228 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ Mai-ch 12, 1874. 



Boon be snuffed out. Every disappointed exhibitor will kick up 

 a row, and is bound to be supported. — F. C. Hass.\kd. 



BLACK BANTAMS. 



I AM sure all amateurs will be obliged to Mr. W. B. Arundel 

 for his effort to enlighten them on the above breed. It is quite 

 true that most of the books on jjoultry do not give suiHcient 

 practical information. I know of none, however, which does 

 not contain a fair description of the points of the various breeds, 

 and Mr. Arundel's paragraph does nothing more ; moreover, 

 it contains ideas which, if followed by amateiirs or anyone 

 else, will lead to certain disappointment, and be much more 

 likely to send them astray than assist them to breed and show 

 Black Bantams to perfection. After telling us that " the birds 

 of the variety should be black, and that the comb should be 

 double, and covered with small points on the top," &c., Mr. 

 Arundel proceeds to say that " the tail of the cock should be 

 carried upright, and the head carried well back towards the 

 tail ;" and again, a little further on, " The breast is round and 

 prominent, and is carried forward by the cock. The neck of the 

 cock is very taper, and is gracefully curved well back, so as to 

 bring the back of the head into close proximity with his tail." 

 This means to say that a Black Bantam should be in shape and 

 style similar to a Sebright or a Fantail Pigeon, and is entirely 

 an erroneous idea. The very best authorities say that a Black 

 Bantam should be a miniature Black Hamburgh — smart, com- 

 pact, and the tail carried away, rather drooping than otherwise; 

 and tlji3 has been substantiated, more especially in recent shows, 

 by Hewitt, Teebay, Baily, Dixon, Hodson, and other well-known 

 judges. I fear any amateur, taking Mr. Arundel's standard 

 for a guide, would find himself in the position mentioned by 

 that gentleman at the end of the first paragraph in the article 

 I have been quoting from, appearing in last week's Journal. — 



E. C.IMBEIDGE. 



NORTHAMPTON POULTRY SHOW. 



The spacious Corn Exchange at Northampton contained last 

 week one of the best collections of poultry ever brought together 

 in the district. The Show was exceedingly well arranged, and 

 ■with the exception that Aylesbury and Kouen Ducks should 

 always have separate classes, and might be shown in pairs, 

 there was very little to complain of in the prize schedule. The 

 exhibits of every kind considerably exceeded 1100 pens, which 

 leads to a remark worthy of attention. Of poultry alone about 

 sixty pens were empty, and it was repeatedly asserted by several 

 exhibitors— and we have not any reason to doubt the correct- 

 ness of the statement — in several instances only a portion of the 

 poultry was deUvered in time for adjudication, out of a number 

 of pens forwarded by the several owners into the hands of the rail- 

 way companies at one and the same time ; in fact, some half-dozen 

 pens were delivered at the Exchange so late as 6.25 p.m. on the 

 flay of the judging, and it is quite possible others may have 

 arrived (unknown to ourselves), at even a later hom-, for consign- 

 ments were coming-in at intervals during the whole of Tuesday, 

 the day for judging. This is certainly not as it should be, and 

 railway officials are to be much blamed for so unjustifiable a 

 . detention, as from the fact that the judging did not commence 

 until considerably past midday on the "Tuesday, poultry if con- 

 signed by an early train from any part of the kingdom on the 

 Monday, should have reached its destination long before the 

 time fixed for the adjudications. 



It has of late been a somewhat general remark that DorJiings 

 prove very small classes, and it again held good at Northamp- 

 ton, for with the exception of the prize birds, these classes were 

 decidedly indifferent. The second-prize hen was an extra- 

 ordinarily good Silver-Grey, but not a single bird (cock or hen), 

 of White Dorkings was entered. As a kind of compensation, 

 the Coc/i i« classes proved one of the grandest collections seen 

 for many years past. In both cocks and hens of the Buffs these 

 classes were an exhibition of themselves — so good, indeed, 

 that the highly-commended pens would have proved prize- 

 winners at shows generally. The cup Buff hen is one that 

 would, once seen, scarcely be forgotten, being exhibited in a 

 most trying competition, but possessing character and colour 

 as nearly faultless as it is possible for the most fastidious ama- 

 teur to conceive. The Partridge Cochins were also most praise- 

 worthy, but it was a matter of regi-et to fiud a decidedly roupy 

 hen entered in this class. It is unjust to other exhibitors to 

 send them when thus affected. White Cochins were few but 

 very creditable. Although so late in the season, the collection 

 of Dark Brnhmas was unusually good, the clear plumage of the 

 cocks and the lovely pencilling throughout of the hens being 

 subjects of general congratulation. The Light Brahmas, though 

 not equal to the Dark, were praiseworthy ; but it was an evident 

 cruelty to overshow the inmates of one or two pens in the way 

 they had been. It may bring increasing notoriety to the owner, 

 but it should not be forgotten it is a lingering death to the bird. 

 The French classes were well filled throughout, and it was 



pleasing to fiud La Fleche fowls repeatedly among the winners. 

