January 19. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
995 
but it is not so in the case of pullets, for these have 
breasts quite as well developed as tho usual breed of 
barn-door fowls. Those who condemn the Shanghae as 
a bird deficient in producing serviceable flesh, ground 
that condemnation on the crooked-brested, crooked- 
backed, or otherwise imporfect birds that are rejected 
from the stock. Good, short-legged, compact pullets are 
too valuable as yet to be killed usually for the table, 
but we can attest that such birds are as meaty on the 
breast even as Dorkings, and the flesh is more juicy, 
but not so close grained. 
The sole point of inferiority, then, which can be 
established against tho Shanghae fowl is that its cock¬ 
erels are deficient in breast meat. Then, to make the 
breed perfect, let breeders set about selecting birds for 
stock that are characterised by well-developed breasts. 
We know of one cock that is breasted like a Dorking, 
and he will be coupled this season with an imported 
hen that has the largest development of breast we ever 
knew in any bird. The attention of the breeders of 
Shanghaes has been most successfully directed towards 
the improvement of colour—let it now be turned to the 
more important improvement of an increase of flesh 
upon the breast. We know, from experience, that it is 
to be effected; and the results of further experiments, 
we are confident, will be still more effectual. The two 
brothers, Messrs. R. and C. Colling, achieved far greater 
changes in the arrangement of meat upon their Short¬ 
horns than has to he accomplished upon the Shanghae. 
Even whilst we are writing this we have received 
letters confirmatory of our views. Thus, a first au¬ 
thority, writing to us about the recent challenge exhi¬ 
bition, expressly says that form, and not mere size, 
gave the palm to Captain Snell. His letter is as 
follows:— 
“ The town of Honiton, Devonshire, was, on the 28th ult., 
the scene of far greater excitement than has hitherto 
agitated tho poultry world, and the influx of amateurs from 
long distances was far beyond all precedent. Though 
situate twelve miles from the nearest railway station, Liver¬ 
pool, Manchester, Shrewsbury, Birmingham, and inter¬ 
mediate places, sent incredible numbers of the poultry 
fancy, while not a trifling addition of amateurs reached 
Honiton from the metropolis. 
“ This was occasioned from the news being carried, with 
wild-fire rapidity, that the challenge of Captain Snell, of St. 
Switliin’s Lane, London, to all Cochin-China breeders in 
Devon and Cornwall, to produce the equals of those that 
gained first prizes in London, Southampton, and various 
other places, had been accepted by Mr. W. L. Channing, 
of Heavitree, Exeter, and that the event was to take place 
at the Honiton Exhibition of Poultry. 
“ Each pen of birds had its confident supporters, who 
somewhat liberally espoused their individual opinions by 
making it the subject of a ‘ betting speculation; ’ and, no 
doubt, considerable sums changed hands in consequence. 
Another notoriety of this affair arose, too, from the lengthy 
correspondence that had previously taken place, in the 
public newspapers of Devonshire, between their respective 
owners. To prevent the possibility of any unfairness, the 
committee had (with the sanction of the owners) placed 
the rival favourites intermixed among thirty other pens in 
the same class, and secured the services, as judge, of Mr. 
Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Birmingham, to officiate 
on this unusually important occasion—so that not the 
slightest possible clue might offer itself, either as to the 
ownership of the ‘ favourites,’ or their individuality. These 
arrangements complete, the anxiety to ascertain the result 
was unceasing; and every stratagem was called into play 
to get early information of the successful ones; and not till 
the public admission was it known that another chaplet was 
added to the existing laurels of Captain Snell, though the 
most diverse statements on the affair had been ‘ flying 
about ’ for horn’s previously to the judge entering on his 
duties. It is very doubtful whether two 30 perfect pens 
ever before contested publicly for the mastery, and certain 
it is that time will long pursue its onward course before 
such rivals again enter the lists. One marked difference 
was at once apparent—that the defeated fowls, in regard to 
size, had the superiority; not so, however, in respect of 
formation and colour—Captain Snell’s being a perfect self- 
coloured light buff; his rival’s, on the other hand, being 
what is termed ‘mealy,’ or ‘grizzled,’ more especially on 
the wing coverts; neither could they boast of tho perfection 
of shape that marked the winning pullets—one, more 
especially. The visitors, generally, made the space opposite 
‘ the favourites ’ the trysting place during their stay ; while 
not a few, negligent of the excessive fall of snow, found it 
impossible to reach the trains in due time, and were, there¬ 
fore, compelled to pay ‘ a visit to mine host,’ to discuss over 
their wine the events of the closing day.” 
Then, as to the table merits of the Shanghae, J. B., 
whose address we have, writes thus :■— 
“In publishing my ‘Poultry-yard Report,’ in your number 
of the 29th December, a mistake has been made. Instead 
of ‘ Mr. Baily, of Mount Street, says flesh-coloured legs 
are madinissable,’ it should be, ‘ flesh-coloured legs are 
admissable ’—just the opposite. I have lately had several 
Cochin chickens of four to six months old at table; tho 
pullets were round and compact birds, but the cockerels 
rather leggy. The colour of some of them rather yellow 
before cooked, but of others not to be complained of. They 
were, however, my worst-coloured fowls that I killed. I am 
persuaded that the colour of my best light - feathered 
Cochins (none of which I have killed) would be unexcep¬ 
tionable in colour when killed, particularly those with pink- 
white legs. As to the eating of those already had to table, 
they were very superior to the common run of fowls—par¬ 
ticularly tender, juicy, and well-flavoiu’ed. This opinion 
has been expressed by several, who should be judges, who 
have partaken of them at my table. I am persuaded that 
this breed will stand their ground as a very useful, if not 
the most useful, fowl. A first cross with the Dorking I can 
well conceive to be a first-rate table fowl.” 
On the 9th, 10th, and lltli, took place sales by auction 
of drafts from three of the best Poultry Yards of Eng¬ 
land—Mr. Sturgeon’s, Mrs. Herbert’s, and Mr. Pun- 
chard’s. We know that it has been an opinion 
prevailing recently that the taste for Shanghaes is 
declining. This opinion we felt convinced was 
grounded upon the fact, that at various recent sales 
(Mr. Stevens has had thirty-six in about as many weeks) 
the prices have been low. On the other hand, we saw 
in this no other proof than that the public judgment 
had improved, for the low prices were those given for 
indifferent birds. The results of these three sales testify 
that we were correct, for all the good birds realized 
good prices. 
At Mr. Sturgeon’s sale, the 100 lots sold for 
£275 17s. 0d. At his sale, in November, 1852, the 
highest sum given for one bird was .£12 10s. for a 
cockerel, but this year, £13 10s. was given for Lot 39, 
“ Rich buff cockerel, woll-feathered, and of good weight; ” 
another cockerel, Lot 10, sold for £10 15s., and two of 
the hens, Lot 42,“ sister to the ‘ Queen,’ ” sold for £7 7s. ; 
and Lot 42, for £9 15s. A hen of 1851, winner of the 
