the field. 
1189 
to command prices which pay the purchasers from 5 to 54 
per cent. Yet what investment can be safer than this. 
Of shares, the following have been sold. In the West Ham 
Gas Company, £5 shares, all paid, sold for £4 to £4. 10s. 
per share — yet they yield 5 per cent, interest. Fivo shares 
iu the Burnley Market Improvement Company, £10 paid. 
Bold for £90. 
The Westminster Improvement Bonds continue to ex- 
hibit the same remarkable depression. They have now so 
fallen in value, that ten of them, for £1,000 each, only 
obtained £300 each— yet we understand that interest at 5 per 
cent, is regularly paid upon them. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
The Great Smithfield Cattle Market.— With regard 
to the general character of the show of beef, there is much 
scope for commendation. It was a general remark that the 
beasts were never so “ selling," as, with some few exceptions, 
here were none of those absurdly and preposterously overfed 
animals which we were accustomed some years back to have 
on show at Christmas. There was consequeutly an improve- 
ment in the character of the supply, for, when an increased 
consumption is met with an increased supply of good con- 
sumable flesh, the absence of uneatable fat can be no cause 
for regret. Iu fact, the graziers of England are now fully 
aware that to obtain a proper and just reward for their 
labour, time, and capital, they must send to market meat 
fit for the tables of the people, instead of fat suited only for 
the tallow-cask. It is but seldom, and not in the whole life- 
time of some meu, that tallow aud grease of every kind 
realise the high prices now and for some time past current. 
The supplies of tallow from Russia are not always cut off to 
force up the price to the present quotation. The graziers 
of England arc, however, the caterers of the nation for an 
adequato supply of good consumable meat, and they will 
best study their own interest by meeting the demand. The 
show to-day was not, however, what we could have wished, 
and still hope to sec iu time accomplished. There were too 
many inferior beasts, and not a sufficient number of the very 
choicest kind. The show of Scotch beasts, comprising about 
600, was very fine, all being very choice selling animals. 
Messrs. Giblett and Gurrier showed their usual quality of 
this description, from the stock of Messrs. Milne, Martin, 
Stewart, Shepherd, and others. They had also some very 
fine Herefords from Leominster. Messrs. Collins exhibited 
some superior lots from Norfolk, and the stands of both 
these salesmen were a great attraction. Messrs. Burrell and 
Morgan, likewise, had a fine show of stock. There was an 
unusually large supply of foreign beasts, chiefly of the Dutch 
breed, aud Messrs. Giblett and Gurrier had a novelty iu a lot 
of 80 fine Spanish beasts. With regard to the state of trade 
for beef, it was, notwithstanding the period so long before 
Christmas, steady throughout the day, at from 4s. to 
5s. 4d., and a good clearance was effected. One new feature 
of the market was the presence of a considerable number of 
buyers from different parts of the country, between whom 
and the top of the Loudon trade there was an active compe- 
tition for the choicest quality of meat. The smaller metro- 
politan butchers were quite beaten out of the market, and 
their choice will generally have to be selected from the show 
of Friday next. The supply of Christmas mutton was for both 
quantity and quality much under that of last year. Iu fact, 
the quality of mutton has been indifferently good throughout 
the entire year. There were, however, to-day some few really 
good sheep, but they were not of the size of previous 
years’ shows. A general scarcity of choice large sheep was 
observable. Messrs. J. and B. Wcall had some fine Downs 
ou sale for Mr. Whittingstall ; also some very good half-breds 
belonging to Messrs. Rowland. Mr. Gurrier had, as [in pre- 
vious years, some very fine Cotewold sheep from Mr. W. 
Hewers, of Northleach, Gloucestershire ; also a fine lot of 
Dutch sheep from Amsterdam. Messrs. Collins, Eland, Han- 
cock, and other salesmen, showed some fine sheep, but, 
nevertheless, mutton of the larger sort was scarce. The 
state of the mutton trade was very good for the best descrip- 
tions, at 5s. 4d. per stone. For other qualities the trade 
was slow at from 4s. to 4s. 6d. per Btone of 81b. 
