January 19, 1S71. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND GOTTAQB GAEDENEB. 



57 



Sktlaeks.— 1, M. Daly.- 2 and he, D. Hifrffins. 



Ax? OTHER Variety.— 1, J. Hosford. 2, Capt. Stuart, R.N. he, Miss D. 

 Beamish, c, J. Lloyd. 



THE NEW YOKK POULTRY SHOW. 



We hare received, the prize list of tliis Show, which commeuced on 

 December 14th, and by it we find that the whole of the President's 

 special prizes for European Poultry were carried off by exhibitors from 

 Oreat Britain ; the great gold medal being talten by Mr. J, C. Cooper, 

 of Limerich; tha gold medal by Mr. H. Beldon, of Bingley; and the 

 silver medal by Mr. J. C. Cryer, of Sonthport. 



Mr. Cooper has also talreu the American Agricidfnrist prize for the 

 best Dark Brahmas, with six of their chickens ; Mr. Leavitt's silver cup 

 for the best pair of Buff Cochins ; and in the general prize list is third 

 for Buff and Lemon Cochins, second and third for Dorkings, second 

 for Silver-Grey Dorkings, first for Black-breasted Red Game, third for 

 Brown-breasted Red Game, second for Black Spanish, fourth for Creve- 

 Coenrs, second for La Flcche, first for Sultans in tho Miscellaneous 

 Class, first for Toulouse Geese, first for Sebastopol Geese, third for 

 Rouen Ducks, third for Aylesbury Ducks, and first for Mandarin Ducks. 



Mr. -Beldon, in addition to the special gold medal, took a special 

 prize for the best collection of Hamburghs, was fourth for Dorking 

 chickens, commended for Duckwing Game, first for Black Spanish, 

 first for Golden-spangled and Silver-spangled Hamburghs, first for 

 Golden-pencilled and Black Hamburgh chickens, first for Black 

 African Bantam chickens, and first for Helmet, Turbit, Magpie, Fan- 

 tail, Antwerp, and Jacobin Pigeons. 



Ml'. J. H. Cryer, in addition to taking the special silver medal, was 

 fi.rst for Spanish chickens. Black Polish, and Silver Polish ; second 

 for Golden-pencilled Hamburgh chickens, first for Silver-pencilled 

 Hamburgh chickens, second and third for Black Red Game Bantams, 

 ■first for Duckwing Game Bantam chickens, first for Ked-legged Par- 

 tridges, first and second for Labrador Geese, first for Grey Call 

 Ducks ; first for Carrier cock, and second for Jacobin Pigeons. 



BEECON POULTRY SHOW. 



I AM Secretary to the Breconshire Agricultural Society. At a 

 special meeting of the members of that Society held on the 2Sth May 

 last, to consider the desirability of establishing a show in connection 

 ■with the annual show, it was decided to grant the sum of £10 to the 

 •committee of the poultry show, upon the distinct uodcrstanding that 

 no further liability rested with the Agricultural Society. Mr. D. 

 Thomas, jun., and Mr. Phillips, both solicitors at Brecon, were the self- 

 constituted committee of the poultry show, and as such attended the 

 meeting of the members of the Agricultural vSociety. By their desire 

 I acted as secretary to the poultry show, in which capacity I received 

 a large portion of the entry fees, and duly registered them in the entry 

 book. On the 16th of September last, a few days before the show, 

 Mr.- Thomas borrowed the entry book from me, and I have not been 

 able to get it back, although I have repeatedly asked for it. Messrs. 

 Thomas & Phillips themselves entered a number of fowls for compe- 

 tition; the former paid me his fees, and gave me the proper entry 

 forms, but the latter dictheither. They have now, or ought to have (for 

 I maintain that the prizes should be the first charges upon the funds), 

 the monies which were taken at the gates on the show days. Lord 

 Tredegar, The Hon. Godfrey Morgan, and Lord Hyde were patrons, 

 and of course subscribed to the funds ; but as I have not received any- 

 thing from them, I presume the committee have. None of the prizes, 

 ■that I am aware, have been paid. I am being threatened with pro- 

 ceedings to recover the prizes awarded, but I have not sufficient money 

 in my hands to enable me to pay, or I would gladly do so ; and the 

 committee will not hand over to me any of the monies in their hands, 

 although they have recently received the £10 from the Agricultural 

 Society. 



I am of opinion that, considering all the circumstances, all the 

 monies should be paid over to me as secretary ; but still I have offered 

 to hand to Messrs. Thomas & Phillips all the monies in my hands 

 if they will produce to me the entry book, showiug and marking what 

 entries I have received, which they have not yet done, and I cannot 

 think that under the circumstances I should be Justified in handing 

 the monies _ now in my hands to them. Seeing that they have, or 

 could have if not paid, the several subscriptions, the fees for the entry 

 of Mr. Phillips' fowls, the takings at the gates, and the £10 from the 

 Agricultural Society, I make out the funds in connection with the 

 poultry show to be ample to pay all prizes and expenses, and leave a 

 small surplus. Therefore, why the committee should thus throw 

 obstacles in the way of settling the various claims I cannot explain ; 

 perhaps they will be good enough to do so. 



