482 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 8. 1882. 
some of the old-established societies gave tip their pairs of hens and 
came down to single birds. 
By degrees a financial difficulty arose in connection with exhi¬ 
bitions. They were so generally extended that all novelty in connec¬ 
tion with them had worn off. The public no longer came in crowds, 
but often only a well-known coterie of fanciers were to be seen at a 
large show. The gate money no longer paid expenses. Indeed, 
here and there they were never paid at all. Managers thereupon 
had to fall hack upon the entry fees paid by exhibitors. These were 
raised often to an absurdly high figure, so much so that nothing but 
a first prize could possibly pay an exhibitor. But name and fame 
were desired both for their own sake and for the enhanced value 
that they bring to a pedigree stock. Exhibitors showed that they 
would at almost any cost continue to exhibit, and so promoters of 
shows were encouraged to get all they could out of them. 'J heir 
next expedient was to require all birds, cocks and hens alike, to be 
shown singly. This brought more entries, and at the same time entry 
fees were not lowered. A single bird, too, of course, eats less than 
two or three. The scheme was a cleverly devised one for the sup¬ 
port of failing societies or for the starting of new and speculative 
exhibitions. There are not wanting many good arguments in its 
favour. Single birds cannot get damaged from scuffles or fights. 
The task of a judge is much simplified, for often ill-matched pairs 
were exhibited, and it was difficult to balance the undeniable excel¬ 
lence of one bird with an inferior companion against a more equal 
pair both of mediocrity. The smaller exhibitors, too, get encourage¬ 
ment from the single-bird system, for often they can pick out one 
fine specimen though their stock is not large enough to afford a well- 
matched pair. In spite, however, of these reasons in favour of the 
modem system we must confess to having a great fancy for occa¬ 
sionally seeing a pretty collection of birds. We have often remarked 
on the great beauty of troops of birds of one kind—a beauty not to 
be seen in single specimens. At the great Parisian exhibitions we 
have been much charmed with the collections of hens. A sight of 
the splendid trios at the International Show in 1878 was well worth 
a long journey. We do not in England at all wish to see anything 
like a universal return to the old system, but here and there we 
should exceedingly like to see prizes given for collections—say a 
cock and three hens together, or even three or four hens without a 
cock, the latter being shown singly as at present. Apart from the 
aesthetic reason of the beauty of such pens there is something prac¬ 
tical to be said in their favour. The fact that three or four hens 
can he shown exactly alike is strong proof that the family is a pure 
and well-established breed. In many yards one or two handsome 
birds can be culled from a miscellaneous and motley crew, and a 
purchaser of such is probably grievously disappointed in their pro¬ 
duce, but when the hens all match well their offspring are pretty 
sure to follow them. We should think some of the short summer 
shows particularly suited to an experiment of classes for collections. 
Two Turkey exhibition pens put together on the grass under a tent 
would comfortably accommodate pens of three or four birds, and all 
the inconvenience of having that number crowded together in close 
exhibition halls would be obviated. 
We now come to Pigeons. This is altogether a different and 
much simpler question. Formerly Pigeons were almost invariably 
shown in pairs ; now they appear singly. The reason of the change 
has been mainly the same as that of the alteration in poultry pens. 
Pairs looked much happier together. But it would be useless now 
to advocate a return to the old system. However, collections of 
Pigeons, so easily shown and seen together without risk, have 
always been kept up by the columharian societies, and to some ex¬ 
tent at the Crystal Palace Show. The exhibition of the Peristeronic 
Society has always to our fancy been a most charming one. The 
full cages of some of the smaller varieties (Owls, Jacobins, Turbits, 
and Tumblers) are almost indescribable. We shall never forget our 
first sight of the Society’s show at the Freemasons’ Tavern before 
it advanced to the Crystal Palace. Mr. M. Wicking was there pre¬ 
eminent among breeders of Toys, and his cages of several varieties, 
specially Swallows, crammed as closely as they could comfortably 
hold, were a sight to delight alike both fanciers and non-fanciers. 
Then for a few years at the Crystal Palace were 6een beautiful col¬ 
lections of four pairs. There are still classes for the same number, 
but the cages are now obliged to contain at least two varieties. Why 
this new condition was made we do not know, but it has effectually 
diminished their attraction. We have a vivid recollection of twice 
seeing in the first-prize pen eight of Mr. Serjeantson’s best white 
Fantails surrounded by a large and admiring crowd. As we have 
said, we are far from wishing to interfere with the single-bird classi¬ 
fication at Pigeon shows, but we should like often to see the addition 
of collections shown in large and appropriate cages. We are certain 
that they would be an immense attraction to the public who are not 
fanciers, but admire anything pretty, and we believe that for only 
nominal prizes many of the leading fanciers would be pleased to 
contfnd in friendly rivalry for the honour of showing the finest 
collection of some one breed. — C. 