Birmingham and Midland Counties Cattle Snow. — 
The annual exhibition of fat cattle, sheep, and poul- 
try, established for this district six years since, opened 
at Birmingham ou Monday. As a whole, the show is looked 
upon as quite up to that of last year, which was in almost 
every respect excellent, aud in some particulars this year's 
exhibition exceeds any of its predecessors. Taking the 
classes of neat cattle generally, there is more equality of 
merit, with a very high reach of perfection as regards breed- 
ing aud feoding, aud in almost every class there was very 
gvent competition. The entries were not quite so strong as 
last year ; there were 119 against 127 in 1853. The Devon 
classes were all hotter filled than last year. Breeders who 
have confined their attention to this class of animal for a 
long course of years declared that the specimens shown 
to-day were perfect. His Royal Highness Prince Albert took 
the first prize for Devon steers aud for Devon heifers. The 
Earl of Leicester was also amongst the successful competitors 
in these classes. The shorthorn blood was best sustained by 
the heifers, the cows and oxen being not perhaps quite up to 
bust year’s entries. The first prize for Hereford steers was 
awarded to Prince Albert. There was a great deal of com- 
petition iu all the classes for Herefords, all the animals pos- 
sessing tho very highest merit. The “ cross-breds” attracted 
much attention, aud were very much praised. The gold 
medal and extra prize of £20, for the best beast in the yard, 
was awarded to Mr. William Heath, of Ludham-hall, Norfolk, 
for his Hereford ox. The uniformity of merit in all tho 
classes was a subject very much commented upon by the 
eminent agriculturists ; and ono distinguishable feature of 
tho exhibition is the fact that no such thing as an over-fed 
beast is to be seen in the stalls — a very gratifying change, 
indeed, from the waste of feeding so much in vogue a few 
ye its ago. There was a capital show of sheep. 
Sale of Sheep. — The seventh annual sale of Shropshire 
sheep, tho property of the Earl of Aylesford, was held at 
the farm, Meriden Heath, by Messrs. Brown aud Clark, on 
the 4th of September, when thirty-one sheerhog, and nine 
two and three-shear rams, and 200 store ewes and theaves, 
were disposed of. There was a largo attendance, and amongst 
the principal purchasers were Lord Willoughby do Broke, 
tho Hon. A. H. Vernon, Lord Dartmouth, C. B Addcrley, 
Esq., M.P., General Adams, Dr. Wood, Colonel M hiehcoto, 
Mr. Docker, Mr. Dormer, Mr Neville, Mr. l’edley, Mr. Rigg. 
Mr. Sammons, Mr. Glover, &c. A two-shear ram was pur- 
chased for Lord Willoughby at £15.; another of tho same 
age realised £12. 10s. ; aud a three-shear ram, £10. Of tho 
shearling rams, tho highest price was £11. 10a., the purchaser 
beiug Mr. Docker, of Allesley ; aud four others were sold at 
£10., £9. 5s., £9., aud £8. 10s., respectively. Of tho owes, 
lour pens were purchased for tho Hou. A. H. Vernon Sud- 
bury, at 7bs., 60s., and 50s., per head. 
High 1* arming. — At tho ordiuary meeting of the Society 
ot Arts last week, Mr. Mechi read his fourth paper “On 
British Agriculture,” with some account of his own ope- 
rations at Tiptrec. He showed that the last abundant 
harvest was inadequate for our increased population, and 
that the remedy for the deficiency was to be found in im- 
proved methods of farming, especially ns to drainage, which 
alone, if properly effected, would add millions of quarters of 
corn and some thousands of live stock to our present supply. 
That improvements in farming were profitable wafl proved 
by his own balance-sheet, which showed a nett gain of £750. 
Lambing in November.— On Tuesday last, says tho Elgin 
Courier, six ewes of the Dorsetshire breed, belongiug to Mr. 
