May 4 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
87 
hutrliavmg failed in this instance, we feel the more indebted 
to two correspondents who obligingly sent ns the following: 
“ The Exhibition was characterised by the greater pre- 
j ponderance, even than usual, of the Shanghae varieties.” 
“ Three pens of the so-called Brahma Pootras were ex¬ 
hibited, and differed from each other in plumage as much 
as birds claiming a distinct parentage could well do. Two 
of the birds in one pen were of a dusty-grey body-colour, 
and single combed ; the cock was a silver-grey, with hackles 
slightly marked with black, also single-combed. 
“ The plumage of the birds in the other two pens was 
more uniform, but one of the hens was nearly white, and 
had not any of the markings so much relied upon to prove 
the distinctness of the breed. In this pen, the cock had a 
comb somewhat similar to the Malay, it approached almost 
to a triple or pea-comb, the centre one being larger and 
higher than those at either side. I have had a Black¬ 
breasted Partridge Shanghae cock with a comb just 
similar. The birds were, in my estimation, deficient in 
form, and not to be compared, in that respect, to good 
specimens of the Buff variety of Shanghae. 
“ Some of the exhibitors of Spanish fowls found great 
fault at the arrangement, or rather mis-arrangement, made 
for their favourites, in which you will, no doubt, agree, when 
informed that nearly every good pen of Spanish was con¬ 
signed to the ground tier, not from want of room, as a third 
more cages could have been added by placing them closer 
together, and allowing a passage between every ten or twelve, 
instead of between every two. 
“ The judgments, too, in this class, were particularly (in 
my opinion) erroneous. The first prize, for Lot 144, was 
quite right; but how pen 129 could have been awarded the 
second prize, in preference to several very superior pens, is 
riot so easily accounted for; neither can 1 reconcile the 
justice of the awards to my mind, when I compare the cock 
exhibited in pen 171 with the one exhibited in pen 155; 
the former had a sprig upon a falling comb, his wattles bad 
been torn, and were, in consequence, lumpy and imperfect, 
and he carried Iris tail crookedly. Altogether, he was a very 
inferior specimen, and admitted by his owner to have been 
sent in for sale, and not for competition. 
“ Size, I imagine, was the point the judges took into con¬ 
sideration mostly in the Shanghae class, as the inmates of 
the prize pens were not at ali uniform in coloui'. The best 
lot was in pen 19 (Buffs), but they arrived too late for com¬ 
petition. The Dorking class was well represented, and con¬ 
tained some excellent specimens. The Turkeys and Geese 
were good, and so were the Ducks, particularly some of the 
Aylesbury. The pen of Rouen Bucks, No. 274, was the 
best I have yet seen in Ireland.” 
NEWCASTLE, NORTHUMBERLAND, AND 
DURHAM POULTRY SHOW. 
This Society held its Third Annual Exhibition in the 
Corn Exchange, Newcastle, on the 19th and 20th of April; 
and, taking into consideration the unfavourable period of 
the year for holding such an exhibition, it was the best 
show — whether we look at the quantity or quality of 
the birds entered for competition—which has ever been 
held in the North of England. The arrangements, made 
in the best possible manner, were, we understand, under 
the superintendence of Mr. Trotter, of Bywell, one ot the 
Honorary Secretaries The judges were the Rev. Robt,. 
Pullein, Kerby West, Thirsk; J. H. Travis, Esq., York; and 
Edward Bond, Esq., Leeds. 
The Shanghae breed was the cause of the greatest compe¬ 
tition, and, as usual, attracted the largest share of attention. 
