4S 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 11, 1872. 



one of the most valuable breeds yet added to our yards. So far 

 as I know it has the further merit of not being as j T et much sub- 

 ject to the vice of feather-eating. 



Of French fowls, the only one worth notice is the Houdan ; 

 but in confined quarters I cannot, from the accounts I have from 

 personal friends, give such a good character of this breed as some 

 have done. By all accounts it is a first-rate breed for even a 

 small glass run, but in confined yards all those who keep it with- 

 in my own knowledge fail to find it very satisfactory; besides 

 which it is peculiarly liable to the feather-eating disease or vice, 

 whichever it be. I believe all who keep Houdanspenned up have 

 to suffer from this sooner or later ; and I would not, therefore, 

 advise this breed in the circumstances I am considering, though 

 ■with a moderate share of grass scarcely any breed will surpass 

 it as a profitable fowl. It does not need a great deal of room, 

 however, and a grass plot about 25 feet square will keep a cock 

 and five hens well. Should this be at command, I think the 

 Houdan will be the best breed, being better than the Leghorn 

 in quality for table. 



Hamburghs are not, I am sorry to say, at all adapted for the 

 small space now under review, unless perhaps with one excep- 

 tion. I say I am sorry, because to my eye the Hamburgh, even 

 more than the Game, is in contour the very ideal of beauty in 

 fowls. As a rule, however, these beautiful birds need a good run 

 to do them justice, and if penned up are unsatisfactory. The 

 Silver- spangled, however, can be kept in a rather small yard if 

 kept clean and dry. I would not advise it, but if anybody be 

 so in love with the breed as to be unable to " cotton " to any 

 other, he may keep Silver-spangles even without grass with 

 profit and success. I once kept Golden-pencils also in a very 

 small yard, and they laid well, but when I sold them- the pur- 

 chaser did not find them answer, and in a few months lost them 

 all by roup. Perhaps his management was in fault, but in spite 

 of their beauty and many good qualities, I cannot speak of Ham- 

 burghs as the best breed for a small pen, with the attention 

 most people give their fowls. 



Some may wonder at my not here recommending my own 

 favourite fowl the Brahma. I reply that this fowl is not at all 

 suitable for our present purpose. If kept it will be always annoy- 

 ing by getting broody, and it also makes too great a quantity of 

 manure to be suitable for small pens which need cleaning con- 

 tinually. Its proper place I shall endeavour to point out in another 

 paper. 



To sum up, then. For the very smallest space I would say 

 Polish; for a little more one of the Spanish varieties or Leg- 

 horns, much preferring the Leghorn as hardier and a better 

 layer; and for a small grass plot either Leghorns or Houdans. 

 Strains, of course, differ in practical merits, and some peculiar 

 situations seem as if they would not suit particular fowls, but 

 as a rule, where no chickens can be reared I think these will 

 fce found the best breeds. — L. Weight. 



BOSTON POULTRY SHOW. 



Yeah by year the Boston Show increases in importance, and 

 certainly the unwearying attention paid by the Committee 

 deserves success. None could strive more than they have done 

 to insure the confidence of exhibitors, and entries from most of 

 the principal breeders in the kingdom prove how highly the 

 general management is appreciated. This year, however, the 

 trouble and anxiety of those gentlemen who undertook the 

 poultry arrangements were greatly increased by the fact that 

 although the tent was duly erected, and the trussles and general 

 woodwork properly fixed according to the time appointed, the 

 wire poultry pens did not arrive till about six on the morning of 

 the Show day. The task of seeing to the birds being properly 

 fed and watered immediately on their arrival was therefore only 

 accomplished by a greatly increased amount of exertion on the 

 part of the acting Committee. Such non-fulfilment of engage- 

 ments is most reprehensible, and might with a less energetic 

 committee have entirely compromised the future standing of 

 the Show. Certainly it would be far better to hazard the 

 ens being on the ground a day too soon than one too late. We 

 hope to find this very narrow escape may act as a salutary 

 caution not to sail so close to the wind on future occasions when 

 exhibition pens are despatched from show to show. 



Grey Dorkings were mostly in anything but exhibition feather, 

 but a few good specimens were shown. Cochins, whether the 

 Buff or the Partridge-feathered, were particularly good, but we 

 cannot say the same of the Brahmas, which were almost with- 

 out exception in very indifferent feather ; the Dark, however, 

 were much better than the Light. It is impossible to meet with 

 "better specimens of Sam-burghs and Spangled Polands than 

 those at Boston, and here Mr. Beldon, of Goitstock, stood for- 

 ward with pen after pen of his best birds. Spanish for so late 

 in the season were quite a strong feature of this year's Show, 

 more especially a few grand hens. In Game, a fine pen of Red 

 Piles, such as are seldom exhibited, took the Game cup, and they 

 were showri in a condition that cannot but tell favourably in all 

 cases of close competition. There were also a few really fine 



Brown Reds, but mostly in soft plumage. The Bantams were 

 good throughout, but not even a single Sebright of either colour 

 was exhibited. 



