62 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 19, 1877. 



Bide ia the conservatory connected with the house. A warm 

 garden, one which the chilliest invalid could creep about in 

 whenever a gleam of sunshine broke out on even a winter's day ; 

 a warm, sunny, cosy gardeD, made to catch and retain heat. 

 Now along part of the Bouth and west sides of this garden are 

 arranged Pigeon pens, each with nesting place along the wall, 

 and fairly roomy exercise and feeding place joining on, running 

 still along the wall, not coming out into the garden. The Pigeon 

 pens, of which there are many, may be likened in position to a 

 Beries of greenhouses, each divided into two compartments — the 

 nesting room dark, the flight room light with a wire front. Thus 

 lengthwise, not endwise, they meet the garden and abut a path 

 down which we walk to look into the pens ; to the right hand 

 the pens, to the left the garden. But the reader will say the rain 

 must drift into the broad wirework of the somewhat wide- 

 fronted pens, and the sharp winds will bring roup and all manner 

 of troubles to the delicate high-class birds. These contingencies 

 are avoided by a clever contrivance : a verandah is thrown over 

 the path, glazed halfway down from the top of the side fronting 

 the garden, but entirely open on the lower part. Hence no rain 

 can drift in, and yet there is abundance of air-coming, as fresh 

 air should come, from the lower part. There are fifteen houses 

 in all, including others out of the garden, and a stock of upwards 

 of four hundred Pigeons. Somewhat central in the garden and 

 by itself stands another pen ; this contains Barbs, Carriers, and 

 Jacobins, some of the second named having belonged to Mr. 

 Harding of Fareham. The kind of nesting bos which Mr. May- 

 nard adopts and finds most useful is most simple and inexpen- 

 sive — a little deal box 13 inches long by 11 wide ; in front a hole 

 for entrance, just the same as to a common wall locker— thns, Q. 

 Then the whole of the back iB a sliding door, through which 

 you put in and take out for examination the nest pan, which 

 just about fits the box. Thus the entrance of the bird itself is 

 not interfered with — no putting the hand in in front of the bird, 

 and a Pigeon always seems to be jealous of any hand entering 

 its home, and pecks sharply at the fingers and gives blows with 

 its wing, whereas enter from behind and the bird is not disturbed. 

 These boxes are set about in different places, many on the floor, 

 others on shelves ; and they form nice, separate, detached, snug 

 nurseries for the Pigeons, and the top being flat is a perching 

 place for the cock, while the hen sits within on her eggs or 

 young during night. I should recommend these boxes, parti- 

 cularly for shy and pugnacious Pigeons such as Carriers, as 

 fewer eggs would be broken and fewer fights take place than 

 with any other plan known to me. 



Before going the round of the flower-garden pens I am invited 

 to look at one placed somewhat in the middle of the garden. 

 Here I found Carriers, chiefly Duns ; among them an old Dun 

 hen and a young Dun, with fine necks and good colour. There 

 were two Jacobins, a class which Mr. Maynard is working up, 

 especially White Jacobins. 



Coming to the pens by the wall I find in one the champion 

 Barb hen, and others nearly her equal ; then fine Black Carriers, 

 then among other choice birds Black Barb cock, first and cup 

 at Birmingham, and a magnificent Dun cock, and so one went 

 on repeating the sight of Carriers and Barbs, then some Fan- 

 tails, then more Carriers and Barbs. 



At the back of the flower garden I find some new houses 

 recently built by Mr. Maynard, and upon the more general plan 

 of a breeding and roosting part, and a flight loft in front 12 feet 

 by 9. These contained White Jacobins (now being improved by 

 fanciers), the bull-eyed and the small-frilled being weeded out, 

 but too often the Turbit head or, more correctly speaking, the 

 Foreign Owl head, is apparent in a certain flatness or dent which 

 takes off from the beauty of the bird. In another of these new 

 pens are Fantails, some Scotch of Mr. Huie's strain. All the 

 prize birds are now Scotch and English combined. The large, 

 heavy, flat-tailed English bird now is disappearing. Mr. May- 

 nard's are both, so are Mr. Serjeantson's. This is another proof 

 that the union of England and Scotland is a mutual benefit, for 

 the Scotch birds gain in tail by the English cross. 



