40 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



t July 13, 1876. 



days, that is if it ever ought to begin at all ; but though we do 

 not in any way want to go into what is lawful and what is not, 

 or whether any beautifying process is legitimate, still we must 

 say we experience difficulty to find just where the judges do 

 draw their line. Everyone knows that no Game, Spanish, or 

 White-crested Black Poland is put into a pen by an exhibitor 

 of any understanding without being trimmed somewhere on the 

 head; or again, that any of the knowing north-country Ham- 

 burgh breeders exhibit their birds without the comb being 

 carved and cut into order, consequently while these things are 

 allowed by the judges we cannot imagine on what principle they 

 regulate their ideas about when a bird is overtrimmed. As we 

 said, we do not mean to say whether we think trimming and 

 beautifying is advantageous or not, but we do want to know why 

 it is worse to cut a Spanish cock's comb than it is a Hamburgh's ; 

 why, in fact, should a Spanish cock with a cut comb be passed 

 over, which really means disqualification, while at the same 

 show a Hamburgh with a manifestly home-made pike to its 

 comb may have first prize ? why, again, a Spanish cock or hen 

 with a face which must have been touched-up should win a 

 prize, while a chicken which also has been touched-up should 

 be disqualified? At Abingdon last week we heard several 

 wonder why no second prize had been awarded in the Spanish, 

 and we were told the birds which were to have had that honour 

 were too much trimmed, and so the pen was disqualified. "We 

 should like to know if the judge thought the first-prize pen was 

 shown just as Nature had made them. 



We often think many of the birds which deserve disqualifica- 

 tion come off scot-free, although the adjudicators knew full well 

 the birds deserve the ugly card, while on other occasions some 

 birds are disqualified which do not deserve it. Everyone re- 

 members the case of a well-known hocked Brahma hen being dis- 

 qualified because the tips of her hocks had been rubbed off, and 

 everyone who knows anything about poultry would know that a 

 hocked hen to be trimmed would not have been dressed in that 

 rude way, but would have had the feathers abstracted and the 

 holes cauterised to prevent their growing again, or they would have 

 been cut off close to the skin so as to avoid detection. The bird 

 had evidently been running on rough ground, and the hocks had 

 lost the tips of their feathers by the friction; and yet here was a 

 bird disqualified and a yard disgraced because more trouble had 

 not been taken to ascertain whether any other cause was possible 

 beyond the fact of trimming. And then another case, when a 

 Cochin cock, which was a notorious winner, had at the end of a 

 long season of many triumphs broken his tail feathers from the 

 frequent penning, was disqualified. No one could imagine why, 

 for the bird was almost as well known as the judge himself ; and 

 even had this adjudicator thought it best to disqualify him for 

 the broken feathers, although he knew the bird desired no 

 doctoring at all, it would have been more satisfactory for him to 

 have stated the reason of the bird's disgrace. We feel it is most 

 important that the cause should always be known, and as this to 

 a great extent lies with the judges, we hope that they will write 

 their reasons on their slips and ask the secretary to have the 

 same posted and recorded as much as if they had won the cup 

 or first prize. 



We feel the subject wants to be aired, for we have heard of 

 more disqualifications in the last few weeks than ever before, we 

 think, in as many months. Over and over again we hear of a 

 whole class of Nuns being disqualified, but we never remember 

 hearing before of a whole class of Spanish being ticketed with 

 the same objectionable cards for being "overtrimmed" as we 

 have done this week. We can only say that we really should 

 seriously recommend Spanish exhibitors to find out from the 

 judges what they will allow and what they will not, for the very 

 fact of the birds being called " overtrimmed," as our corre- 

 spondent who wrote to us termed it, shows that it is generally 

 supposed that the judges will bear with a certain amount. But 

 when the bounds are stepped over and the judge feels that he 

 must disqualify, by all means let those at the show and those 

 away from it know the cause of the disqualification, or else a 

 pair of Brahmas entered by mistake among the French may to 

 the uninitiated and the absent appear to be in the same boat 

 with a notoriously dyed Duckwing or clipped Golden-spangled 

 Hamburgh. — W. 



