September 26, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



257 



old French, variety formerly much, grown in this country. In the south it 

 ripens very early, but in your northern climate it will now be in season. There 

 was no large Pear sent. The Apple we do not know ; it is of little merit, and 

 ■very dry and woolly. It would be as well in your climate to protect the 

 Marech.al.Niel Rose, but you need -not cover it entirely if it has become so 

 large. Continue to do as you have done. (P. C). — The Apple is Kerry 

 Pippin; the Plum Pond's Seedling. 



Names of Plants (Thet), — Why did you send two packages unless with 

 the hope of deceiving us ? (J. Service). — The Fern is Cystopteris fragilis, a 

 native of North America, and requires greenhouse treatment. (F. Antrobus). 

 — It is Aralia Sieboldii, a native of Japan, introduced by Messrs. Veitch in 

 1860. Its flowers are somewhat like those of the Ivy. Most of the genus are 

 useful in some way. The Chinese rice paper is made from the pith of Aralia 

 papyrifera. 



POULTKY, BEE, AND PIGEON CHEOKECLE, 



FARM POULTRY. 



The ordinary farmer has this advantage over the professional 

 poultry-keeper — his fowls cost him little in the way of food, and 

 almost nothing for care. He usually labours under the dis- 

 advantage of not giving his fowls enough care, and managing 

 somethings about them with a great disregard for true economy. 

 His fowls, during much of the year at least, live on food that 

 would otherwise have been wasted, or on that the eating of which 

 is a positive advantage to the owner. This makes the eggs and 

 poultry obtained almost a matter of net gain. But because the 

 fowls cost little, furnishes no good reason for keeping those that 

 are useless — and such are kept on many farms. In many cases 

 the stock is never reduced by sale — only by deaths from old age, 

 disease, or accident, and by killing a good share of the young 

 for home use. 



We imagine that quite a number of our readers, if they would 

 take the trouble to look at their stock of poultry, would find one 

 to half a dozen cocks which had better be disposed of, on account 

 of old age, quarrelsome disposition, or because they are in every 

 way inferior fowls, simply left over, having accidentally escaped 

 killing when young ; and also a goodly number of venerable 

 hens, or those hobbling on frozen feet, &c To keep such fowls 

 over the winter will cost something, and all this cost will be a 

 loss, for, even if they do not die, such fowls are almost useless. 

 It will be much better to dispose of them now, sending those fit 

 J for eating to the market or to the home table, and kill ing and 

 burying the others. 



Many farmers would do well to thus reduce their stock one- 

 half. Better care of the remainder might follow with advantage 

 in many cases. It possibly will be neither advisable nor neces- 

 sary to build a poultry-house, but some comfortable place could 

 l)e provided where the fowls may be protected from storms and 

 •cold winds by day as well as night. Every consideration of 

 economy will dictate good feeding during winter, so as to pre- 

 vent the fowls becoming poor. Fowls with insufficient food or 

 ■exposed to severe storms will not lay well, while it is equally 

 true that very many persons do get a goodly number of eggs 

 ■during the winter months by giving good food and comfortable 

 ■quarters to young healthy hens. 



"We certainly would not advise farmers to purchase large 

 numbers of fancy poultry ; but on many farms the old stock has 

 Tun down by long interbreeding, poor care, and no selection. In 

 such cases a change is certainly desirable, and this would be had 

 by obtaining a good cock, either from a neighbour's yard or 

 "irom some fancier. For ourselves we should decidedly prefer to 

 have fowls of some established breed, and would not feel satis- 

 fied with a stock widely varying in size, colour, and form. But 

 whatever class is kept, some care in selection will be necessary 

 to keep them from degenerating. — {Western Farmer.) 



We are requested to remind intending exhibitors at the Ips- 

 wich Poultry, Pigeon, Rabbit, and Cat Show, that entries 

 •close October 2nd (not on the 1st as announced in our list of 

 •coming exhibitions), and that Mr. Hewitt is one of the Judges. 

 The Black Bantam breeders have subscribed for a cup as first 

 prize in that class, which will be given in addition to the Society's 

 nsual money prizes. 



