572 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



December 24, 1874. 



erels and pnllets. The latter may be dispensed with, and the 

 chickens allowed to run with the old birds, but certainly not to 

 the advantage of the chickens. Avery mistaken idea prevails as 

 to the amount of grass run required for Dorkings; if they have 

 five acres they will certainly make use of it, but my own stock 

 birds have never had more than a run of 10 or 12 yards square 

 for each cock and four or five hens, and have always laid and 

 thriven well upon it, while in the show pen their condition has 

 generally been as good as the best ; and this is a sure proof to me 

 that no larger run is required, as if fowls are discontented aud 

 restless they will rapidly lose that brilliancy of plumage which 

 so surely tells in the prize list. 



A single cock for exhibition may be advantageously shut up 

 in a small place if carefully attended to, but the hens become 

 restless in very close confinement, and do not do well under the 

 space I have named. Small shrubs or fir trees planted in the 

 comers will form a pleasant shade in summer, as also will Jeru- 

 salem artichokes, which are to be strongly recommended on 



account of their hardiness and rapid growth. The fences to 

 separate one run from another in my own case are made of 

 hurdling or "wattling" about 3 feet high, with 3-feet wire 

 netting stretched loosely along the top. I have found this quite 

 suflicient to keep the birds in, as Dorkings usually are but poor 

 flyers. If hurdling cannot be obtained, half-inch boards of red 

 deal to the height of 21 feet, will do as well, but will, of course, 

 be more expensive. Simple wire netting, however small the 

 mesh, is not sufiicient near the ground, as if the cocks can see 

 one another they will fight through it a great deal more than if 

 at liberty, and will never seem to get tired of it, while if at 

 liberty one soon conquers the other, and it is all over except the 

 crowing ! If it is determined to try to induce two strange cocks 

 to run together, the only way is to treat them like two school 

 boys, and having put bits of cork on their spurs, to let them 

 " have it out." If you separate them they are sure to be " at it 

 again " immediately your back is turned. 

 It will be found very much cheaper in building houses to make 



Eeight at top, 6 feet. 

 Height to eaves, 4 feet 



Fig. 163. — Front view of paib of poultry houses. 



Width of each house, 4 feet. 

 Depth, 4 feet. 



Scale halt an inch to the foot. 



A, Dneting sheds. 

 31, Sliding door 



c, YentiJatora. 



r, Moveable windows. 



them in pairs. The accompanying sketch represents the front 

 view of a pair made in the very simplest way, and with the 

 smallest amount of material, and yet I think combining every 

 essential for health and comfort. I have found thin sheet zinc 

 far preferable to felt for roofing, as it is much more durable, 

 ajid not finding any hold for their claws, the fowls will very 

 soon get tired of flying up on it. A double house of the di- 

 mensions described, made of three-quarter-inch deal with zinc 

 roof, should be constructed for about £a or for less, if, as in my 

 own case, the carpentering be done at home, and really if the 

 planks are already cut out there is but very little carpentering 

 about it, while we shall always think more of our "villa," if 

 made with our own hands. The cracks between the boards had 

 better be covered over with narrow strips of very thin deal, or 

 the boards can be let into one another; but this will be found 

 more expensive. 



The little outside sheds are for the fowls to get into in wet 

 and windy weather, and they should always be filled with dry 

 earth or road grit, in which the birds will delight to dust them- 

 selves ; while being placed outside the roosting houses they will 

 help to keep the birds warm. 



Aberdeen Poultkt and Pigeon Clue Show. — This Society 

 will hold their next Show early in January. The entries close 

 on the 25th of December. As regards Pouters it will be the Show 

 of the season, the principal breeders in Scotland intending, we 

 nnderstand, to exhibit largely. There are twenty-two classes 

 for these birds — viz., Eed,Tellow, Black, Blue, and White, cocks 

 and hens, both old and young, besides two classes foroil-coloura, 

 one for cocks and the other for hens. TVe hope the entries will 

 be of such extent aa to compensate the Society. Observing 

 that no two of the standard colours of Pouters are to be shown 



in one class, anyone having a good bird has every chance of 

 having its merits acknowledged. Mr. Corker, of London, is to 

 judge the Pigeons. This Society has carried on its exhibitions 

 hitherto at considerable loss. The money they cannot afford to 

 lose, but the time and trouble they do not grudge for the advance- 

 ment of the fancy. This Show will decide whether or not they 

 will be able to continue their exhibitions. 



TREDEGAR POULTRY SHOW. 



The annual Show of the Tredegar Society was held on Tuesday 

 and Wednesday the 15th and 16th inst. The poultry and Pigeons 

 were exhibited in one of the excellent sheds of the Cattle Market. 

 As last year, so this. Turner's pens were used, and proved much 

 better than the old wicker coops. While in the hands of Mr. 

 Pulling the birds are well attended to by an excellent staff. A 

 few pens were empty, but not near so many as in previous years. 

 Game were a good entry, and the cup for the first eight classes 

 was given to a very stylish pair of Brown Eed chickens. Spatiish 

 were good, especially Mr. Moore's chickens ; but Dorkings were 

 only poor in both classes as compared with what we have seen 

 here. Cochins in both classes were very good. Buffs winning 

 three out of the four prizes, and Partridge chickens one. In 

 old Light Brahmas Mr. Dean won both prizes, as also in the 

 chickens, carrying off the cup also for the section with young 

 birds. Mrs. EoUs' pen, said to have won the cup at Swansea, 

 were in bad order ; cock bare on the throat, and the hen a bad 

 colour. Dark were good, Mr. Watts securing both first prizes 

 with grand birds ; many other pens being noticed. Many pens 

 of Hamburghs showed the effects of overshowing, this being 

 the case especially in the Gold-pencils and Spangles, while the 

 Silver-pencils and Spangles showed much better, and the cup 

 was awarded to what turned out to be the Crystal Palace cup 