In these pens Mr. Maynard haB a few Blue Carriers. This 

 variety seems to be most troublesome to manage, for the best 

 Carriers are smoky in plumage, while the beBt coloured are 

 Dragoon-like and old Horseman-like in shape. With these 

 birds, and of course many Barbs, are a very few white Pouters, 

 also some Bed Jacobins, their colour being very rich, possibly 

 from the Bhady nature of the pens, they being stoutly roofed 

 over, with no light save at the sides. But yet two more lofts, 

 and a climb I had to get to them — up perpendicular ladders. In 

 the first, a large granary-like building, I find Carriers only; in 

 splendid plumage, as they have an outlet to the wired- in roof — 

 the plan well-known as Mr. Wallace's of Glasgow. These birds 

 were very numerous and about two years of age, and in a good 

 Btrain Carriers of that age are folly adult ; unlike Barbs, who 

 require fonr or five years. I saw no finer sight at Holmwood than 

 the rows— row after row of these birds, which had been specially 

 kept in for me to Bee. There they sat on the rafters crossing 

 the building, looking the perfection of Carrier beauty — sleek, 

 bright, clean, and above all things grown up, but not yet grown 



old, at which period of life they degenerate greatly — beak open- 

 ing, eye dull; in fact, in one word old, and in old age bird- 

 beauty utterly goeB. Last loft of all — a small one over a stable, 

 where I find a wonderful old hen Carrier, a grand bird, but, " old 

 MaBter Shallow, without doubt she is old." She may, this Dun 

 hen, have a young one or two this year, but " 'tis the laBt time 

 of asking," and " no more, no more — oh ! never more." 



After lunch another peep at the more choice Pigeons, then a 

 stroll about the 30 acres of ground in Mr. Haynard's hands. I 

 came in different parts of the grounds upon splendid lots of Silver- 

 pencilled Hamburgh fowls and chickens, among the latter the 

 beBt I have this year seen, though I have seen a large number of 

 Hamburghs of this variety. How neat, tidy, and clean the 

 Silver-pencilled look when kept in a country place such as Holm- 

 wood. I remember the very same birds many years ago when 

 called "Dutch everyday layers," while the Golden-pencilled, 

 or rather Golden-spangled, were known as Pheasant Fowls. 

 The Golden-pencilled I do not remember. Then further on 

 were the Babbits, the variety kept being the Belgian Hare. 

 So what with Pigeons and Wire-haired Terriers, a Dandy Din- 

 mont, a prize Cat, fowls of various kinds, and Rabbits — pets 

 abound at Holmwood. Having seen much and admired muob, 

 and made pleasant acquaintances, it is time to return to catch 

 the last boat for Stokes Bay; so I drive down, all down hill 

 now, with the silvery Solent glimmering before me, and part 

 from my Holmwood friends with regret. — Wiltshire Rectok. 



HECKMONDWIKE SHOW OF POULTRY, &c. 



This was held on the 14th inst. in connection with the newly- 

 formed Agricultural Society. The schedule was a moderate 

 one and the returns pretty good for a start. The pens were 

 from Sheffield and were in the open air, the entries being near 

 three hundred ; bat unfortunately the day proved very showery, 

 and many of the birds were wetted. 



In poultry the Spanish and Polish were about the best of the 

 large varieties ; but Bantams were good in every class, the first 

 winners in all cases being about perfect, notably the Duckwings, 

 to which two specials were awarded ; and the Blacks, which 

 were smaller than usual and very correct. In chickens of any 

 variety first were Buff Cochina of grand quality; second good 

 Light Brahmas ; and third Gold-spangled Hamburghs, in which 

 pen the pullet was a gem. Ducks and Geese were good but few 

 in number. 



Pigeons were a strong lot, but the unfortunate mistake of 

 having them mostly in pairs caused considerable confusion and 

 prevented many from entering. Poutera and Carriers were, 

 however, single birds, and these were very good. The Dun 

 Carrier cock to which the first prize was awarded was in grand 

 form and good all round ; second a Black, wanting only in age. 

