November 28, 1872. 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENED. 



433 



four of those gentlemen who were supposed to be still represent- 

 ing the interests of exhibitors had resigned. May I ask why 

 this was suppressed from the knowledge of fanciers generally ? 

 as it may possibly account for the great disappointment those 

 persons experienced who were, like myself, put to unnecessary 

 trouble and expense. — An Old Sub. 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY AND 

 PIGEON SHOW.— No. 2. 



In my hurried sketch of last week I promised to write again 

 more fully, and now I sit down to redeem my promise. I cannot 

 but think that this, the greatest of all shows, held in the grandest 

 of all show-rooms, will form an era in' poultry matters. The 

 Times has inserted a long notice — long for so important and 

 imperial a newspaper ; and the whole of the nave of the Palace 

 and transept being occupied, the Show being no longer held in 

 a corner, the eye of every visitor was taken up by it. The 

 poultry and Pigeons took marked possession of the Palace, their 

 presence was everywhere. 



One result I should hail with satisfaction — that is, an improve- 

 ment in the railway companies, who as yet are exhibitors' worst 

 enemies. Surely at length they must see that due care and 

 courtesy, also moderation in charges, become those who so 

 largely benefit by the poultry taste. The worst is that care of 

 valuable birds is entrusted to a series of station-masters, who 

 may be fond of dogs or white mice, and would bestow much 

 attention on them, but who sometimes allow fowls to be shoved 

 about anyhow and anywhere, or to be left on draughty plat- 

 forms, and, worst of all, not forwarded promptly. 



But let me turn and give a word of praise to those to whom 

 praise is most justly due. I could not but be struck at the admir- 

 able arrangement of this vast Show. It was a great thing that any 

 one could be found able to provide good and suitable pens for 

 upwards of three thousand birds. This, fortunately, Mr. Billett 

 could do, and did well. It was a great affair to undertake, and 

 if not properly done the whole would have been spoiled. AU — 

 committee, exhibitors, and visitors, yes, and the birds, too — owe 

 much to Mr. Billett. Then the way in which the pens were 

 placed, as well as where they were placed, ought to have a 

 notice. The Crystal Palace authorities gave up the whole 

 Palace, not forcing the Show to be held in various corners — they 

 therefore deserve the thanks of the poultry world. The work 

 of arrangement must have been a laborious and tedious one. 

 The sight of the unpacking ought to have been sketched. The 

 hampers and baskets as arranged and piled-up in the great 

 south dining-room was a sight not to be forgotten, and I saw 

 only part: much more must have been the busy scene worthy of 

 eye and pencil ; and bear in mind the labour! I wish also to say 

 • a word about the floral decorations. The Chrysanthemums were 

 just in bloom, and Mr. T. Williams naturally wanted them to be 

 seen and adrnired, but those fowls were coming, and flowers will 

 not put off their blooming ! What was to be done ? Why an 

 alliance formed between the poultry and the flowers, and a sort 

 of J. of H. in fact carried out, and nobly the banks of flowers 

 looked, and much they added to the Show, and the taste was 

 great that formed the alliance. Non-poultry-loving visitors 

 always make a complaint about the crowing. Now I for one like 

 nature much better than art. I can bear the crowing of cocks, 

 but not the noise of a threshing machine. Now, crowing at a 

 show is unpleasant in proportion to the smallness of the place of 

 exhibition. I observed that in the high-roofed spacious Palace 

 the crowing was very little to be noticed, the sound melted 

 away in the space. The sense of smell, too, was gratified, not 

 annoyed — no smell of pigs or odour of stables, just as there was 

 also no poking into dark corners or looking down to see if any 

 bird was below. 



Then the Judges were the right men — Mr. Hewitt, whom 

 one cannot think of unconnected with poultry, the facile 

 princeps of Judges, whose keen eyes are sure to detect the 

 stained leg, or the tail or comb tricks. Then the courteous and 

 clever Capt. Heaton ; that shrewd Lancashire lad, Mr. Teebay ; 

 and up-to-the-mark John Martin; Mr. J. H. Smith I have not 

 the pleasure of knowing. Then as to the Judges of my own 

 special favourites, the Pigeons. There was that veteran fancier, 

 the Hewitt of Pigeon Judges, Mr. Esquilant; the very competent 

 Mr. Corker; Mr. J. Percivall, whose pleasant countenance has 

 nothing of the Dragoon about it, although he is the best Judge of 

 Dragoons ; and lastly, Mr. Harrison Weir, whom I have wanted 

 to shake hands with for the last dozen years, and thank him for 

 the pleasure his pencil has given me many and many a time, but 

 I failed to identify him or find him on inquiry. 



While looking at this vast Show I could not but remember 

 that for many years there was no show held at the Crystal 

 Palace. There had been, and then came a long pause; why, I 

 do not accurately know, but I have heard that it was supposed 

 the poultry would not pay, or a show succeed — but has not indeed 

 succeeded ? 



Another thing I must notice before going to details — that is, 

 I never saw, on the Tuesday especially (doubtless owing to the 



favourable notice in the Times and other daily papers), such a 

 throng of visitors at any show where only poultry and Pigeons 

 were exhibited. At the Bath and West of England and kindred 

 shows there are, of course, other attractions — horses, flowers, 

 machinery, &c, and those who come to see them naturally stroll 

 through the poultry tents ; but here were only birds, and yet a 

 crowd, for everybody has seen the Palace itself many times. 



