288 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 2, 1858. 
BENEFITS OF POULTRY SHOWS—EGO 
REGISTER. 
I 
l 
With your pleasant remarks on the past year’s doings I 
concur ; and I think there is not any one, who feels an interest 
in poultry for its own sake, can dissent here in Scotland. I 
may safely say that the interest manifested in poultry, and in 
poultry exhibitions, during the last year, has increased two¬ 
fold ; and in all likelihood, at least for some time, will con¬ 
tinue to do so. That the poultry movement has been productive 
of good I am well aware; and that in a very marked way to 
the class to which I belong, namely, the working class. Being 
a pleasant pastime, and, at the same time, one that will give 
a return in a pecuniary point of view, I feel very desirous to 
propagate it amongst my own order. That the columns of 
The Cottage Gardener have been of great service to the 
poultry movement is beyond a doubt. Through them the 
ignorant have been enlightened: and a system of dishonest 
and designing men has been exposed ; and those who might 
have been their dupes saved from repining at the loss of their 
birds. 
Your promise to endeavour to extend your usefulness gives 
me encouragement to suggest a plan, which, I think, would 
be of some advantage to this movement: this is in regard to 
the sale of eggs. As the season for hatching is at hand, my 
plan is to have a place in your paper, such as your “ Letter 
Box,” wherein to enter the produce of eggs purchased from 
advertisers, stating from whom; and after the birds had come 
of age, if good or bad specimens of the class to which they 
belong. My reason for suggesting this is, that I know of 
some who were disappointed last season in not getting chicks 
from eggs that were bought from advertisers, and at a price 
that should have guaranteed them good. Now, if this plan 
were adopted, my opinion is, that it would not only be of 
advantage to the poultry movement, but to the honest indi¬ 
viduals who sell eggs from the birds they advertise. On the 
other hand, it would, to some extent, expose those who are 
merely making a money speculation of it; and who can send 
out eggs from other birds, and eggs that never could produce 
chicks. I know that it is proposed, in order to obviate this, 
to buy birds of those who have plenty of money. I agree : 
but it must be remembered that there are plenty of working 
men who could buy a sitting of eggs, that, if they had to pur¬ 
chase birds, would be excluded from the pleasure to be 
derived from keeping poultry. It is on their behalf I suggest 
this plan. I can assure you that it is very hard for a poor 
man to pay for a sitting of eggs, besides packing and carriage, 
and after all to find that the packing-box is all he has for his 
money. Concerning those to whom I have already referred 
as being disappointed: last season, one of them wrote to 
inform the seller of the unfruitfulness of the eggs he sent; 
when he, like a gentleman, promised to replace them; but, 
unlike a gentleman, he sold off his stock, and refused to do as 
he had promised.— Equity. 
[Eggs sent to a distance must be liable to injury by the 
shaking ,and rough usage to which they are liable. Mr. 
Puncliard published a list of the results of sending his Cochin 
China eggs, and more than half proved fertile. We sent 
i eleven eggs more than one hundred miles, packed in oats in a 
1 strong box; and nine of the eggs produced chickens.— Ed.] 
NATIONAL COLUMBARIAN CLUB. 
The first annual Show of this Society took place on Tues¬ 
day at Anderton s Hotel, Fleet Street; and was exceedingly 
well attended by the friends of the members. Mr. Adkins, of 
Birmingham, sent up a very large and superior collection, 
consisting of nearly twenty varieties. A considerable pro¬ 
portion of the birds composing it have so often figured before 
th<? public as recipients of prizes as to need no detailed de¬ 
scription. 
Mr. Jones Percival s pen contained a very superior pair of 
Red Barbs, some good Magpies, and blue Fan tails, &c. The 
Hon. W. Yernon sent, with other birds, a pair of excellent 
td Priests; and several German varieties were also shown 
y - Iessrs. Towse and Griffiths. A good pair of Scanderons, 
and several Runts, were exhibited by Mr. Tegetmeier. 
