280 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE OARDENEE. 



{ Septemher 23, 1875. 



expense and delay of croBBing London. We wonld also call 

 attention to the fact that this is only a three-days show. The 

 birds are not required to be delivered until Monday, the show 

 closing on Thursday, so they ought to reach their homes on 

 Friday, or at the latest on Saturday, thus preventing the liirds 

 being confined on Sunday, which so many eshibitors object to. — 

 W. J. NiCHOLLS, P. H. Jones, Son. Sees. 



POULTET FARMING. 



Although I had hoped to have seen several statements from 

 others to confirm my few remarks published under the above 

 heading in your issue of August 20th, I now submit for your 

 inspection, as promised, an exact copy of my books, taking date 

 in each ease from September Ist, 1874, to September Ist, 1875. 



Poultry to me has always been a hobby, but when first I 

 entered into it I had no idea of its profits nor of working on so 

 large a scale ; and though I fear I shall be charged by some with 

 much seeming egotism, still I can assure your readers I have no 

 other object than to persuade those who love a country life and 

 who will devote their time to this means of stock-raising, that it 

 has interests new and fresh coming every day, and will assuredly 

 bring a comfortable income to enjoy it. Few, perhaps, would 

 go into the detailed trouble I do, as I know each week exactly 

 how many head of fowls are in stock, and upon picking up any 

 fowl can tell the month it was hatched in {i.e., by its marking), 



I never allow anyone to gather the eggs nor to sit broody 

 hens, but when they have taken to the nest I prepare thirteen 

 eggs, marked in ink with date upon them, place them in a clean 

 box in the hatching room, and after sunset take the broody hen 

 from where she has chosen to sit and put her on to the eggs and 

 close her up for thirty-six hours, or till the next morniog but 

 one. I am particularly lucky in hatching. I am satisfied that 

 almost all chances of success rest upon the eggs being closely sat 

 on at the commencement, and if left after that for hoars they 

 will scarcely be hurt. 



On September 1st, 1874, I possessed a stock of sixteen cocks 

 and 159 hena and pullets. At that time having several sittings 

 of eggs about to hatch for successive laying in March, April, 

 and May, 1875, when most winter and spring layers are all at a 

 time broody, the last lot hatched in 1874 being October 3rd, 

 making at that time seventy-nine additional chickens, of which 

 six died before Christmas. Six Geese, two ganders, four Turkeys, 

 twelve Ducks, and three drakes, all for store ; fourteen young 

 Turkeys, fourteen young Geese, eighteen young Ducks, and 

 twenty-two young cockerels for killing. 



From this number of poultry I have raised, sold, and have 

 balance in hand, and present stock, less that in hand 1st Sep- 

 tember, 1874, and the fifty-three fowls and five Ducks bought 

 last August and added to pens, as follows : — 7C0 fowls, 722 Ducks, 

 70 Geese, 41 Turkeys. Sold 16,339 eggs, producing a total of 

 i'2C8 14s. 3d., less cost £145 17s. lOid., leaving as balance of 

 profit ,£122 16,s. iid., besides supposed value of feathers, £i, 

 and of manure, ,4'3, not credited against cost— really making 

 4129 16s. 4id. profit. In the detailed cost account packages, 

 cartage, advertisements, stationery, postage, &c., amount to 

 413 _0s. Gid., against £33 4s. received for sittings of eggs sold; 

 but it must also be remembered that through the advertising 

 columns of the various papers there were also sold chickens, 

 Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys amounting to £53 3s. Id., which, ic 

 is probable, would not have been sold at those times and prices 

 had it not been for advertising, so that it is estimated by me 

 that the £6 7s. Bd. advertisement-costs induced sales in a total 

 of £86 7s. Id , which were attended with further expenses of 

 £6 12s. iUkd. 



I may also call attention to the prices aeked for sittings of 

 eggs sold, all of which were warranted fertile, and I was but 

 asked to replace fifty-two out of a total of 2538— viz., eggs from 

 Dark Brahmas ; Dark Brahma hens running with Dorking 

 cock ; Dark Brahma hens running with Black Red Game cock, 

 all at 2s. Gd. for thirteen, packed, and all from first-class birds. 

 Eouen Duck eggs, 6s. 6d. for thirteen. The five Ducks cost 

 £9 10s. East Indian Duck eggs, 5s. for thirteen. The Turkey 

 eggs, bred from a cock now weighing 35 lbs. 



