February H, 18G5. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AI^D COTTAGE GARDENER. 



139 



most promising undertakings to advise any person to invest 

 his all in any scheme, however promising. Yet I cannot 

 shut my eyes to the advantages that would be conferred on 

 the country by a Joint-Stock Company for poultry-breeding 

 and egg-preserving on scientific principles, or, as some may 

 call it, by artificial means ; and taking your statement 

 that wo import at the rate of one million of eggs daily, 

 with an increasing consumption, as a basis, there would 

 seemingly be room enough for a score of companies. 



I will not enter into details as to how such concerns 

 ought to be managed, but I entirely agree with your 

 concluding remarks, that poultry kept in very large 

 numbers together, and left to roam in all weathers, are sub- 

 ject to disease, which soon spreads, and profit disappears. 

 — Geo. K. Geyelint, C.E. 



THE POULTET CLUB. 



Lest any misconstruction might be placed on silence, I 

 wish to state, in reply to your correspondent " Timid Exhi- 

 BiTOB," and to the remarks in your '• Letter Box," that it 

 is not the intention of the Stewards of the Poultry Club 

 to enter into any discussion on its merits or constitution 

 through the columns of the press. 



The eii'cidar sent out to upwards of four hundred exhi- 

 bitors, with a view to make its objects more generally 

 known, will have informed your correspondent that the 

 " Hon. Secretary wiU be happy to give information on all 

 subjects connected with the Club ;" and I now repeat that 

 all courteous communications will be promptly and fully 

 replied to, but under no eircumstanoes will anonymous 

 letters through the press, or attacks consisting of vague 

 innendoes, be considered. 



The proceedings of the Club wiU be published from time 

 to time ; a list of its members and officers, a statement of its 

 objects, and, after the next general meeting, a copy of its 

 bye-laws, which are now in course of republication, will be 

 at the service of any one applying for them. 



It is the wish of the promoters' that the Club stand or fall 

 on its merits. Its numbers are daily increasing, and its 

 officers are fully determined that no amount of individual 

 cavilling, ex parte statements, or editorial cold water, shall 

 deter them from carrying out what they consider its legiti- 

 mate ends. I may add that the discountenancing of dealer 

 judges is one of their principal objects, and they see nothing 

 in then- list of judges at variance with it. ^ 



It was in your columns that this great reform was fii-st 

 publicly advocated, and on that point at least the officers of 

 the Club feel sure of your sympathy.— Fbed. Wm. Zixbhokst, 

 Hon. Sec. (pro. tern.) 



NANTWICH POULTfiY EXHIBITION. 

 This Exhibition is generally admitted to be the closino- 

 show of the season, and, although limited to the immediate 

 locahty— viz., a circle of thii-teen miles from Nantwich— the 

 competition, in the majority of the classes, is such as would 

 put to the blush many meetings of far higher preten- 

 sions. _ The Nantwioh Show is consequently regarded with 

 much interest among poultry amateurs, and never lacks 

 a large number of visitors. Nothing is ever left undone 

 that can tend to the comfort of the birds exhibited, or tlie 

 pleasure of those persons who may attend the Show, by the 

 gentlemen who officiate on the Nantwich Committee; and 

 the popularity of this Show is also very greatly enhanced 

 by the untmng attention of Mr. Edwin Rhodes, as Hon 

 beoretary. Quietude, order, and regidaaity are, therefore 

 universal throughout the whole proceedings. Some of our 

 most noted breeders of exhibition poultry residing within 

 ttie limits to which competition is restricted, scarcely any 

 class seems to differ materially fi-om those met with at all 

 other local shows ; and the Game fowls raised round Nantwich 

 ai-e noted for being excellent, their reputation in the cock- 

 pit being established for a long series of years prior to the 

 institution of our earhest poultry exhibitions. These birds 

 stiu remain umversal favourites in the district; ^and 

 consequently, it is ^by no means uncommon for some of 

 our most noted breeders of Game fowls to canvass this 

 neighbourhood closely in search of scecimens for the show- 



pen. For bh-ds equal to the requirements of such parties, 

 therefore, a very liberal price is frequently obtained. Such 

 encouragement naturally fosters a spirit of emulation : and 

 hence it is that, year by year, the competition in these 

 classes invariably increases. The variety of Game fowls 

 most esteemed about Nantwich is the Brown Reds. This 

 is easily accounted for from the fact that they are known 

 to be the hardest fighters of all Game fowls. 



