Dtoembor 10, 1874. 1 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUaE AND COTTAGE GABDENEIJ. 



527 



upon what it ia we require. 4 really good bird, and one likely 

 to win at good shows, has always a certain value, and I should 

 look with suspicion on any advertiser who offers such at a very 

 low price; but inferior birds, "wasters," as they are called, 

 are much more plentiful at one time of year than another. I 

 should recommend anyone who keeps four or five cooks running 

 together, and who wishes for a change of blood of the best 

 strains, to apply to one of the large breeders and exhibitors 

 about June or July in each year, when they must have a large 

 number of chickens from ten to fifteen weeks old, and when 

 they would generally be only too glad to get rid of half a dozen 

 young cockerels showing slight defects for exhibition, but 

 equally good as their best for the purpose required, at from 10s. 

 to 15s. each. Necessarily for a single bird they would charge 

 rather more. One great advantage of procuring cockerel chick- 

 ens of this age is, that they will not attempt to fight the old 

 birds if introduced into a strange yard ; while they will grow 

 up with your own chickens, and you will escape all the fighting 

 and destruction which is the inevitable result of introducing 

 a full-grown cock into a new yard. This object may also be 

 attained by purchasing sittings of eggs, but in doing so too 

 great care cannot be expended in ascertaining in the first place 

 whether the advertiser really has good stock ; and secondly, 

 whether, if he has, if he will let you have the eggs froni tl^em. 

 There are many complaints of bought eggs not hatching, but 

 anyone who knows what a little is required to spoil a clutch of 

 eggs will not always attribute failure to the roguery of the 

 vendor, though I am sorry to express my belief that the latter 

 is sometimes the case. 



BIRMINGHAM POULTRY SHOW. 



{Concluded from page 508.) 



Haububghs were generally very superior. In Black cocks, 

 1205, the Palace winner, in splendid condition was again in the 

 front; second, rather coarse in comb; third, 1201 (Robinson), a 

 pretty neat bird. Pen 1190 (Beldon), we liked generally as well 

 as the second. 



Hens. — First and second, grand pairs ; third, not so good in 

 colour. All in their right position. 



Golden-pencilled cocks. — 1235 (Walker), the Palace cup bird in 

 magnificent trim, carried off first honours. Second and third, 

 good birds. 



Silver-pencilled cocks.— Fivat, 1244 (Beldon), a charming bird, 

 beautifully marked in the tail. Second and third, good. 



Golden-pencilled hens.— lio!i (Duckworth), first, a beautiful 

 pair, good in all points. Second, sound in ground colour. Third, 

 beautifully pencilled but rather pale in colour. 



Silver-pencilled hens. — First, a flue pair, rather heavily pen- 

 cilled. Second and third, extremely good. 



Golden-spangled cocks. — Neat in comb and good throughout. 

 Second, pretty bird and well pencilled, but showing a little 

 white between the legs ; we fancied we saw him at Oxford, if so 

 his feathers are now more perfect. 



Silver-spangled cocks. — AU the winners good. First, a little 

 coarse in comb, or otherwise perfect. 



Golden-spangled hens. — Here the competition was very close, 

 but we thought the first deserved his position, being generally 

 the most perfect. 



Silver-spangled hens. — First, 1325, a delightful pair in beauti- 

 ful condition, and well matched. Second and third, good pens, 

 the latter not quite a match, or they would have been second. 



Game, Black-breasted Red. — The cocks, with the exception of 

 the first (Dutton's), and second (Matthews), were a poor lot. The 

 first was good in colour and carriage. The second had a better 

 head, was shorter in feather, but a little queer on the feet. 



Cockerels showed no improvement upon the old birds. The 

 first (Matthews), the winner, we believe, at the Palace and 

 Oxford, was a fine bird. Second (Harley), good, but we thought 

 him a little long in flights. Third and fourth moderate, both 

 coarse in tail. 



Hens were better ; the winner (Matthews) was a thorough Game 

 bird of splendid style. Second and third, good. 



Pullets. — 1476, first (Matthews), who secured the cup very 

 closely pressed by the second pen 11475), the Palace winners, we 

 think : in some respects we preferred the second. Third and 

 fourth (same owner), good. Fifth, a little high in tail. 



Brown-breasted Bed cocks. — 1535 (Brierley), first and extra 

 cup, a little thick perhaps in head, but otherwise perfect. Se- 

 cond and third tolerably good, the latter a little high in tail. 

 We thought we recognised the Palace oup-winner here un- 

 noticed. 



Cockerels. — 1537 (Burgess), a nice bird, a little long in hackle. 

 Second (1533) good, but struck us as being a little arched in the 

 back. Third, foorth, and fifth, nice birds and in their proper 

 positions. 



Hens. — 153G, first, flue, very dark in colour : second, smart; 

 third and fourth, judiciously selected. 



Pullets. — 1623, first (Brierley), an easy win, a beautiful crea- 

 t ute of grand style. Second, good, but we thought him rather 



narrow. Pen 1598, fourth, the Oxford winner (Matthews), 

 should have been more forward in the prize list. 



