July 14, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



37 



well broken in feather. The Barbs were good and in fine condition, 

 but we did not consider the Owls good. Trumpeters were as good as 

 we could wish for, although some were partly broken in feet feathers. 

 The silver cnp for the bett pen in the Show was given to the first-prize 

 pair in this class. These were Light Mottles, and, though rather 

 smaller than some of the rest, they were very good in rose and leg- 

 feathering. Fantails were rather broken in feather, but good in car- 

 riage. The winning Jacobins were Whites and Reds of good properties, 

 and the local medal for the best Pigeons was awarded to the former 

 pair. In the " Variety class " Red Magpies were first, Blue Bruns- 

 wicks second, and Black Swallows third. 



Dorkings. — 1, J. White, Warlaby. 2, W. Bearpark, Ainderby Steeple, North- 

 "nllerton. he, J. Shorthose, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Cochins. — 1 and 2, G. H. 

 Proctor, Durham, he, J. Shorthose. c, W. Canney, Bishop Auckland ; W. 

 Barnes. Thirsk. Brahma Pootras.— 1, J. Stalker, West Sleekburn, Morpeth. 

 2, H. Beldon, Bingley. he, J. Shorthose. c, G. Richmond, Barningharn. 

 Spanish.— 1 find Gold Cup, H. Beldon. 2. H. Wilkinson, Earhy, Skipton. he, E. 

 Brown, Sheffield, e, W. Bearpark. Polish.— 1 and 2, H. Beldon. 3, H. 

 Pickles, Jan., Skipton. 4, R. Moor, East Rainton. he, G. Todd, Monkwear- 

 mouth ; R. Parsons, Sleekburn Cottage. Game.— Black-breasted or other Beds, 

 — 1, E. Arkroyd, Eccleshill. Leeds. 2, .T. Watson, Knaresborough. he, M. My- 

 croft, Bedlington. c, W. Bearpark ; T. Home, Towlaw. Any Variety. — 1, J. 

 Robson. Bishop Auckland. 2, W. Bearpark, Ainderby Steeple. Cock.—l, Buglass 

 and Williamson, Garville, Durham. 2, E. Arkroyd. c, T. Metcalfe, Bishop 

 Auckland. Hamborghs. — Golden-spangled. — 1, G. Holmes, Great Driffield. 

 2, H. Reldon. he. H. Pickles, jun., Skipton; W. Bearpark. SilverspangUd.— 



1, H. Beldon. 2, H. Pickles, jun. he, D. Cheque, Northumberland, c. G. Arm- 

 strong, Bedlington. Golden-pencilled. — 1, W. Hall, West Sleekburn, Morpeth. 



2, H. Beldon. he, G. Holmes. Silver-pencilled— -1, H. BeldoD. 2, H. Pickles, 

 jun. he, W. Hall, c, W. Bearjark. Any other Variety.— 1, H. Beldon. 2,R. 

 Hawkins, Seabam. he, Mrs. VV. Wharton, Barningham. Bantams. — Game.— 

 1 and Local Medal, T. Robson. Bishop Auckland. 2, Buglass & Williamson, 

 he, R. & J. F. Baldwin. Newcastle ; R. Pennington, Thirsk. Any otlier Variety, 



1, H. Pickles, jun. 2, S. & R. Ashton, Mottram. he, H. Beldon; G. Atkinson. 

 Croft. Docks (Any variety).— 1 and 2, Rev. J. G. Milner, Leyburn. Turkey 

 Cock. — 1, J. T. Proud, Bishop Auckland. 2, — Johnson, High Beaumont, 

 Darlington, lie, Mrs. Spencer. Helmington Hall. Ganper.— 1, J. T. Proud, 

 Bishop Auckland. Selling Class.— 1, W. Atkinson, Bishop Auckland. 2, G. 

 H. Proctor. Durham. 3. J. Robson. he, J. Robson; J. T. Proud; R. Mcore, 

 East Rainton. c, C Marshall, Durham. 



PIGEONS. 

 Carriers.— 1, R. Thompson, Suunybrow, near Willington : W. R. & H. 0. 

 Blenkinsopp. Newcastle, lie, F. Yardley Birmingham, c, J. W. Towerson, 

 Egreraont; E.Brown, Sheffield; T. W. Kilburn, Bishop Auckland Pouters. 

