October 25, 1364. ] 



JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



341 



(White-crested Polands). Second, J. Hinton, Hinton, near Bath (Brahmas). 

 Highly Commended, J. Hinton (Brahmas). Commended, W. Miller, Sher- 

 bonrne (Silver- spangled Hamburgha). 



Ducks (Any variety).— First, E. Ponting, TVkatley (Rouens). Second, 

 Marchioness of Bath, Longleat (Black East Indian). Highly Commended, 

 E. Pouting, AVhatley (Rouens). Commended Capt. Edgell, Road (White 

 Call). Commended, Marquis of Bath, Longleat (Aylesbury); T. Smith, 

 Westbury (Rouen). 



Geese.— First, Marquis of Bath, Longleat. Second, E. Jeffrys, Rye Hill. 

 Commended, Miss K. Ashley, Sharpshaw Farm. 



Turkeys.— First, Miss J. Milward, Newton St. Loe. Second, T. Ashby, 

 jun., Hazlett Hill Farm. Commended, Marchioness of Bath, Longleat. 



Extra Prize.— Highly Commended, Capt. Ludlow, Heywood, Westbury 

 (Chinese Silkies). 



The Judge was Charles Ballance, Esq., of Taunton, Somer- 

 set, and the awards, we are told, gave entire satisfaction. 



MONMOUTH FAHMEKS' CLUB POULTRY 

 SHOW. 



This was held on the 12th inst. Mr. E. H. Nicholas, of 

 Malpas, a well-known and successful poultry exhibitor, con- 

 sented to act as Judge. 



Spanish (Any age). — First. E. Shaw, Oswestry. Second, J. Pearce, 

 Wyeskam. 



Dorkinos (Coloured).— First and Second, J. Skinner, Maindee. Highly 

 Commended, E. Shaw, Oswestry. Commended, Miss A. Jones, Priory. 



Cochin-China (Any variety). — First, Mrs. E. Everett, Gibraltar Cottage 

 (White). Second, E. Jones, Newport. Commended, Mrs. E. Everett 

 (Buffs). 



Hamburghs (Gold or Silver-spanned).— First, T. Davies, Belmont Cottage, 

 Newport (Silver). Second and Highly Commended, J. Skinner, Maindee 

 (Silver-edged and Silver). 



Hamburghs (Gold and Silver-pencilled). — First, J. Skinner (Silver). 

 Second, J. F. Clifford-Butler, Llantilio (Gold). 



Polands (Any variety).— First and Second, J. Skinner, Maindee (Golden). 



Game (Any age).— First, T. Davies, Newport. Second and Highly Com- 

 mended, G. Pritchard, Llanvihangel. 



Ant other "Variety not before Mentioned (Any age). — First and 

 Second, T. Davies, Newport (Minorcas). 



Bantams (Any variety).— First, T. Davies, Newport (Black). Second, 

 Miss G. Everett, Gibraltar Cottage (Silver-laced). Third, Mrs. E. Everett, 

 Gibraltar Cottage (Game). Highly Commended, T. Davies (Black). 



Turkeys (Any age).— First, E. Bullock, Hadnock. Second, W. James, 

 Lydart. Highly Commended, W. Williams, Pilstone. Commended, Mrs. E. 

 Everett (White). 



Geese. — First, R. Rees, Ahergavenny. Second, Miss A. Jones, Priory 

 (White). Highly Commended, Miss A. Jones; R. Rees. 



Ducks (Aylesbury).— First, R. Rees. Second, J. Skinner. Highly Com- 

 mended, E. Shaw, Oswestry. 



Ducks (Rouen).— First, J. Skinner. Second, I. Theyer, Walford Court. 

 Highly Commended, J. White, St. Weonards. Commended, Mrs. Elliott, 

 Tretire. 



Guinea Fowls.— Prize, W. Philipotts, Trelersdee. 



ISLINGTON POULTRY SHOW. 



Devoutly do I respond to the first part of your note to 

 my remarks that we may meet at some future Islington 

 Show, but I fear there is no such luck. I must simply dream 

 ■of the many wrinkles I might learn from an hour's stroll 

 amongst our pets in such company, and hope on. In my 

 remarks I did not mean to say that I considered the sche- 

 dule perfection. We ought not to forget that Islington is 

 young, very young, but its growth has been very rapid, and 

 in some respects she has set an example to her elders — in 

 Brahmas, for instance. I do not think that Silver-Grey and 

 "White Dorkings at a Show of that calibre should compete 

 in the same class ; but you yourself have, I think, in by- 

 gone Numbers, especially, if my recollection serves me, in 

 your remarks on Birmingham in 1863, said that you saw 

 no necessity for Silver-Greys having a class to themselves. 

