102 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 3, 1881. 
never fulfil well the purpose for which they are destined. We 
must not, however, generalise, but go through the yards in detail. 
Fiom gardens and hothouses innumerable, the description of 
which might form a charming chapter in other columns of this 
Journal, we come to the first cluster of runs. A large grass plot 
surrounded by trees and hedges has been divided into four pretty 
green yards. Privet hedges are planted in them against the 
fencing, which serve at once for ornament and shelter to the 
birds. Each yard has its house and dusting shed, and what 
strikes us specially in all the houses is their plain and substantial 
make, every one having a perfectly watertight iron roof. In 
them are pens of Light Brahmas, all mated with some particular 
object. Mr. Horsfall knows the pedigree of each bird, and looks 
for some particular excellence from every union. As in all yards 
and lofts where science is brought to bear upon breeding, some 
of the birds show what an ignoramus would call glaring faults, 
but which an experienced fancier knows to be valuable points in 
breeding stock. At the end of these runs is a row of substantial 
brick houses, each with a large covered aviary in front. These 
were the first poultry houses before their occupants rose to exhi¬ 
bition fame. Beyond them we come to three more large sheds, 
all dry and well lighted. Their floors are cemented and covered 
thickly with road grit, and exit can be given from all of them 
into a small grass run. They are employed for moulting adults 
and early chickens. In one is a magnificent old cock who has 
hitherto refused to discard some of his last year’s plumage ; in 
another the four first chickens of the year. From these a path 
leads to a field of three or four acres, a large portion of which is 
divided into twelve uniform runs, six on each side of a central 
walk, fenced about 4 feet high with boards and wire netting. 
The houses are built in pairs, each with a dusting shed on its 
outer side, and all are numbered. This field is on the north side 
of a wall, and so is chiefly used as summer quarters for the poultry. 
The chief sight, however, of all the establishment is a long airy 
house leaning to the wall. It is well lighted, and has a central 
passage from end to end and pens on each side—not cramped 
little exhibition cages, but about twenty real big pens. On the 
side towards the wall they are in two tiers, the lower for moulting 
fowls and sitting hens, the upper for trying and judging birds. 
On the other side is a single row of still larger pens, like small 
loose boxes, in which two or three exhibition birds can be kept on 
straw for a few days before show or housed in such weather as 
we have lately had. The roof is boarded, then covered thickly 
with straw and corrugated iron above, which Mr. Horsfall prefers 
to all other roofing as absolutely watertight. We cannot conceive 
a more perfect place for an amateur to attend personally to his 
fancy stock. Here ends the poultry yard, but not all connected 
with the poultry. 
Mr. Horsfall has invented an incubator and a regulator for it; 
his gradual improvements may be seen in two or three machines 
made under his direction. Artificial mothers, too, he has ; and it 
should be noted that during several seasons every bird at Grassen- 
dale Priory, including many renowned winners, has been reared 
artificially. The system seems to suit Brahmas, we fancy not all 
breeds. 
Such is a yard which covers no great area, which has not 
involved any lavish expenditure, but which is, we believe, as 
perfect for its purpose as any in England.—C. 
YEOVIL SHOW. 
This, the fourth annual Exhibition of the Yeovil and Somerset County 
Poultry, Pigeon, &c., Association, was held on the 26th and 27th ultimo. The 
weather was unfavourable, the frost preventing some of the exhibitors from 
sending, while the rapid thaw on the first day of the Show acting upon the 
heaps of snow which covered the streets made progression a matter of difficulty. 
Mr. Leach, the Secretary, was indefatigable in his exertions, and the birds were 
thoroughly well cared for. Owing to the absence of the Rev. G. F. Hodson the 
major part of the poultry judging fell to the lot of Mr. Dixon. Mr. Sainsbury 
took the Waterfowl; Messrs. H. Allsop and T. C. Burnell judged the Pigeons, 
and the last-named gentleman also relieved Mr. Dixon of a few of the poultry 
classes. 
The poultry were on the whole a good collection, and numbered 460 pens in 
the open and 170 in the local and selling classes. The schedule opened with— 
Dorkings. —Coloured (fourteen), which were only moderate in quality. First 
and Dorking cup (Symes) were both rather slight, and the cock was splashed on 
breast and poor in feet. Second (Newick) a larger pair, good in most points 
but too long in leg. Third (Newick) of similar stamp. The cock in pen 1 
(Snell) was far the best Dorking in the class, but had dark feet and swollen 
toes ; h e., Phillips, Thomas, Gibbs, Radclyffe (2), Hamilton ; c., Hamilton. 
Any Other Colour (seven) were a poor class. First (Coles) poor Silver-Greys. 
Second (Cresswell) Silvers again, the cock very defective in colour. Third 
(Hayne) the only pen of Whites in the class and not good, the cock having an 
inferior comb ; h.c., Radclyffe; c„ Plummer. 
