December 6, 1864. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



459 



Silver. The Silver breeders are neglecting the accuracy of 

 the markiags, and forgetting the tendency there is in these 

 birds to become lighter as they become older. Clear hackles 

 have been secured at the cost of pencilling on the wing and 

 tail. We think perfection in these birds must not be sought. 

 If a well-pencilled tail and marked wing can only be had in 

 conjunction with a partially-spotted hackle, we must submit 

 to it as the less evil. Although the same may be said of 

 the Spangled classes, it must be qualified. The Silvers were 

 only inferior to the Golden because the latter were unusually 

 good. We have seldom seen a better pen than that shown 

 by Sir. Hyde. All the prize birds in these classes were 

 good, but the Silvers were in some instances too light. The 

 Cocks were especially deficient in marking on the wings. 



We can speak most highly of all the Poland ; the only 

 desideratum was an increased number of entries. Mr. 

 Adkins has a speciality for Silvers, and Mr. Edwards for 

 Black with white tops. All were beautiful. 



The Various class brought many pens of Cuckoos, a 

 beautiful pen of La Fleche, some good Silkies, but none of the 

 monstrosities that used to fill up its numbers in former years. 

 As usual, the Game formed a capital show without assist- 

 ance from any other breed. Their condition and beauty of 

 feather were worthy of all praise, and showed that the 

 descendants of the old cockers had not failed to benefit by 

 the knowledge and experience of their predecessors. It is 

 almost impossible to particularise all that deserve especial 

 notice ; yet the veriest tyro in Game fowls, or one who had 

 never before admired them, would not fail to be struck with 

 the surpassing beauty and excellence of Mr. Statter's cock 

 that took first in Class 50, and deservedly received the extra 

 prize of five guineas as the best in the Show. Mr. Worrall's 

 pullets, and two pens belonging to Sir St. G. Gore, were 

 next in merit. 



It is almost painful to leave as many good birds unnoticed 

 as we are compelled to do in these beautiful classes. Our 

 last week's hasty prize list will have told the winners. The 

 Brown Eeds were certainly this year better than the Blacks. 

 The Duekwings were very handsome ; Mrs. Hay, Messrs. 

 Wood, Aykroyd, and Fletcher may be proud of their laurels. 

 Our task is something like Penelope's web. We have to 

 begin again. We have no doubt — indeed we are sure — the 

 Single Cock classes are a boon to purchasers. We doubt 

 whether they are as acceptable to judges, and we are sure 

 they are not to reporters. 



It may be said of the Dorkings that they presented 

 an unrivalled show. Lady Holmesdale, Lady S. Des Voeux, 

 and Messrs. Tudman, Eobinson, and Arkwright were suc- 

 cessful — no small boast. A prohibitory price hardly saved 

 the birds in this class, and all moderately-estimated ones 

 were immediately sold. 



The Spanish showed the same improvement that the 

 general classes did. Eight good birds were sent from all parts 

 of the United Kingdom. In sporting phraseology we should 

 still say — Biistol for choice. Manchester bore the bell for 

 Cochin-China cocks — Capt. Heaton first, closely followed by 

 many of the " celebrities." In Partridge cocks, there was a 

 notable display of excellent birds, many of great weight. 

 Brahma Pootra cocks richly deserved the prizes awarded to 

 them. Messrs. Pigeon, Statter, and Boyle showed very fine 

 birds, and took the prizes in order. 



The Hamburghs call for little notice beyond a general 

 commendation, and the remark that in these classes the 

 best cocks seemed to be reserved to compete together rather 

 than to exhibit themselves with their hens. In these, as in 

 the Dorkings, the non-prohibited birds were snapped up. 

 The Polish cocks were good. Spite of Shakespeare's ideas 

 on the subject, there must be something in a name. The 

 same occur in the Game cock classes as in the general com- 

 petitions ; and Mr. Statter also takes the extra silver cup 

 for the best among the good. Mr. Matthew Leno and Mr. 

 Uriah Spary took the prizes for Gold and Silver-laced 

 Bantams. A cock among the latter must be as tired of 

 taking prizes as Talleyrand was of oaths of allegiance. 

 The Black and White were very numerous and beautiful • 

 and among the Varieties, which mustered well, there were 

 all sorts of oddities — the Japanese, which appear ashamed 

 of their legs, and hide them with their wings ; the booted 

 White ones ; the Speckled ones ; three hens of serious- 

 looking, most diminutive Buff Cochins; and many whose, 



origin we can only guess at. And then, the Game Bantams 

 — such a display of little beauties — Black-breasted Eeds, 

 Brown Eeds, Duekwings, and Piles ; Miss E. Crawford took 

 first and extra prize. There were scarcely any inferior pens. 

 Mr. Postans's first-prize birds were beautiful. 



TEe public who read this, if any get as far, has no idea 

 of the difficulty in finding words to describe the same events 

 eighty-three times over without falling into the most painful 

 tautology. We are arrived at Class S3 — Aylesbury Bucks. 

 We may expect to go on swimmingly. Mrs. Seamons achieved 

 an exploit— first prize with three Ducks weighing 27 lbs. ; 

 Fowler second, 25 lbs. ; Seamons third, 24 lbs. This was a 

 good class, but it was a nonentity compared with its suc- 

 cessor, Eouen Ducks. There were halcyon days when three 

 out of four pens had faulty bills, and half the remainder 

 were fitted to ride feather weight. Now all want close 

 examination, and half require to be weighed. Fifty pens 

 competed — Mr. Shaw first, 25 lbs. ; Mr. Worrall second, 

 24J lbs. ; Mr. Anderson third, 24 lbs. ; Capt. Hornby fourth, 

 23J lbs. Many commended pens deserved prizes. Beunos 

 Ayrean were remarkably good, especially the three prize 

 pens ; nine others were in the prize sheet. Various Ducks 

 brought Carolinas, Brown and White Calls, of great merit. 

