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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 10, 1870. 



not dry ; and therefore they should be different in style from 

 those articles which are intended for beginners and to stimu- 

 late the love of our feathered pets. Let these be as elementary 

 as yon please, and as attractive as all " Wiltshire Rectoe's " 

 letters are ; with which plaister I will leave the subject, after 

 metaphorically shaking hands with " 'Wiltshire Rector," and 

 hoping that we may live to meet at some time, perhaps at Bir- 

 mingham or the Crystal Palace. 



I intended to say a word or two upon our " Persian friend's " 

 letter, but I feel that I have already tried your patience, MaBsre. 

 Editors, too severely. 



Let me, however, ask just one question. I have had a eopy 

 of the American Poultry Bulletin Bent me, with a schedule of 

 the New York Poultry Show. In the schedule I see prizes 

 offered for "White-headed Brazilian Divers," " White Created 

 Biarritz Docks," and "Nicaragua SingiDg Ducks." These 

 names sound very tempting — can yon tell me anything about 

 their owners ? Are they domesticated or wild birds ? And are 

 they known at all in this kingdom ? and if bo, where are they 

 to be Been or obtained ? — Shropshire Rector. 



[We published a woodcut and description of the Cayugi, 

 which we believe is the same as the Nioaragua Duck, in the 

 fifth volume of this Journal. Of the other aquatics we know 

 nothing. — Eds ] 



THE NEW YORK POULTRY SHOW— 

 LEGHORNS. 

 This Show is to commence on December 14'b, and remain 

 open till the 22nd. I fear such a long period of confinement 

 will deter many British breeders from competing; but to meet 

 the case as far as possible the Committee have arranged for a 

 grand auction of the foreign birds, which, if of good quality, 

 will be tolerably sure to realise fair prices, especially as they 

 will be well advertised by the Society. The danger of a return 

 voyage will by tbis means he avoided. 



Compared with our English shows the arrangement of prizes 

 seems very curious. Our exhibitors are always complaining 

 they do not get enough in hard cash. Whatever would they 

 say to the American system, which gives as four prizes in all 

 the general classes a broDze medal, diploma, honourable men- 

 tioD, and high commendation respectively ? so that the unlucky 

 second may if he please exclaim, "All is lost save honour" 

 Some silver medals, however, are also gk en, and in many other 

 classes various poultry and Pigeon books form the prizes. For 

 several breeds there are also silver cups varyiDg in valne from 

 10 to 25 dollars; and in particnlar. there is a cup each, value 

 25 dollars, for Dark Brahmas. Buffs, G r ey Do: kings, and Houdans, 

 to be awarded to the best trio of old fowls with six of their own 

 chickens. A great gold medal, a second gold, and a silver 

 medal are specially provided for the best collections of poultry 

 from over the sea. The most valuable prizes of all, and which 

 are open to English aspirants, are for the best essavs on the 

 breeding and management of poultry (prizes 100, 50, and 25 

 dollars), and for the best plans of poultry buildings (prizes 50, 

 30, and 20 dollars). 



There is a class for Any other variety, but I do not know 

 what is to go in it, for there are separate classes already for 

 about every breed knowD, including even Creepers, Frizzles, 

 Bumpkins, and Russians ! 



As a subscriber wanted to know the other day what Leghorns 

 were, I may as well say it is a very favourite American breed 

 just now ooming over to this country. The most esteemed 

 colour is white with, I believe, yellow legs and single combs ; 

 but many prefer a rose comb, which has generally pink or white 

 legs. To judge by the engraving in my possession, no fowl 

 could show stronger appearance of a Spanish origin, but the 

 yellow leg makes it hard to say what cross has been employed. 

 The rose-combed and white-legged breed is in my opinion 

 crossed with the White Dorking ; and tbat some oross has been 

 employed is nearly proved by the fact that the other recognised 

 colours are brown (with Grey Dorking ?) and Duninique, which 

 answers to what we oall Cuckoo, the American Dominique fowl 

 resembling our Cuckoo Dorking, or rather Scotch Grey. Be 

 this as it may, the breed is fast becoming a favourite in the 

 States, is hardy and a good layer, and is said by many to be 

 more profitable than anv other variety known in America. A 

 very good pen of White Leghorns, I may as well Bay, was shown 

 by Mr. Tegetmeier last week at Southampton, and I qnite 

 expect the breed will soon be well known in the Variety class 

 at our shows. 

 A lot of odds and ends follow the poultry in the New York 



schedule. Everything that ever was, is, or can be petted seems 

 to be put down for a class. I really do not exaggerate, for they 

 range from deer and ponies down to white mice. There is no end 

 of classes for Squirrels : and such things as Ferrets, Minks. Mar- 

 mote, Coons, Opossums. Chipmucks (what is tbis little beast?) 

 and Spotted Gophers, all find a place. Being of an inquiring 

 mind, I really envy those who can afford to visit the New York 

 Show. 



