48G 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ NoTember 26, 1874. 



prize birds in the two former classes especially being all that 

 could be desired. They certainly were not so high-coloared as 

 some exhibited at many of the previous shows, but for breeding 

 purposes they were equal to anything. Considering that the 

 first high-coloured birds originated from Nottinghamshire, I 

 fully expected seeing something sensational. — An Eye-Witness. 

 The following are the awards. 



Norwich.— Cicar Yf:Uow.~\ and 3, A. Dake. % E. Horsley. 4. W. Greaves. 

 CUar Duff— I and S, .\. Dake. 2. W. Greaves. 4. J. Farr. Ticked Tclkiw.— 



1, J. Greaves. 2. H. Koe. S.J.Baxter. 4, F. Nevott. Ticlvrf iju^.— I, A. Dake. 



2. F. Nevelt. 3, ./. Parr. 4, H. Eoe. Variegaledor Efm-marked YHl<iw.—l,T. 

 Clarke. 2, A. Duke. 3, T. Smseton. Variegated or Even-marked Buff.—l, T. 

 Clarke. 2, T. Smeeton. Crested Yellow.— 1, O. Doman. 2, W. Elliott. 3, E. 

 Horsley. 4, E. Garton. Crested Buff.—l, G. Doman. 2, W. Elllolt. 3, E. 

 Garton. 4, H. Flower. 



LIZLHD3.— Golden-spangled— I, T. Smeeton. Silver-spangled.~l, T. Smeeton. 

 Sei.li.no Class.-I, W. Greavea. 2, A. Duke. 3, E. Garton. 4. W. Elliott. 

 Judge. — Mr. G. J. Barnesby. 



ing men we ever knew, slow to bring himself into notice, always 

 ready to listen and learn. His kind gentle manners and natur- 

 ally amiable disposition endeared hini to all who knew him, and 

 his clear and sound judgment were always at the service of his 

 friends. Mr. Stewart has been taken away, much regretted by 

 his friends in the fancy, as well as by a large cirole of others, 

 and happily prepared for the great change. 



THE WASHING OF CAGE BIRDS FOR 

 EXHIBITION. 



{Continued from page 373.) 

 In continuing the remarks upon the subject of washing and 

 preparing birds for show Mr. Barnesby says, "One advantage 

 is to get through the operation aa speedily as possible, keeping 

 the birds warm the whole of the time. Do not have the water 

 beyond blood heat for fear of injuring them, and previous to 

 washing place in each bowl a small piece of soda (the size of a 

 French bean), which assists in getting the dirt well out of the 

 feathers. It will occupy about six or eight minutes to wash each 

 bird, and from twenty minutes to half an hour drying. Have a 

 good fire to dry with, but be careful not to place the birds too 

 near for fear of burning them. When one is washed and placed 

 in the drying cage proceed to operate upon another. As you find 

 the first washed become dry, transfer them to another cage ; 

 this will prevent the early-waehed birds from soiling the others, 

 and will afford more room in the drying cage for the remainder. 

 One drying cage will be sufficient for a dozen or upwards to be- 

 come dry in." The foregoing extracts will suffice to convince 

 fanciers that the washing process information is not just dawn- 

 ing forth. 



In my earlier days of bird-breeding I well recollect an ardent 

 lover of one of the choicest of breeds (the London Fancy) writing 

 me stating it was "washing day" with him. I was temporarily 

 in the dark as to what he meant. I must admit I didn't see it 

 all at a glance, but I afterwards found out, and let someone else 

 know. I often think I've a happy knack of letting out the secrets 

 of the fancy. And why not 1 If men are straightforward and 

 honest and pay their way to the very shilling (I was going to 

 say farthing, but shilling will do), why should they be kept in 

 the dark? I believe in getting possessed of as much knowledge 

 as possible respecting the fancy, and not confining the matter to 

 a few. The fancier above alluded to used to operate with the 

 washing process never less than a week before he exhibited his 

 birds. Now, I do not altogether fall in with this. Three days 

 beforehand I think a nice time, for, if washed a week before 

 showing, the birds' feathers will become contaminated with the 

 amoky accumulations in the atmosphere. 



Mr. Barnesby again states, " Birds kept in the country away 

 from the smoke of a town very rarely require so much cleansing ; 

 but keep them how you may in a neighbourhood where there is 

 much smoke, you cannot, even with close covering-up, prevent 

 birds becoming soiled and dirty in plumage." 



I have known fanciers wash their birds just prior to sending 

 them off for show, but this is trying nature too much. By all 

 means allow the birds time to recover from the effects of " soap 

 in my eyes," as I have heard my youngsters announce to those 

 who have been washing them. Three days beforehand is a 

 nice period, and then you can have a little time to spare to give 

 the birds a cold bath, which tends to place their feathers " as 

 they were." Before placing your birds in the already cleaned 

 and prepared show cages, see that there is no dust whatever in 

 the cages ; let them be as clean as pinks, and then you will not 

 feel annoyed by seeing the foreheads and the end of the wings 

 and tails soiled. This is all of vast importance in assisting you 

 to win with your birds. Light-plumaged birds will soon show 

 yon the ill effects of being placed in dusty cages. Whilst the 

 birds are in the show cages, prior to being safely packed up for 

 departure keep them slightly covered over with some light cloth. 

