172 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Angust 19, 1876. 



We would advise the Committee to add Pigeons another year ; 

 with a judicious prize list they should pay their way well. 

 Judge. — Mr. Teebay. 



HETTON SHOW OF POULTRY, &c. 



The sixteenth annual Show was held in the Hetton Hall 

 grounds on the 11th inst. No place we have had the pleasure 

 of visiting in the county of Durham is equal to these grounds 

 for the purposes of a show and gala; and though Hetton is com- 

 paratively isolated, yet the number of visitors is immense, and 

 fortunately on the present occasion the weather was quite 

 enjoyable. The prize list had been improved in value, but 

 public notice not having been drawn to this fact, the entries 

 were not greatly in advance of those of last year, the entries in 

 all being 210. The pens were the substantial ones of the Society, 

 which, however, it would be well to discard for those of more 

 modern construction, which would occupy less room and present 

 a more pleasing and uniform appearance. 



There were two sections in poultry, one for old, and the other 

 for young birds. In Spanish the hens were very good, and cocks 

 moderate. Dorhings good ; but Cochins uncommonly so. In 

 Brahmas the hens were faulty, but cocks were well marked 

 and shapely. In Hamhurght most of the winners were really 

 good. In Polish first were a neat pair of White-crested Blacks, 

 and second and third Silvers ; the cocks in the latter very good. 

 Bantams were a very good section, some of the Game being 

 especially stylish and good. One pen in the old birds was dis- 

 qualified, a pullet being shown as a hen. Blacks were first and 

 second in the Variety class, and Nankins third. Many other 

 pens noticed. Ducks were a rare section for quality ; the first 

 in Eonens and Aylesbury very large. In the Variety Pintails 

 were first and second, and Teal third. In the Variety of poultry 

 first were Houdans, second Black Hamburghs, third Creve- 

 Cosurs. In chickens there were no entries for Spanish ; Dorkings 

 good. In Brahmas first were Dark and second Light, good and 

 well grown. In Hamburghs the Gold- pencils took the lead for 

 both quantity and quality, these being good in all respects. The 

 rest of the Hamburghs were but moderate. Game poor ; but 

 Bantams good in all sections; the first Black Reds in Game, and 

 first Black Rose-combed, about perfect. Of Polands one pen. In 

 the variety class Cochins won the prizes. 



In Pigeons only the Pouters, Almond Tumbers, first-prize 

 Jacobins, Dragoons, and the winners in the Variety class were 

 very good. In the latter class Silver Dun Antwerps and Ice 

 Pigeons won the prizes. 



Rabbits were in pairs, each having a division through the 

 pen. The Lops were good ; but the Variety class brought 

 nothing of note, the winners being Silver- Greys, which will, 

 however, be pretty good when out of the moult. 



Spanhh.— !3;act.— 1. T. P. Carver, Boroughbridge. 2, H. Dale, Old Ormsby 

 3, S. Hylten. Washington. 



DoRKiNOB.— 1, J. N. Lawson, Ryhope. 2. A. Buglasa. 



CncniNS.— 1. 2. and S. O. H. Procter. Durham. 



BRAnsiAS.— 1, ft. Moore, We8t Rainton. 2, T. P. Carver. 3. C. Venables, 

 ea^tle Eden. 



HiMBOROHS— noM^n-jprmsffii.— 1. T. P. Carver. 2, R. Keenlvside, Darling- 

 ton. 3. J. Hudson, Hi.ughton-le-Spring. 8ilver-i<pangled.-\, R. KeenlvHide. 



2. WellH & Sherwin, Rjpun. Qoldenipeneillfd,~\, T. P. Carver. 2. A. Mitchell. 

 Bishop Auckland. 3, J. N. LawBon. Silver-pfncUled.—\, h. Keenlyside. 2, 

 Davidson A Patterson. 3. J. Hndaon. 



Pounds.— 1. ,T. T. Proud. Bishop Auckland. 2 and 3, A. BuglasB. Carville. 

 Gamp, -~Red.—\, Davidson & PatterBon, Morpeth. 2, C. KidBon, Old Ormsby. 



3, C. Taylor, Ryhope. Any colour —1, A. BnglasB. 