RIPON SHOW OP POULTRY, &c. 



The annual Show was held at Ripon on the 4th. The pens 

 were fixed in the open field ; but the day being fine and the pens 

 being placed under some large trees all passed off well. The 

 prize list was but small, and for the amount offered the entries 

 were good. 



Game headed the list, and these were in pairs, and a mixed 

 class ; the first Brown Reds, and second Duckwings, both very 

 good and well placed. Spanish and Brahmas very poor; but 

 Dorkings good. In Cochins first were Buff, the cock a grand 

 colour but a little bad on feet; second Black. Among the 

 Hamburghs were some very good birds, especially the Gold- 

 spangles and Silver-pencils. Bantams poor, except the winners 

 in each class. Turkeys a grand class, very even, and the 



whole of them noticed. Ducks a failure ; but Geese and Guinea 

 Fowls really first-rate. In the former White Embden won both 

 prizes. 



In Pigeons an old trick was played. One large exhibitor with 

 entries in every class never turned up, no doubt some crotchet 

 or other having deterred him ; but in this case there is little 

 doubt but that the fine to be imposed in each case of failure to ex- 

 hibit would be enforced, and thus Mr. Horner will be taught to 

 respect the provision made for him in future. The entries were 

 pretty good, and in some classes the birds were very good. 

 Pouters, Almonds, and English Owls, especially the latter, being 

 very good indeed. 



Babbits were badly classified, and the consequence was the 

 stock shown was poor except the first, which was a nice Hima- 

 layan. 



POULTRY.— Gayie.— 1, W. Bearpark. 2, W.Scott. Spanish — 1, Homer and 

 Holdsworth. 2, H. A. Hawkins Dorkings.— 1, T. P. Carver. Bbahyia Pootbas. 

 — Light.— 1, H. Digby. 2, J. Smith. Baric.— 1, G. ilangles. Houdans.— 1, J. 

 Whitton. CBEVE-Uc3uas.— 1, J. Eobshaw. 2, B. XTyers. Pglands.— 1 and 2, C, 

 Walker. Cochin-Chinas. — 1, F. Horsman. 2, J. Smith. Hambiteghs. — 

 Golden-spangled.— 1, T. P. Carver. 2, W. Bearpark. Silver-spangled — 1, J. 

 Robshaw. 2, W. Bearpark. Golden-pencilled.— 1, 6-. Kidson. 2, T. P. Carver. 

 Silver-pencilled.— 1, H. Digby. 2, J. Robshaw. Bantams.— Golden-laced. — 



1, W. Richardson. 2. T. P. Carver. Silver-laced.— 1, H. A. Hawkins. 2, T. P. 

 Carver. Game.—l, Welis & Sherwin. 2, J. Whitton. Black, White, or any 

 other variety.— 1, H. A. Hawkins. 2, W. Bearpark. Turkeys.— 1, ilrs. Kirk. 



2, W. H. Garforth. Geese.— 1, 1, lloorey. 2, W. H. Garforth. Ducks.— Ayles- 

 bury.— I, H. Digby. 2, J. Bowman. Roue n— 1, W. H. Garforth. 2, G. Mangles. 

 Any breed or cross. — 1, G. Sadler. Gcinea Fowls. — 1, C. Nicholson. 2, J. T. 

 Renton. Selling Class.— 1, H. Digby. t, J. Robshaw. Estra Stock.— 2, A. 

 Wood (Light Brahmas). 



PIGEONS.— Carriers. — 1 and 2, J. E. Crofts. Tumblers.— Almond. — L T. 

 Horsman, jnn. 2, T. E. Coilinson. Any other variety. — 1, T. Horsman, jnn. 

