THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 8, 1857. 
hibition meets with, we are compelled to admit the Council; 
deserves it all; and that no measure of support, or success, 
is too great for their constant endeavours to deserve it, or 
for the high principle that guides them in all their transactions. 
This history of this annual Show is the history ot poultry 
competition throughout the kingdom; and it has given the 
I law to every Society that has since been lormed. The trifling 
alterations that have been made in their rules and regulations 
since they were first compiled will show the wisdom and 
knowledge of the subject that were brought to bear upon 
it at first; and the changes in the prize list bear testimony 
to their desire to meet every reasonable requirement, whether 
of exhibitor or purchaser. 
Thus, when it was found to be most inconvenient to divide 
pens, they at once came forward with, classes for single cocks; 
and they have this year, in the two principal ones, ins! ituted 
fresh prizes for the three best hens, and three best pullets. 
Here, again, the various classes, from the manner in which 
the Judges were always requested to award the prizes, enabled 
those who possessed any meritorious novelty to send their 
birds in sufficient numbers to entitle them to a separate award. 
Their claims were always admitted. Brahma Pootras, Black 
and White Cochins, alf sprung from this. But all their claims 
are cast into the shade by their enterprise and confidence in 
building Bingley Hall for the purpose of the annual Show*. 
I Everyone lias seen it; and, therefore, no description is neces¬ 
sary. Let it suffice to say, that it is perfect for its purpose; 
: no expense is spared ; everything is ensured against fire during 
the Show—watchmen are there throughout the night; and 
| the food provided for the poultry and animals, would suggest 
the idea of a place being provisioned in expectation of a siege. 
We make these remarks because many who visit it, take a 
great interest in its welfare, and derive no small pleasure from 
it, have not the least idea of the labour, expense, and responsi¬ 
bility required in getting up the four days’ Show at Bingley 
Hall. 
We hardly know how to enter on a discussion of the mar- 
i vellous Show that it presented in this year of Grace, 18o7. 
There were more than 1300 pens. Golden-pencilled Sam - 
burghs began with an adult class of ten entries. Even in 
this small class there w T as difficulty in decision. Messrs. 
Worrall, Whittington, and Alkin, were the fortunate in 
order. Next were forty-five pens of chickens; and many of 
these were unusually meritorious. Mr. Chune was the winner 
of the cup; Messrs. Eell and Dixon,no mean names in this class, 
were second and third. Many of these pens were very near to 
perfection. The old Silver-pencilled were moulting and in bad 
feather; they brought but seven pens into competition, and do 
not call for especial ment ion. The chickens made amends. There 
were twenty-five beautiful pens, and they furnished another 
and a great triumph to a breeder already celebrated, Mr. 
Archer, of Malvern. This gentleman took the Cup, and all the 
prizes. It will be seen throughout, that, although the time of 
year is favourable to old birds, yet in every class, the entries 
are far more numerous in the chickens. It was so in the 
Silver-spangled ; but here the old birds proved their superiority 
over their younger competitors, by taking a Cup for Mr. 
Teebay. The names of Chune and Dixon will be expected to 
appear; and they did so, taking second and third. The Rev. 
T. L. Eellowes was first prize-taker in the chicken class. The 
tails of these birds are improving; inasmuch as there are now 
many with perfect tails, being white tipped with black; but 
there would seem to be a limit to excellence: and the lacing 
of the wings, and the marking of the hackle are in many 
cases deficient. It must not, however, be supposed that we 
speak in any other than terms of commendation of these 
classes. We cannot give all names in full; but the fact that 
forty-nine Hamburgh pens appear in the the prize list, will 
speak for then’ merits. 
The Black Polands with white tops were hardly so good 
as we have seen at this Exhibition. They were well and 
honestly shown, but their top-knots were not firm and com¬ 
pact. Mr. Battye took the Cup ; the other honours w r ent to 
Messrs. Conyers, Ray, Edwards, and Eox. 
The other Polands will introduce us to a long series of 
successes of Mr. Greenall. We shall note them in due course; 
but it should be impressed on exhibitors in these classes that 
a crooked bird will disqualify any pen, however good it may 
be in other respects. 
It is not usual for the Golden Polands to distance their 
Silver competitors ; but they did so in this instance. Eor the 
first time during the last two or three years, we have to 
chronicle more improvement in the former than the latter. 
