Decamber 21, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



541 



Blacks were inferior as a class, their greatest failing being dark 

 eyes. Pile cooks were only a moderate lot, but the hens were 

 better. 



Bantams.— There were very few first class birds among the 

 Game Bantams, it being difficult to find a really superior 

 specimen among the Black Beds ; the best, however, were those 

 belonging to MesBrs. Morris, Fletcher, and Addie. In the other 

 Game classes, however, Mr. Fletcher's Brown Beds and Mr. 

 Brownlie's Piles Btood very prominent in their various classes. 

 All the other classes except G»me were marvellously good, and 

 the Sebrights held their own for beauty against all new comers, 

 and were well represented. We were glad to see the Silver- 

 laced assuming the pure frosted-silver ground colour for which 

 twenty-five years ago they were so notorious. The Golden- 

 laced were also remarkably good, with those peculiar traits of 

 character which mark this distinct breed (ben tails and hackle), 

 exceedingly well developed in the cocks, a feature which had 

 unadvisedly been lost sight of for many years past. Blacks 

 were very good, though limited in numbers. In the firBt-prize 

 pen of Whites were such as we have not seen at any show for 

 some years past. They were simply grand. In the Any other 

 variety classes the first prize went to light-oolonred Japanese, 

 and seoond to White-booted. A pen of extraordinary Fiitzled 

 fowls of remarkable quality were also shown in this class, but 

 the hen had the fatal objection of being Dorking-toed. We also 

 noticed Beveral pens of Cuckoos of highly meritorious character. 

 In the Selling class for Bantams the first were a good pen of 

 Light Japanese ; second also good Blacks, and the third Duck- 

 wing Game. This was a very good class, comprising several 

 capital pens of the leading varieties, many of which were not 

 long in finding customers. 



Docks. — Black East Indian. — This is one of the classes whioh 

 tries the mettle of a judge, perhaps more than any other variety 

 which can be placed before him to adjudicate upon, and we 

 were glad to see in this instance Mr. Hewitt had every bird out 

 and examined in hand, although the class was an extensive one, 

 and the result was that the first and seoond prizes followed in 

 the same groove as at the late principal shows, the third going 

 to a new comer; but a more equal quality throughout the whole, 

 classes perhaps never existed. 



Ducks or Ornamental Waterfowl.. — Five pens of Man- 

 darins were Bhown in the class expressly for that breed, and 

 certainly never before were five pens of so perfeot and lovely 

 conditioned birds seen side by Bide. The first prize went to a 

 pen which were admired by almost every visitor to the Show. 

 Carolinas, for which also there was a special class, ware 

 soarcely leaB remarkable for beauty and oondition. Call Ducks 

 (open to White or Grey), only two pens were exhibited, both 

 Grey, and by the same exhibitor; but we never remember seeing 

 any so good since the time of Harvey, Dutton, and Bailey, who 

 exhibited some ten or twelve years back. The most fastidious 

 could not find fault with them. 



Bucks or Ornamental Waterfowl, which is a class open to 

 any variety of Waterfowls for ornamental purposes was a very 

 large one. The first prize going to Pekins, remarkable for their 

 excellence. We believe these are the coming Ducks for utility, 

 and will eventually beat the Rouens and the Aylesburys. A 

 better pen than Mr. Fowler of Aylesbury showed has never been 

 exhibited. They were, however, cloBely followed by a pen from 

 Mrs. Trooghton, which were vfry highly commended. Tbe 

 second prize went to Whist ling Ducks of .the autumnalis variety. 

 And half a dozen extra prizes might with perfect justice and the 

 greatest ease have been apportioned in this class. 



PIGEONS. 

 Several alterations have been made in the Pigeon classes, the 

 principal of which has been to raise the first prizes throughout 

 from 30s. to ;£2 again — a very commendable alteration. The 

 third prizes, however, have been abolished in all the Pouter 

 classes, Short and Long-faoed Tumblers, Barbs and Trumpeters, 

 as well as one of the first prizes in the new Variety class. 