Cochins. —Cinnamon or Buff (seventeen) were a fairly good class. First and 
cup for Cochins and Brahmas (Nickolls), Lemons, the cock fairly even in colour 
but too small, the hen shapely and well fluffed out. Second (Tomlinson) a 
moderate pair of medium colour. Third (H. G. Nickolls), the cock rather too 
much tail, but with perfectly feathered hocks; the pullet wanting in shape and 
foot-feather ; v.h.c., Clatvvorthy (an evenly matched pair oi medium colour, 
might have stood higher), Harris; h.c., Rundle, Fowler, Bloodworth. Any 
Other Variety (fifteen) were the best class so far. First (Burt) good Whites, 
medium size, heavily feathered and hocked. Second (Beckerley) Partridge, fair 
in colour and marking, the cock rather wanting in foot-feather. Third (Darby) 
Whites, the cock beautifully clear in colour, the hen quite out of sorts; v.h.c., 
Snell, Andrews, Southern, Clatworthy, Rouse, Turner, Tomlinson ; h.c., Fowler. 
Mr. G. H. Wood’s pens in this and several other classes were empty. 
Brahmas.— Dark (ten).—After the winners only a poor class. First (Joyce). 
The Palace cup cock mated with a small hen, very clearly marked on breast, 
but rather brown in ground. Second (Mrs. Turner) a moderate pair, the cock 
heavy in comb, splashed on breast, and heavily hocked ; hen clear in colour, but 
wanting in marking. Third (Wheadon) only a moderate pair again, the pullet 
nicely marked, but too long in leg and back, and shallow; v.h.c., Wheadon (a 
shapely well-marked pullet) ; v.h.c. and h.c., Doel. Light (sixteen).—First 
(Holmes) a fairly' good large pair, the cock rather yellow, and only moderate 
in comb. Second (Doel) of medium quality, the cock blind of one eye. Third 
(Snell), the cock very neat in head and stylish, but showing far too much black ; 
the pullet poor ; li.c., Doel, Turner, Drummond, Stratton. 
Game. — Black Bed Cocks (twenty-three) —A very' strong class. First (Tyler) a 
stylish bird, long in reach and in fine condition, but showing too much brown 
on breast and fluff. Second (Morris) a smart hard-feathered one, better in colour, 
a trifle flat in shin. Third (Mudford) a powerful-looking bird, long in reach 
but brown in fluff; v.h.c., Shawyer, Tyler ; h.c., Place (2), Giles, Pashle.v, Mud- 
ford, Hopkins, Theobold, Fox, Tyler. Hens (twenty-four).—A good class, but not 
up to the last. First (Mudford) a shapely hard-feathered bird of good colour. 
Second (Tyler) a reacky pullet not quite so good in colour. Third (Tyler) long 
in reach but hardly style enough ; h.c., Snell, Westcott, Hopkins, Alford, 
Hussey, Merrett, Fox, Tyler. Brown Red Cocks (eleven).—A good class. First 
and Game cup (Mercer) a somewhat leggy bird with a good eye and nicely laced 
breast. Second (Huxtable) stylish, and with a laced breast again. Third (Dance) 
not dark enough in face, and flat in shin; h.c., Hower, Dance, Snell, Morris, 
Duustan. liens (eleven) were another good class. First (Mercer) long in reach 
and hard in feather, of nice colour. Second (Dunstan) another of similar type 
but not so stylish. Third (Huxtable) hard in feather but deficient in style ; li.c.. 
Smith (2). Any Other Colour Cocks (eleven).—A fairly' good class. First (Colgrove) 
a good yellow-legged Pile. Second (Huxtable) a stylish Duckwing. Third 
(Phillips) a Duckwing again, flue in head and long in reach ; v.h.c., Lee (Duck¬ 
wing) ; h.c., Theobold, Snell, Morris (all y'ellow-legged Piles). Hens (twelve).— 
First (Huxtable) a Duckwing, very good in colour. Second (Colgrove) a mode¬ 
rate yellow-legged Pile. Third (Phillips) a Duckwing again; h.c., Snell (y'ellow- 
legged Pile), Murley, Huxtable, and Tyler (Duckwings). 
Hamburgiis.— Gold or Silver-pencilled (seventeen) were a good class. First 
(Greenham) Goldens, neat in comb and lobe and bright in colour. Second 
(Rawnsley) well-known Silvers. Third (Bell) Goldens with fair combs and 
good lobes; v.h.c., Callcutt & Bell (Goldens) ; h.c., Snell (Silver), Neal, Riddell, 
and Larcombe (Goldens). Gold or Silver-spangled (ten) were a moderate class. 
First (Sutton) a nicely-marked pair of Silvers, moderate in comb and lobe ; in 
fine condition. Second (Rawnsley) good Silvers again, the cock too heavy in 
comb. Third (Harris) moderate Goldens ; v.h.c., May ; and h.c., Ashworth 
(Goldens) ; h.c., Ashworth & Harris (Silvers). Blacks (thirteen) were another 
good class. First and Hamburgh cup (Rawnsley') a very good pair in all points, 
and in great bloom. Second (Pettle) another fine pair close up to the winners. 
