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XXIX. — Tlie Poiihri/ Shoiv at Preston. By James Long, 
of Graveley Manor, Stevenage. 
The rise and growth of exhibitions of domestic poultry in 
Great Britain during the past thirty years is one of the most 
distinct signs of the inherent tastes of our people, who, more 
than those of any other country, have cultivated domestic 
animals with so much success. The ramifications of Poultry 
Shows have extended to every county, almost every town, and 
every agricultural society ; but the support of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society was wanting, so it was urged by those who 
hold positions of authority on poultry matters, to give the 
stamp of importance and authority to the organization. It is 
needless to say that the Royal Agricultural Society could not 
lend its countenance to the support of a purely " fancier's " 
meeting for the encouragement of such qualities as colour, 
feather, and marking- in fowls — although this was the line that 
some of those who had pressed the matter upon the Council had 
chosen to take. It is somewhat unfortunate that the majority 
of English poultry exhibitors, in the pursuit of their hobby, 
entirely ignore the end for which poultry exists, and are too 
fully persuaded that the English system is the only correct one. 
To the outsiders who, while interested in poultry as a food 
production, understand the relative merits of the economical 
systems of other countries, the faults of the English plan are 
apparent. When therefore it was announced that the Council 
of the Royal Agricultural Society had decided to include a 
Poultry Exhibition in their programme, and to conduct it upon 
lines somewhat opposed to those commonly accepted by exhi- 
bitors, some astonishment was felt by many persons. It was, 
however, subsequently seen that their objections were ground- 
less, and that the exhibition was carried out in the only 
practical way for an agricultural meeting. In place of a tent, 
a substantial building was erected, in which the birds were 
sufficiently protected ; whereas the cages, instead of the usual 
small pens of galvanized iron, were very large and built ot 
wood, with openings only at the back. This is almost the 
only point in which an improvement might be made. For the 
convenience of the Judges the fronts might be made to open 
also, by means of galvanized-wire doors, which, however, should 
be permanently fastened when the Judges had completed their 
duties. The feeding was very properly conducted at the back 
of the cages, in an alley which divided the two rows placed 
back to back. The building was well ventilated by an opening 
at the eaves, which, however, was covered with wire-netting to 
prevent the escape of birds — a very thoughtful proceeding. 
VOL. XXI. — S. S. 2 Y 
