110 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



[ Febrnary 9, 1871. 



at two of our principal slioivs. I naturally enough expected some 

 notice Tvotilcl be taken of them liy the Judges in givins^ tlieir awards, 

 but not even a commendation did they obtain, and why I conld not; 

 surmise until their return home, -when, to my horror and disgust, I 

 found my best bird deprived of a portion of his tail and the longest 

 flight feathers of one "wing. The other bird was also mutilated in 

 feather, but not to the same extent. It is evident that the mischief 

 was done at the Show, for I have received a letter from a member of 

 the Northern Poultry Club, in ■which, after offering me his sympathy, 

 he states that my first bird which was penned he considered as litely 

 a one as in the class, but on returning to this pen a few minutes later 

 he found my bird had made ^partial moult ^ and a party not far dis- 

 tant looking over the newly-arrived hampers, who, on being questioned, 

 said he was looking for my other Game cock. Now how this party 

 knew that I bad more than one, or even one bird entered, is a mystery 

 to me, unless he is a member of committee or had ac:ess to the Society's 

 books, and it is a still greater mystery why no effort has been made to 

 bring any suspicious party to justice. 



Like Mr. Cresswell, I am prevented showing my bird for this season, 

 besides being discomfited at the sight of a valuable bird suffering from 

 the proceedings of one who must be depraved in the extreme, and free 

 frjm all feeling and humanity. — J. W. Will, Erroh 



WISBECH POULTRY, PIGEON, CANAEY, AND 



EABBIT SHOW. 



This, -which I think was the first Exhibition of the kind held at 

 Wisbech, took place on "Wednesday and Thursday last, in the Public 

 Hall, and was in every respect a signal success. Sometimes it requires 

 a long time to popularise a poultry or a bird show. In some towns 

 they take root at once and become reco^n'sed insiitutions, whilst in 

 others they have to make a struggle for existence, anduot uLfr:quently 

 die-out from lack of support. It matters not how intrinsically ex- 

 cellent any e>;hibition may be if the taste of the public outside lie in 

 another direction ; and it is quite possible for a penny gaff, whi:r3 may 

 be seen " The Enchanted Stocking, hor the Blood-stained Bed-screw, 

 followed by the Arlequin Dogs'-meat Man, hor Love in a Hiceberg, " 

 to reap a harvest in the same town where really interesting and in- 

 structive exhibitions can scarcely glean suffc'ent to pay rent and gas. 

 Such does not appear to be the case at Wisbech, judging from the 

 large attendance at the Show last week. It is under euergeli', and 

 what is better still, intelligent management, and I can congratulate 

 the Canary fancy on one more fixture which is prepared to issue a 

 good schedule, and which is under the supervision of a gentlemanly 

 executive. The Hall was prettily decorated, with evergreens in pots 

 interspersed here and there. It has frequently occurred to me, that 

 in localities where the material is plentiful, a bird show combined 

 with a winter garden or winter flower show would prove very attractive. 

 Certainly it ought, and if good taste were exercised in the grouping of 

 the plants and birds, a \ivy charming spectacle might be produced. 



The Canaries were placed on a stage draped with crimson, were well 

 arranged and set in a good light, and though not so numerous as 

 at other shows, contained more bond fide show birds than I have met 

 with anywhere in proportion to the number staged. The Clear Yellow 

 Norwich was an excellent class, Messrs. Cockle &; Watson winning 

 easily with a gem of a Jonque, a performance they repeated in the 

 Clear Buffs ; Moore Sz Wynn being second in each class. In Varie- 

 gated Jonques Mr. Hawman's bird was first, though slightly deficient 

 of a few minor feathers on one wing ; but at this advanced stage of 

 the season, birds wliich have been frequently shown, and, consequently, 

 frequently in the tub, may be expected to be in not quite such faultless 

 trim as some which have been kept back and laid-up in lavender. I 

 think there is all the difference in the wo:ld between accidental loss 

 and fraudulent trimming. Cockle & Wat?o:i were second with a grand 

 heavily-marked bird, and also showed two splendid unevenly-marked 

 birds in the Buff's, in which class Moore fcWynn were first and second. 

 Mr. Hawman's bird was first in Crested Yellows, but it is taxing the dis- 

 cretionary power of a judge too much to send such a really good bird 

 to a show in so dirty a condition. Both this class ani tbe Crested 

 Bnffs were of extra quality. Liznrds were remarkably fine, Mr. 

 Harrison, and Cockle & Watson being the prizetakers with specimens 

 of great merit. Mules were only moderate, the first-prize bird having 

 some preteni^ions to quality, hut tbe remainder only very so-so, too 

 heavily and irregularly marked to have any chance with good-class 

 birds. There are Mules and there are Mules. Cages of six were 

 excellent. Cockle & Watson being first and second with six Jonques 

 aud sis Mealies, veiy nice level birds. Messrs. Cockle <Sz Watson 

 made a gallant fight throughout, and it issometbing to lower the colours 

 of such tried veterans as Moore & Wynn in the Clear Norwich classes. 