 Your wives, no doubt, will be able to assist you in this respect, 

 especially if you treat them kindly, and make them a suitable 

 present out of the winnings — if any. — A Fancier. 



Mb. D. Stewart. — We regret to have to record the death of 

 Mr. Daniel Stewart, of Perth, which took place on the 8th inst. 

 Mr. Stewart was one of our best Scotch fanciers — one of the old 

 Scotch Pouter breeders — and he was most successful. He was 

 also for many years a breeder of Canaries of the " Scotch fancy," 

 was long celebrated for his fine birds, and generally carried off 

 the highest honours. Mr. Stewart was one of the most unaastim- 



NORWICH AND EAST ANGLIAN BIRD SHOW. 



The Norwich Show was an exceedingly fine one, bringing 

 together many of the best birds in the country. The Exhibition, 

 which was held in St. Andrew's Hall by the kind permission of 

 the Mayor of the city, was the largest for cage birds yet held 

 this season, no less a number than 810 birds having been entered 

 for competition. Mr. Jacob Mackley proved himself to be a very 

 able Secretary. 



To attempt to enter fully into the merits of all the prize speci- 

 mens, now that there are so many exhibitions being held, would 

 occupy more of our space than we can well spare. Suffice it to 

 say that the Canary classes of the Exhibition were well filled, 

 the first twelve classes of the various breeds of Norwich being 

 tenanted with 209 birds. There were twenty-one Belgian speci- 

 mens, thirty-three Lizards, thirty-five Yorkshires, twenty-four 

 Manchester Coppy or Plain Heads, thirty-two Cinnamons, forty- 

 six Mules, the remaining classes being devoted to groups of six 

 birds in each cage — British birds, birds of passage and migratory 

 birds, foreign birds, a Selling class, with upwards of eighty in 

 it, and fourteen cases containing stuffed specimens. Altogether 

 the number of classes extended to over eighty. From this some 

 idea may be formed of the magnitude of the Show. Messrs. 

 G. & J. Mackley, of Norwich, alone entered 164 birds, and they 

 were the winners of the silver cup presented by the Mayor of 

 the city. Mr. J. Adams, Coventry, entered twenty-six; Messrs. 

 Athersuch & Son, Coventry, twenty-one; Mr. Walter, Winches- 

 ter, twenty; Mr. F. Alden, Norwich, seventeen ; Messrs. Provart 

 and Willis, seventeen; Mr. W. B. Hovell, Norwich, twelve; 

 besides numerous others who brought up the rear in a very 

 spirited manner. Although Messrs. Mackley Brothers entered 

 so largely in the Norwich classes, Mr. Adams held his ground 

 wonderful, but he was defeated by a majority of twenty-three 

 points for the cup. Messrs. Athersuch & Son also exhibited 

 many first-class birds, and obtained several high honours. 

 In the Crested Norwich classes Messrs. Mackley were the 

 principal winners, and these birds assisted chiefly in winning 

 for them the special prize. There were a few good Belgians ex- 

 hibited, and some excellent Lizards likewise. The eight prizes 

 in the Cinnamon classes all fell to the lot of Mr. Adams. The 

 Mules alone were worth seeing, many of the choicest specimens 

 in the kingdom gracing the stages. The chief prizetakers were 

 Messrs. Hawman, Hampton & Chamberlin, Wilkinson, Spence, 

 Hutton, Stevens, Goode, and others. In the group of six Nor- 

 wich Canaries, Messrs. Mackley took first, second, and third 

 prizes. In the Lizard sixes there was no competition. The 

 catalogue and prize list, which reflects credit on all who had the 

 arranging and printing of it, was issued in good time for post 

 (a moat essential matter), thua preventing any disappointment 

 to the exhibitors, and saving annoyance, extra expense, and 

 correspondence to both the Committee and Secretary. The Ex- 

 hibition was well backed up with a long list of patrons, and 

 possessed an able and practical Committee of Management. 



Cube of Chicken Cholera. — Take of essence of Jamaica 

 ginger one table-spoonful and put it into enough of water to 

 mix into dough one quart of meal, and feed three times daily. 

 The essence of ginger can be procured of any druggist. This 

 is said to be unfailing. 



BYGONE BEE-KEEPING. 



I WAS brought up and lived until twenty-four years of age in 

 a small hamlet in Shropshire, where there were from thirty to 

 forty cottages within a radius of about half a mile, every occupier 

 of which kept bees. The householders were chiefly labourers, 

 not earning more than 7s. to 10s. per week ; the rents ranged 

 from i!3 to ,£5 per year, which they reckoned to pay from profits 

 on their bees. Boxes were then unknown for bees; the villagers 

 had but few straw hives, they made hives from osiers, each 

 making his own in the long winter evenings. When the osier 

 work was sufficiently dry they plastered the hives over with a 

 mixture of half lime and half cowdung, when they were ready 

 for use. The men, being away from home all day, the women 

 generally managed the bees, so the people had a notion that the 

 bees would not work for two masters. If a member of the 

 family died Bome one had to go and tell the bees, otherwise it 

 was thought these would all die. 



If you looked over the garden you would see a few osiers 

 growing in some corner, and amongst them straight pieces left 

 about a foot long, which the cottagers called foundatious for 