The prizes for the black birds with white tops, -went to 
Messrs. Conyers, Batty, Atkins, Edwards, Ray, and Eox ; 
while the piece of plate, and five prizes, four of them first 
prizes, went to Mr. J. Greenall, junr. We have seldom to 
mention such success as this; and that it was not an easy 
triumph may be inferred from the fact, that there were sixty- 
two entries, comprising all the good exhibitors. Mr. Parkins* 
Jones and Mr. W. Dawson, also took first prizes. We were 
glad to see that some birds belonging to Mr. Williams, of 
Dublin, also appear highly placed in the prize list. 
The Spanish classes introduce many new* names ; and others 
who have been absent for years re-appear in the competition. 
Of the three classes of these birds, one was declared excellent, 
another meritorious and useful, and the third unusually good. 
We could but carry our recollection back to the time, when a 
little red over the eye was easily excused, and when the 
absence of upright combs made a falling one almost correct. 
Sow, any deviation from the standard of perfection is fatal 
to success. The different classes of this breed, induced 77 
entries. The best pen shown was, beyond a doubt, that be¬ 
longing to Mr. Eowler. This deservedly had the piece of 
plate offered for the most meritorious birds in the class. The 
closest competitors were Mr. Busst’s adults, and Mr. Rod- 
bard’s chickens; Mr. Rake’s chickens were beautiful, but 
they lacked age; and we know no breed in wliich this is so 
essential to the development of the merits of a bird, as in 
Spanish pullets. Those shown prove the truth of an old 
assertion, that it is easier to get twenty perfect cocks, than 
five pullets, or hens. Mrs. Stow and Miss Rake, showed 
good birds; and so did Messrs. Brundrit and Nelson. In 
this, as in several other classes we shall have to name, the 
number of highly commendatory mentions the Judges were 
compelled to append to deserving pens, must satisfy exhibi¬ 
tors that their birds were not only very meritorious, but that 
they were so near to success, that there is every encourage¬ 
ment to persevere with a good hope of attaining, another year, 
the position that excites envy now. 
Dorkings then contributed 165 pens. On perusing the 
fist of exhibitors in this class, no one can fail to be struck 
with the number of the aristocracy who are competitors. 
These were among the best classes we have ever seen; and 
whether we consider the birds as chosen for weight, symmetry, 
or colour, we are compelled to say, that, had there been five 
times as many prizes, they might have been worthily awarded. 
It is almost a thankless task to undertake to name the most 
deserving, where so many were meritorious; but we cannot 
avoid especial mention to the adult birds of Captain Hornby, 
the winners of the Dorking piece of plate : they seem almost 
to have attained the utmost limit of excellence. 
It is also necessary to speak in the highest terms of the 
birds shown by the Rev. S. Donne, the Honble. W. W. 
Yernon, Mr. Wakefield, and Mr. Horrocks. It is a great 
tribute to the excellence of those belonging to Lady Sophia 
Desvoeux, Lord Hill, the Rev. John Hill, and Messrs. 
Lister, Popham, and Botham, that all their birds were either 
Highly Commended or Commended. The classes for hens 
and pullets alone were very interesting ; Mrs. Handbury, and 
Messrs. Smith and Ulloek deserved their success. 
Mr. Allsopp took three out of four prizes for White Dorkings; 
Mrs. Farmer, and Captain Beardmore w r ere well placed in 
this improving class. The Cochin Chinas were very good, 
but they did not present the general excellence we have had 
to note in the last two breeds. The Silver Plate pen belong¬ 
ing to Mrs. II. Eookes was beautiful, especially the pullets, 
which were better than the cock. The Duchess of Suther¬ 
land, the Reverends G. Gilbert and Stephen Donne, and Mr. 
Stretch, are, however, an exception to the remark we have just 
made; and the first prize adults, when in perfect feather, must 
be an unusually good pen. We want to see these bred as 
carefully as they used to be. 
The entries of Brown and Partridge were numerous, and 
quite of average merit; Mr. Peploe Cartwright took both the 
first prizes; Mr. Brutton Ford a second and third; Mr. 
Busst a second; and Mrs. Hodson, third. We think there 
is more care taken in breeding these than the Buffs. There 
