October 5, 1871. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



271 



has annoaneed that his Pouters will this year be kept at home, 

 it is hoped that the " sister isle " will none the leas contribute 

 many a specimen for comparison with the English and Scotch 

 birds.— W. V. 



HUNTINGDONSHIRE POULTRY SHOW. 

 Tms was held at St. Ives, on September 27tli. The following is the 

 prize Ust : — ■ 



Dorkings.— 1 and 2, — Wood, Clapton. Bcns.—'Pnze, E. Sonthwood, Faken- 

 iam. Chickens.— I and 2, — Wood. Pallets.— Prize, — Wood. Cock.— 'Prize, 

 ~- Wood. Cockerei. — Prize. — Wood. 



Spanish.— 1, S. Deacon, Polebrook Hall. 2, H. Yardley, Birminsham. Hens. 

 —Prize, G. S. Hall. Ely. Chickens. — Piiz^, H. Yardley. Cocfc.— Prize, H. 

 Yardley. 



Game.— 1, S. Deacon. 2, S. Matthew. Stowmarket. Cock.— Prize, S. Deacon. 



Gamk Bantaiis (Black-breasted or other Reds).— 1, H. Yardley. 2, J. Good- 

 iiffe. Conine^on. 



Mixed Bheed.— 1, — Loneland. Grendon. 2, W. Cutlack, Jan.. Littleport. 



Cochin-China.— 1. H. H. Bletsoe, Barnwell, Oiuidle. 2, J. Taylor, Sutton, Isle 

 -of Ely. Chickens. —Prize. H. H. Bletsoe. 



Hambhrghs lAnv variety).- 1. H. Yardlev. 2, J. Goodliffe {Silver-pencilled J. 



Polish.— 1. Rev. W. Thornhill, Offord D'Arcev. 2, H. Yardley. 



Ant other Distinxt Breed.— Prize, W. Cutlack, jun. 



DxjCKs.—Aylesburi/.-l. H. H. Bletsoe. 2, S. Deacon. Vucklings.-l, S. 

 Deacon. 2, Rev. W. Thornhill. Bouen.—l, T. F. Upsher, jun., Sutton. Isle of 

 Ely. 2, J. Goodliffe. Ducklings.— I and 2, — Wood. Any other Variety.— I. J. 

 Maiden, Bi^Ecleswade (Black East Indian). 2, S. Deacon (East Indian). Duck- 

 linijs.—l and 2, J. Goodliife (White Call). 



Geese (Any variety). —1. F. H. E. Bridshatn, Thetford. 2, J. Goodliffe 

 (Tonlou3el. Goslings.— 1,3. Goodliffe (Toulouse). 2, S. Deacon (Toulouse). 



Tdrkeys.- 1, G. S. Hall, Ely. 2, Rev. N. J Ridley, Newbury. Poults.— 1, G. 

 Pi, Pearson, Witham Common. 2, Mrs. W. Willson, Fenstanton. 



Pigeons (Collection of not less than three varieties) — 1 and 2, H. Yardley. 

 Prize. — Cup for the greatest number of Prizes, R. Wood, Clapton. 



Judges. — Mr. F. Kooper, Hnntinr^doD, Mr. John Linton, Backden 

 "Wood, and Mr. R. Margetts, Hantingdon. 



WEST HARTLEPOOL CANARY SHOW. 



I MAT a3 well deliver myself of it at oDce and be done with it. The 

 bird IS ticked. My first duty when jndgiuf; at Hartlepool was to dis- 

 «[nalify No. 21 (J. W. Frankland), in the Clear Yellow class. It was 

 tJt^ bird and is ticked, most unmistakeably ticked in front and round 

 the top of the left eye. But no blame to Mr. Frankland. He claimed 

 the bird at Whitby upon my ipse dixit that it was not ticked. I 

 make no excuse and I offer no comment. Humannm est errare. 



I have pleasure in reporting the first Canary Show held at West 

 Hartlepool, both because it was the first, and because it was in all 

 respects such a signal success, reflecting much credit on the ability 

 and indomitable energy of the Secretary, Mr. Thos. W. Abbott, who, 

 ■without even having time to advertise, managed, by dint of much tact 

 and prompt action, to present West Hartlepool with a Show of un- 

 usual excellence. The Exhibition was supplemented by the attraction 

 of a brass band contest, but I was told that the Canary Show was the 

 attraction, and certainly I never saw so many people at a show before. 