If it be possible, then, at such prices and at so great an expense 

 of feeding, as I consider my fowls have been extravagantly fed, 

 how much more rather can be realised by those prizetakers and 

 breeders advertising at 21s. for thirteen eggs, and if unfertile 

 second sitting at half price, making Is. iid. per egg? 



Had I been fortunate enough to have hatched say half of the 

 expensive eggs bought by me, and sold at fair prices the produce 

 therefrom, a greater profit would certainly be shown, as this 

 year I really never sold but two birds at 7s. 6(7., except broody 

 hens, and after those nothing over 3s. each, and these cost quite 

 as much to rear as those more extravagantly priced. However, 

 everyone has a right to his own mode of conducting his business, 

 and I have only attempted to show that with proper and above 

 all prompt attention to poultry, as whether " hail, rain, wind, 

 or snow," occurs, it will not brook delay, there is a livelihood 

 for many who have plenty of time to devote to such a purpose. 



I have added many valuable additions to my poultry stock, and 

 next season intend, as in 1S7.5, to warrant every egg sold to be 

 fertile ; and a new feature at this poultry farm will be that I 

 shall undertake for one and all who entrust their eggs to me to 

 provide broody hers, and set them here in a shed with 150 nests 

 erected on purpose, and rear the chickens np to one month old 

 at a small fixed fee. I am now drawing out in print a list and 

 catalogue of various pens of fowls kept, and bearing some valu- 

 able information to aU poultry fanciers. — Gallinacoltdbist, 

 Hamptuti-in-Ardcn. 



CEEWE POULTRY SHOW. 



Septemeeb 17th-18th. 



As to the general quality of the birds shown, nothing so good 

 has taken place at any of the previous .shows held at Crewe; 

 and the tent arrangements were praiseworthy. 



Game cockerels (any variety) headed the list, and, noted as it 

 is, very rarely have so well shown a number of Brown Beds 

 been seen in the neighbourhood. The two chief prizes were 

 taken by Brown Reds; the third premium was awarded to a 

 Black Red. It ia worthy of note that some few of the most 

 showy birds when "handled" proved to be wry-breasted, a 

 fault for which every other good property cannot atone. It ia 

 well here to remark, too, on a great mistake now too general 

 in the dubbing of Game fowls — viz., cutting them too closely 

 in the wattles, as it entirely destroys the proper outline of the 

 throat, besides failing to develope length of head, as desired by 

 the party operating. It quite spoils an exhibition bird. The 

 JJorkings and Sj^anisli were both very excellent classes ; many 

 of the pullets having been raised early this season, were, how- 

 ever, after laying their first eggs, deeply moulting. In Cochins 

 Mr. Sedgwick, and in Dark Brahmas Mr. Ansdell, competed 

 with grand pens, shown in exquisite plumage. Polish were 

 fine, though not numerous; and Craves were quite the best 

 variety of the French fowls. Game Bantams were shown in 

 capital trim, and some very fair Silver-laced Sebrights were 

 winners. Samburghs were well represented by capital pens 

 from the well-known yards of the Duke of Sutherland. 



In the classes for Waterfowls the restriction of birds of 1875 

 operated injurioualy to a few pens of the best birds shown. We 

 think another year such a restriction would be well withdrawn 

 altogether, and yet more eapecially as to fancy Waterfowls, as 

 the young of these birds are not yet in plumage. The weather 

 was delightful, and the entrance gate consequently a success. 



Game,— Coctfrel,—!, R. Aebley, Nantwicti. 2, J. Cheaters, Nantwich. 3,T. B, 

 Lowe, Leicester, 



DoRKiNGB. — C/i(cfce7[S. — 1. Rev. E. B. Charlton, Lichtieltl. 2, J. Walker, 

 Eocbdale. he. Mrs. E. WJlliamB. Henllys Berriew. 



i^PANiSH —Chickens.— \ and 2, S. L. Edw-ards. 



Cochin-Chikas. — Chickens. — 1, C. Sidgwick, Keighley. 2, F. Holbrook. 

 Hi?btieidB. DerJiy. 



Brabma F00THAS.—C7iicfcfn3— I.Mrs. S. Thornicrofl, Crewe, land 2, T. F. 

