EXHIBITION. 79 



The weight of the basket being ascertained, 

 must be deducted from the total, and, if possible, 

 weigh your birds before their meal, as geese and 

 turkeys will easily put on 1^ lb., in a pen of three. 



All other birds should give way to those 

 selected to do battle, in the show-room, for the 

 honour of the yard. They must receive exclu- 

 sive attention, and their supposed inferiors bide 

 their time, ready to supply vacancies, which they 

 are often called upon to do. 



There is nothing so certain as disappointment ; 

 I, in common with every exhibitor, have met 

 with it. My experience, however, has proved to 

 me, that full confidence may be placed in the 

 general justice of judges' decisions. They have 

 an arduous and most invidious duty to perform 

 — arduous, because so extended — invidious, be- 

 cause suspicions are often alleged by the losing 

 parties. Such are, frequently, very virulent, and 

 entertain a life-long grudge ; and may even say 

 to him in his last moments, (with Eichard's 

 ghostly visitors), " Let me sit heavy on thy soul 

 to-morrow ; you passed me by at Birmingham ! " 

 I believe poultry judges act honourably and 



