September 8, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



193 



undisturbed away, and devoured everything. He was fond of 

 poultry, and understood their habits, therefore he gave them 

 free access to his garden ; they cleared oft the enemy, and he 

 had plenty of everything. No doubt there are times when you 

 would protect your fruit, or your shallow-sown seeds. In my 

 ease I sometimes employ a boy for a fortnight immediately 

 after drilling close to the poultry-house, but even when I have 

 not done so, I have scarcely been inconvenienced if the grain 

 was properly deposited by the drill. The hen-coops and broods 

 of chickens are always placed on a patch of grass edging the 

 wheat or barley fields ; and if, when the crops are ripe, they help 

 themselves to a few sheaves, I Imow they are good customers 

 for they must be fed like sheep, or pigs, or cattle ; and they 

 always sell for double the price per pound, although they cost 

 less to produce. Partridges are great friends to farmers, al- 

 though they don't always believe it. There is no surer sign of 

 imperfect tillage than when you hear of birds and game getting 

 out the seed. What I call imperfect tillage is ploughing the 

 land and then merely scratching the surface with light wooden 

 harrows, so that the seeds are close to the surface, and under 

 them are unbroken furrow slices — long, hard lumps of undivided 

 and unbroken earth, in the case of strong soils almost as tough 

 and impenetrable as weather boarding. In my case I always 

 use heavy iron harrows and deep steeled teeth that cut the 

 furrow-slices into mould, or sometimes cultivate with the culti- 

 vator harrow before drilling, and generally the surfaoe has been 

 well scarified before ploughing, so that the seed is not only 

 properly deposited, but where it grows the young fibres find 

 mould below to work in. 



For want of this proper tillage I have seen great losses ; the 

 fine fibres cannot work into the great lumps of undivided plough 

 slices which, in stiff clays, are nearly as hard and as whole as 

 weather board. I don't believe that one farmer in ten can tell 

 me what price per pound, live weight, he gets for his poultry, 

 and for his beef and mutton, but I will tell him ; — os. per stone 

 of 8 lbs. is -Ud. per lb. live weight of beef, and nearly about the 

 same for mutton. Now as good poultry always sell for at least 

 9(Z. per lb. live weight (I mean wholesale), and as they cost no 

 more per pound to produce than beef or muttoD, it follows that 

 we gain one hundred per cent, by poultry, as compared with 

 meat. I have teBted this carefully. In fact I know that the 

 difference is greater than this, because I have frequently sold 

 poultry at lid. and 16<i. per lb. live weight, or more than three 

 times the price of meat. When we sell a chicken, the purchaser 

 pays for head, skin, feet, entrails, and all but feathers (which 

 sell for more than the carcase per pound), but when they buy 

 meat, the feet, skin, blood, entrails, &c, are all removed, and 

 called offal ; consequently, it requires no conjuror to convince 

 heads of families that poultry is dearer food by one hundred 

 per cent, than meat. 



But should poultry be so dear? I answer, Decidedly not, if 

 we, as farmers, did our duty to ourselves, our land, and our 

 country. The demand is evidently in excess of the supply for 

 both poultry and eggs, for we import immense quantities, 

 and, in addition, 500,000,000 of eggs annually ! In a former 

 paper I gave you comparative trials of the consumption of 

 barley by a hen and a pig, much in favour of the hen. Of 

 course, your poultry-breeder must understand the business, as 

 must the breeder of other farm creatures. The edge of the 

 fields is the proper place for juveniles, and not cooped-up in 

 yards and sheds. Jline are not fancy poultry. I breed from 

 pure stock on each side, say Game, Cochin-China, and Brahma 

 Pootra, all running and mixing together. I like Dorkings, 

 but they wo'n't thrive on our stiff clays. Every two or three 

 years I change the male birds, paying 21s. each for young well- 

 bred ones. We send them to the wholesale salesmen in Lon* 

 don, ready plucked. 



The hen-houses should have asphalted floors, be kept clean, 

 well-ventilated, and occasionally lime-washed ; the Blated roof 

 lime-washed in hot weather. 



A farmer never grudges barley by the load for his pigs, and 

 cake and corn for his other stock ; why should he regret feed- 

 ing his poultry ? We should consider that poultry manure the 

 land the same as any farm animal. 



