November 17,1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
463 
for good shepherding than these beautiful animals and their lambs, 
for some of the latter will be ready for the butcher at Christmas 
where they have been well fed and cared for. Wether sheep and 
tegs have been doing well since harvest whilst feeding on Turnips, 
Rape, or Thousand-headed Cabbage. The weather having been favour¬ 
able they have not required so large a quantity of cake as usual. The 
in-lamb ewes, both Hampshire and Dorset downs, should now be kept 
fairly well ; but at no time should they be allowed as much as they 
could eat of Turnips. Rape is not good for them, but Thousand¬ 
headed Kale is the best for them with a run upon old lea during 
part of the day. 
Birmingham Cattle and Poultry Show. —We publish below 
the number of entries for the ensuing Show on November 26th, 28th, 
29th, 30th, and December 1st — namely, Cattle, 1G1 ; Sheep, 88; 
Pigs, 58 ; Corn, 55; Roots, 124 ; Potatoes, 104 ; Poultry, 2409 ; 
Pigeons, 902.—Total 3901. The gross total is the largest ever received 
since the Society was established, and the resources of the hall will 
be hardly taxed to find room for the whole. The increase is pretty 
general in every section, roots and pigs excepted, and these are fully 
up to the average. 
Clonmel Root and Fruit Show.— Probably many readers of 
the Journal who may have heard of the state of tension betwixt 
classes in many parts of Ireland, will be surprised to find that our 
Show here this year has been the best ever held, both in the number 
of the exhibits and the extent of the collections as well as their 
superior merits. The roots, too, were admittedly the finest ever shown, 
and it is worthy of observation that the unusually large specimens 
and those that showed unmistakeable signs of having been forced 
unduly, were, when examined by the judges, found to be rotten at 
the core, or unfit for keeping purposes. This applies generally to 
Turnips, Mangolds, Carrots, Parsnips, and Cabbages. I noticed, too, 
that when we came to the large number of exhibits grown for the 
prizes offered by the Messrs. Sutton, Reading, England, that, though 
the Turnips and Mangolds were of unusual size, they were invariably 
sound.—W. J. M., Clonmd. 
The Hull and East Riding Cattle and Poultry Show.— 
The sixth annual Exhibition will be held in the Rifle Barracks and 
Grounds, Londesborough Street, Hull, on December 13th, 14th, 15th, 
and 16th. The prizes include a piece of plate, value £25, or that 
amount in money, for the best beast in classes for tenant farmers ; a 
piece of plate, value £50, or that amount in money, for the best 
Shorthorn in the open classes ; a piece of plate, value £50, or that 
amount in money, for the best Scotch or crossbred beast in the open 
classes ; the challenge plate, value £100, for the best beast in the 
Show ; also a large number of pieces of plate or silver cups in other 
classes. All entries close on Monday, November 21st. Entries for 
poultry, Pigeons, and Rabbits will be received up to Wednesday, 
November 30th, on payment of Is. extra for each entry. 
SPRING CHICKENS. 
We wrote a week or two since of January chickens for exhi¬ 
bition, we now add a few words as to early chickens for table. 
In the spring and first part of the summer chickens fetch excep¬ 
tionally high prices in the market, and those who have a suitable 
place for rearing a few clutches in the winter months will find 
their extra trouble amply repaid by the larger return obtained. 
Those who intend to rear any number of early chickens for 
table will find it pay them to procure some pure-bred birds to 
cross for this purpose. A few Brahma or Langshan pullets mated 
with a short-legged Houdan or Doiking cockerel will produce 
chickens that will grow rapidly, feather easily, and put on flesh 
sooner than almost any other cross or any pure breed. A cross 
between a Game cockerel and Dorking pullets will also be found 
to produce a plump hardy chicken of very delicate flavour. The 
produce of this cross do not grow so rapidly as the Dorking- 
Brahmas or Dorking-Houdans. 
It would not pay the poultry keeper who only means to rear a 
few chickens to incur the expense of an entire breeding yard. 
His best plan will be to purchase a cockerel of some pure breed 
and cross him with the best laying hens or pullets selected from 
his own stock. If the hens are of good size a Brahma cock may 
be used ; if they are not large a medium-sized Dorking, Houdan, 
Creve Coeur, or Scotch Grey will be more suitable. 
As for chickens intended for table there is no necessity to have 
them hatched after the commencement of the new year, the 
setting may now be commenced as soon as eggs can be had. 
If an incubator is used it will be well in placing it to guard 
specially against draughts. When the egg-drawer is taken out 
to cool the eggs it must only be left out about ten minutes, and 
the eggs must not be exposed to excessive cold. A thin piece of 
flannel thrown over them will obviate the risk of a chill from 
exposure. If the eggs are set under hens the nests should be 
placed in some warm corner, and be formed of dry ashes or earth 
covered with an ample supply of fine straw. Nine, or at most 
ten, eggs should be the number allowed to an averaee-sized hen. 
