November 9, 1871. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



367 



the common "Everlasting" of garden borders ; 3, Senecio Cineraria, or 

 Cineraria maritima; 4, AgatliEea ccelestis. {S. W. E.). — Campannla 

 LceSingii, native of Spain. 



POTJLTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON CHaONICLE. 



LIGHT BRAHIMAS. 



As an entbuaiastic admirer of this beantifol breed, I beg to 

 be allowed one or two remarks on Mr. "Wright's very interest- 

 ing paper in last week's Journal. I am, comparatively, only 

 a young beginner as a Light Brahma breeder, and write in 

 the hope of gaioing information. Having attended with 

 tolerable regularity many of the leading shows, I certainlv 

 am somewhat surprised to find that Mr. "Wright thinks tha't 

 shape and colour can win against size. I am assuming that 

 by '* colour," is chiefly meant the clear black-striped neck and 

 saddle hackle, as described in his book, " The Brahma Fowl." 



Of late I have begun to think that his description in that 

 book must be totally erroneous, for I have constantly seen prizes 

 awarded to cocks without a vestige of marking on the saddle, 

 and with a neck hackle that can only be appropriately depcribed 

 as" muddy." For example, at the late Cheltenham Show a 

 pair of Light Brahma chickens, of almost perfect shape and 

 markings according to Mr. Wright's standard, were merely 

 commended, while the prizes went to birds with almost white 

 hackles, but very superior in size. In fact, my experience so 

 far shows that style and markings have no chance whatever 

 against size. Da what other grounds, I would ask, are three- 

 fifths of all the Light Brahma prizes awarded to Mr. Pares'a 

 birds than their being of superior size? No one could main- 

 tain that they excel in style or colour. I quite agree with 

 Mr. Wright that the case of the winning cockerels ai Birming- 

 ham last year was an exception, but, unlike him, I have heard 

 the award most bitterly complained of, on the ground that the 

 prize birds were so small • and if my memory does not deceive 

 me, your own reporter mentioned that in his opinion one at 

 least of Mr. Pares's cockerels should have been in the first 

 or second place. I think lam right in saying that the Bir- 

 mingham first-prize cockerel was afterwards exhibited at Spald- 

 ing, and merely commended in a small class, the prizes, as 

 usual, going to size. 



Now, are we to breed for striped hackle or for size ? I, for one, 

 should be glad to know. So far as my personal predilections go I 

 entirely agree with Mr. Wright's standard of markings, and'^am 

 disposed to think that many first-prize birds I have seen with 

 nearly white hackles are as deserving of disqualification as if 

 •they had white legs, but evidently the Judges think differently. 



Next, as to absolute size. I held my breath when I came to 

 Mr. Wright's statement of cocks of 17 lbs., and hena of 12 lbs. 

 We certainly are a long way behind our American brethren. 

 Mi^ht I ask throagh your columns the purchaser of the Ame- 

 rican birds shown last year at Birmingham {which, I suppose, 

 may be accepted as fair specimen?, or they would hardly have 

 been sent over, and which gained, I believe, the third prize), 

 to let us know what their weight is now? I do trn^t that 

 some of these American monsters may be about starting for 

 the Crystal Palace or Birmingham Shows, and may I be there 

 to see. — OuTis. 



ENTRANCE FEES. 

 The charge for entries ousht to be no more than as fol- 

 lows :—os. where there are £4, £2, and £1 prizes ; 45. where 

 the prizes are £3, £1 10s., and 10^-. ; 3s. where the prizes are 

 £2, £1, and 10s. ; and 2s. Qd. where the prizes are 30s. 15s., and 

 10s. I cannot say anything against the Crystal Palace Show, 

 as the Committee are giving so many cups — their entry fees 

 are about right, had they no subscriptions.— John Coceroft. 



DERBY CANARY SHOW. 



The Show of October 2Sth and 30th was the largest ever yet held at 

 Derby, and the birds, for quahty and for beauty of plumage, could not 

 well have been excelled. The Committee deserve great credit for the 

 arrangements, 'every visitor being able to see well, and any bird which 

 one wished to single out could be found at once. 



In the classes for birds hatched this year, limited to members of the 

 Society, there were 160 entries. As a class the Yellows were much 

 better in colour than last year. In Buffs we did not notice any great 

 change. The silver cup was won by Mr. E. Henson with fifteen 'points. 

 Very seldom does one breeder exhibit so many good birds, taking out 

 of sis classes four first prizes, one second, and one third. No. 24 



was the pet of the Show, and will, we are sure, before the season is 

 over, win more laurels. Class 12 (Variegated Buff Norwich), was 

 good throughout, the even marking showing much consideration and 

 very careful breeding. There was a decided improvement both in the 

 quantity and quality of the Crested birds as compared with former 

 years. We were sorry to see that the Belgian and Lizard fancy does 

 not seem to flourish in Derby. 



Last year the Society decided on having classes open to all England, 

 and from the success they then met with these prizes were again 

 offered, and the result has far exceeded all expectations, 102 Norwich 

 being entered, also several entries of Belgians, Mules, and Lizards; 

 and the Committee intend still farther to extend their sphere of opera- 

 tions in these classes. 



Of Bantams there were twenty-nine entries ; the prizewinners were 

 perfect in every respect. We are of opinion that a poultry show 

 might be snccessf q1 in connection with this Society. 



The weather was unfortunately very unfavourable, but we are in- 

 formed the receipts were quite equal to expectation, and we hope 

 another year this Society will receive more support at the hands of the 

 fancy. We pubUshed last week the names of the Judges and the list 

 of awards. 



