306 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
cal yards. The larger breeds, of compact 
forms, and short legs, full body, &c., are 
sometimes found to be essential in restoring 
character and giving tone and stamina to the 
ailing or effete birds of other choice breeds. 
The whole subject of crossing fowls is one 
of great interest and importance, and may 
challenge the attention of the most intelli 
gent and discerning. 
There is another important matter con¬ 
nected with this poultry subject, not to be 
estimated by dollars and cents, but of far 
more consequence than either. It is the 
social and moral influence they exert, espe¬ 
cially on the junior members of our families. 
The flower and vegetable gardens, the orna¬ 
mental lawns and useful fields are all attract¬ 
ive, with their varied products of beauty and 
utility ; yet they fail to enlist that sympathy 
and feeling which attractive animal life af¬ 
fords. How very much more of interest the 
pet horse, or cow, or lamb excites among the 
little ones, or even among the seniors, than 
the choicest among the trees, or shrubs, or 
flowers. And as we descend in the scale of 
size to certain limits, we intensify the inter¬ 
est of our children in the domestic pets. 
The tenants of our poultry yards, with their 
youngling broods are, of all other things, 
what earliest catch, and rivet their attention, 
and determine their devotion to rural life. By 
thus withdrawing their thoughts from frivo¬ 
lous games, vicious sports, and indulgences, 
or idle, worthless habits, a great point is 
gained toward developing and maturing the 
future useful member of society. Compar¬ 
atively few who have not the advantage of 
an extended farm, can indulge in the luxury 
of improved flocks and extensive herds ; but 
almost every one, not closely hemmed in by 
the brick walls of a city, can gratify their 
own taste, and excite that of their children, 
by keeping a few choice fowls. They are 
far preferable to the usual pets—dogs, cats, 
and singing birds ; there is less danger from 
disease from them, much more variety, more 
scope for ingenuity in rearing and attending, 
and we need not. add on which side the profit 
is likely to be. If for no other reason then, 
than to interest the children in a useful, at¬ 
tractive pursuit, we would say to any person 
who has the room, by all means keep some 
select poultry. 
We shall not pursue this subject further 
at this time, and our sole motive now has 
been to invite attention and correspondence 
from experienced and observing breeders, as 
to the best variety, mode of feeding, rearing, 
&c. Let every person express his pre¬ 
ferences, if he will give but a substantial rea¬ 
son for them. We ask for the fullest dis¬ 
cussion consistent with the capacity of our 
pages, only let it be sensible and to the point. 
We shall cheapen beef, mutton, and pork, 
and largely too, by giving every family a fine 
flock of poultry, to which he can resort 
when necessary, instead of depending sole¬ 
ly on the butchers, when they choose to 
put up choice pieces to 18 and 25 cents per 
pound. This result has already been meas¬ 
urably felt the past two seasons, as is 
shown by the incredible quantity of poultry 
forwarded by railroad to the Atlantic markets, 
whenever the temperature admitted of their 
transmission. We hope to'see this field of 
enterprize extended, till all who have the 
means for doingjso, can participate in the lux¬ 
ury and profit of a choice and varied poultry 
yard. 
A WEEK AT THE POULTRY SHOW 
[An intelligent subscriber, residing a few 
miles from the city—a lover of fine poultry 
withal—chanced to have leisure to spend 
most of the past week at the National Poul¬ 
try Show, and he furnishes us with the fol¬ 
lowing notes of his observations. As he 
was not an interested exhibitor, we freely 
give place to his communication.] 
For the American Agriculturist. 
To the lover and fancier of poultry, the 
past week has been one of great interest. 
The collection of fowls was much larger 
than that of the last year, and a great im¬ 
provement was observable in many of the 
choice breeds. The Shanghai, in particular, 
has been greatly benefitted by his change of 
country and home. He is gradually ex¬ 
changing his mammoth height and lank pro¬ 
portions for a size and form more comely, 
and is becoming a greater favorite with am¬ 
ateurs and breeders. 
The ornamental fowls exhibited, compris¬ 
ing the Golden and Silver Polands, the Bol¬ 
ton Greys, Black Spanish, &c., were of very 
great beauty. The Society have reason to 
feel greatly encouraged in their efforts for 
promoting domestic breeds of poultry. The 
list of premiums offered was large, and was 
generously responded to by exhibitors from 
all sections of the country. 
The task of the judges the present year 
was very difficult, as the number of some 
varieties was so great and of such equal ex¬ 
cellency, as to greatly embarrass their de¬ 
cision. In other instances, valuable fowls 
were presented in such inaccessible coops, 
that the committee could not give them a 
proper examination. In this latter particu¬ 
lar, it is to be hoped a great improvement 
will be noticed in future exhibitions. 
During the past year I have given consid¬ 
erable attention to choice breeds of poultry, 
and I must confess that I have been greatly 
troubled to learn where the best varieties 
could be obtained. Each dealer regards his 
own as the choice stock. But when the best 
selections from each are presented in one 
exhibition, their qualities can be contrasted, 
and the fancier judge for himself. 
