418 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



[ May 35, 1876. 



Names of Plants (Miss 0.). — Veronica Berpyllifolia. (Constant Efader). 

 AmelaDchier canadensis. (C IF.). — Pellaga flexuosa, Adiantam tenenun. 

 (O. B.).— Aeperala odorata, Sweet-scented WoodrooJ. (J. P.).— We cannot 

 name Iiom leaves only. 



POULTEY, BEE, ANH PIGEON OHEONIOLE. 



BOOTED BANTAMS. 



BY REGINALD S. S. WOODGATE. 



We have seen at exhibitiona and other places White, Black, 

 and Mottled Booted Bantams, bat we have never seen any of 

 the two latter colours to equal good specimens of the White 

 variety. They are a very old-fashioned breed, and specimena 

 are often to be found in out-of-the-way villages, where the stock 

 has been allowed to degenerate until it has lost many of its chief 

 characteristics, but still unmistakeable proofs of the real Booted 

 Bantam remain. It is the Mottled or Speckled variety which is 

 generally so found, and we often fancy that many of them may 

 have been the result of a cross with a White or some other 

 Bantam, for the leg-feathering is generally the last thing to 

 breed out, and so has remained to stamp the descendants with 

 boota and leg-feathering. We are quite aware that the Speckled 

 variety haa been imported with very tolerably good show points, 

 aa have the Whites, but we think they are really very old 

 English customers, and were the British Bantam long before 

 Sebrights, or Game, or Black Rose-combed Bantams were 

 known. When classes are given for them they generally muster 

 very fairly well ; and with a little more trouble to circulate the 

 Bchedules which contain such classes among the fanciers and 

 admirers of the breed, we think many more entries would be 

 found, for aa a rule they are more to be looked for aa lawn pets 

 in country homea than in the exhibitors' pena. It is but sorry 

 work to enter them in a Bantam class at a general exhibition ; 

 for Pekins or Sebrights often, just because they are Pekina or 

 Sebrights, irrespective of merits, sweep away everything. We 

 often really wonder Bantam exhibitors do not protest against 

 those ever-winning Sebrights always taking the prizes. It does 

 not matter whose they are or where they come from, or if there 

 is only one pen in the class, but a commonly decent pair will 

 walk off with first prize or cnp ; and let a pair of Booteds be 

 absolutely perfect they generally find one of those " highly com- 

 mended" cards at most as their reward. We could name one 

 judge in Lancashire who is kindest with them, and acts the 

 most fairly of all judges we know towards them, while we can 

 name a southern one who confesses he has no partiality for the 

 breed. 



They certainly make most amusing pets and look extremely 

 pretty on lawns, and from the immense amount of leg-feather- 

 ing they rarely do much injury in the garden. They have 

 interesting little ways and can be taught easily to jump up to 

 the windows to be fed, couBequently they make great pets for 

 children ; and we know of two or three little nursery establish- 

 ments whose live stock are Booted Bantams, for they soon get 

 SO tame and feed from the children's hands. 



For exhibition the Whites should be as pure in colour as 

 possible, and the Blacks as deep in colour and glossy in plumage 

 aa can be obtained, both of which latter points are difficult to 

 get, for the Blacks are in the habit frequently of coming quite 

 rusty coloured. The markings of the speckled or mottled are 

 a matter of taste, as much as they are in the Houdan. We have 

 Been them with a deep chocolate ground and white spangles, 

 which made a pretty contrast. They should have upright single 

 combs in our opinion ; and though sometimes we come across 

 the double combs, still we think by them the breed loses much 

 of its character, and often are inclined to think they result from 

 a cross at some time or other with a Rose-combed White, for 

 we can find no record of the old English Booted Bantam being 

 roflo-combed, though we hear from many places, especially in 

 the east of England, of a single-combed variety having existed 

 there for very many years. They should bo as small as possible; 

 but we are afraid there is a tendency to breeding them too 

 large. We have tried in-and-in breeding, but find we get them 

 no smaller — in fact, if anything, rather larger. They should be 

 compact in shape and not squirrel-tailed, which generally shows 

 a cross with the Japaneae for the sake of the comb in the first 

 instance. We conclude they should be heavily leg-feathered 

 and booted, and have long hocks touching the ground. We 

 like them short on the leg, but not too short so as to look like 

 Dumpies. The White variety requires to be shown very clean 

 and pure in colour for any hope of success. In mating them 

 for breeding choose the best-coloured specimens and heaviest 

 feathered. If not wanted for the chicken shows we should re- 

 commend the chickens being hatched in June, as more likely to 

 keep them small. The older a bird gets the heavier does the 

 leg and foot-feathering come, and so we generally prefer not to 

 exhibit them until after their first moult. The White cocks 

 are much inclined to turn yellow from the sun, as all white 

 poultry do ; but if kept in the shade they will, if of a good strain, 

 remain white through the whole summer. 



The chickens are hardy, but being so very small when hatched 

 require a gentle mother. They make good sitters and nurses 

 themselves, but their long hocks and feet-feathering make them 

 liable to roll the eggs from their nests when leaving them to 

 feed. The chickens are hatched as white aa the driven snow, 

 and afford a peculiar contrast to Silkies, which so often hatch a 

 deep buff and feather so very white. The eggs range in colour 

 from pale buff to a delicate cream colour, and often are quite 

 white. They are certainly large for the size of the birds. 



