S2 
THE FIELD. 
[Saturday, 
Among the successful competitors we observe the following 
from the neighbourhood of Birmingham viz., Mr. G C. 
Peters, of Moselcv. who carried off two first prizes for wli te 
Cochin China: 'Mr. G. C. Adkins, of Edgbaston, who 
received fir>t prizes for Polish, cold-laced bantams and 
black bantams, ami a second prize for brown and partr.dge- 
feathered Cochin China. First prizes were also awarded to 
Mr Joseph Jennens, Moseley, for white Dorking ; Messrs. 
W and J H Parkcs, and Mr. A. Dakin, of Birmingham, 
for -mm e;' and Mr. J. B. Chune, of Coalbrookdale, for 
gold-pencilled Hamburghs. Mr. G. Oldham, of Wbitacre, 
Warwickshire, received two first prizes for Malays, and Mr. 
Thos. Whittington, juu., of Wootton Wawen, received an 
extra prize for some specimens of Andalusian. 
DEVON AND CORNWALL SOCIETY FOR TIIE 
IMPROVEMENT OF DOMESTIC POULTRY. 
The first exhibition of this society was opened at St. 
George’s Hall, Stonehouse, on Wednesday week, and re- 
mained on view until the next evenin'. . 
The display of birds, which included more than COO in 
number, was very good ; the pens which were new, light, 
and airy, were the best we have ever seen. They were very 
nicelv arranged in the Hall, and the care taken by the com- 
mittee secured good ventilation, and the well being of the 
exhibited stock. The following description from our con- 
temporary the Plymouth Mail, is so much to the purpose, 
that we will quote it : — 
“The classes in which the greatest competition took place were j 
the Shanghais, Spanish, Dorking, Humbuvghs, Aylesbury and other , 
ducks, and the varieties of pigeons. It may, however, be desirable to 
glance at each class, as arranged in the catalogue. It commences with 
the Dorkings, which have been the recorded c.mpnnions of man for 
thousands of years. They are most esteemed for their size, plenty and 
delicacy of flesh, their figure being less grae. ful than that of many 
other breeds. The coloured specimens of thi» class were very fine, but 
the rincle entry of white Dorkings was not remarkable. The Spanish 
comprised several pens of noble birds. Their size, blackness, with 
clancin^ greenish meta lie tints on some leathers, and bright sea. let 
combs, give them a beautiful appearance. There were 0 pens of these, 
and the patience of the judge must be tried In awarding the prizes A 
defect, however, in several of the cocks was the falling over of the 
mense complaints as to the neglect of the committee in not 
returning the birds from the show. A proper arrangement 
must have certainly enabled all the pens to have been .-ent 
away by Saturday at noon. 
Game Fowls. — A correspondent asks for the true points 
of a game fowl. Bnily gives the most concise description we 
have met wsth, although we deem him an inferior judge in 
this class than that of any other. He says: — “ The game cock 
is of a bold carriage ; his comb is single (although this and his 
wattles are generally ‘ dubbed,' i.e., cut offjwben about five 
months’ old), bright red, and upright ; his face and wattle 
a beautiful red colour ; the expression of countenance fear- 
less, but without the cruelty of the Malay ; the eye very 
full and bright, the beak strong, curved, well fixed in tlio 
head, and very stout in the roots. The breast should be 
(broad and) full, the body round in hand, broad between the 
shoulders, and tapering to the tail, having the shape of a 
flat-iron. The thighs hard, short, and round, the leg stout, 
the foot flat and strong, and the spur not high in the leg. 
The wings are so placed in the body as to bo available for 
sudden and rapid springs. The feathers should be hard, 
very strong in quills, and, like the Malay, it should seem as 
though all the feathers were glued together, till they felt 
like one.” To this we may add that the head should be well 
thrown hack, and the tail.of the male bird long and sickled ; 
while the hen, allowing for the difference of sex, has the 
same points as the cock. The colour of the legs is varied, 
and includes white, yellow, olive or willow, and leaden or 
black legged birds. In breeding uniformity of colour must 
exist. 
AGRICULTURAL TALK. 
The second part of the journal of the Royal Agricultural 
Society, just issued, is above average in interest and merit. 
