4S0 



JODBNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GASDENEB. 



[ December 15, 1S70. 



with any other kind of fowl. — W. C. W. Fitzwilhasi, Went- 

 worth Woodhouse, Itotherham. 



TEE BIRMINGHAM POULTRY SHOW. 



The yearly show at Bingley Hall has now passed through more 

 than three apprenticeships. It is at that ticklish age for some part of 

 creation that is described by being between twenty and thirty. As it 

 gets older it increases its claims upon us, and shows more and more it 

 is carrying ont the purpose for which it was started. Those who 

 assisted at the beginning will recollect how a sort of apology was con- 

 sidered necessary, and it was therefore put forth that its object was 

 the improvement of the breeds of domestic poultry. Had there been 

 another — the introduction of new breeds, it would have been attained. 

 The improvement has been an increase of weight, till Ducks now 

 weigh nearly as much as Geese did formerly, Geese half as much 

 again as they did, Turkeys as much as some of the smaller quadrupeds, 

 and fowls as much as hen Turkeys. It has introduced Brahmas, 

 Creve-Ccenrs, Houdans, La Flcche. It has made Game Bantams. 

 Tt has formed, as it were, a table that can be depended upon, showing 

 the lowls that are fit for certain soils, that are calculated to satisfy the 

 requirements of certain amateurs. It describes those that thrive in 

 close confinement, or require the run of a farmyard. It has shown 

 that poultry may bs a profitable adjunct to the stock of the agricul- 

 turist, and a pleasing relaxation to the professional man, while it is 

 also self-supporting. 



Those who have the management and ordering of this great Show 

 have no cause to complain of the public ; they have been well sup- 

 ported, and they deserve it. Many years ago a pen was composed of 

 a cock and thrco hens or pullets. It was said that enly those who had 

 large stocks could pick ont four birds good enough for exhibition. The 

 pen was then altered to a cock and two hens. It was next said if any- 

 one wanted to buy a cock he was obliged to buy two hens at the same 

 time. Then a class was introduced for cocks only. This was a sue- 

 cess — so great, indeed, that now all the classes are altered, and buyers 

 may secure either a cock, or two pullets, or two hens. Then it was 

 objected that there was trickery in claiming the most profitable pens 

 on the opening day. It was necessary to squeeze, and almost to fight, 

 for tivo or three hours to ask for a pen, and find it alroady sold. The 

 owner of a very good bird rewarded with a first prize, who had been 

 so doubtful of its merits that he only named a small sum, at which it 

 was immediately claimed, sold and resold four or five times till it 

 mad9 ten times the sum originally put upon it, is now sold by auction 

 at midday, and the owner gets all the advantage of it. These are 

 only some of the endeavours made by the intelligent and hard-working 

 Council and Committee to deserve the support they receive. 



I will now take a review of the different classes, making, in going 

 on, such remarks as may suggest themselves. 



Two hundred and ninety-four pens of Dorkings ; almost a show in 

 themselves. Many of our old names were among the exhibitors and 

 prizetakers, and many new ones, some distinguished for the first time. 

 I can no longer note an increase in weight. It is, perhaps, unreason- 

 able to expect that every year should produce heavier birds than its 

 predecessor. 'Where would they stop? This year the prize cocks 

 weighed from 10 to 12 lbs., and hens and pullets from S to lOlbs. each. 

 The weight that was the desideratum some years since is now so much 

 of a fact it calls for no particular comment. But it must not he sup- 

 posed I am treating the classes to " faint praise." Seventy-three pens 

 were named in the prize aud commended list. 



Three hundred and twenty-two entries of Cocliin- Chinas, sixty-nine 

 of them named honourably by the Judges. I cannot speak too highly 

 of these birds ; the offer by amateurs of four silver cups and the same 

 number of extra prizes of £5 each, may have had to do with the 

 beautiful display these classes afforded. Mrs. White's adult cock, and 

 Mr. Augustus Taylor's bird of 1S70, were most perfect specimens of 

 the breed, and reminded me of Mr. Tomlinson's celebrated bird some 

 years since. If I were to speak critically of these classes I should 

 place the Buffs first, the White second, and the Grouse last. There 

 were perfect hens and pullets of the first — positively perfect. The 

 White were excellent, many of them having but one drawback — the 

 vulture hock. I should place the Grouse last ; they have size and 

 symmetry, bat many of the hens and pullets are too yellow in their 

 plumage. 



Brahma Pootras, a comparatively recent introduction, brought two 

 hundred and sixty pens of noble birds. Two silyer cups, extra prizes, 

 belonged to these classes. One went to a beautiful bird of the year, 

 shown by Lady Gwydyr ; the other, for two pullets, went to the Hon. 

 Mrs. Baillie Hamilton. I cannot speak too highly of many of the 

 birds that competed in these classes. Mrs. Hurt's birds were beautiful ; 

 the Hon. Miss Douglas Pennant sent excollent specimens. In some 

 of the pens vulture hocks cast away prizes, and in some of the hens 

 there was a buff tinge that is not de'sirable. The Light variety now 

 forms large classes, and supplies beautiful birds. Mr. Pares (the father 

 of the classes) of course took one first prize, but the silver cup was 

 taken by Mr. Crook. Another first prize was taken by an old exhi- 

 bitor,^ Mr. Eodbard Eodbard. A groat success was achieved by Mr. 

