March 33, 1876, ] 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



213 



clasa that we find in the new BcheflQles which are sent to na, 

 feeling confident it is a breed which requires notice only to 

 make it popular in town, country, villa garden, and at the game- 

 keeper's cottage. When guaranteeing the four entries, we of 

 course mean for those exhibitions which have not previously 

 given a clas?, aa we believe all those committees which have 

 done so have generally found them aa self-supporting as many 

 of the other classes of much more recognised breeds. 



HULL PIGEON, RABBIT, AND CAT SHOW. 



This was held on the 14th, 15th, and 16th inst. in the Albert 

 Hall and adjoining premises, and, as far as entries were con- 

 cerned, was a great success. 



The Figeons numbered nearly 4.50 pens, and some of our 

 greatest exhibitors were represented; many very grand speci- 

 mens were shown. Turner's pena were used for all the classea, 

 and they were arranged in four rows and three tiers deep, which 

 was a disadvantage, as the bottom pens were rather dark and 

 the top pens too high to be seen comfortably. The Judges were 

 Capt. N. Hill and Mr. F. Gresham. 



Of Babbits were three hundred entries. The Judges were 

 Messrs. W. Allison of Sheftield, E. S. Smith of Boston, and R. 

 Dobson of York. The four classes of Lop-eared mustered thirty- 

 four entries. Several of the prize Rabbits had crooked legs, 

 but many were very good. The Angoras formed a good class 

 with twenty-eight entries, among which were some very excel- 

 lent specimens, two extra fourth prizes being given. The Silver- 

 Greys were a grand class, numbering thirty-seven entriea. The 

 quality may be known from the fact that two extra second, two 

 extra third, and one extra fourth prize were given, beside com- 

 mendations. The awards suggest the query, la a dewlap in 

 Silver-Greya a mark of beauty or purity? The Himalayans 

 numbered forty-six pens, and among them there were some 

 excellent specimens, Mr. S. Ball securing both first and second 

 prizes with two only tive months old. Two extra second, one 

 extra third, and one extra fourth prize were given in this class, 

 beside several very highly commended. The Dutch numbered 

 twenty-three entries and were a good class. Belgian Hares 

 mustered thirty-three specimens, and the Variety class ten. 

 There were some very fine animals in the former, and in the 

 latter Silver-Creams took first and second prizes. The Selling 

 classes were a great success ; thirty-six Lop-eared and forty-nine 

 pens in the other varieties constituted a good collection, and were 

 cheap. The winners were afterwards put up by auction. These 



Selling classes seem to prosper everywhere, and we are rather 

 proud that they were first introduced into England at the Hull 



Show about fourteen years ago. The clasa for " heaviest Rabbit " 

 brought only a few monsters — enough for the four prizes and 



one over. Dr. Boden's cup for the best Tortoiseshell doe in 



Class 34 went to Mr. Dickaon, the fourth prizewinner; Mr. 

 Greaves's cup for the best Belgian Hare to the Rev. J. C. 

 Beasley, and the prize for the winner of the most points in the 

 Rabbit claaaes to Mr. Hallas. 



The Cats only mustered sixteen entriea. "Lion" was there 

 of course, and was first agaiu, and he really took the lion's 



share, winning the three cups also. A pair of genuine wild Cats 



were a great source of attraction ; the male seemed a thoroughly 



savage and untameable brute. 

 PIGEONS —VavTKRs.-Bhte or Black.—Cock.—l, Point Cup, and cJic.Noltage 



and L. & W. "Watkin. 2 and 3. J. Hairoinp. Hen.—\, 2. and S. J. Hairaine. 



vhi:. Nottase & I., i W. Watkin. E. H. BlaeklonV. Whitf.-Cock.-l. 2. and vhc, 



Nottase & L.&W. Watkin. 3, A.Spencer. HfTi— l,2,S,and r/ir,Nnttace and 



L. & W. Watkin. Any olher colour.— Cock or Hen.— I and 2, J. Hairaine. 3, 



Notlase Si I,. & W. Watkin. vhc, Nottage & L & W. Watkin, J. Ralston. 



