224 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 22 
Batli, nor lias any, perchance, ever drawn together so many of 
the aristocracy. Although such numerous other attractions 
were taldug place all around, still it was the subject of uni¬ 
versal remark, that the popularity of a Poultry Show “ had 
not by any means decreased;" both the tents being thronged 
to excess during the whole time the exhibition was open to 
the public. The band of the Coldstream Guards enlivened 
the whole proceedings, and the fashionable groups that con¬ 
tinually encircled them proved how much their services 
were appreciated. On entering this ancient city, we were 
not a little surprised to find whole avenues of Fir-trees 
(that had been cut from the neighbouring woods) planted 
temporarily, for this occasion, in the public streets ; whilst 
scarcely a single house was to be seen that did not sport its 
wreaths of laurels, and banners of “all kinds and de¬ 
scriptions” waved merrily in the breeze. Most of these 
bore reference to agricultural success; many to the existing 
war; whilst one party, who evidently kept the “main 
chance” constantly in view, displayed this significant motto, 
“You are all most welcome, and we hope to see you again." 
At night the illumination was general, the streets being 
crammed with sight-seers. But to return to our especial 
subject—the show of poultry. 
On visiting this exhibition about an hour after it had 
opened, great was our surprise to find many hundreds 
of gaily attired individuals, all still intent on obtaining 
admission, nor in spite of the unwearying efforts of the 
“money takers” could the rush for some hours be ma¬ 
terially lessened. As a necessary consequence, the interior 
was incredibly crowded, though the best of humour 
prevailed, though tried, in many instances, by some un¬ 
looked-for injury to dress, the result of the pressure to enter 
at the doors. The plans of the managing committee were 
very excellent; everything showed itself to be the conse¬ 
quence of mature reflection and good taste; the fowls were 
well attended, and showed as a whole in far better con¬ 
dition than was anticipated. The Black Spanish class must 
have entailed no little trouble on the judges, for but very 
rarely has so meritorious a class (on the whole) competed. 
The Grey Dorkings were the most perfect, as a whole, we 
remember to have seen ; indeed, it is quite evident they are 
becoming (and very justly) favourites with the public. 
Culture and general care, has much improved them ; hence, 
we now see much finer birds of this class than formerly. 
The first and second prize birds happening to be con¬ 
secutive numbers, drew so many observers, that it was 
only with great difficulty that any one could pass down 
the avenue, and, no doubt, many an anxious fair one 
gave up the attempt in sheer hopelessness. The White 
Dorkings showed that improvement has extended itself in 
this direction also. The first prize pen were very large ; the 
second, in the highest possible condition ; but the third prize 
fowls were shown in worse feather, and the most out-of¬ 
condition, we remember to have yet seen ; had it been other¬ 
wise, no doubt their position would have been better on the 
prize list. Deterioration, in every respect, marked the Buff 
Cochin classes; and we could only reflect with sorrow on 
the sadly deficient character of the bulk of them ; even the 
prize pens were not like those of by-gone days. The first 
prize pen of Partridge, contrariwise, were excellent. In the 
chickens of the latter class, no doubt the Piev. G. F. Hodson 
lost every chance of success from the fact that too many 
fowls appeared in his pen; for which reason alone they 
were “ disqualified.” A little attention to the “ rules ” 
would be of much benefit to exhibitors generally. The 
White Cochin classes were well filled, and the fowls were of 
good character. In the class for Blacks, but few appeared, 
and these of no especial merit. In the so-called Brahma 
class, there were but three entries, for three prizes, one of 
which was withheld. In the Game classes, the inattention 
of the exhibitors to properly matching their pens lost 
many otherwise excellent birds every chance of success. 
The Golden-pencilled Hamburghs were mostly in bad con¬ 
dition, as were the Polands generally. The Ducks were ex¬ 
cellent, of the Aylesburys ; but the ltouens were not well re¬ 
presented, the birds shown being vastly inferior in size to 
those of former years. The Geese were excellent; as were 
also the Turkies. The Bantam classes were well filled, and 
contained some very first-rate birds. The Pigeons, as a 
whole, were very superior, and the competition, therefore, 
unusually severe. To ensure satisfactory awards, tho 
services of G. Andrews, Esq., of Dorchester; William 
Symonds, Esq., of Weymouth; and Edward Hewitt, Esq., 
of Birmingham, were obtained, and to these gentlemen the 
Committee expressed their personal thanks for the care 
aud the discrimination with which they had fulfilled their 
arduous duties. We subjoin the prize list of successful ex¬ 
hibitors, and feel assured, it will be very long before the 
recent exhibition will be forgotten by the numerous amateurs 
by which it was attended; and from the great influx of 
strangers, no doubt the benefits to most of the tradesmen 
were eminently satisfactory. 
Class l.— Spanish. —5. First prize, Mr. H. D. Davies, Spring Grove 
House, Hounslow, Middlesex. Age not known. 13. Second prize, Mr. 
Joseph G. Rake, Bristol. Age, one year. 8. Third prize, Mr. William 
Plummer, Brislington, near Bristol. Age, cock about fourteen months; 
hens twenty-two months. Commended. —10. Mr. Matthew W. Rellett, \ 
24, Nelson-street, Birmingham. Age, hens, 1852; cock, 1853. 
Class 2.— Spanish Chickens.— 24. First prize, Mr. William Plum- j 
mcr, Brislington, near Bristol. Hatched January 17, 1854. 25. Second j 
prize, Mr. William Plummer, Brislington, near Bristol. Hatched ! 
February 25, 1854. 
