410 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 



[ November 4, 1875. 



pen (319) were well marked, and 322 (Clayton) had a capital 

 pullet. Silver-pencils were fair, and the winners properly 

 placed. 3J9 (Hansor) a smart cockerel. Gold-spangles were a 

 fine lot, and here we understand was a complete bouleversemcnt 

 of the Alexandra winners. The prize birds were good, and the 

 cockerel in Messrs. Duckworth's pen and Mr. Long's pullet cer- 

 tainly were capital specimens. Silver-spangles were a beautiful 

 lot, and winning difficult. We liked the second-prize pen as 

 well as any, though the cockerel here was not worthy of his 

 pullet. The third pair were good, and deserved their place 

 easily. 382 (Hallam) were good, and 392 (Beldon) contained a 

 very smart pullet. IJlaoks were very fine. The winning pair 

 splendid in bloom and points, and properly the cup-winners. 

 The second-prize cockerel was too high in tail, but his pullet 

 capital; third, too, was a nice pen. 397 (Hoyle) had a smart 

 cockerel, and -102 (Long) a finely- coloured pullet. 



PoUinds were admirable. Blacks came to the front well. 

 The quality was very even, and it must have been almost a 

 toss-up which of the three prize pens was to be first. Mr. 

 Fearnley's cockerel was perhaps the best cockerel in the class, 

 but his pullet very poor in crest. In the other class Mr. Adkin's 

 Silvers were charming, being really good in crests and mark- 

 ings. These won first and third, a fine pen ot Golds taking 

 the intervening place. Mr. Beldon's pen was a grand pair, and 

 Mr. Galloway's pen (424) were of great promise, and soon found 

 a new home for £3 3s. 



Houdans were a grand lot, and the judging exceedingly diffi- 

 cult, for the type of birds in so many pens was very different. 

 We thought the best pen won, the crests being splendid, and 

 the markings of each bird matching well; second and third 

 were good pens. The fourth we did not like; they had nothing 

 in common, and we infinitely preferred 448 (Dring), 459 (Wood), 

 or 4G3 (Handley) ; in fact we think the first-mentioned might 

 safely have been placed higher still. Crevcs were a capital lot, 

 and the winners perhaps well placed on the whole, though we 

 liked either of Mr. Knight's pens or Mr. Wood's as well as the 

 third-prize pair; first and second being very good. 



Of Malays there were very few. 'The winners were good, 

 though all the highly commended pens closely pressed on them. 

 The only White pen were large and good in points, but horrible 

 in colour. 



Americans were two capital classes. We should think ns 

 layers they will be appreciated. We confess our penchant is 

 for the Whites ; we have seen them on a green run, where they 

 certainly look very elegant. But the Brown is the hardy 

 variety, we hear, and we think will soon make themselves known 

 as useful fowls. We did not care for the cup Browns, and 

 thought Mr. Kitchen should have had it, though the third-prize 

 pullet was very pretty. In Whites we liked 626, or even C27 

 (Fowler) as well as any pen. The third went to Plymouth 

 Rocks. 



Silkies were a charming class, but we could not agree with 

 the awards : crests, colour, combs, all had to give way to leg 

 feather. This we think positively ridiculous, for the latter is 

 easy enough to obtain, while the former points are very difficult. 

 But we hope to publish in this Journal soon one or two articles 

 on this breed, when we will state our views on the matter, as 

 perhaps we have given as much time and trouble to the variety 

 as anyone. As it was, undoubtedly the best pen in the class 

 was Mr. Stephen's, and perhaps next to it Mr. Cresswell's ; Mr. 

 NichoU'fl pen (539) had a comb like a Hamburgh's, and several 

 pens had visible proofs of vulture hocks, which should at once 

 be condemned. 



The Variety class was good; a splendid pen of Sultans wore 

 first. Black Minorcas second, and Scotch Dumpies third ; good 

 Sultans, Minoroaa, and Scotch Greys coming in for high com- 

 mendations. 



Bantams were exceedingly good, the Game especially so, but 

 the Black Bantams were the cream of the lot ; every noticed 

 pen was good, and many others as well. Sebrights were beauti- 

 ful, exquisite Silvers winning first easily. We were glad to 

 see the quality here so good. In the Variety class Pekins were 

 first, and White Hose combs second and third. There were 

 several good pens of White-booted also, and we think a class 

 here would pay well. Mr. Bloodworth's pen of White Rose- 

 combs were the Palace winners, but the cock had had his tail 

 pulled out en mute to the Show, or they would have been most 

 probably near winning. 



Diiclcs were grand. We wonder if a better Aylesbury drake 

 than the winner was ever shown; his colour, size, and shape 

 are simply wonderful. Rouens were good, and judged by weight 

 we believe. Fancy Ducks made a most attractive class where 

 Mandarins, Carolinas, and Spotted Bills drew the winning 

 cirds. Blacks were lovely, and in a perfect light. The winners 

 were well chosen, and the awards most favourably received. 

 Mr. Sainabury has good colour and small size this season. Calls 

 only mustered thrse pens, all good; but this class will die a 

 natural death wo may as well state here, unless eight entries 

 are guaranteed in 1870, at least so w» hear. 