 However, I myself should not object to their having three 

 classes ; but am disposed to think that even in the southern 

 counties five classes, as suggested by Mr. B. P. Brent, would 

 in many cases form sorry exhibitions. Is your talented cor- 

 respondent quite correct in writing as if the Dorking were 

 peculiarly a southern-county bird ? My skimmings of prize 

 lists would induce me to say that the prizes very often go 

 northwards — not unfrequently out of England — to wit, Mrs. 

 F. Blair, Mr. J. Anderson, and others. It has always seemed 

 to me but right that the Committee of really grand Shows 

 should make up their minds to a loss on many classes, in 

 order that they may obtain a variety — a collection, in fact — 

 of the various breeds of poultry. Less Shows, such, in fact, 

 as are held northwards, are usually tacked on to agricultural 

 exhibitions, and generally prove the most attractive portion. 

 This is their right place, and they generally succeed ; but 

 we southerners miss the manufacturing population, who 



take the show-day as their holiday, who pay their shilling 

 willingly, and whose payments fill the coffers of the Associa- 

 tion, and make the speculation successful. Take Lord Trede- 

 gar's Show as an example even in the southern counties. I 

 recollect the infancy of the poultry department — four pens 

 of Cochins, shown by some gentleman at Chepstow; this 

 was about twelve years ago. They created great excite- 

 ment ; there was no prize offered for them. The follow- 

 ing year some prizes were offered, and some thirty or 

 forty pens exhibited. These numbers gradually increased, 

 although it was necessarily a local Show, as the Committee 

 did not undertake the charge of the fowls. Well, what has 

 it grown to now ?. t A two-days show, with three or four 

 hundred entries, and exhibitors from all parts of the country, 

 many of our best breeders exhibiting. But here, as in the 

 north, "the hills" furnish a large manufacturing population, 

 and the speculation is, I imagine, a success : at any rate, 

 the classes are yearly increased. 



To Mr. B. P. Brent's further suggestion, that Spanish 

 should have Black, White, and Blue classes, I say, Yes, by 

 all means, when, like the Brahmas, they have fought the 

 same upright fight, and proved that they will support such 

 classes ; but the experience of Islington seems rather against 

 any increase of classes. Why, in the " pair of pullets " 

 class, there were four entries only, and the second prize 

 then withheld ! 



There are additions which I hope Islington will recollect 

 — certainly a class for Malays, even though it be necessary, 

 as our friend " Wiltshire Bectok " says, to hide them that 

 those only interested in the "uglies" may see them. I 

 think I could show him some that would make him alter his 

 ideas. Polands, any variety, is another mistake, certainly ; 

 but it must be borne in mind that it has been brought about 

 by the supineness of Poland fanciers. Until they come 

 forward more I could not advise a division into more than 

 " White-crested Black" and " Silver and Gold." 



Again: with great advantage to all parties, Geese and 

 Turkeys might there be exhibited in pairs. Mr. G. W. Ban- 

 well, certainly, has great cause for complaint ; but if "prizes 

 were thickly distributed to the members," there was one 

 very glaring instance in the second-prize pen of Brahmas of 

 a member not getting his deserts. 



I have myself nothing to do with the Poultry Club — nay, 

 as your columns prove, I have written against book -judging : 

 therefore I am rather against the Club than for it ; but if 

 by their influence they can get up such a prize schedule 

 and such a Show as Islington seems to have been, then I 

 say we southern counties ought to be grateful to them.— 

 T. B. A. Z. 



HACKLE of SILVER-PENCILLED HAMBURGHS 

 — ROUEN DUCK'S LEGS. 



I shall feel obliged by your informing me if there are 

 any printed rules or book of the requisites for exhibiting, 

 poultry besides "Baily on Fowls," as I was yesterday at the 

 Worcester Poultry Show, and saw the first prize given to 

 Silver-pencilled Hamburghs, one hen having spotted hackles, 

 and in another case a Bouen Duck with yellow feet, like a 

 drake. I always considered, and Baily and all other books 

 state, that the Silver Hamburgh hackles must be pure white, 

 and the Bouen Duck's feet black. I really shall feel obliged 

 by knowing what are the rules and how to be obtained, as 

 it seems hard on exhibitors if it is left to the whim or fancy 

 of the Judge. — L. J". Gilbt. 



[Very rarely do we ask of a Judge a reason for his decisions, 

 and when we forwarded Mr. Gilby's letter to Mr. Hewitt we 

 told the latter gentleman we did not do so for the sake of 

 enabling him to defend his awards, but to have his opinion 

 about the hackle and the legs. His reply, however, enters 

 fully into all the topics, and with his permission we pub- 

 lish it. 



" I beg at once to assure your correspondent I was at the 

 time of making the awards at Worcester quite as cognizant 

 of the ' spotted hackle ' in one of the Silver-pencilled hens 

 as he himself was, and at the time regretted it ; though I 

 believe in the hands of a less scrupulous owner she would 

 have been so 'improved' before sending out that she might 

 have passed muster without any one observing it. I am 

 perfectly aware that it was a failing; but there are many 



