338 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ October 27, 1870. 



Southampton Show will, doubtless, be a great success ; but 

 it really is too bad of Hampshire fanciers and the Committee 

 to allow such breeds as Cocbin-Chinas and Hamburghs to re- 

 main so far in the background. The proper number of classes, 

 say three for Cochins and four for Hamburghs, would bring 

 great improvement, and, I feel sure, cause no extra expense. 

 How can the Committee expect to see any display of my 

 favourites, the White Cochins, or, indeed, of either variefy ? 



Speaking of White Cochins, it reminds me of another cruel 

 schedule — the Crystal Palace. I had hoped that in this list we 

 should at least see the prizes for all Cochins as tempting as at 

 Bristol ; yet, although Buffs and Partridge are very fairly 

 handled, the poor Whites are left with a solitary class. Tae 

 reason may be adduced that the variety never show in force ; 

 but, if such is the case, the cause is obvious — tbey are never 

 offered the temptations bo continually dangled before the eyes 

 of other varieties. If a cnp is offered by way of variety, it is 

 always by subscription. White Cochins are becoming more 

 generally cultivated, and breeders will not long rest contented 

 with their miserable classification. 



Some few weeks ago I appealed in your columns for cups for 

 Cochins and Brahmas at the West of EDgland Sbow to be held 

 at Plymouth, but in consequence of the opposition by local 

 exhibitors to their being "open," it is now determined to re- 

 strict them to Devon and Cornwall, especially as the particular 

 breeds (Hamburghs having been added) require encouragement 

 in the two counties. I may, therefore, openly thank those 

 ladies and gentlemen who so kindly offered their assistance, 

 although I intend to do the same by letter. The fact that Mr. 

 Hewitt will judge giveB great satisfaction, especially as last year 

 two or three flagrant cases of " undiscovered " dyeing were 

 observed. — James Lonq. 



[We have now inserted all the worthy communications which 

 we have received on this subject, and, bowing to the wishes of 

 our correspondents, we have requested, and do request, all those 

 who favour us with comments on poultry exhibitions to include 

 in those comments notes on the especial superior points of the 

 birds in the prize pens. Yielding thus far to our correspon- 

 dents, we must also ask them not to expect all the information 

 that they desire ; we must ask them to consider who made the 

 awards. If he is a man of known ability and integrity they 

 may accept as certain that the birds to which he awarded prizes 

 are good. We must alBo ask our correspondents to consider 

 that adverse criticisms upon awards are painful to the judge, 

 galling to the prizetakers, and irritating to those next below 

 them. Bearing all this in mind, we will do our utmost to 

 satisfy the wishes of our readers. — Eds.] 



classes — for a single cock, two 1 e is, a cock and ben — with four 

 prizes for each class. Black Dcck-i, Ornamental Waterfowl, and 

 Pheasants have each a separate class. 



The Pigeons are divided into no less than fifty-one classes, 

 with seventeen cups, and we expect to find the most inter- 

 esting, the greatest, and the best show of Pigeons ever seen, 

 as we believe we are correct in saying Dever before was such 

 a complete schedule issued. Pouters are divided into four- 

 teen classes— Carriers eight, Tumblers five ; each of these 

 varieties, also Barbs, have a cup for birds bred in 1870. Jaco- 

 bius and Fantails compete together for a cup. Foreign Owls 

 and Dragoons have orje for the best pair. There are several 

 novelties, amongst which is a cup for the best collection of 

 four pairs of Pigeons, exclusive of Carriers, Pouters, and Tum- 

 blers ; the latter have one for the best four pairs, and another 

 is offered for the best pen of six working Antwerps. Each of 

 these classes will prove very interesting. 



The total amount offered for competition is between £600 

 and £700. with nearly forty cups. The entries close on No- 

 vember 12th. 



FORM versus "WEIGHT. 

 I quite agre e with your correspondent, Mr. T. E. Kell, espe- 

 cially as to Turkeys, Geese, and Ducks. They won by size at 

 the past, and it appears will do so at future Birmingham shows. 

