156 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 8, 1857. 
second for young. His birds were very good, especially the 
young birds. Air. Bartrum’s old were very good, with w T hich 
he took the first prize, and one High Commendation. The 
Game fowls were pretty good, but not equal to some of the 
classes. Messrs. Fox and Filing were the principal exhibitors ; 
the former carrying off the laurels, taking first for young, and 
second for old.' Mr. Pain showed one pen of good birds, 
which were commended. In the young class, one exhibitor 
had recourse to one of the meanest actions an exhibitor could 
be guilty of: he had coloured the cock’s legs to make him 
match with the hens ; but, fortunately, the Judge discovered it, 
and the pen was disqualified. In the Poland class, Mr. Fox’s 
old Silver were good, as well as his Gold and Silver in the 
young. lYe now come to Hamburghs, in the Golden-spangled 
in the old class. The Rev. C. J. Down, Messrs. Fox and 
Eacott, were the chief competitors; the Rev. C. J. Down 
taking first, and Mr. Eacott second. In the young, Messrs. 
Eacott and Bartrum were the principals, the former taking 
first, the latter second. Mrs. Fookes showed good birds. In 
the Silver-spangled, Messrs Cother and Bartrum ; the former 
first, the latter second, in the old class; and in the young, 
Mr. Bartrum took first, with a very good pen of birds, and 
Mr. Mills second. The Silver-pencilled were, on the whole, a 
good class. The principal exhibitors were Messrs. Keable, 
Mills, and Sainsbury. Mr. Keable took first for young, Mr. 
Mills for old, and Air. Sainsbury second for both old and 
young; but his old birds wanted condition, especially one of 
the hens. In the class for Barn-door fowls, Air. Whittaker 
was the principal exhibitor; he took second for old and young, 
Mr. Attwater first for old, and Air. Neate for young. The 
Bantams were very good, and Air. Bartrum took both prizes 
in the Gold and Silver-laced class, with beautiful birds, and 
first in that for any variety , with a good pen of W hite, and 
Mr. Yardy second. The Turkeys were good. Mr. Barton 
took first, and Mrs. Fookes second. Airs. Fookes took first 
for Geese, and Mr. Glass second. The Rouen Bucks were 
capital. Mrs. Fookes took first, and Mr. Smith second. The 
Judge said Mr. Smith’s drake was one of the best he ever saw. 
The Aylesburies were very fine. Mrs. Fookes, Messrs. Murton 
and Bartrum, showed well. Mrs. Fookes took first, and Air. 
Alurton second. The class for Bucks of any other variety , 
was a very good one. The chief exhibitors were Alessrs. 
Sainsbury and Barton; the former took first with a very good 
pen of Buenos Ayres ducks, and the latter second, with a 
pen of Lincolnshire. 
We have now come to the end of our report; and all w T e 
have to say is, that it was a capital Show, in every respect, and 
well managed, and reflected the highest credit on the Se¬ 
cretaries ; and we believe that the decision of the able Judge 
(Mr. Andrews), gave satisfaction in every instance. 
COLOUR OF THE CREST OF GOLDEN 
POLANDS. 
Last spring I gave my opinion in this Journal concerning 
the colour of the Golden Polish fowl’s crest. I now beg leave 
to say, that since that time I have not altered my opinion, 
but still consider the laced or spangle-crested as decidedly 
the best, and very preferable to the black, or black edged with 
yellow-crested ones. By laced-crested I mean pxdlcts or liens 
whose crests are yellow, laced with black. They are also, in my 
opinion, much handsomer than the black-crested ones ; the 
markings of the crest being hi keeping with the markings of 
the body, which is not the case with the black or brown-crested 
birds. The proper match for this sort of pullet is the light- 
coloured cock, not the dark one, which I consider to belong 
to the black-crested hens. The most difficult point to arrive 
at in these light cocks is to get the wing accurately marked ; 
but this difficulty may, with care, be overcome. They are 
also rather apt to throw whitish-tailed birds; but this may 
also, by careful breeding, be eradicated. Now, what I desire to 
see is this, viz., that wherever a really first-rate pen of Golden 
Polands of this description present themselves at the forth¬ 
coming winter exhibitions, they be rewarded in preference to 
the black crests, as I am confident it is a great mistake not 
thus to prefer them. 