There are three prize essays on the farming of East Lothian, 
of Surrey, and of Herefordshire ; reports on the exhibition 
of implements and the live stork at Gloucester ; and an 
elaborate and valuable paper with a number of tables on 
conit. The cock in the pen which won the first prize was perfect in ( pig_f ee ding being part of the series on Agricultural Che- 
'i v..-. v TT.nri’SMltt’d : tllCTC 1 . .. % i » T V » X t . .. j t*:_ 
this respect. The Shanghais were most numerously represented ; there 
were 32 pens of buff or cinamon, 14 of brown or partridge, G of white 
and 3 of black varieties. In the buff Shanghais the first prize was 
carried off by Mr. Lawrence, of Penzance, but the pen with which his 
birds bad to compete most severely, belonging to Sir. Chnnnlng, of 
Hearitree, Exeter, had been exposed to the wet and wind on a railway 
truck, from Exeter to Plymouth, on the previous evening, and, as it. 
mav be imagined, the plumage of the bird was most materially injured 
by the infliction, and mav have influenced the judge in his decision 
It was a matter of much regret, as the birds were of great value. Mr. 
Channing was a large exhibitor in this class. Mr. Parkhouse, of 
Plymouth, was also an extensive exhibitor in it, and his birds were 
mistry, contributed by Professor J. B. Lawes. Lord Kin- 
naird and Mr. Fisher Hobbs both make reports on covered 
homestalls— the latter illustrated by a couple of engravings ; 
and the President of the year gives further and favourable 
reports on experiments with nitrate of soda, as a substitute 
in certain instances for guano. 
The covered homestalls described by Mr. Hobbs are on an 
ingenious and economical plan, but we note that the East 
Lothian farmers consider open yards more healthy where no 
highlv commended. The white Shanghais were particularly flue, excessively rigorous winter has to be encountered. 
Those who won the first prize were remarkable for that sineular ornu- T , i.:.. : ... 
ment the vulture hook.whice gave to their legs a resemblance to those 
of the rapacious birds. The black Shanghais were inferior, although 
one pen carried off a second prize. In the cluss of Malays there 
were but two pens exhibited; a first prize was awarded to Mr. \\ . 
Hunt, of Stonehouse (the secretary of the society). His birds were 
voung, their age being only 7 h months, but they were well grown and 
handsome. Their progenitor was the celebrated cock Ramridge, 
belonging to A. C. Sayers Esq., of Hants, which has curried off four 
first prizes, and an extra one. and is estimated as the only perfect bird 
of his kind in the kingdom. Sir. Hunt's Malays are of remarkably dark 
plumage. The weight to which some of this breed can be brought is 
surprising. A rhiladelphian gentleman has recently stated that he has a 
hen of the breed which weighs IS^lbs. Related to the Malays are the 
game fowls, and these stand next in the classification. They occupied 20 
pc-ns, and were an extremely attractive part of the exhibition. This noble 
race is so well known, that we shall make a few remarks on it. Amongst 
the grey variety Mr. W. J. Little, of Devonport, showed a splendid 
pen with the beautifully marked duck wing, to which the first prize 
was iustlv awarded. The Hamburgs, extending over 27 pens, were 
arranged' in the four usual varieties. There are many good qualities 
connected with those birds— they are constant layers, the eggs are good, 
the flesh excellent, and their plumage of that varied character which 
never fails to please the eve. The silver pencilled, and especially the gold 
pencilled Hamburgs were a beautiful feature of the show. The silver 
and gold spangled were very inferior. We come next to the Polands, 
rather fitted for the poultry fancier than to the farmer’s wife. The 
flesh of this most beautiful bird is highly prized, but is a very costly 
delicacy. They are remarkable for the topknot, which is white in 
perfect birds of both the black and white varieties, and as the feathers 
full gracefully down in a plume, their appearance is very striking The 
breed was not very well represented, although some of the Gold 
Polands were exquisite specimens. Theie were 1G pens of all varieties. 
