374 



JOURNAL. OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



C October 25, 1876. 



Simple carelessness of takiDg life is in the boy, and some 

 men, who areBaid to love a gun! Ton likeBhooting, yonng man, 

 do you, and your meanB do not allow you to be a sportsman ? 

 Go, then, and join a volunteer corps and shoot for a prize, but do 

 not harm God's harmless creatures. There is a sacredness as 

 •well as a beauty in life, which must not be invaded save for a 

 good cause. You must not kill " all for the pleasure of making 

 a little noise." This low sport should be frowned down upon 

 by all thoughtful people. Punch, whose instincts are always 

 healthy, gave, I remember, some years since, a fancy picture 

 of the chairman or first-prizeman of a Sparrow club, and 'twas 

 the very likeness of a snob indeed. Sometimes cruelty is simply 

 the result of ignorance, as in the Sussex gamekeeper, who 

 always shot the Cuckoos because he thought they turned into 

 Hawks in the winter. This good man had clearly no idea of 

 ihe migration of birds, but had a queer notion of claws to think 

 that the innocently-shaped foot of the Cuckoo could be changed 

 into the talons of the Hawk. Another instance of the cruelty of 

 ignorance came to my knowledge. A gardener used to walk 

 about armed with a club, with which to pound and Bmash frogs 

 and toads, wholly ignorant that a toad in a cucumber frame is 

 treasured by many gardeners as a true friend. I think nothing 

 more repulsive to kindly human feelings can be imagined than 

 a man going about smashing into pulp harmless and even useful 

 oreatureB. Victor Hugo has a fine passage descriptive of cruelty 

 to a poor toad that happened to be in a public path: — 



" A man who chanced to pass descried the brute, 

 And shudd'ring, ernsh'd its head beneath his foot. 

 Then came four Bchoolboys, cheerful as the sky, 

 Giddy with hope aud sport, and spirits high; 

 Loud, free, and happy ; how get through the day, 

 Save by tormenting weak things in their way ? 

 The toad waB crawling slowly, seeking shade, 

 The children spied it out aud shouting ran, 

 ' Here, let us kill the nasty thing,' they said. 

 And since he's ugly hurt him all we can.' 

 1 The vicious thing, he foams I ' the children roar, 

 At every blow the froth starts more and more. 

 Head crushed, eye haDgiog, one leg torn away, 

 Through grass and briar he forced his wretched way. 

 The children, rosy-cheeked aud flaxen-haired, 

 Said 'twas the finest sport they ever shared, 

 Talked all at once; at las^ devised to throw 

 A good large Btone to give the final blow." 



Then cornea a poor wretched ass with his heavy cartload. The 

 children watch to see the wheel crush the poor toad, but the 

 poor suffering ass, despite the driver's shouts and blows, 

 "Stiffened his bleeding muscles 'gainst the load, 

 And turned the wheel aside and spared the toad." 



The children notice thiB — 



" Then one small hand the stone it held let fall, 

 And of those children, one— he tells the story — 

 Heard sounding from the great sky's arch of glory, 

 A voice that said, * Be merciful to all.' " 



Would that such words could ring in the ear of every child 

 when about to injure or needlessly take the life of any bird or 

 ■beast. — Wiltshire Rectok. 



EXHIBITORS OF WHITE FOWLS 

 Should bear in mind the effect of sunlight upon white 

 plumage. Such birds as are designed for the autumn and winter 

 exhibitions should be cooped or penned where they are shielded 

 from the strong glare of the mid-day sun, and where they cau- 

 not wallow in any clayey soil. A clean dust bath of sand and 

 ashes is best for health and looks. 



The penning should begin with the growth of the feathers 

 after moulting. The yellowish tinge given by a strong light 

 will be found almost impossible to remove after once appearing ; 

 nnd there is no time when the plumage is more susceptible to 

 change of colour than in the early stages of growth, while the 

 feather is yet soft. 



The difficulty of cleansing soiled plumage is well known ; and 

 with a very little ordinary care and precaution the neceBBity of 

 this measure may be Bpared. — (Pet-Stock Bulletin.) 



