THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 3, 1857, 
ease previously at Birmingham. If any of the Committee 
will take the trouble to try the experiment, by placing two 
Dorking cocks of equal si/e one in a top and the other in 
an under pen, it will at once be aeen that the former has the 
appearance of being from one to two pounds heavier than 
the latter, an advantage, where size is a requisite, which one 
pen ought not to have over another. The labours attending 
an exhibition are undoubtedly great, but it is well worth 
while to take a little extra trouble to prevent dissatisfaction 
at any of the arrangements.— Amicus. 
DORCHESTER POULTRY EXHIBITION. 
October 29th. 
There is a great charm in old friendships, and it is 
indeed a pleasure when we meet a friend but once in a year 
to lind that time deals gently with him, and that the past 
year has left no traces of its passage. This is the most we 
can expect in our fellow creatures, with whom gradual decay 
is inevitable, and a law to which we must all succumb ; but 
with many of the events of life age may be only an improve¬ 
ment, and the experience of the past may tend only to the 
perfection of the present. It is so with the subject we have 
now to treat of—the Fifth Exhibition of the Dorsetshire 
Association for the Improvement of Domestic Poultry. It 
was held in the usual locality, and it need hardly, be said 
that the arrangements were perfect when we reflect they 
were entirely under the superintendence of Mr. Andrews, so 
well known not only as the early and successful breeder of 
Cochin-Chinas, but also as one of the best and most expe¬ 
rienced judges in England. 
If ever a Society had reason to congratulate itself on 
having accomplished the object it had in view the Dorset¬ 
shire Association may do so. Those vdio recollect the early 
days and the birds that were shown, the ease with which the 
prizes were awarded, and the marked difference between the 
successful and unsuccessful pens, and compare them w r ith 
the Show of which we treat, will concur in the truth of our 
remark. This was essentially a Show of first-rate birds. 
One remark more will lead us to the description of the 
classes, to which we refer our readers for the verification of 
our assertion. This Show is supported by all the sur¬ 
rounding nobility and gentry. Not only do they contribute 
to it liberally, but they also attend it in person, and evince 
the interest they take in this pleasing pursuit. The tempting 
case containing the pieces of plate looked like a small 
silversmith’s shop. The same good arrangement that per¬ 
vaded other departments was visible here. The winners of 
the different articles are at liberty to change them at the 
shops where they are purchased for any others of the same 
value. As the prize-list is published in full we shall content 
ourselves with noticing those classes and pens which were 
sufficiently meritorious to demand it. 
The four successful pens of Spanish come under this 
head. It was a hard run between Messrs. Botham and 
Fowler, but the superiority of the cock in the latter pen 
decided it in his favour. There is immense progress made 
in breeding the chickens, and the prize birds were beautiful. 
The adult Dorkings were deeply in moult, but the chickens 
left nothing to desire either in health, size, or really high con¬ 
dition. The honours gained by the prize birds are enough 
to satisfy the successful, but it is due to the highly com¬ 
mended to say that their birds were unusually meritorious. 
The improvement in the size of the White Dorkings was as 
visible here as it has been at most recent shows. Good 
Cochins are looked for in Dorsetshire, and there were hens 
and pullets, especially those belonging to Mrs. Fookes and 
Messrs. Bartrum and Goodenough, of surpassing merit 
and beauty; but there is an evident lack of good cocks, 
especially among the chickens. The Grouse and White 
Cochins were not numerous, but they were good. In the 
former it is manifestly difficult to get cocks with pure 
black breasts, and in the latter the adult birds differ from 
Malvolio—they do not like yellow stockings. The Brahma 
Pootras were very good, and the Judges declared them to be 
“ admirable classes.” Those belonging to Messrs. Manning 
and Botham were perfect. There is no county which shows 
so many good Malays as Doi’setshire, and the reputation was 
well sustained. They were perfect: we cannot say more, 
l o 
except that they brought sixteen pens into competition. The 
Game fowls were not so good as we have seen them. One 
of the best pens, Piles, shown by the Rev. Mr. Cruwys, 
was disqualified, being wrongly entered. Had thev been 
in their proper place a very different fate would have 
been theirs, as they were excellent birds. Among the 
Spangled Hamburghs there were many good birds, but we are 
more particularly bound to mention the cup pen of Silver 
belonging to Mrs. Pettat. The cock is nearer to per¬ 
fection than any bird we ever saw. Mr. Bartrum’s old birds 
are also very good. The Pencilled Hamburghs, twenty-seven 
pens, were so good that they gave the Judges much trouble. 
The Rev. T. L. Fellowes took the cup for Gold, and Mr. 
Archer cup, first, and second prizes for Silver. We think 
j these three pens are destined to a long career of success. 
