Septsmbet 80, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



301 



which are prodaced later in the snmmer, and are not so maoh 

 knocked about, do live to be the glory of autumn and winter 

 events, but we can call to mlud but few specimens which promise 

 to do so this season.* A few of the beat Cochins aud Brahmaa — 

 we speak here of the large breedfi — may again crop up in the 

 prize lists, but we fancy we shall see in moat cbifises at the 

 forthcoming autumn and winter ahowa a perfect houhvcr^enwnt 

 among the late winners, aud shall find old names with new 

 birds to the front once more. 



Let us take a retroapeotive look in this our Michaelmas num- 

 ber at the chickens of the past two mouths. We do not 

 mean to individualise certain classes at certain shows, but talie 

 a brief peep of what has so far appeared. We doubt if any 

 one chicken show can be called a real success, and at mauy 

 the results have been positively calamitous. Mr. Wattb's heart- 

 rending epistle, to which we hope his patrons will turn their 

 attention, speaks more graphically than ever we can dorf the 

 unfortunate finale of the one large chicken show which has 

 been up to now held ; but some shows have come "£1 worse 

 than others, and we fear the poultry department of Middleton, 

 Wisbeach, and hosts more must, as far as entries are concerned, 

 have experienced a great loss and heavy check to their ardour 

 this last season. Dorkings have, perhaps, this year been better 

 in quality than quantity. We have found nowhere the classes 

 of the 1874 summer shows ; but, on the other hand, no bird 

 was then produced to equal the cup Birmingham and cup Bath 

 bird of last month. In Dorkings of otber colours we have seen 

 one or two good Silver- Grey cockerels, but nothing in pullets, 

 and nothing striking in Whites or Cuckoos. The summer 

 Cochins, again, have been but sparsely found, ond the winners 

 have been mostly in the hands of one or two. Partridges have, 

 perhaps, been the best, and there are one or two good chickens 

 to be found. Of Whites there has positively been exhibited 

 nothing worthy of remark if we except the winning cockerel 

 and pullet at Aston Park. Brahmas have made the greatest 

 mark, the Lights especially ; but, then, " everyone keeps 

 Brahmaa," as a gentleman eaid to us at Bath the other day. 

 Certainly their admirers are legion, and the classes have con- 

 sequently more reason to be well filled. Two or three good 

 Darks have been out, aud will now, we suppose, be going in, for 

 Mr. AnsdeH's cockerels have done him good service. The 

 pullets have been pretty fair, but they have not had their usual 

 size and shape. The Lights have been very good, still m them 

 a few good birds stood clearly out ; but both cockerels and 

 pullets have made a most creditable appearance, and surpassed, 

 perhaps, on the whole all other breeds. Spanish and Game 

 have made small classes, and the chickens have been late speci- 

 mens. We have not seen one Game chicken to really admire, 

 and this time last year Mr. Matthew's Birmingham Duck- 

 wing pullet was the talk of everyone. French have mustered 

 well, Houdans especially, though Cri'ves have looked up latterly. 

 Hondans are very precocious, and soon come on, maturing 

 quickly, and are consequently useful birds for the early shows. 

 We fancy for quality and quantity, as a lot, Houdans would 

 come pretty high in an average list this summer of 1875. Ham- 

 burghs seem to have appeared in fair numbers iu the north, but 

 at the midland and southern shows have been badly repre- 

 sented; even such shows as Shrewsbury, with its panoply of 

 prizes, produced but a sorry lot of entries. We hope better 

 times are dawning, and that we shall find numbers as well as 

 quality in future, for Hamburgh people have not to secure 

 weight or size, which are the stumbling-blocks to so many 

 breeders of other varieties. We have seen a few good Polish 

 chickens, among them some very promising White crested 

 Blacks ; but we regret to hear we are losing from our poultry 

 ranks one of the oldest admirers of this latter breed, and one 

 who has done an immense deal to keep it from extinction in 

 past years. Then iu the Variety classes we can remember 

 nothing worthy of remark except the Malays, whose supporters 

 have sent to the front some splendid chickens. Minorcas, Leg- 

 horns, Silkies, and such unhappy denizens of the various 

 refuges have been a moderate lot. We cannot help remarking, 

 however, here on the immense trouble that Mr. Kitchen is 

 taking to push his commodity, and we hope he will do so suc- 

 cessfully, for we gather that Brown Leghorns are extremely 

 hardy and very free layers at all seasons. Bantam chickens 

 have not been a very gay lot ; we almost think we give the palm 

 to the Blacks, 'though we have seen a good pen or two of Se- 

 brights ; the Game, however, have been, as a lot, considering 

 the great favour they hold and the extensive way they are bred, 

 decidedly disappointing. Waterfowl, Turkeys, and Geese have 

 been quite up to the mark, and in many cases superior to those 

 of past seasons. It is satisfactory to end this peep at the sum- 

 mer's birds with something that has been a credit to the breeder 

 and exhibitor in this trying season. 



Thus much, then, for the chickens from Midsummer-day to 

 Michaelmas. No doubt many breeders have yet to produce 

 their birds, and others have fresh specimens to fall back upon. 

