42 



FANCIERS' JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



" standard of excellence," in view of the requirements of 

 which both birds have been bred. Now, with such a stand- 

 ard as I propose above, this decision would be arrived at in 

 the following manner : Take the first point mentioned in 

 the standard of the breed, which we will suppose to be 

 "comb." Of the two birds to which it is to be applied, 

 the one having the most perfect comb, according to the de- 

 scription in the schedule, should be marked as correct; now 

 we have something we can see, which is before our eyes, by 

 which to judge the other; and we mark against him, ac- 

 cording to the amount of defect which his comb exhibits as 

 compared with the more perfect one, which for the occasion 

 we have taken as the standard ; in this way we proceed 

 with all the points applying each in turn, by taking the 

 bird having the point in the greatest perfection as the stand- 

 ard to judge the other by, marking against him such pro- 

 portion of the value as given to that point, as the point 

 bears to the more perfect one ; then by adding up the fig- 

 ures the one having the least will carry a majority of the 

 most valuable points in the greatest perfection, and will of 

 course be the better bird. 



In like manner this method can be used in judging a large 

 class ; first going through the class, marking off all disqual- 

 ified pens ; then going through again, marking off such 

 defective specimens which, as can at once be seen, would 

 have no chance of winning, until the competition is reduced 

 down to a comparatively small number of pens. These pens 

 which are now left for arbitration, should be taken out from 

 among the others and placed altogether, so that they can be 

 compared by the judges with the least amount of trouble, 

 and to the best possible advantage. They can then be figured 

 as in the case of the two birds mentioned above, and the 

 awards made in conformity. In connection with this, I 

 should like, also, to propose a plan, by which we may be 

 enabled to correct such errors as might appear in the new 

 standard ; and also, that we may make such necessary 

 changes as will, from time to time, appear desirable in conse- 

 quence of the advancement made in breeding. The fact that 

 the existing "standard" has become so impracticable and 

 unreliable in the short period of two years, will furnish suffi- 

 cient evidence of the necessity of something of this kind. I 

 therefore make the following suggestion : That upon the re- 

 quest of any fancier or breeder that a certain change be made 

 in the standard of excellence, with his reasons for the same, 

 the American Poultry Association shall cause the request to 

 be published in as many of the poultry papers as is deemed 

 desirable, or who will publish it free of charge, inviting all 

 persons interested on the question to communicate with the 

 Secretary of the Association, their views on the subject, or 

 their reasons vthy the request should not be granted. At the 

 annual meeting, a committee shall be appointed, its mem- 

 bers having no personal interest in the matter, to examine 

 the evidence presented to them, and to make a report to be 

 acted upon in full meeting ; or if it is thought best the com- 

 mittee shall have full power to decide the question at issue. 

 If the alteration is made, the Association should cause it to 

 be published in the poultry papers, and the poultry societies 

 notified ; so that the judging can be in conformity with the 

 same. 



I think that the best results would accrue from the adop- 

 tion, by the American Poultry Association, of an article in 

 their constitution founded upon some plan similar to the 

 above ; it would do away, in a great measure, with the ill- 

 effects of a "fixed" standard. I am very glad that Mr. 



Woodward has expressed his opinions on this question, as 

 they will undoubtedly cause considerable study and thought 

 to be given to the subject, which will probably result in 

 some satisfactory solution at the meeting to be held in 

 Buffalo, on the 15th proximo. 



George F. Clarke. 

 Boston, December, 1873. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE POULTRY SOCIETY. 



The seventh annual exhibition will be held in the City 

 Hall, Manchester, February 24, 25, and 26, 1874. The 

 Society and special premiums amount to nearly one thousand 

 dollars, which are open to the competition of the world. 

 For rules, premium lists, entry blanks, &c., address 



Wm. G. Garmon, Secretary, 



Manchester, N. H. 



Office of the Iowa State Poultry Association, 

 Cedar Rapids, December 21, 1873. 

 Jos. M. 'Wade, Esq. 



Dear Sir : Our exhibition is over, and has been a success. 

 The show of birds was all our hall could hold, and though 

 there was a lack of some of the rarer varieties, the quality 

 of those shown was excellent, and every one was both grati- 

 fied and surprised to see so many fine birds, owned almost 

 entirely in our State. Financially we are all right, and 

 already have a good bid for the location next year. 



I showed the Journal you sent me to all the fanciers 

 present I could find, and every one liked it very much, and 

 I think you will get quite a number of subscribers and adver- 

 tisements from this state. 



The Journal is just what I have long wished for. The 

 monthly journals are first-rate, but I get hungry for news 

 in regard to our specialties between the time of publication, 

 and I welcome the Fanciers' Journal as the one thing needed 

 to supply a long-felt want. May success crown your effort' 

 is my heartfelt wish. Very truly yours, 



C. J. Ward, 



Secretary I. S. P. A. 

 N.B. — Please find inclosed list of Premiums awarded at 



The Iowa State Poultry Association. 



Light Brahma Fowls. First, E. I. Purdy, Blairstown, 

 Iowa; third, George Richardson, Atlantic, Iowa. 



Light Brahma Chicks. First and second, C. J. Ward, 

 Cedar Eapids; third, E. I. Purdy; fourth, F. S. Hedges, 

 Fairfax, Iowa; fifth, H. C. Piatt, Tipton, Iowa. 



Dark Brahma Fowls. First, W. D. Watrous, Cedar 

 llapids ; second, H. C. Piatt, Tipton. 



Dark Brahma Chicks. First, C. J. Ward, Cedar Eapids ; 

 second, L. H. Barnes, Blairstown, Iowa; third, H. C. Dar- 

 rah, Dubuque; fourth, O. Jay Ferree, DeWitt, Iowa; fifth, 

 J. H. Streeter, Cedar Eapids. 



Buff Cochin Fowls. First, H. C. Piatt, Tipton ; second, 

 Ferguson Brothers, Cedar Eapids. 



Buff Cochin Chicks. First, C. J. Ward, Cedar Eapids ; 

 second, H. C. Darrah, Dubuque; third, H. C. Piatt, Tipton. 



Partridge Cochins. First, Z. C. Luse & Son, Iowa City ; 

 second, Miss Madge Tupper, Des Moines. 



Partridge Cochin Chicks. First, L. H. Barnes, Blairs- 

 town ; second, Z. C. Luse & Son, Iowa City ; third, H. C. 

 Piatt, Tipton ; fourth, 0. C. Leonard, Cedar Eapids. 



