January 29. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
321 
to remain in abeyance until the whole of the remaining 
duties were complete and fullilled. Nay; we could 
specify more than one instance, during the year 1855 
(were we anxious so to do), where the Poultry were at 
the tselfxttnie moment bein(j penned, and a correspondence 
by telegraph going on, to secure the attendance, tlie 
following day, of gentlemen to award the premiums ! 
This has arisen, no doubt, from a misconception on 
the ])art of tlie managers of the Show, that eitlier 
ellicieiit Poultry Judges are much more universal than 
they really are, or that gentlemen of known repute 
could bo secured to fulfil the onerous duty this office 
ever entails without any previous intimation whatever. 
'J’hat the most grievous disappointment should, in such 
cases, have arisen occasionally, will be apparent enough 
to most individuals at all conversant with husiness ap¬ 
pointments; and we have heard committees endeavour 
to explain away their indiflerence by the acknowlodg- 
mont, “ they never thought there would be the slightest 
difficulty in obtaining Judges, and wore compelled to 
take what Ihetj could (jet, when those they had at first 
applied to proved to be pre engaged.” How many diffi¬ 
culties, both to committees and also to exhibitors, might 
with certitude have been prevented, by not leaving to 
the last moment so very essential an appointment 
Difficult as the task is of satisfying the generality of 
“ disap])oiuted exhibitors,” it is always infinitely in¬ 
creased if such persons can prefer the charge of incom- 
petency against those by whom the duly was at length 
undertaken, more especially, as on such occasions they 
appear notliing loth to involve the committee as being 
the sole eau.se of the disaster. 
’J’lio cHbet of an ill-advised selection of Judges on 
the future jirospects of an annual Poultry Show are too 
obvious to require especial mention ; but we can con¬ 
fidently ascribe not a few failures to this cause alone. 
Exhibitors naturally depend on justice being done to 
their favourites in the awarding of prizes, therefore, if, 
on, the one hand, inability ju’events proper awards, 
coupled with that indecision of judgment that ever pre¬ 
vails in the mind of parties who undertake duties they 
eventually find they cannot properly fulfil, the result is 
certain, nor will any amount of after-care make amends 
for present mismanagement. 
It is, then, requisite not only that the gentlemen ful¬ 
filling this office should be above the suspicion of 
“favouritism,” but also capable of combating the vei'y 
many unforeseen contingencies that constantly arise from 
fowls being badly matched, or, if in themselves excellent, 
from the lack of “ condition ” too frequent exhibition 
invariably entails. None but those conversant in such 
matters can appreciate how many vicissitudes the same 
pen of fowls may undergo from various causes; such as 
I'rom cold, lighting, long abstinence, or still more from 
want of water. It must also bo borne in mind, that all 
premiums ought to be awarded altogether irrespective 
0 ^ past successes or failures, and simply in accoi danco 
with the merits of the J^oultiy at the itme-heiiaj; for, 
dej)end upon it, this is the onh/ rule that will inlluence 
the minds of the visitors to the exhibition when ad¬ 
mitted afterwards to inspect it, and they closely begin 
to criticise the various adjudications. 
Another feature connected with the appointment of 
T’oultry Judges that tends much to inspire general con- 
[ lidenee, is obtaining (where practicable) parties from a 
i distance. It obviates the suspicion of friendliness to neigh- 
j hours, from recognition of the competing Poultry, and 
i disarms, at the outset, those parties who, if themselves 
i unsuccessful, might otherwise adduce private i'riendship 
I as the reason lor the awnials. It really matters very 
: little how high the position of a resident Judge may be 
generally considered, or how justly his associates may 
; be entitled to their much-coveted distinctions; still, 
I there will be always found numbers ready to impugn his 
motives, and to demonstrate, if required, that the issue 
resulted from an invitation to a dinner party, a day’s 
coursing, or some other as ungenerous conclusion, ft 
is, therefore, decidedly the more prudent course never to 
permit a Poultry Judge to domicile himself, even tem¬ 
porarily, at the house of an exhibitor, but rather to 
avoid such hospitalities and connection, at least, till his 
duties are absolutely fulfilled. 
It may be advanced, that “if gentlemen of high 
standing consent to this office, common politeness de¬ 
mands that they should be courteously received this, 
it is fully admitted, is no unjust conclusion; but gene¬ 
rally, some neighbouring respectable Inn will certainly 
furnish all necessary comforls without entailing un¬ 
pleasant reports afterwards. No doubt whatever exists, 
that the more free from suspicion all the management 
of a Poultry Show is carried out, the better and more 
satisfactory will be the result as a present speculation, 
and the inlluence will as undoubtedly extend itself to 
future meetings of the Society. We, therefore, say 
to committee-men—advise your Judges of the quarters 
secured for them previously; provide for them with 
necessary liberality ; but do not tempt ./Ih.s’e report, by 
making them inmates of your houses. 
Another very great advantage of employing practical 
Judges, is the advantageous improvements they will 
necessarily Suggest as to future management, more 
especially as regards general ctficiency, and that com¬ 
bined with reduction to the minimum of all unnecessary 
expenditure; items that frequently are but little foreseen 
by the inexperienced in such undertakings. 
It is really surprising how difficult the task proves 
itself of obtaining parties whose knowledge extends over 
all tlie classes in a Poultry Show; nor can we call to 
mind more than three or four gentlemen who can, 
throughout, undertake this office satisfactorily. From 
this cause, many have suggested a multiplicity of Judges, 
and the appointment of certain classes only to expe¬ 
rienced individuals as to those especi.al varieties. 'There 
cannot be any objection to this course, if carefully 
undertaken, as it, no doubt, much lessens the toil and 
irksomeness of office; but, like many other matters, 
“ first-sight impressions” are scarcely borne out by llie 
stern proof of experience. Flxpenses are naturally in¬ 
creased in precisely ratio proportions, and therefore the 
calls on the funds of the Society are frequently thus 
rendered beyond the limits that prudence would dictate, 
or the maintenance of a trilling balance to meet fulnre j 
contingencies would render advisable and compulsory. 
^Ve make these remarks from conviction, that the 
future energies of any committee are greatly inthienced 
by the fact, whether or not “ there is numey in hand," 
when in another season they renew operations. 
We are, at this ]irescnt moment, in jiossession of in¬ 
formation, which convinces us that the year 185(1 will not 
pass by without greatly increased value of Poultry pre¬ 
miums, more particularly as regards plate; and we have 
received not a few communications, from various com¬ 
mittees, that bespeak great emulation prevails among 
rival societies to attain superiority, together with in¬ 
timations of projected meetings in localities where 
hitherto no such eifort has been attempted. 'J'hese, 
combined, ])oint forcibly to the still greater care and re¬ 
flection that will be necessary, in every appointment, to 
ensure ultimate .and unfailing success : and although 
the matter just considered is, undoubtedly, a ])rominent 
feature, there are many others which greatly inlluence 
such undertakings, and to which we intend to direct the 
attention of our readers, in futui'e numbers, ns our space 
will allow. 
