November 0. 
COUNTllY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
97 
And now comes the gist of my letter. During these 
I transitions of fancy, 1 certainly got experience, and lost 
money and patience. But then there was a good time 
! coming;” for an amateur, taking avast fancy for some birds 
of mine, exchanged for White-faced/S/iwo'.s/o These, during 
! the summer, gave me lots of eggs, and of enormous si/.e; 
hut the winter’s cold destroyed the best hen, and neither of 
the others looked as before. I was otfered as much as they 
cost me, and I sold them : in ti'uth, I got afraid of their 
being too delicate. 
After all these changes, the main question is. What binls 
arc best adapted, by their habits and usefulness, to tlie 
reiiuiremeuts of a person having a moderately-sized stable- 
yard in a city, we will say some sixteen feet square ? The 
Cochins are invaluable as winter layers, and contineraont in 
no degree alters their virtues as egg producers; but the 
horrid howl of the male bird makes their presence in a city 
rather objectionable (this is a drawback). Well, now, if 
your Cochin cock will not allow the neighbours poac(i and 
quiet, get rid of him ; keep the hens by all means, and take 
to another quiet, homely sort. Not the Bnnlants: they will not 
do; not tho Snllnn, the Chittiujoiuj, nor Ftarmi<inn ; but my first 
love, the blue, now called Andalusian. These I have found 
to be, when nicely bred, a prolific as well as a handsome 
bird; and, indeed, I hope next season to rear birds of very 
large size, and as spangly as a Hamburgh. And hero 1 
take my stand amid the Cochin and Andalusian; the latter, 
hardy, handsome, contented, and prolific; and the former, 
too well known to be descanted on. 
And, as a. finale, will any one tell me all about an Andalu¬ 
sian, Ac. ? And when he bargains for birds from a distant 
stranger, how he manages to transact business ? I should 
like to know the fixed rule; it is an important ^loint i !— 
W. II. 
DORCHESTER POUI/J’RY SHOW. 
If any proof were necessary of the real utility of the 
poultry movement, and if such were demanded, we might 
triumphantly point to the manifest improvement in all 
classes of fowls sent for exhibition; and those who were 
fortunate enough to be present at the above Show would be 
witnesses in favour of our assertion, when Ave say, that tliere 
never was an exhibition Avhei-e inferior birds were so few: 
almost every class was a task to judge, and much encou¬ 
ragement is atibrded to amateurs by the fact, that the prizes 
and pieces of plate went to all parts of tlie kingdom. There 
were thirteen of tho latter given for competition, inde¬ 
pendent of the money prizes ; it is, therefore, no marvel if 
the best birds and best names appeared in the arena. 
Tiie agriculturists of Dorsetsbiro set an example worthy 
of imitation by their brethren, in the interest they take in 
their poultry, and in their attendance at the ShoAv, where so 
much real knowledge is to be acquired on the subject. In 
a farm-yard, much tliat is picked up by poultry would other¬ 
wise be wasted, or turn to no account; and although many 
may not feel disposed to study the nicer points of some 
breeds, or to make fowds a first consideration, yet, if the 
same can be said of the occupants of the yard and pond, as 
may be of the fitld or stall, that by carefully selecting the 
breed, the same quantity of food may bo made to produce at 
least a third more than it will if given to inferior animals; 
then, Ave think, everybody interested in a farm shoubl visit a 
Poultry ShoAV, and consider it as a book from Avhioh valuable 
information might be gleaned. Let us, for instance, take 
the leastti'oublesome of all poultiy—Ducks and Geeso. For¬ 
merly, in moderate condition, the former of tho Aylesbury 
breed Avere considered good if they AA^eighed each, and 
the latter 16 tbs. Now, Mr. Davies shoAved six ducks Avhich 
Aveighed 45 11)S., and two geese dfilbs. Mrs. TI. Fookes, Avho 
took the second i>rize for geese, Avith capital birds, showed 
a hen turkey Aveighing 18 tits. Those remarks are useful, if 
the subjects of them are only considered as articles of food ; 
but if intended for market, Avhether sold by AA'cight or not, 
I it must be apparent to all that such additions to bulk must 
greatly add to value. 
We will noAV take a short revicAV of the birds exhibited in 
the different classes. 
There Avere eleven pens of old Spanish, very good birds. 
Tlie first prize and the piece of plate Avere taken by Mr. 
Davies ; the second Avent to IMi-. I’lummer. In chicken, 
Mr. Lock' took the first, and Mr. Plummer the second. 
Tho adult Itorldnijs v/ei'Q excellent; but most of them 
very deep in moult. Mrs. 11. Fookes took the first prize, 
and the cup ; the second Avas aAvarded to iMr. Davies. 
