418 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



t November 24, 1870. 



since, but has now about hall replaeed her hackle and breast- 

 (eathering, her leg-leathering also having almost disappeared. 

 Two more are nearly in the same condition ; and a very large 

 cockerel, the largest I think I ever reared, ia moulting all over 

 the breast, fluff, hocks, and saddle, though the neck hackle is 

 not yet grown. The flights also have nearly all dropped, and 

 are being replaeed by new ones. Another eockerel partakes of 

 the same process, though not to such an extent, whilst the 

 other three show no sign of it whatever. 



It may be that the very hot and dry summer we had has 

 caused the phenomenon I speak of ; but as it is new to me, I 

 should like to know whether any other readers have had a 

 similar experience, and, if so, whether any of them have found 

 any successful means of prevention. 



I have already remarked that, with one exception, none out 

 of a dozen pullets has laid an egg. I mention it because it is 

 often said that there is no means cf postponing the period of 

 laying, while my experience leads me to think differently. Last 

 year I fully satisfied myself that change of sceDe, oombined 

 with non-stimulating food, would postpone the period, if desired, 

 for nearly two months, and this season I tried the experiment 

 for the first time on all my birds. In such summers as that of 

 1870, a Brahma hatched in April will generally lay tome time 

 in September, or even before. About the middle of August I 

 changed them all from one pen to another, moving eaoh lot to 

 a run entirely out of sight of the former one, repeating the 

 process about every four weeks, and giving no meat nor ether 

 stimulating food. Only one has laid, though several are almost 

 seven months and a half old ; whilst last year I had pullets 

 laying by this time which were hatched in May. I know an- 

 other fancier who uses the same means with the same results, 

 and, indeed, I believe it is no secret among experienced ex- 

 hibitors ; but some who may, like myself, have to gain their 

 own experience at their own expense, may perhaps be glad of 

 the hint. — L. Weight. 



TRIMMING-PRIZES, &c. 



The number of November 10th was so full of subjects of 

 interest to us poultry lovers that it must be my excuse for 

 inflicting rather a long epistle. So at once to Mr. L. Wright's 

 capital communication about trimming and other deceitful 

 practices. I must quite agree with him that his efforts have 

 borne much fruit. Several shows have made a marked regu- 

 lation about trimming and similar praotices. It may be said 

 they did this before, and this is true, only that before it was 

 worded in such a way that the judges took little notice of it. 

 Now I know one or two instances this year where Mr. E. Hewitt 

 disqualified birds painted, &c, and there is certainly in the 

 prize schedules a general tone of improvement in this respect 

 which augurs well ; but as long as we allow that in Game and 

 Spanish art can improve nature, we are leaving a loophole for 

 these practices in other breeds. 



I may hazird the opinion that these gross cafes grow upon 

 us, and that the beginnings of the evil are small. I have at 

 the present time a bird that I could wish would learn to paint 

 itself on one or two feathers, but I am afraid there is no hope 

 for this ! _ I showed this bird as he was, and Mr. Hewitt awarded 

 him a prize, looking, I presume, at his general goodness, and 

 ignoring the blemish as possibly acaidental, and I feel certain 

 that with such a j udge the honestly-shown bird with the blemish 

 unaltered stands a better chance than with attempts at de- 

 ception. It would be well if all exhibitors would feel this and 

 act upon it, exhibiting their specimens without attempts at 

 removing the foul spot. It is, however, certain that the usual 

 washing and cleaning of some birds before exhibition makes it 

 very difficult to draw a distinction between the removal of a 

 soiled, half-broken, or injured feather which, I imagine, all of 

 us would consider admissible, and the removal of a blemish or 

 the painting over such a spot. I should much like to learn 

 whether any exhibitor does consider this illegitimate ; if so, it 

 strikes me all washing must be given up, and then many of 

 our specimens which are out-of-door livers would show up 

 very indifferently, and white birds which are town-dwellers 

 could never hope for distinction. 