CiSBlERS.— BIni-A: or Dun.— Cock.— 1 and Plato. J. Baker. 2, H. Yardley. 3, H. 



Croaby. vhc, F. Hodgaon, .T. Baker. Hen—l, H. Yardley. 2. 3, and t'lir, J. 



Baker. Any other eolour.—Cockor Hen.—\ and vhc. E. C. Stretch. 2 and 3, J. 



Baker. Barb.— Black or Dun— Cock.— \ and 3, R. W. Bryce. 2. .J. Baker. 



vkc, J. F. Crowther, W. B. Gibbons, H. Yardley. Ren—\ and 2, H. Yardley. 



3, R. W. Bryce. vhc, T. Cliarnlev. Any other colour.— Cock or Hen—l and 2, 



R.W. Bryce. 3. J. B:iker. t''ic, tl. Crosby, H. Yardley. Tumblers.— .4/monrf. 



Cock or. Hen.— I and 3. R. O. Fielding. 2 and o'fC. .T. Baker. Any other variety. 



—Cock or Hen.—\ and 3, J. Baker. 2. R. 0. Fieldinir. vkc, R O, Fielding, J. 



Baker. Ovrm,—Forcwn.—Cock or Hen.-I, R. O. Fielding. 2, -T. Baker. 8. G. 



Aldereon. vhc, R. W. Bryce, E. C. Stretcb, J. Baker. OvrL^.-Euglish.—Cock 



or Ben.—l and 2, J. Baker. 3. R. Wooin- vhc, G- Aldersou. F. Eaatjrood. 



Fan-tails.— Cocfc or Hcn.—i, .T. F. Loversidge. 2 and 3, J. Walker, vhc. J. E. 



Spence. Turbits —Blue or Silver.— Cock or Ben.— I. Medal, 2. and vhc, J. 



Baker. 3, H. Yardley. Any other eolour.—Cock or Hen.— I and vhc. W. R. 



Rootes. 2, J. Baker. 3, T. S. Stephen. .Taoobins.— Red or Yellow,— Cock or 



Hen—l and 2, J. Raker. 3. T. Holt. vhc,^. Croaby. J. Baker. Any other 



colour.— Cock or J7c/i,— 1,2, and 3. .T. Baker. k^TWRBVS.-Short faced.— Cocli 



or Ben.-l.V. Eaat^vood. 2 and 8, J. B.aker. Any other variety —Cock or Ben, 



— 1. F. R. Edwardaon. 2, .7. Baker. 3, T. Mason. DRioooNs.— Btuc or Sitrcr. 



Cock or Hen.— I and 2, R. Woods. 3, J. Baker, vhc, R. Woods, J. G. Pat'eraon. 



lied or Tellow.—Cock or Ben.—l and 3. J. Baker. 2, R. Woods, vhc, R.Woods. 



F. R. Graham. Any other colour,— Cock or Hen.— I and 2. R. Woods. 3 and 



vhc, A. Mclfenzie. Any VAsiETr.- youni; Cock or Ben. — 1, J. .James. 2.3. and 



u/rc. J. Baker. Ant othfr Va"Ifty.— C'orfe or iJr?i.—l. Medal, and 2, .T. Baker. 



8, H Yardley. vhc, H. W. Webb. H. Crosby. Selling Classes.- f'offc or Hen. 



—Price not to exceed is each —1, F. Stamford. 2, J. James. 3 and vhc, H. W. 



Webb. Cock or Hen.— From 3^3. to 60«. eaih.—l, Hickman & Jacks. 2. O. 



AldersOD. S.J.Baker. Pair,— Price not to exceed i^it.— I, G. C, hivett. 2. J. F. 



Loversidge. 3, B. Haddon. Pair.— From 508.— J, J. Baker. 2, H. Yardley. 



3, W. L. I lark. 

 RABBITS.— Lop.EARFD.—S<')Ci;o!oiir.—Buct—l, W. Andrews. 2, T. Ward. 