Cruickshauk, Cloves, presented their owner with a couple of 
lambs each ; and what is no less extraordinary, forty other 
ewes of the same stock are expected to lamb this week 1 
These lambs will therefore bo ready for the butcher by 
Christmas. It is something unusual in this quarter to see a 
flock of owes suckling their lambs in the beginning of winter; 
and but for the enterprise of Mr. Cruickshank in taking the 
initiative in the introduction of this famed breed of sheep, 
we would not have had the novelty to record. We trust the 
success of the speculation will be such as to induce this emi- 
nent stock-breeder to add even further to the benefits which 
iu this respect he has already conferred upon the country. 
Leeds Smithfield Market. — Caution to Horse and 
Cattle Dealers. — Persons attending Leeds fairs and markets 
for the purpose of disposing of horses, cattle, sheep, or pigs, 
should know that (since the Town Council has provided and 
opened Smithfield market), they arc liable to a fine of £5 if 
they expose animals for sale iu the public streets of tho 
town. On Wednesday last, at the Leeds Court-house, Mr. 
Sands, nuisance and market inspector, complained against 
the following persons for exposing horses for sale in North- 
street, camp-road, or adjacent streets, at the recent fair ; — Mr. 
Henry Austick, Monk Fryston, who was fined 5s. and costs ; 
Joseph Hainsworth, of Farsley, who was ordered to pay the 
costs ; John Thomas Hall, of Wakefield, who was convicted 
in a penalty of 5s. and costs ; Benjamim Asquith, of Rothwell, 
who was fiued Is. and expenses; Thomas Stansfield, of 
Pudsey, who was ordered to pay costs ; Joseph Lamb, 
of Burley, who was convicted in a 5s. penalty and ex- 
penses ; and John Hudson, of Whiston, near Rothor- 
ham, who was mulcted in a similar penalty and costs. 
A cow recently found its way through an open door into 
a clergyman's breakfast-parlour at Towyn, Mcrif/uethshiro, 
and upon being disturbed, jumped through the window, 
smashiug the glass, aud carrying the frame away on her 
neck. 
that all the money received for admission should be given to 
the Patriotic Fund. Tho match was “ tho best out of eleven 
games," of a hundred each, Roberts giving Bowles thirty in 
each game. The play commenced at half-past seven o’clock, 
at RobertsVrooins, Cross-street, and it terminated with the 
teuth game, at half-post ten o'clock, Roberts having won six 
to Bowles’s four. Tho following was the score : — 
1st. 
2nd. 
3rd. | 4th. 
6 th. 
0th. 
7th. 1 8th. 
0th. 
10th. 
R. 
11 It. B. 
It. H. It. 11 
It. 11 
It. 11. 
R. B. It. B. 
It. 11. 
It. B. 
30 
30 
30 30 
30 
30 
30 30 
30 
30 
1 
31 
1 31 
1 39 13 32 
0 42 
1 31 
0 Si 1 30 
— 100 
1 31 
6 
33 
5 36 
2 H 31 31 
15 44 
4 43 
13 63 3 
IS 30 
23 
36 
15 30 
87 17 | 30 41 
17 65 
06 60 
20 67 2-4 
00 39 
35 
13 
17 37 
94 61 07 41 
43 07 
07 as 
30 04100 
70 
39 
51 
13 71 
97 53 85 73 
01 72 
70 92 
33 07 
100 
63 
09 
18 7.1 
100 53 ( H3 30 
81 
70 
00 
83 
SO 
DO 92 
tkl 100 33 
101 
9(1 
87 
up, 
89 
98 
101 
loo! 
92 
101 
101 
| 
1 ho play was, on tho whole, considered good, although not 
great. T. ho best game was the third, iu which Roberts scored 
85 at one break, almost entirely by a succession of winning 
hazards, many of them being splendidly made. In the 
second game ho made 22, all bv winning hazards and bold 
play ; iu tho eighth, ho scored 7<5 ; and iu tho tenth, as will 
bo seen, he left his opponent no chnnco. In fact, ho seemed 
“ou his mettle" after tho “love game" won by Bowles, 
who played very finely indeed iu the ninth game, scoring 70, 
and thus at once ending that point. Tho room was well 
filled during tho match, and the amount received aud paid 
over to tho Patriotic Fund by Mr. Roberts is about £17-— 
ilanchester Guardian. 
