454 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Mahoh 10. 
The general arrangement of the classes varies from 
i that of previous years, the Hamburghs now commencing 
the list. Convenience in assigning the birds to the 
situation best suited to the different classes has pro¬ 
bably induced this alteration, since there is no appear¬ 
ance of an alphabetical, or other systematic classifi¬ 
cation. 
The prizes for “ the best cock and one pullet,” formerly 
j allotted to Dorkings and Spanish, are now withdrawn. 
: But we are glad to notice a fourth class “for any other 
j variety of the Polish fowl," thus doing away with the 
| inconsistency of compelling the entries of birds of un- 
; doubted Polish blood among the miscellaneous fowls. 
t Spanish come nest; then Dorkings, coloured and 
white; after these, Shangliaes or Cochin-China, in their 
four varieties; and these are again followed by Brahma 
Pootra fowls ; so here the oft-disputed, and still far from 
settled, question of tho distinctness of breed in these 
birds from the Shanghae appears to be sanctioned. We 
do not, however, think that fault should be found with 
this resolution of the Birmingham committee, though, 
in our opinion, a class as Grey Shangliaes would have 
better suited them, at any rate until an enumeration of 
proved specific distinctions had taken the place of mere 
vague assertion. 
Game fowls are as before, as also Malays, and tho 
class for any other distinct breed, and Bantams. In 
respect of the latter, we would have suggested, for the 
guidance of exhibitors, some notification with respect to 
the admissibility of “booted and tufted" specimens, to 
the White and Black classes, a recent decision at an 
important meeting rendering this desirable. Geese still 
stand as a single class, though we think they might 
have been divided as “ Embden,” “ Toulouse,” and 
“ Pied.” Turkeys have premiums for both old and 
young birds. Ducks have undergone no chango, but 
Guinea Fowls are passed over unnoticed. 
Pigeons are admirably arranged, the fancier of these 
birds having every inducement to exhibit without the 
j complicated sub-divisions that oftentimes confuse this 
I class. 
The amount of tiie several prizes has been increased 
throughout—first prizes for fowls standing uniformly at 
] T3; second at £2; and tho third at £\. But might 
not those of the more important breeds, such as Spanish, 
comprised in a single variety, and Dorkings in two only, 
have had some increase above the Hamburghs and 
Polish, to each of which, in their four varieties, no less 
a sum than =£48 is assigned, while Dorkings have only 
half this, and Spanish but one quarter; even less than 
Bantams ? No one could have fairly objected, if in the 
instance of Polish and Hamburghs the prizes had been 
reduced a pound, and the saving carried to increase the 
premiums of such birds as claim greater encouragement 
on account of their higher character, as not merely 
ornamental, but likewise economical poultry. 
I he I’igeon prizes are increased from 10s. and 5s. re¬ 
spectively, to 15s. and 10s. 
We will now proceed to notice the points in which 
the regulations have been altered from those of last 
year. And here we find that cottagers will now compete 
separately, and gratuitously, with the promise of 
“ liberal premiums to deserving specimens." This is 
assuredly well done, for it cannot be doubted, from 
the peculiar character of this great exhibition, such 
persons had the odds greatly against success under the 
former principle of commou competition. 
The clauses of two months bond fide ownership, of 
the selling price to be affixed, are both retained, but tho 
following is a wise addition, not merely saving time to 
the officials, but checking any tendency to act upon in¬ 
formation obtained after the entries are closed. “ No 
alteration whatever can be made in the certificates after 
they are received by the Secretary." 
The rate of subscription is raised to £ 1 for ex¬ 
hibitors; but the number of their pens is now limited 
to four, of which there may not be more than two in 
the same class; but “ exhibitors of Pigeons ‘only 
may enter six pens, but of these not more than two to 
be of the same variety. The rules by which the restric¬ 
tions of the number of pens lias hitherto been enforced 
has been so constantly evaded by the entrance of birds 
in the names of porsons having no real bond fide owner¬ 
ship in them, that we shall bo curious to observe how 
such infractions of the regulations will lie guarded 
against now that tho limitation has become still more 
stringent. A fine of three shillings will follow the 
omission of not sending birds that have been duly en¬ 
tered ; had this been of even larger amount, such a 
penalty could not be objected to, on account of the 
great inconvenience that carelessness in this respect 
entails upon those who are entrusted with the manage¬ 
ment. 
A strict rule also provides for the exclusion of all 
persons from Bingley Hall before tho opening of the 
Exhibition on the Tuesday morning, those only being 
excepted who may be actually engaged on official business 
within the building. 
The points have now been mentioned on which the 
classification of the birds, the amount of premiums, and 
the regulations of the present year, have undergone an 
alteration from those of 1853. The notification, how¬ 
ever, that “ seven silver vases, of the value of six gui¬ 
neas each, will be awarded, instead of money prizes, for 
the best pen of Pencilled Hamburgh, Spangled Ham¬ 
burgh, Polish, Spanish, Dorking, Cochin-China, and 
Game fowls,” betokens a degree of liberality on tho part 
of the committee that will he generally appreciated. 
The competition for these vases will be open to both the 
adult and the chicken classes in each. of the above 
breeds. 
Had space been at command for a class of single cock 
birds of the different families of any ago, one great 
object of Poultry Societies, the attainment of stud birds 
of the highest excellence, would havo been still more 
readily attained; but, while saying this, we are not 
forgetful of the reasons that probably forbado its insti¬ 
tution, for every inch of even the extensive area of 
Bingley Hall has, doubtless, many claimants for its 
occupation. 