Crystal Palace Show. — The above annual Exhibition of 

 poultry and Pigeons is to be held at the Crystal Palace on the 

 19th, 20th, and 21st of November, closing on the Thursday, and 

 so only keeping the Show open for three instead of four days as 

 on former occasions. This arrangement will enable all exhi- 

 bitors to get their birds home before the Sunday. The schedule 

 is very complete. Nearly all the numerous varieties of poultry 

 and Pigeons have separate classes for young and old birds of 

 both sexes, with three, and in some cases as many as six, prizes 

 to each class. No less than fifty-eight silver cups are offered 

 for competition, ranging in value from three to seven guineas 

 •each, and we notice that winners of cups given by the Com- 

 mittee can, upon giving notice, receive money in lieu of the 



very-often-useless " cup or piece of plate." Besides these cups, 

 which alone make a total of .£252, money prizes to the amount 

 of £QC0 are offered for competition. The satisfactory way in 

 which the Committee have always carried out all the previous 

 shows, and the very liberal and valuable prizes they now offer, 

 entitles them to every support from exhibitors, and there can 

 be little doubt this will be the largest Show of the year. The 

 schedule consists of 105 classes for poultry, and fifty-five for 

 Pigeons. In most classes the birds are to be shown singly. 



MIDDLETON POULTRY SHOW. 



The fourteenth annual Show was held at Middleton on the 

 18th and 19th of September. The weather on the first day was 

 very unfavourable, but the second day was fortunately fine, and, 

 as is always the case at Middleton, the number of visitors was 

 something extraordinary; the wonder is where they all come 

 from. The arrangements of the Show were very good, the pens 

 were large, and a canvas covering closed them up during the 

 night. Several of the more delicate kinds suffered a good deal 

 from the cold on the first day. There were eighteen pens of 

 Black-breasted andothei' Red Game chickens, the majority good 

 birds and well grown. Besides the three prize pens, two were 

 highly commended and four commended. In single cockerels 

 were thirteen entries, some of them very good, and others small 

 and weedy, and suffering from the effects of recent dubbing. In 

 Any other variety only the winning pens were up to the mark; 

 as classes they were inferior, and duck feet were very common. 

 In the class for single Game pullets, any breed, there were 

 forty-seven entries, and an unusual quantity of first-class birds ; 

 besides the four prize pens eight were highly commended, Miss 

 Aykroyd taking the cup. The three prize pens of Sjjanish were 

 good, Mr. Brierlej 7 - taking the cup with a very deep-faced cock 

 and good pullet. The Dorkings were about an average, the 

 pullets better than the cockerels. Mr. Arkwright took the cup 

 with a good pen. Of the Brahmas many were good, but some of 

 them were suffering froru too much showing. The jmllet class 

 was decidedly the best, and six pens were highly commended in 

 addition to the prize birds. The oup for the best pen of Brahmas 

 went to a splendid pen of pullets, the property of Mr. Lingwood. 

 The entries in Cochins was not large ; the prize pens were very 

 good, both in symmetry and colour. The Golden-pencilled 

 Hamburgh classes we thought inferior to former years, except- 

 ing the winning pens — they were not good. The entries in the 

 Silver-pencilled classes were small — only fourteen pens in the 

 three classes ; the prize birds were good, some of the others 

 inferior. The Golden -spangled, although more numerous, were 

 not so good as we expected to see them at this Show. The 

 Silver-spangled were the best of the Hamburgh classes, and the 

 cup went to a good pen — cockerel and pullets, very hard pressed 

 by the first-prize pen of pullets, and also the Gold-pencilled 

 cockerel and pullet. The Black Hamburgh classes contained 

 many first-class pens, others a little inferior. The French Fowls 

 were very good, Mr. Wood taking the cup and all the first prizes. 

 The Bantam classes were well filled, and many good pens were 

 shown, but the cold prevented them showing to advantage. The 

 Aylesbury Ducks were very good, both as regards size and bill. 

 The Kouens were a large class, and many first-class pens both 

 as regards size and plumage. The cup went to Mr. Wakefield 



for an excellent pen. The Geese and Turkays were, as usual, of 

 great size and weight. 



