370 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, September 8 , 1857. 
Cochin-Chinas— First, W. Dawson, Mirfield. Second, J. Dixon, 
Bradford (White). Chickens.— First, W. Dawson, Mirfield. Second, 
W. Holland, Lightcliffe. 
Cross Breeds. — First, W. Maude, Bingley (Black Hamburghs). 
! Second, R. Binns, Warley (Cuckoos). Commended, J. Brooke, Catherine 
Slack (Dutch Dumps). 
Ducks (Aylesbury).—First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, D. Leeming, 
Halifax. Ducklings.— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, H. Atkinson, 
Southowram. 
Ducks (Rouen).—First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, H. Ambler, 
Watkinson Hall. Ducklings. —First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, D. 
Leeming, Halifax. 
Turkeys. —First, H. Edwards, M.P., Pye Nest. Second, G. Haigh. 
Bermerside. Poults. —First, Miss Louisa Goodall, Skircoat. Second, 
H. Edwards, M.P., Pye Nest. 
Pigeons. — Carriers. —First, J. Firth, Lily Lane (Blue). Second, W. 
Smith, Kent House. Almond Tumblers. —First, W. Smith, Kent House. 
Second, J. Hogg, Skircoat. Balds, Beards, and Mottled Tumblers .— 
First, W. Smith, Kent House. Second, J. W. Edge, Aston New Town, 
Birmingham (Balds). Owls. —First, J. Bairstow, Skircoat. Second, 
j Bird and Beldon, Eccleshill. Turbits. — First, J. Parkinson, jun., 
Wheatley. Second, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. Jacobins. —First, J. 
! W. Edge, Birmingham. Second, T. Barker, Halifax. Fantails. —First, 
H. Child, jun., Birmingham. Second, T. Grove, Leamington. Powters 
j or Croppers. —First, J. Firth, Lily Lane. Second, W. Smith, Kent 
House. Barbs. —First, J. Hogg, Skircoat. Second, S. Tennand, Out- 
lane. Dragoons. —First, W. Smith, Kent House. Second, D. Winks, 
| Ovenden. Archangels. —First, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. Second, 
: J. Hogg, Skircoat. Runts. — First, J. Firth, Lily Lane. Second, H. 
I Child, jun., Birmingham. Nuns. —First, J. W. Edge, Birmingham. 
Second, J. Firth, Lily Lane. Trumpeters. —First, W. Smith, Kent 
House. Second, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. Any other breed. —First, 
i J. Hogg, Skircoat (Swallows). Second, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. 
Rabbits. — Length of Ears. —Prize, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. 
Coloured. —Prize, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. Weight.— Prize, H. 
Child, jun., Birmingham. Foreign or other variety. —Prize, H. Child, 
j jun., Birmingham. 
A PLEA FOR WHITE DORKINGS. 
i 
As you were so kind as to insert in your valuable 
periodical my complaints of the indifference with which 
this breed of fowls is treated by Poultry Show Committees, 
I will venture to trouble you with a few facts which will 
prove that White Dorkings can be reared with as little loss 
as any other chickens. 
This year I hatched my first brood of eight White 
Dorkings on the 13th of March; they are all alive now 
(August 29th), except one that was killed for the table. 
The cockerels weigh more than 4 lbs. 8 ozs. each, the best 
pullets more than 3 lbs. These chickens have not been 
fatted. 
Out of fifty White Dorkings hatched between March 
13th and May 21st only two have died of disease, one 
has been killed by a rat, and two by a dog. I have kept 
Hamburghs and Cochins in the same yard; they have 
had the same care, but out of only twelve Cochins three 
have died; and none of the White Dorkings have, I believe, 
crooked breasts. 
I feed my chickens when very young on egg, groats, and 
lettuce; when five or six days old on small wheat and 
hempseed; and not until they are more than two months 
old do I give them either barley or oats. The coops are 
kept very dry, and are cleaned out every day—twice a day 
when the brood is large. The first few days after the 
chickens are hatched they are closely confined to the coop, 
and fed every two hours. After they are ten days old I let 
the hen and chickens have the run of the lawn in the 
middle of the day. I consider that cleanliness and fresh 
water are more important than even good food to the 
growth and health of young chickens.—A Subscriber to 
The Cottage Gardener. 
