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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 29, 1873. 



Turkeys, -would be altogether wanting, and bo great prices were 

 asked. Those who required the beat goods were obliged to buy 

 at very dear rates. Then the supply continued and buyers 

 ■were shy, but the elements fought for the wholesale. A frost 

 set in, and made it little risk and no labour to hold. Bat the 

 arrivals continued and the sales were Bmall ; Christmas-day was 

 coming, no sale afterwards, and prices wavered. Every time 

 there was an hour's good trade an attempt was made to raise 

 prices, but it failed, and they closed lower than they began ; 

 still, they were good and remunerating for sender and salesman. 

 There was one point well worthy of notice. It is said, "Love 

 laughs at locksmiths ;" and we may add, Trade laughs at re- 

 strictions. On Friday, spite of Prussian invasion, famine, and 

 riotous mobs, a very large consignment of Geese and Turkeys 

 came in from France. 



GAME FOWLS AT THE LEEDS SHOW. 



In looking over the Game classes at the Leeds Show I sought 

 in vain (with some few exceptions) for the well-formed, com- 

 paot, and high-couraged bird of days gone by ; indeed, it is 

 evident that a certain portion of breeders discard quality for 

 coarseness. Several pens consisted of very long-Bided birds, 

 the back running in a straight horizontal line, with ostrich- 

 shaped necks and carriage, long weak thighs and legs, flat 

 tucked-np breasts, and these birds were spiritless. Birds of 

 this class are mostly heavy-fleshed, and not possessed of that 

 firmness and muscular power natural to a pure well-bred Game 

 cock. I suppose some judges prefer this style of bird, but I 

 have no hesitation in saying that cocks so formed do not bear 

 the excitement, or changes, of confinement and travelling so 

 well as, nor are they equal in constitution to, birds which are 

 full in the breast and girth. 



In breeding we ought to strictly perpetuate soundness of 

 constitution, selecting for parents those which are the best 

 in shape and other particulars coupled with good health. — 

 Yokkshiee. 



NEW STANDARD FOR LIGHT AND DARK 

 BRAHMAS. 



The North-west (U.S.) Poultry Association, believing the 

 European standard of excellence for Light Brahma3 to be both 

 incorrect and faulty, has in solemn conclave decided upon a 

 new one, which we copy as follows from the Poultry Bulletin : — 



Description. — A Light Brahma cock should have a well-defined 

 pea comb, standing erect and firm, and leaniDg to neither side of the 

 head. 



Beak short, strong, and well curved, one-third of which should be 

 of " horn-colour," or, more excellent still, a clean black stripe running 

 from the nostrils to point of beak, and covering in width one-third of 

 the upper beak ; the balance bright yellow. 



Wattles and ear-lobes of equal length, with throat full, hanging flesh 

 with wattles, and showing a tendency to stuff the feathers below the 

 wattles when past twelve months old. Neck long and well arched. 

 Neck hackle, feathers long, flowing and well down over the back and 

 shoulders, and in colour white striped with black, the stripes extend- 

 ing up from the shoulder one-third to one-half the way to the head. 



Back broad, flat and rising into the tail in such a way that for the 

 part where the neck slopes down to the back, and up the tail to the 

 point where the sickle feathers slope down, the carve thus defined 

 should be identical with the curve of a Brahma egg, end to end, with 

 the larger end towards the neck. 



The tail should be black, the sickle feathers falling not much below 

 the tail feathers proper, which should be expanded bo as to form the 

 letter A, with the bar left out, and should be well supplied with nicely 

 curled feathers between black in colour and black fringed with white. 



The wing should exhibit strong muscular power, and when extended 

 the whole under surface should be black or very black brown. The 

 *■ primaries" black; "secondaries," the upper half of each feather 

 black, and lower half white, primaries well tucked up under the 

 secondaries and adhering close to the body, and when the cock exhibits 

 an excited vigilance for his flock, should show a black line along the 

 lower edge and around the point of the wing, but when composed show- 

 ing the black line slightly if at all. Saddle feathers should be abun- 

 dant, and with the feathers of the body, white in colour. 



