THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, October 6, 1857. 13 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
October 7th. South West Middlesex Agricultural Society. 
At Gunnersbury Farm, Ealing. Sec., J. Gotelee, Hounslow. 
October 8th. Bucks Agricultural Society. Sec., Mr. Charles 
Fuller, Chiltern House, Weudover, Bucks. Entries close Sept. 24. 
October 8th. Bridgnorth. Sec., Mr. It. Taylor, Bridgnorth. 
Entries close 1st of October. 
October 28th and 29th. Dorsetshire. Sec., G. J. Andrews, Esq., 
Dorchester. Entries close October 14th. 
November 25th and 26th. Gloucestershire. Sec., Mr. E. Trinder, 
Cirencester. 
November 30th, and December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Birmingham. 
Sec., John Morgan. Entries close the 2nd of November. 
December 16th and 17th. Nottinghamshire. Entries close No¬ 
vember 18th. Hon. Sec., Mr. R. Hawksley, jun., Southwell. 
December 30th and 31st. Burnley and East Lancashire. 
Entries close December 1st. Secs., Mr. Angus Sutherland and Mr. 
Ralph Landless. 
January 1st, 1858. Paisley. Poultry, Pigeons, and Fancy Birds. 
Sec., Mr. W. Houston, 14, Barr Street, Paisley. 
January 4th, 1858. Kirkcaldy Poultry and Fancy Bird 
Show. Sec., Mr. Bonthron, jun., Thistle Street. 
January 9th, 11th, 12th, and 13th, 1858. Crystal Palace. 
ham. 
January 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd, 1858. Nottingham Central. 
Sec., Mr. Etherington, jun., Notintone Place, Sneinton, near Notting- 
February 3rd and 4th, 1858. Preston and North Lancashire. 
Secs., Mr. R. Teebay and Mr. II. Oakey, Preston. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
OUNDLE POULTRY SHOW. 
This was held oh the 24th of September in connection 
with the Meeting of the Northamptonshire Agricultural 
Society’s Annual Exhibition of stock and implements, and is 
yearly rising in importance and numbers. While local shows 
cannot be expected to rival those that have poultry only 
for their object, yet we know none where progress is 
more marked, and, consequently, where more real good is 
done. Any one unaccustomed to these gatherings would be 
astonished to see the interest taken in the poultry by all 
the visitors, especially the ladies. In this department they 
can converse learnedly, and here they enter freely into com¬ 
petition. Hence they have at every gathering a personal 
object, which they lacked so long as the shows were confined 
to cattle and implements. These meetings have another fea¬ 
ture essentially their own. Almost every one is anxious for 
their success, and speaks of our county and our show. Every¬ 
body knows everybody, and where but one animal or one pen 
of fowls comes from a parish all who attend from that locality 
identify themselves to a certain extent with its success or 
failure. As there is no doubt the poultry forms a main 
attraction we would advise the Society to give higher prizes, 
and we have no doubt the extra sum allotted for that 
purpose would make a good return. 
There were four classes for Dorkings, and those who know 
these fowls will be able to form a good idea of their merits 
when we say that the Rev. E. Thoresby was not successful 
in every class. No one has bred more good Dorkings or 
understands them better than that gentleman. The adult 
birds were, of course, out of feather, but they were as good 
as can be seen. The three prizes were taken by Mr. Shaw, 
Rev. F. Thoresby, and Mr. R. Wood. The chickens were 
worthy to follow them, and the first prize pen—rose-combed 
birds—would be hard to beat at any show. They belonged 
to Mrs. Franklin; second and third went to Mr. R. Wood, 
and fourth to Lady Isham. The third class was for a cock 
and one pullet. Here Mr. Thoresby showed two splendid 
chickens, followed by Mr. Wood. The single cock prizes 
were adjudged Messrs. Marriott and R. Wood. It will be 
Mr. Wood’s fault if this is not the beginning of success. He 
has birds to win with anywhere. 
Cochins and Brahmas are all classed together in this prize- 
list, and Mr. Thoresby took two first prizes for the latter, 
while Mr. Tatham took three for the former. The Game 
fowls were badly matched as regards the colour of their 
legs, if we except a very good pen of Brassy-winged chickens. 