This neighbourhood is also famotis for its strain of Red 

 Pne Game fowls ; and yet another breed of very hard- 

 feathered Game cocks are to be commonly met with, exhi- 

 bited by the Nantwich breeders as Black Reds, but they are 

 far too dark-coloured for show fowls of that feather. They 

 have every appearance, however, of being birds of great 

 power and courage. The Spanish classes at Nantwich were 

 indisputably good. We regretted to see, however, in a 

 higUy commended pen, decidedly the best cock shown with 

 all the serrations of the comb frosted completely oif, leaving 

 him as useful as before for stock pui'poses, but ruining him 

 for ever as a show bird. Proprietors of highly-bred Spanish 

 fowls cannot possibly be too careful in giving theii' best 

 birds due protection from intense cold. 



Following the order of the catalogue, Aylesbury IhwTcs 

 stand next, and a finer collection is rarely met with ; the 

 Rouen Ducks were also very good. In Turkeys the birds, 

 individually considered, were pierfect, but a proper regard to 

 matching, as to feather, seemed disregarded. The class for 

 Oeese comprised only three pens, a beautifully-feathered 

 pair of Canadians, and two unusually good pens of the 

 Embden variety. 



All the DorMngs were good, and fit to compete at much 

 larger meetings. 



In Cochins, Mr. Tudman, of Whitchurch, seems to have 

 absolutely frightened all competition out of the field. That 

 gentleman's well-known birds were shown in excellent 

 condition, and well-merited the prizes they obtained ; but 

 we do hope another year to find some enterprising resident 

 amateur or another throwing down the gauntlet to prevent 

 a positive " walk over." 



The " Selling class " was good, and several pens changed 

 hands. 



The Game fowl classes generally were quite sufficient to 

 sustain the high repute of the district, numbers of the 

 Brown Reds being as close an approach to perfection as 

 could well be supposed. The competition in this variety 

 has been rarely equalled, and a number of these birds 

 speedily changed ownership. We regretted much to see 

 a very excellent pen, and a prizewinner, subjected to the 

 loss of its premium through an improper entry as to owner- 

 ship. Why cannot men either observe the rules laid down 

 or decline competition ? The attempt to thus covertly take 

 prizes is a dangerous experiment in every case, as facts 

 among the non-successful, however carefully concealed, will 

 always ooze out, and subsequent exposui-e cannot bring 

 with it anything oovetable in the retrospect, as regulations 

 must be enforced. The winner of the Nantwich Victuallers' 

 silver cup, for the best Game cockerel, was a splendid speci- 

 men of BrownRed, althoughbarelyrecovered from "dubbing." 

 The Hamburghs were many of them good, whilst the 

 Polands were of extreme merit; here, however, as in the 

 Cochins, Mr. Heath, with his capital collection of Silver- 

 spangled ones, seems to frighten all rivals away. Some 

 very good Game Bantams were shown, both Black Reds and 

 Duckwings. The entries for the "Any other Variety class" 

 were six in number, from four different exhibitors, yet, 

 singularly enough, every pen consisted of Brahmas. They 

 are justly prized about Nantwich as winter layers, for pul- 

 lets of this variety rarely discontinue laying even should the 

 weather become suddenly severe. 



The collection of Pigeons was not so large as usual, but 

 embraced many perfect pens. Among the most praise- 

 worthy specimens were some Dun Carriers, an excellent 

 class of Dragons, and Nuns as near perfection as could be 

 hoped for. Among the extras were some very good White 

 Doves and well-conditioned Lahore Pigeons. 



The collection of Singing Birds was good, and in this por- 

 tion of the Show was one of the most beautiful specimens of 

 the Skylark ever, perhaps, exhibited. 



Single Game Cocks (Any colour).— First. E. Bowers, Nantwich. Second, 

 T. Burgess, Budeydam. TUird, J. Walle.T, Larden Green. Fourth, H, 