 Getting to the Geese is like seeing the lights in the 

 distance; we are getting near home. Mr. Duxbury's old 

 White Geese weighed 84 lbs; Mr. Kershaw's, 57 lbs. ; and 

 Mr. Faulkner's, 54 lbs. The young ones, Mrs. Seamons', 

 57 lbs.; Mr. Lysett's, 52 lbs. The old Grey birds weighed 

 badly. The young ones made amends — Mrs. Seamons', 

 61 lbs. ; Mr. Lort's, 57 lbs. 



The old prize Turkeys, 63 lbs., 61 lbs., and 60i lbs ; the 

 young birds, 47 lbs., 46} lbs., and 46 lbs. Several of the 

 commended pens weighed more than 43 lbs. 



It is needless to say everything was well conducted; 

 Messrs. Luckcock, Matthews, Shackel, Wright, Lowe, Map- 

 plebeck, Adkins, Sabin, and others are always at their posts. 

 No question can arise that will not have an immediate solu- 

 tion ; no complaint that will not meet with ready redress. 

 In the name of the poultry public we thank them all, and 

 congratulate them on their deserved and continued success. 

 The heavy rain on Monday morning did not diminish 

 the attendance of visitors to the extent which might have 

 been expected. The number was 70S3, against 6445 last 

 year — namely, 4,248 by subscribers' tickets; 2,131 by pay j 

 ment of 5s. ; and 704 by payment of Is. each. 



In the poultry sales, up to Tuesday evening, there had 

 been a slight falling off, the amount on Monday being 

 .£616 7s. 6d., against .£661 12s. 6d. last year; and on Tuesday 

 £208 19s., against £189 7s. in 1863. 



We published the prize list last week, and now give the 

 commendations. 



Dorkings (Coloured). — Highly Commended, A. Potts, Hoole Hall, 

 Chester ; J. D. Hewson, M.D., Coton Hill, Stafford ; H. Lingwood, Needham 

 Market, Suffolk. Commended, Rt. Hon. Countess of Dartmouth, Patshull, 

 Albrighton, Wolverhampton ; Rt. Hon. Lady Bagot, Blithfield Hall, Rugeley ; 

 A. Stanford, Eatons Ashurst, near Stevning, Susses; Miss Wilcox, Nailsea 

 Court, near Bristol. Chickens.— Highly Commended, Rt. Hon. Viscountess 

 Holmesdale, Linton Park, Kent ; Lady Bagot ; Sir J. D. Wauchope, Bart., 

 Miller's Hill, Dalkeith, N.B. ; Rev. J. F. Newton, Kirby-in-Cleveland, near 

 Stokesley, Yorkshire ; H. Lingwood; J. Anderson, Meigle, Forfarshire; 

 J. White, Warlaby, Northallerton; A. Potts; R. W. Boyle, Dundrum, 

 Dublin. Commended, Mrs. Arkwright, Etwall Hal], Derby; A. Potts; 

 J. Frost, Parham, Suffolk; Lord Stanhope, Brentby Hall, Burton-npon-Trent. 

 Dorking Hens. — Highly Commended, Mrs. Young, Eatington Vicarage, 

 Stratford-upon-Avon ; Rev. J. F. Newton, Kirby-in-Cleveland, Yorkshire; 

 Rev. E. Cadogan, Walton Parsonage, Warwick; Sir St. G. Gore. Bart., 

 Hoptou Hall, near Wirksworth, Derbyshire; W. Harvey, Sheffield; J. D. 

 Hewscn, M.D., Coton HilL Stafford. 



Dorking Pullets.— Highly Commended, Miss Wilcox, Nailsea Court, 

 near Bristol; W. W. Bartlam, Henley-in-Arden. Commended, Rev. E. 

 Cadogan, Walton Parsonage, Warwick; T. Whittington, Preston Hill, near 

 Henley-in-Arden; J. R. Smith, Ed^baston. 



Dorkings (White).— Chickens.— Highly Commended, J. Clift, Dorking, 

 Commended, J. Robinson, Garstang. 



Spanish. — Commended, J. L. Lowndes, Aylesbury; R. B. Postans, Brent- 

 wood, Essex. Chickens. — Highly Commended, J. Shorthose, N ewcastle-on- 

 Tyne. Commended, W. R. Bull, Newport Pagnell, Bucks; R. Teebay, 

 Fulwood, near Preston; E. Draper, Northampton ; A. Heath, Calne, Wilts; 

 E. Jones, Clifton, Bristol ; R. B. Postans. 



Spanish Hens. — Highly Commended, R. Teebay, Fulwood, near Preston. 

 Commended, J. Smith, Walsall. 



Spanish Pullets. — Highly Commended, Miss Biggar, Ecclefechan, Dum- 

 friesshire ; E. Jones, Clifton, Bristol. 



Cochin-china (Cinnamon and Buff). — Highly Commended, T. Stretch, 

 Ormskirk. Commended, C.T. Bishop, Lenton, near Nottingham. Chickens, 

 —Highly Commended, T. Boucher, Birmingham ; H. Bates, Yardley, near 

 Birmingham. Commended, C. T. Bishop ; H. Bates ; Mrs_R. White, Shef- 

 field ; T. Stretch ; J. Nelson, Heaton MerBBy, Manchester. 

 Cochth-China Hens (Cinnamon and Buff).— Highly Commended, J. Gi 



