178 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ March 3, 1863. 



these so-called failings. Nay, I dare all poultry-breeders of 

 however great standing, to deny that they have not bred as fine 

 poultry in size, shape, and plumage, from their purest fowls, 

 which they have been obliged to set aside on account, it may be, 

 of a bill, or a leg, or a toe, or some hidden feather not being 

 exactly up to the fastidious and overdrawn taste of a judge. _ 



Let us loot at another phase of this question. Can we fail to 

 observe the number of fraudulent tricks now played at our 

 shows, which would not exist but for this overstrained taste ? 

 Have we never read of the painting of legs, of the addition of 

 toes, or the dyeing of feather, or of countless other methods 

 of cheating which I might mention ? 



How, if we really wish our shows to progress — if we wish the 

 encouragement of poultry for their domestic uses — we must lay 

 aside all these gross absurdities, and let each breed stand upon 

 its well-known merits of shape, plumage, weight, or size. 



We can never expect that farmers, or labourers, or the poor 

 in general, will ever take up the breeding of poultry as a general 

 trade, unless we break down those barriers, and render the 

 keeping of true-bred fowls more profitable. 



I call upon all men who are interested in this branch of 

 industry, who feel these evils (and I know there are many such), 

 now to raise their voices in one united and overwhelming cry 

 for the reformation of such a system. 



But, I am far from taking a desponding view of the future ; 

 the day is not very far distant when our judging shall no longer 

 be a laughing-stock and a byword to the public in general ; but 

 when the breeding of poultry may take its stand among the 

 many well-regulated and profitable trades which now exist. — 

 A Pouxtry Breeder and Fancier. 



[Different people will of necessity have different opinions, and 

 different standards of merit in every pursuit : hence it has been 

 necessary to lay down certain rules, and they have been admitted 

 for some years. One great end they answer is to form well- 

 defined marks which may guide the inquirer and the beginner. 

 The use of poultry shows has been to publish the merits and 

 properties of divers breeds ; to point out those that are fitted 

 for certain soils and certain markets. Whether the demand be 

 for eggs or for food, the knowledge now acquired and dissemi- 

 nated will enable the purchaser to possess hiaiBelf of that breed 

 which will answer his purpose. The characteristics of it being 

 pointed out, he cannot easily be deceived. 



Thus, he will not buy a Dorking without five claws ; but if he 

 is to be told that Dorkings with four are as good as those with 

 five claws, he has nothing to guide or protect him ; he is at the 

 mercy of any one who has fowls for sale. There is no substitute 

 for a real Dorking. 



Take the Aylesbury Duck. If the buyer is told the bird must 

 have a pale bill, he will not buy one lacking that mark ; but if 

 any bill will do, every white Duck to the uninitiated becomes 

 an AyleBbury. 



These are but two instances ; we might multiply them, but we 

 should not gain by doing so. We ask if there is any good quality 

 given up in order to attain to the standard of excellence as 

 regards points ? Have Dorkings lost size? Have they suffered 

 i.i constitution ? Have D ucks dwindled in weight, or have they 

 lost appearance ? Spite of all the requirements of the most 

 fastidious judges, you will not find at a good show (take Bir- 

 mingham for instance), out of the two or three hundred com- 

 peting pens, a dozen that lack any of the properties insisted 

 upon, while the increase of weight has been two pounds per 

 head. The difference in health is proved by the fact, that whereas 

 formerly the class was the dread of managers, and after two days 

 empty pens bearing tickets informing the public the birds were 

 removed on account of disease were one in ten, now such a 

 thing is never seen. Formerly it was thought they could only 

 bd reared on the sunny side of a Surrey hill, and that they 

 required a peculiar soil. Sow they thrive in Yorkshire, Lan- 

 cashire, and even in the far north of Scotland. 



The average weight of AyleBbury Ducks twenty years ago, 

 was from 3 lbs. to 4 lbs., now it is from 4 lbs. to 6 lbs. Here, 

 again, there has been no sacrifice of any useful quality whatever. 



To continue the subject, let us take Pencilled Ham burghs. 

 Roup was thought to be their natural state. People avoided the 

 breed in their yards because they feared taint, and the classes 

 in an exhibition, because suffering birds were not a pleasing 

 sight. There was no inducement to take pains with them, till 

 competition and requirements supplied the Bpur. Within two 

 years they were shown perfect in colour, Bhape, and markings, 

 and strong enough to bear any trial in the way of climate or 



exhibition. And these were not temporary improvements. 

 Although those who worked the transformation have given up 

 the breed, or gone into other pursuits, it remains the same, and 

 has no more roup than any other. 



