THE COTTAGE GARDENED. 
225 
December 22. 
that, when we also remembered that the Doncaster Show 
was held in the previous week, and that the birds destined 
for Birmingham had to occupy their pens on the 10th, we 
were prepared to find many of the best specimens reserved 
for the latter more important contest. 
At Leeds, the poultry and cattle wei'e shown in a large 
temporary building erected for that purpose ; the arrange¬ 
ments for lighting it, however, were sadly deficient, and no 
fault, therefore, could have been found with the judges had 
the points of some competing pens been passed over, or 
defects remained undiscovered. The sun, indeed, shone 
brightly for a time, but even then sufficient light was 
wanting, and the usual murky atmosphere of a great manu¬ 
facturing town should have induced every exertion to avoid 
this most serious drawback. 
The adult Spanish were a fair class, Mr. Hill Smith 
taking the first prize; the chickens, however, were very 
deficient in all the required points. The reasons to which 
i we have already referred will at once account for the 
absence of many birds that have distinguished this class on 
former occasions. 
Among the Coloured Dorkings were several pens of great 
merit, and the winners were deserving of very high com¬ 
mendation, not merely for form and weight, but likewise for 
their admirable condition in respect of feather. The 
chickens in pen 103, belonging to Captain Hornby, K.N., 
fulfilled all that could be required of them. The White 
Dorkings are, probably, out of favour in the Leeds district, 
since there were no entries in the old class, and the 
chickens were of very moderate pretensions. 
IVhen we come to speak of the senior Cinnamon and 
Buff Slianghae, or Cochin-China class, we need only refer to 
the fact, that the decision of the judges “ withheld both the 
first and second prizes; ” most fully, indeed, did we assent to 
this condemnatory sentence, for a worse lot were, probably, 
never penned. The chickens, however, were in advance of 
their elders, and a first prize was assigned to Mr. George 
Hustler, Appleton, Tadcaster, and the pullets in this in¬ 
stance would have done justice to a better cock. To Mr. 
Hustler there was also awarded a first prize for a dark 
Partridge-feathered pen of old birds. These were re¬ 
markably good specimens of their race, and, as but rarely 
happens, were properly matched, a handsome, red-mottled 
cock being shown with them, and not, as is usually seen, a 
Cinnamon, or dark Buff male bird. 
For “ Shanghacs, White, Black, or any other colour," 
nothing can be said; they were very indifferent, both in 
figure and condition; for the first-named, indeed, an 
apology may readily be found in the latter particular, in the 
! circumstances of their abode in or near these regions of 
unceasing smoke. The last division of these birds were 
: in a class ‘‘for a cock and pullet of any colour .” In ad¬ 
dition to the first prize pen, very good cockerels were shown 
in pen 197, belonging to Mr. Henry Ambler, Watkinson 
Hall, Halifax, and a pen, 210, the property of Mr. J. H. 
Smith, Skelton, York. 
The Malay class contained as many cross-bred birds as 
it was ever our fate to witness in this family; the winners, 
however, were pure, though small. 
The entries in the Game-fowl classes were numerous, and 
contained many excellent specimens. Captain Hornby’s 
pen of Black-breasted red, No. 237, were of first-rate 
quality; it is true, we should have preferred an entirely 
black tail for the cock, but the presence of white is erro¬ 
neously supposed to indicate any impurity of blood. The 
majority of the old Ivnowsley stock, against whom no 
charge of a craven disposition can possibly be alleged, 
were thus marked. The second and third prizes were well 
merited; the birds in both were of the same character, and 
showed in the small birds as near approach to the “heuny” 
variety, in the reduced proportion of their tail, and the 
colour of their hackle, so nearly allied to the ginger hens, 
their companions, so frequently exhibited with red-breasted 
cocks. The chickens, also, were a meritorious class. 
Pen 250, contained very handsome Brassy-winged birds, 
and 261, a pen of Duck-wings, against which we could only 
urge the error of placing “ olive-legged ” hens with a 
“ light-legged ” cock. Mr. Heaton’s biue Duns, No. 263, 
were specimens of great merit. 
