70 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May'4. I 
strong easterly wind, and we had seen ice an-eighth-of- 
an inch thick. The Asparagus was purple, and its tips 
soft; the largest Gooseberries were white, and mere 
| bags of moisture ; the Potutoes were black and shrivelled 
| up; the Cherries were as dark-coloured, and looking as 
if violently bruised ; the eye of every Strawberry-bloom 
was also black ; the Apple-blossoms, and even those of 
the hardier Barberry, were browned as if scorched. 
This, one instance only out of thousands, needs no 
farther comment; but much do we fear, from letters 
which have reached us, that the fruits and other garden 
crops not only near London, but in the east and south 
of England, have suffered most disastrously from that 
night's frost. 
Fi.owkrs and Poultry are to combine their attractions 
at an Exhibition to be held at Exeter, on the 18th and 
i 19tli of May next. The concise arrangement of this 
prize-list deserves very favourable mention; we have 
rarely, indeed, seen a similar document that excelled it 
in this respect. Dorkings and Shanghaes are to be 
represented in the chicken classes; but other breeds 
appear to have no limitation as to age. Single 
specimens of Spanish, Dorking, Shanghaes, or Game 
fowls, are also invited; an innovation, indeed, on the 
, usual order of things, but certainly conducive in a high 
I degree to the interests of poultry-keepers generally. 
We are at a loss, however, for reasons that should limit 
competitors in the “ Pigeon” classes to Carriers, Almond 
Tumblers, Fantails, and Jacobins. It would be better 
to admit all recognised varieties, or, otherwise, say there 
is a want of room, money, or inclination. 
The locality of the Cheltenham Meeting for the 
present year, which is fixed for the 14th and 15th of 
June, has been changed from the Gardens of the old 
Royal Spa, to those at Pittville. Few situations hold 
out greater inducements for a Poultry Show than 
Cheltenham, and the acknowledged success of the 
Exhibition of 1853, will justify, we most sincerely trust, 
the liberal offers of the present schedule. The first 
prizes for the principal breeds, are £6, or a silver cup of 
that value; Slmnghaes, Cinnamon and Buff, Partridge- 
coloured, White and Black, with Dorkings and Spanish, 
arc those that receive so tempting an invitation, nor are 
their chickens forgotteu. Grey Shanghaes, here termed 
“ Brahma Pootras,” Game, and Malays, have T3 each for 
their champions; while Hamburghs and Polands, in 
their several varieties, fall to Tl. Class 24, for any 
other variety of fowls, has the wise provision attached | 
“ thorough-bred ;” and the Pigeon classes, though some¬ 
what curtailed, conclude with an allotment of three 
extra first-prizes to those not specially enumerated. 
The attention of the Secretaries, Messrs. Jessop, (on 
whom, we apprehend, the whole responsibility devolves) 
to the varied details of management on former occasions 
of previous exhibitions, will, doubtless, induce numerous 
entries, and secure from any risk of pecuniary loss those 
who proved themselves such zealous friends to the 
denizens of our poultry-yards. 
As the season of Poultry Exhibitions has commenced, 
with abundant assurance that they will be as numerous 
and as well sustained as they have been during the pre¬ 
ceding two years, we wish to raise a warning voice 
relative to one or two points concerning them. 
First in importance is the statement of chickens ' 
age 3 We are quite aware that the judges are to give ; 
the prizes to the best pens of chickens which conform : 
to the regulations and requirements of the prize list, ! 
but those regulations, by calling upon the, owners to j 
state the age of their chickens, give evidence that age j 
is important to be known; and if important to be ; 
known, it is important only in proportion as it is 
accurate. The importance arises from two sources; j 
namely, that it is a guide to purchasers as to the size ol 
the birds when full grown; and if two pens are of 
equal merit in all points, the award of the judges would 
probably be influenced in favour of the youngest birds. 
Unfortunately, we know of many false statements, 
and our experience is confirmed by that of others. One 
of our most triumphant exhibitors, says, in a letter now 
before us;—“I know cases where chickens shown as 
birds of 1853 were hatched in November and De- , 
cember 1852.” Captain Snell, writing to us on the 
28th of March, says:—“We all know to what extent 
the deception was practised last year. I am told, an 
amateur stated, about a fortnight ago, that his chickens 
! (Shanghaes) of this year, weighed 2^ lbs. Will auy 
one believe this? I have a very fine brood hatched the 
j 8th of January, and the largest specimen only weighs 
now one pound and nine ounces.” 
In making these observations, we are not forgetful 
that where chickens are hatched within a week or two 
of each other it is almost impossible, without some 
special marks, to be able to select the members of one 
brood from those of another, when both are mingled 
together late in the season; but we tliink such marks 
might be easily adopted by intending exhibitors. One 
nick filed iu the beak of March birds ; two nicks on the 
samo side in the beak of April birds; a nick on each 
side for May birds, and so on, would prevent any great 
mistake, and it would be easy to adopt marks that would 
secure even greater accuracy. 
On the part of the Committees of Poultry Shows, we 
J recommend them to be particular in requiring a state- 
j ment of the chickens ages on the day of exhibition, and 
| that that statement should be made on. a printed form 
pledging the exhibitor’s honour to a belief in the 
accuracy of the statement. We are quite aware that 
this will be no check upon the intentionally fraudulent, 
but it will be a salutary check upon even more than the 
careless, by calling more decided attention to the state¬ 
ment—the attention both of the exhibitor and his 
neighbours. 
Whilst we ask for these salutary checks, we also ask 
for an avoidance of a hasty judgment being pro¬ 
nounced that chickens are older than they are stated to 
be. No one who has experience as a poultry-breeder 
but must have witnessed broods that have surpassed 
rapidly in size and development those much their 
