268 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 3, 1878. 
allow them to get a sight of the Show wished to do so, and begged 
to be allowed an evening view. How could this possibly be 
managed without gas? The enterprising Committee solved the 
difficulty by ordering at great cost the lighting of the buildings 
by the electric light. 
We confess to having become rather tired of the sameness of 
poultry shows, the novel features of this one were therefore par- 
ticularly pleasing to us. We feel sure that other committees will 
take hints from it. 
pairs yet in separate pens was a decided success. It obviates all 
scuffing in the pen, and enables a judge to have a fair look at 
both birds apart. But we must proceed to particulars. The major 
portion of the birds were shown in the Drill Hall, but the entries 
so far exceeded expectation that a marquee annex was added com- 
municating with the hall. 
The local classes came first, and very good they were for local 
classes. The special prize of six guineas went to a wonderful 
pair of Dorkings, the hen not very good in feet, still such a pair 
as might win at the Crystal Palace. The first pair of Brahmas, 
too (Lights), must have been very near for this honour. The 
winning Créve cock, too, struck us as magnificent, but his partner 
was poor in crest. 
In the open classes Dorkings came first,as they should. All the 
prizes went to Darks, the Silver-Greys shown not being first-rate. 
The cockerel in the first pen and the pullet in the second were 
wonderful birds. The third-prize pair far exceeded all others in 
size, but are lighter in colour than the now fashionable birds, and 
so many judges would have preferred Mr. Burnell’s highly com- 
mended pair. Cochins were not all round a fine class, though the 
winners were excellent. First were a pair of Buffs, the cockerel 
immense and the pullet beautiful in shape and even colouring ; 
second some of the most sheeny green Blacks we have ever seen ; 
third good, a shapely White. A pair of Partridge, the pullet of 
which was superb, were disqualified on account of the singular 
state of the cockerel’s wing. The whole of the secondary wing 
feathers were either absent or very short, and the latter were 
obviously coming perfectly twisted, and would when full grown 
cause the wing to be deformed. Brahmas were not well matched 
as a class, there being several ill-assorted pens. The winners were 
all good. First were Darks, too heavily hocked, but the pullet a 
beauty of the softest Silver-Grey hue; second and third were 
Light, both goodin quality. Game.—First and second were capital 
Piles ; the cockerel in the second pen was undubbed ; Black Reds 
were third. Polands were a very good class of eighteen entries, 
and included all three varieties. A very superior pair of Golden 
took first prize. Hamburghs were a good class, though many were 
out of condition. Langshans had eight entries. We hardly know 
what to say of them. We know that the Judges did their best to 
make their awards according to the standard of the Langshan 
fanciers, but rumour said that the third-prize pair were nearly 
related to some well known Black Cochins. Sultans were a very 
poor lot, several hens being hump-backed. The Judge withheld 
first prize. The second pair were generally by far the best, though 
the pullet showed a tinge of colourin the breast. They were five- 
clawed, as were, we think, the original lot imported by Miss Watts ; 
all the others shown had four claws. Spanish were, as a class, 
rather behind, though the first pair were generally good, but want- 
ing a little in drop. Houdans——The winners were all good; the 
rest not remarkable. In Créves again the prize birds were all 
good, though seyeral otherwise fine cockerels in this class were 
inclined to have wry tails. La Fléche were a poor lot. Leghorns 
multiply and improve. There were eighteen entries, and few bad 
birds. First and second were beautiful Whites, very free from 
any yellow tinge; third capital Browns. Mr. Bradbury’s birds 
were penned after the awards were made, but just in time for a 
high commendation to be given to a good Brown pair. Anda- 
lusians were decidedly good. The first and second cockerels were 
both splendid birds, the general carriage of the first being rather 
the best, and their make well worthy of them. The pair of first 
winners at the Staffordshire Show had to be content with a 
high commendation. Any other Variety were not a very large or 
remarkable class. First were a fine pair of Malays, second Silkies, 
and third Dominiques. The Selling Class was for single birds of 
either sex,a good Spanish cockerel winning first ; a bargain for 
someone. 
Time failed us to do justice to the Pigeons. We saw in a hasty 
glance that in Pouters some of the best known winners were 
beaten. Jacobins were a large and capital class, an excellent Red 
first. Fantails were in singularly good condition for the time of 
year. First hud a wonderfully round tail and fine carriage. In 
‘Turbits a well-known Yellow and Blue were first and second, Mr. 
Raper third with a Black clean in thighs. We fancied all his 
birds were sold the other day at Stevens’s. In the variety class an 
Agate Tumbler and a Blue Runt were first and second. 
The visitors to the Show seemed many, and included a number 
of leading fanciers, who were the guests of Mr. Peel at Abbots 
Hill. It seemed to us that the wonderful management of the 
Show, down to the minutest details, was firstly owing to the 
energy and generalship of the Rey. H. R. Peel, and secondly to 
the fact that the Committee were a real working Committee. 
