June 2, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



405 



TtmKEYs.— First, Mrs. D. Smith, Browning Hill House. Second, II. 

 Matthews, Sherborne St. John. Highly Commended, V7. B. BuxtUl, 

 Strathfieldsaye. 



Geese.— First, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. 



Ducks. — First, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Second, J. K. Rodbard, 

 Wrington, Bristol. 



Mr. Baily, Mount Street, Grosvenor Square, was the Judge. 



AGRICULTURAL HALL POULTEY SHOW. 



TnE poultry exhibition that has just been held in the 

 Agricultural Hall, Islington, has had unuBual difficulties to 

 contend with, and, notwithstanding, lias p.-oved itself a most 

 successful one. The time of year chosen is the one of all others 

 most calculated to prevent an extensive entry, as adult birds are, 

 in many instances, fast falling into bad feather now the laying 

 season has so far progressed ; and again, chickens however early 

 hatohed are as yet not sufficiently matured for public exhibition. 

 Notwithstanding theBe obstacles, our readers will be pleased to 

 learn that a collection of about three hundred pens of generally 

 excellent birds were entered. 



Black Spanish first drew the attention of visitors on their 

 entrance to the Hall. In this class the lack of condition was 

 perhaps more evident than in that of any variety in the Show 

 — a shortcoming we were well prepared for, as this breed of 

 poultry is considered as being the most susceptible of mischief 

 from the effects of unfavourable weather of all others. Want 

 of condition was consequently universal — a failing particularly 

 developed in pen 13, which were undoubtedly first-rate, but 

 had to content themselves with a high commendation from 

 this cause alone. Viscountess Holmesdale took the first position 

 in the prize list, with Mr. Wright and Mr. Rood closely competing. 

 In Grey Dorkings the competition was excellent, Viscountess 

 Holmesdale was here again successful with a most valuable 

 pen of rosy-combed ones, adding to this achievement a second 

 position with the pen so frequently exhibited by her ladyship 

 last season, as to now require but little description. Although 

 the establishing such a yard of Grey Dorkings must have 

 been attended with great outlay at the outset, we believe the 

 coming season will prove that to wrest away the Dorking laurels 

 from Linton Park will be the most difficult of all poultry feats 

 to Dorking exhibitors. Mr. Drewry was a very good third, and 

 some of the highly commended pens were but little less deserving. 

 In the Buff Cochin class, Mr. C. T. Bishop, of Lenton, near 

 Nottingham had it all his own way ; the pen he exhibited 

 making it an easy " walk over " from everything in the class. 

 We congratulate that gentleman on his possession of so excellent 

 a pen of birds, and wish them continued success. We regret to 

 find, however, so palpable a confirmation of a report recently 

 current that Mr. Charles Felton, of Erdington, near Birmingham, 

 purposed selling all his birds, and turning his attention exclu- 

 sively to floriculture. The present owner, however, can well 

 confirm the old axiom that " the wind is indeed a sorry one that 

 blows good to none." They are one of the best pens ever yet 

 brought before the public. By some mistaken entry a pen of 

 the best White Cochin chickens we have seen this year were 

 shown in this class ; but as the limit was to Buffs alone, they 

 could not a, pear on the prize list. In the next class for Cochins, 

 Any other colour, their position would have been a good one. 

 In this latter class Captain Heaton exhibited a pen of partridge- 

 coloured ones, of which that gentleman has reason to be proud. 

 The plumage was not only excellent in colour, but the condition 

 was most praiseworthy. There were many other first-rate pens 

 of this colour, and some excellent white ones. The classes for 

 Pencilled Hamburghs were a poor apology for those we met with 

 a few years back. It is too evident we miss those noted breeders 

 Messrs. Archer, Chune, Sharp, and Worrall. The opening is a 

 good one just now to achieve renown by the careful culture of 

 the Pencilled Hamburghs, and to restore this really useful as 

 well as beautiful race of birds to the high position they lately 

 held. But however great the imperfections of these classes, 

 those for the Spangled Hamburghs made more than ample 

 amends. In both instances they were quite. as near perfection 

 as any one can reasonably hope to attain. A sad misfortune to 

 the proprietor of the first-prize Gold-Spangled pen arose from 

 an indiscretion, against which we have so frequently guarded 

 amateurs — viz., putting strange hens together. In this instance 

 the master hen not only completely ecalped her companion, 

 laying open the skin of the neck for more than 2 inches, but 

 proved herself a perfect cannibal by absolutely eating away in 

 every direction the whole of the flesh from the back of the neck 



bone. By the order of the Judges, therefore, after the skin had 

 been carefully sewn together, this hen was removed to a place of 

 quietude. She can never recover so far as exhibition is con- 

 cerned. We mention it simply as a warning to prevent others 

 falling into the same mistake. The Game olasses were well 

 filled, and with a variety of excellent birds, the Black-breasted 

 Reds and Brown Reds being perhaps the most perfect of any. 