Thinking this explanation due as well to the public as to the several 

 subscribers and those persons who obtained prizes, I trust you -ffill 

 give it publicity in your next paper. — W. M. Bkiex, 



have adopted the same course, and dropped mo a line in a friendly 

 way, instead of occupying space in your valuable Journal. After tho 

 judging was over my man (himself a Rabbit-fancier of thirty years' 

 experience) said, " Some one haa sent his Himalayan Rabbits in a 

 fine box, well divided, and has actually put a pair of Rabbits into one 

 compartment." I asked him to point me out the pen, but ho was un- 

 able to do so on account of the multitude of hampers and boxes he 

 had had through his hands. Probably it was *' J. B.," who must 

 remember we are all liable to mistakes, that had put a pair of Rabbits 

 together in one compartment in packing them off to York. I have 

 heard it said that the most careful menofton make the most mistakes. 

 Tliat is the only way I can account for the disaster. I now say this, 

 and say it emphatically, that no pair of Rabbits were ever put togethei', 

 or ever broke through the partition, for that was impossible at the 

 York Show. Every possible precaution that man could devise was 

 used to guard against any accident of this kiud. If the doe has had 

 young oues (and. I do not doubt it) it is no fault of mine. The Rab- 

 bits were never handled but by Mr. Rayson, the Judge, and the packers. 

 "J. B." says she kindled on January 6th; she arrived at York on 

 December 5th, so that just accounts for it. "J. B." in his careful 

 haste put both tho Rabbits together. — M. Millington, Yorlc, 



THE YORK RABBIT SHOW. 



Your correspondent *' J. B." has often written to me of bis trials 



as a Rabbit exhibitor, and he also wrote after our Show was over, 



thanking me for my attention to the Rabbits, stating how well bis 



stock looked when they arrived home, and I really think he might 



BIRMINGHAM TUMBLERS. 



*' Reader" informs us we have omitted to mention two peculiarities 

 in the Muft'ed Tumblers. "We omitted them because they are not 

 worth mentioning, and the birds can be bought at any cage or Pigeon 

 shop for 10.3. per dozen. True it is that some fanciers who devote their 

 whole regard to flying and working birds, consider they obtain better 

 birds by pairing any colour, or muffed and clear-legged birds together, 

 and so they do ; but these men are as jealous of the pedigree of their 

 birds as one who breeds the highest-class fancy varieties. Many of 

 them have had the breed or strain their bii-ds come from for years. 

 Do not suppose ■we mean they have been inbred for that time, for it is 

 pairing wide in feather and family that gives them strength and vigour 

 for their wonderful performance. To see a kit of this kiud would 

 astonish and gratify even one who had a distaste for Pigeons— .they must 

 be seen to be understood. These men obtain their cross from fellow 

 fanciers who have been equally careful not to admit any bird without i 

 knowing his j)edigree. But still the birds are worthless for feather, 

 and their owners even have a prejudice against pretty birds, and a 

 prejudice it really is, for to our knowledge some of the handsomest 

 breed the best working young ones ; we have seen them roll and 

 mad tumble in the superlative degree ; indeed, the only thing to fear 

 in the majority of the dark-winged varieties "is, that they may be too 

 good, and yet at the present time they are long-muffed, and would 

 never break without crossing with a clear-legged bird. 



What "Reader" means by hazel eyes wo do not know, it is a 

 colour wii have not seen, but that there are no hazel-eyed Pigeons we 

 are sure. The origin of the black or bull eye, which we suppose he 

 means, on the white-winged Tumblers, would be as prolitable to 

 pursue as the origin of the white rump on the Blue Rock. They may 

 come from Holland, Germany, or elsewhere, but ■we will get rid of 

 them as soon as we can. 



We do not disapprove of young England's fayourites, but think it 

 far wiser to improve the Muffed Tumblers, to bring them in size and 

 shape to his standard, than to anathematise them as some do. We 

 know of some as small, as compact, as good-carriaged birds as any of 

 old England's or young England's Tumblers ; but it is a work of 

 time to discard all the evil and keep all the good of a breed with so 

 manv faults as the Muft'ed Tumblers originally had. We hope to see 

 the Muft'ed Tumbler take the position that a short time more of culti- 

 vation will justify it in asking for. — BmanNG-HAM Colujiibarlvn 

 Society. 



THE FANTAIL. 



In commenting upon this singular variety of Pigeon it is 

 almost necessary that we should preface our remarks by a few 

 observations relative to the preBont varied opinions lield by 

 Fantail breeders, with regard to its characteristics considered 

 of most importance. The conflicting opinions of fanciers have 

 too often been manifested to need more than a passing reference 

 to show the importance of establishing a standard in order to 

 tone down, or settle, if possible, these cU^erences, so that those 

 young fanciers who seek enjighte^ment as to the real merits 

 may not be discouraged by such contrary opinions as are at 

 present promulgated, and which certainly must be quite as 

 annoying to the fancier as embarrassing to the experienced 

 judge. "We do not suppose that all fanciers will follow our 

 standard and depart from their own peculiar views, but we will 

 endeavour to make clear our opinions, and lay them before the 

 fancier to draw his own conclusions. 



There appears to us to have been raised a local model in most 

 districts where the culture of the Eantail has been at all cared 

 for, and, as a conseqaence, we too often find that what one 

 judge has denounced to-day as unworthy even of a commenda- 

 tion, a brother fancier and judge to-morrow pronounces perfect, 