] Among the Polands those most worthy of especial mention 
where good birds were plentiful were Mrs. Pettat’s and Mr. 
Coleridge’s Golden , and Mr. P. Jones’s Silver. Mrs. Pettat’s 
Golden chickens are the best we ever saw in our experience of 
shows. Mrs. Mills’s Silver chickens are also very promising. 
All the Bantams were good, and were pronounced meritorious. 
The various class brought birds deserving of much com¬ 
mendation, especially the Polands belonging to Mrs. Mills, 
and Mr. Fellowes’ Black Hamburghs. Mr. Fowler showed 
two Geese weighing 48 lbs., and perfect in every other 
respect. We need hardly add they took first prize; the 
whole class was capital. This gentleman showed the heaviest 
Ducks; but not exercising sufficient care in selecting a drake 
with the proper bill, he had to give precedence to lighter 
birds belonging to Mr. Ford. It may suffice to speak in 
terms of eulogy of all the Ducks shown. 
We will conclude by repeating that the object of the 
Society is fully carried out, and by thanking Mr. Andrews 
for his urbanity and unwearied zeal. All the birds were 
sent off in the evening after the Show closed. 
The Judges were H. Ilinxman, Esq., and Mr. Baily. 
PIECES OF PLATE. 
A Piece of Plate, value £ 5, given by the Earl of Ilchester, patron of 
the Society, to the owner of the best pen of Dorking fowls, Mrs. Henry 
Fookes, Whitchurch. 
A Piece of Plate, value £2 10s., given by J. J. Farquharson, Esq., 
President of the Society, to the owner, being a resident in the county of 
Dorset, and the breeder of the best Cinnamon or Buff Cochin-China 
cock of not less than one year old, to Mr. W. Manfield, jun., Dorchester. 
A Piece of Plate, value £2 10s., given by J. J. Farquharson, Esq., 
President of the Society, to the owner, being a resident in the county of 
Dorset, and the breeder of the best Dorking cock of not less than one 
year old, to Mr. W. L. Henning, Frome House. 
A Piece of Plate, value £3 , given by Sir E. B. Baker, Bart., vice- 
President of the Society, to the owner of the two best pens of Ducks 
(Aylesbury and Rouen), to Mrs. H. Fookes, Whitchurch. 
A Piece of Plate, value £3, given by H. N. Middleton, Esq., High 
Sheriff of Dorset, for the best pen of Spangled Hamburgh fowls, to 
Mrs. Pettat, Ashe, near Micheldever. 
A Piece of Plate, value £5, given by G. Sturt, Esq., M.P., to the 
owner of the best pen of Spanish fowls, to Mr, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. 
A Piece of Plate, value £5, given by the Hon. W. H. B. Portman, 
M.P., to the owner of the best pen of Game fowls, to Mr. W. Manfield, 
jun., Dorchester. 
A Piece of Plate, value £2 10s., given by J. Ensor, Esq., Mayor of 
Dorchester, for the best pen of Bantams, to Mr. J. Goodenough, God- 
manstone. 
A Piece of Plate, value £2 10s., given by R. B. Sheridan, Esq., for 
the best pen of Golden-pencilled Hamburghs, to Mr. T. L. Fellowes, 
Acle, Norfolk. 
A Piece of Plate, value £2 10s., given by R. If. Sheridan, Esq., M.P., 
for the best pen of Silver-pencilled Hamburghs, Mr. E. Archer, Malvern. 
A Piece of Plate, value £2 10s., given by N. Sturt, Esq., M.P., for 
the best pen of Brahma Pootra fowls, Mr. G. Botham, Wexham Court. 
A Piece of Plate, value £2 10s., given by N. Sturt, Esq., M.P., for 
the best pen of Malay fowls, to Mr. W. Manfield, jun., Dorchester. 
A Piece of Plate, value £5, given by G. W. Digby, Esq., of Sherborne 
Castle, to the owner of the best pen of Cochin-China fowls, to Mrs. 
Fookes, Whitchurch. 
A Piece of Plate, value £3, given by H. Williams, Esq., for the best 
pen of Poland fowls, to Mrs. Pettat, Ashe, near Micheldever. 
Spanish. —First, Mr. J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Second, Mr. G. 
Botham, Wexham Court. Highly Commended, Mr. J. K. Bartrum, 
Bath; Mr. C. T. Nelson, Birmingham. Chickens of 1357.—First, Mr. 
P. H. Jones, Fulham. Second, Mr. J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Highly 
Commended, Mr. G. W. Locke, Newport, Isle of Wight. 
Dorking (Coloured). — First, Mr. G. Botham, Wexham Court. 
Second, Mr. G. S. Fox, Wellington, Somerset. Highly Commended, 
Mr. W. L. Henning, Frome House; Mrs. A, G. Brooke, Chelmsford. 