Class 3.— Dorking (Coloured). — 26. First prize, Mrs. Elizabeth j 
George, Rookery, Chaldon, Croydon, Surrey. Age, about twelve months. | 
27. Second prize, Mr. H. D. Davies, Spring Grove House, Hounslow, j 
Middlesex. Age, not known. 30. Third prize, Mr. W. G. H. Breavington, ' 
Vicarage Farm, Hounslow, Middlesex. Age, thirteen months. Highly ! 
Commended. —33. Mr. Edward Pope, Great Toller, Dorset. Age, one 
year and upwards. Commended. —42, Mr. Henry Blandford, Sandbridge, 
Melksham, Wilts. Age, cock three years ; hens two years. 
Class 4.—Dorking Chickens (Coloured).— 80. First prize, Miss 
Steele Perkins, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. Age, January 3, 1854. 
63. Second prize, Mr. H. 1). Davies, Spring Grove House, Hounslow, 
Middlesex. Age, hatched January 14, 1854. Highly Commended .— 
64. Mr, H. D. Davies, Spring Grove House, Hounslow, Middlesex. 
Age, hatched January 14, 1854. Commended. —66. Mr. John R. Rod- 
bard, Aldwick Court, Wrington, Somerset. Age, March 1, 1854. 
Class 5. — Dorking (White).— 85. First prize, Mr. Charles Edwards, 
Brislington, Bristol. Age, over one year. 82. Second prize, Mr. Joseph 
Clift, Dorking, Surrey. Age, about two years and two months. 89 . 
Third prize, Mr. Joseph Jennens, Moseley, near Birmingham. Aged. 
Class 6.—Dorking Chickens (White).— Qi. First prize, Mr. George 
Vivian, Claverton Manor, near Bath. Age, twelve weeks and five days. 
91. Second prize, Mrs. John Longman, Lyde Farm, Yeovil, Somerset. 
Age, four months. 
Class 7 .— Cochin-China (Buff or Cinnamon).—124. First prize, Mr. 
Cyrus Clark, Street, near Glastonbury. Age, various. 120. Second 
prize, Mr. John Fairlie, Cheveley Park, Cambridgeshire. Age, cock about 
one year ; hens, various. 116 . Third prize, Mr. James Crane, jun., Tol- 
puddle, Dorset. Age, two years and six months. Commended. —112. 
Mrs. Henry Fookes, Whitchurch, Blandford, Dorset. Age, cock and 
hen twelve months, hen twenty-three months. 
Class 8 .— Cochin-China Chickens (Buff or Cinnamon).— 147 . First 
prize, Mr. John R. Rodbard, Aldwick Court, Wrington, Somerset. 
Hatched January 16 , 1854. 179* Second prize, Mr. John Dorrell, Wel¬ 
lington Road, Slough, Bucks. Hatched January 2, 1854. Highly Com - 
mended. —175. Mr. Henry Lucas Bean, Ashcott, Glastonbury. Age, 
cockerel and pullets February 22, 1854. Commended. —141. Mr. William 
Thomas Squire, Barton Place, near Mildenhall, Suffolk. Age, twenty- 
two weeks. 145. Mr. John R. Rodbard, Aldwick Court, Wrington, 
Somerset. Hatched March 1, 1854. 
Class 9 .— Cochin-China (Brown, Partridge, or Grouse).—185. First 
prize, Rev. Grenville F. Hodson, Banwell, Somerset. Age, thirteen 
months. 1 89 . Second prize, Mr. John Fairlie, Cheveley Park, Cam¬ 
bridgeshire. Age, various, above one year. 192 . Third prize, Mr. J. 
F. Chater, Haverhill, Sutfold. Age, one year. 
Class 10 .— Cochin-China Chickens (Brown, Partridge, or Grouse). 
—195. First prize, Mr. James Garrod, Cheveley, Cambridgeshire. Age, 
fourteen weeks and four days. 196 . Second prize, Capt. W. H. Snell, 1 
St. Swithin’s Lane, London. Age, cockerel January 8, 1854, pullet 
February 15, 1854, pullet February 27 , 1854. 194. Disqualified from an i 
excess in the number of birds. Rev. Grenville F. Hodson, Banwell, 
Somerset. Age, four months and one week. 
Class 11.— Cochin-China (White).—203.* First prize, Mr. Cyrus 
Clark, Street, near Glastonbury. Age, one hen unknown, cock and hen 
sixteen months. 199 . Second prize, Mrs. Sarah Rebecca Herbert, 
Powich, Worcestershire. Age, cock hatched in 1850, hens in 1852. 197. 
Third prize, Rev. G. H. H. Hutchinson, Charlton, Malmesbury, Wilts, i 
Age, cock, young Prince , eleven months, hen eighteen months, hen ten 
months. 
Class 12.— Cochin-China Chickens (White). — 215. First prize, 
Mr. James Turner, Northbrook, Exeter. Age, March 23, 1854. 216 . 
Second prize, Mr. James Buckley, Pennyfai House, Llanelly, Carmar¬ 
thenshire. Age, cock and pullet first week in March, pullet Feb. 21 . 
Class 13.— Cochin-China (Black). — 21Q. First prize, Mr. John 
Fairlie, Cheveley Park, Cambridgeshire. Age, above one year. 218. 
Second prize, Rev. G. H. H. Hutchinson, Charlton, Malmesburj , > Wilts. 
Age, cock, the Black Prince , nine months, hen eleven months, hen nine 
months. (Third prize withheld.) 
Class 14.— Brahma Pootra.— 225. First prize, Mr. John Fairlie, 
Cheveley Park, Cambridgeshire. Age, above one year. 224. Second | 
prize, Mr, John Fairlie, Cheveley Park, Cambridgeshire. Age, above 
one year. (Third prize withheld.) 
