September 22, 1870. ] JOURNAL OP HOETXCULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



235 



There is no necessity for building an expensive house with 

 a southern aspect for its reception, any spare corner in an out- 

 house will do — east, west, north, or south, it is quite immaterial. 

 Having selected a convenient place, build a pen about 5 feet 

 high, 10 feet long, and 3 feet deep ; at each end fix shelves a 

 foot deep and about a foot apart, placing a division in the 

 centre of each, which will give two nesting places on .every 

 shelf. These should be supplied with loose boxes about 

 9 inches square and 3 inches deep. In the blank spaces be- 

 tween the rows of shelves, and at the back of the pen, fit up 

 about a dozen rests for the birds to perch upon, of any de- 

 scription, according to fancy. The old-fashioned triangular 

 shape is as good as any. A pen of this size will hold ten pairs 

 of birds comfortably. The aperture for egress and ingress may 

 be put in the most convenient place, and should be fitted with 

 a bolting wire to prevent the birds getting out at will. 



Next select your birds. If you want good ones I would re- 

 commend the purchase of old birds to breed from. Pay a visit 

 to any genuine fancier who keeps birds for the love of them, and 

 not entirely for profit. I never found such a one that was not 

 pleased to show his birds, and to tell the distances the different 

 birds had flown, together with their pedigree, and every par- 

 ticular connected with them. Select a pair to your fancy, and 

 if for sale do not be to a shade as to price. Visit another fancier 

 in like manner. Cut the birds down and cross-pair them, by 

 which means you will avoid in-breeding, and stand a fair chance 

 of getting good young ones, but this will by no means be a cer- 

 tainty. There cannot be a greater mistake than to suppose that 

 because you mate good old birds the young produced will, as a 

 matter of necessity, be good also. I have mated first-class birds 

 for homing purposes, and the young produced have been 

 worthless. If your birds do not "hit," you must change the 

 old ones till they do, otherwise you will never have a pen of 

 good Antwerps, as unless the birds possess the homing faculty 

 to an average degree, they are not fair representatives of the 

 breed, although they may have all the outward points required 

 in a good bird. You may breed any colour; but Dun, Red 

 Chequer, Blue, and Blue Chequer, are the only colours re- 

 cognised by standard breeders. I prefer a pen of birds to match 

 in colour, and if well matched it is difficult to decide which 

 colour is the most attractive. The Light Duns, with bright red 

 bars on the wings, and red necks, are certainly as handsome as 

 any ; Light Blues, with good black bars on the wings and tail, 

 and rich metallic lustre on the neck, are also very pretty. 



When you wish to try your young birds do not commence 

 with them too early, let them be from four to five months old ; 

 they may then be thrown up a mile or two from home, and it 

 will soon be seen which are likely to make good homing birds. 

 If, when tossed up, a bird hangs about the place where it is 

 loosed, flying low, and without spirit, ultimately dropping upon 

 some convenient building, or with other birds, condemn it at 

 once, and should it return home kill it without hesitation, 

 however handsome it may be ; if, on the contrary, the bird 

 when tossed from the hand gets well up in the air, ranging wide, 

 and flying resolutely, not taking notice of any birds that may 

 be put up to it, there is every probability, if properly trained, 

 that it will make a good bird. 



I find it an excellent plan to clean out my birds' pens daily ; 

 it occupies but a few minutes, if a scraper similar to those 

 used by pig-killers be kept for the purpose. Keep a barrel of 

 sand near the pen, and after cleaning sprinkle a few handsful 

 on the bottom and at the front of the nesting places, this gives 

 the pen a neat appearance, and conduces much to the comfort 

 of the birds. Exercise your birds once daily — morning is the 

 best time — and they will soar as high as Tumblers, flying from 

 twenty to fifty minutes, and sometimes much longer; when 

 they alight allow a little time for gritting, and to run the build- 

 ing, then whistle them in and feed, giving just as much as they 

 will pick up freely ; feed again about four o'clock, giving clean 

 water daily. By these means your birds will be kept in con- 

 stant health, and from their lively disposition and neat ap- 

 pearance will be a source of constant pleasure and amusement. — 

 B. F. C. 



Cube foe Roup. — I send you below a valuable receipt for the 

 cure of roup in chickens. Ihave used it in over one hundred 

 cases with complete success. The pill should be made as per 

 enclosed sample. I consider the form of the preparation as im- 

 portant ; it should be put into a gelatine capsule, otherwise it 

 is very difficult to administer. Balsam copaiba 1 ounce, piperine 

 1 drachm, made into sixty pills, and give two or three every 

 day. Wash. — A teaspoonful of sugar of lead, mixed with a 



pint of water, for bathing the eyes two or three times a-day. — 

 Waitek Lawkesce. — (Poultry Bulletin.) 



