198 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTEY GENTLEMAN, January 1, 1861. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
January 2nd and 3rd. Cork. Sec., J. Dowling, Janeville, Sunday’s 
Well. Entries close December 15th. 
January lfith and 17th. Poulton-le-Fylde. Son. Sec., Mr. J. S. Butler. 
Entries close January 1st. 
January 25th and 26th. Cumberland and Westmorland. Secs., Mr. 
M. W. Ilastwell and Mr. W. T. Armstrong. Entries close January 12. 
January 30th and 31st. TJlverston. Secs., Mr. T. Bobinson and Mr. J. 
Kitchen. Entries close January 10th. 
February Cth and 7th. Liverpool. (Poultry and Pigeons). See., Mr, 
A. Edmondson, 4, Dale Street. Entries close January 19. 
June 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th. Bath and West of England. 
N. B.— Secretaries ivill oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
THE PAST AND THE COMING YEAR. 
It is true men are but children of a larger growth, and that 
trivial things shadow forth those that are more important. Most 
of us can recollect the joy with which we formerly cast aside old 
garments, or even those w r e were used to, to put on new ones. 
It may he, in such a case that outward adornment and personal 
vanity had to do with it; but in more serious things we fear 
that those taught by experience prefer the untried. The blessed 
property of Hope always shines on the future ; and the new 
year appears in the distance, free from all the defects and imper¬ 
fections of that slipping from under our feet. It matters not 
that the same hopes and expectations have long been ours and 
that they have not been fulfilled; the past is the past, and we 
look forward. In early life at school each degree above that we 
occupied w r as the object of ambition. Then we aspired to be 
leaders ; then the period of adolescence was impatiently endured 
—manhood must be reached; and the something unattained was 
still that which was most desirable. 
Many years have passed over our heads since we felt the truth 
of the foregoing. We are, nevertheless, still subject to the same 
influences. 
It is often matter of pleasing reflection to us that we can look 
on all our subscribers as friends. We believe we have no good 
wishes for them that they do not reciprocate ; and in imagination 
we return the pressure of very many thousands of pairs of 
hands. We also congratulate ourselves that in the review of the 
past year we have to regret no duels a, outrance in our pages, 
but just little passages of arms between friends with blunted 
weapons. The wounds scarcely hard enough to show the defects 
and weak points of the armour. It may be that by some un¬ 
guarded word or unweighed expressions we have given pain. If 
we have we are sorry for it—we would be impartial. 
Generally, our last Number wishes to all our subscribers a 
merry Christmas. That festive season will have passed when 
this is in our readers’ hands. We trust it will have been happy 
with all. 
We inaugurate the new year. Subscribers, contributors, and 
friends, we thank you for your support and co-operation. We 
are glad to be able to tell you we still prosper and increase in 
circulation. We are thankful we are all spared, some to offer 
congratulations, others to receive them; and so, now in this 
our annual familiar paper, we wnite our troubles in sand, our 
blessings and gratitude for them in bronze. We have tried to 
do so before, and we have found it armour of proof. We offer 
the suggestion to our readers, convinced that nothing will go 
farther to enable them to realise that which we heartily wish 
to all—- 
A Hatty New Year. 
REVIEW OF POULTRY DURING 1860. 
There lias not, perhaps, ever been a season more trying for 
rearing poultry than that of the year just closed. It has been 
observed for some time past that January and the early part of 
February are more favourable than March and April for rearing 
chickens ; but this year it was better than ever, for it was dry. 