 —1, H. Hawiey. Bingley. 2, J. W. Towerson, Whitehaven, he, H. Yardley ; T. 

 W. Kilburn. Bishop Auckland; J. & W. Rowell, Tanfield, Newcastle, c, H. 

 Cockton, Middlesbrough. Tumblers (Any variety).— 1, W. R. & H. O. tslenkin- 

 60pp. 2, J. Hawiey. he, J. & W. Rowell. c, J. W. Towerson; T. Coundon, 

 Sunderland. Babes.— 1, H. Yardley. 2, J. Adamson, Low Beeehburn. he, W. 

 R. & H. O. Blenkinsopp ; T. W. Kilburn. Owls.— 1. W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsopp. 



2. J. Hawiey. he, T. W. Kilburn ; W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsopp ; R. Wilson ; R. 

 Thompson. Trumpeters.— 1 and Silver Cup, W. B. Van Haansbergen, New- 

 castle. 2, J. Hawiey. he, T. Rule, Durham; R.Wilson, Thirsk; R.Thompson. 

 c, H. W. Bruno, Richmond; J. Cundale, liipon. Fantails.— 1, H. Yardley. 

 2, T. C. Taylor, Middlesbrough, he, W. B. Van Haansbergen ; T. Rule (2). 

 Jacobins. -1 and Local Medal, T. W. Kilburn. 2, W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsopp. 

 he, J. W. Towerson; H. Yardley; T. Rule; G. Adamson; R.Wilson; W. R. 

 and H. 0. Blenkinsopp. Turbits— 1, W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsopp. 2, H. 

 Yardley. )te, T. Rule, c, R. Wilson. Nuns.— 1,W. B. Van Haansbergen. 2, R. 

 Wilson, he. H. Yardley; W. Bearpark. Dragoons or Antwerps.— 1, R. 

 Brown. 2, H. Yardley. Itc.H. Yardley : J. Cundale : G. Sadler, Boroughbridge - 

 J. & W. Rowell. Any other Variety.— 1, Hudson & Burnip. 3, W Bearpark' 

 he, J. Hawiey ; J. Cundale ; R. Wilson ; T. W. Kilburn. Selling Class.— 1, W' 

 B. Van Haansbergen. 2, T. W. Kilburn. 3, R. & J. F. Baldwin, he, H.Brown ' 

 T. Coundon ; T. C. Taylor, c, J. Hawiey ; J. Cundale ; W. B. Van Haansbergen (2) 



Mr. E. Hutton, of Pudsey, was the Judge. 



RABBITS AND THEIR VARIETIES. 



Since my removal from Prestwich my time has been so very 

 fully occupied and so much of it spent from home, that our 

 "furry friends" have not had the attention devoted to them I 

 could have wished ; but now I hope to see more of them, and 

 shall be able to say a word or two on their behalf when required 

 and opportunity presents. And the fact of my ceasing to exhibit, 

 as for the past three or four years so successfully, must not be 

 considered by my fellow exhibitors as a proof that I lack the 

 interest I onee had in this portion of our great shows, for I still 

 keep up the excellent prize-winning stock in every variety as 

 before. I have now eighty specimens of all ages in my rabbitry, 

 and I always anxiously look over the returns of the prize- 

 winners as given in " our Journal" (and I regret they are not 

 more detailed) to see who is the fortunate owner of the speci- 

 men so perfect as to secure the high honour awarded by the 

 judge in attendance. 



SILVER-SREY OR CHINCHILLA; 



Respec'ing this lively creature much may be said in its favour, 

 its glossy silky hair being so prized by the farrier. In Siam 

 (Indo-China) this animal is found in the greatest numbers and 

 state of perfection. A variety of shades are now found in this 

 country as the result of our colder temperature, and the experi- 

 ments of re-crossing with darker or almost black specimens ; 

 and I know of few, if any, kinds where a greater variety of shade 

 may be produced. I have long experimented in producing this 

 variety, and have arrived at the conclusion that the more silver- 

 like the specimen is marked all over, the more perfect. Black 

 feet, ears, and faces generally are objectionable, and as a hint 

 to all breeders, I would say, Pair two that are perfectly silvered 

 all over, and you need not fear the result. 



