Selecting IJ/qds foe Show. 
149 
simple fact, the competition at good shows is now so severe that only the best birds oi any man 
have a reasonable probability of winning ; and hence the most experienced exhibitors usually show 
very few, except in the cases where they enter a number of cockerels for sale. To do otherwise 
is to lose much money in entrance fees ; and we would strongly advise the beginner to send only 
his best cockerel, and his best pair of pullets or hens, or of both. It may be hard to determine 
which these are ; and it is a great advantage in this respect to put the birds into the pens we have 
already recommended for other reasons, where they can be closely scrutinised. Under such an 
inspection, many hitherto unforeseen faults become apparent ; and it will moreover be found that 
those birds which appear best as they run in the yard are not always the best-looking when in the 
pen. Every extensive exhibitor uses such pens occasionally to make his final selections ; and for 
this purpose, for the close and deliberate study of their points apart from the bustle of a show, 
or for preparing as already described in view of actual exhibition, there can be nothing which will 
be of more vital service to an amateur. Any pairs of hens or pullets more especially should be 
scrutinised to see if they match ; and we may add that matching in the heads and breasts is 
perhaps the most important to secure, though any great difference in the colour of other parts 
would be also fatal in good company. English fanciers are far more particular in this respect than 
American, on account of the much keener competition ; and hence, when pairs were generally 
shown, a first-class “ matched ” pair of birds was worth perhaps four times as much as a single 
bird of equal quality. Thus, if a fine single pullet were worth £$, an exactly matched pair of 
equal merit would probably realise £ 20 . Since single birds have been in fashion, this is not so. 
In thus selecting birds, distinction must be drawn between faults which are nearly fatal, and 
others which are matters merely of comparison. Thus, a lopping comb would be fatal to a 
Hamburgh, and so would a white leg ; but marking is simply a matter of greater or less perfection. 
In Spanish, a red face would be fatal ; but the extent of the white face is matter for competition. 
It is of course necessary to go occasionally to such shows as are within reach, that it may be really 
known what quality of birds has a fair chance of winning ; and it may not be advisable always to 
send the best specimens to a small show, where the spare birds may be good enough to win, but 
rather to keep them back for a more important one some time after, when the very height of 
condition and appearance may be needed to give any reasonable chance of success. 
A very experienced breeder — no other, in fact, than Mr. F. Wragg— has often told us that he 
likes his favourite cockerels to be “ kept well under ” by larger or fiercer birds till some weeks before 
showing not of course to be regularly thrashed, but sufficiently driven about to keep them always 
hungry for their food and intent upon it. Then, some fortnight 01 three weeks befoie showing, he 
would put a bird by himself with a couple of old hens, and the effect was wonderful, “ making a 
man of him ” as if by magic. He would set himself up, and learn to show himself off, and assume 
airs and style which no other treatment would produce. To the truth of this we can personally 
testify, and the hint may be useful to others. 
Poultry kept in a well-shaded grass-run and good shed, and properly cared for, need only 
a somewhat special diet for a few weeks before the show for which they are required The 
breakfast of soft food should be somewhat increased ; and a moderate meal added at mid-day. 
Some good authorities advise toast soaked in old ale to give spirit ; but this is not always safe, 
especially in hot weather; and we could never satisfy ourselves that any marked effect came of 
it, while none of the best poultry-managers that we know ever use it for this purpose, though they 
may now and then employ it as a remedy or restorative. A piece of cooked meat the size of 
a walnut, chopped up daily for each fowl, will be a far better means of accomplishing the same 
object Two or three times weekly during the period of preparation, lmseed should be added 