For months after we had but one cuckoo’s note of “ wet day,” 
“ more rain.” The chickens suffered ; there was no dust; the 
earth had no surface, but formed a vast bog, in which chickens 
sank. Wing and tail-feathers became wet and heavy, and it may 
truly be said, the birds dragged a miserable existence till they 
died. That was not all; they were short of food, especially of 
that food of insect and animal life with which the earth teems 
after a shower in warm weather, and wdiicli a brood pursues 
energetically. They got grain in small quantities and of inferior 
quality. They had to complain, as many of the beer-drinking 
public do, that “they don’t know how it is, but when barley ’3 
dear, the beer is not satisfying.” Even the best Chicken Show in 
I860 had a pinched look, as though they had been on short 
commons, formed one of a raft party on the “ deep, deep sea,” or 
lived in a besieged city, waiting twenty-three out of twenty-four 
hours for the ration of meal—viz., just so much as would weigh 
against a musket ball. Spite of this, we have to note an in¬ 
crease in weight of Dorkings. We doubt whether four better 
pens ivill ever be seen than those that headed the adults at 
Birmingham. There may be a small increase caused by a 
favourable season, but it cannot be great. These birds still 
furnish the strongest classes at almost every Show. They also 
form an exception to the rule that the hen and pullet classes do 
not fill as they should. The Dorkings are numerous. 
Spanish are decidedly looking up. There has been an increase 
of entries, and a marked improvement in quality. We are glad 
of it. No bird has greater right to popularity than the Spanish. 
We are very glad to see trimming is nearly given up. 
Game are perfect; they also being very largo classes. The 
sweepstakes for single Game Cocks are popular and attractive. 
We do not w r onder at it; it is an admirable sight. 
We shall be glad to see the Duckwings more numerous. We 
think, at some Shows, the prizes for Black and White should be 
diminished, in order to add to those for Black and Brown Beds. 
The adult Cochin Chinas have been more than usually meri¬ 
torious, but the chickens have not called for particular comment. 
The Whites have been weak. Brown and Partridge-feathered are 
rising rapidly to a very important class. They deserve every 
encouragement, as their admirers send them in large numbers 
and of great merit. 
Brahma Pootras are steadily progressing; they are becoming 
understood and appreciated, and will soon require more prizes. 
The quality of many of the Polish fowls leaves nothing to 
desire, but their numbers are very small. If proof were wanted 
of their excellence, it might be found in this fact—that at Bir¬ 
mingham every pen in the Silver class was noticed by the Judges. 
They were truly beautiful. Some of the Gold were also excellent. 
Golden-pencilled Hamburghs have improved. They are now 
what the Silvers were. We know not why both should not be 
good alike, but they never are ; they play at see-saw, and Silvers 
of late are at the bottom. Both Golden and Silver-spangled are 
now very good ; and there are so many experienced breeders 
that but little margin is left for decisions in these classes. 
Malays are very good, but they lack numbers. 
We like Bantams, and are therefore happy to report satis¬ 
factory progress in every class. 
The Gold and Silver Sebrights have been better than we have 
seen them for many years. The Game, like their full-sized 
brethren, are perfect. The Blacks are a numerous and meri¬ 
torious class. 
Geese have weighed well, and we have had the introduction of 
a new and seemingly meritorious breed—White ones, the Im¬ 
proved Dorchester. They make more progress in weight than 
the Grey and Mottled. These latter seem to have reached the limit. 
There has been rather a falling off in the weight of Aylesbury 
Ducks. Birds of 8 lbs. have been very scarce. The Bouens 
form the most numerous of all Duck classes, and they are now 
bred and shown to perfection. The class for Black Ducks is a 
success. At many Shows encouragement has been given to the 
exhibition of curious and rare water fowl. This has been inter¬ 
esting to the naturalist as well as to the general visitor. We 
have seen the Mandarin, Carolina, Buddy Sheldrake, Bahama, 
and White-eyed Ducks. 
There is little to note in Turkeys, save one remarkable pen 
that was shown at Birmingham, blue-feathered with black spots. 
Notice must be taken of the remarkable interest now excited 
by Pigeons. If it continues, they will soon be as popular in 
England as in Germany. 
Shows have been almost uniformly successful in 1860. Every¬ 
thing has tended to prove the pursuit of poultry to be more 
popular than ever, and the number of its lovers to be on the 
increase. We are also thankful to say everything has been 
cheerful and harmonious. 
The only novelties have been the institution of Silver Grey 
classes at Birmingham, the adoption of hen and pullet classes at 
many Shows, and the alteration in the days of holding the winter 
one at the Crystal Palace. All these seem to have been suc¬ 
cessful. 