As we are doing away with our trees and fences, there should 

 be plantations on every farm for birds to build in ; and we 

 should have plenty of poultry and Partridges— the latter for 

 the farmer's table, if not for his sport. It is well known that 

 many a farmer's wife clothes herself and her numerous family 

 by the proceeds of her poultry. In some cases that I know of 

 one of the farm' hands receives a pint of beer when the gover- 

 nor is at market to carry in a sack of barley on the sly for the ' 



use of the poultry, so as not to shock the farmer's excessive and 

 unreasonable prejudice about the unprofitableness of poultry. 



The hen-house floors being asphalted, and swept daily, and 

 having no open farmyard, knee deep in straw, we know nothing 

 about fleas. — J. J. Mechi, Tiptree (in Essex Gazette.) 



WAKEFIELD POULTRY SHOW. 



Turner's pens were used for the feathered stock, placed in two rows 

 on platforms erected for the purpose. Unfortunately a mistake which 

 is of daily occurrence seemed, to some extent, to mar the regular 

 course of events, though we strongly suspect that none but the exhibitors 

 themselves are to blame, a large number of pens of both poultry 

 and Pigeons arriving too late for competition, although the arbitrations 

 were considerably protracted, so as to allow late arrivals a chance. 



Game in all classes were moderate in quality, and the pen to which 

 the enp was awarded, fine close-feathered Black Reds. In Game 

 Bantams were three classes, and the cup awarded to Black Reds, 

 and in the Variety class the whole of the prizes went to Duckwings. 

 The Black and White were hut a poor lot, but there were two pens of 

 Golden-laced of high quality. There were five classes for Uamburglis ; 

 most of the birds were very fine, and the cup won by a gTand pair of 

 Silver-spangles. The Spanish were very good ; in fact, the first-prize 

 pair were the most promising we have seen this year. The Dorkings 

 were large and forward ; but the most handsome pen in the large 

 varieties was a pair of Bnfi Cochin chickens, to which the cup for the 

 best section was given. Polands were a nice display, and the birds in 

 fine feather. The first-prize Aylesbury Duclcs were not the largest, 

 and won by the great beauty of beak and plumage. In Rouens the 

 second-prize birds were in full plumage, but the first much larger and 

 correct in marking. The Grey Toulouse Geese in the first-prize pen 

 were fit representatives of a Yorkshire farmstead, the girth being 

 more like that of a well-fed pig than a fowl. The rest were Whites of 

 gigantic frame. In the Selling class Spanish were first, Cochins 

 second, and Game third. 



The Pigeon classes were well filled, the quality being also very fine. 

 Mr. Fnlton won first in Carriers with a good pair of Blacks, excellent 

 representatives of the high-class Carriers, and the second-prize pen 

 contained a very fine aged hen, but the cock was very short in neck. 

 The Dragoons were a nice lot, as also the Pouters, in which class Mr- 

 Fnlton was again in the first rank. Trumpeters were good, and the 

 Barbs extraordinary, ond Mr. Horner won the cup for Pigeons with a 

 well-developed pair of Blacks. In foreign Owls, the "Whites in the 

 first-prize pen were very neat in head, and the Bltres were also very 

 neat. The first-prize English Owls were good in all points except 

 beaks, which were a little too spindly, although exceedingly good in 

 gullet and frill. Of Turbits, the first were Blue, in nice bloom and 

 correct in marking. The first in Jacobins were Beds, of high quality 

 and colour, the hood and chain very close. The second were Yellows. 

 The first Fantails in style and carriage were all that can be desired, 

 and the second also very good. Nuns were neat and well marked. 

 In Tumblers the winners were Almonds and Beards, and in the Variety 

 class were some good Magpies and Ice Pigeons. 



There was a good Bhow of Babbits, the Lop-ears measuring well 

 and counting well in points. In bucks Mr. Ea9ten won first and 

 medal for the best Rabbit in the Show with a grand Black and White 

 buck. The second was Blue and White, and the third Yellow and 

 White. In does the first was a Tortoiseshell, not quite so long in ear 

 as the second, but beating in colour, marking, and condition. The 

 Himalayan and the Silver-Greys were shown m good fur, and were a 

 very pretty gathering ; and in the Variety class the first and third 

 were excellent Angoras, and the second, a cross between Angora and 

 Lop-ear, was fawn-colonred and of great size. As regards the Rabbits, 

 we believe it is the intention of the Committee to augment the prize 

 list for future shows. 



