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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ December 20, 1864. 



THE OPEN EOT. 



Starting with the well-ascertained fact that poultry cannot 

 possibly thrive or be kept in good health on damp ground, it 

 becomes necessary., where the sur- 

 face is not gravelly, to make an 

 artificial dry run. This is best ac- 

 complished with concrete, which, 

 besides being cheaper than flag- 

 stones or bricks, does not absorb 

 the moisture, and is much warmer 

 to the feet. This run should be 

 formed slightly concave, as shown 

 in fig. 1, and have an incline 

 towards its end, where the rain 

 water can be discharged into a 

 drain communicating with the 

 duck pond. 



During summer a few inches 

 deep of gravel, and in winter 

 about 9 inches deep of horse ma- 

 nure, ought to cover the floor of 

 will afford the fowls ample exercise by 



Fig. 1. 

 Transverse section of floor for 

 open run, showing also drain- 

 age. 



this run, which 

 scratching and running. 



The sides and top should be formed of galvanised iron 

 netting, of about 1 J-inch mesh for full-grown poultry, and 

 1-inch mesh for chickens. 



In fine weather the food should be thrown broadcast in 

 this run, but in wet weather the poultry ought to be fed 

 from feeding-vessels or fountains (see figs. 2, 3, 4), placed in 

 the roosting-room, near the door of the covered run. 



Fig. 2. 

 Drinking-fountain . 



Fig. 3. 

 Feeding-trough. 



Fig. 4. 



Section of 



feeding-fountain. 



Some persons recommend the sides of the run to be 

 boarded to the height of 2 feet, to prevent the cocks of 

 the adjacent runs fighting together. This, however, in so 

 narrow a run, would partially exclude the sun, which is not 

 desirable : besides, cocks, after a few days' acquaintance, 

 become very neighbourly. 



The above fountains are constructed on the principle that, 

 when placed with their openings towards and about a foot 

 from the wall, the poultry will be unable to scratch any dirt 

 in, nor can the droppings from the perches fall in. 



THE GLASS-COVERED EUN. 



The floor of this compartment should be composed of at 

 least 6 inches deep of finely-sifted gritty stuff, such as road 

 dust, ashes, and sand, and on this it would be well to 

 sprinkle occasionally some flowers of sulphur, which would 

 prevent vermin breeding on the fowls. It is the universal 

 belief that fowls powder themselves to get rid of vermin 

 on their body ; but such is not exactly the case. The fact 

 is fowls, like all the other feathered tribe, perspire freely, par- 

 ticularly so in the night. This perspiration clogs their 

 feathers, consequently they perform then- ablution in gritty 

 dust, on the same principle that human beings do in water, 

 to get rid of the dried perspiration, and to expand their 

 feathers. The same can be seen performed by the birds of 

 the air, who, on a dry hot summer day, make their ablutions 

 in the dust of the roads. 



In this run the fowls must be kept close during wet 

 weather, as wet feathers are most injurious to their health, 

 particularly when they are confined. 



The sides of this run should be boarded, and occasionally 

 whitewashed. The glass frame forming the roof should be 

 made to open the same as a forcing-frame, so as to admit of 

 free ventilation. A perch ought also to be fixed in this 

 compartment, and the door communicating with the outer 

 run should, in the winter time, be closed at night. — G. K. 

 Geyelin, Civil Engineer, London. 



(To be continued.) 



THE LEEDS POULTRY AND PIGEON SHOW. 



This exhibition of poultry, though numbering more than 

 seven hundred pens, was doubtless injured materially by 

 the fact that Lord Tredegar's annual meeting was held this 

 year simultaneously at Newport, Monmouthshire. The con- 

 sequence was that many pens entered by their proprietors 

 for both meetings were finally reserved for exhibition at 

 Newport, not a few owners supposing that the competi- 

 tion would be less severe than at Leeds, and, as a necessary 

 result, the chances of their own success at Newport would 

 be greater. It is really amusing that, after so much pre- 

 vious provision, so many mistakes of judgment should have 

 arisen, for certain it is that in Spanish, Dorkings, and Co- 

 chins the competition at Leeds was the very reverse of 

 severe, and the probabilities necessarily are that had they 

 been present at Leeds, pens out of the prize list altogether 

 at Newport might have (in these particular classes), been 

 successful prizetakers. 



