Decejibeh 4. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
109 
I that make one up, we advise you by all means to visit 
the Birmingham and Midland Counties Exhibition. 
“ Sir,” said a parishioner to the clergyman of a rui'al 
district, after the usual Sunday morning service, “ you 
have preached that same sermon once a year for the 
last ten years.” “And so 1 will, my friend, and for the 
' next ten, unless you jiut in practice that which it 
inculcates,” was the reply. 
j The same may bo said of many of our poultry efforts, 
\ and we shall be disposed to give the same answer. 
After January there will be no more poultry shows 
1 for some months, and even now, those who wish to 
. breed from prize, or highly esteemed, birds, must 
separate them from others, in order to be sure they can 
I depend on the produce of their eggs. By anticipation, 
i we are then dealing with the future; and witli the 
experience of the past to guide us, we should like to 
give such instructions as may entitle us to the thanks of 
those who may reap a pecuniary beneflt from them, and 
to the respect and belief of those who may merely test 
the truth of what we write. 
For a long time, surplus vegetables raised in all 
gardens of every degree have been sold. Cattle are 
bred and fed by all classes exclusively for the market; 
so are horses; but there seems to be a reluctance to 
breed poultry with the same view. An imaginary 
market floats in the ideas of many, wiiere all birds are 
sold alive, by private contract, and at exhibition prices. 
This is a real castle in the air. It has been the lot of 
one or two yards to be so fortunate as to command the 
call of the market at great jirices, but we doubt if it 
will ever again be done to the same extent. Poultry 
may be profitable to all; but where one will make it by 
prize birds, a hundred may obtain the same object by 
table poultry. E.x.hibition prizes are only made at 
exhibitions. Circumstances warrant them; the fowls 
there purchased are successful, and their value is ruled 
I by the quality and number of the competitors; while 
; others are bought only in the hope of success. Few 
need go to a poultry show to learn the difference 
between hope and realisation. 
But why should not poultry be reared for the market 
with the same care as oxen, sheep, or pigs^ It woidd 
pay as well as either. It may be classed with hothouse 
fruit. Part of much of this that is raised finds its way 
to market, being more than is required for the con¬ 
sumption of a family. This is now accepted, and no 
one would shrink from admitting it. Formerly, a 
nobleman, or gentleman, would not have sold the game 
; of his estate; now, it is common, and openly avowed. 
It would seem, then, that a certain time is required 
before these jilain things can be received and admitted 
by the public. Let us hope this time is arrived for 
poultry, and that the increasing attention given to it 
will not be confined entirely to exhibitions, but extend 
to the less glorious but equally useful task of providing 
a delicious article of food, and a luxury which may 
be indulged in at all times without imputation of 
i extravagance. 
I Some will, perhaps, hero meet us by saying, tliey 
have already tried, and find that poultry does not make 
a large price “about them.” The mistake is, they rear 
it at the wrong time of the year. We must again 
illustrate our position by referring to garden produce. 
Grapes, Peas, Asparagus, and such like, are most 
valuable when produced before the natural season. So 
I are poultry. 
Left to themselves, fowls will produce food fit for the 
table in July and August; but with proper aud careful 
management, they may be brought to market in April, 
May, and June, when they will make large prices. This 
will not be accomplished without trouble and pains¬ 
taking, and we do not address ourselves to opulent 
amateurs, but to those who require a liobby, to the self- 
supporting, and who will only like it the more if profit- 
aide. It was, formerly, more difficult than it is now, 
from the scarcity of broody hens in the winter. Cochin- 
Chinas have obviated that. 
Our advice is, then, to such as are disposed to try, 
to get, now, six or eight pullets of that breed, about 
five months old; they will want to sit early in the 
year; put them on Dorking eggs, and the produce 
reared and fatted, will, in April and May, certainly 
realise from fifty to sixty shillings per dozen. The 
outlay will be small, the trouble considerable, and the 
return certain. The best among these may be saved for 
stock, or for exhibition 
That such things were done centuries ago, and by 
those of gentle blood, we would prove by a quotation 
from the “ Maiden and married life of Mary Powell, 
afterwards Mistress Milton.” We read, at date May 7, 
lO-td:—“New misfortunes in the poultrie yard; poor 
mother’s loyalty cannot stand the demand for the best 
chickens, ducklings, &c., lor the use of His Majesty’s 
officers since they have been at Oxford.” 
The last spring, was, perhaps, an exceptional one, as 
there was a real dearth of poultry, consequent on the 
severity of the weather in January and February; but 
many thousands of fowls were sold in London at seven 
shillings each, and in market by the dozen. 
It is a regular trade in Surrey, Sussex, and part of 
Kent, and those who follow it find it pays them; but 
why should it be confined to those counties? The 
prize-lists will tell us that the Dorkings will thrive in 
other parts, for the prizes for the best birds go all over 
the kingdom, and we cannot see why they cannot be 
fed for tlie table as well as bred for stock. 
VALE OF AYLESBURY POULTRY ASSOCIATION 
PRIZE LIST. 
At the Show on the jfnd and drd of Jaiiuai’y next, with 
becoming care of the local produce, Ducts are put first on 
the list. Four prizes of fiOs., 20s., lOs., and 5s., re.spectively, 
are offered for White Aylesbury, Rouen, and any other 
variety of ducks. For Spanish, coloured Dorking, Cochin- 
China (Cinnamon or Buft’), Cochin-China (Brown or Par¬ 
tridge-feathered), Cochin-China (White or Black), and 
Shanghae (Grey Brahma Pootra). The last a totally 
arbitrary distinction, for all Cochin-Chinas are Shanghaes. 
Only three prizes of 20s., 10s., and 5s., .are offered m each 
class for White Dorkings, Game (Black-breasted aud other 
Reds), Game (any other colour). Golden-pencilled Ham- 
burghs, Golden - spangled Hamlmrghs, Silver-iiencilled 
Haraburghs, Silver-spangled Hamburghs, Polands (Black 
with White Crests), Polands (any other colour). Any 
other breed of fowl. Bantams (Gold-laced), Bantams 
(Silver-laced), Bantams (any colour), Geese, Turkeys. One 
male and two females of each to be exhibited. The im¬ 
perfect wording and classification of the above needs no 
comment. Entries close December 20tb. Secretaries, J. 
D. Muddiman, and Jas. Allen, Esqs., Judges Lodge, 
Aylesbury. 
THE ESSEX ASSOCIATION FOR IMPROVING 
THE BREEDS OF POULTRY. 
At a meeting of the Committee of this Association, held 
at Colchester, on Saturday, W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq., in the 
chair, the schedule of prizes for the exhibition of the 
Society, on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of December, was 
arranged, and upwards of 100 guineas will be offered in 
premiums for the best specimens in the various classes, 
In addition to which, the Colchester Cup, a piece of plate 
