THE COTTAGE GARDENEK. 
January 1. 
worthless Their really valuable properties were often 
destroyed by stiimilant and tlesh-making food, to inercase 
their value. We have, then, rejoiced to see of late that 
good birds have made good prices, and that there was 
an approach to their palmy days in quality. We do 
not wish to revive the “mania;” but they are worthy 
fowls, and they deserve encouragement. 
Hamhunjlis in all classes have “ progressed,” but the 
Spangled more than the Pencilled. Here, again, breeders 
have conformed to rule, and the hen-tailed cocks have 
almost entirely disappeared. The Golden-pencilled have 
made more progress than their Silver brethren. Many 
of the former reminded us of the splendid birds of lour 
years since. 
Poland fowls keep up their quality, but the Silver are 
superior to the Golden. It is for amateurs to discover 
the cause, and remedy it. The superiority is in every 
point—marking, top-knot, and size. 
To jnaise the Game fowls would be to “ paint the 
lily.” We always have perfect birds of this beautiful 
breed, and they well deserve the numerous classes 
allotted to them in every exhibition. It always seems 
to us the Game breeders take more pains with their 
fow'ls than any others, and the condition in which they 
bring them to exhibit is worthy imitation. The truth 
IS, most of them are lovers of their fowls, while many 
' others are only amateurs. 
j Dirterences of opinion still exist about Brahma 
I Poiitras, but they have made classes everywhere, and 
' show entries enough to maintain them. Their merits 
I or demerits may be argued in our columns, and we 
1 shall bo happy to give space for them. 
Bantams are decidedly better than they were, and the 
introduction of Game Fowls reduced to this size is a 
pleasing variety. As a consideration of bare utility will 
only keep a pursuit at a certain measure, we hail the 
improvement in these various sorts, as White, Black, 
and Game, with much pleasure. 
Tiirkei/s have remained stationary during the year. 
Not so the Aiileshiirij Ducks. We last year noted 
they had attained the weight of Gl^tbs, but now we may 
add another pound—7!ft)3 has been a frequent weight 
for prize birds. 
The Rouens have not been behind. And here, again, 
it may bo noticed, that as soon as it was known what 
were the requisite points they were immediately pro¬ 
duced. 
Geese have now been commonly brought to ITlbs, 
while goslings; and from 20 to 24tb3 when full grown. 
I'he past year, then, has been pregnant with im|)rove- 
ment to i)oultry ; and the increase to the amount of food 
produced by w'ell-selected and proper birds, instead of 
the cliance ones formerly kept, invests the subject with 
• an importance it does not at first sight pos.sess. It may 
he said, with truth, that the attention paid to poultry of 
late years lias caused an addition of one-fifth to the 
weiglit of every bird; and this, spread over the whole 
quantity produced, would yield a result would startle 
even the most sanguine. 
As the chief agent in bringing this about has been 
exhibition, it naturally leads to this subject. There 
has boon a great change in shows. Ficces of plate have 
almost everywhere superseded money as first prizes; 
! and very handsome and valuable articles have been 
1 given for tlio best collections. iDome small shows have 
! been given up; but if the number were accurately cal- 
, culated, wo believe it would be found they had in- 
i creased in Jbo.j, owing to their junction in so many 
! places with the Annual Agricultural Iileetings. As it 
1 cannot be expected that anything shall come to 
I perlection in a short time, it will not bo surprising that 
j in many places improvement is still possible. Progress, 
I bowever, is being made; the expenses can now be calcu- 
I lalod beforehand, and with a good committee, and di¬ 
rect railway communication, there is little doubt of suc¬ 
cess in a populous place. 
Complaints are still made, and with reason, of the 
want of support among the inhabitants of the towns 
where tliey are held. It may, also, be said, that in some 
instances exhibitors are too bard on committee-men. 
The latter have no profit in view ; and the whole advan¬ 
tage, if there be any, rests with the former. We have 
sometimes been amused to hear a man, who, perha])S, 
rarely exhibits more than two or three pens, and always 
makes money by them, declare, that unless certain altera¬ 
tions were made he would not exhibit any more; when 
he knew that he would be the only loser if he abstained. 
During this year the attempt has been made to in¬ 
troduce a show on a large scale in France. It was only 
partially successful for want of practical knowledge; but 
there is little doubt, that patronized and supported as 
it is by the Government and Society of Agriculture, it 
will stand in a dilFerent position in lHSO. 
The demand for all sorts of fancy poultry abroad 
has been steadily increasing. 
We regret that more attention is not paid to the sup¬ 
ply of the liondon market during the de.ar season in 
the spring. We suppose it is a question of time, to 
convince people that money is to be made by it. 
And now our task draws to a close. It is said, that 
after an engagement at sea all quarrels previous to the 
battle are considered at an end; and, in gratitude that 
they are spared, the survivors bury all animosity and 
ill-feeling in oblivion. .Let it be so in the poultry world ; 
—let ISoo die with whatever ebullitions it may have 
seen of disappointment, anger, or ill-feeling; and let 
every one, while honestly reviewing himself during the 
past year, determine to forget anything that may have 
caused him pain, and to forgive freely wherever he may 
have felt himself injured. In this spirit, our favourite 
pursuit will acquire fresh strength, and its votaries in¬ 
creased ideasure. 
Friends, Subscribers, and Contributors, we bid you 
hearty welcome in this our first number, and on this 
the first day of 1850. May the year open to you with 
gladness. VVe have tried to cater for you in these pages 
zealously and with impartiality towards all. We hope 
we have succeeded, and we believe we have from the 
support we have rcceiv^ed. Wo shall continue to do our 
best. If we may use the term, we are on our trial, and 
we ask, satisfied with the honesty of our intentions, a 
verdict of approval at your hands. 
It will be seen our old contributors arc rallying round 
us, and we hope, should we be spared till the end of 
this year, that wo shall be able to say, in carrying out 
the simile we used at the time, that the union between 
The Poultry Chronici.e and The Cottage Gardener 
has been both happy and prosperous. 
FEEDING POULTRY. 
Thanks to “ Tristrapoedia,’’ he has given courage to 
bashful writers, and speaks common sense, when he says 
fine writing is not necessary. 1 answer his appeal for the 
result of experiments, or the interchange of knowledge. 
I bad occasion to nolice at Birmingham the wretched 
condition of some pens of fowls exhildted, and on enquiry, 
have, I think, discovered the cause. On seeing their runs, 
I found in each a vessel, in some instances a small pig- 
trough, in which their food was put when they were fed. 
The fowls had dark combs and leaden-coloured faces ; and 
no wonder, they lead a life of undue repletion, and con- 
seipient indigestion. All poultry should liave to search for 
food, and when found it sliould be only a grain or particle 
at a time. Nature intended them to feed in this way, and 
in seeking food they find many things very benelicial to 
them. Digestion is also greatly piromoted by the grass and 
dirt they take up with their food.—A Follower oe Tristram. 
