16 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ January 6, 1863. 



out by even that gentleman. Their character and condition were 

 excellent, their size was unusual, and the matching of the pen 

 perfect. Mrs. E. Fookes, in taking second place, showed a pair 

 of the most lovely hens we have seen for a long time past, and 

 the same remark is alike applicable to Mr. Bates' pen ; but m 

 the male birds Mr. Tomlinson easily gave these rivals the go-by. 

 The class for chickens was but little if at all inferior to that of 

 the old birds. Greater competition as to regularity of quality 

 in well-filled classes never occurred at any Show than in the 

 Partridge-coloured Cochins. Many breeders of this popular 

 variety stated that " it was well worth a long journey to see these 

 birds alone." By referring to the prize list it will be seen old 

 names held position against a host of new comers. The "White 

 Cochins were nicely shown and of very high quality. 



The Malays were not so good as we haTe seen at many other 

 recent shows. 



The best of the Poland's were the White-crested and the 



was a subject of general comment at the Manchester Show ; and 

 we hope that so truly important a feature in the arrangements 

 of an exhibition will thus force itself again on the consideration 

 of the Managing Committee of the Birmingham Meeting, where 

 the pens have, unfortunately, of late been so injudiciously circum- 

 scribed, that when the larger varieties of poultry are penned, it 

 at once becomes alike impossible for arbitrators or the public 

 to see them properly, besides inflicting an amount of permanent 

 injury on birds that certainly deserve, and ought to receive, a 

 far greater amount of accommodation. 



But to return to the pens at Manchester. These pens were 

 provided with quite a new appliance ; each had an iron bar that 

 ran through both top and bottom, provided at the upper end 

 with a loop, through the whole of which, from end to end of 

 each tier of pens, a strong piece of wire was tightly strained, 

 making it impossible for any of the birds to be interfered with 

 by strangers. The eggs laid were instantly removed ; and, as a 

 further proof of the determination to stand aloof of even suspi- 

 cion, every egg was at once broken at one end hefore placing it 

 in the basket provided for their reception — a plan which should 

 be universally adopted ; as, to our knowledge, surmises of no 

 very pleasant character have suggested themselves in recent cases 

 to the minds of the proprietors of the fowls laying, by them- 

 selves afterwards witnessing the eggs (when not broken on the 

 spot when first taken from the pens), being afterwards carefully 

 packed to go no one professedly knew where. 



It is not open to a doubt that the only legitimate purpose to 

 which the eggs laid during an exhibition ought to be applied by 

 any Committee are strictly those of a culinary nature : con- 

 sequently the plan that was pursued at Manchester prevents the 

 possibility of objection, for, being publicly broken, collusions of 

 all kinds are prevented. 



One of the most striking peculiarities of the Belle Vue Show 

 was how uniformly excellent were the birds exhibited, this 

 arising, most probably, from the fact of 10s. each pen being the 

 rate of admission. This, of course, kept indifferent pens from 

 being entered at all, and it was remarkable that scarcely any 

 pens entered were not sent, for, as observed by a visitor, " Ten 

 Shillings is too much to throw away without sending them." It 

 is gratifying also to state that the awards were all completed 

 hefore the time of public admission. This was effected by 

 dividing the classes, as will be seen by reference to the appended 

 prize list, among the various arbitrators ; some of those gentle- 

 men having actually completed their arbitrations in half the 

 time placed at their disposal. Nothing that could insure this 

 speed and regularity remained unappointed. 



The classes for Silver-Grey Dorkings headed the list, and un- 

 expectedly we found this really useful and beautiful variety not 

 nearly so well represented as we anticipated — in fact, they were 

 one of the weakest classes in the Exhibition. The cocks, almost 

 without an exception, were either partially white-tailed or more 

 or less spotted with white on the throat and breast, both of 

 which are fatal objections, as both the breast and tail should 

 be purely black. In the class for Silver-Grey Chickens, there 

 were exhibited a pair of pullets, a bright clay colour, causing 

 some merriment, and others slightly spotted with white. These 

 palpable mistakes (attended, too, with an expenditure of 10s. 

 entrance money in each instance), proves that the peculiarities 

 of these birds are not generally understood. In the classes for 

 coloured Dorkings except Silver-Greys, as might be expected, 

 the rivalry was indeed severe. Viscountess Holmesdale, how- 

 ever, maintained the highest position by taking three first prizes 

 for this breed alone. "We may confidently state not an indifferent 

 pen could be found throughout the collection, though the entries 

 were Bome of the heaviest in number in the Show. The White 

 Dorkings were few but good. 



The Spanish classes come next in order, and proved a really 

 meritorious collection, being by far the best we ever yet saw ; 

 Messrs. Rodbard, Martin, Teebay, Potter, Hyde, and Smith ex- 

 hibiting birds of aB close an approach to perfection as can ever 

 be expected to be attainable. The quality of the faces and 

 perfect condition of the majority of the male specimens was re- 

 markable, and evidently proved that all the winning birds had 

 been especially reserved for the competition at Manchester. 