NOKTHAMPTONSHIRE AGRICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



Regardless alike of trouble and heavy outlay, the Committee were 

 determined to make the meeting held on the 15th and 16th inst. a 

 success, and their anticipations were realised. A spacious tent and 

 all the internal arrangements in the hands of Messrs. Turner, of 

 Sheffield, brought an exhibition such as never before took place in 

 Wellingborough. Old and young birds were shown in distinct classes. 

 The adults were in deep moult ; the chickens, on the contrary, being in 

 the highest show trim possible. Dorkings and Cochins were un- 

 exceptionably good, and the cup-winners, as in most of the other 

 classes, had to obtain their success in a severe competition. The 

 Hamlnwglis were, perhaps, the least praiseworthy classes in the whole 

 Show; bat the exhibitors of Buenos Ayrean Duels, Laced Bantams, 

 and the various breeds of French Fowls deserve every expression of 

 favour. Pigeons were shown in collections of three pens each, and 

 certainly among the twelve pens exhibited by the four competitors were 

 birds of great value and purity of breed. This portion of the Show 

 proved a great attraction to the ladies, who, as the day was fine, con- 

 gregated in the poultry tent in extraordinary numbers. 



Dorkings.— 1 and 3, R. Wood, Clapton, Thrapstone. 2, H. Lingwood, Need 

 ham Market. Code— 1, E. Wood. 2, H. Yardley, Birmingham. 3, J. Beasley,, 

 Chapel Brampton. Hens.— 1, 3. Longland, Grendon. 2, H. Lingwood. he, R. 

 Wood, c, T. Burnaby, Pipewell. Chickens.— 1, H. Lingwood. 2, J. Smith, 

 Shillinglee, Petworth. 3, H. Yardley. he, J. Longland; J. K. Fowler, Ayles, 

 bury; E. Sykes, Geddington, Kettering, c, C. Richards, Glendon, Kettering; 

 R. Wood. Pullets.— 1 and Cup, J. Lungland. 2, R. Wood, he, J. Longland ; J. 

 Smith. Spanish.— 1, H. Yardlev. 2, J. Stephens, Walsall. 3, W. R. Bull, New- 

 port Pagnell. Code— 1, W. E. Bull. 2, J. Stephens, c, 3. T. Parker, North- 

 owram. Chickens— 1 and Cup, W. E. Bull. 2, J. T. Parker, c, C. Wright, 

 Northampton (2). Game— 1, B. Cox, Moulton. 2, S. Deacon, Oundle. 3. W. 

 Cook, jun., Orton, Kettering. Code. — 1 and Cup, B. Cox. 2, S. Deacon. Hens. 

 — 1, H. Lotan, Oundle. 2, W. Cook, jun. Chickens.— 1, M. Leno, Markyate Street. 



2, S. Deacon. Cochin-Chinas.— 1 and Cup, W. A. Taylor. 2, H. Lingwood. 



3, J. H. Dawes, Moseley Hall, Birmingham, he. H. Yardlev ; W. A. Taylor ; J. 

 K. Fowler, c, J. Stephens. Cock— 1, W. A. Tavlor. 2, J. K. Fowler. Hens.— 



1, W. A. Taylor. 2, H. Lingwood. 3. J. Stephens, he, J. N. BeaBley, North- 

 ampton; T. Dadford. Chickens.— 1, W. A. Taylor. 2, J. Stephens, he, J. K. 

 Fowler, c, T. Dadford; J. N. Beasley. Hamburg hs (Any variety).— 1, B. Cox. 



2, H. Yardley. Bantams.— 1 and 2, M. Leno. c, C. B. Bletsoe : J. Stephens. Any 

 other Variety. — 1, W. A. Taylor (Dark Brahnias). 2 and '8. J. K. Fowler 

 (French). Geese.— 1, J. K. Fowler. 2, S. Deacon. Ducks. — Aylesbury.~l and 

 2, J. K. Fowler, he, S. Deacon. Eouen.—l and c, R. Wood. 2, J. K. Fowler. 

 Any other Variety. — 1, M. Leno. 2, J. N. Beasley (Buenos Ayrean). c, J.N. 

 Beasley (Buenos Ayrean); J. Goodliffe (South Carolina). Turkeys. — 1. J. 

 Beasley. 2, J. Craig, Fotheringhav. Oundle. Selling Class. — 1, W. A. Tavlor. 