AGRICULTURAL, HALL POULTRY SHOW. 



Spanish commenced the poultry classes (twenty-five entrieB). 

 The mild weather haB undoubtedly conduced in a great measure 

 to the forward condition of the birds. FirBt a pen of fine-grown 

 chickens, but a little coarse in quality. The cock's comb upon 

 close inspection we fancied had been very skilfully sliced at the 

 back, apparently to lighten the weight and keep it perpendicular. 

 This should have deprived him at least of any post of honour. 

 Seoond (362b) a pen of coarse old birds. We could not under- 

 stand this award, and thought the Judges must have intended 

 the award for the next pen (363b), a fair pair of chickens, belong- 

 ing to the same owner. Fen 362 a fine cockerel, and honestly 

 shown, and we should have liked to have seen him in the first 

 position. Quite half a dozen pens that were passed over by the 



Judges we thought deserved cards. Pen 342 (Jones) a beautiful 

 pullet, one of the best in the class, with a fair cockerel ; pen 341 

 (Hewes) a cockerel of good quality, but very young; pen 347 

 and pen 349 good old birds, out of condition, but better than the 

 Becond-prize pen. We noticed two or three pens in this class 

 with cut combs. In common justice it should be understood, 

 if this is to be allowed, then all can exhibit on an equality ; but 

 it is most annoying and unfair for an exhibitor to find that he 

 has cast a good-faced bird away through a falling comb, and 

 then find another exhibitor has succeeded in obtaining a prize 

 by lightening the weight of the comb with the scissors. 



Cochins — Buffs a good class. FirBt a grand cock, hen fine, 

 but slightly marked on the hackles; second good in colour; 

 third also a fine pair. Pen 422 (Burnell), hen very good, cockerel 

 beautiful in colour, but not well matched. 428 (Procter) a pretty 

 pen, but small. Partridge.— Mrs. Tindal was easily first, hen 

 well pencilled ; second, Lady Gwydyr. White. — First (Boissier) 

 an exquisite pen. Pen 449, second rather leggy and wanting in 

 shape ; we should have placed Mrs. Tindal'a pen before it. 

 Pen 448 (Fowler) a fine hen. 



Brahmas. — Darks. — First (Mrs. Tindal) a good-coloured cock- 

 erel, pullet well pencilled but small. Pen 474 (Lingwood) a 

 grand cock ; we considered him the best bird in the Show ; his 

 mate was not his equal, but she waB a good hen. 456 (Newn- 

 ham & Manby) a well-marked pullet with many good points. 

 Pen 471 (Ansdell) a fine old cock, not quite over hiB monlt. 

 Lights disappointed us very much. Pen 475 (Lingwood) firBt, 

 cock badly twisted in the hackle ; he reminded us very much 

 of a Pouter Pigeon ; in all other points he was the best in 

 the class. Second (Saville), hen a little creamy, otherwise they 

 would have been first. 480 (Petter) a good pair of chickens, but 

 too young for exhibition. Mr. Breeze and Mr. Chawner, jun., 

 exhibited some fair pens. 



Games.— Reds, first (Martin) a pen of most stylish Brown 

 Reds in beautiful condition ; they were deservedly awarded the 

 champion cup. Second (HasBell) a good-colour cockerel ; tail a 

 little too perpendicular. The Duckwing and Pile classes were 

 quite up to the standard. 



Any other variety. — The ordinary classes being very restricted, 

 this ciaBB contained an unusual combination. All varieties of 

 Bantams were competing with Polands, Malays, and various 

 breeds of large birds too numerous to mention. The winners 

 deserved their prizes, but the selection was a great question of 

 fancy. Several other pens might have been chosen without 

 giving grounds of complaint. 



[We had not received the remainder of our reporter's notes 

 at the time of going to preBs. — Eds.] 



POULTRY -Spanish— I.J.Walker. 2. G. J. Chilcott. S.J.Pitt. Dorkings. 

 — Coloured.— 1, V ecount Tumour 2, J. Copple. 3, R. Cheesman. vhc, T- C. 

 Burnell. Any other variety.— I. T. 0. Burnell. 2, O. E. Cresswell 3, Hon. 

