68 



The Poultry Exhibition at Madrid. 



Another was speckled or splashed in plumage, but with dark 

 legs. The hens varied very considerably. It is said that 

 crosses between the Light Brahma and the Prat are popular, 

 because this gives tinted shelled eggs and large bodied 

 birds. Such a breed and cross indicates a desire for 

 better table poultry than will be produced by the Castilian 

 fowls. At the present time table fowls are very poor indeed 

 in Spain, and we did not see a chicken in the markets of 

 Madrid or the hotels which was worth killing. Small in size, 

 carrying a very small amount of meat, which was dry and 

 tasteless, they compare very unfavourably with the ordinary 

 lean fowls seen in our country markets. But it is open to 

 doubt whether central Spain is likely ever to produce fowls 

 at all equal to the best specimens of English, French, or 

 Belgian. 



The Exhibition was the second of the great International 

 gatherings resolved upon at St. Petersburg in 1899, to be 

 held at intervals of three years. It was held under most 

 distinguished auspices. His Majesty King Alphonso XIIL 

 and the Queen Maria Christina accorded their patronage and 

 support; the Ministries of Agriculture and of War were 

 active in their efforts to promote its success ; the Due de 

 Sesto was Honorary President ; Don Salvador Castello was 

 Director-General, and the Count de las Navas, Librarian in 

 the Royal Palace at Madrid, acted as Sub-Director General. 

 His Excellency Senor Jose Canalejas, Minister of Agri- 

 culture, was indefatigable in his efforts, and entertained the 

 foreign delegates at Manclou, afterwards conducting them 

 round the State farm. The Belgian, French and German 

 Governments were officially represented, but the number of 

 delegates was not so large as at St. Petersburg. The 

 Exhibition was opened on May 3rd by their Majesties the 

 Queen Regent and the young King-, accompanied by several 

 members of the Royal Family. 



The Show was held in the Jardins des Buen Retiro, and 

 was beautifully arranged on the usual Continental lines. 

 Nearly a thousand pens of birds were staged, of which more 

 than half were sent by Belgian and French exhibitors, who 

 had responded most heartily to the invitation of the 



