I 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, June 2, 18-57. 
140 
SOME THINGS WHICH ARE, MAY BE, AND 
OUGHT TO BE. 
The great leviathan of the press and all presses, the 
Times , in its leader of May 17, spoke of Chinese geese 
and Muscovy ducks. A great cantatrice gives what we sup¬ 
pose to be her nom de guerre , Mademoiselle Ortoiani. Now, 
these two events prove that the “ fancy ” is becoming general; 
and the use of these terms proves, again, that the subject is 
uppermost in people’s minds. 
The Times will, perhaps , come out on the Brahma con¬ 
troversy or combs in Polands, and the next new singer 
will be Signor Becassini. When the West End is deserted, 
and when the “ thunderers ” are resting from their labours, 
we shall, perhaps, have a disquisition on roup, just as we 
now have on the murrain in cattle. 
In the narrative of a “ Residence in Little Pedlington” 
the auctioneer of that celebrated place, after informing the 
public that Chatsworth and Blenheim are not for sale, that 
everybody does not require a gallery of pictures by the old 
masters, ten thotisand ounces of plate, or a large cellar ol 
wines, informs his patrons that he really has a nice property 
for sale, being a six-roomed cottage, with the usual con¬ 
veniences of copper, wash-house, &c. 
We, then, can only say that it is possible the Times 
may not take up the poultry question, but we really will 
continue to give it our best attention. We shall have our 
revenge in the day when the first leader will be devoted to 
the great International Poultry Show, fourth Meeting, held 
at St. Petersburg, those previously having been at London, 
Paris, and New York; the seeond on the progress of poul¬ 
try as an article of food, statistically proving that, but for the 
poultry “mania,” as it was once foolishly called, the pro¬ 
duction of food would not have kept pace with the increase 
of population, arguing thus—that if an egg be equivalent to 
a quarter of a pound of meat, then, of course, the many mil¬ 
lions of eggs would amount to a considerable weight of food; 
and the third warms our heart while we think of it—the 
graceful acknowledgment in the Times of 1897 of the 
debt due to ourselves as the upholders and cherishers of the 
pursuit while it wanted support. 
Now, while other questions are in abeyance, and shows 
are only in contemplation, we may turn our leisure to those 
which will receive their solution when the great contests 
take place. Our Irish brethren in the pursuit have, in the 
opinion of many, we may say all amateurs in this country, 
made a great mistake in laying down rules for the colour of 
Dorkings, and disqualifying any that differ from them. At 
late shows in Ireland birds have been stigmatised as “im¬ 
pure” which had taken prizes at some of our largest shows, 
where the best Judges have officiated. This is a pity, and 
we think it is wrong. No rule can be more rigorously car¬ 
ried out than that which applies to feather in all breeds 
where it is essential, such as Polands, Hamburghs, Game, 
Cochins, and Bantams, at all our principal exhibitions in 
England. Let those who have shown Rouen ducks with 
faulty bills; Grouse Cochin cocks with yellow feathers in 
their breasts ; light Cinnamon hens with Buff cocks ; Game 
hens deviating only in a shade from the cock; Aylesbury 
ducks with orange bills ; speak of the rigour with which 
rules are carried out to their great discomfort. The Dor¬ 
king is essentially a large and a table fowl. Symmetry is its 
chief point, and is so marked that any impurity is easily de-' 
tected, nor is its form capable of improvement. There is no 
| inducement to cross. AVe, therefore, hope our fellow-ama¬ 
teurs will relinquish all notions of plumage and combs, and 
confine themselves to the really valuable and admitted pro¬ 
perties of the breed. 
i WHO ARE BEST SUITED TO FULFIL THE 
DUTIES OF POULTRY JUDGES? 
This is undoubtedly a very important question both as 
i relates to Poultry Committees and to every class of poultry 
exhibitors, whatever may happen to be their individual 
predilection as to the variety of poultry they cultivate. 
Indeed, on this matter solely no small degree of future 
success or comparative failure of every Poultry Show in the 
kingdom most undeniably depends. So important, then, is 
this single feature, that frequent recurrence to the most 
advisable mode of procedure can scarcely be too strongly 
insisted upon. 