 Exhibitors in thoBe classes cannot grumble at this alteration, for 

 the entries therein have always been very small, and we have 

 not the slightest doubt but when the classes are better supported 

 the old state of things will be restored. Among the other 

 alterations is the abolishment of the guinea subscription, which 

 has hitherto deterred many fanciers from exhibiting, but who 

 are now enabled to send two or three pens at a fair and propor- 

 tionate charge to the amount offered by the Society for compe- 

 tition. Many a time have we along with others advocated the 

 propriety of this alteration, but hitherto all efforts have been 

 unavailing, and we cordially welcome the Bpirit which now 

 seems to prevade the poultry Committee, and ho;.'e it will meet 

 with a suitable response from the fancy generally. The previous 

 announcement of the Judges' names was another instance of 

 their desire to comply with the spirit of the times. But we 

 should very much like to know also how the work is to be appor- 

 tioned. New classes were this year opened for young Dragoons, 

 Dragoon hens, young An twerps, and Antwerp hens, and towards 

 the additional money thus offered a few members of the Bir- 

 mingham Colnmbarian Society who are interested in the varie- 



ties specified contributed ten guineas. The care of the birds 

 was again plaoed in the skilful hands of that old and experienced 

 fancier, Mr. J. W. Edge, who seems never to tire in looking 

 after his charges. Whenever and wherever we looked into the 

 pens the evidences of cleanliness and comfort were always to be 

 seen. We should only like to see Mr. Edge's services brought 

 more generally into requisition. One alt> ration we should very 

 much like to see, and that is the abolishment of the Pigeon 

 pens altogether, and an entirely new and more modern set sub- 

 stituted. By this means the Society might double the space at 

 their disposal, and the birds would be better seen and better 

 judged, for we feel sure this is the prinoipal cause of some of 

 the errors of judgment which took place at Bingley Hall last 

 week. The birds ran into the dark corners of some of the pens, 

 and by no amount of poking or exertion of any kind would they 

 allow themselves to be fairly inspected. We are glad to see the 

 point oup done away with this year. The total entries are 669, 

 against 541 last year, and the quality throughout is the best 

 which has been seen in Bingley Hall for some years. 



Carriers generally were a great improvement on the Bingley 

 Hall Show of the last year or two, the general quality being far 

 more uniform. Old Black cocks mustered seven, the cup for 

 the old birds going to Mr. Maynard's Crystal Palace cup-winner. 

 He is one of the best birds for head properties we ever saw, and 

 if he oould only be provided with a new body to matoh he would 

 be a wonder indeed. The second (Fulton) is a bird of high 

 quality in all but the beak-wattle. Third (Siddons), very large 

 and good quality of eye, wonderfully narrow skull, and a good 

 colour, but rather fine in wattle. The class generally was a good 

 one, and the prize birdB we thought rightly placed. In Black 

 hens we specially admired the one with which Mr. Fulton stood 

 first. A little small she oertainly was, but in other points to our 

 mind she was a model Carrier. Why the second bird received 

 her honours we could not understand, for she seemed to have 

 no particular property to reoom mend her; she was out of con- 

 dition and bad a lump on her wing. Third was Mr. Maynard's 

 old hen, a bird of good shape. We should have preferred to 

 either of these Mr. Yardley's highly commended bird 2042, 

 whioh is possessed of many excellent properties. Dun cocks. — 

 Firit a good bird, but wants a little mora neck; capital in eye 

 and wattle, but a little down-faced. Second not so good in beak- 

 wattle as first and rather wide at back of akull, but a good colour. 

 Dun hens. — The class fairly good. First a good colour and de- 

 serves her position, but is not quite perfect. Second also a very 

 nice hen, but we question whether she will ever make up. In 

 Carriers, any colour, we thought Messrs. Stretch's Beoond-prize 

 bird ought to have been first. Black Carriers hatched in 1876 

 was an excellent class, but we thought Mr. Ifaynard was very 

 lucky in carrying off the cup. It was the general opinion that 

 this class was not well judged and th* neat birds were unnoticed. 

 We think first and second might have been found in 2065 (Mrs. 

 Hallam), the first Peterborough and second Bristol bird, and 

 2068 (Fulton), a fine racy fellow, but wanting a little more eye. 

 We should not have minded Mr. Maynard's third-price retaining 

 its position, which was a very stylish bird and a hen. Two or 

 three unmistakeably old birds were shown here. Carriers, any 

 colour, hatched in 1876, only mustered eight, and those mostly 

 Duns and not superior. We liked 2086 (Kempton), a highly 

 commended. The general opinion was that he is not a this- 

 year's bird, but on olose examination we thought he was really 

 a young bird and ought to have been first. We did not oare for 

 any of the other birds. 



Pouters as a whole were the best lot which has been in Bingley 

 Hall for some time. The olassea were not bo large as at the 

 Palace, but the quality was well represented. The Blacks, both 

 oocks and hens, were generally the best. In Red or Yellow cocks 

 Mr. Pratt was first with a bird of this season, but we preferred 

 the second to him, and would have given seoond to either 2095 

 (Gresham) or 2097 (Fulton), both of which were better birds. 

 Red or Yellow hens. — The flrBt (Gresham), a Red, thoroughly de- 

 served her honours, being a good oolour and a very showy bird. 

 Second we would have passed, as she was more fit for a breed- 

 ing loft, being too thick, heavy, and coarse for the show pen. 

 The prize in our opinion ought to have gone to Mr. Pratt's 

 Yellow (2099), which was only commended. Blue cocks. — The 

 cup bird (Fulton), a fine long slender bird with beautiful limbs. 

 Second again, we should say, was a hen also wrongly placed, 

 and we preferred 2106 (Watkin), to him. Blue hens. — First a 

 showy bird, and first bIbo at the Palace. Second rather thick in 

 girth, and nearly swallow-throated. White cocks. — The first 

 prize should have gone to 2119 (Pratt) highly commended, which 

 was by far the best bird, possessing a fine globular orop. Second 

 very fortunate to gain his position, beiDg short in limb and thick 

 in girth. We preferred 2116 (Fulton) for seoond, although he is 

 rather heavy in limb. White hens. — First a magnificent bird 

 belonging to Mrs. Ladd. Although we did not quite like the 

 second bird, Bhe was no doubt in her right position; 2124 

 (Gresham) was a good bird, but somewhat coarse. The Any 

 other colour classes were all Blacks, and an excellent lot they 

 were. First (Pratt), the best coloured and marked bird In the 



