170 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 4.. 
value twenty guineas, will bo olFercd for the best collection 
of poultry, open to all England. Mr. Eislier Hobbs also 
offers a piece of plate, value five guineas, for the best col¬ 
lection exhibited from Essex or Suffolk. Cooke’s Registered 
Exhibition Ren will be used on this occasion. 
TAUNTON AND SOIMERSET ROULTRY 
EXHIBITION. 
This took place at Taunton on the ‘-idrd and tilth of No¬ 
vember, under an extensive tent, specially erected for the 
occasion. Very rarely, indeed, has a poultry show enjoyed 
so high a patronage, or been possessed of so thoroughly 
hard-ivorking a committee. The projectors were gentlemen 
long know’n as poultry amateurs, w'ell conversant with the 
arduous duties that awaited them, and determined that 
success should not bo wanting, if 2 ^ersoncil exertion could 
secure it. All the arrangements were worthy of our highest 
praise; nothing that forethought could devise, or manual 
labour could execute, ■were allowed to remain undone ; there¬ 
fore, where success was so well merited, it gives us additional 
pleasure to say it met with its due reward. The attendance 
on both days was very good. On entering the tent, we 
were particularly interested in the very general diffusion of 
light throughout the whole; this feature, where attainable, 
much equalises the chances of success among the com¬ 
petitors, for the fact is everywhere notorious among amateurs 
of poultry, that good fowls are seriously injured in their 
owner’s hopes of prize-taking from being “placed in a 
bad light.” 
No possible complaint of this nature could, however, be 
adduced at the Taunton meeting; the pens were airy, 
convenient, and kept exti’emely clean, the avenues between 
the rows were also spacious, and tire highly respectable 
company, therefore, had every opportunity of closely 
examining any particular group of poultry that arrested their 
attention. 
Another most prominent feature was the almost total 
absence of inditfereut specimens of any kind irhatevcr ; 
from this cause, therefore, the competition has not been 
surpassed at any previous meeting in the 'West of England. 
Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Spark Brook, near 
Birmingham, acted as sole judge on tlie occasion, and the 
committee expressed themselves very highly on the ex¬ 
pedition with which that gentleman fulfilled his arduous 
duties. The entries, with a few extra lots, not appearing in 
the catalogue, slightly exceeded five hundred pens. 
In addition to the usual premiums, eight pieces of plate 
were given away to the lucky possessors of the best speci¬ 
mens, and the rivalry for these lasting mementoes of their 
poultry achievements, manifested, pretty strongly, how far 
more valued such premiums are regarded by their owners, 
than where they consist of money prizes only. The interest 
excited was greatly increased, also, by an cmptij pea being 
devoted to the exhibition of the p)lnte ; around this congre¬ 
gated numbers of admirers, and the future possessors, of 
course, ivere generally to be found near this locality. 
The klpanish M ere very good, though a glance told us not 
1 a few leading specimens were “ absent on leave,” awaiting 
: the result of the approaching trial of merit at Birmingham, 
'The chicken M^ere especially superior, tlie older birds (in 
most cases) not having nearly, as yet, completed their 
moult. In Greg Dorkings the exhibition abounded; indeed, 
here the competition was most severe, all being very good. 
In the chicken class avc are told the judge remarked, so 
excellent M-ere they, “that a dozen prizes (instead of two 
only) could have been very fairly distributed.” It M’ill be 
seen, a pen of very light-colonrcd greys, belonging to Mr. 
Loder, of the Beeches, Crawley, Sussex, secured for their 
fortunate owner the principal premium in their class. They 
were very well matched, and amazingly weighty birds. The 
seemid prize fell to the lot of IMr. William Bromley, of 
Smithfield, Birmingham. These were very young (only 
I five months old), but of gigantic proportions, and shoM’n in 
that really first-rate condition for which fouds from this 
gentleman’s yard are fast becoming so notorious. Closely 
pressing upon the winners M'ere two pens of highly meri¬ 
torious Dorkings, the property of W. Belcher, Esep, of 
Abingdon, and several others of equally deserving specimens. 
