May 28, 1874. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE 4ND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



433 



tain such a cross. By referring to my original article in " The 

 Poultry Book " it will be seen my remarks on the breeding of 

 hybrids distinctly state the male parent to bo the " comiuou 

 wild Pheasant" of our coverts, a bird most widely different from 

 the " Golden Pheasant cook," for which reaeou it may prevent 

 much useless trouble to fanciers if you permit this correction 

 to be inserted. — Edwakd Hewitt. 



ACCKINGTON POULTRY SHOW. 



This was held on the 21st. The entries in every section were 

 excellent; those in the department on which we write proving 

 a thorough appreciation of the regulations of the Society. The 

 pens were placed against the walls, backs to the wind, and 

 stretched a considerable distance round the field, the only mis- 

 take being that the fronts had no doors, but were ordinary wire 

 netting, and the birds were difficult to handle in consequence. 

 Of single Game cocks the first three were Brown Reds of such 

 quality as is rarely found together; and although the cnp- 

 wiuner was fairly first, yet there was little to choose in the next 

 two, condition alone deciding. In hens Brown Reds were first 

 and third, and Black Red second ; the whole class being good, 

 and the first without doubt the best in the fancy. Local cocks 

 were not a good lot. In cock and hen Mr. Brierley won with 

 grand birds, both pairs being Brown Reds, and we may here 

 remark upon the almost entire absence of good Black-breasted 

 Reds, not alone here, but at all shows. It is high time the 

 breeders of this variety should bestir themselves, or this most 

 beautiful of all Game fowls will be lost to the fancy. In Any 

 other colour a good even pen of Duckwings was first, with Piles 

 of high quality second, the latter, however, being out of feather; 

 the third were smart Duckwings. The first-prize Dorkhigs 

 were very large and good in all points, and of the Dark variety; 

 the second being Silvers of good quality ; the third were Dark. 

 In Buff and Cinnamon Cochins the first were a good even pen, 

 the second also a fair pen, but the third had diseased feet ; and 

 it is with regret that we are called upon to record the fact of one 

 pen of otherwise magnificent birds were disqualified on account 

 of the bens' plumage being artificially stained, and so com- 

 pletely was this done that at first sight the whole of the Judges 

 fastened upon the pen as first-prize winners. [If our reporter 

 had stated the owner's name we would have published it,] A 

 nice pair of Partridge won first in the next class, Whites being 

 second, but the cock's plumage was rather yellow. The third 

 were also Partridge. Spanish did not come up to our expecta- 

 tions, some of the best birds being out of bloom. The first was 

 a good old pen ; second younger birds, fine in the quality, as also 

 the third ; the second cock being a little pink over the eyes, but 

 the combs were better in both cases than the first. Brahmas 

 good; Messrs. Crabtree to the front, closely pressed by a capital 

 pair from Sheffield. Hamburghs not numerous but good. In 

 Golden-pencils was the most perfect cock we have seen of late, but 

 hen not so good as that in the second-prize pen, the second cock 

 also being of high quality. As regards quality the above re- 

 mark will apply also to the Silver-pencils, but the first-prize 

 pen was considered superior to the Goldeus, and awarded the 

 Hamburgh cup ; the second-prize pen contained a hen that 

 ought to be mated with the first-prize cock. Silver-spangles a 

 very good lot, the hens, especially, being good, large, and fault- 

 lessly spangled. Of Golden-spangles a slashing pair were first, 

 the hen being perfect; second was a most exquisitely-marked 

 cock, but the hen not so good ; and third a grand-looking pair. 

 In Blacks the first three were very good, the first standing a very 

 clear first. In French fowls Messrs. Walton won with their 

 faultless La Fleche, the second and third being Crcve-Cceurs, 

 some good Houdans having very bad feet. Polands were, first 

 Silver and second Gold, adult, and of splendid quality, while 

 the third were Goldens of last season, most superb in marking. 

 In the Variety class were, first White Malays, second Cuckoo 

 Cochins, and third Red Malays. In single Game Bantam cocks 

 were some birds of good quality, the cup-winner being a really 

 good all-round bird, except that he is a little wanting in colour 

 on the wing ; second one of the most perfect Game-shaped birds, 

 sound, plump, and firm, but sadly short of colour ; and third a 

 stylish bird, but rather long-bodied and flat-winged, and also 

 wanting in colour ; some splendid-coloured birds being only 

 highly commended from want of condition. In hens, any colour, 

 were first Black Reds, most perfect in colour, small, and gamey 

 in appearance ; second capital-coloured Brown Reds, and third 

 also Brown Reds. Pen 525, very highly commended, were far 

 too large, and 531 had one trimmed round the eyes. 



The Local single cocks were of fair quality. In Black-Red 

 Game Bantams the first were very good, the hen being one of 

 the best ever seen ; second and third being also good even pens. 

 In the next class the first and second were Duckwings, the first 

 very small and stylish, the second losing only in size, while the 

 third-prize pen contained one of the smallest and most stylish 

 Game Bantam cocks in the Show (a Pile), but the hen was too 

 large for him. In the Variety class good Blacks won first and 

 third, and Pekins second. It strikes us as scarcely fair to offer 



so many prizes for Game Bantams and throw the whole of the 

 other varieties into otte class, a pohcy which, if the entries be 

 any guide, is duly appreciated upon its merit by the exhibitors. 