We have seldom seen so good a display of Dorking chicken, 
and the comjietition Avas so close, it might almost be termed 
“ a dead heat" betAveen the first and second pens. T’liey 
Avere awarded to Messrs. Loder and Davies. 
The adult White Dorkings, like their coloured name¬ 
sakes, Avere very ragged, some almost naked. Sir. Symonds 
took the first prize. The chicken made ample amemls, and 
a class of lAnusnal merit deserved richly many high com¬ 
mendations. JMrs. Mills took first; Mr. Bone second. 
Wo alAvays expect superior Buff and Cinnamon Cochins 
in Dorsetshire, and Ave were not disappointed. IMr. Crane 
took the first piize and cup for his adtdt pen, hard run by 
Mr. Steggall. Tho chicken Avore capital, so I'ar as the 
pullets Avere concerned; but there is a great falling off in 
the quality of tlie young cocks. Mr. Steggall took first; Mr. 
George Gilbert second. 
Lord de Blaipiii'e took first prize AA’ith a very good pen of 
Grouse birds. 
The Wliite Cochin chicken Avere good. Tho prizes Avent 
to Messrs. Bodbard and Gandy. 
Brahma Pootras Avere a neAV introduction to the Dor¬ 
chester ShoAv ; but, nevertheless, they brought tAventy-three 
pens. Two first prizes and the cup Avere gained by Mr. 
Davies, and' a first and tAvo seconds by filr. Devenisli. Mr. 
Manlield shoAved good A/i(/ay,s, as usual; hut in the adult 
class lie Avas second to Mr. Buncombe. He took all the 
other prizes. 
There Avere some pens of Game disqu.alified for legs of 
divers colours ; but good birds Avere plenty. Messrs. Crane, 
Ensor (4), and Manfield, had the first luize ; and Messrs. 
Mousey (2), Ensor, and MeAv, the second. Mr. JManlleld 
gained the piece of plate. 
The Rev. T. L. Fellowes took first and second for Golden- 
spangled Ilamhurghs; and Mrs. H. Fookes one second. 
We Avere sorry to see some hen-tailed cocks exhibited in these 
classes. Of the four prizes in Silver-iiencilled, Mr. Botham 
took one first, and Mr. W. Symonds, jun., all the others. 
Need Ave add, he took the cup. 
Tho first prize for Golden-pencilled Avere taken by IMrs. 
Mills and Mr. Mcav; both the second by Mr. Manfield. 
They Avero capital birds, and Mrs. IMills gained the plate. 
Mr. Botham Avas first, and Messrs. Mcav and Henning 
second, in Silver-pencilled Hamburghs. 
Tho Golden Polands Avere not sti'oug either in numbers or 
quality. Mrs. Mills and Mr. Symonds took the prizes. 
Mr. EdAvards Avas successful, and had the cup for his black 
Avith Avhite topknots. The Silver Avere very good, and the 
prizes in these classes Avere aAA'arded, the first to IMrs. IMills, 
IMessrs. EdAvards (3) and Symonds; second, to Mrs. Mills, 
IMessrs. Edivards and Symonds. 
There Avas an excellent display of Bantams of CA'ery sort. 
Mr. Goodenough gained tho cup. Other fii'st prizes Avent 
to Messrs. Leno and Saunders; second to Messrs. Cooper, 
I/eno, and Moav. 
Our report will be almost a continued panegyric; but Ave 
are bound to say we never saAV the Geese equalled. Mr. 
Davies took first Avith a pen weighing 39 tbs. tAvo birds; and 
Mrs. Fookes the second, Avith a pair that Aveighed 38 tbs. 
The Aylesbury Pucks were still belter, and avo must think 
they have almost reached perfection. Mr. Davies took both 
prizes Avith six ducks weighing 4.6 tbs, Tho Jtouens are 
keeping jiace Avith them, and Messrs. Goodenough and 
Crane took the prizes. Messrs. Crane and Dale Avere suc¬ 
cessful in (he other varieties. 
There Avas a cup ofiei’ed for the best Cochin cock, bred in 
the county of Dorset, and this Avas gained by Mr. W. Man- 
field. Another, for tho best Dorking cook, by Mr. Henning. 
One for the Iavo best pens of Ducks, Aylesbury and Rouen, 
by the Rev. T. L. FelloAves. 
We feel Ave have hardly done justice to this unusually 
good ShoAV; but Ave should tire our readers if Ave enume¬ 
rated everything Avorthy of notice. 
The indefatigable secret.ary, filr. AndrcAvs, was, as usual, 
untiring, and successful in his cflbrts to render the exhibition 
