356 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Mabch 12, 1861. 
intestines gave evidence of the same over-feeding as those of the 
hen, save that in this case the liver was extensively diseased. 
To*prevent a similar fate for the other birds in the same yard, 
we would recommend for the fowls strong doses of castor oil 
on alternate days for a week; a total change of food, abolishing 
all the Indian corn and table-scraps, substituting a light feed of 
oatmeal and barleymeal in the morning, a very little whole corn 
at mid-day, and an evening meal like that of the morning. 
For the Muscovy Ducks, if there be any survivors, they for a 
time should be made to find the principal part of their sus¬ 
tenance in the garden, be turned into it when hungry in the 
morning, and be fed with a little whole corn at night when going 
to rest..] 
EGG-HARVEST. 
I peel much pleasure in answering “ Deodar’s ” requests 
made at page 344, in reference to my statement at page 325. 
The number of hens I had varied from twenty-five to thirty 
in the year, killing four or five of the old hens in the autumn, 
which I do regularly once a-year. 
My rule is to keep eight or nine old hens (three years old), 
eight hens of two years of age ; the remainder are pullets. That 
is the way to insure eggs and chicks. The old hens sit early; 
the next sit about March or April; the pullets are not allowed to 
sit at all, as you cannot depend on them. Kill off all your old 
hens, and supply their place with pullets every year. 
My breed are a cross between Dorking and Game. One year 
I have Game cocks, the next Dorkings. I never keep cocks of 
my own breeding, buying fresh ones every year—that accounts 
for the number of chicks which I obtained. I had four cocks 
for twenty-five hens. They have a small meadow to run in— 
about three-quarters of an acre. They always feed themselves 
in the pigstyes, but they have a little Indian corn and barley. 
My chickens are very late this year, one dozen in one brood 
one month old, and six in another (the hen in this got off her 
eggs for two or three hours) ; another brood of nine, and one 
brood of seven ducks, and three chicks. Never sit in your hen¬ 
house, have a place separate. 
Can you tell me the cause of my Ducks stopping to lay. They 
all were ill for three or four days ? One seemed as if it was 
drunk, and another not caring to move. They just commenced 
to lay again. They laid from thirty to forty eggs before 
Christmas, and about fifty since, from five Ducks. If you can 
explain the reason of the above maladies I shall feel much 
obliged.— Ax Amateur. 
[It is impossible to divine the cause. If the Ducks had not 
so speedily recovered we should have concluded that they were 
over-fat, and that the pressure on their egg-passages determined 
the blood to their heads. If the symptoms do not return we 
think they must have eaten something poisonous.] 
COMING POULTRY SHOWS. 
Sunderlahd. —The entries must be made on or before the 
19th instant. Includes Pigeons and Rabbits. Prizes chiefly 
30 s. and 10s. Sweepstakes 5s. each for Game Cocks, and Game 
Bantam Cocks. Entrance-fees from 4s. to Is. 6d. Prize money 
paid within fourteen days. 
Beverley. — The entries close on May 4th. Prizes chiefly 
from 7s. 6d. to 30s. Includes Pigeons and Canaries. Sweep- 
stakes 5s. each for Game Cocks and Game Bantam Cocks. Special 
prizes (additional) for best pens of Game fowls and Pigeons. 
One is also offered “for the most perfect pen of poultry 
•exhibited,” which may prove rather a puzzler for the judges. 
Entrance-fees from.2s. 6d. to Is. 
Bath and West of England. —Entries must be made on or 
Before May 1st. Prizes vary from 154 to 10s. Entrance-fees 
from 6s. to 2s. 6d. per pen. Sweepstakes of 10s. 6d. each for 
Game, Spanish, Dorking, Cochin-China, and Game Bantam 
Cocks. A silver cup, extra, will be given to the best pen of 
Bantams. 
Chesterfield and Scarsdale. —The entries to this close on 
the 1st of May. Prizes vary from £2 to 5s. We regret there are 
no separate classes for Rouen and Aylesbury Ducks—they cannot 
be judged satisfactorily in the same class. There are two or 
three good additions to the rules. “ The Committee bold them¬ 
selves personally liable for the payment of the prizes offered.” 