 Turkeys were a good lot, as also were the Geisc, but the pens 

 might have been larger %vith advantage. In Aylesbury Backs 

 Mr. Walker won with a large pen of good quahty, the second- 

 prize Duck being down behind, but the pen otherwise good. 

 Roirens large, good, and well shown, the winners in the Variety 

 class beingChilian, Pintail, White-faced, and Brazilian Whistlers. 

 The greatest surprise to us was the condition and feather in which 

 the birds were shown, which were such aa we have never before 

 seen at this time of year. 



riGEONS. 

 The entries were good in most of the classes. Carrier cocka 

 were good in most cases, but some showed overwork and want 

 of rest. A nice Black was placed first, Dun second, and Black 

 third; and in hens the first was a grand bird in all points, the 

 second a Dun of good quality but a little out of sorts, while the 

 third was a very heavy Black. In Tumblers first and third were 

 Almonds, and second Kites. In Barhs the first-prize Blacks 

 only just dropped-in in time for the awards. The whole of the 

 winners were well-developed birds. Uwls were very poor, being 

 neither foreign nor English, but a kind of cross. In Pouters a 

 grand showy pair of Blues stood first, with Reds second, the 

 cock being good but the hen scarcely a good match in quality. 

 Fantails, a fair lot, with Twrbits not of high merit. The Dragoon 

 class was large, as usual, and Mr. Esquilant gave great satisfac- 

 tion to the winners, but it is a question if he succeeded in the 

 same degree with those who owned the birds with unnatural- 

 coloured beaks, which he so justly left out in the cold. Of 

 Trumpeters were but three pairs, but these grand in all points. 

 In Jacobins the first and second were Keds, the third Black, 

 and the class very good. Nuns were good, the Rev. A. G. 

 Brooke to the front with good Blacks, a nice Red being third. 

 In Atitwerps the first were a capital pair of Short-faces, and 

 second Blue-Chequers of the Long-faced variety. In Magpies 

 Mr. Horner secured first and second honours with a Red and 

 Yellow of good colour and marking ; and in the Vai-iety class 

 the prizes were awarded to a Red Swallow, Ice, and Fairy 

 Swallow respectively. 



Babbits were exceedingly well placed in all classes, Messrs. 

 Banks & Irvine's Tortoiseshell does, so often in competition, 

 falling into their old places, as also the Angoras in the following 

 class, which were pretty good. Many of the Himalayan were 

 not good on the extremities, but the first-prize was a good 

 Rabbit, and the three Silver-Greys were well placed, the first 

 two being very even in colour and well silvered. In the Selling 

 class were first a Lop, and second a Silver-Grey. 



(Fro7n a Correspondent.) 

 Hamburghs. — Gold-pencilled cock and hen (three entries). — 

 First came a very showy cock with a perfect tail, mated with a 

 fair pullet rather mossy on her back. Second a good cock, with 

 the best pullet in the class. Third a good-bodied old cock, 

 bronzed-tailed, with a middUng pullet. Silver-pencilled cock 

 and hen (five entries). — The flrst-and-cup pen contained a splen- 

 did cock, the best of the season ; the pullet was a great draw- 

 I back. Second a good cock, but not so good in ears and tail as 

 I that which took the first prize, but mated with the best hen in 

 I the class. As a pen this was nearly equal to the first. Third 

 I cock, too grey in tail and inclined to yellow ; the pullet was too 

 gi'ey in markings. The h.c. pen was of average merit. Gold- 

 spangled (six entries).— First, the Haslingden cock was again to 

 the front, mated with a hen of splendid ground colour and large 

 spangles. Second, a well-marked cock of good colour, and a 

 nice pullet bright in colour. Third, a cock rather dark in bottom 

 of neck, but good in colour ; the hen nicely marked in body, but 

 wanting in stiipings in the neck. Pen 452, H.c, contained a well- 

 coloured cock, dark in hackle and breast, with coarse comb ; the 

 pullet being also too heavy. Pen 4.55, H.c, contained a fair hen, 

 though not so good aa she appeared to be at Haslingden, where 

 she won first, the canvas over the pen at Haslingden making her 

 appear much brighter than when shown in the full light. The 

 cock was very yellow in the neck. Silver-spangled (five entries). 

 — In the first-prize pen was a good cock in all respects, with a 

 nice hen. Second, the cock was rather dark in the thighs, with 

 a better hen than the first. Third, cock too light on the back ; 

 the hen short of marking in the neck. Pen 4GU, H.c, would no 

 doubt have been on the prize list but for the cock's comb being 

 lately carved ; it was a very nice pen. Pen 457, unnoticed, of 

 Ashton & Booth, would have run any of the pens closely, but the 

 cock's face was so very white. Black Hamburghs (six entries). 

 — First a grand cock, well grown and in good condition, with a 

 nice hen. Second, a good pen. Third, too little altogether in 

 bone, with a moderate hen. Pen 4G4, c, of N. Marlor, contained 

 the best hen in the class. 



Game.— CorS-.-I, S. Matthew, Stowmarket. 2. J. Fortune, Keighley. S, D. 

 Harloy, Fdmbursli. he, J. Hetoher, Stoneclongh ; W. Barker, Walsden (2); J. 

 Mason, Lancaster: €. \V. Brierley. Middlctou : J. F. Walton, KawtenBtal]. 

 Hen.— 1 and 2, C, W. Brierley, 3, .J. F, Walton, hr, T, P, Lyon, Lrvei-pool. 



