THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 10, 1857. 
92 
have caused confusion, disappointment, and, what is worst 
of all, a want of faith and truthfulness towards the public. 
I speak advisedly, and in perfect unison with a great number 
of parties who have suffered from the old proverb, “ Large 
words out of a small stomach or, in plain language, a 
staff of gentlemen, following the claptrap of the times, have 
produced programmes promising large prizes to be competed 
for, and then, after receiving the birds, have proportioned 
them just as it suited their funds. Thus, first and second 
prizes for Cochins, no third as proposed ; and all the Ham- 
burghs perhaps a second prize only, and so on with many 
others after this fashion. This is bad, very bad—a trans¬ 
parent sham, and the precursor of innumerable failures next 
season. As an individual of some experience I am con¬ 
vinced that the Crystal Palace prizes are very satisfactory to 
all exhibitors, but the entry fee should never exceed 5s.; it 
squares with most men’s ideas, and makes up a sum some¬ 
what like this:— 
8. 
d. 
Entry. 
0 
Carriage to. 
. 2 
3 
Ditto back. 
O 
o 
9 6 
And if no prize comes, the sum being small, many a fancier 
will be perfectly content, on knowing the direction of the 
prizes, to add another pen or a new one for the next forth¬ 
coming show. But what is the case now ? Why, anything 
but the nimble ninepence. The public are cajoled by 
| cups, and <£10 or £20 prizes, and high entries. Any half- 
j wilted man must see that the rich alone can enter here. 
Money competes against industry—merely money, naught 
else. It does not require a very rich man, but a speculating 
one. For instance, a man lays out £00, and buys one pen 
of first-class birds: in three months his cups, and prizes, 
and ultimate sale of the same bring him in a pretty sum 
and a name, and here ends all his knowledge ; and yet these 
shows set out as being exclusively for the improvement of 
domestic poultry. Stuff! Why, you exclude the major portion 
of breeders, the artisan and cottager, and deceive the specu¬ 
lator and opulent. Things cannot last after this manner. 
I very much question whether you enhance the interests of 
the majority by £10 or £20 prizes, but contrariwise. The 
Crystal Palace is a fair criterion, and is not based on meeting 
the cupidity of the exclusives, but the requirements of the 
many. 
It would be my great delight to see these Poultry Shows 
based on a more sensible foundation, permitting all classes 
to receive for their selection a fair and suitable prize, not as 
for a horse, a bull, or a sheep, but for a pen of fowls. I am 
ready to show some twenty times this next season, but 
nothing shall induce me to send my birds again to any 
exhibition unless the forwarders set out with a much more 
truthful and healthy bill of fare.— Opifex. 
P.S.— The class “thorough-bred” (not usually named), 
is the one for a cup and numerous entries if properly 
arranged !! ! 
and as light and quick in its flight, though it is much tamer 
and more tender; the beak pale brown; the eyes gravel; 
the head rather long and narrow, with a point of feathers 
behind, or “ snake-headed,” as the old fanciers would say.- 
As to plumage they are very striking Pigeons. The head, 
neck, breast, and under parts are of a fine coppery red, very 
glossy, and reflecting an orange tint. The wings and back 
are shining black, showing purple and green shades; the 
tail dark slate-coloured, with a black bar at the extremity. 
There is also a sub-variety not much esteemed, in which the 
back and wings are of a brownish blue, with kite bars. The 
first feathers of the young birds are all tipped with kite 
brown. 
Variety 6.— THE WHITE ARCHANGEL OR 
COLOURED-BREASTED PIGEON. 
German , Die Farbenbrustige Taube. 
This variety so exactly resembles the foregoing in every¬ 
thing but plumage, that it may be regarded as a variety 
of that, and consequently it is unnecessary for me. to re¬ 
capitulate that description, as colour is their only difference. 
I will confine this to their marking. Head, neck, and 
breast are coloured either black, blue, red, or yellow, the 
rest of the plumage pure white; but in the young the nest 
feathers are edged with colour, and they only become clear 
white after the completion of the first moult. 
Variety 7.— THE STOMACHER PIGEON 
(Columba pectorale). 
German, Die Latz Taube. 
The Stomacher is another variety of the German Toys, 
and derives its name from the front of the head, neck, and 
chest being coloured as though it wore a bib or breast-cloth 
either black, blue, red, or yellow, the rest of the plumage 
being clear white. They are very pretty Pigeons, rather 
stouter made than the Dovehouse Pigeon; have large shell- 
turned crowns, reaching nearly half down the back of the 
neck; the feet are stockinged, and they field well.—B.-P. 
Brent. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Weight of Young Aylesbury Ducks. —“Please inform me what 
should be the weight of Aylesbury ducks four months old, and the drakes 
three months old, fed in an ordinary way ; what age they are considered 
full grown, and their weight then.”— Constant Subscriber. 
[It is a very difficult question to answer, as everything depends on the 
manner in which they are fed. The Aylesbury folks have the gift of 
making their ducks large and heavy. At four months they would have 
them six pounds each, and in some cases more. As a rule, however, 
you are doing well if you make one pound per month without extra 
feeding. Your weight is then in framework, and that can always be 
clothed with fat. They have done growing at nine months, and in good 
stock condition will weigh from five to six pounds each.] 
Legs of White Cochins ( E. Moore).— Yellow is their proper colour. 
PIGEONS. 
TOYS. 
Variety 5.— THE ARCHANGEL OR BULLFINCH 
PIGEON (Columba rubicilla ). 
German , Die Gimpel oder Dompfaffen Taube. 
I am not aware that this variety is known in France; hut 
in Germany it is somewhat common, and is there known 
in the different parts by the local name of the Bull¬ 
finch, whatever that may be, the plumage having some 
resemblance to that bird. The English name of Archangel 
I am at a loss to account for, unless that as their German 
name Dompfaffen, which is applied to the bullfinch in some 
districts, also means a cathedral priest, and thus the importer 
by a slight stretch of imagination clapped wings to the 
archprebend, and converted him into an archangel. So much 
for a name! . The Archangel, as it is now generally called 
in England, is the size and make of a Dovehouse Pigeon, 
LONDON MARKETS.— -November 9th. 
POULTRY. 
There is an ample supply, but the trade is very dull, and last week’s 
prices have not been maintained. 
Large fowls 4s. 6 d. to 5s. Od.each. 
Smaller do. 3s. od. to 3s. fid. „ 
Chickens.. Is. 9 d. to 2s. 3d. ,, 
Geese .... 6s. Od. to 7 ». 0 d. ,, 
Ducks .... 2s. fid. to 3s. Od. ,, 
Hares. 2 s. 3d. to 2 s. 6 d. ,, 
Turkeys. 
Grouse .... Is. 9d. to 2s. 3d. each 
Pigeons. 9d. to lOd. ,, 
Rabbits.. Is. 4d. to Is. 6d. ,, 
Wild ditto.. lOd. tols.Od. ,, 
Pheasants .. 2s. 9d. to 3s. Od. ,, 
Partridges .... Is. to Is. 4d. ,, 
.6s. to /s. 
London: Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in j 
the Pariah of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published for the Proprietor, j 
at The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in j 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—November 10, 1857. 