There were fifty-nine pens entered in the seven classes into 
which the breed was divided. When we mention that a large 
I portion of the birds had been bred from the stocks of Fairlie, 
Fletcher, Gilbert, Sparham, Collinson, and Capt. Snell, the 
best idea will be given of their beauty and high quality. In 
the first class there were thirteen competitors, and the 
prize, it will be seen, was carried off by H. Marshall, 
Esq., of Durham. His birds were acknowledged by all 
having any pretence to a knowledge of such matters to be 
the finest specimens of the breed ever shown in the North 
of England. The cock, “ Sir Charles Napier,” weighs 14lbs., 
and wa3 bred by Mr. Fairlie, of Newmarket—the hens 
weigh 111 lbs. and 12 lbs. respectively. The birds exhibited 
by Clias. F. Perkins, Esq., and to which the second prize 
was awarded, were universally admired. For beauty of 
plumage they were perhaps superior to Mr. Marshall’s but 
they did not possess that shortness of leg, fulness of breast, 
and squareness of body which characterised the winning 
birds. In class two (cinnamon or buff) Mr Perkins, with a 
couple of pens of splendid birds, was placed both first and 
second. In the white variety the birds exhibited were not 
deemed worthy of a first prize. In class 7, Cockerel and two j 
Pullets, hatched in 185.1, there was a strong competition— 
no less than 29 pens having been entered. The first prize 
was awarded to Mr. Marshall for three splendid birds of the 
Vulture-hocked variety—the same to which the first prize 
was awarded at Darlington in December last. Taking the 
large number of birds exhibited in these classes, both for 
beauty of plumage, shape, and size, there was a decided 
improvement over the exhibitions of previous years. In the 
Spanish Class there were many good birds, but the breed 
was not so well represented as last year. Mr. W. Liglitfoot, 
of Newcastle, maintained the high position be won at Dar¬ 
lington. Mr. Powell, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Trotter, and Mrs. 
Bell, also took prizes. Amongst the Dorkings there were 
some good birds shown, but they were not present in such 
large numbers as they have been in former years. This is 
to be wondered at, considering that the many useful qualities 
of this fine class are every day beginning to be more appre¬ 
ciated. The prize in the coloured class was deservedly 
awarded to Mr. J. Graham, of West Jesmond, a cottager. 
The [birds which took the prizes in the other classes be 
longed to Mr. Lambert, Mr. Swarbcck, and Mr. Janies; they 
were all excellent in their way. The show of Game birds, 
though small, was truly handsome, and attracted a large 
share of attention. Mr. Hudson, Mr. Charlton, and Mr. J. 
H. Smith, were the prize takers. There were some beauti¬ 
ful specimens of the tiny Bantam breeds exhibited. The 
chief prize was awarded to Mr. John Gray; Capt. Snell 
being placed second. Geese and Ducks were only shown in 
small numbers, owing no doubt, in some degree, to the un 
favourable season of the year. 
There was a large display of Turkeys; some splendid 
specimens of the American breed, shown by Mr. Trotter, 
attracted universal attention. There were 58 entries of 
extra stock. The first prize was awarded to Mr. James 
Richardson of York, for nine Shanghae pullets (marked at 
80s each), and the second to Mr. H. Marshall, for a pen of 
chickens, bred from prize birds in February last, they each 
weighed about a pound and a half. There was a beautiful 
show of Pigeons. The Almond Tumblers belonging to j 
Mr. G. Fawdon, of Gateshead, could not have been well 
surpassed. Prizes were also awarded for hen and duck 
eggs, but how the judges decided on the merits of those 
sent in by the 19 competitors, we are at a loss to imagine. ! 
Neither the Hamhurglis, Polish , nor Malay, fowls were 
well represented. The season of the year was against their 
being in any great numbers. There .was no award for Malays; 
Mr. Trotter, Mr. Surtees, Mr. Hume, and Mr. Millon, took 
the chief prizes for Hamburghs; and Mr. Collingwood and 
Mr. Trotter for Polish.— (From a Correspondent, and abridged 
/'com the Durham Advcrtizer.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
William Adams.— The Authoress of ‘'My Flowers ” begs to inform 
“ C.,” and all those kind friends who have so benevolently administered 
to the W'ants of that great sufferer, that he expired on Saturday, April 22, 
after bodily anguish of the most severe and distressing kind. The widow 
desires to express her deep and grateful thanks for all the help her hus¬ 
band received during his protracted sufferings. [The Editor of Tub 
Cottage Gardener wishes to add his thanks to those who have grati¬ 
fied him by making him the agent of their charity. In accordance with 
“ C.’s ” wish, he adds, that the Authoress of “ Mv Flowers ” made ad¬ 
vances to William Adams in anticipation of “ C.’s ” bounty.] 
Caterpillars on Gooseberry and Currant Bushes ( A.G .).— 
The most effectual application is white Hellebore powder, applied by 
means of a dredging box. Two or three applications after intervals of a 
day or two is usually quite sufficient to destroy them all. 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridce, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar ; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, of Church Hill, Walthamstow, in the County of 
Essex, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of Christ 
Church, City of London.—May 4th, 1854. 