Ptarmigans, of which there were 3 pens, in good condition, wore those 
peculiarities of plumage which has obtained for them the name they 
bear. The show of Bantams was not very extensive, and no first prize 
was awarded to any pen. Excellent pens of single combed Black 
Bantams were shown by the Rev. Prebendary Oxenham. of Modbury, 
and Ladv Katherine Parker, of Saltram. Those of Mr. Oxenham are 
exquisite examples of the variety, but haring a single comb, they did 
not in the judges' e-tlmation, deserve a prize. There was a singular 
cross between a Bantam and a Game Powl, which attracted some at- 
tention : they were very small. In Guinea Fowl there was only one 
entry, w hich took no prize. The two pens of Turkeys, very deservedly, 
carried off the two prizes in the class. Some of the Geese were of 
extraordinary 6ize and weight, while a pen of Chinese Geese, shewn 
by the Rev. C. T. C. Trelawny, of Ham, near Plymouth, were so 
b'eautiful— with their swan-like’necks— as to have merited an extra 
prize. The White Aylesbury - Ducks were beauties all of them. There 
were 7 pens, as good a collection as we ever saw. Of Coloured Ducks 
we cannot speak so highly. There were 11 pens of them. There was 
a prize for dead fowls, but only 4 lots were exhibited. A cross between 
a Shanghai and Bam-door Fowl won the first prize. There was a 
competition between eggs, in which Mr. S. C. Parkhouse won the first 
prize, showing 6 Shanghai eggB weighing ltij oz. Mr Parkhouse also 
won the second prize, the six eggs weighing an ounce less. Mr. Chan- 
ning, of Heavitree, showed several lots of eggs. One egg laid by a 
hen imported from Spain, and exhibited by Mr. Henry Hine, of Ply- 
mouth, was of enormous size. The Pigeons were in peat variety and 
beauty, including carriers,' barbes, fantails, runts, jacobins, pouters, 
trumpeters, tumblers ; and an extra stock, turbits, dragoons, silver 
owls, frillbacks, black nuns, blue ow ls, &c. In all the chief classes 
prizes were awarded, except to the jacobins; and why these were not 
favoured w e cannot tell, as they appeared to be as worthy of a prize as 
the other varieties, in extra stock were placed some of those 
singular birds the Friesland or Frizzled Fowls, with other poultry. 
The show of Rabbits was very fair." 
We cannot close our remarks on this exhibition without 
expressing our high opinion of the admirable manner in 
which all the details of the exhibition were carried out, and 
the credit the circumstance reflects on the active President, 
James Furntaux, Esq., the Treasurer, R. K. Moore, Esq. 
and the Secretary, Mr. W. Hunt, and the Commitee of the 
Society generally. 
POULTRY JOTTINGS. 
Food tor Poultry. — An amateur in last week’s num- 
ber of “The Field,” makes sundry inquiries as to his 
Cochin aod Spanish fowls. We should say the cold weather 
has undoubtedly affected the prolific powers of his poultry, 
since, by their healthy appearance, they have evidently 
moulted well. Have they a good supply of gravel and lime 
rubbish ? Give them also occasionally the tops of turnips, 
cabbage*', or any other green meat which may be had 
cheaply. The present high price of corn seriously affects 
fowl fanciers. We find barley and oats as cheap as any- 
thing. If millet can also be had, it will be found beneficial 
a t a change. The scraps of dinner especially should be 
taken care of. The poultry enjoy nothing more than pick- 
ing a bone. Rice, we believe, if purchased in large quan- 
tities, can be had for something like ]$d. to 1 \d. per lb. 
The Metropolitan Poultry Show. — W e have im- 
Professor Lawes, among his experiments, tried dried cod 
fish, as food for pigs, which can it seems be supplied in 
quantity at a rate making it worth consideration. 
The journal also contains a despatch from the Governor of 
Newfoundland, containing some particulars of the refuse 
fish, which it is proposed to convert into portable manure. 
From his information there seems no doubt that the question 
of value is worth trying in Newfoundland, where the quan- 
tity of offal seems limitless, so that the cost will be chiefly 
in wages. We must learn whether Newfoundland has a 
population sufficiently numerous at the time of the fishing 
season to render this manufacture remunerative. 
The journal contains also some notes on grass and turnips 
that seem practical. 
The report on East Lothian has special value, because it 
introduces us to a class of farmers wh areo constantly held 
up, not without reason, as models of successful agricultural 
enterprise, and as it is our provinco to convey as much in- 
formation as possible in a narrow space, we cannot serve 
our agricultural-minded readers better than by giving the 
following condensed summary of the leading facts of this 
well -written essay. 
The large crops raised in East Lothian are attributable 
mainly to the liberal application of manure, and a judicious 
system of cultivation, aided by a favourable climate, local 
facilities as regards supplies of seaweed, and the application 
of the refuse of towns, have given light, sandy, and gravelly 
soils a character for fertility which they did not possess. In 
this respect, East Lothian resembles the principal corn- 
producing counties of England, such as Lincolnshire, Nor- 
folk, and Suffolk, which all consist of soil naturally inferior. 
The prevailing soils are clays; thorough draining has altered 
the character of the, soil so much, that spring wheat can 
successfully be sown where twenty years ago it was impos- 
sible with any hope of success. 
A four, a five, and a 6ix course of cultivation is in use; 
the last gradually growing into most favour. 
The cultivation of the potato forms an important part of 
the profits of farming, and lias been much stimulated by the 
district escaping blight. 
In growing turnips, if farmyard manure has been applied 
in autumn, portable manures alone are used in the spring 
The allowance being either from two to four cwt. of guano 
or one to two quarters of dissolved bones, but guano has 
almost superseded both bones and rape-dust. 