 Mrs. Colville. Cochins.— Buff —1, R P. Percival. 2, A. J. Swindell. 3, Laity 

 Gwydyr. vhc, H. Tomlinsou. Partridge — 1, Mrs. A. Tindal. 2, Ladv 

 Gwydyr. 3, E. Tudman. White— 1, R. A. Boissier. 2, S. R. Harris. 3. R. 

 Chase. Brabmas.— Dark.— 1. Mrs. A. Tindal. 2, H. Lingwood. S, Rev. J. D. 

 Peake. vhc. Newnham & Manby. Light.— 1, Horace Lingwood. 2, Capt. W. 

 Savile. 3, T. A. Dean. Game.— Reds— 1, H. E. Martin. 2, T. Hassall. 3, T. 

 Mason. Duckwings.— 1. P. Dyson, 2, J. H. Staveley. 3, H. E. Martio. Any 

 other variety.— 1, ri. Mason. 2 and 3. T. Burgess. Hambu»ghb. — Silver- 

 pencilled — 1, H. Beldon. 2 and 3, J. Webster. Silver-spangled. — 1. Duke of 

 Sutherland. 2, H. Beldon. 3, J. Fielding. Gold-pencilled.— 1. W. K. Tickuer. 

 2, Duke of Sutherland. 3, T. Lees, vhc, W. Anderson. Gold-spangled— 1, J. 

 Long. 2, A. Hyde. 3 and vhc, H. Beldon, Creve-Cosuks —1, J. K. Fowler. 2, 

 S. Vickery. 3, R. Park. Houbans.— 1, R. B. Wood. 2, S. Thomas. 8, Mrs. 

 Vallance. Leghorns. — White— \, R. R. Fowler. 2, MiBfl Benham. 8, L. King. 

 Brown.— I, F. L. Green. 2, A. Kitchen. 8, S. L. Bradbury. Any other 

 Variety.— 1. H. Beldon. 2, Lady Gwydyr. 3, T. Lowe, vhc, H. Beldon, T . 

 Norwoo i. Docks.— Aylesbury.— I, T. sear. 2 and 3, J. K. Fowler. Rouen.— 1 

 and 2, W. Evans. 3. H. S. Stott. vhc, E. Kendrick. Any other variety.— I, J. 

 Walker. 2, G. S. Sainsbury. Extra 2, W. Bouteher. 3, O. Home. Extra 8, S 

 Brown, vhc, H. B. Smith. Turkeys.— 1, Mrs. A. Mayhew. 2, J. Walker. 3, T 

 Hepburn. Geese— 1. J. Stott. 2, J. K. Fowler. 3, J. Walker, vhc. Dr. E 

 Snell, Hon. Mrs. Colville, H. Beldon, R. Gladstone. 



THE BRISTOL SHOW SCHEDULE. 



This year the BriBtol schedule has oome earlier than usual, 

 and we find its dates arranged for the old Birmingham week. 

 We heartily hope the time gained will bring Mr. Cambridge 

 increased support. The old olasses are much as usual, but we 

 find some new classes in addition — namely, two for Black 

 Cochins, two for White-crested Blaok Poles, one for Silkies, &c. ; 

 and above all we are especially glad to see the variety Bantam 

 classes better arranged. The entry fees remain the same, and 

 in these days of increasing them rather than diminishing them 

 this iB something to be thankful for. The poultry Judges are 

 Messrs. Hewitt, Teebay, and J. H. Smith ; the latter gentle- 

 man has been especially engaged for the Game and the Game 

 Bantams. Mr. Dixon was invited to help, but conld not come. 

 Mr. Cambridge writes to us to say he is quite prepared to obtain 

 the services of a fourth poultry Judge it the entries necessitate 

 the same. 



In Pigeons the point cups are no more. We oan imagine 

 great rejoicing in the county and field pastures. The Judges 

 are Mr. P. H. Jones and Mr. Charlton. In other respects the 

 Pigeon classification is good, and the prizes liberal. There is a 

 champion oup of £10 value for the best pen in the Show. The 



