978 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Janttary 15. 
eleventh liour, can pront by their hnowleilge and expe¬ 
rience in tlio same degree as those that occupied tlie 
earlier morning? 
Many are of opinion, and \vc are of the numher, that 
the decisions of a single judge have several points to 
recommend them. lie may he selected with a special 
view to the classes to he entrusted to his judgment; he 
feels that no other shoulders than his own will share 
the responsihility, so that there is the greatest induee- 
ment carefully to estimate every j)oint at its proper- 
rate. Now, supposing these four gentlemen at Bir¬ 
mingham had each had their 325 pens, or, if such 
sub-division he objected to, each two had had 050, their 
awards would surely have been completed at a much 
earlier hour, and a double benefit of a saving of fatigue 
to themselves, and some limitation of the poultry’s 
occupancy of their pens might thus have been obtained. 
It has been our unpleasant duty to condemn what we 
consider errors in the appointments of judges, as well 
as errors in their decisions; and we have been told 
that our condemnation has not been sufficiently severe. 
We differ totally in that opinion, and for many reasons. 
Let it suffice for us to say, that we have a conviction 
which nothing can loosen, that if that very unenviable 
office of judge at these exhibitions is to be filled by 
competent persons, public confidence must be accorded 
to them, and their decisions once announced, individual 
criticism should be very tender in dealing with the 
awards, even when a mere difference of opinion as to 
relative merits may be the point in question. But 
when, on the other hand, strong facts and clear evidence 
would warrant the probability of partiality, or other 
injustice, then there is but one course to be taken by 
the dissentient, by an appeal to the committee, or man¬ 
agers, with the production of the evidence on which the 
charge is made. This is no less due to the calumniated 
party, than to the Society, its exhibitors, and the public 
at large. 
We are not here speaking of the Midland Counties 
Exhibition particularly, but of all generally; not retro¬ 
spectively, but as intimating the coui-se that justice 
would point out when such questions might unfor¬ 
tunately arise. Few will hesitate to admit, that, what¬ 
ever its distinction, the judicial office on such occasions 
has a larger share of responsibility attached to it than is 
lightly to be undertaken. Any steps, therefore, that might 
serve to reduce that responsibility would be in the right 
direction. Now, we have long thought that through the 
means and concurrence of the committees and managers 
of the different Poultry Societies, and the assistance of 
the large breeders and exhibitors which would be readily 
rendered, some standard might be gradually arrived at, 
according to which the points of excellence, properties, 
and characteristics of every member of the poultry-yard 
might be at length defined. We may be thought, per¬ 
haps, over-speculative in advancing such an opinion; 
but, although positive unanimity could not be, at first, 
hoped for, yet we strongly believe that there would bo 
far less difficulty in carrying out such a scheme than a 
first thought on the subject may suggest. 
Tlie great ditference of opinion as to rival claimants 
for the honours of tlie prize list will usually be found | 
to arise, not I'rom the question as to what should be 
regarded as ])oints of excellence, but from that of the 
relative ]iroportion in which each may bo regarded as 
possessing these same points. At present, however, 
great confusion prevails; and constantly is it asserted, 
that awards have resulted from peculiar notions of 
merit, and rules for decision. The part of a judge, were 
he able then to refer to such a standard as we have ■ 
suggested, and say “ Here is my authority for requiring | 
such and such points in a bird; and my judgment, [ 
therefore, is only exorcised in pronouncing which com¬ 
petitor possesses these points in the highest degree,”— 
the office would be less reluctantly assumed, and its 
decisions more generally satisfactory than they now 
appear. 
Many who are fully alive to the great benefit that 
would result to all who are any way concerned in these 
pursuits from the institution of such a standard of 
excellence, yet dread the difficulty that may exist in the 
way of its being practically carried into effect; but on 
that plea we might just as well make up our minds to 
the perpetuation of the Income Tax, or any other abo¬ 
mination, if no attempt is to be made towards improve¬ 
ment, because our path may not be free from all 
obstructions, and the horizon may, at times, be clouded 
over. 
Look at what has been done within the last few years 
in this branch of domestic economy, and who shall say 
that there is not good encouragement for a still further 
advance, both as regards the improvement of our stock, 
and the more systematic arrangement of those details to 
which we now look for the further development of excel¬ 
lence, no less with respect to profit than appearance. 
Many, we believe, and those the most competent, 
would lend their judgment to this work, difficult as the 
scheme may at first be thought, and The Cottage 
G.ardener would ever be at hand as a zealous ally. 
W. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
If a butcher, or baker, is found cheating the public 
by using false weights, he is taken before a magistrate, 
and fined; he loses his reputation for honesty, and his 
business suffers. In almost every department of trade 
the law has, in this respect, made provision for the 
protection of the purchaser. It matters not by what 
name the measure may be called, it is requisite it should 
contain what it is pi-ofessed to supply. A quarter of 
wheat is eight bushels; a last of rape-seed is ten 
quarters; and wlioever makes a purchase at Mark- 
Lane of a quarter of wheat, or a last of rape-seed, 
expects and insists upon receiving his eight bushels or 
his ten quarters. So is it in all commercial transactions 
with which we are acquainted. But we are sorry to 
find that Covent Garden Market is either beyond the 
reach, or is placed in defiance of all law. If we buy a 
bushel of apples, we of course expect to receive a bushel, 
even although they may be measured in a wicker 