 2, C. Wright (Spanish). S, H. Yardley. c, S. Deacon (Aylesbury); J. Smith 

 (Grey Dorkings). 



Pigeons.— 1 and 2, H. Y'ardley. he, J. J. Sharp, Broughton, Kettering. 

 The Judges were Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Sparkbrook, Bkrningham ; 

 and Mr. Tatham, of Kingsthorpe, near Northampton. 



AYLESBURY POULTRY SHOW. 



This Show was held in a building as well suited for the purpose as 

 could be desired, there being an abundance of light and plenty of 

 ventilation and space. The competition throughout was very good, but 

 in the Aylesbury DucJcs and Geese unprecedented, as may be gathered 

 from these facts : — The two rivals in these classes were determined to 

 secure success if possible to their respective yards, and it is almost 

 needless to state they were Mrs. Mary Seamons and Mr. John Fowler, 

 both of Aylesbury. Such pens as they exhibited are in truth wonders. 

 Mr. Fowler's first-prize Geese weighed 49 lbs. 4 ozs. the pair ; Mrs. 

 Seamons* second-prize 4S lbs. 14 02s., and the same lady's third-prize 

 48 lbs. 13 ozs. ; whilst 47 lbs. S ozs. nett the pair, with many others 

 closely approaching to that weight, had to be satisfied with being 

 highly commended. Both first and second-prize Aylesbury Ducks 

 were 16 lbs. 12 ozs. per couple. Strange to say, there was not the 

 slightest difference in weight, and Mrs. Seamons' birds, from being the 

 best in feather, took precedence. Never were two such faultless couples 

 placed in opposition ; they were a show in themselves. Many extra 

 couples almost as hea^y were also exhibited. Fine weather and a 

 very large attendance added much to the success of this year's Show. 



Dobktngs (Any variety).— 1 and Cup, L. Patton, Hillmore, Taunton. 2 and 

 c, F. Parlett, Great Baddow. 3, J. Longland, Grendon. he, J. L. Lowndes, 

 Hartweil; T.W. Tapping, Hartwell. Beahmas (Any variety).— land Cup, Lady 

 Gwydvr, Stoke Park. Ipswich. 2, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. 3, Mrs. Astley, 

 Chequers Court. Spanish.— 1 and Cup, F. James, Peckham Rye. 2, W. R. 

 Bull. Newport Pagnell. 3, Mrs. Allsopp, Hindlip Hall, Worcester, c, J. W. 

 Stratford, Addington Park, Maidstone; F. R. C. Nichols, CamberweU; H, 

 Beldon. Goitstock. Cochins.— Buff— I and Cup, Lady Gwydyr. 2, C. Sidg 

 wick, Ryddlesden Hall, Keighley. 3 and c, W. P. Ryland, Erdington, Eirming- 

 ham. he, J. K. Fowler. Partridge.— 1 and Cup, C. Sidgwick. 2 and 3, J. K. 

 Fowler, c, Lord Chesham, Latimers. Game.— Black-bre asted and other Beds. 

 — 1 and Cup, J. Laming, Cowhum, Spalding. 2 and 3, S. Matthews, Stow- 

 market, he, J. Laming ; T. Dyson, Halifax, c, R. Hall, Cambridge ; Capt. G. 

 Price, Taynton, Gloucester. Any other Colour.— 1 and 2, D. Matthews, Stow« 

 market. 3, J. Laming. Fhench (Any variety).— 1 and Cup, J. J- Maiden, 

 Biggleswade (Creve-Cceur). 2, Hon. H. W. Fitzwilliom, M.P., Wentworth 

 Woodhouse (La Fleche). 3, W. Dring, Faversham (Houdans). he, W. Dring; 

 Mrs. M. Seamon6, Hartwell, Aylesbury; J. J. Maiden, c, Mrs. M. Seamons, 

 Hamburghs. — Gold or Silver-pencilled.— I, 8, and Cup, H. Beldon. 2. H. 

 Pickles, jun., Earby. he, Mrs. AHsopp; H. Pickles, jun. Gold or Silver-, 

 spangled— 1 and Plate, Mrs. Allsopp. 2, Miss C. E. Palmer, Lighthorn, War- 

 wick. 3, H. Beldon. he and c, H. J. Pickles. Bantams (Any variety).— 1, M. 

 Leno (Silver-laced). 2, W. Adams, Ipswich (Black Reds). 8, H. Beldon (Black). 

 Ducks.— Aylesbury.— 1 and Cup, Mrs. M. Seamons. 2 and 3. J. K. Fowler, 

 he, E .Leech, Rochdale ; Mrs. M. Seamons; Hon. J. E. W. Massey, Bandoran, 



