260 
THE COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 
January 0. 
shows may he capable of improvement,'so as to render 
them still more effective, in promoting the general intro¬ 
duction of better breeds of domestic poultry. 
Apart from all controversy, as to whether Shanghaes, 
Spanish, or Dorkings, may prove the most economical 
race for general purposes, it is evident that mere fancy, 
and the gratification of individual taste, would long ago 
[ have failed to support the present ardour for poultry¬ 
keeping, had not the further inducement of a good 
return for money so invested been realized wherever 
judgment and attention were duly combined. Tf ten 
guineas, twenty guineas, and thirty guineas were readily 
paid at Birmingham, for the choicer pens of Shanghaes, 
the ticlcet “ Sold," was also appended to a very largo 
majority of the Dorkings, and with an eagerness, too, 
tliat showed that the original outlay, thougli merely 
for farm-yard stock, was regarded as a profitable invest¬ 
ment. Tims Game Fowls, the different varieties of 
Haniburghs, Geese, Turkeys, and Ducks all participated 
in the general verdict of approbation passed on that 
occasion, and which stamped tlnit Exhibition wth the 
cliaracter of practical utility. 'The most economical 
production of eggs and fat chickens, then, appeared to be 
no less the calculation of buyers, than symmetry of form 
and beauty of plumage. 
The column of The Cottage Gardener, which may 
contain the Exhibition days of the Poultry Societies for 
tlie present year, 1852, will, therefore, we anticipate, be 
greatly extended. But, at the same time, care should be i 
taken not too far to subdivide the districts which are to 
be included within the area of the several operations. 
Such subdivision is an error the more to be guarded 
against, since its ill effects have long been visible in the 
case of many local Agricultural Societies, where they 
I have so multiplied, that towns in the immediate vicinity 
of each other have each their separate meeting. The 
objections referable to the one case are equally appli- 
’ cable to the other; and not to go through what might 
j be made a long catalogue of errors in such practice, it 
will be sufficient for our present purpose to observe, 
that in such cases, stock, whether Oxen, Sheep, Pigs, 
Horses, or Poultry, labour under the disadvantage, that 
instead of being placed in comparison with the picked 
birds of adjoining counties, they are, in too many cases, 
competitors only with their near neighbours. The con- 
; sequence is inevitable, and in Agricultural Societies 
has been very generally admitted. Exhibitors, if 
victorious, are too apt to rest satisfied with their local 
laurels, while, if unsuccessful, they aim at no higher 
mark than their more fortunate neighbour has already 
attained to. In either instance, that progressive im¬ 
provement, which year after year should bring about, is 
wanting, and ono most important end in tlie institution 
of these Associations falls to the ground. Hence tlie 
great advantage of a meeting such as that whicli has 
just been held at Birmingham. Not one county only, 
not even the Northern, Southern, Midland, Eastern, or 
Western divisions of England, were there alone re¬ 
presented, but from Cornwall to Essex, and from Hamp- 
j shire to Yorkshire, competitors of high caste entered the 
lists. The victors in such an assemblage may well, 
therefore, be regarded as models for oiar present imi¬ 
tation, whatever further development of excellence 
future years may effect. Every poultry-keeper, therefore, 
would find it answer his purpose to make a yearly 
excursion to Birmingham, or some of the other large 
exhibitions, and if, hitherto, he has thought sufficiently 
well of his own or his neighbour’s stock, he will 
probably, on his return from thence, admit that im¬ 
provement is at least jiossible ; however previously un¬ 
willing to believe that such could be the case. 
The conclusion of tlie present year, we are told, is 
likely to witness the institution of a Metropolitan 
Poultry Show at the Baker-street Bazaar, under the 
most favourable auspices both as to patronage and 
exhibitors. No locality can be better suited for this 
purpose, and under good management it can hardly fail 
of success. But wherever new Societies are, or soon 
may be in course of formation, it will be but prudent on 
the part of those who are interested in them, to consider 
that one great element of success will depend on the i 
area chosen for their operations. Now, speaking 
generally, if each English county had one such annual I 
meeting, the interest and success of poultry-keepers ’ 
would, we believe, bo best advanced. Some, indeed, of I 
tlie larger counties, such as Yorkshire, Cornwall, and 
Devonshire, might be divided, but Eutland and the | 
smaller counties might be united with adjoining ones, 
i and the total would thus remain about the same. 'Tliere 
would be many advantages from such an arrangement, i 
which would occupy too long a space for the present 
enquiry; the one objection, however, to which alone we j 
have now adverted, is at least worthy of our best con- j 
sideration. \ 
Let us now turn to another point. 'The time of 
holding these meetings, November and December, will, 
of course, be the months most to be desired for this 
purpose, and for '‘County" Shows, if wo may use this 
term as distinguished from the Birmingham and the 
future Metropolitan, it will be desirable so to arrange 
both that they may not clash in points of time, as also 
that just such an interval may intervene between them 
that birds exhibited at the one, may best be enabled to 
be presentable at the other. In counties far distant 
from each other this may not be generally necessary ; 
but in fixing their days it will be prudent, on the part of 
the managers, to select such as may not interfere with 
eitherthat at Baker-street, or Birmingham ; for, however 
little they might themselves care for coming into com¬ 
petition with these formidable bodies, they would often 
find their best birds gone in that direction, and their 
admission money also fall far short of what otherwise 
might have been the receipts. Whatever, indeed, we 
may individually think of these matters, it will be an 
act of prudence, no less than of courtesy, to give prece¬ 
dence in these two instances. Birmingham, especially, 
has done much for the poultry-world, and we should not 
prove ungrateful, even if competition in this respect 
were not out of the question, as regarded our own 
finances. 