The legs should be a deep yellow, or approaching a reddish yellow 

 down the inside of the leg ; well feathered, but not so grossly as to give 

 any indications of vulture hocks. The hock joint should be well defined 

 and not lose its identity in the "fluff." The lower surface of the 

 *' fluff" of the posterior should come just even with the hock joint. 



The form of the body such that it will be of equal depth through 

 the body just in front of the wings and just back of the hock joint, 

 from back to breast and to posterior. 



The birds should exhibit energy to Buch a degree as to put to rout 

 any appearance of lazinesa or lack of courage. 



The colour designated as white in this breed Bhould be of that 

 peculiar colour found in milk as it is strained warm from the cow, and 

 not after it has been skimmed of the cream ; neither should the colour 

 be allowed to run into a buff as seen in some so-called Brahma birds. 



The hen the same. Should have the same general appearance as 

 the cock, though only in proportion, excepting that the posterior should 

 be more fully developed ; and she being deprived of the long neck 

 feathers should present a body more the shape of a cube, with the 

 lower corners rounded off, and presenting a neck the feathers of which 

 are black, edged or laced with white ; those presenting the centre two- 

 fifths of the width black, being more perfect than those exceeding or 

 falling short of it. 



A cock seven months old and weighing 8 lbs. and a pullet weighing 

 6 lbs., with other points perfectly developed, should be entitled to the 

 appellation of perfect birds ; greater weight and perfection being con- 

 sidered in the superlative degree. 



Perfectness of comb and wattles, colour, and carriage in the cock 

 are of greater consideration than mere weight, and weight and form of 

 body one of the first considerations in the hens, as it is now conceded 

 that it is from these respectively that such characteristics are derived 

 and produced in the progeny. 



Scale of points :— 



Size 2 



Colour "2 



Head, comb and neck 8 



Wings — primaries well tucked 

 up under secondaries 8 



Legs — colour and feathering 



of the same 2 



Symmetry 2 



Condition 1 



Total 15 



The scale of points, it will be seen, differs greatly from that 

 of the " Standard of Excellence," much less stress being laid 

 upon colour and size, and more upon head and neck, and good 

 tucking-up of the wing. — A Brahma Breeder. 



DURHAM POULTRY SHOW. 



This was held on the 20th and 21st inst. The following is the 

 prize-list : — 



Coohin-China.— Cinnamon and Buff— I, 2, and Cnp, G. H. Procter, Durham. 

 Chickens.— I, G. H. Procter. 2, C. Sidgwick, Ryddlesden Hall, Kelghley. Any 

 other Varietv.-l, G. H. Procter. 2, C. Sidgwick. Chickens— 1, C. Sidgwick. 

 2, G. H. Procter. 



Brahma Pootra. — 1, E. Leech. Rochdale. 2. F. Powell, Knaresbrongh. 

 Chickens— 1, E. Leech. 2, A. H. Thompson. Yorkshire. 



Dorkingb.— 1, J. White. Warlabv. Northallerton. 2. D. Rntter, East Rainton. 

 Chickens.— 1. J. White. 2, J. Braithwaite, Northallerton. 



Spanish.— 1. W. Atkinson, Bishop Auckland. 2, E. Brown. Sheffield. Chickens. 



1, T. C. & E. Newbitt, Ep^orth, Lincolnshire. 2, H Morsou. Bishop Auckland. 

 Poland.— 1. W. K. Patrick, West Winch, Lynn. 2, H. Pickles, jun., Earby, 



Slripton. Chickens.— 1, H. Pickles, jun. 2, W. it. Patrick. 

 Game.— Black-breasted and other Reds. — 1, T. Eobson, Bishop Anckland- 



2, E. Avkroyd, Eccleahill. Leeds. Chickens.— 1, T. Robson. 2, T.Dent, Bishop, 

 wearnibuth. Any other Variety.— I, E. Woodbnrne, Ulverston. 2, E. Winwood, 

 Worcester. Chickens.— 1, L. Casson, Ulverstone. 2, Dr. Harley, Edinburgh. 