I quite agree with Mr. E. Hewitt, that it must be impossible 

 to distinguish in order more than three or four pens in a 

 closely-contested class with the present number of judges ; it 

 i3 amongst the highly commended pens that the great difficulty 

 exists, where, in fact, one pen is as good as another, and not 

 as our friend Pat remarks, " Yes, and a great deal better "— 

 where " Caasar and Pompey are so very much alike." I do not 



know that a " diploma " would be any easier matter. More 

 prizes — there's the rub, and I for one would willingly say the 

 first prize less in amount. The difference between first and 

 second pens is really often nominal, the difference in prizes a 

 reality to the tune of 50,9., as at Birmingham this year. I am 

 certain that an equalisation of prize money would meet with 

 favour from exhibitors — I mean from "the million," if there 

 be such a quantity amongst us. My old friend "E. M. B. A." 

 is perfeotly right in this. Silver cups are a very useful thing 

 to dangle before exhibitors' eyes, but only a limited number 

 get hold of them, and a fourth prize of the value of 10s. would 

 do more to pay railway carriage than a dozen distant reflections 

 of silver eups. During the past twelvemonth I have exhibited 

 thirty-three pens of poultry, with, peihaps, a larger share of 

 success than was my due, but anyway with deoided suocess. 

 Only four pens escaped honourable mention, and one cf these 

 was in a sellioa class. The railway carriage of these pens has 

 amounted to £8. 7s. 6d., the entries to about the same amount. 

 Taking this in round numbers, every pen I have exhibited has 

 been at the oost of about 10»\ Now, to those who have pockets, 

 as a good friend of mine says, into whioh there is always a 

 little Btream of golden or silver hue flowing, this drain may 

 be of slight importance, and may have many advantages and 

 pleasures (irrespective of prizes), that make amends for the loss ; 

 but there are very many amongst us — I can answer for myself — 

 who wish, with all our love for our hobby, that it should at 

 least pay its way, and to this large olass the smaller prizes are 

 a great help. Diplomas, and embossed cards, and high com- 

 mendations I personally value very much, and am often content 

 with them, provided there ia also a fair sprinkling of prize 

 money. When, however, the dose is too frequently repeated 

 I confess to feeling something like my poor old man Friday, 

 who missed his shoe of prize money, and honestly confessed 

 " He could see no good in recommending them." This was 

 always the word he employed. I am quite certain as regards 

 myself, that 309-., 20s , and 10s., would induce me to enter a 

 pen more than two prizes of £3 and £1. Of course, there i3 

 the honour and all that sort of thiDg, but I do not find that 

 the railway people oonaider it aDy honour to convey my baskets. 

 They spell honourable, if I may coin a word, " onerable," and 

 charge for the burden accordingly. 



Whilst on the Bubject of prizes, let me notice your remarks 

 about the President's cup at Southampton. There it was 

 offered to the best pen, and this gives a chance to the smallest 

 exhibitor; but if, as you suggest, it is offered to the best col- 

 lection, all the small exhibitors must be hopelessly cut out 

 of the competition. If such a cup is necessary I think it most 

 fair that the best pen should have it; at the same time I con- 

 fees that personally I should prefer seeing the £10 given to 

 increase the prizes generally, or to make new classes for other 

 breeds not in the schedule. To make it open to the best col- 

 lection would probably throw it into the hands of some local 

 exhibitor who, without a fear of railway expenses, could flood 

 the show. However, possibly in this view of the matter I may 

 be singular. 



Lastly, as regards the Crystal Palace Show, we southrons 

 have now some reason to be proud — the prize schedule is greatly 

 improved ; in some of the classes it eclipses Birmingham, but 

 " E. M. B. A.," in the conceding portion of his letter, notes a 

 serious defect about the wile sides of the pens. I hope no 

 such horrible affairs are to enclose the specimens. They 

 entail great injury on the tails, and often actually loss of sickle 

 feathers, and as in our protest on trimming we certainly meant 

 also to object to rs-tailing specimens which had lost this 

 ornament, I trust the committee will carefully consider this 

 detail of the show.— T. B. A. Z. 



IMPORTS. 



1868. 18f9. 



Ems 883,969,040 .... 442,175,040 



Apples (bushels) 1,075,415 .... 451,680 



Potatoes (cwts.) 2,041,474 .... 1,660,189 



Much to the discredit of our countrymen is it that these 

 imports are so large, and yet at the date of this publication new- 

 laid eggs are 3d. each in London, and in Winchester and other 

 country towns '2d. each. 



Scottish Coltjmbaeian Society. — We commend the adver- 

 tisement of the coming Show of this Society to our readers' 

 attention. We have the prize list and the rules before us, 

 and are well pleased with both — they are liberal and judicious. 