The arrangements of the pens at Leeds were excellent, and 

 the care taken of the birds betokened rather that they were 

 overfed than the contrary. It should always be remembered 

 that too great a supply of food after long travelling is equally 

 undesirable for poultry as " short-commons ; " the want of 

 exercise tending to produce indigestion, more especially in 

 such specimens as are not accustomed to exhibition. 



In Spanish fowls Mr. Teebay, of Preston, took the first 

 prizes for both the old and also the chickens; though very 

 excellent birds, they were not shown in the high exhibi- 

 tion trim we have so frequently seen them. Of the remain- 

 ing Spanish fowls little is worthy of mention, save that 

 one or two pens lost position altogether from the amount of 

 '•' trimming " that had been adopted prior to sending them. 

 This practice is now unfortunately so prevalent that a por- 

 tion of our Spanish fanciers seem to think the removal of 

 actually every vestige of feather on the face is an improve- 

 ment — a mistake the loss of premiums will best tend to 

 remove, and abolish altogether. 



The Dorkings of Sir St. George Gore were good, and well 

 shown ; but the paucity of Dorkings of even a medium class 

 was painfully apparent to every one. 



So many of the pens of Cochins were empty (although the 

 entries were not a few), that it was really a difficulty to find 

 suitable pens to receive the premiums of the Society, these 

 three first-named classes being quite the least favoured in 

 the showyard. 



The Game fowls exhibited at Leeds were, however, very 

 good, and the classes well filled. Of all specimens, perhaps, 

 the Brown Reds had the call in their favour, though many 

 of the Black-breasted Beds were extraordinarily good. 



In Harnbv/rglis, excepting the Silver-peneiHed old birds, it 

 is very rarely we see so good a display — a remark as uni- 

 versally applicable to the classes generally as to the prize 

 birds only. The Spangled varieties of either colour were 

 one of the chief points of excellence at Leeds, the compe- 

 tition being extended throughout both classes. 



The Silver Polands were perfect, both old and young ones, 

 and it will be seen to this breed the Society's silver cup was 

 awarded. The Any variety class was an extensive one, and 

 contained many very unusual varieties ; the class for Extra 

 Poultry being scarcely less interesting. 



Dorkings. — First, T. P.ogers, St. Helens. Second, A. "Wilcox, Nailsea 

 Court, Bristol. Third, E. Smith, Middleton, Manchester. Chickens.— First, 

 Sir St. G. Gore, Bart.. Wirksworth. Second, C. W. Brierley, Middleton, 

 Manchester. Third, F. Key, Beverley. 



Spanish.— First, R. Teebay, Fulwood, Preston. Second, J. Marchant, 

 Halifax. Third, W. Newsome, Leonard Place, Bingley. CJiickens. — First, 

 E. Teebay, Fulwood, Preston. Second, "W. Newsome, Bingley. Third, W, 

 Cannan, Bradford. 



Cochin-China.— First, P.. 'White, Broomhall, Park, Sheffield. Second, 

 H. Beldon, Bingley. Third, C. W. Brierley, Middleton, Manchester. 

 Chickens.— First, c. E. Kidsdale, Halifax. Second, Kev. F. Taylor, Kirby 

 Lonsdale. Third, C. Sedgwick, Riddlesden, Keighley. 



Game (Black-breasted and other Reds). — First, M. Billing, jun., Erding- 

 ton, Birmingham, Second, J. Hodgson, Bowling Old Lane. Third, C. W. 

 Brierley, Middleton, Manchester. Chickens. — First, E. Aykroyd, Girling- 

 ton, Bradford. Second, Capt. Heatou, Lower Broughton, Manchester. 

 Third, T. Briggs, Fearncliffe, Bingley. 



Gajie (White and Piles).— Fust, R. Butcher. Chesterfield. Second, A 

 Robertshaw, Queensbury. Halifax. Third, W. Whiteley, Liversedge. 

 Chickens. — First, R. Butcher, Chesterfield. Second, E. Aykroyd, Girlington, 

 Bradford. Third, G. Wostenholme, Sheffield. 



Gasie (Any other varietv). — First, E. Avkrovd, Girlington, Bradford. 

 Second. G. Wostenholme, Sheffield. Third, W, J. Pope, Barnsley. Chickens. 

 First, E. Aykroyd. Second, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart., Wirksworth. Third , 

 J. Firth, Lilly Lane Mills, Halifax. 