It is no more difficult for the farmer to 
possess himself of and to raise the pure 
breeds , than it is to rear the ordinary dung¬ 
hill fowl; and when their merits are con¬ 
trasted, the latter are rapidly supplanted by 
the former. 
At the recent exhibition the different vari¬ 
eties of the Shanghai predominated largely. 
The principal exhibitors of this class were : 
Richard McCormick, Jr, of Woodhaven, L. I.; 
Stephen S. Berdan, of Paramus, N. J.; Sher¬ 
man Smith, of Port Chester, N. Y.; M. M. 
Kinney, of Cedar Hill, Albany Co.; R. H. 
Avery, of Wampsville, Madison Co., N. Y.; 
and H. Johnson, of Paterson, N. J. 
The premiums for White Shanghai, were 
awarded to R. C. McCormick, Jr., and S. S. 
Berdan. On Grey Shanghais, to Mr. Ber¬ 
dan, Mr. Kinney, and Mr. S. Smith. On 
Buff Shanghais, to Mr. Smith, and Mr. Jas. 
Sherwood of Norwalk, Conn. On Black 
Shanghais, the first premium was awarded 
to Mr. E. E. Platt, of Albany. They were 
not only mammoth in size, but of very great 
beauty. 
Mr. Stephen S. Berdan, of Paramus, N. J., 
exhibited beautiful specimens of Golden and 
Silver and Black Polands, Bolton Greys, 
Black Spanish, White and Grey Shanghais, 
Hong Kongs, &c. He received a large num¬ 
ber of premiums, and also an additional pre¬ 
mium of $25 for his collection. 
Mr. II. C. McCormick, Jr., of Woodhaven, 
Queens Co., presented the largest variety on 
exhibition, comprising, among others, very 
choice and pure breeds of the various Shang¬ 
hais, White Dorkings, Silver Polands, Afri¬ 
can and Seabright Bantams, White China 
Geese, Muscovy and Aylesbury Ducks, &c., 
on the greater proportion of which he re¬ 
ceived premiums, and in addition $50 for the 
largest variety. Mr. McCormick is much of 
a fancier , and is at present traveling in the 
East, and during the coming season will im¬ 
port many varieties of pure breeds. 
Mr. Sherman Smith, of Port Chester, N. 
Y., exhibited a large variety of African and 
Bremen Geese, Cayuga Black Ducks, Black 
Spanish Game Fowls, of recent importation; 
Dominique Shanghais, of great size and 
beauty ; White, Grey and Black Shanghais, 
&c. In most of the above, Mr. S. swept 
the premium list. 
This notice would be incomplete if I omit¬ 
ted the turkeys of Mr. R. H. Avery, of 
Wampsville, Madison Co. They are across 
of the wild and domestic, and beyond com¬ 
petition. The largest weighed 33 pounds, 
and several others about 30 pounds. Their 
plumage almost vied with the peacock. 
Such turkeys would ornament the palace- 
yard of a Queen. His stock received first 
and second premiums. Mr. A.’s stock was 
not confined alone to turkeys; he had on 
exhibition a large variety of Shanghais, of 
different breeds, several kinds of ducks, Ban¬ 
tams, &c., to most of which premiums were 
awarded. 
It can not be expected in this notice that I 
should speak of every fowl on exhibition. 
Many single coops were presented, which 
are deserving of notice, if your space would 
permit. Mr. J. G. Caldwell, of Newtown, 
L. I., had on exhibition a trio of superior 
Golden Polands, bred from imported stock, 
to which were awarded a premium. 
I have only sought to call attention to the 
larger collection, without wishing in the least 
to detract from the merit of the lesser ex¬ 
hibitors. 
Perhaps in this connection I should speak 
of the rabbits, presented by Mr. Wm. Robe- 
dee, of Brooklyn. They were of the Mada¬ 
gascar species, and truly beautiful. They 
were of all colors, and as docile as kittens. 
A pair would be an ornament to any yard. 
Mr. R. has for many years given Ins atten¬ 
tion to this branch of quadruped poultry , and 
has attained to great perfection. W. 
To the above notice by our correspondent 
we would add the large and meritorious ex¬ 
hibition of fancy pigeons, which presented a 
beautiful sight. They were of great variety 
—Carriers, Tumblers, Pouters, Ruffles, &c., 
and mostly bred to a feather. 
There were a good many fancy birds also, 
such as the pretty Mandarin, Wood, and 
other ducks ; foreign fancy geese ; choice 
peacocks ; English pheasants, &c. There 
was also quite a display of Canary birds ; 
three American eagles, with wings measur¬ 
ing eight feet from tip to tip, and truly noble 
specimens of our American ornithology. 
Florida Lemons. —The Jacksonville News 
has been shown a lemon grown upon the 
banks of the St. John’s river, which mea¬ 
sured eleven and a half inches in circumfer¬ 
ence. Among quite a large lot there were 
few less than nine inches in circumference. 