Geese and Turkeys were wonderfully fine, and the Aylesbury 



pair again scored another triumph in the former class. Every 

 pen in the Turkey class was noticed, and the quality was ex- 

 ceedingly good throughout. 



The Selling classes were very large, and many pens changed 

 hands. We noticed here several pens of BuS Cochins of more 

 than ordinary merit. The second-prize Buff pullets realised 

 £5 5s. by tender. We are assured Cochins are generally looking 

 up and are in great demand. We are glad to hear of it, for we 

 owe a great deal of the mania to the first-introduced Cochins, 

 which set the market going and created such a furore'Jin by- 

 gone years. 



PIGEONS. 



The Pigeons are always a great feature at the OxfordlShow, 

 and well they may be when sixteen silver cups are offered for 

 them. They were charmingly shown in the 'Town Hall, out of 

 the general noise of the Poultry Show, and we must say that we 

 rejoice in still seeing here and there the smaller varieties shown 

 in pairs. Even for Oxford the Show this year was a remarkable 

 one, and we heard that the Judge considered the classes of Bine 

 and Silver Turbits and of English Owls the best he had ever 

 seen. 



Carriers headed the list with six classes. Blue or Silver had 

 two classes. The cup went to Mr. Hammock's bird, a Blue of 

 immense length and fine form and skull ; apparently not an old 

 bird, for his wattles were not yet much developed. Second 

 cock a Blue also, without the length of the first, but a good bird, 

 excellent in tail and wattles. Third, another Blue in good and 

 sleek condition. The hens were a fair class, the first a Silver 

 Dun with somewhat watery eyes ; second a long and fine-headed 

 Blue, not in first-rate condition; third a fair Blue. In the two 

 classes for Any other colour the cup went to Mr. Fulton's noble 

 Black cock, a grand bird in all points ; second in cocks was a 

 Dun, but slightly his inferior in head and wattle, belonging to 

 the same exhibitor; third a Black with long fine form. The 

 first local prize went to a creditable Dun, which we saw was 

 claimed at £7. In the class for hens Mr. Fulton repeated his 

 victory, taking first with a Black and second with a Dun. 

 Young birds had two classes and two cups. That for Blue was 

 carried off by Mr. Stretch with a bird of great promise, his head 

 and wattle will some day be magnificent ; second was also a 

 very stylish bird. In the other class, Mr. Simpson's cup bird 

 was a Black in a bloom of condition which it is delightful to 

 see ; second was another Black, running him hard ; third a Dun 

 of peculiarly rich colour and striking form. Cob Hassard showed 

 a good Dun, deservedly very highly commended, though not 

 equal to the third-prize bird. IPouters had two classes for 

 Whites, which were beautifully filled, and two for Any other 

 colour. Mr. Heath's first-prize White hen was a most remark- 

 able bird, and though entered at twelve guineas was claimed. 

 The first-prize White cock was a bird of extraordinary limb. If 

 we mistake not a cock or two paesed for hens in the class 

 assigned to the weaker sex. In the two claeses for Any other 

 colour the cup went to a Black-pied cock, a fine bird but a little 

 looser in crop than we like ; the second cock was a Red ; the third 

 a Blue, particularly good in colour. In the class for hens first 

 and third were Blacks, the third not equal to the first in points, 

 but excellent in colour ; second was a Yellow. Barbs. — The 

 cup for the best pair of Barbs or Tumblers was awarded to the 

 first pair of adult Barbs, magnificent Duns ; second were Blacks ; 

 third Duns in beautiful bloom and condition, though not equal 

 to their wondrous predecessors in head. In the class for birds 

 of the year, first were Blacks, which we did not think re- 

 markable; second promising Duns; and third nice Y'ellows. 

 Owls were a splendid collection — in fact, we suppose the Owls, 

 Turbits, and Magpies were as good classes of the kinds as have 

 ever been seen in one show. In English Owls the winners 

 were all good, but wo thought Mr. Allen's hardly had justice 

 done to them ; but the cream of the two classes was the cup pen , 

 they were perfect gems and a show of themselves. Runts only 

 came four pens strong, and Nuns only five, but the quality was 

 good, and we wonder the former variety especially does not 

 muster more supporters. Turbits were truly grand. We liked 

 ono or two pens quite as well as the winners. 1215 (Hardy) had 

 a splendid bird. In the other class exquisite Blacks were first, 

 really a pair of gems. In the second-prize pen of Reds the 

 hen is a wonder, perhaps the beet in the fancy. Third good 

 shell-crested Blacks. Mr. Cresswell's birds are all so extremely 

 good in gullet. Fantails were good, and' we should think two 

 classes would pay here another year. Mr. Serjeantson's were 

 wonderfully nice. We noticed a nice pen of Blacks and another 

 of Blues, but the whole class was very fine. Jacobins were a 

 nice lot, beautiful Y'ellows first and second, and third good 

 Reds and Whites ; the latter pen perhaps the best. 1250 (Cress- 

 well), a nice pair of Reds. Trumpeters, six pens, but Mr. 

 Schweitzer's and Mr. Lederor's pens were empty. The winners 

 were all Russians, all good, and all Black. Magpies were, as wo 

 said above, two beautiful classes. The first-prize Blacks were 

 quite exquisite and admirably shown. The other class was also 

 admirable, and Mr. Baker's winners well selected, the second 

 Yellows, however, coming near to them. 