Game Bantams —Bcrf.-l. T. Dowell. SunJerlanrt. 2. T. Clark. Sunderland. 

 3. Wells & Sherwin. ^7i|/ coiour.—l, T. Clark. 2, T.Oothard, Sunderland. 8, J. 

 DngiJale, Sunderland. 



Bant.ms.— /Inv varielv.—\. Wells S Sherwin. 2,B. Youll, Snnderland. 3, Rev. 

 J. G. Milner, Bishop Aucklaud. 



Docks -Rouen— \. T. P. Carver. 2. J. N. Lawson. 3, Rev. J. G. Milner. 

 Avlesbury.—l, F. E. Gibson. Middlcton Teesdale. 2, T. Scott, Coxhoe. 3. T. P. 

 Carver. Any vanely.—l, J. Johnson, Sunderland. 2, Rev. J. G. Milner. 3. 

 T. P. Carver. 



Any otheh Vakiktv.— I, Rev. J. G. Milner. 2,!T. P. Carver. 3, Wells and 

 Sherwic. 



CHICKENS. 



Dorkings.— 1, ,T. T. Proud. 2. Mrs. Clark. Hallgarth. 



Brahmas.— 1, F. E. Gibson. 2, T. P. Carver. 



HkVBT:Ronfi.— Golden gpan^ted —1 and 2, R. Keenlyside. Silver-spanaled.— 

 1, F. Ford. Heltm. Golden-peneilled.-l and 2, — Kidson. Bilver-pencilled.— 

 1 and 2, K. Keenlyside. 



Gamr.— /!''(/.- 1. C. Taylor, >^nj/ o^ft^r colour.-l, Davidson & Patterson. 2, 

 W. Alton. Philadelphia. 



Game BANTAMs.-Bcd.— 1, T. Dowell. 2, Q. Soartb, Houghton. Any other 



olour.—i, D. Troup, Moorslev. 



BiKTiUs— Any variety —l.'Wens & Sherwin. 2, T. P. Carver. 



PoLANDS.— 1. J. T. Proud. 



Any other Vabietv.— 1 and 2, G. H. Procter. 



PIfiEONS. 

 PonTERS.— 1, R. H. Blacklock. Sanderland. 2, W. Laidlow, Haswell. 

 Tdmblers.— 1. Wells & Sherwin. 

 Fantails.— 1. W. Laidlow. 2, J. T. Thompson. 

 Owi.s. — 1 and 2. R. Hall, Moorsley. 



TRi-MPETF.aB.— 1, Wells & Sherwin. 2, R. T. Magee, Helton. 

 B*RTis.— 1 and 2. Weils & Sherwin. 



ToHBiTs — I, G. Robinson, Sunderland. 2, A. Stokoe, Hallgarth. 

 ,Tac..uins.-1, R. S. Magee, 2, G. Wilson. Hetton. 

 Dkaooons.— 1, Wells & Sherwin. 2, R. Welsh, Durham. 

 Any otheb ViRiliy.— 1 and 2, Wella 4 Sherwin. 



RABBITS. 

 L op-EABED.— 1 and 2, J. S. Robinson, Darlington. 



Art other Fancy Bbf.bd.- 1. J. S. Robinson. 8, R, Crowther, Sunderland. 

 Common Breed.— 1, R. T. Day, Hetton. 



The Judge was Mr. E. Hutton, Pudsey. 



CAPTAIN HILL'S BANTAMS AND PIGEONS IN 



THEIR HOME AT EALING.— No. 2. 



Now, though possessing, as we have seen, valuable and rare 

 Bantams, it is as a Pigeon fancier that Captain Hill is chiefly 

 known. Like many amateurs who really love their birds, he is 

 only a winter, or occasional exhibitor. In judging of the number 

 of breeders of valuable Pigeons we must always remember that 

 first there is a large number of fanciers who will not show their 

 birds on any account, and these are among the truest fanciers, 

 and often hold a good social position. They are not smitten 

 with the love of prizes, and prefer having their pets at home 

 enjoying themselves, and they enjoying their pets. Then there 

 is another large class, who show occasionally and only in the 

 winter, who will not break their pairs or harrass their birds to 

 death by railway travelling, and of whose stock not one could be 

 said to be suffering from that cruel-man- caused disease "over- 

 shown." Among the latter class of fanciers and occasional ex- 

 hibitors is Captain Hill. 



