September 2, 1373. ] 



J00RN4.L OP HOariOULTURB AND OOTIA.GE aiRDENER. 



211 



Bnfl CoohinB, White Cochins, Partridge Cochins, White Leg- 

 horuH, Diirkings, Cruvea, IlnudaiiH, and specimens of most 

 hreeds. The Cloves and Cochins struck us most, they looked bo 

 grand on those green rims. The IjegUorns, too, seemed graceful 

 and aristocratic, and of snowy whiteness. Wo can but congra- 

 tulate Mr. E. E. Fowler on the perfiotiou to which he seems 

 breeding this variety. We passed on from these enclosed yards 

 to another meadow, and there were young stock of all breeds of 

 all ages, of all colours, enjoying unrestricted freedom on the 

 richest of Aylesbury meadow land. Those birds must have a 

 joyous life — good food, good water, and free liberty. When 

 taken up for the exhibition basket, or to go to a fresh home 

 wherever it may be, we fancy they must have a different life, 

 and one not by any means so enjoyable as at Aylesbury. 



Next we came to the rick-yards. More Bucks, more Geese, 

 more poultry, and the Turkeys. Bronze American, Cambridge 

 gobbling under the corn ricks — scratching in that paradise of 

 poultry yards, growing, fattening, and thriving on the best of 

 foods and in the happiest manner. We passed on again to 

 another field where were moveable houses, and here we found 

 pullets of all breeds. There were Cochins and French by 

 dozens, each one looking better in condition than the last, and 

 in sounder feather. Among such a troop we should have had 

 no idea how to pick out the best half dozen ; and then, finally, 

 we went to the enclosed, roofed-ia, straw-littered pens, where 

 were the prize and exhibition Ducks and Geese for which Mr. 

 Fowler has made his name so famous. We longed to know the 

 secrets of blanching those Aylesburys' bills, of putting the huge 

 weights on those Embden Geese, but we asked no questions. 

 We revelled in their grandeur, and went away satisfied, and we 

 believe we may say any others who go to Aylesbury may, 

 with Mr. Fowler's permission, enjoy the pleasures that we 

 did, and we guarantee they will not be disappointed. When 

 we had seen all we have spoken of, and much more besides, 

 we had not seen all, for Mr, Fowler keeps other birds in other 

 homesteads ; but we had no time to go to them, and, in fact, 

 we had seen enough, for we had seen the greater part, and 

 were able to realise the immense scale on which the Prebendal 

 poxiltry farms were worked. We cannot help adding here that 

 those who go to Mr. Fowler to replenish their stock, or obtain 

 fresh blood, do uot receive specimens weakened by overshowing, 

 or whose parents have been made sickly from the same cause, 

 for their owner does not believe in that practice, consequently 

 the cockerels and pullets coming from these yards are strong, 

 and lusty, and tine. Before we left we were shown the plate, 

 and a goodly lot there was, for Mr. Fowler has won champion 

 silver trophies with his Shorthorns as well as with his Ducks 

 and poultry; but we could but note the great difference between 

 the poultry plate of some years back and that of the present 

 day, for Mr. Fowler showed us massive salvers, and dishes, and 

 jugs, whereas now so long as it is a cup it does not seem to 

 matter how paltry the article may be. We saw the other day a 

 cup sent out the size of a wine-glass and as slender as tissue 

 paper, two tiogers could have squeezed into any shape, and yet 

 this was a i''3 3s. prize. If we are not to compete in these days 

 for trophies like those of olden times, let us have instead good 

 cash prizes, aud a champion cup or two for the best pens in 

 the exhibition, or at least be allowed to choose other articles 

 equivalent in price but more useful in themselves than the 

 cheap deceptive cups of the present day. This is digression 

 from Aylesbury, but the ideas flashed across us when we saw 

 Mr. Fowler's plate won in bygone years. We have not forgotten 

 that there is another rising poultry establishment at Aylesbury 

 which bids fair to do great things, but Mr. Fowler had so much 

 to show us that we could not get to Mrs. Acton Tindal's at this 

 visit, and must, all well, make another chapter of that in weeks 

 to come. When we had done Mr. Fowler's poultry establish- 

 ment, and seen all the waterfowl, we had a hasty peep at the 

 cattle and the steam ploughs and such like, and then it was 

 time to go. We only had to walk down the gardens to find 

 ourselves on the platform of the station, and so with a glorious 

 blush roEe bud as a souvenir, picked from that charming old- 

 fashioned garden, and with the pleaeantest recollections of the 

 Willow Bank hospitality, we, fcr the time, bade adieu to Ayles- 

 bury. — W. 



CATALOGUES. 



I READ with pleasure your contributor " W.'s " notes on cata- 

 logues at shows. Exhibitors may well resent what seems such 

 indifierence to their just claims, and the more when the remedy 

 ia so easy. If secretaries would keep on hand a stock of stamped 

 wrappers, and as they transcribe the entries from the usual 

 form into their books, also write the exhibitor's name and ad- 

 dress on one of them, then file them, and when the catalogues 

 are ready hand a suiiicient number of them along with the ready- 

 addressed wrappers to a boy, plenty of whom are usually to be 

 found at hand on such occasions, telling him at the same time 

 to post them when finished, the transaction is done. 