The Figeon classes were all well filled, and some of the best 



pens we have ever seen exhibited were amongst them. Mr. 



Fulton took the cup with a magnificent pair of Trumpeters, and 



also the lion's share in most of the other classes. 

 Game — Black-breasted and other Reds. — Chickens. — 1 and 2, J. Fletcher, 



Stoneclough. 3. C. AY. Brierlev, Middleton. he, C. F. Earnett, Biggleswade; F. 



H. Wright, Halifax, c, S. Matthew, Stowmarket; T. P. Lyon, Liverpool; J. 



Wood, Wigan; .1. Spencer, Clayton, Bradford. Cockerel— Cup. Miss Aykroyd, 



Eccleehill, Leeds. 2, J. Fletcher, he, E. Mann, Whitfield, Manchester; J. 



Fleicher. 

 Game.— Any other Variety. ~r~.Ghiekens.-l and 2, J. Fletcher. 3, T. P.Lyon, 



Liverpool. 'Cockerel.— 1, H. Dixon, Farnsfield, Southwell. 2, J. Flttcher. 



Pullets.— Cup, Miss Avkroyd. 2, T. P. Lyon, Liverpool. 3, W. E. Oakley. Ather- 



Btone. 4, J. Fnrsvth, Wolverhampton. ftc, E. Mann, Whitefield, Manchester; 



J. Fletcher; H. Dixon, Farnstield, Southwell; W. E. Oaklev, Atherstone; 



Morris & Woods, Accrington ; T. Hope, Nantwich ; W. H. L. Clare, Twycross, 



Aiherstone; C W. Brierlev, Middli-ton. c, W. J. Pntie. 



Spanish— Chickens.— Cup, C. W. Bnerley. 2, J. Walker, Standiford, Wolver- 

 hampton. 3, H. Wilkinson, Earby, Skipton. Cockerel.— 1, J. Bowness. 2, J. 



Walker, he, C.W. "Rrierley, Middleton. Pullets,— 1, C. W. Brierloy. 



Dorkings.— Chickens. — Cup, F. S. Arkwright, Sutton Scarsdale, Chester- 

 field, 2, W. W. Ruttlidge. Shortend. Kendal. 3, W H. King, Rochdale, hc- 



J. J. Waller, Kendal. Cockerel— 1, F. S. Arkwright. 2, G. Cartniel, Kendal, 

 he, E. Fearon, Whitehaven ; Countess of Tankeivile, Chillingharn Castle, 



Alnwick. Pullets.— 1, W. W. Ruttlidge. 2, F. S. Arkwright. he, E. Fearon ; E. 



W. Beaehey, Kingskerawell. 

 Bhahma Pootra.— Chickens— 1, T. F. AnBdell, Cowley Mount, St. Helens. 2, 



W. A. Taylor, Manchester. 3, Hon. Mrs. A. B. Hamilton, Woburn. he. P. 



Lacv, Hebden Br:dge c, F. Bennett, Sh final. Cockerel.— 1, H. Lacy. 2. A. G. 



Wallis, Birkdale Park, Southport. he, F. S. Arkwright ; E. Pritchard, Tetten- 



hall, Wolverhampton, e, E. Ryder, Hvde; J.W.Will, Errol. Pullet s.— Cuj), 



Horace Linewood, CieeUng, Needham Market. 2, H. Lacy, he, J. W. Will: 



Hon. A. B. Hamilt <n : J. Earnshaw, Rotherham; E. Prichard; M. Leno, Mark- 



vate Street, Dunstable; T. F. An s dell. 

 Cochin-Chin a— Buff and Cinnamon —Chickens.— I and 3, W. A. Taylor. 2, 



C. Sidgwick, Ryrtdlesden Hall, Ke'ghlev. Cockerel — 1 ? W. A. Taylor. 2, C. 



Sidgwick. Pullets— 1, C. Sidgwick. 2, E. Fearon, Whitehaven, he, Rev. C. 



Spencer, Boethstown, Manchester. 



