FANCIERS' JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



137 



(SittttyenAtntt. 



Mr. Jos. M. Wade. 



Dear Sir: Shippers of fowls find it difficult to provide suffi- 

 cient water for their trip. I have been acting upon the sug- 

 gestion of my son, by putting into the vessel a float, made of 

 thin board, enough smaller than the inside of the water-ves- 

 sel, so that when swollen it will not bind ; have in the centre 

 a hole into which the fowls can put their bill, and the thing- 

 is complete. 



The idea is taken from the carrying of water in pails on 

 the cars, into which the train men lay a piece of board or 

 plank. Let poultry men try it and they will like it. The 

 wattles of the fowls are held up out of the water, and the 

 coop may be tilted more than one would suppose without 

 spilling from the dish, and it would be difficult to get it all 

 out without actually upsetting the cage or box. 

 Truly yours, &c, 



William Atwood. 

 Big Flats, Chemung Co., N. Y. 



Mr. Joseph M. Wade. 



Dear Sir: The Journal bearing date of February 5th, came 

 to hand this p.m., and has been carefully perused the second 

 time. You need no assurance that it received a cordial wel- 

 come. It will be loaned and reloaned until all fanciers in this 

 neighborhood have had the pleasure of reading and making 

 its acquaintance. 



Several have promised to subscribe, and I know they will 

 not delay, as they cannot afford to be without its weekly 

 visits. 



A weekly poultry journal is no longer an experiment, 

 and parties who predicted failure, have only to examine 

 your columns of fresh interesting reading matter, to see that 

 the supply is equal to the demand without the aid of old 

 musty poultry records. 



I did not intend writing a treatise on breeding, mating, 

 or management of any new variety of imported ducks, or to 

 tell you that my yards contain the finest specimens of Light 

 Brahmas to be found in the country at $75 per trio ; but on 

 general matters. 



First, to congratulate you on the fine appearance of the 

 Journal, and the success that has thus far attended your 

 efforts, judging from the liberal advertising patronage you 

 have received, which is the very best test of merit. 



Article headed "Do as you Contract," page 89, reminds 

 me of a small transaction I heard concerning a Western 

 breeder, who prides himself on his standing and stock he 

 exhibits, which by the way frequently takes prizes. 



Last season he ordered some Brahmas from one of the 

 leading breeders in this State, and after raising a number of 

 fine chickens (some of which received premiums this winter), 

 made complaint, and after threats intimating that the fowls 

 were not pure breed, insisted on returning them for the 

 purchase money. 



The great uneasiness concerning the late meeting of the 

 American Poultry Association is beginning to wear off, and 

 the reports of its transactions received leave no room for 

 complaint of rings, &c. 



The important business was fully deliberated upon by 

 men of experience and good judgment, and transacted in a 

 most creditable manner to all concerned. 



The new standard will be looked for with much interest 



by would-be standard breeders and fanciers generally. Some 

 of the first will be severe in their denunciation, while the 

 more considerate will not look for perfection, and be content 

 with the vast improvement over the old standard. 



Now let every state and local poultry association in the 

 land wheel into line, indorse the action of the American 

 Poultry Association, send on their applications for member- 

 ship, and by every word Jand thought add to its efficiency 

 and prosperity. 



Illinois. 



Mr. Jos. M. Wade. 



Dear Sir : I beg leave to inform you I received per 

 steamer Denmark, on Saturday, a pair of the finest Ayles- 

 bury ducks I ever saw. Yours truly, C. B. Elben. 



Hingham Centre, Mass., Feb 11, 1874. 

 J. M. Wade, Esq. 



Dear Sir: Seeing in your paper of Feb. 5th a description 



of a large egg, I thought I would give an account of an egg 



that one of my Light Brahma hens laid the 6th of February ; 



it measures 14 inches in circumference the long way, and 7 



inches the short way ; weighs. 4f ounces. 



Yours respectfully. 



P. JS". Spraque. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



PREPARE FOR NEXT SHOW. 



There are many among amateur poultry fanciers who 

 could take premiums at some of our leading shows, did they 

 but have the courage to send their stock. The trouble 

 sterns to arise from the fact that they misapprehend the 

 meaning of the standard. They seem to take it for granted 

 that no stock will have any chance which will not figure 

 over eighty-five or ninety points. 



I confess myself to a little guilt in this matter. Some 

 time ago I had made all my preparations for sending a trio 

 each of Brown Leghorns and Plymouth Bocks to one of 

 our leading shows, but just on the eve of making the entry, 

 my courage gave way and my stock remained at home, 

 though one of the trios had been expressly matched for me 

 by a leading breeder and exhibitor for this particular show. 



Guess my mortification when on meeting a friend on the 

 street to-day who had been at the show referred to ; almost 

 the first thing he said was : " Your stock should have been at 

 the show ; you would have taken first premium or both." I 

 had no doubt as to the value of my own stock, but I, without 

 any ground whatever, imagined that there would probably 

 be better on exhibition, and kept mine at home. I see my 

 mistake, but too late to correct it for this season. 



At the late Buffalo show, a premium of $100 was offered 

 for the finest dark Brahma hen. What is the result of the 

 investigation ? Simply this: that the winning bird figured 

 less than a hundred points, — just ninety-five and a half, — 

 and this is probably the best, at least one of the very best 

 liens in the United States, and yet she is not perfect. 



Isn't there encouragement for the amateur in this result ? 

 Isn't there encouragement for all of us to know that this 

 first premium bird under this hundred dollar inducement 

 falls short of perfection by four and a half points? It ought 

 to set every breeder and fancier at work, whether his flock 

 consists of five or fifty, to produce some birds which shall be 

 worthy of the next show. And when he has bred the birds 