 Spanish fowls, of which in both their own classes and the 

 Selling classes there was a superabundance, were of extra- 

 ordinary excellence, and it may be years before so many first- 

 class specimens at such astonishingly low prices again meet 

 the wishes of intending purchasers. The quality of some of 

 even those Spanish fowls in the SeDing classes would secure 

 favourable returns at most poultry shows. Black Red Game 

 fowls proved not nearly equal in quaUty to Brown Beds, which 

 were, on the contrary, of very superior quality. The cup for 

 Game was secured by a most excellent Brown Red cock, shown 

 in a condition so good as to attract the notice of all who saw it. 

 Hamhiirghs vrere generally good, the cup being given to an ex- 

 traordinarily well-mooned Golden-spangled cock of exceedingly 

 pure ground, colour. 



-Although three dozen entries competed in the Game Bantam 

 cock class, it was a remarkable feature that scarcely any of the 

 best specimens, which were plentiful, was in anything ap- 

 proaching show condition, the listless manner in which they 

 stood proving how sadly they had been overtaxed by continuous 

 exhibition. Some of the best of Black Bantams were shown, 

 also a few Silver-laced worthy of especial mention. A jet 

 black Japanese Bantam cock, well shown and recently imported, 

 deserves especial mention, being a most unique specimen. Per- 

 haps one of the most notable features of the Show was the 

 entry of Silver and Golden-spangled Polands, than which a 

 richer collection has rarely been offered to public view. 



The immense entries in the Selling classes of varieties of the 

 highest character, the whole of which appeared to be in robust 

 health, and, consequently, excellent breeding condition, caused 

 the sales to be very numerous, as well as satisfactory to the 

 purchasers. Every attention was paid by the indefatigable 

 Secretary and Committee to the wants of the poultry under 

 their charge, and their courteous attention to the incessant 

 inquiries of those desirous of possessing wished-for pens was 

 iinwearying. The weather also proving favourable, the Show 

 was a most successful one. 



EABBIT.S. 

 The Rabbits were well arranged and managed in Turner's ex- 

 cellent pens, sweet hay, oats, and carrots being supplied in pro- 

 fusion ; and though the entries were not nearly so numerous as 

 those of last year, yet 115 good specimens are not a bad display. 

 Taken in all, this was one of the best collections seen of late. 

 Mr. Eayson was advertised as Judge, but in his absence Mr. 

 Hutton officiated. There were four cups offered for competition, 

 as also three prizes of 20s., 10s., and 5s. in eac'a class. Two 

 classes with one cup were set apart for Lops, but in point of 

 numbers they were comparatively a failure, there being only 

 thirteen entries in all, but the quality was quite as high as is 

 possible. In bucks a grand Sooty Fawn was first, the length 

 being 22 J by 4 J in width; the second being a Fawn 21 J by 4i ; 

 and third a Blue, 21 J by 4J ; the only other Rabbit in the class 

 receiving a very high commendation. Does were a grand Tor- 

 toiseshell, 22 by 41, large, of nice quality of ear and head, with 

 a large well-formed dewlap ; the second being also a Tortoise- 

 shell, much better in colour, something shorter in ear, but com- 

 paratively defective in dewlap ; and the third Black-and-white, 

 ; but a little too gay in marking. The point cup was won by Mr. 

 Banks. Angoras were very good ; the first a mass of fleecy wool 

 and well shown ; the second and third being good in that respect, 

 but not so large. No. 040, an immense doe, was not up to the 

 mark in fur. Himalayans were a very large entry and some of 

 tliem well marked, while many were too mousey on the feet to 

 succeed in the show-pen, though the winners may be considered 

 good average specimens. Dutch were not so numerous, but 

 mostly mentioned. The first prize went to an almost perfect 

 Blue-and-white doe, very small and smart, winning the cup 

 against the Himalayans. Second came a 'Tortoiseshell buck, 

 quite as perfect in marking, but large ; and third a neat small 

 Fawu-aud-white. Silver-Greys were an extraordinary class, 

 whether as regards entries or quality; and no grander sight 

 have we ever seen of this variety of Rabbit, scarcely one bad one 

 being shown, and two extra prizes were allowed by the Society. 

 The winning Silver-Grey Rabbits were most beautifully sUvered 

 throughout, while many most perfect in body but a httle darker 

 on the head were highly commended. The fourth cup was 

 awarded here. 



Many cheap Rabbits were shown in the Selling class, and the 

 prizes were awarded to a Tortoiseshell first, a Lop-eared buck ; 

 second, an Angora; third, also a Lop. Three good Rabbits won 

 in the Local class, the first-prize winner being a good Sooty 

 Fawn Lop, 21i by 4}, but a little wanting in condition; second 

 an Angora, and third a Silver-Grey. 



[From a Corrcs2>ondcni.) 



Again Northampton has succeeded in forming a splendid 



exhibition of Babbits; not so large as the last certainly, but, 



notwithstanding, nearly equal to it for quality. 



I Lop-ears, Self-colours (only five entries). — The chief and iu- 



I deed sole feature of this class was the first-prize winner — a 