As a rule, judges are not over-fastidious ; but it can never be 

 that hundreds of exhibitors will be satisfied with the decisions 

 of two or three men, or that the knowledge that deals with every 

 class will be admitted cheerfully by those who have concen- 

 trated their attention on one. It is doubtful whether there is- 

 not more unanimity amongjudges than exhibitors. Among the 

 latter those points are most insisted upon that are prominent 

 in their own birds, because their owners strive for their own 

 notions of perfection. 



If it is granted that after every large show papers contain 

 complaints of the awards, the thing admits of easy explanation. 

 There are often from one to three hundred exhibitors. The 

 majority are unsuccessful. They fancy, or a mischievous friend 

 instils into their mindB, that they should have had a prize. Many 

 who would not care to condemn an award openly, will ask why 

 they did not win, or will say they preferred one of the unnoticed 

 pens to either of the prizetakers', under the signature of 

 " Index," or " B.," or " Z." Like the man staring at the 

 lion on Northumberland House, to see if he did move his tail, 

 the example finds imitators, and a dozen who never thought of 

 it before are moved by a spirit of fun to do the same. 



We cannot so easily dispose of the charge of dishonesty and 

 unfairness. We are afraid they are met with in every pursuit, 

 and we fear they always will be. Neither points nor prizes have 

 anything to do with it, and it is as common at chuck-halfpenny 

 as at screaming hazard. 



We think the mistake made is in confounding two distinct 

 pursuits — breeding for exhibition, and for sale as food. There 

 is nothing in common between them. The prizetaker sells many 

 fowls. They are all bought either to exhibit or to breed ex- 

 hibition fowls. Hardly any one who walks round a poultry 

 show look at the birds as articles of food. Calculation, if there 

 be calculation, is about the number of eggs to be sold for sitting, 

 and of the chickens that are brothers and sisters to, or the pro- 

 duce of, the prize birds at the show. They are never bought to 

 improve the quality of market poultry ; they are bought for home 

 consumption sometimes. 



The farmer will not, the labourer cannot, or is not allowed to 

 keep poultry. The former is above it ; the latter has not space. 

 His fowls trespass, or it is thought to be a temptation to him to 

 steal a pocketful of the corn with which he is surrounded when 

 at work, and his master forbids him to keep any. 



We see nothing to laugh at in the judgment of those who are 

 acknowledged to be competent, and who are above suspicion. 

 Where the appointment belongs to the person who will perform 

 the office least expensively, it cannot be expected that efficient 

 and superior men will accept it. 



The overthrow of shows would diminish the quantity of poultry 

 bred one-half. To relinquish points of excellence is to ex- 

 tinguish poultry showa. Tuere would be nothing to breed and to 

 show for.] 



WHITEHAVEN CANARY, POULTRY, AND 



PIGEON SHOW. 

 We Bhall give our report of this Show next week. The fol- 

 lowing is the list of awards : — 



Canaries, Yellow Belgian.— First and Second, W. Lyon, Whitehaven. 



Canaries, Buff Belgian.— First and Second, W. Lyon, Whitehaven. 



Mules, Yellow.— First and Second, R. Bell. Whitehaven. 



Mules, Buff.— First and Second, 1;. Bell, Whitehaven. 



Piebald Canaries, Yellow or Buff. — First, R. Bell, Whitehaven. Second, 

 C. Fitzsimmons, Whitehaven. 



Lizards, Guld or Silver-spangled.— First, W. S. Penny, Middlesbrough- 

 on-Tees. Second, J. Walker, Whitehaven. 

 POULTRY. 



Game, Black-breasted and other Reds. — First, J. Brough, Carlisle. Second, 

 H. Beldon, Bradford. Highly Commended, C. W. Briei'ley, Rochdale. 

 Commended, J. Bywell, Whitehaven ; J. Geldertl, Kendal. 



Game, Duckwings and other Greys and Blues.— First, C. W. Bricrley, 

 Rochdale. Second, X. Robinson, Ulverston. ' Highly Commended, fi. 

 Thompson, Milnthorpe. 



Game, any other variety. — First, H. Thompson, Milnthorpe. Second, J. 

 Brough, Carlisle. Highly Commended, J. Doney, Aspatria. 



Spanish.— First, W. Cannan, Bradford, Yorkshire. Second, P. Mackay, 

 Millgrove. Chickens.— First, W. Caiman. Second, J. Towerson, White- 

 haven. Commended, J. Towerson. 



Dorking.— First, Mrs. Dixon, Rheda. Second, J. Bywell, Moresby. 

 Higlny Commended, J, Doney, Aspatria; J. Todhunter, Whitehaven. 

 Chickens.— First, J. Robinson, Garstang. Second, E. Topping, Lane-end. 

 Highly Commended, J. Towerson, Whitehaven; M. Borthwick, Fliinby. 

 Commended, J. Doney, Aspatria. 