The Turkeys and Geese were alike of good quality. 



A noble pair of Storks showed admirably in a large pen ex- 

 pressly erected for their accommodation ; they were in fine 

 health and feather, exceedingly tame, and being placed exactly 

 opposite the entrance to the tent, proved a most attractive 

 feature. Some Silver Chinese Pheasants were unfortunately ex- 

 hibited in very indifferent plumage. 



Among most of our principal amateurs the prizes in the 

 Pigeon classes caused an unusual amount of emulation. In 

 Carriers this district never before attained such great distinction. 

 Barbs and Pouters were equally strong classes, and the Almonds 

 were not less noteworthy. Trumpeters were without doubt of 

 remarkable perfection, and the general classes of Toys were 

 much beyond these classes met with at most shows of Pigeons. 

 "We are glad to announce the Show has proved a great pecuniary 

 success. 



Dorkings. —1, E. Leech. 2, W. H. Robson. 



Cocbixs.- Buff — 1 and Cup, H. Lacv. 2, H. Lloyd, jun. c, E. S. Smith. Any 

 other Variety.—!, C. W. Brierley. 2, R. S. S. Woodgate. 



Brahma,— Light— 1, H. Beldon. 2, Rev. H. W. Hutton. Dark.— 1, H. Lacy. 

 2. E. Leech. 



Spanish— Black.— 1, H. Beldon. 2, F. Dixon, he, C. W. Brierley. 



Hamburghs.- Golden-spangled or Pencilled.— 1, EL Beldon. 2, T. Love, he, 

 C. W. Gibbs. Silver-spangled or Pencilled.— 1 and Cup, H. Beldon. 2, W. 

 Scrimshaw. 



Game.— Black-breasted Beds.— I, E. Aykroyd. 2, "Withheld. Brown-breasted 

 Bads.—i, H. E.Martin. 2, E.S.Smith. c.C.W. Brierley. Any other Variety.— 

 1 and Cup, C. W. Brierley. 2, E. Aykroyd. c, H. C. Martin. 



Bantams.— Game, Black-breasted Reds. — 1 and Cup, Messrs. Newbitt. 2, W. 

 F. Addie. c, W. Adams; J. W. Morris. Game, Brown-breasted Eeds.—l, W. 

 Adams. 2, G. Morling c, J. R. Robinson. Any other Variety.— 1, R. H. 

 Ashton. 2, T. E. Thirtle. 



French F©wt.s.— 1, "W. Dring. 2, G. W. Hibbert (Creve-Cceurs). 



Ant other Variety.— Cup, 1, and 2, H. Beldon. he, W. K. Patrick ; W. 

 Cutlack, jun. c, R. S. S. Woodgate. 



Local Class— 1, K. D. Borne. 2, C. Groom, e, Master W. Mastin. 



Selling Class.— 1, H. Beldon. 2, E. Leech, he, C W. Brierley. e, E. S. 

 Smith (Houdans). 



Ducks.— 1, E. Leech. 2. W. Dudding. he, W. H. Robson (2). 



Geese.— 1, E. Leech. 2, Mrs. H. Peart. 



Tdrkets.— 1, E. Leech. 2, R. Teat, Boston. 



Pheasants, <£c. (Or any variety o£ Fancy Birds).— 1 and 2, G. W. Thomas. 

 PIGEONS. 



Carriers.— Black.— 1 and Cup, R. Fulton. 2, S. J. Taylor, he, R. Fulton ; E. 

 C Stretch. Dun— 1, R. Fulton. 2. H. Yardley. 



Pouters.— 1. R. Fulton. 2. H. Pratt, c, H. Yardley. 



Tumblers.— Almond.— 1 and e, R. Fulton. 2, S. J. Taylor, he, R. Fulton ; J. 

 Ford {2t. Any other Variety.— 1, R. Fulton. 2, S. J. Taylor. hc,H. Minnitt; H. 

 Yardley. c, R. Fulton ; J. S. Cater. 



Barbs.— 1 and 2. K. Fulton, he, R. Fulton H. Yardley ; T. H. Dows. 



Turbits.— 1, S. J. Taylor. 2, H. Yardley. c, R. Fulton ; H. Beldon. 