 The Game Bantams and Black Bantams were very good. In 

 the Extra variety claBS of these little favourites, were some 

 perfect Black, and also White Japanese Bantams, some excellent 

 Brown Silkies, a very unusual colour, some Frizzled Bantams, 

 and some White Silkies. The Sebright Bantams looked below 

 par, as is customarily the case just prior to moulting. A Sweep- 

 stakes for Game Bantams, the entrance monies being divided 

 into three prizes by the rules laid down on the prize list, 

 brought only three competitors, all of them very good. Their 

 respective positions as to the honour of winning were easily 

 appointed; the question of pecuniary recompence was one 

 difficult to determine. 



Neither Ducks, Geese, nor Turkeys were entered, as these 

 classes had on this particular occasion been purposely omitted 

 from the prize schedule. 



We must not conclude without stating that the Islington 

 Agricultural Hall affords one of the best opportunities of 

 holding an extensive poultry show of any extant. The capa- 

 bilities are indisputable. The arrangements for poultry were 

 good, and the attention shown it was apparent. We were 

 glad to find that at future shows a new Bet of pens will be in 

 use, altogether avoiding the objection this time so evident — that 

 the doors being so small, it was nearly impossible to take any 

 bird out or replace it without serious injury to its appearance. 



On this occasion these pens were used as the best at the 

 moment attainable, and the difficulty will be easily provided 

 against in future. We also suggest that had the knowledge of 

 the Show being about to be held been more notorious, a vast 

 increase of entries must have ensued. It is not improbable that 

 the Islington Show will speedily rank among the highest of 

 our poultry exhibitions. 



We gave the prize list last week. 



INTEBNATIONAI DOG SHOW, ISLINGTON. 

 Our opinion of this Exhibition will be best expressed by- 

 saying that we hope it will be annual, and that the only improve- 

 ment we can suggest is that there shall be in future only two 

 one-shilling days. A week is too long a time for a dog to be 

 chained up, even in a place as large and well ventilated as the 

 magnificent glazed structure in which this Show is held. 



It was a great success in every way. The dogs, amounting to 

 more than 1600, included some of the finest specimens of each 

 variety. They were arranged uniformly on broad benches at 

 about 2J- feet from the ground ; were chained at distances uni- 

 form and effectual to prevent contests ; were kept scrupulously 

 clean ; were well fed and watered ; and the company was very 

 numerous. The Prince and Princess of Wales were there on 

 the opening day, the 25th ; and then, and on the day following, 

 we saw there a large majority of the gentlemen and ladies who 

 are well known not only among sportsmen, but of those who are 

 fond of superior domestic animals. 



The kennel in the centre of the Hall enclosing the twelve 

 couple of the Duke of Beaufort's hounds was of itself an ex- 

 hibition. They were models of the high-bred Foxhound, un- 

 surpassable in condition, uniformity, and that confident ex- 

 pression imparted by courage, and power of endurance, possessed 

 by no dog of any other breed. The Russian Wolf-hound, swift, 

 keen, and severe ; the German Boar-hound, heavy, large, and 

 powerful ; the Slave-hunting-hound, slow but terrible, and 

 making Englishmen sad to think of such a pursuit ; Greyhounds 

 made to cleave the wind, and in form without a heavy or un- 

 graceful line; Pointers and Setters, prime examples of combined 

 strength, activity, and docility ; Spaniels all vivacity and 

 courtesy ; Sheep Dogs unmistakeably intelligent ; Mastiffs well 

 worthy of baronial halls, and fitting helps to their warders ; 

 Mount St. Bernards hospitable in look, and of frame telling of 

 capacity to give help, and with voice that would reach from 

 base to summit of the Alps ; Newfoundlands, calm yet resolute 

 and strong ; Bulldogs, best tempered, most enduring, and most 

 ugly of dogs ; smooth Terriers of varied vivacity ; Skyes all 

 gentleness ; Dandy Dinmonts ready for sport ; Maltese, all 

 ill-temper like spoiled children ; Toys of all forms, and as varied 

 in disposition ; all these well represented their especial classes. 



