318 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 16, 1858. 
I the best represented; but the non-avoidance of “ lop-combs ” 
lost many opportunities of success to otherwise well-deserving 
specimens. The Polands were good generally. In the “ other 
Variety class,” a pen of Guelderlands were very curious, 
newly-imported birds, and excited much attention among 
visitors. Of the SebrigM Bantams, the Golden-laced w r ere very 
good, but the Silver, inferior. The display of Game Bantams 
Avas a perfect Show in itself; and we find, another year, it is 
intended they should constitute a distinct class. Among 
them, we noticed a very pretty pen of “ BroAvn Reds,” the 
property of Wm. Worrall, Esq., of Liverpool; but, like many 
of this beautiful variety, they must he reduced in size hy inter¬ 
breeding before they come within the standard limit of 
Bantams. Some of the Duckwings were likewise very com- 
I mendable. The Aylesbury and Rouen Ducks were good classes. 
The Pigeons , generally, were excellent, and were very con¬ 
spicuously situated along the principal gallery. 
Much as has been done this year to improve the Preston 
Meeting, the Committee declare themselves resolved not to 
remain unprogressive; and, it is anticipated, another season 
to offer £100 in prizes for a Single Game Cock Class : whilst, 
judging from the birds now competing, the success of obtaining 
first-rate entries is certain. We cannot conclude without a 
well-merited expression of praise, as to the continuous atten¬ 
tion paid to the poultry, the excellence of the food provided 
for them, and the quick dispatch homewurds of the birds at 
the close of the Exhibition. The Committee tried energetically 
to prevent mishaps : and having so well succeeded, we trust 
that the Preston Meeting may annually increase in both public 
estimation and general success, for none deserves it better; 
nor can any place of accommodation, for both visitors and 
poultry, be found superior to their Corn Exchange. 
LEGS OF WHITE GAME FOWLS. 
I must premise that I do not exhibit birds of any descrip¬ 
tion, so your readers must not regard what I am going to say 
as the grumbling of a discontented and beaten exhibitor; but, 
as the calm thoughts of a disinterested looker-on, and one 
Avho breeds foAvls merely for amusement. At Liverpool, the 
first prize, and, at Preston, the Avhole of the prizes and com¬ 
mendations, were given to birds with yellow legs. Now, Sir, I 
contend that this should not be the case, when equally good 
birds Avere present having white legs. Moreover, I contend 
most strongly, that White Game fowl should have white legs, 
Avhitc nails, and white beaks. First, because the birds then 
have a more uniform appearance. Secondly, because they are 
more liigh-couraged than their yellow-legged relations ; and, 
lastly, because the neck and saddle hackles are far more purely 
white than in the yellow-legged variety. What say you, Mr. 
Editor ? and what say they of Nottingham; where White 
Game are said, in your journal, to have been first rate ?— 
White Game Cock. 
HAMBURGH EOYYLS. 
On looking over your papers of the past year, I see a great 
many very favourable letters relating to the magnificent laying 
properties of the Hamburghs. Now, fully agreeing that under 
certain circumstances, Hamburghs are the most prolific egg- 
producers, still I write to caution the poultry keepers against 
supposing, that under most circumstances, these fowls are good 
ones to keep. They are profitable only under a few circum¬ 
stances. 
The idea of writing on this subject, has been suggested to me 
by the disappointment many of my friends have felt, at the 
failure in egg-laying in Hamburghs, for which they have 
given large sums : they failed, because the fundamental rule 
in the keeping of this breed, viz., that they must give their 
fowls a large grass mm, has not been looked to by them. 