Now for the Pigeons. 



Pouters. — Blue-pied cocks — First prize won by a bird of Mr. 

 Volckman's, which, however, somewhat drops his shoulders; 

 still it and the second prize, won by the same exhibitor, are grand 

 birds. The third-prize bird a little too short behind, and cocked 

 his tail somewhat. Black-pied cocks — The first and cup a fine- 

 limbed bird, but deficient in crop ; the second, inferior tail ; the 

 third, very inferior. Red or Yellow-pied cocks — The first prize 

 not clear red, but went off in colour in the feathers nearing the 

 flight; the second, Mr. Ewbank's, a good bird, but the yellow 

 not a good colour; the third, Mr. Fulton's, much better in 

 colour, being a first-rate red. White cocks — First, second, and 

 third, Mr. Rose's, Mr. Hawley's, and Mrs. Ladd's, were good 

 birds all over. 



Any colour or marking, cocks — An eccentric-coloured class, 

 yet exhibiting marks of strong-constitutioned birds. First prize, 

 a Mealy, Mr. Fulton's, a very large bird ; second, a Chequer, Mr. 

 Ewbank's, rather flagged; third, Mr. A. Heath's, a grizzly-tailed 

 White, and a very fine bird. There was a bird of Mr. Volckman's, 

 No. 2212, unnoticed, but which pleased me much. 



Any colour and markings, bred in 1872 — First and cup, Mr. 

 Fulton's, a Blue, a very promising and well-marked bird; second, 

 a White, belonging to Mr. Rose, a very good Pigeon ; third, a 

 Blue, belonging to the same fancier, too short in flight and tail. 



Next the hens. — Blue-pied — First, a fine Blue hen; second, 

 good ; third, also Mr. Ewbank's, had a tight crop. Black-pied 

 hens — A poor class. Red or Yellow-pied hens — First, a Yellow, 

 like a cock in size and crop, and a good cock he would be too, it 

 is the property of Mr. Fulton ; second, Mr. Hill's, a pale yellow; 

 third, not remarkable, owner Mr. Fulton. White hens, as a class 

 too low on the leg — First, a lovely bird; second and third, both 

 good. Hens, Any colour and markings — First and second, Mr. 

 Volckman's, the one a Mealy, the other a White with blue tail; 

 third, Mr. Fulton's. Hens, any colour, bred in 1872— First, Mr. 

 Stiles's bird, a White, and a very graceful Pigeon; second, Mrs. 

 Ladd's, white and good; third, Mr. Ewbank's, Blue, and nice. 



Best pair (any age or colour) — First, Mr. Jones ; second, Mr. 

 Rose's, a White ; third, Mr. Pratt. 



Pigmy Pouters, best pair — First and cup, Mr. Tegetmeier's, 

 I admired the cock bird especially; second, also Mr. Teget- 

 meier's ; third, Mr. Beldon's, Cream Isabels with white bars, an 

 extremely well-matched. and pretty pair. I could not leave the 

 pen for a long time from admiration of the pretty little pets. 



Carriers. — Black cocks — This class, a baker's dozen in num- 

 ber, was so good that more than half — viz., seven, were either 

 prize birds or v.h.c, and well they deserved the distinctions. 

 Prizewinners Messrs. Fulton and Heritage. Black hens were 

 also very good ; Mr. Wiltshire's second-prize was my favourite. 



Dun cocks — A dozen and seven were noticed, which speaks 

 worlds for then: goodness. Dun hens — Capt. Heaton's first an 

 excellent bird. Sixteen entries, and actually ten noticed! but 

 then look at the names of the exhibitors — Heaton, Ord, Massey, 

 Wiltshire ! 



Carrier cocks, any other colour — First, Mr. Duckworth's Blue, 

 an admirable bird. Hens, any other colour — Mr. Duckworth's 

 first and best. 



Carriers, Black, single bird bred in 1872 — A very large class, 

 thirty-five birds in all ; four prizes awarded, and five other birds 

 noticed. Many excellent birds in this class. 



Dun, single birds bred in 1872 — Mr. Wiltshire a long way first. 

 Any other colour, single bird bred in 1872 — Nothing very re- 

 markable. Lastly, Best pair, any age or colour — Ten out of 

 sixteen noticed. - 



Dragoons. — Blue, single bird — First and cup, Mr. South's, 

 surely too light in colour; the next prize birds, Mr. Graham's 

 and Mr. Tegetmeier's, better in this respect. 



Silver Dragoons — Some had blackish butnot actual blackbars, 

 and which were apt to be ragged. But this colour does not match 

 the tail, and I own I do not approve of it ; still, of course, in 

 fancy matters especially, there is abundant room for difference 

 of opinion. The colour of Mr. Bishop's bird, No. 2481, is what I 

 prefer. 



Red or Yellows brought out Mr. Betty's charming Yellows, 

 ten of them, and his cup bird was excellent, the' colour sound 

 throughout ; second prize, Mr. Graham's, very good. All the 

 prizes went to Yellows. 



Dragoons, any other colour, brought out a great number of 

 clean-looking Whites. Mr. Bishop had first and second, both 

 White ; while an old-fashioned Grizzle, and a good bird, too, 

 took third, his owner Mr. D welly. 



Tumblers. — Almond cocks — First, Mr. Fulton's, a feather bird; 

 second prize, Mr. Ford's, lovely head and beak ; there was also 

 a splendid bird unnoticed, No. 2550, Mr.' Heritage's. Almond 