Dackwing cocks were a poor lot. 1642 (Winwood) was awarded 

 first prize ; but an objection was raised, and upon inspection the 

 bird was found to have been dyed, and was consequently dis- 

 qualified. This put 1635 (Phillips) first, a good bird, but slightly 

 mottled on the breast. 



Cockerels. — First 1662 (Winwood), a smart bird, rather long 

 in hackles. 1665 a little grey in hackles, otherwise good. 1G50, 

 third, we rather preferred to second, being clear in hackle, and 

 other points equal. 



Hens. — 1741, first, was a little flat in sides and not good in 

 colour. Second, 1071 (Matthewe), smart, but not in feather. 

 1675, third (Sales), a little short in head, otherwise grand. 



Pullets. — First, 1686, had some very good points, but was too 

 rusty on the wing for a prizewinner. Second and third were 

 fine birds. We should hke to have seen pen 1673, highly com- 

 mended (Goodwin), and a pen of Mr. Fletcher's in the prize list. 



Black and Bnissij-winged were only a moderate lot, calling 

 for no special notice. 



Piles. — First, 1774 (Brierley), a smart bird, exhibiting some 

 signs of the Malay. Second, 1720 (Walton), very nice in colour. 



Hens or Pullets.— FiiBt, 1720, good all round. Second, 1721, 

 a superior pullet, but little open in tail. 1729 (Winwood), smart 

 pullet. First, we think, at the Palace was unnoticed. 



Game Bantams. — Black. breasted Beds. — Cock and two hens, 

 1775, first (Addie), smart cock, hens not quite up to him. Second, 

 1772 (Enwistle), a thorough Game pen, cock not so stylish as the 

 winner. Third, 1773, was closely pressed by 1707, fourth. We 

 almost think we preferred the latter. 



Broivn Beds. — 1785, first, a splendid bird with two good 

 pullets. We think we remember one of them at the Palace un- 

 noticed, and thought she was best in the class. 



Amj other variety. — Not so good as the other classes. Pen 

 1791, first, had some good points. 



Single Cocks (Reds). — First, 1806 (Addie), a very smart stylish 

 bird, similar in stamp to 1775. .In?/ other Variety. — First, 

 1853 (Fletcher), a beautiful bird, the best Duckwing we have 

 seen this year. Second (Brownlie), a Pile well known. Third 

 (Shumach), the Palace winner, we think, but here fairly beaten. 



Ducks. — Ducks had eight classes. Aylesbury and Bouen both 

 show a satisfactory improvement in weight, especially the 

 former, the first-prize in each weighing respectively 19 lbs. 

 8 ozs. and 19 lbs. 14 ozs. In Blacks, 1932 (Sainsbury), was first. 

 We think this pen (or the light deceived us), better matched 

 than at the Palace. 



The other varieties of Ducks were not largely represented, 

 but some very interesting specimens were to be found. 



Geese compared with Turkeys were not numerous. Mr. 

 Walker was deservedly placed first for Whites, and Mr. Fowler 

 for Greys. 



TuBKEYS had four classes, all well filled. The cocks of 1874 

 reached thirty-one entries, and the class for hens nineteen. 

 The old cocks in weight were not up to last year. The other 

 classes show a satisfactory increase. 



In conclusion we think the poultry classes have improved upon 

 last year. Some certainly are not so good, notably the Brahmas ; 

 on the other hand the Buff Cochins, Game, and Game Bantams 

 show considerable progress in the right direction. The Pigeons 

 we regret were not better supported. The schedule is liberal 

 enough ; the Committee have only to find better accommodation 

 for them, and,the classes will be again weU filled. 



THE YORKSHIRE SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION OF 



POULTRY, &c. 



The eighteenth annual Show of the York Society took place 

 on the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd inst. in the Cattle Market. The poultry 

 pens, which were of wood with wire fronts, were well placed 

 three-tier high, and the birds mostly quite easy to examine. In 

 Dorkings Mr. Widdas won with a grand pen of chickens, but wa 

 failed to appreciate the second award, preferring the third and 

 fourth as better in most points. Spanish were moderate in 

 both classes, Mr. Brown's pen of chickens being well worthy of 

 their position. In Buff Cochins the first prize went to a grand 

 pen of chickens, and the second to old birds. Whites taking the 

 first position in the next class, with Partridge second and third. 

 In Brahmas the first went to a pen of chickens, the pullet 

 beautifully pencilled, but the cock extremely poor ; while the 

 second prize went a much better pen of old birds, which were 

 very massive and good in all points ; both were Dark. Game 

 (Reds) were well placed, Messrs. Adams winning first with a 

 grand pen of adult Brown Reds ; the second were also of that 

 kind. In Duckwings Messrs. Adams again won the first place 

 with a sound well-shown peu of old birds, the second going 

 to a coarse-headed pair, to which we preferred Mr. Staveley'a 

 pen, as being more stylish and better in head. In the next two 

 classes Piles won in both cases. Hamburghs came next, but 

 these were bad as a section, though there were some grand 