THE S0DOTY HOUSE 
♦ 
HOUSEHOLD MATTERS. 
Abernethy Biscuits. — Dissolve a quarter of a pound of 
butter in half a piut of warm milk, and, with four pounds of 
fine flour, a few carraways, and half a pound of sugar, make a 
stiff but smooth paste ; and, to render the biscuits short and 
light, add half a drachm of carbonate of ammonia iu powder. 
Roll out very thiu ; stamp the biscuits, pricking them with 
a fork ; and bake in tins, in a quick oven. 
M. Soyer recommends housekeepers to place the teapot 
with the dry tea iu it upon the hob for a little while before 
making. It improves both strength and flavour. Rain 
water, When pure, is the best for making all infusions. 
To Preserve Currants and keep them fresh through 
the Winter. — Take them when ripe, separate them from 
the stem, put them in a glass jar, set them in a kettle of cold 
water, then put them over the fire, and boil fifteen or twenty 
minutes ; cork tight, and set away where the frost mil not 
get to them. 
Adulteration of Food and Drugs. — A meeting of medical 
and scientific gentlemen was held on Tuesday at Birming- 
ham, to consider what measures should be adopted by the 
Legislature to prevent tho adulteration of food and drugs. 
Mr. Postgate stated the result of the analyses he had made 
of flour, milk, &c., aud the danger which arose from adul- 
teration. A discussion followed, in which the statements 
were corroborated by several gentlemen. After a vote of 
thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. 
Mice in Aviaries. — Wherever there are birds, there most 
assuredly will be mice. It is next to an impossibility to keep 
these pests out, and they poison all they touch. Examine, 
therefore, very narrowly, every comer of tho room ; and 
whenever you see a hole, nail over it a piece of tin or zinc. 
So cunning arc these vermin, that they conceal themselves 
in the most unsuspected situations. I have actually found 
them secreted in the food “ hoppers they have raised the 
lid, and artfully ensconced themselves behind the seed until 
my back was turned ! I hardly need tell my readers what 
was their fate when so discovered. Suffice it to say that 
they were “ tried," and that I myself personated the wit- 
nesses, judge, jury, aud executioner. They were taken in 
flagrante delicto . — William Kidd. 
LIBRARY. 
Tnn War in the Crimea.— A good map was a dosllera- 
tum. It has just been supplied iu “ Stanford's Sebastopol 
and Country Round, including Bnlaklava, Kamara, Kadikoi, 
the Belbek and Chernaya Rivers ; showing also tho Positions 
of tho Allied Camps, the Allied and Russian Batteries. Forts, 
<fcc., with Number of Guns, the Position of tho Turkish and 
other Redoubts, the Head Quarters of Lord Raglan," &c. 
Compiled from the New Admiralty Charts and Authentic 
Sketches by Captain Wetherall, D.A.Q.M.G., aud other 
officers. Mr. Edward Stanford is mapseller aud mapmounter 
to her Majesty's Stationery-office, and the present map is 
published at 6, Charing-cro^s, price 2s., or 2s. Gd. by post. 
Bath and Wbst of England Agricultural Society.— 
Tho new volume of the journal of this influential society is 
expected to be published about Christmas next, and a copy 
of it will bo sent, gratuitously, to every member of tho 
society, and a large number otherwise disposed of. 
The Masonic Mirror.— T ho second numbor of this ex- 
cellent work made its appearance on tho 1st of the month. 
Press of mattor this week compels us to defer a notice of it 
until our next 
THE BILLIARD ROOM. 
Billiard Match in aid of the Patriotic Fund. — O n 
Tuesday evening, a match at billiards was played between 
Mr. John Roberta, the celebrated English player, and Mr. 
Bowles of the Uuiou Club, for £25 a side, It beiug agreed 
PO ULTR Y, 
MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY. 
