Blue, a fine, handsome bird, 

 but much too gay in the wing. Red, Yellow, or Mealy Hens. — 

 First, second, third, and fourth Beds. First was a bird of 

 unusual colour, and very handsome in style. In this class the 

 Mealys were completely put out, having to give way to the 

 standard colours. One bird in this class, a Mealy shown by Mr. 

 Mitchell, was perfection in form, and nearly so in markings. 

 Surely there ought to be a class for Mealys ! Hens, Any other 

 colour. — Frist, second, and third all Whites, handsome birds; 

 fourth a Chequer, a fine bird, evidently young. Cocks bred 

 1874. — This class contained many birds which will, no doubt, be 

 heard of again. Hens, Any colour, bred 1874. — This was a large 

 and fine class of birds ; many of them being young were not in 

 show, but will be certain to command their places in anotheryear. 

 Carriers. — Cocks any colour were a large and very fine class, 

 the awards seemed to us to be well given. First-and-special 

 was certainly a magnificent bird of Dun colour, and the best 

 Carrier in the Show; second also a Dun, a fine bird; third a 

 Black, had been a fine bird but was sadly out of order. Hens, 

 Any colour. — First a very fine Dun ; second a handsome Black, 

 rather fine in bill; third a Black ; fourth also Black, a good bird. 

 Young birds bred in 1874. — This was a large class, and all the 

 winners were birds belonging to local exhibitors. The English 

 exhibitors certainly did not forward their best specimens, or 

 they would not have been so completely beaten, but we under- 

 stand that one or two English specimens did not arrive in 

 time ; if they had, the scale might have been turned. The Kil- 

 marnock fanciers have for long been in the Carrier fancy. 



Short-faced Tumblers, Any colour. — This was a very good but 

 not large class. The Judge here seemed to have gone more 

 upon colour than the shortness of face, and given the prizes 

 accordingly. The second-prize, a Kite, we think ought to have 

 stood first, being really the most perfect Short- faced bird in the 

 class. Barbs. — This was a large and good class. First a very fine 

 Black, fine head and wattle, and looked as if this were his first 

 appearance for the season ; second a very good Dun ; third and 

 fourth Black, very good, but we think there were others in the 

 cla.ss which ought to have taken their places. Young Barbs in 

 pairs. Any colour. — A small but good class. First Reds in very 

 bad order, one of them showing the white feather; second we 

 think should have stood first ; the others poor. In this class were 

 entries too late, which might have turned the tables. Trumpet- 

 ers were a large class, containing mostly imported birds or birds 

 bred from such. There was a great show of the rose and crown, 

 but we think the Judge did not give due weight to the feet; 

 many of them being very lightly feathered. Fantails, Any 

 colour. — A splendid class of liirds mostly of the Scotch Fancy, 

 small and full of motion. All the honours were taken by Scotch 

 breeders. The remaining classes will be noticed next week. 



Spanish.— Extra 1, W. M'Inlyre, OchiUree. 2. R. Begg, Dairy. S. J. Poulton, 

 Bristol. 4, H. lieldun, Goitstock, Bindley, he, H. Wilkinson, Earbv, Skipton : 

 J. Moi-e, Hamilton; W. Nelson, Jobnfltone; W. Wallace, Aucht;iibrain; R. 

 Begg; A. Walker, c, A. Robertson, Kilmarnock ; J. Ai'mour. 



bKAHMA PooTitAs.— Extra 1, R. Maxwell. Dmnfriea. 2. W. Marshall, Bishop- 

 risga. 3, W. Huj^hes, Glasgow. 4, A. Robertson. v}ic, H. Smith, Irvine ; W., 

 Hughes; M. S. Temple, Hexhani ; D. Gellatly, Meigle ; W. Hargreaves. 

 Bacup. he, H. Wilkinson; T. Pye, Lancaster; T. Raines, Stirling; A. C. 

 Euasell, Cardross. 



Cochin-Chisas.— Extra 1. G. H. Procter, Durham. 2, T. Fullarton, TrooD, 

 S and 4, T. Bruce, Busby, he, R. Maxw(-U; J. Wyse, Falkirk ; Mrs. W. Steven 

 Montrose : W. M. J. Baton, Broughty Ferry, c, Mrs. C. B. Taylor, Montrose ; 

 J. Hine, Kendal. 



Dorkings.— Si/rt-r-Gfrfy.—l, A. J. Mutter. 2, Capt, Lyon, Kirkmichael. 8, 

 W. M'ilurray, Dalmelling. 4, J. Fotheringham, Stirling, he, Z. H. Heya ; T. 