 W. Simpson, of the United States, who took prizes for cock and hens. 

 I hope this is only the beginning of competition on the part of onr 

 transatlantic friends. I can speak very highly of all these and many 

 others. 



Spanish were very well represented, but with the exception of some 

 few pens they were hardly so good as I have seen. I was glad to 

 miss some of those monstrosities with cauliflower faces and closed 

 eyes. There were not wanting beautiful specimens of both sexes. 



The Game fowls were represented by three hundred and seventy-four 

 pens. These, if alone, would have constituted a show, and the num- 

 ber of good birds shown make it impossible to attempt anything like a 

 mention of all that deserved it. I can speak favourably of all the 

 prize aud commended birds, more especially the Black and Erown 

 Eeds. The Duckwings are among the weak classes, and I missed the 

 splendid birds I saw years ago. The Silver Duckwings seem to be 

 almost lost. I am sorry for it, for I knew no handsomer birds. 



Bantams have suffered a revolution of late years. Of one hundred 

 and seventy-three pens, no less than one hundred and sixteen were 

 contributed by the Game. The beautiful Sebrights only brought 

 thirteen pens ; many of the birds were highly meritorious, and if pens 

 could have been made irrespective of ownership, perfection would have 

 been the result. In the varieties I greatly admire the Pekiu, or, as I 

 call them, Cochin Bantams. If the Japanese increase but a little in 

 numbers they must have a class. The Game, especially the cocks, 

 were very good, and formed a most attractive class. I must, never- 

 theless, offer one suggestion to exhibitors, which is to select birds with 

 wings close up to their bodies. However meritorious the drooping 

 wing may he in a Sebright, it is a serious fault in a Game Bantam. 



The points of Aylesbury DitcJcs are so well known, that I shall c*n- 

 tent myself with giving the weights of the successful. Of the four 

 prize pens, the first weighed 18 lbs. 9 ozs., the fourth 18 lbs. 4 ozs. 

 There was an unexampled show of Eouens of seventy-two pens. Not 

 only were the prizetakers faultless in colour, but they were heavier 

 than the Aylesbury. The first-prize pen weighed 19 lbs. 4 ozs. 



The White Geese held their own. The first-prize pair weighed 

 58 lbs. 12 ozs., the second 56 ibs. 5 ozs. ; the goslings of this year 

 49 lbs. 4 ozs., and 49 lbs. 



The first-prize adult Tnrhey cock weighed 36 lbs. 4 ozs., the second 

 35 lbs. 2 ozs. Both the prizes for cocks of 1S70 went to Mr. Lyfhall, 

 the birds weighing 24 lbs. 6 ozs. and 23 lbs. 12 ozs. The old prize 

 hens weighed 35 lbs. and 34 lbs. ; the young ones 31 lbs. and 29 lbs. 

 I most heartily congratulate Mr. W. Simpson on his success ; he beat 

 all competitors with a bird that came across the Atlantic to compete. 



It deservos mention, and should speak a trumpet-tongued warning 

 to exhibitors, that many of the best birds were passed over because 

 they were trimmed. Had those birds not been tampered with they 

 would have taken prizes. — Viatoe. 



TRIMMING- PIGEONS. 

 "T. B. A. Z." complains of gross cases of trimming (I pre- 

 sume in poultry), and makes use of the following sentence : — 

 " 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 in- 

 jured feather, which I imagine all of us would consider admis- 

 sible, 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." As a Pigeon-fancier, breeder, and 

 exhibitor for the pure love of the thing, youVill, perhaps, per- 

 mit me to express the decided opinion, that to trim a Pigeon for 

 the show pen, or before sending it on approbation, is nothing' 

 else but — a swindle. Judges have been swindled by it, and so 

 have exhibitors and purchasers ; some of them, mysGlf among the 

 number, innumerable times. Not long since I bought a Bed 

 Jacobin cock at a good price from a man in Yorkshire, who 

 boasts that he writes against trimming in a certain journal, and 

 I did so only upon having a sight of the bird, which appeared to 

 me to be a perfect beauty, and without a foul feather. Imagine 

 my surprise when in one month every third feather on his head 

 was red. I kicked up a row about it — of course I did — when 

 this fancier, known to every reader of " our Journal," coolly 

 told me that he had only had the bird for two days, and if it 

 was trimmed he, a protestor against trimming, was not responsible 

 for it ; and when I told him that the bird was not worth sixpence 

 to me, he coolly offered me a shilling for it. I suspected some 

 other fancier might get the bargain and repent it, so I pulled the 

 bird's neck ; but I think I was swindled, and I object to be 

 swindled, tlpon another occasion I purchased a pair of Black- 

 headed Nuns from a gentleman fancier, who honestly told mo 

 they required s.'liitle trimming. I wished to have them because 

 1 knew that they had taken seven first prizes, and I paid for them 

 accordingly. The seller said rightly they only required a little 

 trimming, because the cock had only one black feather on his 

 breast, and the hen two between her shoulders. I lent them 

 four times to fanciers, who saw nothing wrong in extracting 

 these three feathers, and the birds always brought the first prize. 

 I showed them nine times with the throe foul feathers where 

 Nature placed them, and they never brought me even honourable 

 mention, with the exception of once at Kilmarnock, when they 



