404 



JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENES. 



[ Kovember 23, 1871, 



we used to see is replaced by the " muddy "' hackle " Onus " 

 correctly motims ever in the cocks. 



So much for definitions. Kegarding Cheltenham, I admit 

 that the prizes went to birds snperior in size but deficient in 

 martings ; but I was there myself, though only a short time, 

 and 1 must say I saw no chicfeens there of "almost perfect 

 shape and markings." The only pair decently marked were 

 far too narrow in body. With regard to Mr. Pares again, I 

 can remember one Bristol show at least (1869, I think), where 

 he showed the only really black-necked hens or pullets (I forget 

 which) in the class, though I do admit his birds are usually 

 lighter than I like. With regard to my remarks on the Bir- 

 mingham awards, very singularly I wrote the contrary. What 

 I said was, as I distinctly remember, that (like " Outis ") 1 

 " never heard the awards more complained of, and on the very 

 ground that the winning birds were so small ;" and my object 

 was to show that the exhibitors themselves were so running 

 after mere size, that when an award was made on other 

 grounds they complained of it. Mr. Long had said judges 

 would only look at size ; I instanced Birmingham to the con- 

 trary, and remarked (as written) that when judges (quite 

 rightly) decided by shape and colour, the other exhibitors com- 

 plained. My object was to show that judges would give 

 honours even to small birds if good in shape and colour, but 

 that it was the exhibitors who were looking to mere size. What 

 may hsve become of the first-prize bird at Spalding I do not 

 know, but I do know that he won again at the very best shows 

 after, which is more to the point, and again proves that jadges 

 will encourage good colour and form when they meet with it. 

 Many things may hinder a bird winning at any particular show, 

 and there mii^ht also be other reasons than mere size for 

 thinking Mr. Pares's fourth-prize cockerel ought to have been 

 higher. After all, these are individnal differences of opinion. 

 My simple object was to prove that perfection in form and 

 colour did and would win against size, and that breeders, on 

 the contrary, rather went for size. Yet I would not " dis- 

 qualify " white-hackled birds. After all, a bird must be judged 

 as a whole ; that is the great secret of judging, and will explain 

 many awards which puzzle those who can only look at one 

 point at a time. In saying, however, that birds correct in 

 colour and shape " would win," I meant, of course, against 

 mere size, I did not mean against Darks. While the more 

 perfect birds in Lights are small, if at the same time the 

 Darks are both correct in points, and have the advantage of 

 being large as well, the Darks not only will but ought to win. 

 That seems to me just the position of the case at present. Leg 

 feather is also 'o be considered. But I am quite sure that it 

 such birds r.a the two first Birmingham cockerels be shown of 

 11 lb?, weight — i.e., combining the "points" of those two 

 Light birds with the size of the Darks, they will win their 

 share of cups at any show where Messrs. Hewitt or Teebay are 

 the judges. It cannot be said such is now the ease, and I have 

 only given a weight which is constantly attained at Birming- 

 ham by Dark cockerels. I speak without having asked the 

 opinions of the gentlemen I have named, but I have done what 

 is, perhaps, better — made an analysis of their judgments at 

 several of the best shows for three years, in order to form a 

 correct scale of Brahma " points," and I am convinced their 

 judgments will bear me out whenever they get the birds to give 

 them a chance. 



There's the rub. Small size in a large breed, of course, is 

 heavy odds against a bird, and is alone enough to justify 

 Darks wioning, which are both large and good. But regard- 

 ing the weights I stated, the very hen from which the por- 

 trait is taken in the work " Outis" refers to, weighed close 

 on 12 lbs. ; and not so very long back, when the same con- 

 troversy of Lights and Darks was carried on in this Journal, 

 Mr. Crook himself stated that if there were any difference 

 the Lights could be bred the largest ! I am certain they 

 can be bred at least as large, and I repeat my caution, that 

 in my own belief they are sent to early shows more than 

 the best Dark birds are, and that this has something to do with 

 it. Whatever the American birds were, they were larger than 

 nearly all the rest of the class at Birmingham, but Mr. Simp- 

 son himself told me they were only third-rate, as was proved 

 by their price of, I think, six guineas. I have myself seen an 

 English Light Brahma cock of 134 lbs , and good birds can be 

 bred large as well as bad. It I ever get a chance to try I will 

 guarantee to breed 11 lbs. cockerels by the third year. Long- 

 backed hens, as I said in my last, are the stuii to work upon 

 to obtain size with very short deep-bodied cocks. When size 

 is obtained then we adhere to proper shape, of course ; but it 



is useless when a breed is " down," as I think this is, to 

 attempt to get every point at once. That is a great mistake of 

 many, even experienced breeders. It takes years to make a 

 strain what it ought to be, though two seasons will make giant 

 strides towards perfection in good hands. — L. Weight. 



