Januaby 13. 
THfi COTTAGE GARDENER. 
277 
About two feet ten indies seems the level most to be 
desired for all purposes. 
A petition for wider alleys between tbe lines of pens 
might be met by the same answer—Where was there 
room for it? But on other occasions, where the can¬ 
didates do not muster in equal force, the argument that 
what was sufficient at Birmingham will he sufficient 
there also, might prevail, even though space was at 
hand for a clear passage of at least twelve feet. Feel¬ 
ingly do we give evidence that a large majority of the 
Birmingham spectators would cheerfully assent to such 
an alteration, could it possibly he so managed; hut 
were it practicable to hold the poultry and cattle shows 
at different times, what luxury of space would he at¬ 
tainable ! Every bird might then he disposed with full 
effect; and though we know' not how our bovine and 
porcine friends would treat such a proposal, the poultry 
interest we are quite sure would not suffer. Some 
room, we think, might be gained by a reduction of the 
depth of pens; for supposing them, for fowls generally, 
to he three feet wide, two feet-and-a-half in depth would 
he amply sufficient for the threes and fours that are 
now exhibited, and save many a poke from the sticks 
and parasols of inquisitive beholders. All managers of 
future exhibitions will do well to follow the example 
here afforded, and secure the pens from any risk of cold 
draughts of wind, than which nothing can be more 
injurious. Ventilation from above is of course the 
most efficient precaution against anything of this kind. 
Would not dry sawdust have been a better material 
for littering down tlie pens than the red ochrey sand 
that so besmeared the plumage of the white and light- 
coloured birds ? And, in respect of food, might not a 
jiortion of boiled grain he found most useful, both as 
regards the digestive organs, which are likely to have 
their powers somewhat reduced during the long period 
of confinement, as also when we remember the very 
stimulating character of the diet on which, generally 
speaking, the fowls have been previously fed ? Now, 
boiled grain is both very tempting and very wholesome, 
and would be greedily taken when the most seductive mix¬ 
tures of barley and oatmeal failed to excite tho appetite. 
This leads us to an earnest appeal on behalf of th§,t 
portion of tho feathered race who are summoned together 
on these occasions, that the period of exhibition should, 
if possible, bo abridged. We do not presume to lay 
down any exact regulation as to bow long this, to them 
durance vile, should last; but we think that under no 
circumstances would it be necessary to exceed two days 
for exhibition, with two more for the labours of the 
judges, and the fowls’ dismissal to their homes; thus 
four days in all would be quite long enough to detain 
them in a condition so conti'ary to their usual state; 
and we believe that we are not wrong in thinking that 
many owners of valuable birds are strongly of our 
opinion. The mere pecuniary question is another 
matter, which we are not competent to enter on; but, if 
report speaks truly, the Birmingham Society might 
j possibly afford to set us another good example in this 
I respect, as it has already done in so many others. 
The impression produced on us by the continuous 
line of Hamburghs, Polands, Dorkings, and the varieties 
of Shanghaes, thirty or more pens of birds of the same 
form and plumage succeeding each other—though, of 
course, unavoidable—led us to speculating as to what 
could, probably, constitute the most j)erfect and, at the 
same time, most “ eyesome ” (to use d Cornishism) repre¬ 
sentation of the different varieties of fowl. Now, some 
six pens or so in each class would, I imagine, save the 
eye from being thus wearied with what, however excel¬ 
lent, proves at last monotonous, and would also com¬ 
bine, when carefully selected, every point of excellence 
that the several breeds could boast of. With the stimu¬ 
lus that poulti-y-keeping has lately, and still continues 
to receive, we cannot but think that such a scheme may 
be within the verge of possibility, and that, too, at no 
great distance of time, though, of course, on a perfectly 
different footing to any of our present meetings. 
To facilitate intercommimication, we would also sug¬ 
gest for adojition at the Birmingham, and all other large 
public exhibitions, that an “ Address Book ” should be 
kept at the secretary’s office, in which any visitor might 
enter his name and place of sojourn. We know many 
men from distant parts of England who would have 
rejoiced to interchange civilities at Birmingham, if they 
had known of each other’s presence and whereabout. 
But, after all, what we have been talking about, a 
little more space, a little more alteration in the pens, 
some sawdust and boiled grain, form the catalogue of 
all the minor points we can manage to find fault with 
at Birmingham; and the only pretext for dwelling so 
long on these comparatively trivial matters is, as we 
before observed, the certainty that the Midland Counties 
Poultry Meeting has been, and, as we hope, will long 
be, regarded as a safe model and authority for tho 
guidance of its juniors; and thus even such minutiae 
as we have alluded to become deserving of our careful 
consideration. But there are such individuals as judges, 
and there are, too, such facts as their decisions—awfid 
topics—only to be approached with awe and trembling; 
nevertheless, having got so far, to retreat is out of tlie 
question, and, in plain terms, we must have it out. 
Imprimis—let us remember, that to pronounce upon 
1300 pens at Birmingham, without adding tlie jhgeons, 
who were separately provided for, four gentlemen were 
occupied for thirteen hours. Now, without saying 
another word, tbe mere bodily fatigue and anxiety to 
arrive at a correct decision that must have inevitably ac¬ 
companied such continued labour, entitles them to our 
best thanks, and should be amply sufficient to account 
for any little difference, should sucli be found to exist, 
between their awards and our own pre-conceived, and 
often rather obstinate, opinions of what may seem most 
in consonance with our own ideas. 
We are merely speaking of what took place at Bir¬ 
mingham, as of what may, and does take place, in a 
greater or less degree, at every Poultry Show. Let us 
grant the decisions to be just aud fair; but we ask, is 
not the labour excessive; and is it possible that tlioso 
classes that come before them at tho thirteenth, not the 