Gajie. — Any Variety. — Cockerel. — 1, C. Cbaloner, Whitwell, Chesterfield. 

 2, T. Dyson, Halifax. 8, Osborn Bros.. Worcester. Pullet— I, C. Cbaloner. 

 2, J. Carlisle. Earby. 3, Green & Sutcliffe. Queensbury, Halifax, he, Osborn 

 Bros, c, J. Wade, Bradshaw, Ovenden. Black-lireasted Ited.— Cliiekr.nj. — Cup, 

 H, Jennings, Allerton. 2, C. Cbaloner. 3, J, Wade. Brown-breasted Bed. — 

 Chickens.— 1, J. Carlisle. 2, H. Beanland, Bradford. 3, T. Dyson, he, J. 

 Preston. lJuckwinns, Blues or Greys. — 1, C. Cbaloner. 2, M. Jowett, Clay- 

 ton. 3, J. Fell, Adwalton. he, J. Mason. Any other Variety.— Chickens. — 

 1. C. W. Brierley, Middleton. 12, J. Sunderland, Ha'lif ax. 3, W. Fell. Bantams.— 

 Game.— Any Variety.— Cockerel.— I, W. F. Entwisle, Westfield, Cleckheaton. 

 2 and 3, MiBs K. Crosland, Wakefield. Black-breasted Red. — Chickens.— Cap, 

 Master J. Crosland, Wakefield. 2 and c, W. F. Entwisle. 3, F. Steel, Stump 

 Crose, Halifax, he, G. Noble, Staincliffe. Any otlier Variety.— Chickens.— I and 

 8, T. DyBon. 2, Bel'ingham & Gill, Burnlev. he. Miss A. Crosland. Wakefield. 

 c, W. F. Entwisle. Black or Wliite — Chickens— 1. H. Beldon. 2, T.Dyson. 3, J. 

 Walker, Halifax, e, Miss M. A. Sandy, Eadcliffe, Nottingham. Any oilier 

 Variety.— Chickens.— I, T. C. Harrison, Hull. 2, J. Watts, Birmingham. Hah- 

 BtntoHS.— Golden-spangled.— Chickens.— 1, H. Beldon. 2, J. Fortune & Co., 

 Morton Banks, Keigbley. Golden-pencilled.— Chickens. — 1, H. Beldon. 2, J. 

 Preston, Allerton. 8, J. Sunderland. Halifax. Silver-spanaled.— Chickens. — 

 Cup and 2, H. Beldon. Silver-pencilled.— Chickens.— 1 and 3, H. Beldon. 2, J. 

 Preston. Black— 1 and 2, C. Sidgwick, Kyddlesdon Hall, Keigbley. 3, S. 

 HalUday, Keigbley. Spanish.— Chickens.— 1, C. W. Brierley, Middleton. 2, H. 

 Beldon. 3, E. Brown. Sheffield, he. Miss E. Pickard, Thorner, Leeds. Dork- 

 ings.— Chickens.— 1, T. E. Kelt, Wetherby. 2, J. White. Warlaby. North- 

 allerton. Coohin-China.— Cin?inm07l or Buff. — Chickens. — Cup, G. Fletcher, 

 Didsbury, Manchester. 2, C. Sidgwick, Ryddlesden Hall, Keigbley. Any 

 other Variety.— Chickens. — 1, C. Sidgwick. Brahma Pootha.— Chickens.— 1, 

 Mrs. Burrell, Ipswich. 2, E. Leech, Kochdale. 3, Dr. Holmes, Whitecotes, 

 Chesterfield, he, 3. Watts, c, E. Holland, Chesterfield. Polands.— Any 

 Variety. — Chickens. — 1 and 3. H. Beldon. 2. H. Bowker, Keigbley, Duchs. — 

 Aylesbury— 1, E. Leech. 2, J. Shillito, Sheffield. 3, W. Stoneliouse, Whitby. 