 This, perhaps, WJuld not have been the case if the Northampton firm 

 had not suffered the loss at Ipswich which was announced in the ad- 

 vertising columns of the Journal. They had received an anonymous 

 le'ter {I believe it was anonymous, a cowardly proceeding at best), to 

 say they would see their stolen birds at Wisbech, and Mr. Wynne 

 ■was at the Show on the qui vive. The so-called " stolen birds " to be 

 seen at Wisbech, were the Clear Jonque and Clear Buff shown by 

 Messrs. Cockle & Watson. Mr. Cockle was fortunately present and 

 gave Mr. Wynn such thoroughly satisfactory evidence as to how and 

 when ho became possessed of them, as at once to clear up the matter 

 and ro'Jiovo any impression as to the identity of the birds. I, too, 



have since received an anonymous letter on the subject, containing a 

 most unworthy attempt to fix the stigma of direct theft on Messrs. 

 Cockle & Watson, a fac-simUe of which I enclose with these notes to 

 the Editors of the Journal, with permission to publish it if they think 

 it can answer any good purpose. But as the affair assumes very much 

 the character of a libel, and may result in legal proceedings, the 

 curiosity of the fancy may not be satisfied for a while. I will just add, 

 that my anonymous correspondent hopes I will "tell all about it in 

 the Journal," I have complied with his wish, and have placed his post 

 card in Messrs. Cockle & Watson's hands. 



I suppose this will ba the last Show of the season which I shall 

 report, for I have been obliged, with many regi'cts, to decline Carlisle^ 

 and I am afraid I shall not see the Palace Show this year. I am 

 rather restless, but the moon is on the wane, and by the close of the 

 week I hope to be in a resigned frame of mind. However {jyaUamic 



icord), a I should be there ■ that dash indicates a spasm — and 



it will be on Saturday only, or not at all — any inquiries for " W. A. B." 

 must be kindly made at the Secretary's table. — W. A. Blaeston^ 



DonKiN'GS.— 1 and 2, G. Clarke, Long Sutton. ho> G. Cockle jun., Terrinston 

 St. John; J. Yates (2) "Wisbech. 



Bant.uis.—IjW. Adams. Ipswich. 2, S. S. Mossop.LonjSu'.ton. 7ic, J. Blott, 

 King's Ljnn ; Eev. F. Tearle. Gazely Yicarage, Newmarket, c. J. Blott; F. 

 Lyon; T. Rogers, Walsall; E. DeiTy, Geclney ; A. Stonar, Peterborough; T^ 

 FenQ. 



G.iME.— 1, H. E. 'Martin, Sculthorps. 2, H. Snushall, Fleet Hargate, Wisbech. 

 he, W. Adams ; H. E. Martin., c, H. Snushall. 



CocHrxs.— 1, T. Rogers. 2, S. S. Mossop. he, W. Boon, c, Hrs. Hmes, 

 Leveiington. 



Ant other V/UirETT.— 1, T. Rogers, 2. Rev. W. H. James, Holbeach, Hum. 

 he, W-Woodbouse, West "SVinch ;'Rev. W. H. James ; Rev. A. Brook, Holbeach ; 

 W. K. Patrick (3) West Winch: Mrs. G. PhiliBs: C. W. Gibbs; S. Snarey, 

 Wisbech ; W. Cutlack, jun. c, Mrs. Green, Leverington ; Miss Hill, Wisbech ;: 

 F. J. Bret, Dowubam. 



Ducks.— 1, Mrs. W. Logi-am. 2, G. Cockle, jun. 



Geese.— X and 2, G. Cockle, jun. 



Turkeys.— 1, E. E. Deny. 2, M. Kew, Market Overton, 

 PIGEONS. 



Cat RiEES.— 1, L. Wren. Lowestoft. 2, R. Payling, Peterborougk. he, A. Stonar. 



PourERs.— 1, R. Pa>UDg. 2, W. Woodhouse. • 



Tumblers- 1 and 2, W. Woodhouse. he, H. Cox, Wisbech, c, Misses E, 

 and A. Wren. 



Runts. — 1, H. Boyer. 



BiRBS.— 1 and 2, J. Blott 



Dragoons.- 1, A. W. Wren. 2, J. E. Crofts, Blyth. ,^ , ^ 



An-v otherVariety.— l.H. Snushall(Hyacmths). 2, T.C. Marshall fMafrpies). 

 (?, F. N. Tavlor, Leverington (Tnrbiis) ; J, E. Crofts (Black Magpies) ; J. Smi- 

 mons, Wisbech (Trumpeters) ; R. Payling (Yellow Turbits). 