 'Calculating the number in a crowd is some people's forte, I cannot do 

 it, but I am within bounds when I say that the visitors might have 

 been numbered by the thousand, and the contents of the Chinese 

 bowls at the money-taker's box seemed to promise a balance which 

 will next year make West Hartlepool Show second to none in the 

 amount of its prizes. 



I need give no special review of the birds, as the greater part of 

 them were noticed by me in my Whitby notes; besides, I am afraid 

 ■of breaking out in a fresh place about the ticked Jonque! But I 

 must just refer to another gem of a Silver Lizard, which Mr. Ritchie, 

 of Darlington, brought out. The Whitby hen was there too, but it 

 had to stmd below this new beauty, also a hen. 



As will be seen by the note at the foot of the award of prizes, there 

 ■was a stoat to nail up, a most flagrant case of tailoring. Mr. John 

 Hobson, of Bedlington Iron Works, exhibited two Goldfinch Mules, 

 really magnificent birds if they had been what they were represented 

 to he. But they were not, and that makes all the difference, and it 

 becomes absurd to compare them at all with other well-known Mules 

 of proved integrity. I had seen both these delinquents before more 

 than once, and am not sure that on one occasion the Jonque did not 

 slip me, though I exposed them both at last Newcastle Show, where 

 the manipulation was not quite so cleverly performed as on this oc- 

 casion, and it was to these same birds that my remarks in the report 

 of that Show referred. The Committee in that instance took no 

 action in the matter, but Mr. Abbott requested me to make a note of 

 the tailoring at Hartlepool. 



A great feature of the Show was the collection of stuffed birds. The 

 idea originated with the Honorarv Secretary, who is himself learned 

 in ornithology, and a clever taxidermist. The display made in this 

 department was something striking, and the specimens exhibited were 

 for the most part rare and well preserved. The first-prize " collection 

 of stuffed bird:;," shown by Gapt. Farrar, was veiy superior as regards 

 rarity of specimens and excellency of mounting, points insisted on in 

 the schedule, the latter condition especially being of primary im- 

 portance, for no amount of red sealing-wax can atone for want of easy, 

 life-like posing, though in this respect all the specimens were highly 

 meritorious, and selection became almost an invidious task. Capt. 

 I'arrar's collection contained the very rare Purple Heron, splendidly 

 mounted ; Spoonbill, Honey Buzzard, Kite, Osprey, Merlin, Gos- 

 hawk, Peregrine, Sparrow Hawk, and others of the family Accipitres. 



The second-prize collection of Mr. C. Smyth was elaborate, and con- 

 tained some rare specimens, but, unfortunately, the mounting was 

 inferior, excepting a large Bustard, a grand fellow, and a good speci- 

 men of the Sand Grouse. A case of Owls, many of them rare, were 

 lost for want of being naturally set. Mr. Brown's collection of British 

 birds contained some remakably well-mounted examples, notably a 

 case of Waxwings, which were shot at Darlington. A " single case " 

 of magnificent Himalayan Pheasants, exhibited by Capt. Farrar, was 

 great. Mr. John Gent was first in the " collection of foreign stuffed 

 birds," with large and fine groups, but, unfortunately, I have not the 

 names. Last, but not the least feature of the Exhibition, was the 

 first-prize " single case " of Mr. Wm. Farrar's, which contained a 

 pair of the almost extinct bird the Buff. This case was, without 

 exception, the gem of the Show, and such a pair is seldom seen. 

 One bird was a clean White, and the other a pure Cinnamon. 



This department in a bird show must of necessity be somewhat 

 local in its character, as it would be unsafe to trust the large cases 

 with their glass fronts to the tender mercies of the railway. But 

 where such specimens are known to abound, there can be no doubt 

 the owners would be happy to enter into friendly rivalry, and as little 

 doubt that the exhibition of rare or curious specimens of the taxi- 

 dermist's skill is as instructive as interesting. And why not give 

 prizes for collections of birds' eggs and nests ? I know I am treading 

 on some people's corns. But I am not advocating wholesale robbery, 

 or anything which would lead to it. Confined within proper limits 

 birds-nesting is a healthy study, mentally, morally, and physically, 

 and destroys the jacket and trowsers also to a great extent. — W. A. 

 Blakstox. 



Belgians.— CZetir or Ticked Tellow.—l and3,W. Bulmer. Stockton-on-Tees. 

 Clear or Ticked Buff.— I and 2, W. Bulmer. 3 and he, R. Robinson, Mi..dleL- 

 borough- 



a OBvricn. —Telloiv —1 and 2, Adams & Athersuch, Spon End, Coventry. 

