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Our  Canaries 
THE  PRIME  CONDITIONER. 
"  The  special  mixture  I  mentioned  is  made  as  follows : — One  pint  of 
the  best  port  wine,  i  lb.  of  honey  and  i  oz.  of  citrate  of  iron  and  ammonia. 
Heat  the  wine,  then  add  the  honey,  stir  well,  and  when  dissolved  add  the 
citrate,  again  stir  until  all  the  crystals  have  melted  and  are  mixed  with  the 
rest.  When  cold,  it  can  be  bottled  and  is  ready  for  use  at  any  time. 
Give  it  in  the  egg-food,  adding  sufficient  of  the  liquid  to  make  the  same 
moist  but  not  wet.  Mix  well  together  and  give  to  each  bird  half  teaspoonful 
every  other  day  or  thereabouts.  You  will  soon  find  your  birds  in  the  pink  of 
condition,  aud  will  be  amply  repaid  for  the  little  extra  trouble  and  expense. 
The  port  wine  is  a  strengthener,  the  honey  acts  beneficially  on  the  bowels, 
and  the  citrate  is  a  valuable  stimulant.  This  recipe  can  be  used  with  benefit 
on  all  breeds,  and  is  really  a  grand  conditioner." 
HOW  TO   MAKE  ENTRIES. 
The  art  of  exhibiting  having  been  now  fully  described,  we  venture  to  give 
the  few  preliminary  details  which  must  be  first  observed  before  a  bird  finds  its 
way  to  the  show  bench.  Having  possession  of  the  birds  and  a  desire  to 
exhibit  them,  the  owner  should  look  up  the  list  of  show  dates  fixed  and  the 
advertisements  of  coming  shows  in  the  weekly  organ  of  the  fancy.  Cage  Birds, 
and  select  a  show  or  shows  offering  classes  for  his  particular  variety.  It  will 
be  advisable  to  select  for  a  start  shows  with  a  limited  radius  which  includes 
one's  own  district  as  this  will  assure  short  journeys  to  and  fro.  When  one 
has  acquired  some  experience  will  be  the  time  to  launch  out  for  large  open 
shows  and  longer  journeys,  and,  inter  alia,  keener  and  closer  competition. 
THE  FIRST  STEP. 
Having  selected  a  show,  write  the  Secretary,  whose  address  will  be  found 
in  the  places  just  referred  to,  a  polite  request  for  a  schedule  of  the  classification. 
This  will  arrive  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two,  and  will  be  accompanied  by  an 
entry  form.  Fill  in  the  required  particulars  of  the  birds  you  intend  to 
exhibit,  get  a  postal  order  or  other  form  of  remittance  for  the  amount  of 
entrance  fees,  and  enclose  it  with  the  filled-in  entry  form  a  few  days  before  the 
advertised  date  of  entries  closing.  Never  wait  until  the  last  day  for  sending 
in  your  entries.  That  only  inflicts  undeserved  punishment  on  an  over-worked 
and  long-suffering  Secretary.  Do  not  forget  to  enclose  your  name  and  address 
in  all  communications.  In  a  few  days  the  only  usual  acknowledgment  of,  and 
receipt  for,  cash  sent  will  arrive  in  the  form  of  cage  labels,  which  are  to  be 
attached  to  the  cages  in  which  the  birds  are  shown.  The  class  numbers  will 
be  marked  on  these,  so  be  careful  when  sending  several  birds  to  tie  the  correct 
labels  upon  each  cage,  and  thus  avoid  the  disappointment  and  chagrin  of  finding 
you  tied  on  the  wrong  labels,  with  the  consequence  that  your  birds  are  marked 
