FANCIERS' JOURN 



481 



F363 



BIRD 



AND 



POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



Vol. I. 



PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 19, 1874. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



WESTERN NEW YORK POULTRY SHOW. 



Me. Editor: 



We attended the Buffalo Show, and, although much hard 

 lahor was to be performed, we never spent a few days more 

 pleasantly. We there came face to face with many of our 

 old friends, whom we had long desired to see, but had never 

 met before. A short season with the "Buffalo boys" and 

 those who sojourned with them was enough in itself to fully 

 compensate for all the sacrifices of the journey. 



But the Show! It was splendid. Everything was in 

 order. We realize our inability to do it justice. Exhibitors, 

 as well as officers of the Society, may well feel proud of the 

 contents of St. James' Hall. As we entered the door, a 

 long row of pens, two deep, containing magnificent speci- 

 mens of Buff Cochins, met our view. Partridges, White 

 and Black Cochins were also a credit to their respective 

 classes, yet the latter was not so great in numbers. Light 

 and Dark Brahmas crowded hard in numbers and quality 

 on the Cochins ; but we could see more faulty birds in the 

 latter variety than in the former. Two coops of Malays 

 put in their appearance, and we stopped in front of them 

 and admired their ungainliness and awkwardness. Ban- 

 tams may be the extreme of beauty, but Malays are cer- 

 tainly the other extreme. We have had some experience 

 with them, and believe they are really a profitable fowl, on 

 account of their excellent laying and table qualities. 



Two or three coops of Golden Polands and one of Black 

 would cover all in the Poland class that were worthy speci- 

 mens. A few good White Dorkings and a very slim dis- 

 play of Grays is all that could be said of the Dorking class ; 

 but when we come to Hamburgs, we require much time to 

 look through the different coops of Golden and Silver varie- 

 ties. We never saw a better display, nor better birds. A 

 few coops of Black were also shown. With our experience, 

 we consider the latter the best of all Hamburgs, and hope 

 to see them share as prominent a place in the show-room as 

 the others. There were some coops of White Hamburgs, 

 but we did not admire them much. The Dominiques and 

 Plymouth Rocks were very fairly represented, yet many of 

 the former bore strong marks of having been crossed with 

 the latter. We are sorry we are obliged to pass the French 

 class without comment; we must go to Utica for them. 



Of the Game class, we might throw out a few birds and 

 then say we had a show of them worthy of any exhibition ; 

 and the same of Game Bantams. There were Black Bed, 

 Brown Bed, Duckwing Pile, Black, and even Irish Gray 

 Bantams ; and we gazed on them in wonder and admira- 

 tion, in view of the amount of care, study, and perseverance 

 required to bring these pets to their present state of perfec- 

 tion. A few coops of African and a few of Sebright's made 

 up the class in Bantams. 



Although water fowls were shown in fair numbers, nearly 

 every coop contained good birds, and the Ducks were, with 



the exception "of Cayugas, far ahead of those shown a few 

 years since. We read that we " cannot make one hair 

 white or black," but we noticed one exhibitor failed to 

 agree with that sentence as regards feathers, for one coop of 

 Cayugas, which had white patches on their breasts, had 

 moulted before the judges had passed on them, and every 

 feather was black. The judges, however, understood their 

 business, and reported accordingly. One coop of Pekin 

 Ducks and only one of Muscovys were shown. We admire 

 the former, and think it will be a popular and useful 

 variety. 



Two coops of Geese could have been improved for breed- 

 ing if they had been "slightly mixed" or changed, as one 

 contained two "female geese" and the other two "male 

 ganders." In all our experience we have never known 

 birds mated in that way to be very productive. 



We must not forget the turkeys, for, although there were 

 not a great many, the specimens were noble and creditable. 

 Bronze cocks weighing nearly forty pounds, and hens over 

 twenty pounds each, some beautiful Buffs, Narragansets, 

 Blacks, and Blues were to be seen. 



The fine display of Pish and Minks attracted usual 

 attention, and the Dressed Poultry was the finest we have 

 ever seen. The Pigeons we will not attempt to describe. 

 There were coops. upon coops of very superior specimens, 

 and they attracted many admirers. When our Buffalo 

 friends have another Show, " May I be there to see." 



J. T. BlCENBLL. 



Westmoreland, N. Y. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



NOTES FROM THE EAST. 



No. 4 of the Fanciers' Journal came promptly. We con- 

 sider it just the thing — pleasant to the eye, and good for the 

 mind. Short articles right to the point ; results of experi- 

 ments rather than guess-work; friendly advice, judicious 

 counsel, and few advertisements, are some of its good quali- 

 ties. Long may it live, and miles may it travel, until every 

 bird fancier in the country has booked his name for a copy. 



The " hen fever " that has raged in almost every city and 

 village in the United States, attacked us early last spring. 

 Prompt measures were resorted to, but were of no avail. It 

 has continued to gain upon us, and at the present writing 

 our quiet little village is all astir, and poultry-houses, sitting 

 hens, pretty pullets, and heavy cocks, are the principal sub- 

 jects of conversation. Hens are traded as are horses, and 

 gentlemen of leisure ride from one town to another to ex- 

 amine, compare, and criticize poultry. 



A Society has recently been formed, entitled the Merrimac 

 Valley Poultry Association, with General Chas. A. Johnson 

 as President, and measures are soon to be taken for a show. 

 Medical men, ministers, and mechanics are alike interested. 



There is nothing so well adapted to the wants of all classes, 

 to drive dull care away, and rest a weary brain, as the care 