 2, X. E. Coilinson. Pouters.— 1, J. E. Crofta. 2, G.Sadler. Antwebps. — 1 ant} 

 2, J. W. Stansfield. Jacobins. — I, J. E. Crofts. 2, G. Sadler. Fantatls.— 1, G. 

 Sadler. 2, W. H. Clarke. Owls.— English.— 1 and 2, J. *V. Stansfield. Tbuyi- 

 petebs.— 1, E. Williams & Son. Barbs. — 1, J. E. Crofts. 2, T. E. Coilinson. 

 Tubbits.— 1, J. E. Crofts. 2, W.Clark. Nuns.— 1, J. E. Crofts. 2, T. P. Carver. 

 Dragoons. — 1, Welfs & Sherwin. AlAGPrES.— 1, J. E. Crofts. 2, R. Bland, jnn. 

 Any New ob Distinct Variety.— 1, Welfs .£ Sherwin. 2, J. Grimes. Selling 

 class.— 1, T. Horsman, jnn. 2, Wells J: Sherwin. Extra Stock. — 1, E. T 

 James. 2, J. Tinsley. 



Judge. — Mr. Cannan. 



HANTS AND BERKS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S 

 SHOW OF POULTRY, &C.-ABINGDON. 



The progress of this deserving Association is truly remark- 

 able. A few years since it was open for a few hours of one day at 

 a small Hampshire market town, now it covers several acres. 

 Its entries count by hundreds, and its visitors by tens of thou- 

 sands. It is a busy scene. We suppose it arises from the fact 

 that everybody at an exhibition is more or less on the loose, 

 or that paterfamilias when he goes home is expected to take 

 something for everybody from mater downwards, or that the 

 many couples that tell themselves off are looking forward and 

 either buy or promise to buy ; but it is a fact, some parts of the 

 stalls remind one of a continental fair. Such receipts for mend- 

 ing china — a willow-pattern plate broken across and mended 

 with this cement continues entire, although it is suspended at 

 top through two holes by a strong cord, ana the lower half is tied 

 by a half-hundred weight hanging to it. One most persevering 

 individual wished to borrow everybody's knife that he might 

 rub it on a poker, and then restore the sharp edge by the use of 

 a steel of his own. Every sort of cart and carriage. Gates that 

 even a donkey cannot open. Portable-folded seats, handy to 

 carry, very light, and mosc comfortable when in use. Such dairy 

 appliances — we must call them beautiful. Such churns, in- 

 valuable if they will do half that which they are warranted to 

 do. Garden seats and flower pot3 in every material. Whatever 

 the cause may be, school of design or otherwise, no one can 

 deny or be blind to the wonderful improvements in the designs 

 of these beautiful manufactures. Pumps of every description. 

 Steam engines crushing stones, throwing water, digging noles, 

 hoisting straw, and obedient as any slave of the lamp. Sewing 

 machines of every sort. Childrens' useful toys, such as garden- 

 ing tools, wheelbarrows, and perambulators. Giant seed esta- 

 blishments boasting every decoration. The English are a sport- 

 ing people. How they run to the announcement, " The horses 

 are going to the ring," and how they enjoy the riding round and 

 the jumping. Then the two military bands discoursing sweet 

 sounds at different places ; and then the ring in which the dogs 

 are judged, most competitors in the hands of their owners. The 

 dear pug that will not leave its mistress, and seems aware he 

 has got into mixed company. 



The good old town — and there is no doubt of its antiquity — was 

 en fete. The streets lined with lofty masts covered with striped 

 calico, and bearing banderolles and flags. Ropes spanning the 

 streets, from which were suspended all the colours we have seen 

 for years. We almost fancy that like Albert Smith's sponge-cake 

 elephant at the supper, we recognise some of the decorations, 

 having seen them at many. If good wishes are worth anything 

 " Agriculture " should do well. She had " Welcome " in all 

 directions, and it seemed the universal wish that she should 

 have " success " and " prosperity." We have been to many, 

 towns in our lives, bat never before to one of this magnitude 