The exhibition of cockerels and pullets in | 
We must not omit to mention that the £25 prize for the most 
successful incubator was won by Messrs. Christy & Co. of Fen- 
church Street, whose two machines hatched an extraordinary 
number of chickens. A report of the incubators and their work- 
ings will be given elsewhere, so we will not at present say more 
about them. 
The staff of Judges was large for the numbers of entries. Their 
labours were thus divided :—The Rey. George Raynor took the 
local classes of poultry; Mr. O. E. Cresswell the Dorkings, 
Cochins, Sultans, Leghorns, Andalusians, Any other variety, and 
Selling class; Mr. M. Leno the Brahmas, Game, Polands, Ham- 
burghs, Langshans, Spanish, Houdans, Créves, and La Fleche ; 
Mr. F. Esquilant the Pigeons. We must not forget to mention 
that the Show was held under the patronage and rules of the 
Poultry Club. 
INCUBATORS AT HEMEL HEMPSTEAD. 
THE first competition of incubators ever held terminated at 
twelve o’clock on the 26th ult. at Hemel Hempstead. There were 
a few incubators exhibited at the Dairy Show at the Agricultural 
Hall a year ago, but there was nc competitive trial, the incubators 
being brought in just before the show opened, and exhibited in 
working order or not at the option of the inventor. At Hemel 
Hempstead, on the contrary, the incubators were started three 
weeks before the date of the poultry show, and during that time 
were under the sole care of a manager appointed by the Com- 
mittee. There have been some opinions expressed that the 
owners should have had the option of managing their own 
machines, but we think nothing could be fairer than the condi- 
tions under which the trial was held. : 
There is no doubt that some of the more complicated machines 
might possibly have furnished better results had they been in 
charge of their inventors, but we think that an incubator to be of 
any practical use should be sufficiently simple to be worked by 
any ordinarily intelligent person. We may congratulate the Com- 
mittee on haying had such a place as the Waterworks at their dis- 
posal, as it wa3 in every way fitted for such a trial, and also on 
having been able to place the incubators under the care of such a 
competent manager as Mr. Twig, who, being an engineer by pro- 
fession,-was especially suited to take charge of them. 
Seven incubators were entered for competition—one by M. Voi- 
tellier, and two each by Messrs. Christy, Penman,and Boyle. One 
of each of the machines invented by Messrs. Penman and Boyle 
was worked by hot water heated by gas and the other by lamp 
Messrs. Christy’s and Voitellier’s machines were worked simply 
by pouring in hot water at stated intervals. One of Mr. Christy's. 
incubators was the most successful, haying hatched by twelve 
o’clock, September. 26th (the time fixed for the conclusion of 
the trial), thirty-four out of forty-five fertile eggs, or about 75 
per cent. Mr. Christy’s second machine came next with 44 per 
cent. The only other successful exhibitor was Mr. Boyle, who 
hatched a small number in his gas incubator. In our opinion the 
total failure of Mr. Penman’s and the partial failure of Mr. Boyle’s 
machines were owing to the regulators being of such a compli- 
cated nature that the true working of every part could not always 
be depended on. M. Voitellier’s failure we believe was owing to 
the directions given for the management of his machines, which 
were very scanty, and we think rather doubtful on one or two 
oints. 
z With regard to the winning machine it was certainly as simple 
in theory as possible, but we think the trouble of procuring the 
necessary quantity of boiling water twice a day for several weeks 
will prevent its being of practical use to many who have not the 
time and accommodation necessary at their disposal. In conclu- 
sion, we wish to tender our congratulations to the Hemel Hempstead 
Committee on the success of the first attempt at an incubator 
competition, and trust we may soon have another contest under 
similar conditions, as we think a more perfect machine can be 
introduced than any yet exhibited —R. E. HORSFALL. 
Srtver-GREY DorkINGS.—May I once more appeal through 
your columns to the fanciers of Silver-Grey Dorkings for subscrip- 
tions towards a cup for the best adult cock or hen of the breed at 
the forthcoming Crystal Palace Show? I have already had 21s. 
given me by Mr. T. C. Burnell. My address is for the present 
—O. E. CRESSWELL, Windlesham, Bagshot, Surrey. 
VARIETIES. 
“THE agricultural returns for Great Britain,” writes Mr. James 
Caird to the Times, “show a small increase over last year in 
wheat and barley and a decrease in oats. The extent under 
wheat has increased by 50,000 acres. Estimating Ireland at a 
little over last year the total area of wheat in the United King- 
dom will be nearly 3,400,000 acres. From the general appearance 
of the crop on the ground, and trials by thrashing already made 
in various parts of the country, there can be no doubt that the 
wheat crop now being harvested is a full average, and the best 