SOUTHAMPTON POULTRY, PIGEON, AND 

 BIRD SHOW^ 



Fob eleven successive years this Show has held a very high position 

 in public opinion, the Committee always paying the utmost attention 

 to any suf^gestioa likely to add to its attractions. At Southampton 

 there are classes not only for exhibition poultry, but also for fowls 

 ready dressed for table. Another prominent feature of this year's 

 meeting has been the excellent collection of Canaries and other song 

 birds combined with classes for foreign birds in great variety and 

 of resplendent plumage. Consequently all visitors, whether strictly 

 poultry-breeders or otherwise, could readily pass many hours in a 

 pleasing and Vfery instructive inspection. This year, by a greatly im- 

 proved arrangement, the Exhibition was held in a central part of the 

 town, and, had the weather been at all favourable, no doubt the receipts 

 would have been proportionably increased. The large space available 

 permitted of a far better display throughout than in former years, and 

 in respect to the Geese, of which there was a truly magni6cent collec- 

 tion, it is questionable whether they were not more comfortably situ- 

 ated than at their respective homesteads ; certainly it has never been 

 our lot to visit any show where the accommodation for these birds was 

 at all comparable to that afforded at Southampton. The Auction Ee- 

 pository, in which the Show was held, has one other great advantage 

 in nearly the whole of the roof being glass, so that the amount of Ught 

 varies only to a trifling exteut throughout. At a time like the pre- 

 sent, when poultry shows are held in such rapid succession, and, in too 

 many cases, in defiance of all risks, nearly simultaneously, a great de- 

 ficiency in the number of entries generally ensues; nevertheless, at 

 Southampton the entries were as numerous as in former years. Spanisli 

 were a very small class, as. unfortunately, seems to be the case at every 

 show daring this autumn, but the prize pens were much admired. Grey 

 Dorhings were decidedly the strong feature of the Show, and here Mr. 

 Martin, of Claines, secured the ten-guinea silver cup. the gift of Peter 

 Merrick Hoare, Esq., M.P. for Southampton. It is worthy of not^ 

 that both of Mr. Martin's pens were rosy-combed, of magnificent size, 

 and in capital feather. It may not be amiss here to note that the 

 truly objectionable feature of open wirework for the backs of the pens 

 began to tell moat unfavourably, for such were the massive proportions 

 of the cup male bird, that at every movement the tail feathers were 

 more or less rubbed to pieces by continued entanglement in the wire- 

 work behind, and not a few other large fowls were equally injured. 

 The ten-guinea silver cup, given by Mrs. Merrick Hoare for the best 

 pen of Game fowls, was secured by a grand pen of Brown Keds belong- 

 ing to Mr. Julian, of Hull, and, strange to say, it was the only entry 

 made by their owner against a very heavy competition. Cochins were 

 mostly good, but, as a whole, they were scarcely in full condition. 

 Brahmas were quite a feature of this exhibition, and Mrs. "William- 

 son's Light- coloured chickens, if well cared for, are certain to find 

 a position in many other prize Hsts. Of Frencli fowls the display was 

 excellent, and Game Bantams were also a very prominent class. In 

 the Variety class for Bantams Silver-laced Sebrighta stood first, and a 

 very well-shown pen of Cuckoo Bantams second. Among the Water- 

 fowls, a pen of Sebastopol Geese, several pens of Baenos Ayrean, 

 Carolina, and Whistling Ducks were well worthy of notice. 



Spanish. — 1, H. Brown, Patney Heath. 2, Mrs. Allsopp, Hindlip Hall 

 ■Worcester, c. J. F. Si letoe. Penfields, Wolvprhampton. 



DoRETS-GS.— 1 and Cup, J. Martin, Claines, "Worcest^T. 2, J. Smith, Shilling 

 lee Park, Petworth. he, W. Peacocke, Efford, LymiuE^ton. c. H. Humphrey 

 Attintrton, PulborDugh ; J. Chisman. Chickens.— \, J. Martin. 2, J Simith 

 he. Mrs. Hayne: Mrs. E. Wheatlev, Elackmore Eeetory, Inpatestone (2); Sir 

 H. C. Paulet, Bart., Little Testwood, Totton ; W. Treviihick. Hayle, Cornwall ; 

 J. Smith; H. S. Fraser, Headlev, Liphook (2). C, Sir H. C. Paulet, Bart.; J. 

 Smth. 



Cochins. — 1, Cup, and he, J. Sichel, Lark Hill, Timperley. 2. Mrs. Allsopp. 

 Chici:ens.~\, Horace Lin^rwood. Greeting. Needham Market. 2, C. Bloodworth, 

 Bav-h'll, Cheltenham, he. W. Burch, Barnacle. Coventry ; Horace Lin ^wood; 

 J. K. Fowler, Aylesburv; A. C. Travers, Falmouth ; J. Long, Plymouth ; R. S. 

 S- Woodgate, Pembury. Tnnbridpe Wells ; Mrs. H. Hozier, Alresford. e, F, 

 W. Rn^t. Hastings ; C- F. Wleon, Bartley Manor, Tditon. 



BRAHiiis.— Darfc —1, W. i>ring, Faversham. 2 and c, Horace Lingwood. 

 he, H. P. Moor. Langley Lodge, Chiprenham. 



BEAH3L4S. - Light. — Cop, Mrs. T. Tnmer, Avon, Ringwood. 2 and he, J. Pares 

 Postford, Guildford. 3, H.M. Maynard. CfttcteTi-s.— Cnpand 2, Mrs. A. William^ 