Third (Kellaway) in good condition, but the cock failing in comb and lobe; 
h.c., Loe, Bell (2), Ashworth. 
MlNORCAS (twenty-eight) were a wonderfully' even class, but not of very first- 
rate quality for the home of the breed. First (Doel) a large fine pair with fair 
lobes, but both too heavy in comb. Second (I’reby) very clear in lobe and in 
fine condition, but the cock white in flights and the hen white in fluff. Third 
(Elston) ; the cock squirrel-tailed ; v.h.c., Domiuy ; h.c., Clement, AVatts, Neal, 
Baskerville, Honey, Harwood, Hawkins, Snell, Jones, Elston, Tozer ; e„ Norton. 
Black Spanish (three, had one pen empty. First-and-cup for the six classes 
from Minorcas to Silkies (Boulton) a very fine pair indeed. Second (Le Sueur) ; 
the cockerel held the same position at Birmingham ; the pullet a good one. 
LEGHORNS (twelve) were a poor class. First (Gibbs) moderate Browns, both 
too yellow in lobe. Second (Adams) Browns, the cock rough in comb and 
yellow in lobe. Third (Strong) poor Browns again, the cock very'yellow in 
lobe ; h.c., Williams (White), Stephens (Brown). 
Houdans (thirteen) were a very strong class. First-and-cup (Nickolls) a 
large-sized pair of good colour, the cock rather heavy in comb. Second (Strat¬ 
ford) a fine large shapely hen with grand crest; the cock a trifle hollow in 
breast. Third (Howard) auother good pair, the hen again being best; v.h.c., 
Fowler, Copplestone, Crockford ; h.c., Thomas. 
Langshans (eight).—A moderate class. First (Bush) fair in size and in great 
bloom. Second (Buchan) not so large, and the hen rather uneven in comb. 
Third (Buchan) wanting in size; h.c., Bush. 
Silkies (thirteen).—A good class indeed. First (Cresswell) in nice feather 
and very neat, but rather too much of a canary shade for our taste. Second 
(Hudd) neat and pure white. Third (Cresswell) another very nice pair, very 
blue in lobe. 281 (Holmes) had combs and lobes of plain flesh colour; h.c., 
Goddard, Holmes, Darby, Ferris. 
POLISH (eleven) were a good class. First-and-cup for Polish and three fol¬ 
lowing classes (Rawnsley) well-known White-crests. Second (Huish) Goldens, 
good in crest and colour, and fair in marking. Third (Huish) Silvers, very fine 
in crest, but deficient in marking; v.h.c., Ginton, Gawler (2), Bloodworth. 
Malays.— Any Colour Cocks (fourteen).—A very good class. First (Joint) a 
reachy bird, with true Malay carriage, and in fine condition. Second (Waring) 
a Black Red in great bloom, and hard in feather. Third (Joint) a good one of 
the Dark sort, but one wing wrong ; h.c., Shawyer, AVaring, Huxtable, Tudrey, 
Richards, Joint. Hens (twelve).—First (Hosken) a rather heavy-looking bird of 
the Dark sort. Second (Huxtable), and third (Lecher) of medium colour, and 
better in shape than first; h.c., Bishop, Dowring (2, one being a good AVIiite) ; 
Evans. 
Any Other Variety not Mentioned (fifteen).—First (Kilby) Plymouth 
Rocks, not yellow enough in leg. Second (Eyles) good Sultans. Third (Mancliiss) 
moderate Andalusians ; h.c., Hewer, Symes, Adams (Plymouth Rocks), A’esey 
(Courtes Pattes), Faye (La Fleche), Nicholson and Eyles (Sultans). 
Bantams. — Game.—Brown Beds (eleven) were not a remarkable class. First 
(Osborne) neat and stylish, the pullet the best of the pair. Second (Chard 
smart and hard-feathered. Third (Nicholls) reachy, but a little large; h.c., 
Cardell, Nicholls, Pashley, Mitchell. Black Bed Game (twenty-seven).—A very- 
good class. First (Allen) very shapely, hal'd in feather and good in colour. Second 
(Morgan) another very neat pair, not far behind the winners. Third (Hussey) 
rather loose in feather, and the cock carrying his w-ings rather low ; v.h.c., 
Huxtable, Docksey, Dowell; h.c., Hore, Chard, Butt, Gunn. Game. — Any Other 
Variety (twelve) were another good class. First-and-cup (Nicholls) a very smart 
pair of yellow-legged Piles. Second (Jones) very pretty Duckwings. Third 
(Hore) yellow-legged Piles again ; another nice pair ; h.c., Waters (yellow-legged 
Pile), Dowell (willow-legged Pile). Black Bosecombs (seventeen) were well 