 Ansdell, St, Helens, he, E. Prltchard, Tettenhall; E. Kydor, Hyde, c, W. 

 Broadhurdt, Fulsham; J. Little, Chester. 



i'CiLisQ.— Chickens— I and 2, J. Fearnley.Lawton. 



French ~Chickens.-~l, Hev. J. ti. B. Kuight, Ripley. 2, W. Dring, Faversham. 

 c.SIrs. E. Williams. 



Game — Blick-breasted Reds — Chickens.— 1, T. B. Lowe. 2, J. Hallsall, 

 Halebank, Brown and other Beds.— Chickens.— l, R. Ashley. 2, W. Perrin, 

 Nantwich. }ic. C. W, Laston, Nantwicb ; W. Watson, Andlem. Any other 

 variety -Chickens —1, G. Lunt, Shavjngton, Market Drayton. 2, J. Hallsall. 

 Any variety.— PitUets.-l, G, F. Ward, Wrenbury. 2, J. cbestera. he, C. W. 

 Laxton; K. Ashley. 



Bantams. — Oam^, Btack-breast'd Reds. — Chickens. — 1, R. Y. Ardagh, 

 Worcester. 2, P Hind, Delamere Forest. Game, any other variety.— Chickens. 

 — 1, W. BaskerviUe, DIanchester. 2, R. Ashley. Not Game.— Chickens.— 1, J. 

 Walker. 2, K. H. Ashton, Mottram 



Hambdeghs — Gotrf or Silvcr-spanaled.-Chickejts.—l, S. W. Hallam, Whit- 

 wick. 2, Duke of Sutherland, Trentbam. /ic, Duke of Sutherland; H. Pi^-kles, 

 Leeds. Gold or Silvtr-i>eneiUed.—\, Duke of Sutherland. 2, S. W. Hallam. 

 he, J Wbittingham, Nantwich ; Duke f f Sutherland. 



VvcKLinos. — Rouen. — 1, T. Wakefield, Newton-le- Willows. 2 and he, J. 

 Walker. Aylesbury.— 1, T. Sear, Aylesbury. 2, S. Gulliver, Aylesbury, he, J. 

 Walker. Any other variety.— 1 and 2, J, Walker. 



Goslings.- 1, K. Beckett, Hartford. 2, Withheld, 



TxjbVEYB.-Poitlts.—i, J. Walker. 2, W. Glassford, Merc. 



SELLING Class,— 1, W. Rcay, Crewe. 2, S. L. Edwards, c, P. Hinde; W. 

 Glassford; H. Yardley, Birmingham. 



Mr. Burgess of Burleydam, and Mr. Hewitt of Birmingham, 

 were the Judges. 



UTTOXETER POULTRY SHOW. 



September 16th. 

 The Judge was Mr. Teebay, and he expressed his opinion 

 that it was the best show of young birds he had seen this year. 

 There were 206 entries, a considerable increase on former years. 

 The following were the awards : — 



Game.— Coctcrffs.— 1, E. S, Godsell. Stroud. 2, G. Bagnall, Draycot. PuUetf 

 — 1, G. Bagnall. 2, W. C. Philips. Worcester. C/iic-fcciu.— 1, W. T. Everard. 

 Ashby-de-ia-Zoucb. 2, Duke of Sutbciland. 



SPANISH.— 1, H. Blower, Wolverhampton, 2, E. Jackson, Wolverhampton. 



Dorkings.- 1, J. Walker. Rochdale. 2, G. A. & W. a. Crewe, EtwaU. Hdver- 

 Grey or Wtlite. — 1 and 2, Lady Bagot, Rugeley. 



Cochin-chinas.- C'mTlamon or Buff.— I, C. Sidgwick, Keighley. 2, Mrs. 

 ^UJBopp, Worcester. Any other varicty.—l, C. sidgwick. 2, J. K. Fowler, 

 Aylesbury. 



Brahma Pootr^s —Dark.—}, H. Lingwood, Needham Market. 2, Bndgewater 

 and Yo.\ali, Wednesburv. PuUets.—l, H. Lingwood. 2, K. Hyder, Hyde. 

 Linhl.-i, R. E. Uorstall, Liverpool. 2, T. A. Dean, Hereford. Puliefs.— 1,P. 

 Haines, Palgrave, Diss. 2. T A, Dean, 