3, J. Barker. 4, D. Westmore. vJtc.T. Bailey, jiin. h(T. T. BI\ton. c. Bingham 



and Son. £>oc—l, Schotield & Barrett. 2, Found A Chappell. 3,T. Mytoo. 4, 



T.Bailey, Jan. Broken-coloured,—Buck.-l, A. Robson. 2. 3, and 4. C.King. 



»*i;, K, Baffbam. Poe.-Cop, 2, and J, J. Dickson. 1, J. S. Robinson. 3. T. 



Ward, vhc, R. WhitQeld. Anoora —1 and 3, H. Swetnam. 2, G. G, Bartholo- 

 mew. 4, W. Glaisby. Extra 4. J. Hallas, H. E. Gilbert, vhc, R. H. Swain, C. 

 Arthur, he, 3, Halias. c, J. Jonea {i\. silver-Grey.— Bucfc or Doe.— I, A. 

 Farnd<m. 2, A. Canty. Extra 2, H. Woods. 3. Schoflold & Barrett. Extras, 

 J. R. .Icssop, H. Swetnam. 4, A.J. Sharp. F.xtra 4. A. J. Sharp, W. Andrews. 

 he, W. Andrew.-), J. F. ChafTor. c. Rev. T. C. Bca,loy. Bchofleld & Barrett, R. 

 Boffham. Himalayan. -Bitc/c or /;.)/•.— 1 and 2, S. Ball. Extra 2, A. W. White- 

 house, 11. Hey. 3. R. W. Cottam. Extra 3, W. Smith. 4,W. Hey. Extra 4, J. 

 Wilson. »lic,J. Hallas. G.Johnson 4 Co. he, W. llentley, R. Buffham, W. 

 Adams. DOTCU.-Uuct or Doe.— 1, S. H. Leech. 2, J. Hallas. 8, A. W. White- 

 house. Extra 3, Mrs. H. Pickn-orth. 4. W. Richardson, vhc, Schofleld and 

 I Barrett, Mrs. H.Pickworth. /ic. Mrs. J. Foster, c, — Hallas. Beloian Habe. 

 —Buck or Doe.— I'np and 1, Rev. T. C. Beasley. 2, G. J. Ablard. Extra 2, J. E. 

 Pilgrim. 3, A. Skiuner. Extra 3, H C. Holloway. 4. Rev. T. C. Beasley. 

 Extra 4, W. Lumb. I'^iC, W. s. Smith, A. J, Roberta, A. Skinner, W. I.nmh. he, 

 G. Johnson A Co. c, J. Hallas. Any other Variety. -Bkc/c or Doe,— I, R. 

 Buffham (Silver Cream). 2. J. Hallas iMlver Cream). 8, G. Johnson 4 Co. 

 (Pure Wild). 4, Schofleld & Barrett, he, C. King (Patagonian). Selling 

 CLlLSp,—Lop-earti only.— Price not to exceed 30s.— 1, ■'. Hallas. 2, G. Johnson 

 and Co. 3, Schotield & Barrett Extra 3, H. Kendrick. W. Wharton. 4, J. 

 Dickson. Extra 4. G. Ostler. I'dc. W. Andrews, fic, T. Bailey, inn.. T. Wood, 

 Jun., R. Madgwick. C. H. Blmohard. C. King, J Barker, c, S. Hall. Seluno 

 Class.— Jny variety except Lop-ears —Price not to exceed 20s.— 1, H. Kendrick. 

 2, T. Myton (Angora). Extra 2, H. E. Gdbert (Belgian Hare). 3, Foster and 

 Chambers (Dutchl. Extra 3. J. Barker (Himalayan). 4, W. Lnmb. Extra 4, 

 J. R. Jeasop, J. Hallas (Dutch). li)ic, Mrs. J. Foster. G. Johnson & Co. he, 3. 

 Hallas (Himalavau), G. H. Whilelaui, A. Lund, J. M. Atkinson, J. H. Hedley. 

 Heaviest.— Biic'fc or Doe.— I and 2, J. Brown. 3, T. Myton. 4. R. Little. 

 Points Prize, tor the winner of the moat prizes in the Rabbit Classes, accord 

 ing to Schedule, awarded to Mr. J. Hallas, Hud'lerslield. 