We understand that “ Spratt’s Patent,” in addition to feeding the 
dogs at the Kennel Club Alexandra Palace Show in June next, have 
also been entrusted with the benching of the exhibits. This firm will 
also supply the benches, pens, and food for the forthcoming Itoyal 
Cornwall Dog and Poultry Show. 
Gapes in Chickens. — I covered in this spring a manure pit to 
prevent the rain washing away its properties, and since that my fowls 
have been healthy, only one case of gapes. I attribute this to there 
been no drainage water for them to drink. Last year I lost a number 
of young chickens from gapes.—M. E. H. 
THE POULTRY CLUB. 
A meeting of the Committee of the Poultry Club was held at the 
Charing Cross Hotel on Monday the 5th inst. at 2 p.m. There were 
present Messrs. H. Radclyffe Dugmore (in the chair), T. W. Anns, 
G. B. C. Breeze, A. Darby, A. Cotnyns, L. C. C. R. Norris, and G. 
Yigers. 
Election of Members. — The following new members were 
elected:—F. Nettlefold, Streatham Grove, Norwood, S.E.; W. J. 
Eminson, Great Gonerby, Grantham. The following new associate 
was elected :—Mrs. II. Turner, The Woodlands, Offerton, near Stock- 
port. 
Next Meeting.— As one of the matters under the consideration 
of the Committee may require early attention, the Secretary was 
authorised, if necessary, to convene a special meeting of the Com¬ 
mittee for Friday the 16th inst. Subject thereto the next meeting 
was fixed for Wednesday, July 12th, at the Charing Cross Hotel, at 
2 p.m.—Alex. Comyns , ' Hon. Sec. Poultry Club, 47, Ckancery Lane, 
June 6th, 1882. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Various (A. 5.).—1, The deaths of your poultry are certainly mysterious; 
we should advise you at once to have a post-mortem examination made of one 
of the dead bodies by a competent person. The disease resembles degeneratio n 
of the heart and liver from over-feeding or improper feeding. 2, If by “ hens 
pecking each other” you mean eating each other’s feathers, it is almost impos¬ 
sible to make a lasting cure of the troublesome vice. It is best at once to kill 
the offender, for every bird in the run will soon imitate her bad example. We 
once cured a va’uable hen by completely isolating her in a large grass pad- 
dock for some weeks. 3, Handling poultry can only be properly learnt by 
experience. The hands should be put over the shoulders of a bird. 4, For egg- 
producing qualities we should say 1, oats; 2, barley ; 3, Indian corn. The last- 
named grain is far too fattening for breeding birds. 5, If you give hens as 
much of these grains as they would eat they would soon cease to produce eggs. 
Cattle Troughs (Idem ).—Stout galvanised iron troughs are the best for 
watering cattle of all kinds, whether on the home farm or on the roadside ; 
they are made of different sizes and substance to suit all requirements. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32 40' N.; Long. 0° 8 0” W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
1882. 
• cr , 
CD <M C?_ 
Hygroine- 
G . 
Shade Tern- 
Radiation 
G 
ter. 
£ fl 
pi,— o 
perature. 
Temperature. 
a 
May. 
h J’S-I 
In 
On 
June. 
MS 3 
Dry. 
Wet. 
a o 
SH 
Max. 
Min. 
snn. 
gras*. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
dec. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg 
dec. 
I?i. 
Sun. 28 
30.185 
64.2 
56.1 
S.E. 
55.8 
72.3 
50.2 
115.4 
43.5 
— 
Mon. 29 
30.326 
62.o 
55.5 
N. 
56.4 
74.2 
49.5 
126.2 
43.2 
— 
Tues. 30 
30.315 
64.7 
53.4 
FT. 
57.9 
74.0 
52.1 
122.1 
46.1 
— 
Wed. 31 
30.305 
58.8 
53.0 
N. 
58.2 
71.6 
45.8 
129.7 
39 3 
— 
Thurs. 1 
30.328 
56.9 
49.9 
N.E. 
57.8 
64.1 
42.9 
124.9 
39.8 
— 
Friday 2 
30.161 
60.0 
53.1 
N.E. 
57.5 
64.3 
47.9 
95.6 
42.8 
.068 
Satur. 3 
29.835 
63.7 
59.2 
N. 
57.0 
72.6 
53.9 
109.4 
48.2 
.018 
30.208 
61.6 
54.3 
57.2 
70.7 
48.9 
117.6 
43.3 
0.086 
REMARKS. 
28th.—Fine, bright, and warm ; cloudy at times ; bright moonlight night. 
29th.—Very fine, warm, and bright, though somewhat overcast in afternoon. 
30th.—Fine, bright, and breezy. 
31st.—Fine, bright, and cooler; threatening clouds at times ; moonlight night. 
1st.—Cool dull morning ; afternoon fine and bright, gusty wind ; gorgeous 
sunset. 
2nd.—Bright early ; day gloomy, dull and cool; rain 6 to 7 P.M. 
3rd.—Dull and close, with rain at intervals. 
Temperature rather higher and much above the average. Barometer high and 
generally dry ; damper on 3rd.—G. J. SYMONS. 
