20 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. r January 4, im. 
attempt to make them an annual honour; and secondly because, 
being got up for the particular occasion and shortly before the show, 
there was a strong presumption as to who the winners would be. 
Indeed, it was rumoured that the probable and, as the event proved, 
the actual, winners really did subscribe a considerable amount of 
the cup’s value. To the case, however, of challenge cups sub¬ 
scribed for or presented long before the competition, and only to be 
hold for a year, or actually made over to their holders after a series 
of victories, these objections cannot possibly apply. The very con¬ 
ditions under which they are to be held and won provide for several 
years at least, and prevent all chance of a fancier who happens to 
have a good lot of chickens subscribing for hi3 own benefit. The 
only reasonable exception, as far as we can see, that can be taken to 
them is this—viz., that they make too much difference between the 
first and second-prize birds. It may be asked, Why put this great 
distinction between two birds which possibly differ so little as to 
cause a judge much perplexity, and which different judges would 
place in different order ? To this we say, the objection applies to 
all order of merit in awards. In every prize list it must of neces¬ 
sity frequently be the case that there is hardly appreciable supe¬ 
riority in some first-prize bird over the second, or second over the 
third. The objection applies far less to a cup given to the best of 
many first winners, because in several classes there is more chance 
of one bird standing out in front of all competitors than there is in 
a single class. 
However, putting aside these minor objections to any large and 
handsome prize, all of which seem to us easily answerable, we must 
look at the whole subject from a broader point of view. What is 
the object of all such competitions and all prizes ? Surely it is to 
encourage the breeding of poultry through the means of emulation, 
and whatever arrangement of awards promotes that emulation in 
the best and fairest way is the best arrangement. The reward¬ 
ing of this or that specimen with a first or a second prize is only 
a minor and accidental consideration. The general encourage¬ 
ment of intelligent and enterprising breeders is the main end, and 
the one which we should keep steadily in view when we draw 
up schedules and arrange prize lists. “ The proof of the pudding 
is in the eating,” and the fact that the offering of a challenge cup 
for one particular breed has had a marked effect in promoting 
excellence in that breed is in itself a strong argument in favour of 
the offering of challenge cups. 
The aim which we have in view in calling attention to this fact 
is to suggest to fanciers of other breeds whether they might not 
usefully combine to procure similar distinctions for their own 
varieties. Dorkings especially occur to us. There is not the array 
of them there once was at Birmingham when the prizes were 
pecuniarily far better worth winning than they now are. We are 
inclined to believe that this decline in numbers has some connection 
with reduction in the amount of prizes. Those who trade upon 
exhibition and sell their superfluous stock at enhanced prices on 
the strength of one or two Birmingham prizes are content with this, 
and do not think so much about the sums actually won. There are, 
however, many exhibitors of Dorkings, and there used to be more, 
who do not show anywhere else. Owners of parks and large estates 
peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of this variety allow their 
bailiffs and gamekeepers who roar them to show a few birds once a 
year for their trial, and Birmingham is generally the show selected. 
If, however, the returns are very small, and nothing but a first 
or" second prize can possibly recoup the cost of entry fee and 
travelling expenses, this permission is likely to be withdrawn, and 
as we well know often has so been. Still, the numbers have fallen 
off, and not the quality. It struck us this year at Birmingham that 
the Dorking winners were an extremely good lot, surpassing far 
in excellence as a whole those of any other show of the season. 
This is evidence that it is the place to which the great Dorking 
fanciers turn in spite of the fact that the prize list is hardly worthy 
of the place or the breed. We cannot but think that if some ener¬ 
getic admirer or band of admirers of this fine old breed would 
collect enough to purchase a handsome challenge cup great good 
would accrue. Those who possess fine stocks would be encouraged 
to keep them up, and those who do not exhibit their birds to do 
so at least this once a year. We think much of this last point, 
for we feel sure that there are owners of fine yards of Dorkings who 
seldom or never let their birds be publicly seen, and so do not give 
their neighbours a chance of buying of them. All that tends to 
discourage overshowing and professional showing of a few birds, 
but promotes the occasional exhibition of the flower of many yards, 
does good to the poultry fancy. Some more challenge cups would 
probably have this desired effect.—C. 
FORTHCOMING POULTRY SHOWS. 
It is to be hoped for the sake of exhibition poultry that the month 
of January may not be a cold one. A number of schedules of shows 
are lying before us, the greater part of them to be held during the 
early weeks of next year. For the 10th and 11th of January the 
second of the revived Taunton shows is fixed, of which we have before 
spoken Classification for poultry and Pigeons is good and exhaustive. 
There is a valuable prize—viz., a six-guinea cup, offered by Mr. Mar¬ 
shall, the President of the Society, for the winner of the largest 
number of prizes in the open Pigeon classes. This cup is awarded in 
a somewhat unusual way, for prizes do not, according to their degree, 
count so many points, but all are considered equal. 