 8, J CleminsoD, Darling on. vhc, J. N. Harnaon, Ee'per. he, J. Cooper, 

 Middleshoroueh ; R. Ha\vinan, SI dUeaborou^h (2). Clear Buff.—l ana 2, 

 Adams (S. A her-uch. 3,J. W Frank in, Whitby, vhc, 3 N.Harrison. Evenly 

 Ularked—l atid2. Adama & A'herdDch. 3, S. Tomeo, Northampton. vhc.W. 

 K. Gricvsun, Buliweil, Nottmi>ham. he, R. Hawman; E. & J. T. Nicholson, 

 West Hartlepool, 



CiNNAitos-.— reHoio.— 1, S. Tomes. 2, W. Eolmer. 3, J. Taylor, MiddleE- 

 borough. Baff—1. S. Tomes. 2, J. N. Harrieou. 3, W. Bolmer. Variegated. — 

 1, J. btevens, Sliddlesborough. 2, S. Tomes S, K. Hawman. vlie, W. W. 

 Johnson, Carlton. Noitballert'in. he, 3. Taylor. 



Lizard. — Golden-spangled.-l. R. Ritchie, DarHngton. 2, J. N. Harrison, 

 3. W. 1^. Giiev&on. vhc. 3. Taylor; J. Sttvens. c, C. Cleminson. Silver- 

 S2)angled.—1. 2, and 3, E. Ritchie, he. 3 N.Harrison c, J.CltminBon; J. Taylor. 



Green — C^ear.— I, G. Atkinson, Gatetheaj. 2 and 3, J, Stephens, i^ltc, E. 

 Rotinson. 



YoRKsuiRZ.— Any Colour— I, 3. Cooper, Middlesborongh. 2, J. Robson, Bed- 

 line;. on Iron WorKa. 3, J. Stevens. vlic, 3. Stevens; J. Taylor; W. & C. 

 Bami^ton. he. W. W. Johnson. 



GoLDFivcH Mule.— JS('(.'7iZy Marked.— 1, 3. Stevens. 2 and 3, J. Taylor. 

 Evenly Marked.— 1 and 3, J. Tayior. 2. P. Eavnor. 



Goldfinch.— 1. W & C. Barn &ton. 2. J Taylor. 



Paeeot qe Pabakeet.— 1, G. Rymer, West HarQepool. 2. E. Eideada'e. 

 RABBITS. 



Lop-eared.— 1 and2, W. B. Boden, West Hartlepool, vhc, G. Atkinson, Gates- 

 hea't (0). Half-lopped. — 1 and 2, R. Atkinson French.— % R. Alderaon, Common, 

 1, W. F. Hal, We^t Hartlepuoi. 2, J. T. Furness, West Hartlepool. Himalayan 

 1, B. Story, West Hartlepool. 2, J. Corey, West Hartlepool. 



Judge. — Mr. W. A. Blakston, Sunderland. 



SUPPORT FOR FRAMES DURING OPERATIONS. 



I HAVE found the following apparatus invented by an apiarian 

 here exceedinglj useful. 



Take two pieces of half-inch wood 4 inches wide and about 

 1 inch longer than a Woodbnry hive measured outside. In tha 

 centre of the two boards there is a pivot to enable them to 

 work freely one on the other. To prevent their being wood- 

 bound pennies are half sunk in both boards through which the 

 pivot passes. Two uprights of half-inch wood, 3 inches wide, 

 about 8.J inches high, and 14 inches apart, are fastened to 

 the uppermost of the two boards, wilh groove to form a rest for 

 the ends of a frame ; each has a brass plate about one-tenth of 

 an inch in thickness screwed to the top. 



The use of the apparatus is to receive a frame when extracted 

 from a TVoodbury hive. If it is desired to find the queen, the 

 frames have simply to be lifted out one after the other and 

 placed in the apparatus ; and when one side of a frame has 

 been thus inspected it is turned round by means of the revolving 

 pivot, and the reverse side brought into view. I will not dilate 

 upon its advantages, especially to those apiarians who have no 

 one to assist them in manipulations. By using it anyone can 

 operate much more easily, as the use of both hands is obtained 

 — an obvious assistance when the object is to look for royal 

 cells, or anything else requiring careful inspection. Two bars 

 and frames can be placed side by side on the rest it necessary, 

 and the shape of the piece of brass at the top will prevent 

 either being pushed off. The apparatus when in use is rested 

 across one end of the hive after the top has been removed, a 

 small block underneath the two ends of the lower ^oard pre- 

 venting its shifting while in use. — D. D. B. 



[We can well imagine that the contrivance as dessribed may 

 be of use to some operators, but to ourselvea and 3oany otheia 



