November 28. THE COTTAG 
others. The “ Spangled ” cock has haclde and saddle 
tipped with dark brown or black; the back and lesser 
wing coverts, rich maroon; with the greater wing 
coverts forming a blue band, as in the Duckwinged 
Game fowl. This speculum appears to advantage in the 
Grey cocks also. 
The Speckled cocks should have a black and white 
mottled breast, the hackle, back, aud saddle, red inter¬ 
mixed with white—the former colour prevailing. The 
hens to be deep chocolate, or brown speckled with white. 
A perfectly black tail has the best effect in both this and 
the grey variety; but the presence of white should not 
be regarded as prejudicial. 
The Red cock should be a perfect black-breasted red 
bird, with hens of a dark brown spotted with black. 
Here white is nowhere admissable. 
Tim Cuckoo birds, both male and female, to be barred 
throughout with a dull bluish-grey on a lighter ground 
of the same hue, similar to the breast of the bird whence 
the name has originated. 
General Characteristics of Excellence. — Great com¬ 
pactness, with great depth and length of the body, 
which is low on the leg; head to be freo from coarse¬ 
ness; comb, whether rose, single, or cupped, to be 
perfect of its kind, and uniform in the pen ; legs white, 
with a pole pink hue between the scales, the fifth toe 
being well developed apart from the others, 
i In respect of size, great improvement having been 
| lately manifested in this particular, and forming, most 
justly, an important property in this breed, less than 
eight pounds in the adult male, and seven in the female 
bird, should not be deemed worthy of a first prize; and 
chicken of eight months old should be little short of 
this. These weights are constantly greatly exceeded, 
and bulk must be always a material object with the 
Dorking breeder. 
Great latitude, we have observed, must be accorded, in 
respect of plumage of the coloured Dorking; so generally, 
indeed, is this admitted, that the assertion, “ You cannot 
breed Dorkings true to colour," has almost acquired 
proverbial authority. On this account, we have avoided 
many minutiae which, in “ birds of feather,” must have 
received far more careful notice. 
The White Dorking plumage, uniform white; though, 
in the older birds, the hackle and saddle may attain a 
light golden tint. Form and size, reduced proportions 
of the coloured Dorking; a rose-comb in preference to 
the single, or cupped form. Bill and legs light aDd 
clear, without discolouration of any kind.—W. 
We are glad to find that the Kendal Poultry Society, 
whose Meeting is fixed for the 21st, aud two following 
days of December next, have adopted the classes for 
“ single male birds." In no other way could the main 
object of these institutions, as well as the purpose of 
individual breeders, be so well served. If, indeed, the 
birds hitherto exhibited in this department have fallen 
somewhat short of expectation, it should be remembered, 
E GARDENER. 159 
that in comparatively few instances is there any great , 
superabundance of male birds at this season of the 
year; aud as the formation of a good pen in the 
ordinary classes will not be risked, it was likely to i 
happen that specimens of secondary merit would appear 
in the newly-added division. The general adoption of 
this practice, however, will obviate, another year, this 
difficulty; and exhibitors will gladly prepare themselves 
for competition when so desirable an object is to bo 
attained, and so ready a medium provided for the sale of 
their own surplus stock. 
In the prize schedule, we have to regret the error, as 
we must term it, of arranging the Hamburglis according 
to their colour, and not their markings; as also the 
omission of a fourth Poland class, which is so commonly 
productive of meritorious specimens. In other respects, 
the classification is good; and w r e would especially 
recommend, for imitation, the restriction of the occupants 
of the Geese and Turkey pens to two specimens of 
either kind. Not merely is expense in conveyance thus 
saved; but the birds themselves, usually crowded in 
their abodes, are much more comfortably circumstanced, 
and appear, consequently, to much greater advantage. 
The sixth rule is as follows:—“ Should any doubt 
arise as to the age of any fowl exhibited, the judges 
will be empowered, if they consider it necessary to do 
so, to call in some competent person to their assistance ; 
aud, if perfectly satisfied that the age has been in- , 
correctly stated on the certificate of entry, to disqualify 
such fowl.” It may, possibly, be thought, that the judges 
would possess this power themselves by virtue of their 
office; but the caution is well given, aud the sentence 
may very likely come with greater weight when thus 
carefully pronounced. 
By the eleventh rule, it would seem that sales may 
be effected without the intervention of the officials. If i 
this be the case, we should differ from those who would 
advocate any such private transactions. The sale of 
all Poultry, at Exhibitions, should be strictly confined 
to the purchaser and the persons appointed by the ' 
Society to conduct these details. The inconveniences 
of rendering the Exhibition - room a mere mart, or 
bazaar, are manifest; and confidence, moreover, may be 
often withheld from the bona fide character of such i 
transactions. 
The entries, we should observe, close on Saturday, i 
the 9th of December. 
PRUNING THE PEAR. 
With this I may, for the present, conclude winter- 
pruning. But the subject may be said to be almost, for 
the present, exhausted; so much identity prevails as 
to pruning amongst our principal fruits. The Pear, j 
however, both requires aud deserves more appliances 
this way than many of our fruits; especially our more 
tender Pears, which require every assistance we can 
render them, especially in what are called growing 
seasons. As to Pears on the Quince stock, which 
have been root-pruned, there is little occasion to branch- 
prune them,—their misfortune is to produce “so little 
wood as to prove, at times, seriously unprofitable. 