There is not a doubt that a Poultry Judge ought to act [ 
exclusively on his oxen opinion, uninfluenced by pressure : 
of any kind “from without,” Neither friendship, self-in¬ 
terest, nor yet even predilections of any kind should divert j 
him from the path duty has laid before him. In short, 
so long as lie determines to fulfil the varied duties of public 
arbitrator at Poultry Meetings he undoubtedly ought to 
treat with indifference the urgent solicitations of his most 
valued acquaintances, and to equally refuse to be led astray 
by the many efforts of the moneyed, though unscrupulous 
exhibitor to give decisions agreeing with his respective 
advantage. It' he fails to act in accordance with these 
principles such a man proves rather the foe than the 
supporter of these truly popular amusements. 
The essentials to properly carry out the duty appointed 
him are, first, competency to appreciate all the excellencies 
or defects of the several pens of poultry placed before him 
in competition. Combined with this qualification, however, 
he must possess an eye quickly discriminative at first sight 
of all shortcomings, be they what they may, as no amount 
of efficiency, if dilatorily fulfilled, will ever stand in lieu of 
this requisite; for one of the great failings of our present 
arrangements is, no doubt, an insufficiency of time allotted 
to the Judges for their unenviable occupation. 
AYhen it is duly considered how many of our exhibitors 
occupy several hours in finally determining which are the best 
specimens they themselves possess to send as competitors to 
a Poultry Show, it will at once be evident tljat the difficulties 
incident to the eventual determination of the priority of posi¬ 
tion among forty or fifty pens in a single class only, thus 
previously selected by their several owners, require from the 
Judge or Judges infinitely increased quickness, decision, 
and regularity of operation, otherwise how possibly can, 
perchance, a couple or three hours suffice to appoint all the 
awards in at least fifty classes? It will thus be seen how 
much depends upon a quick and experienced eye. 
Integrity of purpose, also, is equally and as vitally 
necessary. This wanting, all other requisites will surely 
warp before temptation to injustice, or die away altogether 
where self-interest dictates the necessity of apportioning 
particular awards exclusively for the purpose of personal 
aggrandisement; or, contrariwise, the poultry will be “ re¬ 
turned” as ineligible, and the purchase be rejected. True 
it is, Poultry Judges should never supply to exhibitors the 
identical fowls they afterwards are called upon to adjudge. 
It is placing heavy temptations between their conscience 
and the fulfilment of justice. Human nature is naturally 
prone to self-considerations, and it can scarcely be expected 
that, at least in cases of close equality, the balance will 
not at length “ draw ” in favour of a pen that the present 
owner ordered to be procured for him without the slightest 
limitation as to price “ if they could win.” AATien T30, TIO, 
or even T50 are thus jeopardised by the result, and that, 
too, when the arbitrator is himself to be the recipient, it 
scarcely requires the foresight of a prophet to determine 
the probabilities ; indeed, the surprise is, “ how could it 
be otherwise ? ” 
The Judges who are alone conducive to the long-continued 
popularity of Poultry Shows are those who, having no 
personal interest, are not likely to “ swerve ” to the advantage 
of any competitor, but stand equally aloof from the monetary 
interests of all parties—individuals who “ court no favours” 
from the affluent, and equally disdain to receive any pecuniary 
emolument, even where insidiously proffered, whatever the 
the shape of the presentation. 
I he real interests of the general body of exhibitors are 
those thus feebly depicted. They are their own individually; 
for, it heavy purchases alone are to decide the premiums, 
all parties in turn, let them possess whatever excellence 
they may in their competing birds, will at times be sold to ; 
suit existing circumstances. There is not a single incident ! 
connected with Poultry Shows that is, therefore, so worthy j 
ot the most careful and closely-considered attention of 
Committees of Poultry Shows as the due appointment of 
sufficient Judges, whose real integrity of purpose and ability 
to fulfil it's duties are acknowledged and well proved.—D. T. 