The green tup turnip was introduced about 1785, from 
Gottenburg, beiug the firet turnip grown in Scotland. The 
seed was then sown in beds and transplanted to the fields 
like cabbages. The tops were more esteemed in those days 
than the roots, they were allowed to remain until partially 
in flower, and were given to stock just before the grass 
season. 
It is found that guano, at the rate of two to four cwt. per 
acre, can almost always be profitably applied to the oat crop, 
however high iu condition the land may be, hence the 
practice is extending and promises to become universal. 
The cultivation of flax is abandoned ; at one time each 
cottier was allowed to grow one-sixteenth of an acre (for his 
wife and daughter to spiu into linen), it was, however, com- 
muted into the same breadth of potatoes. About three years 
ago when the cultivation of flax was so strongly recommended, 
several farmers made trials of it ; the result was, it was not 
found so remunerative as ordinary cereals. 
Tlio farm implements differ essentially in character from 
those in general use in England, simpleness of construction 
and cheapness being the desideratum of a Scotch farmer. 
The ploughs and harrows are of iron. The former and 
mould board nearly the same as those in use in the English 
border counties. Swing ploughs are the only form in use. 
The rollers are generally smooth, except Crosskill’e and 
Cambridge’s. As patents do not extend to Scotland, they 
are furnished at a cheaper rate than in England. Grubbers, 
of which Tenuant’bis the best, are found invaluable imple- 
ments in preparing land for root crops, diminishing the 
amount of horse-labour, and reducing the land to a finer 
tilth, beside lessening the tendency to become foul from 
couch. The drills are of very simple construction : the 
seven drill, introduced about fifteen years ago by Mr. Slight, 
appears to be considered the best. A broadcast sowing, 
constructed to 6ow cereals and grass seeds, eighteen feet in 
breath, but capable of being adjusted to less, light of draught, 
drawn by one horse, is coming into general use. The saving 
of seed alone covers the cost in one season, while the seed is 
more evenly distributed than by hand. Reaping machines 
have been tried, but as yet have not answered. An improved 
machine, embodying the suggestion of the judges at the 
trial at Pusey, will probably be brought out in the county. 
The threshing-machine has superseded the flail — the 
smallest holding having some kind of threshing-machine. 
The most approved motive-power is steam— the number 
nearly equals the number of horse and water mills combined, 
as the following table shows:— 
185 steam-engines giving power of 1,053 horses. 
81 water-wheels 436 » 
107 horse-muchlnos 49!) » 
373 1,988 
All at work in the county of Haddington, in May, 1853. 
Horse mills are confined to small holdings and water-mills, 
seldom or never constructed. Since the 20th May, ten now 
steam engines, superseding tho horse mills, two old steam- 
engines, and the only remaining windmill in the county — 
all threshing machines, as well as steam-engines, are fixed. 
Some remarks on the comparative value of fixed and por- 
table steam-engines, we must defer to another occasion. 
A row of cottages is usually erected along one side of the 
farm-buildings, consisting, until very recently, of one single 
apartment, with one door and two windows. A stir has 
recently been made by the principal landowners of Scotland 
to amend this disgusting system. The average size of the 
fields is about 20 acres, although 40 and (50 are not uncom- 
mon. The fences are thorn, carefully clipped, mixed in the 
upland districts with beech, and where stono is abundant, 
walls are constructed. The first planting of thorn fences 
took place about seventy years ago. Fences, except on 
road-side, are deemed rather a hindrance to good cultivation. 
About thirty years ago, the first tile-drains were put in. 
The thorough drainage of the county is now nearly com- 
pleted, the whole, with isolated exceptions, having been 
effected by the tenants. 
The Marquis ofTweeddale, the inventor of the Tweeddale 
tile-machine, is at present the most extensive arable farmer 
and most extensive improver in the county. The number 
of acres he cultivates is about 1,000, and he employs 30 
cart-horses. Furrow draining, deep cultivation, and the 
application of moss from a morass in a valley, at the rate of 
100 tons to an acre, has raised the rentable value of land 
from Is. an acre to not less than 40*’. 
By thorough drainage the average extent of land under 
turnips in the county has been quadrupled by the applica- 
tion of guauo. The produce has been increased by at least 
four tons per acre. By the two causes combined, the averago 
produce of wheat has been raised not less than eight bushels 
per acre; barley and oats twelve or fourteen bushels; 
beans by eight bushels; while potatoes, the most profitable, 
could not be grown to one-half the extent without the aid of 
thorough drainage and guano. 