Hambukghs — Oolden-spangled.— 1, T. Mitchel, Willinrrton. 2, J. Morton, 

 Marley Hill. Chickens.— 1, J. Brown, Sunderland. 2, Ashton & Booth, Broad- 

 bottom, Mottrarn, Cheshire. Silver-spangled.— I, H. Pickles, jun. 2, G. & J. 

 Duckworth. Church. Chickens. — 1, H. Pickles, jun. 2, Ashton & Booth. 

 3olden-pencilled.—l. J. Walker, Birstwith, Ripley. 2,H. Pickles. Jan. Chickens. 

 — 1. R.Moor, East Rainton. 2, J. Preston, Allerton. Bradford, Silver-pencilled. 

 —1. H. Pickles, jun. 2, J. Waluer. Chickens— 1, H. Pickles, jun. 2, J. Preston. 



Bantams.— Game— I, 3, and Medal, T. C. & E. Newbitt, Epworth. 2, D. 

 Hunter, Sunderland. Any other Variety.— 1, J. Preston. 2. D. Hunter. 



Ducks— Aylesbury.— I. E. Leech. 2, W. Stonehouse, Whitby. Any otlter 

 Variety— 1. E. Leech. 2, C. N. Baker, Chelsea. 



Sweepstakes— 1, J. P. Fawcett, Whitby. 2. J. S. Booth, Chesterfield. 



Any other Variety.— 1, G. H. Procter, Durham. 2, Mrs. T. W. Hind, Stnck- 

 landgate, Kendal. 



PIGEONS. 



Carriers.— Cock.—l. H. Yardley, Birmingham. 2, E. Brown, Sheffield. Hen. 

 —1. H. Yardlev. 2, T. W. Kilburn, Bishop Auckland. 



Pouters.— Cock.—l and Medal, T. Rule, Gilesgate, Durham. 2, H. BrowD, 

 Walkley, Sheffield. Ben.—l, H. Brown. 2, H. Cockton. Middlesbrough. 



Tumblers.— Almonds— 1 and Medal, W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsop. Newcastle- 

 upon-Tvne. 2. H. Yardley. Any Colour— 1, W. R. & H. 0. Blenkinsop. 2, G. 

 J. Taylor, Fartown, Huddersfield. 



Barbs.— 1. H. Yardlev. 2, H. Cawood, Thorne, Doncaster. 



Owls (Foreign).— 1, J. Fielding, jun., Rochdale. 2, W. R. & H. 0. Blenkinsop. 



Trumpeters.— 1 and Medal, T. Rule. 2, W. B. Van Haansbergen, Newcastle- 

 upon-Tvne. 



Fantaii.s.— 1, J. F. LoverFi'ige, Newark-on-Trent. 2, H. Yardley. 



Jacobins- 1. T. Rule. 2, W. B. Van Haansbergen. 



Tubbits.— 1, R. Youtl. Snnderland. 2, T. Rule. 



Three Pairs.— Medal, T. Rule. 



Owls (English}, Dragoons, or Antwerps.— 1, T. W. kilburn. 2, F.Graham, 

 Birkenhead. 3. T. Hopper. Langley Moor, Durham. 



Tumblers (Common), Magpies, or Nuns— 1, W. E. Easten, Hull. 2, T. C. 

 Taylor, Middlesbrough. 3, T. G. Hopper, Laneley Moor, Durham. _ 



Any othur Variety.— 1, T. W. Kilburn. 2 and S, W. Bearpark, Amderhy, 

 Northallerton. . „ „ . m _ .„ „ 



Selling Class.— 1, W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsop. 2, J. Irwin, Tanfield, Eurnop- 

 field. 3, N. Stevenson, Dnrham. 



Judges. — Poultry — Mr. K. Teebay, Fulwood, Preston; Pigeons — 

 Mr. E. Corker, Croydon. 



Lowestoft Poultry Show. — At this Show, which will be 

 held in January, Game, Dorkings, Spanish, Cochins, and 

 Brahmas, have each a cup for the first prize; there are four 

 classes for Hamburgbs, with a oup for the best pen ; a cup for 

 Bantams ; and a point cup for Pigeons. The Committee 

 deserve encouragement for the attention given to the birds, of 

 which those arriving late are always marked in the oatalogue 