But with regard to the A and B entries I cannot agree with 

 " W." Such classing does not show that entries have been 



carelessly kept, but it does show that they have been taken after 

 date. This is much more generally the fault of exhibitors than 

 secretaries, aud tliese last have good cause of complaint. As an 

 example I may mention that at our local show, of which I am 

 secretary, the entries at the date of closing amounted to 170 ; 

 two days after I had received nearly 'i'M more. The amount of 

 extra labour thus entailed by the whole work having to be done 

 in such a short space of time any secretary has a right to com- 

 plain of, as it is impossible it can make any difference to an ex- 

 hibitor entering three or four days sooner. But secretaries are 

 at the mercy of exhibitors, as it is easy to say, " Stick to your 

 date," but then what sort of a show have you ? The fact is, if 

 the secretary has the matter at heart he must take them, and 

 when this is the case it is all the harder that his love of the 

 fancy should be the loophole by which his brother fanciers take 

 advantage of him. — J. E. Spknce, Broughloii Fernj. 



MOKE NOTES ON THE BIRMINGHAM SUMMER 



SHOW. 



In the beautiful grounds of Aston Park we found the Summer 

 Show this year. Such a glorious Eden after last time. We look 

 back with terror at St. James's Hall, bristling with scaffolding 

 poles, smelling of paint, aud varnish, and glue, as it did last 

 September when the Summer Show was there. We must con- 

 gratulate Mr. Watts on his trysting place this season, and on 

 the " quality " he gathered together. He and his attendants 

 were as civil and courteous as ever ; just as last time their show 

 was conspicuous for the kindness and courtesy all exhibitors 

 i received. There was, however, one drawback, and that a serious 

 I one — we could not find out when we were there on the first day 

 I who won the cups and extras, and to this hour we are perfectly 

 in the dark as to who are the happy owners of the "silver- 

 plated tea services." It was a mistake not adding these awards 

 in the list of prizes. 



We found the Dorkings splendid classes, and the quality much 

 superior to last year. The winning cockerels were fine, and 

 deserved their places. Messrs. Burnell and Beachywill, we 

 I fancy, be strong exhibitors this year. The winning Coloured 

 pullet was a well-matured bird. The second we did not care 

 for; she was rather poor in colour, and bad not the best of toes. 

 The third (Darby) was much superior, being of splendid colour, 

 and when more matured will make a rattling bird. 19 (Beachy) 

 a splendid pullet, but a shade faulty in feet. The Silver-Greys 

 and Whites were good. Mr. Stratford's third cockerel we thought 

 especially promising. We were glad to see the Silver-Greys, 

 too, so looking-up and of such promise. 



Cochins were beautiful, and with the exception of the Blacks 

 made large classes. The first Buff cockerel was a beauty, sound 

 in colour and very promising in shape. We believe he was bred 

 at Stoue Park, and ia one of Mr. Wragg's young wonders. The 

 second was a beauty, good all round. In puUeta the winners 

 were all good, but, with care, we back the third (Darby) to beat 

 the lot. We never remember greater promise in a pullet of 

 that age, and we believe in this opinion Mr. Fenton, one of the 

 best Cochin judges in the world, backs us up. The Blacks were 

 not superior, except the first-prize pens, and they were the second- 

 prize pen at Preston we believe ; if so, one must there have had 

 black legs and one yellow. Partridge were good classes. It 

 must have been a close shave between the first and second 

 cockerels. The Whites, too, were a fine lot, especially the 

 pulleta, but they did not come up to the winning Whites of last 

 year. , 



Dark Brahmas were disappointing. We looked in vain for 

 the symmetrical gianta of last season. Wherever la Mr. Lmg- 

 wood? or ia nimonr right when we hear that many of the 

 winning chickens so far have come from Greeting ? The Lights 

 were grand— bird after bird worthy of a prize. It is truly mar- 

 vellous to aee to what a pitch of excellence this handsome breed 

 has been brought. Mr. Dean was evidently up right early this 

 year, and secured the early worms. All the wmmng cockerels 

 were good and well placed. We dare not individualise the 

 pullets, they were all ao good ; perhaps we liked three or four as 

 well as the winner, but we would not have judged them for any- 

 thing, for so many were so even. 



Spanish were very fine. We rejoiced to see this aristocratic 

 breed mustering ao well, in qualitv especially. Old birds won 

 the first prizes, and hens the cup. 2!)s (Beldon) seemed worthy of 

 a place, though we should not have had the heart to leave 307 

 (AUaopp) out in the cold. 



The Game were small clafses, and did not come up to last 

 year's show at St. James's Hall. Most of the birds were back- 

 ward, the cockerels especially, but there is plenty of time for 

 them yet before the two Palaces hold their "at homes." 



Hamhurghs were again badly represented. We could not 

 understand it; only about twenty pena for nearly as many 

 pounds' worth of prizes. We confess we do not nnderatand the 

 Hamburgh exhibitors, for there would have been as much com- 

 petition at a village show in Lancashire for 20s. as there was 

 here for close on i'20. 