The White Dorkings, more especially the chicken, were un¬ 
usually superior. 'The Cochins exceeded by far those to 
which wo have of late been accustomed, and the restoration 
of the original characteristics of these undoubtedly vsc/nl 
fowls to a close approach to what M’ere considered “ essen¬ 
tials,” before colour only was most unduly allowed the pre¬ 
cedence, became universally admitted. It is well this re¬ 
vulsion in public estimation is at length taking place, for 
no possible doubt exists, that fowls of the conformation 
alluded to are far more hardy, and produce many more 
eggs, during stress of severe weather, than the more spare 
and ill-clad ones that have, of late, but too frequently been 
almost the only occupants of our exhibition pens. The 
Rev. G. E. Hodson, shone, as usual, in Partridge birds, 
taking bollb first prizes;—“ the cup for Cochins of any 
variety;” and, lastly (though not least) held the much 
envied position of winner of the “ silver cup for the best 
general collection of poultry.” 
From reports that have reached our ears, it was circulated, 
that at a late fire occurring on that gentleman’s premises, 
the whole of his Partridge-coloured birds fell victims to the 
flames; it happily turns out to be othei'M'ise; only the winners 
of the Anerley cup, and a few less valuable, M'cre so de¬ 
stroyed ; and the Taunton Exhibition fully proves that 
enough of these highly-reputed strain still remain to 
ensure a continuance of success to their indefatigable and 
spirited oM’iier. 
The Malays ivere not so good as we anticipated to find in 
this locality. All the Game classes M'ei'e well filled, and 
positively abounded M'ith first-rate specimens; many of the 
Harnhnrghs were likeM’ise exceedingly good. The Silver- 
spangled Polands were the best represented in the I’oland 
classes, but the Black, with M’hite crests, were very iii- 
diflerent, as a collection. The Sebright Bantams embraced 
specimens from most of the principal breeders of this really 
elegant species, the emulation evinced being greatly in¬ 
creased by a silver cup being the proffered reM’ard to the 
best pen of either variety. 
Most of these pens of fowls M’ere sadly out of plumage; 
and the great tendency to slraM’-colour (or a very light 
fawn), deteriorated the Silver-laced somewhat materially, in 
our opinion; still, the Judge finally awarded the cup to this 
variety. The same individual being also fortunate enough 
to secure the first prize in the Golden-laced Sebrights. 
The Pigeons afforded a very rich treat to fanciers of these 
birds ; every fancy variety w’as well represented, and after 
the closest competition we have lately been witnesses of, 
the prizes proved distributed throughout the kingdom. 
The weather was exceedingly auspicious, and the com¬ 
mittee have determined that the show just past by shall be 
the first of an annual meeting of like character, to be held 
for the South and Western counties ; and in such experienced 
hands, we do not doubt it will very speedily rank among 
the chief of our poultry exhibitions. 
Last week we gave a general list of the poultry prize- 
takers ; w’e now give a list of the cup takers, and of the 
liigeon prize-takers. 
CUPS. 
The following gentlemen, in addition to the Society’s 
Prizes, received pieces of Plate :— 
A. H. Popham, Esq., for Coloured Dorkings, 
Rev. G. F. Hodsoi), for Partridge Cochin-China. 
.1. Marshall, Esq., for Gold-pencilled Hamburgh Chicken. 
J. K. Rodbard, Esq., for Game Fotvls. 
Mr. J. Leiphton, for Malay Chicken. 
M. Leno, Es(i., jun., for Silver-laced Bantams. 
W. G. K. Breavington, Esq., for iiV/rer 
PIGEONS. 
Cakbiers.—. 303. Prize, Mr. Samuel Suimnerliayes, Taunton. 
Tujibi.eks.— 36g. Prize, Ur. Rogers, Iloniton, Pevon. 
Owls.— 380. Prize, Mr. \V. 11. Simpson, Islington, Birmingham. 
Nuns.— 385. Prize, Mr. Thomas Twosc, Bridgwater. 
Turhits.— 306. Prize, Mr. Edward II. Burge, Taunton. Highly 
Commended.—309. Charles Bluett, Esq., Taunton. 
Jacorins.— 414. Prize, Mr. F. Fsquilant, Oxford-street, Eondon. 
Commended.—405. Mr. Edward H. Burge, Taunton. 407 . Mr. Francis 
A. Eavender, Biddciiham, near Bedford. 
Fantails.— 420. Prize, Charles Richard Titterton, Birmingham. 
Highly Commended.— 419 . John Marshall, Esq., Belmont, Taunton. 
423. Miss Northcote, Upton Pynes, Exeter. 