 Hens, first a young Black of high quality, strong in beak and 

 general build ; and second a Dun. In Pouters the cocks were 

 best, some of the best hens being very dirty. Tumblers. — First 

 and special for the best pen in the Show a pair of Almonds, 

 good all round; second an exquisite pair of Yellow Mottles. 

 Long-faces.— Firat Black Balda and aecond Red MottleB; a good 

 class. Dragoons good in both sexes; first in both being grand 

 Yellows ; seoond in cocks a Blue and in hens a Silver. Several 

 others good, but many too soft and fleshy in eye. Jacobins a 

 grand lot, and all Reda that were noticed. Turbits moBtly 

 Yellows, and very good in head properties. Antwerpa were 

 moderate as a clasa but good aa regarda the winners. Owls. — 

 First White African and second Blue English. Barbs a very 

 good class, but some too far gone and nearly closed in eye ; but 

 the winner's frill in condition and good in eye and Bkull, all 

 Blacks. Variety class. — First Mottled Trumpeters, second Red 

 Magpies, and two thirds respectively to Grey Frillbacks and 

 Pigmies. 



Babbits few in entries. The winners in Lop-eara were pretty 

 good, the Angoras and Silver-Greys grand, but the Dutch only 

 moderate. In the Variety class first was a good Belgian Hare 

 not in the best order ; second a large common-looking Rabbit, 

 which some will no doubt call a Belgian Hare, but in fine order. 



POULTRY.— Game.— Black Bed.—l, C. H. Mason. Brown Red.— I, W. Scho- 

 field. 2, J. W. Thornton. 3, W. Eudd. Ducklings, Blue or Grey.— I, H. C. 

 Mason. 2, W. Rndd. S, W. J. Mason. Any otlier variety.— 1, R. Walker. 2, 

 J. B. Crofts. S, W. J. Mason. Cochins.— Buff.— I. E. Sidgwick. 2 and S, \V. 

 Mitchell. Any other variety.— \, D. Key. 2, T. W. Terry. Brahmas.— 1, H. 

 Beldon. 2. J. Rawnsley. Dorkings— 1, H. Beldon. Hamburghs.— Gold and 

 Silver-spanaled.—l and 8. H. Beldon. 2. J. Kawnaley. Gold and Silver-pen- 

 cilled.— 1, H. Beldon. 2, J. Rawnsley. Black.— 1. Hobson & RobinBOn. 2, H. 

 Beldon, J. Rawnsley. vhc, C. Sidgwick, J. S. Wilson. Spanish.— 1 and 3, J. 

 Powell. 2. M. J. Thresh. Selling Class.— 1, A. & W. H. Silvester. 2, J. 

 Akeroyd. 8, H. Beldon. ANY Breed— Cocfc.—l, H. Beldon. 2 and 3, A. & W. H. 

 Silvester. Hen— i. H. Beldon. 2, Wood & Walker. 3, H. Bowker. French.— 

 2, H. Beldon. Bantams.— Game, Black and Brown Reds.— I, A. Sugden. 2, F. 

 Holt. 3. S. Firth. Game, Any other variety.— 1 and 2. F. Holt. 3. 1. Goodall. 

 Black and White— 1, J. F. Crowther. 2, H. Beldon. 3, Illinsworth St Sheard. 

 Any other variety.— \ t J. F. Crowther. 2, H. Beldon. Asy Variety.— Chickem. 

 —1, C. Sidgwick. 2, H. W. & H. King. 8, T. Dean. Extra Prizes.— 1, K. 

 Walker, F. Holt (2). Ducks.— Aylesbury.— 1, J. Newton. Rouen.— 1, J. Newton. 

 2, J. R. Pollard. Any other variety.— 1 and 2, A. & W. H. Silvester. Geese.— 

 1, H. Beldon. 2, J. F. Crowther. 



PIGEONS.— Carriers.— Cocfc.—l. H. Ynrdley. 2, E. Mawson. Here.— 1. E. 

 Horner. 2, G. E. Beaumont. Pouters.— Cock.— 1, J. E. Crofts. 2, E. Homer. 

 Hen— 1, J. E. Crofts. 2, J. Tomlinson. Tujiblebs.— Short-faced.— 1, H. Yardley. 