ON the 11th, 12th, and 13th the Aberdeen Show is to be held. 
There are sixty classes for poultry, arranged alphabetically. Among 
them are eight for Dorkings, which are always strong classes in Scot¬ 
land. The entry fee is moderate—viz., 3s. 6 d. The Judge is Mr. A. 
Comyns, Hon. Sec. of the Poultry Club. The Pigeon classes are forty, 
twelve being for Pouters, the special fancy we presume of the locality. 
The Pigeon Judge is Mr. E. Beckwith. The entries close on Dec. 30th, 
and the Secretary is Mr. John Co we, 27, Dee Street, Aberdeen. 
The Show of the Dudley Columbarian Society is fixed for Jan. 12th, 
13th. and 15th. The poultry section consists of six classes for Game 
and five for Game Bantams, and is to be judged by Messrs. Robert 
Ashley and W. H. Wheeler. Pigeons have twenty-seven classes. 
Among them are special classes for “Eastern Frilled,” and “ German 
Non-Frilled.” The Judge of Pigeons is Mr. J. W. Ludlow. There is 
an unusually good schedule for cage birds. The Hon. Sec. is Mr. 
G. H. Parke, Saracen’s Head Hotel, Dudley. 
We have the schedule of the first show of any importance, to be 
held at Buckingham on January 17th and 18th under Poultry Club 
rules. We fancy that its origin, like that of the Hemel Hempstead 
Show, is greatly owing to the energy of the Rev. H. R. Peel, whose 
name we observe upon the Committee. Poultry have forty-one 
classes, Pigeons eleven. The Judges are Mr. Teebay and Mr. Esqui- 
lant. The Hon. Secretary, Mr. G. F. Marsh, Buckingham. 
On the 24th and 25th the sixth Yeovil Show is to .be held. It 
has certainly become a leading Exhibition, and the classification is 
extended. It is one of the few shows of the season at which fanciers 
of White Game and Silkies will find classes for their favourites. 
Game Bantams, too, are favoured with eight classes for single birds, 
and other Bantams with five for pairs. In Pigeons Pouters have four 
classes, Carriers six, Dragoons six ; Tumblers, Owls, Turbits. and 
Antwerps, each four. But fanciers should send for the prize list to 
Mr. Robert Leach, Pall Hotel, Yeovil.—C. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Goat Farming (.-1 Subscriber ).—We shall most readily redeem our promise 
made on November 23rd, 1880, and propose to give an article on Goat farm¬ 
ing in an early issue. 
Book on Poultry Keeping (/. V.).—The price oE the book by Hr. Cook 
is 2s., post free 2s. 2d. 
Crop-bound Fowl (Ernest Reirley ).—You have adopted the right treat¬ 
ment, and if further efforts fail to afford relief the only alternative will be to 
open the crop and remove the obstruction ; but skill is requisite for performing 
the operation successfully, and we should persevere with the warm water, rubbing, 
and castor oil remedy for some time longer, and especially as it has proved 
beneficial. 
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. 
Rain. 
1882. 
December. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32<* 
and Sea 
Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
| Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sun. 24 
29.832 
33.5 
32.9 
N.W. 
38.8 
40.2 
30.4 
56.1 
27.2 
0.071 
Mon. 25 
29.629 
44.0 
44.6 
N.W. 
87.8 
52 5 
31.8 
52.7 
27.8 
0.524 
Tues. 26 
29.370 
50.1 
50.1 
N.W. 
40.8 
49.8 
43.8 
61.5 
43.1 
0.205 
Wed. 27 
29.555 
54.4 
52.0 
W. 
480 
57.2 
48 5 
57.8 
45.3 
0.066 
Thurs. 28 
29.736 
54.5 
51.6 
W. 
15.0 
5.5.4 
52.8 
57.5 
50.2 
0.012 
Friday 29 
29.606 
51.3 
59.0 
S.W. 
45.7 
54.3 
48.8 
55.3 
47.2 
0.196 
Satur. 30 
29.737 
49.7 
49.2 
S.W. 
46.1 
53.8 
46.9 
54.2 
45.3 
0.443 
29.638 
48 3 
47.2 
42.5 
51.9 
43.3 
56.4 
40.9 
1.517 
REMARKS. 
24th.—Fine, bright, and frosty. 
25th.—Dull, wet, and mild. 
26th.—Fine but damp morning ; rain afterwards. 
27th.—Fine at first; afternoon and evening wet; very warm. 
28th.—Squally during night; fine, dry, mild day. 
29th.—Squally ; slight misty rain at times. 
30th.—Very wet morning ; fine, with clearer sky, in afternoon ; dull damp even¬ 
ing ; still very mild 
Although the first day of the week was frosty, the latter part was so remark¬ 
ably warn as to raise the mean for the week to nearly 48°, or 9° above the 
average.—G. J. SYMONS. 
