January c, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 19 
United Kingdom, will be held in the New Corn Exchange, Cambridge, 
on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, February 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 
1881, under distinguished patronage. The following special prizes 
are enumerated in the poultry classes :—1, Piece of plate or cup, 
value £5, will be given by the borough Members, W. Fowler and 
H. Shield, Esqs., M.P., in lieu of the first prize, for the best pen of 
Brahmas exhibited in Classes 3 to G inclusive. 2, Piece of plate or 
cup, value £5, will be given by L. C. C. R. Norris, Esq., in lieu of the 
first prize, for the best pen of Cochins exhibited in Classes 7 to 10 
inclusive. 3, Piece of plate or cup, value £5, will be given by a few 
fanciers in lieu of the first prize for the best pen of Dorkings or 
French exhibited in Classes 11 to 14 inclusive. 4, Piece of plate or cup, 
value £5, will be given by the Rev. E. H. Morgan, in lieu of the first 
prize, for the best pen of Game or Game Bantams exhibited in Classes 
15 to 20 inclusive. 5, Piece of plate or cup, value £5, will be given 
in lieu of the first prize, for the best pen of Hamburghs exhibited in 
Classes 21 to 25 inclusive. 6, Piece of plate or cup, value two 
guineas, will be given by Charles Reed, Esq., in lieu of first prize, for 
the best pen exhibited in Classes 26 to 29 inclusive. Special prizes, 
amounting to one guinea and a half will be given by G. C. Livett, 
Esq., for best four pens exhibited in Class 30. Specimens of poultry 
which have won a prize or prizes in open classes at the Crystal Palace 
or Birmingham Shows in 1880 will not be eligible for competition at 
this Exhibition. Special prizes are also offered for Pigeons and cage 
birds. All certificates of entry accompanied by cheque or post office 
order must be sent in or posted to the Secretary on or before Monday, 
January 10th. Late entries, if sent in or posted on or before the 15th 
of January, will be accepted only on payment of the ordinary entrance 
fee, and half that amormt in addition for each entry. The whole of 
the specimens mu9t be delivered carriage free at the New Corn 
Exchange, and placed in the pens or on the stages on Monday, 
January the 31st, or they -will be too late for competition ; if the 
carriage cannot be paid through, notice must be previously sent to the 
Secretary, otherwise the specimens cannot be received. Unhealthy 
specimens will not be exhibited, but immediately returned to the 
owners, and the entry fees forfeited. 
POULTRY IN 1880. 
The year 1880 has been a favourable one for poultry. The 
spring was dry and not severe; and during the summer months, 
when excessive drought often retards the growth of chickens, 
abundant rains gave them a plentiful supply of insect food. Then 
came the lovely harvest time, which brought early birds into good 
feather and condition. A sight of one or two September shows 
at once led us to think that the year was not behind in 
early maturity of its birds, and the aspect of the great shows 
quite bore out this first impression. Many young birds of various 
breeds have been seen which at eight months old might well 
compete with adults, and w'hich promise after another moult to 
grow into magnificent cocks and hens. In one or two instances 
so remarkable has been their size and development as to lead to 
controversies, or at least disagreeable insinuations as to their age. 
Objectors on this score should at least have some strong presump¬ 
tion, if not proof, of their point before entering protests against 
awards. Id one notorious case not only was there nothing but 
the vaguest suspicion to support a protestor’s plea, but abundant 
proof from independent witnesses was fortunately forthcoming as 
to the youth of an undoubtedly, in appearance, matronly pullet. 
The fact is that really careful and judicious feeding w r here birds 
are kept in small numbers can produce a size and early maturity 
which is quite surprising. Gn the whole we have not observed 
any great advance or decline in any of the most prominent breeds 
during the year. Dorkings are again, we rejoice to see, shown of 
the true Dorking form, and not the tall Malay-like creatures 
which bore off laurels some three or four years ago. This improve¬ 
ment has, we believe, come about from some of the most successful 
breeders of the variety temperately urging on the judges a return 
to the squarer type of bird, and from their continuing to show 
such in spite of much disappointment during two or three seasons. 
It has in part too, perhaps, been aided by some of the special 
admirers of Dorkings having frequently become their judges. 