We now come to Hamburghs, which were numerous, and 
of fair average merit; hut in this district, where they have 
deservedly attained such great estimation, we should have 
looked for superior excellence. Mr. Pulleisee’s chickens 
were at the head of the Golden-pencilled, and Mr. Good¬ 
man, of Leeds, exhibited some handsome Golden-spangled 
birds. In the Silver varieties, the best class was, un¬ 
questionably, that of the spangled chickens. 
Bolands wore only of moderate pretensions, if we except 
the prize pens of Messrs. Horner and Bidgway, for the 
Golden, and Mr. Boothby, for the Silver. 
Among the Bantams, which competed together, “ black ” 
had the pre-eminence. There were, also, some fair “ white ” 
specimens, but the “ laced ” were inferior. 
Geese were very good, and the same award of praise 
should be given to the Ducks generally. 
Turkeys were fair; while the “extra class,” beyond a pen 
of “ Black-breasted Polish,” contained nothing deserving of 
comment. 
We have already expressed our regret that proper 
measures were not taken to secure sufficient light in a 
building erected for this special purpose, and we would also 
remind those to whom the details of management were on 
this occasion entrusted, that in several particulars their 
arrangements were defective. The vessels for water, for 
instance, were insufficient for a proper supply, and being 
made of tin, with sharp edges, were also liable to cause 
injury to the birds; the pens, too, for the Geese, being only 
three feet in length, crowded their unfortunate inmates far 
too closely, especially when it is borne in mind, that four 
days of exhibition with gas-light, and, consequently, nearly 
six of confinement in their several cramped tenements, was 
to be undergone. 
But we must also allude to another grave subject ^ of t 
complaint, and that is the fact of the Secretary’s office 
being at some distance from the place of exhibition, so that 
when a person not a subscriber, desirous of purchasing, 
had occasion to see the officials, he had to leave the room, 
and on his return pay again for admission. The answer to 
this complaint was, “that the individual ought to become a 
subscriber.” We think otherwise; and on behalf of the 
public’s shillings and half-crowns, must at once say that 
such measures will ultimately benefit but little the finances 
of any Society that may take such means of adding to their 
receipts. The public, who pay their money at the doors, 
are as much entitled to access to the Secretary s office, who 
undertakes the sale of the birds, as subscribers have, and 
the attempt to make such an intending purchaser pay for 
his re-admission is contrary to good faith, and should, 
therefore, be publicly censured. 
To subscribers, indeed, the privilege of gratuitous re¬ 
admission is properly limited, provided always that full 
access is given to non-subscribers to such offices, or persons, 
with whom they may find it necessary to transact aDy 
matters of business arising from their presence in the 
building, and provided for and sanctioned by the regu¬ 
lations of the Society itself. To pay a second time for the 
honour of an interview with the gentlemen in office will 
hardly be appreciated as worth the cost, even if a courteous 
and civil reception be there guaranteed. 
But while speaking of payments for admission, we 
should mention that the four days to which this Exhibition 
has been protracted have two on which a half-crown is 
charged at the door. We doubt the good policy of so high 
a rate, and earnestly ivould we suggest to similar local 
Societies the extreme desirability of fixing a general low 
charge for entrance, not merely for the interest of the 
Association itself, but that the views of its promoters may 
be the more widely extended, and the more beneficially 
exerte d • 
The judges were Mr. Andrews, of Dorchester, Mr. Baily, 
of Mount-street, Grosvenor Square, and Mr. Trotter, of 
Hexham, and their decisions were unexceptionable. 
The Annual Winter Poultry Show in connection with 
the Surrey Zoological Gardens was held on the 6th, 7th, 
and 8th of this month. The pens were arranged at the 
Horse and Carriage Depository, near the Elephant and 
Castle, the best room for the purpose, except Bingley 
Hall, with which we are acquainted. The attention paid to 
the birds was worthy of all commendation, and we regret 
that there were not more there. 