Three-fourths of the cattle fallowed are English bred, and 
after being fattened are purchased by the South to return to 
the localities where they were reared. The finest qualities 
of meat for London ; the secondary for the manufacturing 
districts; smaller sized animals for Edinburgh. 
Three-fiths of the sheep fallowed in the county go to 
English markets. Part are slaughtered, the carcasses put in 
baskets, and consigned to London by rail or steam-bout. 
Last season a considerable number of black-faced wethers 
were sent alive to Cheltenham. There are several farmers 
who purchase guano annually to the extent of 1,0001.; 
and 4001. aud 6001. is a common expenditure. In one 
parish, of 6,386 acres, 400 tons of Peruvian were applied 
last season ; 500 tons are ordered for next. 
With sterling fact wc conclude, for the present, our notice 
of this admirable article. 
HAYWARD’S HEATH MARKET DINNER. 
The annual dinner took place on Wednesday week, at 
the Station Inn, Hayward’s Heath. At three o’clock, a party 
of 120 sat down to a dinner which, in regard to quantity 
and quality, gave satisfaction to every guest ; and with an 
excellent glass of wine, showed the capability of Mr. 
Bennett as a caterer for a numerous party. Mr. George 
Blaker (Pangdean) occupied the chair, faced by Mr. Henry 
Martin as vice-chairman. Among the company were Messrs. 
Kidd, A. Wood, C. Beard, W. Marshall, Baxter, Russell, 
J. Turner, Botling, J. Scrace, Mason, Jeffery, E. Russell, 
W. A. Smith, S. Wood, Agate, Randall, J. Jeffery, Holland, 
Geere, Brattle, W. Turner, Stanbridge, Pronger, Boxall, 
Elpliick, Kemp, Fountain, Price, Henton, Carr, Ruttons, 
Downs, West, Flesher, Steers, Brown, Hoadley, Norman, 
J. Wood, E. Turner, F. Comber, Honeyman, J. Allin, 
Gregory, Drawbridge, T. Best* Jenner, &c. 
Kentish Prize Cattle in America.— We are glad 
to learn, from the papers of the United States, that our 
neighbour, Mr. Robert Golding, of Hunton, who has estab- 
lished a deserved celebrity in this country, and especially 
in the county of Kent, for improving the breeds of farming 
stock, has extended his fame across the Atlantic, and ren- 
dered some essential services to the agriculturists of the 
New World. At the last great cattle show held at Penn- 
sylvania, open to competitors from the whole of the United 
States, a pure short-horned hull— the same, we believe, 
(Harold), which attracted marked attention at the Maid- 
stone exhibition, in December, 1850, and obtained the 
prize of 11. and a silver cup, as the best bull of its class, 
being two years and ten months old— bred by Mr. Gold- 
ing, took the first prize, and thus confirmed the superior 
reputation which it had acquired before its emigration. 
This speaks volumes for the skill and judgment of the 
breeder, and does credit to the discernment and impar- 
tiality of Brother Jonathan. — South Eastern Gazette. 
Fairs. — Warwickshire — Jan. 30, ltugby — 31, Brandon — 
Feb. 6, Ivineton — 7, Allesley, Southam. — Staffordshire— .Jan. 
30, Tamworth, Newcastle— 31, Slone — Feb, 2, Burton-upun- 
Trent — 0, Lichfield — 7, Stone, Longnor, Uttoxeter — 8, Leek. — 
Worcestershire — Jan. 30, Kidderminster — 31, Shipston-upon- 
Stour — Feb. 2, Evesham — 7, Bowdley. — Shropshire — Feb. 2, 
Wyken — 0, Bishop’s Castle, Ludlow — 7, ElleBmere— 8, Oswestry 
—8, 9, Shrewsbury— 9, Claverley. — Oxfordshire — Feb. 7, 
Woodstock. — Northamptonshire— Jan. 30, Duventry— Feb. 2, 
Higham Ferrers. — Herefordshire — Jan. 30, Bromyard — Feb. 
0, Ledbury — 7, Hereford. — Breconshire — Feb. 1, Criokhowcll 
— 2, Talgarth. — Glamorganshire — Feb. 7, Cowbridgo— 9, 
Llandatf.— Carmarthenshire— Fob. 10, Newcastle Kmlyn. — 
Devon — Jan. 30, Coplestone — Fob. 1, Ashrcigny, Holsworthy — 
2, Ottery.— Cornwall — Feb. 1, Callington, Landrnke, St 
Stephens by Launceston, Truro — 2, St. Blozy, Saltash. — 
Somerset— Jan. 28, Taunton— 30, Somerton. 