CATS.— Tabby.— .Vrtte or Female.— I and Three Cups, E. Baxter. 2, A. 

 Richardson. 3, F. Vivian, vhc, A. Cork. )iC, F. W. Deniaon. C. D. Stephens, 

 c, J. Reeves, A. Shaw. Long-haired. -iliatc or Female,— I, C. E. Berry. 



Pigeons. — Pigeons : Capt. N. Hill, Mr. F. Gresham. Babbit i : 

 Mr. E. S. Smith, Mr. W. Alliaon, Mr. R. Dobson. Cats : Mr. 

 W. G. Waters. 



LONGEVITY OF BIRDS. 



In connection with the remarks under the above heading in 

 last week's Journal, I wiah to record an instance of a cage-bird 

 which had attained the age of twenty years. The bird appeared 

 well and hearty when I saw it a month ago, exhibited no signs 

 whatever of old age, and ia as free from scaly covering upon its 

 shins and feet aa a two-year-old bird. It is in possession of its 

 vocal powers, of compact pluma»e, full of vigour and spirit, and 

 ia allowed usually to leave the cage at meal times to peck at the 

 crumbs upon the table, when after going through the usual 

 familiar performance of hopping upon the forefinger and feeding 

 from the lips of its owner, with now and then a fussy chirping, 

 chattering, and sparring with partly extended wings, the bird 

 at length flies back to its wiry abode— the aame, and only one, 

 which it has contented itself in for so many years. The bird (a 

 Mealy Mule, bred from a Goldfinch and Canary hen) belongs to a 

 gentleman residing in the locality of St. John's Wood, London, 

 who has had the bird in his possession since it was bred and 

 reared in Derby by myaelf.— Geo. J. Barnesdy. 



DoKKiNG Poultry Show. — The following subscriptiona have 

 been promised towards a cup for the beat pen of Dark Dorkings 

 at Dorking Poultry Show next December :— The town of Dorking, 

 i'.5 5s.; Iiord Tumour, £1 Is.; T. C. Burnell, £1 Is.; Rev. H. 

 Hamilton, 10s. Gd ; Rev. E. Bartrum, 10s. dd.; R. W. Beachey, 

 10s. 6d. ; Henry Lingwood, 10s. 6d, ; F, Parlelt, 10s. 6d, ; John 

 White, 10s. Gd, Total, £10 10s. 



APIARIAN NOTES. 



What prospects so far can our bee-keepers report aa to the 

 coming season? In former years there has generally been a 

 note of hope aounded forth at this time of year, arising from the 

 favourable character of the winter or the earliness of spring, 

 and the promising condition of hives. Not so this year, it is to 

 be feared. The mortality among my hives has been great, partly 

 owing to illness, which prevented me from protecting them 

 during the severe cold we had in January, whence two hives 

 perished with plenty of food in them. In ordinary years tha 

 cold would not have killed them, but their numbers were small 

 owing to the wretched weather in October last, which prevented 

 them from pollen-gathering, and so from breeding largely as 

 they uBually do in the autumn. For this reason doubtless several 

 other hives either have failed or are gradually dwindling away; 

 for the spring so far has been as diaas'rously against bees as waa 

 the autumn. Seven inches and a half of ram have been reported 

 to have fallen within a month, which meana 750 tons of water 

 to the acre above the average ; and this means gloomy skies, no 

 flowers and no pollen, not to speak of cold winds and snows. 

 In abort, a gloomier prospect for bee-keepers in the west of 

 England has rarely been known in the memory of living man. 

 Ia it better elsewhere? I do not recollect half a dozen daya 

 this quarter on which my bees have been able to collect pollen 

 for more than an hour or two, and that at great risk, so that I 

 have not a single stroag hive out of ten with which I began the 

 winter. It ia now the 20th of March on which I am writing. 



There can be no doubt that all hives everywhere will require 

 the utmost attention and coaxing to be ready for effective service 

 when summer comes. It may be we shall have a good year at 

 last. Bee-keeping has been a great diaoouragemeut these many 