Antwerps.— 1. C L. Boyce. 2, H. Yardley. 



Any other Variety. — 1, R. Fulton {Black Trumpeters). 2, H. Yardley 

 (Tintrettes). he, A. Parsons; R. Fulton; H. Beldon; J. T. Cater; G. W. 

 Thomas ; C. L. Gilbert ; E. 0. Stretch ; S. J. Taylor (3). c, H. A. Saddington ; 

 J. H. Thomas (Runta). 



Selling Class.— 1, J. R. Capps. 2, H. Beldon. 



Local Class.— 1, G. W. Thomas (Yellow Pouters). 2, R. D. Borne (Dun 

 Carriers). 



Judges. — Mr. Hewitt, of Birmingham, and Mr. Massey, of 

 Spalding. 



SCOTTISH METROPOLITAN CAT AND EABBIT 



SHOW. 



This was held in the Hall of theEoyal Gymnasium, Edinburgh* 

 on the 5th and 6th inst. The following is the list of awards : — 



Blue or Silver Tabby.— 1, A. Clark, Glasgow. 2, Miss M'Kerracher, Stock- 

 bridge. 



Black.— 1, Mrs. Bremncr, Edinburgh. 2, J. W. Walker, Edinburgh, c, J. 

 Mnrtin, Edinburgh. 



Black and White.— 1, Master J. S. Oswald. Leith. c, J. Black, Edinburgh. 



Spotted Tabby— 1, Miss E. Angus, Edinburgh. 2, J. Milligan, Portobello. 

 he, A. ThomsoD, Edinburgh. 



Short -haihed White.— 1, A. G. Darling, Edinburgh. 2 and he, J. Robert- 

 son, Berwick. 



Red Tabby.— 1, Withheld. 2, Miss Murray, Edinburgh. 



Best Marked Kitten (Any variety).— 2, W. Cowan, Edinburgh. 3, Mis 3 

 Young, Leith. 



Tortoiseshell and White.— Disqualified, Mrs. Hood, Edinburgh. 



Brown- Tabby.— 1, Mrs. W. Darling, Morningside. 2, A. F. Gray, Stockbridge, 

 Edinburgh, he, Mrs. Wishart, Edinburgh; Master G. R. Sinclair, Edinburgh. 

 c, Mrs. Sibbald, Edinburgh. 



Blue Tabby.— 1, Mrs. Bremner. 2, W. Charles, Edinburgh, e, R. Dawson, 

 Edinburgh. 



Black.— 1, Mrs. Scrivener, Edinburgh. 2. Mrs. W- Hogg, K»ngsknowes 

 Slateford. he. Miss Burnett, Morningside ; Miss Ramsay, Edinburgh, c, Mra 

 Donaldson, Edinburgh. 



Black and White.— 1, Misa Leef, Portobello. 2, Mrs. A. Kirkhope, Edinburgh. 

 he, J. Glass, Edinburgh ; Mrs. SimpBon, Edinburgh, c, J. Mackay, Edinburgh. 



Spotted Tabby.— 1, G. Dyson. York. 2, J. Alexander, Gorgie Mi Is. Equal. 

 W.Harvey, Edinburgh, he, A. Blanc, Edinburgh ; J. Fairholme, Edinburgh; 

 Mrs. Caravanna, Edinburgh, c, G. Tosh, Edinburgh ; J. Simpson, Leith ; Mrs. 

 Garson, Edinburgh. 



Short-haired White. — 1, H, J. Blanc, Edinburgh. 2, J. Gillespie, Edinburgh" 

 he, W. Burton, Lothian Burn, e, J. Brown, Edinburgh. 



Ked Tabby. — 1. J. Brown, Edinburgh. 2, J. Irvine, Edinburgh. Equal, E* 

 Cmnpston, Northampton, c, 3. G. Procter, Edinburgh. 



Any other Variety (such as Manx).— 1, Withheld. 2, Mrs. Barclay, c,A- 

 Wilson. Edinburgh. 



Tortoiseshell.— 1, Withheld. 2, E. Horner, Harewood, Leeds, he, J. Storie, 

 Prestonkirk. 



Tortoiseshell and White.— 1, Mrs. Heath, Dalkeith. 2, J. Hogg, East Lin- 

 ton, he, T. Hastie, Edinburgh. 



Blue or Silver Tabby.— 1, Mrs. R. Young, Leith. 



Black and White.— 2, J. D. Malcolm, Edinburgh. 



Spotted Tabby.— 1, C. Crighton, Edinburgh. 2, Mrs. M'Donald, Edinburgh. 

 he, W. Hannah, StockbrHge. 