PIGEONS. 
Class 9. Variety 1.—THE CARMELITE (CoVumba 
pumila). 
French. German. 
Pigeon Carme. Karmelite Taube. 
This unique variety has not yet, I believe, been introduced 
into this country. It is mentioned by several continental 
writers on Pigeons, among them Dr. Bechstein and MM. 
Boitard and Corbie, which latter names it Columha Car- 
melitana. They are very small Pigeons, and exceedingly 
short-legged, so that they appear to sit or squat on the 
ground. The feet and toes are covered with very long 
feathers. The beak is short, and less than that of the 
Turtle Dove. At the back of the head is a small turned 
crown or point of feathers. The marking is what we 
designate magpied. The colour of the mantle, or the ground 
colour, is either light grey, iron grey, chamois, or claret 
brown, the wings and under part of the body excepted, which 
are always white, like our common Magpie Pigeons. The 
feathers on the feet are the same colour as the body. They 
appear to be scarce in France, and not very plentiful in 
Germany. M. Boitard further remarks that the male and 
female always resemble each other; that these pretty birds 
are productive enough; but that the smallness of their 
progeny prevents their being kept by such persons who 
prefer utility rather than elegance in the individual.—B. P. 
Brent. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Bath and West of England Society’s Poultry Show.— 
“The Secretary (H. S. Maule) of the Bath and West of England 
Agricultural Society has written to inform me that a letter has ap¬ 
peared in your paper of August 25th, complaining of the non-pay¬ 
ment of the Newton prizes. Whatever blame has been incurred rests 
with myself as Director of the poultry department, and not with 
H. S. Maule. When I mention that the cups were only received on 
the 2Sth, and forwarded the next day, with all the cheques in payment of 
second prizes, you will perceive no time was lost after they came into 
our hands. Owing to most unavoidable causes the manufacturer could 
not let me have them earlier, and after they left his hands an error on 
the rail delayed them again a week or ten days, or your correspondent 
would have been spared the trouble of complaining. If he has had any 
experience in getting a new pattern made in silver, and afterwards 
properly chased and correctly engraved, with all the classes to compare 
between Director, Secretary, and engraver, he will not on reflection, I 
think, consider two or three months a very unreasonable time. I regret, 
however, there should have been any delay, and wish to take the full 
share of disgrace, if your readers, who have by this time received their 
cups, think I deserve it.”— Samuel Pitman, Picton Castle, Haver¬ 
fordwest. 
[We said no more than we thought when we said that the Bath and 
West of England Society could not be suspected of shuffling. Mr. 
Crocker, whose letter of the 25th ult. is referred to, will agree with us 
that Mr. Pitman’s letter is perfectly satisfactory.—E d.] 
Cochin-Chinas at Bradford. —“ The remarks made by a Bradford 
Committeeman in your number of the 25th of August, as to the few 
entries of Cochin-Chinas in his neighbourhood, excited my curiosity, 
and I consequently looked over the catalogues of several Poultry Shows. 
The result confirms your remarks on his letter. I am not aware of there 
being anything in the neighbourhood of Bradford to deter exhibitors of 
Cochins from sending there as well as to other places if a sufficient in¬ 
ducement is held out; and I think Committees should encourage all 
useful classes, and not allow their partiality for those particular kinds 
which they keep to cause them to act unjustly towards other sorts. 
The figures below show the total number of entries, omitting the single 
cock classes, at the last Shows held at Birmingham, Preston, Liverpool, 
Prescot, Sheffield, and the Crystal Palace.” 
Game (all kinds) . 695 
Hamburghs, do.583 
Cochins, do. 344 
Brahmas, do. 59 
— Ki-Wang. 
Dorkings (all kinds). 278 
Polish, do. 238 
Spanish . 216 
Bantams (all kinds). 212 
I 
I 
Crystal Palace Poultry Show (An Amateur). —Part of your 
letter is libellous, and cannot be published in our columns. The other 
parts shall appear if you send us your name. 
London: Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published for the Proprietors 
at The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—September 8, 1857. 