The Silver-spangled, were the best of all the Hamburghs, 
especially a pen belonging to Lady Isham and another the 
property of Mr. Marriott. These deservedly took prizes, as 
did a pen of Silver-pencilled also owned by that gentleman. 
Exhibitors in these classes were not sufficiently careful in 
selecting birds with perfect combs. As there was no class 
for Spanish they were, of necessity, shown in that for “ any 
other variety,” and they not only monopolised all the 
prizes, but they formed a goodly show of these beautiful 
birds. Mr. Thoresby took all the prizes with excellent 
chickens. There were perfect Ducks of every breed. Mr. 
Harrison was first in Aylesburys with excellent birds, and 
another pen belonging to the same gentleman would have 
taken the second prize, but by mistake there were two 
drakes. Mr. Beasley’s Rouens were very good, and his 
Buenos Ayrean among the best we have seen. The same 
gentleman took all the prizes for Turkeys. It is two years 
since we were at this Show, and we have never seen greater 
progress in improving poultry than we did now. 
Mr. Baily was the Judge. 
DELAY IN SENDING DIRECTION LABELS. 
Under the above heading an article appeared in your last 
number in which Mr. G. Ray says the inconvenience might 
be easily remedied in the following manner:—“ If on receipt 
of the entrance money the Secretary were to forward to the 
exhibitor the proper direction labels for his baskets.” The 
proposed remedy is simply impracticable. The labels can- 
l not be sent until all the certificates are received by the 
j Secretary and the catalogue arranged. Labels without the 
; numbers of the pens would be useless.—W. H. 
LEDBURY POULTRY SHOW. 
This little affair came off yesterday, Thursday, the 24th 
instant, in connection with the Ledbury Agricultural Society’s 
Exhibition of Stock, &c., which, by the by, is quite first-class, 
well worth a long journey to see, the show of Herefords 
being scarcely second to any in the kingdom, and formed a 
very pleasing addition thereto, causing the show-yard to be 
enlivened by the presence of many ladies. The Committee 
only aim at the improvement of “ farm poultry,” therefore 
only offer prizes for Fowls, Ducks, Turkeys, and Geese, 
without reference to their varieties. Since the introduction of 
this addition to the Show a marked improvement has taken 
place in the poultry exhibited. On this occasion many pens 
of well-bred birds were present, such as would do credit to a 
show of greater pretensions. 
The first and fourth prizes for fowls were awarded to Mr. 
W. Moore’s Dorkings, of Hanley Castle; the second to Mr. 
Deakins, of Ledbury, for White Cochin-Chinas; and the 
third to R. Biddulpb, Esq., of Ledbury, for Black Spanish. 
Amongst other pens possessing merit may be mentioned 
Mr. Moore’s adult Dorkings, Mr. Deakins’s Dorkings, Mr. T. 
Brown’s Spanish, and Mr. Deakins’s Silver-pencilled Ham¬ 
burghs. The adult birds were mostly out of condition from 
moulting. There were some excellent specimens of Game 
fowl and Gold and Silver-laced Bantams , but not for com¬ 
petition. 
The Ducks were a superior class—all Aylesburys except 
a pen of Rouen of considerable merit sent by Mr. Deakins. 
Lady Emily Foley was awarded the first prize; R. Biddulph, 
Esq., the second; and Mr. George M‘Cann, of Malvern, the 
third. 
Turkeys, first prize, Mr. H. Bibbs, of Hallhouse. Second 
to R. Biddulph, Esq. 
Geese, first prize, Lady Emily Foley, and second to Mr. 
G. M‘Cann, Malvern. 
We think the Committee would greatly promote the im¬ 
provement of poultry in the neighbourhood if they procured 
I the services of some person of poultry experience to act as 
| Judge (and surely some one could be found within easy reach), 
instead of imposing upon the same set of gentlemen the 
duties of judging cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and poultry— 
the latter an office they do not understand, and consequently 
by no means relish.—A Subscriber. 
NATIONAL COLUMBARIAN CLUB. 
The first Show of the above Club took place on Tuesday, 
the 29th ultimo, at Anderton’s Hotel, and was attended by 
several of the most influential breeders in the kingdom. The 
chair was most ably filled by Mr. Fry, one of the Vice- 