Rabbits.- 1, J. Priestly. Long Sutton (Lop-eared Favra Buck). 2, J. Eree-, 

 New Waisoken. c, W. T. Streader. Wisbech (Doe): H. Tuck; A. Langley,. 

 Downham Market (Fawn Doe); J. Priestly (Lop-eared Yellow Doe). 

 CAGE BIRDS. 



Norwich.— C^/'nr Telloic.—l, Coclde & Watson, Terriugton St. John. 2, Moore 

 and Wynn, Northampton, vhc, Cockle & Watson : Moore & Wynn ; W. Cooke.- 

 Norwich, /tc, T. Fenn, Ipswich (3). c, T. Irons, Noi-thampton. Clear Buff.-- 



1, Cockle & Watson. 2. Moore & Wynn. /tc, W. Cooke (2); T. Fenn (2). c, T. 

 Irons ; Moore &. Wynn. 



Evenly Marked or Variegated Yellow.— 1, R. Hawnnan, Midaleshrough, 



2, Cockle & Watson, vhe, Moore & Wynn (2). he, Cockle & Watson, c, T. 

 Fenn (2). ^ ^ , 



Evenly Marked or VARrEGATED Buff.— 1 and 2, Moore & Wynn. vnc,- 

 Coekle & Watson (2). c, T. Irons ; W. Cooke. _ 



Crested.— r*^f(o(('.—l, R. Hawman. 2, Moore & Wynn. vhc, T. Fenn. c, T. 

 Irons; Cockle & Watson; Moore &Wvnn; T. Fenn. S».!f.- 1, Moore & Wynn. 

 2, Cockle Lt Watson, vhc, Moore & Wynn. he, T. Fenn (2). 



Green —1, Mrs. Bothamley, Wisbech. 2, Moore & Wynn. vhe. Cockle and 

 Watson ; T. Fenn. 



Jonque Cinnamon.- 1 and 2, T. Irons, c. Cockle & Watson. 



EuFF^CiNNAMON.- LMoorett Wynn. 2,T. Irons. vhc,T. Irons; Moore ana 

 Wynn 



l.LZ^Rjy—Golden-simn'ilcd—l, Cockle & Watson. 2, J. N. Harrison, Belper. 

 vhc, K. Hawman; Cockle & Watson, c, S. Eenn, Lynn. StlvcrspaJiolcd.— 

 1, J. N. Harrison. 2, Cockle & Watson, vhc, R. Hawman ; Cockle i: Watson^ 

 /ic, J. CuLhbertsnn,Lynn.' „ ,, . ^. . 



Cage of Six Canaries.— 1 and 2, Cockle &. Watson, c, Cockle & Watson;. 

 Miss Upwood, Terrington St. Clements. 



Goldfinch or Linnet Mule.— 1, H.J. Ims, Bloomsbury, London (Goldfinch 

 Mule) 2, T. Fenn(YeUow). he, H. J. Ims (Goldfinch Mule): T. Fenn (BuEf). 



Goldfinch.— 1, J. N, Harrison. 2, Miss Upwood. c, J. T. Mancrief, Wisbech. 



Edllfinch,— 1 and 2. Cockle & Watson. , .^ 



Parrot.— 1. W. Sharr^d. 2, Mrs. Blake, c, H. Smith : T. F. Parker ; W. 

 Newman; S. Snarey. 



Judges.— Po)'?^ri/: Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, London. Singinrf 

 Birds: Mr. "W. A. Blakston, Sunderland. 



WOLVERHAMPTON POULTRY SHOW. 



This Show was unquestionably good, and most probably, all things 

 considered, tbe besttbat has yet taken place at Wolverhampton, thongh 

 the arrangements in the limited space of the Agi'icnltural Hall neces- 

 sitated a double tier of poultry in all cases instead of a single one, a 

 circumstance which detracted considerably from the beauty aud easy 

 inspection of the various classes. 



The DorJdiiff cock class stood first on the list, but these birds as a 

 ■whole wero not by any means of equal quality to such as have com- 

 peted at the previous Wolverhamiiton annual meetings, most of them 

 showing great want of condition. The hens weio decidedly a better 

 class throughout, the first-in*ize being a grand pen, well shown, of 

 siugle-combed dark-feathered birds; the second a rosy-combed pen. 

 equally praiseworthy, had not one of the hens been loose-combed. ^ lu 

 fact, the latter were' the larger of the two in point of frame. The third- 

 prize pen, belonging to the Kev. E. Bartrum, was also of good character. 

 Decidedly in all varieties the Coclius shown at ■SYolvcrhampton this 

 season quite outvied those ever yet exhibited in the locality, being 

 admirable as a class. The unusua'Uy good quality of the hens through- 

 out was a common remark of fanciers of these breeds ; no doubt the 



