378 



NEW ENGLAND FAKMER. 



EXHIBITION OF FOWLS. 



A few -weeks ago, Ur. Bennett, of Plymouth, gave 

 notice that he should show some choice breeds of 

 poultry, at Faneuil Hall Market, on the loth of No- 

 vember ; and he invited others to join in the exhibi- 

 tion. This jiroposition has been so well received 

 by the public that arrangements are now making to 

 have a large show of fowls of the various excellent 

 breeds; and a convention of poultry breeders and 

 fanciers, and a committee distinguished for their in- 

 telligence and attention to the subject, have been 

 appointed, who will sit in judgment upon the exhi- 

 bition. 



"We hope that all who have fine fowls will con- 

 tribute to this exhibition ; for it is a subject of deep 

 importance to the pubUc, as poultry and eggs con- 

 stitute no small part of our substantial food, as well 

 as luxuries, forming numerous excellent dishes, and 

 contributing essentially to the improvement of many 

 others. Statistical accounts of the vast amount, both 

 in quantity and value, of poultry and eggs consumed 

 in some sections, or by some nations, would astonish 

 almost every person, not excepting even the greatest 

 consumers, compared with which, many things, that 

 are regarded as highly important, would dwindle 

 into insignificance. 



Come on, then, all who have fine fowls, and aid 

 in this convention, to give due importance to a busi- 

 ness that has been too much neglected, and which 

 should rank among the most interesting and valuable 

 in rural affairs. Those who attend as spectators, 

 will, we trust, witness the finest and most extensive 

 display of fowls that they ever beheld. We publish 

 the following from the committee : — 



Plymouth, Mass., Oct. 25, 1849. 

 To Colonel Samuel Jaques, Dr. Eben Wight, John Giles, 



Esq., Mr. Timothy House, and Mr. H. L- Devereux. 



Gentlemen : You are aware that I have taken 

 incipient measures to got up and organize a conven- 

 tion of breeders and fanciers of domestic fowls, to be 

 called the " New Englnnd Ornithological Association," 

 which, at the suggestion of Mr. Pedder, will, in all 

 probability, establish an annual exhibition for lauda- 

 ble competition in that department ; and that I have 

 solicited the cooperation of all interested in the im- 

 provement and perfection of such stock. In order 

 to give it respectability, and popular favorable con- 

 sideration, it will be necessary to have order and 

 fitness in the organization and assemblage. There- 

 fore, suffer me to respectfully request you to ac't as 

 a " Committee of Superoision," with plenary powers, 

 until discharged or confirmed by the convention. 

 All of wliich is respectfully submitted by 



Yours, resijectfully, 



J. C. BENNETT. 



N. B. In conseqvience of the exhibition being so 

 late in the season, November 15th, and fearing in- 

 clement weather, Messrs. Parker & White have kindly 

 proffered the use of two large eighty feet rooms, (ad- 

 jacent,) in their agricultural warehouse. No. 10, 

 Gerrish Block, Blackstone Street, Boston, which I 

 have accepted, (on the advice of several ornitholo- 

 gists, who take a lively interest in the convention,) 

 instead of Quincy jNIaiket, as at first proposed ; which 

 I trust will prove satisfactory to all concerned. 



In the replies of the gentlemen to whom the above 

 communication was addressed, they have kindly ex- 



pressed their willingness to serve on the committee ; 

 and such arrangements have been made that con- 

 tributors in the exhibition, who send their stock from 

 any considerable distance, may direct it to the store 

 of Messrs. Parker & White, on the days previous, 

 where they will receive proper care and attention. 



J. C. B. 



tW° In accordance with the above suggestion of 

 Dr. Bennett, the committee would give notice that 

 the first annual exhibition of the " New England 

 Ornithological Association " will take place on the 

 loth of November inst., at the store of Messrs. Parker 

 & White, No. 10 Gerrish Block, Blackstone Street, 

 Boston, commencing at nine o'clock A. M., to con- 

 tinue through the day. 



All those who take an interest in improving ths 

 breed of domestic fowls, or who have specimens of 

 choice stock, — imported or otherwise, — are respect- 

 fully invited to be present on the above occasion, 

 and to forward their stock in season for exhibition 

 on that day. The committee suggest that contrib- 

 utors of fowls shall send them in compact coops, each 

 labelled with the name of the breeder, class of stock, 

 and age, upon a card attached to each box. 

 SAMUEL JAQUES, ^ 

 EBEN WKIGHT, | ^, 

 JOHN GILES, )- .,,""*■, 



TIMOTHY HOUSE, j "*'""''' *'^ 

 H. L. DEVEREUX, J 

 Boston, Oct. 29, 1849. 



THE BLACKBERRY. 



This fruit, when grown in perfection, either wild 

 or in gardens, ranks among the very finest produced 

 in this or any other country. On new lands, it 

 grows wild, and in the finest condition. In thi« 

 region, it is cultivated to a small extent, and the 

 fruit, which is of the highest character, sells at great 

 prices — sometimes at one dollar per quart. But 

 this enormous price is owing to its great scarcity ; 

 yet it will have a good effect in causing the extension 

 of its culture, until it Avill become as common in 

 gardens as strawberries, raspberries, and other small 

 fruits. Wo copy the following from the Water Cure 

 Journal, as we agree with the author in the impor- 

 tance and healthful influence of this luscious fruit, 

 and the great pleasure in rambling among the hedges 

 to collect it. 



This exceedingly useful and wholesome fruit is 

 too much neglected. A surprising prejudice pre- 

 vents families from making use of it for domestic 

 purposes. But we have grown older and wiser, and 

 have learned by experience that the blackberry can 

 only be despised by those who have no taste for the 

 simple, yet delightful, and withal luscious banquet 

 which Nature, in autumn, so amply spreads around. 

 To us there is an indescribable charm in leaving tl%e 

 dusty highway, where the berries are coated in drab, 

 to wander by the hedgerow, whose resplendent 

 bunches hang in rich profusion, inviting the taste by 

 the beauty of the appearance. 



We like to renew the joyous feelings of youth, and 

 to allow youngsters to participate in the glorioui 

 treat of a day's blackberrying, whenever the ojipor- 

 tunity occurs. Year by year, we were wont to wan- 

 der, Avith a party of schoolboys, to some favorite spot, 

 where the berries grew luxuriantly on an ancient 

 hedge, long undisturbed by the hedger'sbill. Here, 

 with hooked stick, we pulled down the jetty bunches, 

 and filled our baskets with winter store ; for our en- 

 joyment did not cease with the day, but before oui 