The hens should not be permitted to remain long off their nests, 
and on cold days a piece of flannel may be thrown over the eggs 
whilst the hen is off the nest. uiCj£aOJ 
Any dry sheltered place will do for the chickens, provided they 
have a fair share of liberty and are not put upon a wooden or 
stone floor. A clay floor lightly covered with ashes or sand is 
best; but if the floor be of wood or stone it may be made per¬ 
fectly safe by covering it with an inch or two of dry earth, sand, 
or ashes. Special attention must be given to cleanliness, and any 
tendency to clog upon the chickens’ feet is an indication that the 
earth requires to be turned over or renewed. While the chickens 
should be carefully saved from exposure to extreme cold any 
coddling must be avoided. We once had a servant who allowed 
the chickens to bask before the kitchen fire in cold weather, and 
we lost more from that cause than auy other. A few days of 
such luxury rendered them unfit to meet the least exposure, and 
they speedily succumbed to colds and similar complaints. 
The feeding must be generous, and a meal or two by candle¬ 
light at night or in the early morning is almost a necessity. 
A little meat must be supplied, and green food should not be 
forgotten. 
For laying stock, it will be time enough to commence setting 
towards the end of January. Pullets hatched too early begin to 
lay in August, and moult along with the old stock. 
THE POULTRY CLUB. 
A meeting of the Committee of the Poultry Club was held at the 
Crystal Palace Hotel on Monday, 14th November, at 4.30 P.M. There 
were present the Hon. and Rev. F. G. Dutton (in the chair), the Hon. 
and Rev. A. Baillie-Hamilton, and Messrs. T. W. Anns, R. A. Boissier, 
T. C. Burnell, A. Comyns, O. E. Cresswell, H. R. Dugmore, R. E. 
Horsfall, S. Lucas, L. C. C. R. Norris, and G. Yigers. 
Election of Members. —The following new members were elected 
—Samuel J. Adams, Doveridge, Derby; F. G. Milner, Hon. Sec. 
Leek Show ; G. C. Livett, Cambridge; William Samuel Owers, 
Nightingale Yilla, Mildenhall, Suffolk ; Mrs. F. A Puget, The Grove, 
Totteridge, Herts ; and J. G. Pearson, Westbury House, Market 
Drayton, Salop. The following new Associate was elected—R. B. 
Astley, Tott’s Nest, Ashstead, Epsom. 
Ramsgate Show. —The Secretary reported that, in accordance 
with the recommendation of the Committee, Mr. Boissier had applied 
to the Secretaries of the Ramsgate Show to refund to him the amount 
of return carriage paid by him to the South-Eastern Railway Com- 
oany, and that he had thereupon obtained payment of his claim. 
Standard of Excellence. —The Standard Sub-Committee sub¬ 
mitted the following report— 
report of sub-committee. 
Since our last report we have, as directed by you, issued blank forms of 
Standard to a number of leading fanciers of each variety. Considerable delay 
has been caused by the great number of forms necessary, and the impracticability 
of having them printed owing to differences in the forms applicable, to the 
several varieties. Further delay has arisen from the difficulty in getting the 
forms returned filled up. . 
We have commenced the task of framing a draft Standard upon the basis of 
the replies received, and herewith present the result of our labours with respect 
to both varieties of Brahmas. We have also partly framed the draft Standard 
of Cochins. , .... 
We have had four lengthy meetings within the past fortnight, and, judging 
from the progress which we have already made and the labour involved, we 
do not consider that we should be justified in continuing the task as we are at 
present constituted. 
Owing to the difficulty experienced in holding such frequent meetings as 
would be necessary to the speedy completion of the draft Standard, we think it 
will be necessary that some greater distribution of labour should be effected. 
We therefore propose that a great increase in the number of the Sub-Com¬ 
mittee be made, and that the work of comparing the forms filled in by the 
various fanciers be distributed amongst the members of the Sub-Committee 
enlarged as suggested ; and that subsequently meetings of such Sub-Committee 
be held for the purpose of revising and approving the work of its individual 
members. , .. 
By the adoption of this method we hope that the preparation of the draft 
Standard may be greatly facilitated, and that the complete work may lie in 
the hands of fanciers within the ensuing year. 
As stated in our former report, we recommend that the general annual meet¬ 
ing be called upon to decide by whom the Standard shall be finally settled before 
publication. 
The report was adopted, and it was resolved “ That the entire 
Committee do form a Sub-Committee for the purpose of framing 
the draft Standard.” 
Club Show. —The final arrangements as to the schedule, &c., ot 
the Club Show at Cambridge, and the nomination of the Judges, were 
under the consideration and were agreed upon. 
Annual Report. —The annual report was revised and approved 
by the Committee, and directions for its publication given. 