Should the Editor of The Field consider them worth a 
corner in his paper, I propose to give a few short notes on 
keeping breeding aud fattening fowls in tho most economical 
manner, and so as not to be kept, as they too frequently ore, 
at a loss. It may seem unnecessary to writo any more on 
a subject about which so niauy excellent works have been 
published; but most of these works, wliich L have seen, 
appear to me to be more Fanciers' thau Poultry Keepers’ 
guides. What I propose doing, therefore, is to put fancy 
birds out of the question, and only to take notice of thoso 
which will really pay for their keeping. Many friends havo 
told me, that they have bought good birds, fed thorn well, 
and taken great pains with them, but that they must give it 
up as it did not pay ; their eggs costing them at tho rate of 
threepence or fourpenco each, when they could buy new laid 
ones for a penny each. Now how is this? There must bo 
something radically wrong iu their method. Farmers who 
have a large corn hartou, keep their fowls for little or nothing, 
it is truo ; but the great mass of eggs do not come from tho 
farmer, but from the small cottager, and he certainly could 
not and would not keep poultry, if it was only to bo dono 
at a loss. I believe the fault to bo that, too expensive fowls 
are bought to begin with, too much is upeut on building tho 
house for them, and last aud not least they are kept iu an 
improper place, that is to say, in some confined space where 
they have no run, aud where even perhaps sunshine and 
fresh air are not to bo had. The only fowls, I believe, that 
will answer without a run, are tho Cochin China. Where 
fowls are kept for profit aud use, tho best plan is to obtain 
well-bred birds at a low figure, and that may be dono by 
purchasing from a good breeder’s yard, birds that lie has 
rejected for some fault in feather or some such outward 
qualification. Such birds have all tho good qualities of the 
particular breed to which they belong, aud frequently throw 
chicken in all respects perfect. Let us now look at a rough 
table of expense and profit yielded by four fowls for a-ycar. 
Iu this table I have put the average price of tho best grinding 
barley, and tho chicken at merely table price, whereas no 
doubt there would be some that would fetch three or four 
times the price as breeders. It must, bo remembered too, 
that two more hens may be kept with one cock oyer and 
above the number I have put down, so that the loss, in food, 
by the cock would be still further compensated by the profit 
of tvro more hens : — 
Cock ami threo hens, at 3s, Cd. each 
Barley, J of a pint each bird per day 
Barley-meal for chicken 
Barley for chicken, until Ore months old, say J of a pint per 
day each 
Expense , 
Eggs, say HO each at fourteen for a shilling 
27 chickens, at 3s. Cd. por couple 
Dung, about ... 
Feathers, about 
Receipt* 
Expense 
£ 
*. 
d. 
0 
14 
0 
l 
13 
9 
0 
15 
0 
0 
9 
6 
3 
12 
3 
1 
3 
6 
2 
7 
3 
0 
1 
0 
0 
1 
6 
3 
11 
3 
3 
12 
3 
0 
1 
0 
By tliis it appears that a profit, a very small one it is true, 
may ho obtained the first year, ami supposing tho same 
stock to he kept tho second year with the same results, wo 
must deduct from the expenses, the cost price of the original 
stock-birds, so that then the second year'B profit would bo 
14s. I must again remind my readers that these lines are 
not intended for those who are fond of poultry and keep 
them regardless of expense, but for those who do not choosa 
to speud much, for the luxury of new laid eggs, and olso 
for the use of cottagers and others, whom some kind-hoarted 
subscriber to this paper may thus instruct, to add a few 
shillings to their hard earnings. I cannot promise to con- 
tinue these notes week by week regularly, as my time is 
much occupied with other matters, but I will do sons 
regularly as possible. I propose the following order . 1 lie 
fowl-house, choice of stock, breeding, fattening, and disease* 
and accident*. , , Rcsticus. 
(To be continued. ) 
Birmingham Poultry Show.— T he Birmingham and Mid- 
land Poultry Show opened on Tuesday morning, at Bingley- 
hall, Birmingham, and presented great attraction to tho 
general public. The specimens, though less numerous, \v ere 
more select than on former occasions, lhe Hamburgh* 
Sough comparatively good, did not present all the improve- 
ments to bo desired. At tho same tune, those now placed 
in competition were eminently superior to those of last year. 
Tho Polands were decidedly progressive ; while m the 
Spanish classes, the commended pens enumerated by the 
judges would have walked over the course for a first prize 