“ No person will be allowed to take a fowl out of any pen during 
the Exhibition ; and a catalogue and prize list will be promptly 
forwarded to each exhibitor.” There are sweepstakes for Single 
Cocks, and an extra prize of £1 to (he exhibitor who makes the 
greatest number of points. For Pigeons, Rabbits, Canaries, and 
British Birds prizes are offered. The entrance-fees per pen vary 
from Is. 6d. to 35. 6d., and for the Sweepstakes, 55. 
PRESTON POULTRY SHOW. 
The sixth annual exhibition of this large and important 
Association was held on March 6th and 7th, in the Corn 
Exchange, Preston. The collection of fowls and Pigeons was ct 
a very superior character, as may be surmised from the fact, 
that in addition to six pieces of plate, varying in value from £4 to 
£10, nearly £200 in money were distributed in prizes. Such an 
attraction of necessity called forth the energies of many of the 
most renowned exhibitors, and the Show was undoubtedly 
worthy of the names which appeared in the catalogue and prize list. 
The first classes were devoted to Game ; and as the Show is 
held in a locality where this breed has so very large a numbei ot 
admirers among all ranks of society, it is hardly necessaiy to 
say that these classes were of a very first-rate character. 
The President’s Silver Cup, value £10, for the best Game 
cock, called forth a very strong competition. The Judges 
remarked the class was a splendid assemblage of bn'cls. Mr. 
Moss was again successful in securing this prize, as we believe 
he has been for several times in succession. 
The Single Game Bantam Codes constituted a class such 
as we never see except at this Show. Nearly thirty birds were 
exhibited, and nearly all were of very superior character. The 
Cup was awarded to a willow-legged Black Red, belonging to Mr. 
Martin Turner, of Preston—an exquisitely beautiful miniature of 
a first-rate Game. The pen was marked sold at £10 105. 
within a few minutes of the opening of the Show, 
The class of Game Hens formed a very attractive feature, 
there being nearly thirty pens of very good birds. 
In the general Game'classes Mr. Mos3 was again remarkably 
successful, taking two first and one third prize. 
In Spanish Mr. Teebay was victorious with the birds that 
have been so successful during the past season, the extraordinary 
face of the cock far surpassing that of his competitors. 
The Bor king class was the opprobrium of the Show. There 
were some few good birds, but not a really first-class pen in 
the Show, several being disqualified by containing diseased or 
deformed birds. 
The Cochin classes included the names of many of our most 
successful exhibitors. Messrs. Cattell, Tomlinson, and Stretch 
taking the three prizes in Buff, and Messrs. Cartwright, Stretch, 
and Miss Musgrove in Partridge. 
In Brahmas Mr. Tcebay’s first-prize pen was characterised by 
the great size of the birds which it contained. _ 
The Pencilled Hamburghs were very good,. especiallv the 
Silvers. In Gold-spangled Mr. W or rail’s prize pen was re¬ 
markable for the size and regularity of the moons. Of the Silver- 
spangles it is hardly necessary to speak. Lancashire Mooneys 
are always in full force in their native county. 
The Polish consisted of two classes—Gold and Silver-spangled 
and other varieties. The Spangled classes w r ere very strong, 
and contained birds that, by their size of crest and correctness 
of marking, reminded one of the birds that were exhibited some 
few years since. In the “ Variety class” Col. Clowes was first 
with a very fine, well-crested pen of M liites, Mr. Dixon being 
second with Black. 
4 he “ other variety ” class contained several pens of very 
good White Cochins, Sultans, and Silkies. 
The Game Bantam class contained many very good pens, 
Mr. Turner being successful with a very small pen of Brown 
Reds. The Sebright class included both Gold and Silver-laced, 
Mr. Harvey Bayley taking the first prize with a thoroughly good 
pen of Gold, and Miss Everett the second with Silver. 
The Single Cock classes contained some very good birds. 
Mr. Tudman’s Partridge Cochin that won the Sweepstakes was a 
marvellously heavy bird, and was exhibited in first-rate condition. 
The Pigeon classes were very well filled, and contained a sur¬ 
prising number of good birds, especially when the lateness of 
the season is continued. Mr. Eden’s pair of Almonds were 
very good ; the hen w ill be particularly fine after her next 
moult. Mr. Percival won the Tumbler prize with his well- 
known pair of Reds; Mr. Eden taking second with Black 