 I have proved by experience that such birds are of no use, at 

 least in the following season, for breeding purposes. Facts are 

 stubborn things. I had a Goose a few years ago fed up to the 

 so-called Birmingham standard. She laid fifty eggs one season 

 — a fair lot for a pudding, but not one was fertile. I can assure 

 the Birmingham Committee I have not the inclination to de- 

 stroy valuable breeding fowls to try to win laurels even at a 

 Birmingham show. I have known in this county judges de- 

 pending on the scales rather than, as it ought to be, form versus 

 weight. Odcb in particular I was exhibiting my one-eyed 

 Goliath at one of those local shows, and was annoyed at finding 

 that the scales were to decide ; and, as I afterwards told the 

 judges, I was disgusted with any man pretending to be a judge 

 not deciding according to his own judgment. They replied, 

 " Just what we thought before weighing." But that is not it. 

 I object upon principle, and interest as well, for such decisions 

 give a premium to overfed fowls, besides making them value- 

 less as breeding fowls. — O. A. Young, Middle Street, York. 



THE LONDON POULTRY AND PIGEON SHOW 

 Last week we briefly noticed the schedule of the above 

 exhibition, but reserved a fuller review for our present issue. 

 We are very glad to find the Committee offering Buch a valu- 

 able and at the same time so comprehensive a prize list. They 

 are evidently endeavouring to make this show at the Crystal 

 Palace one of the first, if not the first, of its kind in the king- 

 dom, and with the vast resources and conveniences to be found 

 at the Palace, we see no reason why they should not succeed 

 if only exhibitors and the public give them the support they 

 deserve. 



The Committee have acted wisely in holding the Show simul- 

 taneously with the Cattle Show, for those interested in the one 

 will mostly be interested in the other. All the prize birds are to 

 be sold by auction on the WednesJay (Dec. 7ih), and should any 

 bird realise more than the catalogue price the excesB is to be 

 equally divided. This is a move in the right direction, as all 

 will then have a fair chance of purchasing any prize bird they 

 may choose. Most of the poultry have separate classes for old 

 and young, the old birds to be shown cock and hen, and the 

 young as single cockerels and pairs of pullets. For each class 

 lhere are three prizes of £3. £1 10s., and 10s., and a silver 

 cup or piece of plate, value five guineas, for the best pen in 

 most classes. Light Brahmas have three cups. Spanish are 

 treated more liberally than any other variety, as they have 

 two five-guinea cups for old birds, and two of six guineas and 

 four prizes for young. Hamburghs are shown cock and hen 

 together, and all compete for a cup. Game are any age, cocks 

 and hens, but only one hen this year. Polish are divided into 

 three classes. Malays have as many prizes, and no doubt 

 " the real big birds" will appear. Brown Bed Bantams have a 

 cup for the best cock or pair of hens. There are three selling 



INQUIRY. 

 In reply to the inquiry of " East Yorkshire," which appeared 

 in your last impressiorj, that gentleman has been made the 

 victim of an act of unprincipled trickery. His informant turns 

 out to be an unscrupulous person of the name of Holmes, who, 

 seeing his opportunity, determined to effect a sale of his own 

 " inferior stuff," even at the cost of honour and truth. In refer- 

 ence to my place being infected with " several kinds of disease " 

 that is simply untrue, as the only complaint with which my 

 fowls have been troubled has been a slight attack of the roup, 

 which I attribute to the late wet weather, but of it they 

 are now quite clear. And concerning the quality of my stock, 

 I would just say that, during the very week in which " East 

 Yorkshire " visited Driffield I sent out forty birds on approval, 

 all of which were kept, and that I have sent birds to our beBt 

 breeders and fanciers for as much as £3, £4, and £5 per pen 

 repeatedly ; that I still have on hand for sale over a hundred 

 pure-bred poultry and Pigeons of varions kinds, many of them 

 prize fowls of high quality ; and that I am the only person in 

 the town who owns a pen of first-prize Cochins. " East 

 Yorkshire's " informant played out his little trick very well 

 for himself, since he succeeded in selling that gentleman a pen 

 of second-rate birds for a first-rate price. I seriously caution 

 " East Yorkshire " again6t publishing false reports respecting 

 the state of my place and the character of my birds on the 

 mere word of such a person. — J. Punshon, Driffield. 



Ipswich Poultry Show.— We have just received a sohedule 

 of. prizes to be awarded at this Show. It is most liberal in its 

 construction, offering five-guinea cups or pieces of plate, &c, 

 for Game, Dorkings, Spanish, Brahmas (Light and Dark), and 

 Cochins; a three-guinea cup, ire, for Hamburghs, and the 

 same for French and other varieties. A notable feature is a 

 special prize, value £3 10s., for the beat pen in the " Selling 

 Classes," either a cock and hen or single cock. Bantams are 