I will only add that I Bhall be happy to forward schedules to 

 all who apply for them. — L. Wright. 



'The Leghorns shown at Southampton are noticed in our re- 

 port to-day. In addition we add the following from Moore's Bura I 

 yew Yorker. " The White Leghorns are said to be a hardy 

 breed, and of medium siz9, cf quiet disposition, persistent 

 layers, of a pure white colour. Tljeir legs and skin are yellow. 

 The cocks have large single combs, which should be perfectly 

 erect; full wattles, and large cream or white ear-lobes, extend- 

 ing sometimes upon their face, and not dissimilar to those of 

 the White-faced Black Spanish. The hens have usually large 

 combs, frequently seen to lop over like those of the Spanish 

 hen. The young are easy to rear, feathering up soon. They 

 are reputed to be excellent winter layers." — Eds.] 



PURCHASED EGGS. 

 I Air an amateur breeder of Dorking fowls, and therefore 

 desirous of improving my stock, and write to detail my ex- 

 perience in the purchase of eggs for breeding purposes ; further, 

 to ioquire of my brother amateurs and your readers whether 

 they have experienced similar disappointments. Four years 

 since I procured a sitting of eggs from au eminent breeder, for 

 which I paid, with carriage, 22s. Qd. ; these brought no produce. 

 Two years since I obtained, through a friend, a Bitting from a 

 great prizetaker in another county ; these eggs all proved bad. 

 This last season I obtained my eggs elsewhere — the result is two 

 chickens only, which are neither Dorkings nor any other breed. 

 Thus, I have expended nearly £4 in eggs, including carriage, 

 and have two chickens, worth about 3s. — Unfortunate. 



SOUTHAMPTON POULTRY SHOW 7 . 



The arrangements of this Tear's Show were promptly to time* 

 careful, and well regulated. Those of our readers who may never 

 have attended a Southampton show will be pleased to hear that the 

 Carlton Hall, in which the Show is held, is one of the very best rooms 

 that conld be desired for the purposes of a poultry show, and the really 

 excellent exhibition pens supplied by Mr. Billett, of High. Street, 

 Southampton, which are so large and lofty, lefi nothing to be desired 

 on that score, even by the most anxious and fastidious amateur of 

 poultry. The improvement as to the number of exhibitors, as well as 

 to the number of pens entered, is a matter for general congratulation, 

 as considerably over a hundred more were exhibited this year as com- 

 pared with last Again, as indicative of future suceesse?. at tbis 

 meeting's public luncheon no less than seven silver cups and a silver 

 watch were spontaneously offered by private individuals, altogether 

 irrespective of the customary prizes given by the Southampton Com- 

 mittee, so tbat the continuance of popularity and success is well 

 guaranteed. "We must add to this, that the public attendance this 

 year, the weather proving very favourable, exceeded that in any of the 

 preceding eleven years this Show has been established. 



The Spanish fowls, thongh generally somewhat out of higli condi- 

 tion, were, as a whole, a very good class indeed ; and the Grey Dorking 

 classes, both chickens and adnlts, were far superior to any yet seen at 

 a Southampton show, Mr. Martin's well-known Rose-combed Dork- 

 ings ■were among the prominent winners. Cochins were of first-rate 

 qualitv, though many pens were wholly, or in part, much out of con- 

 dition! Mr. Cattell's hen in the third-prize pen was one of the best 

 exhibited for many years past, but was, unfortunately, mated to a cock 

 in such indifferent health, as to throw her ont of high position alto- 

 gether. The Light Brahmas, as they always are at Southampton, 

 were the glory of the Show, and the Rev! H. Maynard and Mrs. 

 "Williamson were entitled to their success in a very severe competi- 

 tion. The whole cf these birds, in very extensive classes, proved at a 

 glance how great the care and attention must have been to breed them 

 so tmly to feather as they were shown. Though a few pens of very 

 excellent HambuTgJis were shown, the majority of those competing in 

 these classes were not so good as in former years. A number of pens 

 of very first-class Game fowls were exhibited, in which the condition 

 could not be improved, but, on the contrary, not a few others lacked 

 both robust constitution, and, at the same time, pnrity of feather. A 

 grand pen of adult Black Red Game fowls, shown by Mr. Gibson, ran 

 in very closely for the President's cup, of the value of ten guineas. 

 Except in the case of two or three pens of Polish fowls, we confess 

 ourselves to be disappointed, the majority showing rather a falling off 

 in quality than an improvement. A very great feature of the Show, 