I have bred a good many of these birds this season, and 
find that they breed very true to colour. I have had about 
thirty pidlets, and only one had a black crest, the rest being 
all laced or spangled. Also, from about the same number of 
cocks, not one has had a black breast, and only two or three 
have had laced breasts ; all the remainder being spangled. 
I have also found them, in common with my other Polands, 
very hardy; in fact, none, excepting the Cochin-China, more 
so. So far this season I have not lost one by disease. 
Whilst I am writing I may, perhaps, be a 1 lowed to state 
that tills season I have bred a quantity of Malays, and a large 
proportion of them have as regular a pea-comb as the very 
best so-called Brahma Pootra.—G. W. B., Louth. 
P.S. Last week I lost a wffiite Fantail cock Pigeon. Six 
days afterwards it was found at the bottom of a chimney, 
rather altered in both appearance and condition. I think it 
will now come round again; though, when found, it could 
only just stand. 
EGG PRODUCERS IN WINTER. 
I hate at the present time, Dorking, Spanish, Cochin, 
and Brahma Pootra fowls. They are all fed and treated alike, 
but the last are the only regular layers. This fact has, 
perhaps, nothing uncommon about it ; but as your columns 
are the resort of all who are interested in poultry, and as I 
am curious to know whether others may not have to record 
the same result at this time of the year, I have determined on 
sending it to you. 
I have no doubt that many useful and interesting facts are 
lost to those who would appreciate them, by a disinclination 
to appear in print on the part of those who are cognizant of 
them. A'aluable results may be attained by the interchange of 
apparent trifles between amateurs.— Observer. 
[We have Buff Cochin China pullets laying daily.—E d. 
C. G.] 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Weight op Cochin Cockerel (A Subscriber). —A cockerel seven 
months old, weighing- nine pounds, would stand a fair chance of win¬ 
ning at any exhibition, so far as weight is concerned. 
Game Cockerel [JE. B.). —It is not essential that he should he dubbed 
before being exhibited; but it will deduct much from his appearance if 
he is not dubbed. 
Turtle Doves (E. L. G.). —A small outhouse with a wire-netting 
front, is the best place for them. You will lind much interesting in¬ 
formation about their management, &c., if you refer to the index of 
our 16th volume, under the heads “ Dove” and “ Turtle Dove.” 
Goldfinch Mules ( Wm. Lcsnam). —Having been successful in rear¬ 
ing Canaries, follow' tne same treatment in rearing Goldfinch Mules. 
In addition, bear in mind, that the Goldfinch breeds rather late; so 
keep back your hen Canaries till the time of the Goldfinch breeding 
arrives. Also, watch Mr. Goldfinch closely. Some make very good 
fathers; but they are all active, restless gentlemen ; and from over fond¬ 
ness, sometimes devour the eggs. In such cases, it is necessary to take 
the gentleman away, while the hen lays in the morning; then remove 
the egg as soon as laid, substituting a bone or ivory egg each time, till 
all are laid, when they must be returned, and the'cock kept away, or 
put to another hen. Sometimes, too, Master Goldy is mischievously in¬ 
clined, and will pull all the nest out; and the hen wall then require a 
fresh one made up every morning during laying. These are the troubles 
in Mule breeding; but when the Goldfinch behaves well, there is no 
more difficulty in breeding Mules than Canaries.—B. P. B. 
LONDON AIARKETS. —December 7th. 
POULTRY. 
The trade is still lamentably bad. The supply of Pheasants and 
Partridges exceeds anything ever before seen, and they have been sold 
at almost nominal prices. 
Each. 
Large fowls.... 
... 4s. 
6(7. to 5s. 
6L 
Smaller do. 
... 3 
0 „ 4 
0 
Chickens . 
... 1 
9 „ 2 
6 
Geese. 
... 6 
0 „ 7 
0 
Ducks . 
... 2 
6 „ 2 
9 
Hares . 
.. 1 
9 „ 2 
0 
Turkevs . 
6 
0 „10 
0 
Larks, per dozen 
Each. 
Grouse. Is. 9d. to 2s. 0 d. 
Snipes . 0 9 ,, 1 3 
ltabbits. 13 ,, I 4 
Wild ditto . 0 (J ,, 0 10 
Pheasants . 1 6 ,, 2 3 
Partridges . 1 6 ,, 1 9 
Pigeons. 0-9 ,, 0 10 
Os. 10c7. to Is. 0(7. 
London : Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester, Iligh-street, in the 
Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published for the Proprietors, at 
The Cottaub Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Ilow, in the 
Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—December 8, 1857. 
