The Poultry of France. 79 



of land, the shallowing of certain large seas, and the result of 

 that modifjing force which never ceases to act, but of whose 

 mode of action we know so little. The change of temperature 

 or rainfall: only lately suggested as a possibility in England, may 

 be part of a far greater change that has been affecting our climate, 

 not only since the glacial period of geologists, but since the 

 earth first began to exist as a fit habitation for civilized man. 



-a 



{To he continued.) 



Vll. — Tlie Poultry of France. (From materials furnished by 

 the 'Journal d'Agriculture Pratique.') By P. H. Freee. 



In the spring of 1864 a new feature was added to the celebrated 

 exhibitions of fat animals at Poissy, by the announcement of 

 prizes and medals to be awarded to the best fat poultry. This 

 led to a fair amount of competition, but especially brought for 

 the first time upon the metropolitan stage some provincial 

 celebrities which had hitherto been attracted towards the Lyons 

 market. The success of this new effort was mainly due to the 

 strenuous exertions of Count Le Hon, Avho took special care that 

 his own district. La Bresse (in Burgundy), should be worthily 

 represented. La Bresse consequently had far the largest entry, 

 and quite eclipsed its rivals, so that its poultry rose 25 per cent. 

 in value. 



A stir was thus created, and, on the representations made to 

 him, the Minister of Agriculture instituted a special Show for 

 fat poultry at Paris, selecting the following month of December 

 as, on the whole, the most convenient time for such an exhibition. 

 Gold medals, together with a sum of 160/,, were to be awarded 

 to winners of first prizes, and medals of silver and bronze as 

 second and third prizes.* The fowls were distributed into 

 five classes : La Bresse, Houdan, La Fleche, Normandy, and 

 " All other breeds ; " the same medals were assigned to each 

 class, which it was proposed to divide into two sections, one for 

 capons, the other for " poulardes." 



In December, 1864, the event came off — 2000 head of poultry 

 of various kinds were exhibited in 500 lots, of these about 1500 

 were fowls: 600 from La Bresse, 200 Houdan, 200 Norman, 

 150 La Fleche, »S:c., all killed and prepared for cooking. 



On this occasion the jury was composed of two country 

 gentlemen, three officials of the agricultural department, three 



* The show included turkeys, geese, ducks, but this paper treats only of the 

 fowls. 