Leaving the Bantams strutting about in their glory on the 

 sunny side of the buildings on the inside of the right angle, I 

 proceed to inspect the Pigeons which are, as one might eipect 

 so near London and away from the owners, kept shut up. The 

 stables are numbered, and as a rule may contain, for aught I 

 know, splendid cattle — here a match pair, there smart riding 

 horses, here ponies dear to children's hearts; but in Captain 

 Hill's stables the inhabitants are much more numerous, being 

 hundreds of Pigeons. Turning the key we enter, and I find 

 each stall wired-in, and with all the fittings up of a complete 

 Pigeon loft. It must be borne in mind, too, that in a London 

 or London-like mews there are rooms over the stable in which 

 the coachman and his family reside : these rooms are also de- 

 voted to and inhabited by Pigeons. But I am as yet at the 

 entrance of the stable. In two of the staUs are excellent Dra- 

 goons, some of the London, others of the Birmingham style, 

 happily and rapidly uniting and producing a better style — 

 namely, the composite style, or show Dragoon of the future. 

 Partisans of each extreme variety have shaken hands, each say- 

 ing, " Brother, brother, we were both in the wrong." London 

 brother saying, " I was wrong about that thick head and over- 

 large Carrier-look in my Dragoons." Birmingham saying, "Well, 

 my birds were a trifle too Skinnum-like, and were rather fit for 

 flyers than for the show pen." Captain Hill possesses excellent 

 Blue Dragoons, good Whites, and Reds and Yellows of Mr. 

 Betty's strain, forming altogether a fine sight. 



Passing the stalla I come to the loose box, which was full of 

 feeders. The harness room contains some invalids, particularly 

 a Black Carrier hen afflicted with that strange disease, the 

 meagrims— an affliction of the brain doubtless. The coach house 

 contains Pigmy Pouters. To these birds Captain Hill has de- 

 voted six years' study and experiment in order to breed them 

 to the standard colours of their larger brothers, together with 

 leg- feathering— in short, to make them perfect high-class Pouters 

 in miniature. In this endeavour, or rather in realising his 

 wishes, Captain Hill has, as yet, been only partially auccessfnl; 

 still, he can report progress. In the same loft— no, coach house 

 —I saw excellent Magpies and good Blue Carriers; also true 

 Antwerps, not Barbs-cum-Antwerps ; also Cumulets or White 

 Eyes, a variety of Pigeons which, for flying, Captain Hill thiuks, 

 from former outdoor experience of them, unequalled. It is a 

 German-bred bird, or probably from the Netherlands, and has 

 the finest, clearest pearl eye of any Pigeon, and hence its second 

 name. White Eye. 



Having gone through the ground-floor rooms— stalls, loose 

 box, saddle room, and coach house, I now ascend the staircase. 

 On the landing are numerous prize cards— trophies of victory. 

 Then comes the coachman's sitting room, where one would 

 expect to see the coachman's comely wife, with a baby in the 

 cradle, and two older children, one a boy making a chair mto 

 an imaginary carriage and pretending to take his sister out for 

 a drive : coachmen's children are specially given to this kind of 

 play. But no : no pouting wife, no noisy children there, but in 

 their place Pouters pouting from pleasure, not temper ; and 

 quiet Pigeon-pairs of juveniles in their " procreant cradles," as 

 Shakespeare calls the nests of " temple-haunting martlets." 

 Before me is a Red Pouter cock, seven in limb and nineteen in 

 length, with a wonderful crop and the darkest tail I CTer saw, 

 so stained with red that one would imagine it to be almost 

 possible to get a real red tail ; but that I suppose cannot be. 

 He is well matched to a hen of even darker body colour than his 

 own. I note, too, a Blue cock, a young bird perfectly marked, 

 and a Yellow of good colour; also a White hen, formerly Mrs. 

 Ladd's of Calne ; a Mealy hen second prize at the Palace, and a 

 grand Black cock and Mealy hen. I am amused with the room. 

 Over the fireplace, boiler and oven— that oven in which the 

 coachman's supper was to be kept hot, perchance a remnant of 