Competition in Light Brahmas becomes more and more severe, 
and the variety has been bred up to a point which would surprise 
the fanciers of a few years ago ; the Darks are more stationary, 
but the one point which of late seemed lacking to the breed is, we 
are glad to see, now being regarded—viz., the combination of the 
fine size and robust form which the breed once had with the beau¬ 
tiful pencilling which has been produced within the last five or 
six years. In both varieties we regret to see the excess of vulture 
hocks which is now allowed. We always deprecated the making 
of hocks a necessary disqualification ; but this is one thing, their 
requirement another. Such a change, too, from the standard of a 
few years ago is puzzling and discouraging to novices. 
Cochins hold their own ; in their case we regret even more than 
in the Brahma classes to see sweeping hocks in the prize pen. 
The Cochin is a bird of fluff and rotundity, and to our taste a stiff 
bock is as out of place on its legs as are sweeping sickles in its 
tail. Rumour says that there is to be a fresh attempt to obtain a 
new standard of excellence drawn up ; if so, we hope that some 
understanding will be arrived at as to the most desired shades of 
colour for Buff Cochins, and the proper type of pencilling for 
Partridge, or rather we hope that choice in both will be left to 
the taste of breeders. At present some judges seem to have special 
narrow predilections to so exclude at times otherwise magnificent 
birds from the prize list because their particular tint is not the 
approved one. We have been specially struck here and there 
with Partridge hens considered of too grousy a shade which have 
been neglected. 
Game are still perhaps more carefully bred to pedigree than 
any other breed, and, what is more, the great Game breeders seem 
well agreed among themselves as to all points desired, and gene¬ 
rally unite in praising or condemning awards. Witness their 
unanimity of satisfaction at Mr. Lyon’s wonderful double triumph 
at Birmingham. Polish and Spanish continue excellent in the 
hands chiefly of their old admirers. It is a pity that more practical 
breeders do not discover the fact that the former is not a 
delicate breed, and that for a table cross it is a most useful fowl. 
Hamburghs would be far more generally popular as exhibition 
birds if once for all trimming of combs could by general consent 
be abandoned. It is but a month since we heard a most en¬ 
thusiastic admirer and successful exhibitor of the Black variety 
discussing whether he could keep it any longer on account of the 
way in which their combs are almost universally tampered with. 
Leghorns improve in size. We have lately seen the opinion of a 
clever fancier in point, that the yellow earlobe in this variety, to 
remove which much pains has been taken, is appropriate to the 
breed ; here is another point of discussion for future revisers of 
the standard of excellence. Plymouth Rocks seem emerging from 
the variety class ; we know not in what points they surpass the 
older Cuckoo breeds. 
We have not in 1880 observed any striking additions to the 
said class, save birds which bore unmistakeable signs of mongrel 
origin, and which would therefore have been better placed in 
collections of cross-bred fowls. Bantams are promised a club ! 
They need it, and we trust it may succeed. Japanese are the 
reigning favourites, and mustered stroDgly at the Crystal Palace. 
If the classification of Bantams were improved many almost ex¬ 
tinct varieties might be resuscitated. Pekin Ducks continue their 
advance in popularity, and bid fair soon to be spread almost 
generally over the kingdom. We know of several cases in which 
kind and patriotic fanciers have given them to cottagers, who are 
finding them most profitable inmates of their little gardens. 
That the year 1881 may not be behind that which is past we 
sincerely trust, and wish our readers much pleasure and profit 
from their poultry yards.—C. 
GRASS IN POULTRY RUNS. 
It is generally understood that the best run for fowls is that 
composed of good grass. Experienced poultry-keepers always 
provide it when it can possibly be obtained, and beginners think, 
as a rule, that fowls will not do well until a grass run is secured. 
This is correct to a certain extent. A good grass run never fails to 
be an advantage, but it should not be forgotten that fairly good 
results have been had without it. In such cases I am inclined to 
attribute success to the care that is taken in other ways, and the 
provision made in finding a constant supply of green food to com¬ 
pensate for a deficiency of grass. Indeed I am of opinion, when 
this is done with due attention it is of much more benefit to the 
fowls than a bad grass run. When a large number of fowls are 
confined on a small run the best of skill and the greatest attention 
to cleanliness often fail to prevent it becoming half dead, and 
then it is worse than no grass, as it cannot be so readily cleaned as 
a sand, gravel, or earth run. But grass runs bear a great deal of 