Booted Bantams seem to bear confinement well, and a few 

 feet of smooth lawn would be much better for them than a 

 larger and rougher run, for on long grass or rough soil they very 

 frequently break off the long feet feathers, and wear their hocks 

 down by the friction. For town Bantams, where something 

 quaint ia appreciated, we strongly recommend Black Booted if 

 they can be procured good, and there ia no reason then why 

 the amateur with the smallest back garden in the smokiest 

 town should not come to the front in the exhibition ranks. 

 The Whites would answer the purpose equally as well, but they 

 would require washing for exhibition ; and although it is the 

 simplest thing possible to wash a bird, many will not believe it, 

 and if they did would not care for the trouble, which is certainly 

 considerable. We may state for the benefit of those who read 

 this Journal and yet do not see the Crystal Palace schedule, 

 that that Society gives a class for the White Booted variety. 



A NATIONAL POULTRY CLUB. 



I.N your issue of Thursday last I find your reply to my question 

 as to your ideas of a national poultry club. I can now see quite 

 clearly the force of your reasoiaing, but I think you give too 

 much weight to the effect of these poultry clubs. Tou say, 

 " We think that he would never attain his objects unless he had 

 his branch club;" but I think all must acknowledge that, con- 

 sidering the time Leghorns have been exhibited in England, 

 they have come wonderfully forward without the aid of a club 

 (for which Brown Leghorn fanciers must thank Mr. Kitchin), 

 and I do not doubt but that we could eventually have succeeded 

 in getting a definite standard and classes at most shows, but it 

 would certainly have taken a great deal more time, more trouble, 

 and more expense than it will now do. I personally am quite 

 willing to go in for a national club formed in the way you pro- 

 pose, or, in fact, for a national club formed in any way so long 

 as it will do its work satisfactorily ; but I see diiSculties in the 

 way of your scheme, although they might soon disappear if the 

 club was really started. My idea of a national poultry club ia 

 one with branches or auxiliaries in every town or district ; these 

 branches to have control of the show for that town or district, 

 and to look after its immediate interest. For instance, we 

 might have a branch for South Northumberland and North 

 Durham, with head-quarters in Newcastle, and our show might 

 in rotation visit all the towns in the district, and with the sup- 

 port of all the fanciers in the district there would be no fear of 

 any loss arising. E very district might do the same, and although 

 it would mean the extinction of one-half, if not two thirds, of 

 the present shows, that would be no evil, but good. We should 

 then have fewer complaints of defaulting shows, for the public 

 would support those chiefly which were connected with the 

 national club. A subscription of is. 6d. or 5s. per annum would 

 draw a host of members, doing away with any need of donations, 

 which now give no control over the way the money is spent or 

 mis-spent. Each member of the branches would be a member 

 of the central club, and delegates would be appointed to represent 

 branches at the club meetings. So that the individual varieties 

 might not be neglected, it would be a wise plan to have a com- 

 mittee of the national club to look after each variety, and that 

 would attain the object you seek. This, then, is a rough sketch 

 of what I think would work well and be of great utility to the 

 poultry world generally ; and although it would probably at 

 first tread upon some people's corns, yet with an earnest desire 

 for the general good all difficulties would disappear. As I said 

 before, I am willing to join any real national club. I hope some 

 of our leading fanciers will take the matter up, and then the 

 thing will aucceed ; but if it haa to be started by the small fry — 

 well, it wo'n't be started. — Edwabd Brown, 24, Oloucester Boad, 

 Neiocastle-on-Tyne. 



RUGBY SHOW OF PIGEONS, &c. 



This was held at the Workmen's Club, Castle Street, Rugby, 

 on the 17th and ISth inst., when the following prizes were 

 awarded ; — 



PleEONS.-PooTEEB.-Cocfc or Hen.— 1, S. BaVer. 2 and 8, W. Nottage. 

 CiKRlsas-Cock or Hen.-\ and 2. H. \rardley. 3, T. Wheeler. Biebs.-CmS 

 ori/en.— land 2. H. Yardlcy. 3, Capt. Troancer. Titmblebs.— Lon{l-/acf<(.— 

 Cock or Sen.-l, A. McKenzie. 2, K. Woods. 3, F. W. Jennings. Owls.— 

 Enalish.—Cock or Hen.—i. Extra, and 2. J. Barnes. 3. R. Woods. Tdrbits.— 

 (.■oct or Ht-n.-l and 3, R. Woods, -i. J. W. Smith, uhc. H. Yardley. Jacobins. 

 -Cock or Hen.—>, H. Yardley. 3 ,-ind S, W. NoltaRe. Deaooons.- Coc* or 

 hm.—\ and 2. E. Woods 3. A. McKenzie. vhc. F. W. Jennings, antweeps. 

 -ShorUaccd.-Cock or Uen.-l and 2, H. Yardley. 8, J. Mantell. Homing.— 

 Cock or Uen.-l and 3, H. W. Crosse. 2. T. Wheeler. Anit otbee \ AElEir.- 

 Cock or i/en.— 1, H. Yardley. 2, II. W. Webb (fnllbacU). 3, W. Nottage. vhc 