We next come to the Cochin- China classes, decidedly among 

 the great guns of the Exhibition. The number of entries in 

 each of these classes was the best proof they still have many ad- 

 mirers. It was quite a treat to see four such penB as those that 

 took prizes in the adult Buff class. Mr. Tomlinson, of Bir- 

 mingham stood first with as good a pen as were ever yet sent 



Silyer-spangled. The Golden-spangled ones disappointed most 

 visitors. 



_ "We are now arrived at the Golden-pencilled Hamburghs. We 

 pity the man who indulges the vain hope of ever seeing better, 

 perfection being the order of the day. The birds exhibited by 

 the Rev. T. L. Fellowes and Mr. J. Munn were constantly 

 admired, and had not the arrangements of Bpace in the avenues 

 between the pens been so liberal and commodious, an absolute 

 block-up by visitors must have ensued at the front of these par- 

 ticular pens. Nothing of the kind, however, occurred, and 

 every one had ample opportunity of seeing them. The Silver- 

 pencilled Hamburghs were not nearly so meritorious ; and it 

 certainly struck the breeders of this variety that the first prize 

 in the old birds was a mistake of the Judges altogether. The 

 Golden-spangled ond Silver-spangled Hamburghs were excellent; 

 classes throughout. 



Never were the Game classes in better trim than at Manchester. 

 Pen after pen was shown iu faultless condition and true to- 

 feather ; Mr. Fletcher's Black-breasted Reds, Mr. Robinson'e- 

 Brown Reds, and Mr. Harry Adams's Duckwings and Red Piles 

 being the most noteworthy. 



The Game Bantams were exquisite specimens, comprising a 

 very large entry and scarcely a pen unworthy of notice. The 

 other Bantams were few in numbers, but very good. "* 



Tho Rouen Ducks were the best of the Duck classes, the first 

 prize of £6 falling to a name quite new to us. This is as ifr 

 Bhould be : it causes old breeders to look to their colours. 



The Pigeons were a marvellously good display, Mr. Peter 

 Eden's Powters, Carriers, and Barbs being among the highest 

 ranks of perfection throughout the whole Show. "We must also 

 briefly allude to a pair of wonderfully good Mottled Runts shown 

 by Mr. Baily, of London. The Owls were also particularly 

 good. 



We cannot conclude without congratulating the projectors on 

 this more-than-even-anticipated success of their second Exhibi- 

 tion. In such hands the result is certain : progress will be the 

 order of the day. Strange as it may appear to those who have- 

 not visited Belle Vue Gardens, the great Music Hall would,. 

 with perfect comfort, easily accommodate twice the number of 

 entries of even the Show just closed, and the manner in which 

 the birds have this year, as well as last, been treated has been 

 such that increased public confidence must, beyond question, 

 ensue. 



As the weather proved so spring-like there was no cause for 

 heating the Hall this year; otherwise had stress of hard weather 

 taken place the whole could have been at once heated, and the 

 comforts of both visitors and poultry provided for. Enjoying 

 so many unusual advantages for holding such meetings, com- 

 bined with the same civility to high and low, rich and poor, we 

 have no doubt that Manchester will take its place in the very 

 foremost ranks of our poultry exhibitions. 



Dorkings (Silver-Grey).— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, Mrs. Hill 

 Woodlands, Heywood. Com.— Prize, T. Statter, Stand Hill, Whitefleld- 

 Eens — First, E. Musgrove, Aughton, near Ormskirk. Second, J. K- 

 Fowler, Aylesbury. Chickens.— First, G. Cargey, Stone. Second, T. 

 Statter. Third, W. R Court. Middlewich. Cockerel.— First, T. Statter. 

 Second, R. Carr, Towngate, near Preston. Pullets.— Prize, Mrs. M. Seamons, 

 Hartwell, AyleBbury, Bucks. 



Dorkings (Coloured, except Silver-Grey).— First, W. Copple, Eccleston, 

 Prescot. Second, T. Burgess, Whitchureh, Salop. Third, VUcount Holmes- 

 dale, Staplehurst, Kent. Highly Commended, E. Tudman, Whitchurch, 

 Salop. Commended, Viscount HolmeEdale; Mary Hill Woodlands, Hey- 

 wood. Cock.— First, Viscount Holmesdale. Second, Mrs. Rothery, Hal- 

 semere, Surrey. Third, E. Tudman. Highly Commended, E. Smith,, 

 Middleton. Mens.— First, H. W. B. Berwick, Helmsley, Yorkshire. Second, 

 Mrs. A. Guy, Eaton, near Grantham. Third, J. Robinson, Garstang. 