 Anyhow, chickens good and valuable should now be plentiful; 

 for, as we before said, the later-hatched birds have had time to 



grow and develope, and we shall expect, consequently, from this 

 Michaelmaa-tide to find the classes well filled as in bygone 

 seasons, and the whole poultry world ouce more back in their 

 old places and iu their old form. — W. 



OXFORD POULTRY SHOW SCHEDULE. 



Another October is near at hand, aud the Oxford Poultry 

 Show for the fourth time is not far distant. The schedule is 

 more tempting than ever, and this Show should even surpass 

 all previous Shows. After the Palace perhaps no Show of late 

 years lias literally galloped into public favour like Oxford. 

 This must be extremely satisfactory to the indefatigable Hon. 

 Secretary Mr. King and his Committee, who have spared no 

 money or labour to maketheirPoultry Show worthy of their city, 

 which in so many points stands unique. It is quite refresh- 

 ing to turn to the roles and read them. We find a wonderfuUy 

 low entry fee — only 5s., with first prizes of GOs. or a 03.5. cup. 

 Several pens of birds may come in the same basket. The prize 

 cards so valued by some, especially amateur beginners, will be 

 forwarded on to the winners. The Judges are announced — viz., 

 Messrs. Esquilant and Jones for Pigeons, and Messrs. Hewitt 

 and Teebay for the poaltry ; and a very good rule as regards 

 sales — viz., instead of an auction, which at so many places is a 

 perfect failure, we find the sale office will be open for two hours 

 to receive tenders, the highest, of course, securing the bird. We 

 can all remember that the crack Dark Brahma pullet of la.st 

 season was bought a bargain at a show where this rule was in 

 use. The classes are for poultry fifty-one in number, and there 

 are also in this department forty-one pieces of plate, or money 

 may be taken instead if preferred. Among them we notice 

 H.R.H. Prince Leopold again gives the Dorkings a champion 

 cup. Local folks, too, must come well to the front at Oxford, 

 for we find sixty-two local prizes and two local cups. 



Looking over the various classes we find Dorkings have four 

 classes. Cochins four. Game six, and Hambarghs five, for a 

 cockerel and pullet in each pen. Some of the classes have four 

 prizes, such as Dorkings, Brahmas, Houdans, &c. Polands have 

 two classes; we are glad to find one is for White-crested Blacks. 

 We hope they will muster better than last year. They hardly 

 deserved a class after last season's behaviour. Malays and 

 Silkies have each a class, while Americans have two, one being 

 for Brown Leghorns and one for Any other variety. Bantams 

 are well provided for, and there is a class for Pheasants, which 

 we hope will be well supported. Waterfowl are in high favour. 

 Blacks and Calls have each a class ; the former generally make 

 such a beautiful show at Oxford, and we hope they will do so 

 again this season. They are arranged always in the upper 

 gallery, where the light is perfect. 'The Sale classes are well 

 divided, and the prizes numerous and handsome. 



Pigeons, too, seem to have a good friend in Mr. Salter, for 

 here they have thirty-four classes, with three prizes in each 

 class and fifteen pieces of plate. We shall expect to find the 

 Town Hall as full or fuller than ever. The breeds are well 

 divided up as to colours, for we even find two classes for Magpies. 

 There are two classes for Carriers and one for Barbs hatched 

 in 1875. 



We cannot find one thing in this good schedule to find fault 

 with, and we sincerely hope all fanciers will respond and make 

 this Show as good as it deserves to be. We hear that full ar- 

 rangements will be made for all the birds that come on from the 

 Alexandra Palace being well "fed, kept in clean pens, and pro- 

 vided with green food till the Judges come round : consequently 

 all who have entered at the Alexandra can with confidence enter 

 here also and have their birds sent on direct, thus saving carriage 

 aud labour. Mr. King will, we hear, be ready at Oxford to re- 

 ceive all such birds on Friday and Saturday, and both he and 

 his Committee will personally superintend their being unpacked 

 and well seen to. We cannot help saying that we are very glad 

 to find these two good Shows ready and pleased to work together, 

 for we have heard the kind expressions of Messrs. Nicholla and 

 Jones on the matter. The entries close on October Dth, and we 

 would remind our readers that at Oxford entries do really close 

 on the day they name, and that no " acts of grace " are there 

 given. — W. 



AYLESBUBY POULTRY SHOW. 



Aylesbdky is always a pleasant little meeting. The Show is 

 nicely arranged, and the covered meat market makes a most 

 excellent place for the Exhibition. We always find good birds 

 here, for the Show is only for one day, and the prizes very 

 liberal, consequently exhibitors do not mind sending good 

 specimens. They are very prompt here, too, with the catalogues, 

 sending them out as quickly as possible, aud the Aylesbury Show 

 of 1875 has proved no exception to other years. The entries 

 were not quite so numerous as last season, but then other shows 

 were being held in other places on the same day, which of 

 course must make some of them weak iu their classes. 



Dorkings all competed together, and came first in the cata- 



