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XL— POULTRY AND PIGS. 



POULTRY received very little attention in the county during the 

 first half of the century, and it was not till 1848 that there were 

 classes for geese, turkeys, ducks, and barn-door fowls at the Kendal 

 Agricultural Show, and classes have intermittently been allotted to 

 various breeds of poultry at different local agricultural shows since 

 that date. 



It was in 1853 that the first poultry show was held at Kendal, 

 and with a few breaks it hcis been held annually ever since. The classes 

 at the first show numbered 44 with 37 entries for Spanish, Dorking, 

 Cochin, Malay, Game, Golden Pencilled Hamburgh, Spangled Ham- 

 burgh, Silver Pencilled Hamburgh, Poland, Bantam, and any other 

 breed; 11 entries for Pigeons ; 4 for Geese, and 27 for Ducks. Although 

 the show was an open one nearly all the entries were from and the 

 prizes taken by Westmorland fanciers, or those living just over the 

 border. 



At the first Royal Show held at Carlisle in 1855 Westmorland 

 poultry fanciers took many prizes, the chief winners being G. A. 

 Gelderd, of Aikrigg End, Kendal, for coloured Dorkings and Cochin- 

 China fowls and Aylesbury ducks ; D. Harrison, of Singleton Park, 

 for Dorking and Hamburgh fowls and geese ; Thos. Ullock, of Quarry 

 Howe, Bowness, for Silver Dorkings, and Wm. Ellison, junr., for 

 Duckwinggrey Game. UUock's Silver Dorkings have been kept up since 

 his death in unbroken continuity at Quarry Howe — a period of nearly 60 

 years. At the last Royal Show at Carlisle in 1902 only two prizes came 

 to Westmorland for poultry, and those were for Plymouth Rocks ; 

 nevertheless, the development of specific breeds of poultry has 

 steadily progressed, and it is now a common sight to see movable 

 hen-houses dotted about in the fields with pure breeds of fowls — the 

 prices of the best birds often running up from £10 to £20. 



Poultry shows are now held annually at several of the larger 

 villages. 



" The Cross-fell District Goose Shepherds' Guide " was published 

 in 1862 for four parishes from Milburn to Ousby. The smits were 



