34 Report of Committees. 



POULTRY.— First Division. 



FOWLS AND SWEEPSTAKES. 



Whole number of entries, 81. Game Bantams, 10; other Bantams, 2; Brah- 

 mas, 2 ; Bolton Greys, 4 ; Cochins, 4 ; Dominiques, 5 ; Dorkings, 1 ; B. B. R. 

 Games. 7 ; Duckwing Games, 3 ; other Games, 6 ; Hamburgs, 1 ; Houdans, 4 ; 

 Huguenots, 1 ; Leghorns, 12 ; Plymouth Rocks, 12 ; Langshans, 1 ; Polish, 2 ; 

 Spanish, 2 ; Stone Fence. 1 ; Silver, 1 ; general collection, 4. 



The Committee on Poultry, First Division, found for examination 

 seventy-three coops exhibited by about one-half, as many competitors, 

 and to go through such a number and make the awards to the satis- 

 faction of all, was not an easy, or altogether a pleasant task, owing 

 to the crowd that was constantly around the coops. The Superin- 

 tendent kindly offered to keep the platforms clear, but the committee 

 thought it better to suffer some inconvenience than to mar the pleas- 

 ure of the visitors. 



Your Committee did not follow the standard in disqualifying. 

 Had we done so, most of the fowls on exhibition would have been 

 throwm out and very few premiums awarded, particularly in the class- 

 es where there was the most competition. Not one person in ten ever 

 Baw the standard, and to disqualify all fowls not having all the fancy 

 points would soon ruin this department of }^our Fair. After finish- 

 ing their duties and finding only one angry and dissatisfied exhibitor, 

 your committee flatter themselves that they have done remarkably 

 well, considering the short time allowed in which to do the work. We 

 would suggest that the judging be put off until the morning of the 

 second day. This will give the Superintendent plenty of time to get 

 each variety together so to save the committee the trouble of hunting 

 up the different entries of one breed. It will also give the public a 

 chance to decide on the fairness of the awards. Another thing should 

 be insisted upon ; that is that the fowls be shown in pairs and trios. 

 For an exhibitor to expect the Judges to pick out the best pair from 

 a coop full of chickens brought there for sale, and award them first 

 premium is asking a little too much. This is what the angry man ap- 

 peared to want, but it did not appear to the committee to be their 

 duty to match up fowls for anyone. We were in some doubt how to 

 award the collection premiums as the largest may not always be the 

 best, but decided to give it to the exhibitors who had taken the most 

 first premiums. 



The Committee on Poultry, first division, award as follows: 



Largest and best exhibition of Poultry, Adelbert Dings, Alford, $o 



2d do., George Kellogg, Sheffield, 3 



Black Red Game Bantams, W. H. Gibbons, Great Barrington, 2 



2d do., Frank Kellogg, Sheffield, 1 



Best Silver Duckwing Bantams, Edwin Boardman, Sheffield, 2 



2d do., J. Q. A. Race. Great Barrington, 1 



Best Red Pile Bantams, A, 0. Bowen, Sheffield, 2 



Besl Golden Seabright. W. S. Wilcox, Sheffield, 2 



Best White Bantams, Hiram Nodine, Great Barrington, 1 



Best Light Brahmas, Adelbert Dings, Alford, 2 



2d do., C. E. Turner, Great Barrington, 1 



Best Bolton Greys, W. Rote, Sheffield, 2 



2d do., George Kellogg, Sheffield, 1 