If it is absolutely necessary that Light Brahmas should 

 attain the enormous size of the Dark variety to win, I, of course, 

 agree with Mr. L. Wright ; but my argument is to the effect 

 that as they are and always have been, in this country at least, 

 much inferior in frame, they cannot be made to attain the 

 size of their more fortunate rivals. Light Brahma breeders 

 have done their very best year by year, but once more we fail 

 to see great size ; whereas, if possible, the dark birds are largei: 

 than ever. Symmetry, pencilling, and feather we can obtain, 

 although Mr. Wright appears to doubt the ability of our 

 breeders to secure the latter. 



It appears to me a simple fact, that one variety is naturally 

 larger than the other, and in common I believe with every 

 fancier of the variety, I think that where both compete, size, if 

 it is size, should not absolutely turn the scale, as it invariably 

 does, and must under such circumstances. With reference to 

 shape, particularly that of the " duck-shaped hens," I believe 

 that " doctors disagree." Possibly it was the same eminent 

 judge meijtioned by Mr. Wright, who spoke to me of " the 

 duck-like bodies " of a pair of hens, whereas their owner, every- 

 where acknowledged to be a great judge of the variety himself, 

 told me that they were the finest he ever possessed, and coming 

 from the most successful yard in the country this should be 

 worth something. Mr. Wright instances the two Birmingham 

 cockerels as examples of " small " winners ; the fact is, that 

 they were fair in size and first-rate in shape, whereas there was 

 not a really large bird in the class, and certai y none combin- 

 ing symmetry with even moderately large siz Again at Ply- 

 mouth, as Mr. Wright has instanced it, he may be well par- 

 doned for the award. " Little Sampson " und oubtedly toot 

 the fancy of his judge, and shape carried the day against rivals, 

 be it remembered, S lbs. heavier. From that award I became 

 prejudiced in favour of shape versus size ; possibly, Mr. 

 Wright will, therefore, extend me forgiveness for this change 

 of opinion. 



I have little faith in Mr. Wright's remarks, that if bred 

 " correct in shape, good colour, and well-feathered," they will 

 win, even if not large, and if the Light birds really were larger 

 a few years ago, they were as easily beaten as now. I have a 

 few early numbers of the Journal of 1868, in which I find forty 

 competitions, and in which thirty-nine were won by Dark birds. 

 This speaks well for the past. 



Mr. Wright's special remarks upon the Southampton prizes to 

 my mind are a great argument in my favour.; he states that 

 these special cups do real harm, and bring small results, and 

 that the birds do not surpass, or rarely equal the Darks. I 

 have every reason to believe that all Light Brahma breeders 

 look forward to Southampton as a sort of " passage of arms," 

 and devote all their energies to the production of a good pen or 

 two for the trial. It is one of the stimulants of the year, and 

 although it has been admitted for the past few years that the 

 Light Brahmas have been the best classes in the show, the 

 winning birds have, nevertheless, succumbed to Dark speci- 

 mens when in open competition at larger exhibitions. 



We shall all thank Mr. Wright for his parting advice. Breed- 

 ing from cocks whose hocks have been cut oS resuscitates the 

 idea of producing black-crested Polands, for it is as feasible to 

 breed them from a White Poland with a black nightcap tied over 

 his crest as to suppose that the scissors can sfEect the hock of the 

 Brahma chicken. I have tried the experiment, and the result 

 was so encouraging that I would not advise its repetition. — 

 Jaiies Long. 



AMALGAMATION OF COLUMBARIAN SOCIETIES. 

 I believe it would be advancing the interest shown in keep- 

 ing Pigeons, if there were an amalgamation of all columbarian 

 societies for the purpose of holding a grand annual exhibition 

 of young birds. The secretary of each society should see that 

 none but young birds are shown by t'ne members. Place of 

 exhibition should be balloted for in rotation. — A Columeakiax. 



Bkistol Pkize List. — We are requested by the Secretary to 

 state that the Malay ban class has through an oversight been 

 printed " For the IJest pair of pullets or hens," which should 

 have been, and is intended to stand as "For the best single 