On reading this, it is very possible, many will say, that there 
is an account in Tiie Cottage Gardener, for July 7th, 1857, 
of Hamburgh fowls kept in “ pens five feet high, with roost- 
ing-houses a yard and a half square;” and, “that those 
individuals avIio cannot boast acres of grass run, may keep 
Hamburghs to advantage in such enclosures.” Tins is signed, 
“ E. Si [are att, Rugeley.” Of course, I cannot doubt the 
correctness, and truth of this letter; but, I warn your readers 
that such a case is the exception, not the rule. Game, Spanish, 
Polands, Bantams, and Malays, will all thrive to some extent 
in a small enclosure; but, Hamburgh fowls will, in nineteen 
cases out of twenty, not do so. I know this by woeful ex¬ 
perience ; for I kept most beautiful Pencilled Hamburgh 
pullets in a yard with other fowls, and they never laid. I 
removed them to a country run, and they laid directly. To 
keep these birds in a small confined space, is not only a loss 
and disappointment to the owner, but a great cruelty to the 
fowls themselves. They must be treated differently to other 
breeds. 
Such is the dark side; but, on the bright side, keep your 
Spangled and Pencilled birds properly, cleanly, attentively 
with a large, fresh, grass run, and you Avill breed birds that will 
carry the first prizes. Then your birds will possess the delicate 
accurate colouring, and feather; the rich red rose-comb ; the 
showy earlobe ; the graceful carriage ; the slender blue legs ; 
the w'hite nails ; the bright eyes. 
Hamburghs are delicate fowls, and require attention both in 
health and disease. They require also to be treated with 
gentleness, as they are very shy. 
I consider that the Silver-pencilled buds surpass the other 
classes, both in exquisite beauty and egg production; but the 
Golden-spangled, and Golden-pencilled, have one advantage 
over them Silver brethren, namely, that their plumage in Avet 
weather, does not appear half so soiled and draggled as that 
of the others. 
But, why are the handsome Black Hamburghs so utterly 
neglected? Handsome, prolific, compact as they are, they 
surely merit a better fate than obscurity, and oblivion; and, 
I hope, this fault will be rectified.—A Wiltshire Poultry 
Keeper. 
REARING SONG-BIRDS—THE BLACKCAP. 
I shall now continue a series of letters, which I began 
some four months back, on rearing song-birds. I select for my 
present letter, that beautiful songster, the Blackcap. This 
bird who ranks next to the nightingale only, in rich depth of 
melody, is, strange to say, very rarely caged, at least, in Eng¬ 
land. Yet, Mr. Sweet, a well-known ornithological writer 
asserts, that it is, of all others, the bird best suited for the cage. 
The Blackcap builds its nest in the shrubs and trees of the 
garden, and generally at a small distance from the ground. I 
have often found them in this situation, in a garden near 
Ringwood, a small tOAvn in Hants, a county which abounds in 
these graceful and pretty birds. When the young birds are 
taken, they must be reared on bread soaked in milk ; must be 
fed every hour, and kept in a warm straw-strewed basket. 
For the food of full-grown birds of this species, nothing can 
be better than the following paste, which must be made fresh 
every morning:—Soak a small quantity of white bread in water 
or a few moments, then press out the moisture. Now rat e 
a small carrot, and add to the carrot and soaked bread a little 
flour, mix well, and feed your birds on it. Let the Black¬ 
caps have plenty of water for bathing and drinking ; and 
plenty of clean red sand at the bottom of their cages. Give 
them, hi summer, gooseberries, or currants, to peck at, and 
bits of lettuce. If they mope, give a meal-worm ; and give 
them, once a week, a few ants’ eggs. They are delicate, but 
to birds more repay attention than the sweet-singing, grace¬ 
ful, melodious Blackcap.— Ruris Amator. 
OLTR LETTER BOX. 
lioupv Cochin-China (J. P .).—“Wasli the head twice daily with 
tepid AA'atev. Give it daily sulphate of copper, one grain, mixed Avith 
oatmeal mashed with ale ; and plenty of green food. If not better in 
a Aveek, kill the foAAi.” The above is from our “ Poultry Book for the 
Many.” The price is only sixpence, and will give you all such in¬ 
formation. Separate your Cochin from the others ; roup is contagious. 
Errata. —In the first column, second line, page 302, under the head 
“ Scraps from and to Correspondents,” for “juivent,” read “survent;” 
and for “ rcssemblant,” read “ ressemblent.” 
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 10, lS.OS. 
