84 Influence of Shows. 



poultry was by no means the imreinunerative folly idlers 

 supposed it to be, and hesitated not rashly to declaim it ; 

 likewise, that it simply required to be fairly brought under 

 public notice, to prove its general utility, and to induce 

 the acknowledgment of hf^w strangely so important a source 

 of emolument had been hitherto neglected and overlooked.' 7 



At the Birmingham Show of 1852, about five thousand 

 fowls were exhibited, and the specimens sold during the 

 four days of the show amounted to nearly two thousand 

 pounds, notwithstanding the high prices affixed to the pens, 

 and that many were placed at enormous prices amounting 

 to a prohibition, the owners not wishing to sell them. The 

 Birmingham shows now generally comprise from one to 

 two thousand pens of fowls and water-fowls, arranged in 

 nearly one hundred classes ; besides an equal proportion of 

 pigeons. This show is the finest and most important, but 

 there are many others of very high character and great 

 extent. Poultry is also now exhibited to a considerable 

 extent at agricultural meetings. 



Any one may see the wonderful improvement that has 

 been made in poultry-breeding by visiting the next Bir- 

 mingham or other first-class show, and comparing the fowls 

 there exhibited with those of his earliest recollections, and 

 with those mongrels and impure breeds which may still be 

 seen in too many farmyards. Points that were said to be 

 impossible of attainmenthave been obtained with comparative 

 ease by perserverance and skill, and the worst birds of a 

 show are now often superior to the chief prize fowls of 

 former, days. Indeed, "a modern prize bird," i$ays the 

 "Hen wife/ 7 " almost merits the character which a Parisian 

 waiter gave of a melon, when asked to pronounce whether 

 it was a fruit or a vegetable, l Gentlemen/ said he, ' a melon 

 is neither ; it is a work of art. 7 " 



Such shows must have great influence on the improve- 

 ment of the breeds and the general management of poultry, 

 though like all other prize exhibitions they have certain 

 disadvantages. " We cannot but think/' says Mr. Wright, 

 "that our poultry shows have, to some extent, by the charac- 

 ter of the judging, hindered theimprovement of many breeds. 