This animal is not generally large ; if of the true kind it ia 



about the weight of the Himalayan. A strong large animal 

 called the " Lincolnshire Silver-Grey," or " Miller " by the 

 furriers, with only a small sprinkling of the silvery hair, and at 

 times also designated the " Silver Sprig," may be seen, and I 

 have known them weigh 10 lbs. or more, but they are very dark 

 in shade compared to the Chinchilla, which the real Silver-Grey 

 Rabbit resembles, hence the term as applied to this mercurial 

 little fellow. Of all the cute (to borrow a term from our 

 transatlantic friends) creatures of the Rabbit family this is one, 

 and generally not so docile nor so easy to tame as other varieties, 

 as the Dutch or Angora, which if treated kindly are always ready 

 to be petted. Yet with kindness it is wonderful what may 

 be done, and the law of kindness should be strictly enforced in 

 every rabbitry if your stock is to afford pleasure. 



I think the active manner and cheerful temperament of this 

 Rabbit always render it a favourite. All breeders know the 

 young are born quite black, and when about six weeks old they 

 present a greyish shade under the body, and this change 

 extends over from five to seven months, according to the 

 temperature of the hutch ; if warm, the process of silvering is 

 sooner completed, the ears, neck, and head generally retaining 

 the black shade longest. I have noticed the more jet black the 

 young are at a month old, the more perfectly silvered they 

 become at say eight months, so that I would not have young 

 fancitrs be afraid lest the jet black appearance be too great, 

 and to lose hopes of the true silver shade appearing, but, in the 

 words of a once popular song, I would say, " wait a little longer." 



Warmth for all hutch Rabbits is of great importance, and 

 this variety is by ;no means an exception, yet a hardy Rabbit 

 generally, and with the requisite care by no means difficult to 

 rear with success. I have generally had from fifty to seventy 

 of this variety alone born in my rabbitry every year, and I 

 suppose that during the last three yeara and a half from eleven 

 to twelve hundred have been born of the seven varieties I keep. 



The doe is rather shy, especially when about to have young, 

 and seems very much afraid, when the nest is made, that it may 

 be interfered with. She watches with an anxious eye every 

 motion of the hand when placed inside the hutch, to see if her 

 private domain is to be intruded upon, and I have known any 

 such intrusion punished by the total neglect of the litter. The 

 does seem to prefer, when about to litter, a rather dark but 

 clean corner of the hutch, and should have plenty of fresh hay 

 and water, or if milk and bread all the better to quench the 

 intense thirst experienced at that time. In fact, milk and bread 

 are no objectionable breakfast at all times for the first two or 

 three weeks, if to be had. The Belgian Hare Rabbit is rather 

 an exception to some of the other varieties, especially the one 

 in question, for I have known does make their nests quite 

 opposite the wire door, as though not in the least ashamed for 

 the lookers-on to see what a important event has happened 

 since the last visit. 



The Silver-Grey doe generally brings forth from five to eight 

 at each litter, but should not be allowed to pair until nine 

 months old at th.e earliest, if fine and strong specimens are 

 required for exhibition, and the litters should be at intervals 

 of not less than ten or twelve weeks, to keep up the strength 

 of the doe. 



I have always, when opportunity presented, tried to obtain all 

 the information possible from *' fanciers " (breeders I mean), 

 and have taken a peep on all occasions at the specimens of my 

 prize-winning friends in all parts of the country. I am always 

 glad to see any one here to look over my stock, and, I hope, 

 ever ready to give any information or useful hint to insure their 

 success as breeders of the various varieties of fancy Rabbits. 



In conclusion I beg to thank all those numerous friends from 

 whom I have received so many letters in reference to my 

 previous remarks on the other varieties, and I can only say that 

 the information I may possess as a breeder of every known 

 variety of Rabbit is quite at the service of any correspondent 

 who will take the trouble to write to me. — Charles Rayson, 

 Ivy Lodge, Didsbury, near Manchester. 



VEGETABLES BETTER THAN NOTHING. 

 As this touches a point I have long felt interesting, I venture 

 to trouble you upon the subject, as, if an improved diet could 

 be introduced, it would prove a comfort to many. Foreign 

 workpeople have told me they found it impossible to keep 

 strong here with the same mode of living as they followed in their 

 own country; but soups made from vegetables, the water in 

 which meat has been boiled, with pieces of bread added, would 

 provide an occasional wholesome meal. But this wants slow 