Mr. Esquilant showed Almond Tumblers ; and some good 
Carriers were forwarded by other members. Altogether, the 
Show may be regarded as exceedingly creditable as the first 
Show of a young Society: and all parties felt their thanks 
were due to Mr. Adkins for the trouble and the expense he 
had incurred in forwarding his large and valuable collection 
from Birmingham. 
AWARDS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE 
POULTRY SHOW. 
I WAS surprised at reading a letter in last week’s number, 
signed “ II. B.,” finding fault with the judgment on Duck¬ 
wing Game fowls. “ H. B.” finds fault with the second 
prize pen; and goes on to state that the third prize pen is 
even worse than the second. Now, as I have the third prize 
hens before me, I can truly state that a better pair of Duck¬ 
wing hens were never exhibited. They were, by twenty or 
thirty Game faneiers, thought to be superior to the hens in 
the first prize pen. “ H. B.” should wear glasses before he 
criticises the decision of the Judges ; for the third prize cock 
bird had two good eyes when he reached home.”— A Working 
Man. 
WINTER LAYERS. 
Haying kept the Blue Andalusian fowls several years, I 
can recommend them as the be9t variety to be kept in small 
confined situations ; they are hardy and less subject to 
disease than any other kind, and have continued laying 
through the severest winters, after Cochins, Brahmas, Spanish, 
and other kinds had given over; although with same treatment, 
and food. I have had pullets commenced laying at five 
months old, and averaged over 200 eggs each within twelve 
months.— C. Coles. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Water Fowl (Southern Cross ).—For your “ small piece of water,” 
in addition to your Teal and "Widgeon, you may have the White Call 
Duck, and the small species of Gull. Have them all pinioned. Why 
not let them ramble over your garden ? They will destroy the slugs. 
Rabbits ( C.. Cotton). — The markings are not uncommon. 
Spanish Fowls (Z. Z .).—The wrinkling of the cock’s white face is 
a beauty, not a defect. The “Poultry Book for the Many” is price 
sixpence, and will he sent , to you direct from the office, if you send 
postage stamps for the amount. The weight of the cockerel is good. 
Prices vary for Spanish pullets. Write to any prizetaker in that 
class. 
Twisted Breast Bones (IF. G. IT .).—We believe, like spinal cur¬ 
vature in the human frame, it arises from constitutional weakness, and 
is hereditary. A good range, little but nourishing food, good water, 
cleanliness, and plenty of green food, are the best preventives. 
“Clear” and “black” are not incompatible terms. 
LONDON MARKETS. —February 1st. 
POULTRY. 
Although good Poultry is, as usual, becoming scarce, yet there are 
large quantities of an inferior quality. The glut of Pheasants con¬ 
tinues, and they are very difficult of sale at low prices. 
Each. 
Large Fowls 
.. 5s. Gd. to 
5s. 6 d. 
Small ditto.... 
.. 3 
6 
4 
0 
Chickens. 
.. 2 
0 
2 
9 
Goslings. 
.. 7 
0 
7 
6 
Ducklings ... 
.. 2 
6 
3 
0 
Pheasants .... 
.. 1 
9 
2 
6 
Partridges .... 
.. 1 
4 
1 
6 
Each. 
Hares. 2s. 6 d. to 3s. 0<i. 
Wild Ducks ... 2 0 ,,2 6 
Teal. 0 0 „ 0 0 
Rabbits . 1 4 ,, 1 5 
Wild ditto . 0 9 ,, 0 10 
Pigeons . 0 10 ,,10 
Larks Is. 0 d. to Is. 6d. per doz. 
Advertisement. 
Price Twopence. 
Prize Essay of the Royal Agricultural Society. 
CULTIVATION OF EARLY POTATOES. 
By the Rev. E. F. MANBY, Morecombe. 
Parties requiring this Essay for distribution, may have Five Copies 
free by post, on sending Twelve Postage Stamps. 
COTTAGE GARDENER OFFICE, 20, Paternoster Row, London. 
London : Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester, High-street, in the 
Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published for the Proprietors, at 
The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in the 
Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—February 2, 1858. 
