388 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 23, 1858. 
birds in bis own name, but in that of his wife, son, or perhaps 
even of his servant. He would still secure the plate, or money 
prizes, and that, to his dishonest mind, would be quite suffi¬ 
cient. ’ Practically, then, such a rule would prove worthless. 
However, I have thought of a much better plan, and one that, 
if adopted, would effectually deter a man from attempting fraud. 
Rule.— Any person, or persons, detected in trimming, paint- 
in 0 ’, or other fraudulent practices, shall be at once disqualified ; 
and shall, moreover, not be allowed to receive any cup, prize, 
or commendation, in any other class, or for any other birds, 
to which, otherwise, he might have been entitled. 
To this rule honest men will not object, while, X think, you 
will agree with me, it would make rogues tremble; for a dis¬ 
qualification would no longer be a nominal, but a real loss. 
Allow me to illustrate my rule by a suppositious example. 
Suppose a man to have entered pens of Spanish, Game, and 
Dorkings; that the feathers near the comb of the Spanish 
cock had been pulled out. Then, suppose the Judge awards 
a silver cup to his Game, and a second prize to his Dorkings. 
When they come to the Spanish, they disqualify him; but his 
punishment does not rest here. The Judge returns to the 
Game and Dorking Class, and re-arranges the prizes; then 
writes on the Game pen, “ would have taken silver cup, but 
| for Rule No. —,” and on the Dorking pen, a similar statement. 
Such, Sir, is my plan, and I do trust that you will advocate 
it, and that it will become law at all our great Exhibitions. 
’Permit me to state here, that I have derived great pleasure 
from The Cottage Gardener’s “Poultry Book for the 
Many.” There is one subject, however, which it does not 
treat—how to keep poultry profitably in confinement. 
Now, my birds are never loose, and yet I am never without 
eggs. 
If you woidd like to lay my plan of keeping and feeding 
before those amateurs, who have little room, I shall be most 
happy to give you my experience, which ranges over a good 
many years.— White Game Cock. 
[We shall be much obliged by your offered communication. 
! —Ed.] 
HAMBURGH FOWLS IN A CONFINED 
SPACE. 
Since the “Wiltshire Poultry-keeper” lias given his 
opinion so freely on the laying properties of Hamburgh fowls, 
seemingly so opposed to my communication of the 7th of 
July last, I think, in justice to myself, I am bound to state 
my further experience with that most beautiful and profitable 
variety, the Golden-pencilled. 
I have no reason to alter my opinion of their merits ; for, 
since my former communication, I continued to reap as rich 
a harvest of eggs as ever, until the end of October, when 
moulting commenced. My old fowls are beginning to lay 
again, but rather indifferently, in consequence of the unsettled 
weather. ' But were they the worst winter layers (which is not 
the case), I contend they are the most profitable kind any one 
i can keep. 
He goes on to say that keeping them in small enclosures is a 
loss to the.owner, and a great cruelty to the fowls. Let us see. 
During the past year I sold three pullets for exhibition, 
one or more of which, within a week, figured in a first-prize 
pen. The cruelty they had been subject to does not seem to 
be detrimental to their feather, or high condition. 
If further proof be required, let me add, that for some time 
past I compared my egg registry with that of a farmer keeping 
a third more fowls than myself (Game and different crosses), 
and I find that I keep a-head generally. 
I may be accused of treating my favourites with undue par¬ 
tiality ; if so, I may quote the opinion of one of our foremost 
exhibitors. He says, “ If I kept fowls for laying, decidedly I 
should give preference to Hamburghs under any circumstances; 
and I think the Spangled varieties the hardiest.” 
I may here give an instance of a Silver-pencilled hen, the 
owner of which has come forward on reading the above (lament 
for cash departed, he calls it), to say she commenced laying 
in January, and continued to do so until the beginning of 
November last. She moulted quickly, and he expects her to 
lay again daily. And mark, she is confined to a pen not ex¬ 
ceeding three yards long by two wide. The secret (for secret 
it seems to be) is this :—Make your places of confinement to 
assimilate as closely as possible to a grass run; provide for 
their comfort everything they would find on that run, as fresh- 
cut turf. Cabbage, lettuce, or almost anything of garden 
refuse, I find makes a good substitute. I have no doubt the 
complaints of the “Wiltshire Poultry-keeper’s” friends 
arise from the breach of a few simple, though most important, 
rules, more clearly laid down in the “ Poultry Book for the 
Many” than I can do it. More I cannot say now than buy 
it , do as it directs, and success is certain. If you grudge 
the trouble, you must not expect success—nor do you deserve 
it.—E. 8 HARR ATT, Rugeley. 
WHITE BANTAMS. 
In reading over the prize-list for the Sheffield Poultry Show 
of this year, I find that they have entered a class for “ Game 
Bantams,” and have put the “any other varieties” into the 
same class as Whites. Now, I ask, is this just and fair ? In 
most Poultry Shows there have been five classes for Bantams, 
i.e ., Gold-laced, Silver-laced, White, Black, and a class for any 
other variety. Under the latter class came Game Bantams. 
Why, then, do they not give classes for Gold-laced, Silver- 
laced, White, Black, Game, and a class for any other variety ? 
Among the numerous Poultry Shows coming off, I hope to 
see this remedied; for why should White Bantams, that 
have hitherto had a class to themselves, be now classed in the 
any other variety ? They give nine classes to Game fowls, 
seven to Cochins, nine to Hamburghs; then why should not 
Bantams have six ? for I am certain they are quite as hand¬ 
some as any other class of poultry. I hope Bantam exhibitors 
will not allow their favourites to be so ill-used.—J. D. 
[Poultry Committees must apportion their prizes according 
to the usual number of entries. White Bantams are among 
the fewest entries.— Ed.] 
OUR LETTER BON. 
Paralysed Spanish Chicken ( J . Chappells ).—There is probably an 
oozing of blood from a small vein ruptured on the brain. Quiet, soft 
food, and plenty of green food, are the only treatment giving a chance 
of its surviving. 
Silver Grey Dorkings. —Linda wishes to know, if the . variety of 
Duckwings exhibited at Wellington Show, by Mr. Bromley, as Silver 
Greys , were the same as CugJcoos, and whether, if so, eggs are to be 
disposed of, and at what value ? 
[Mr. Bromley’s hens (at Wellington Poultry Show,) were of a 
perfectly clear grey throughout their plumage, but what is termed 
“ Robin-breasted,” especially about the crop, fading again into clear 
grey about the thighs ; there was not the slightest possible approach to 
“Cuckoo,” as generally applied to Dorking colour, nor yet to 
“ spangling” of any kind. Their owner has, to our knowledge, been 
offered £40, within the last few days, for them, and refused to take that 
sum. Mr. Bromley being in good circumstances, perhaps, justifies his 
“ hobby ; ” but we cannot see how they will pay better (£20 a bird). 
We cannot speak as to “ whether eggs are to be disposed of,” but an 
application to Mr. Bromley would determine that point instanter, and 
we have no doubt would elicit a courteous reply.] 
Points in Golden-spangled Polands (An Amateur ).—Large top- 
knots, and the less white the pullets have, the better they are. The 
cock should have a well-spangled breast, wings laced and barred, 
ample tail, the coverts shaded with a rich orange brown. No comb or 
gills. The pullets or hens well and accurately spangled all over, not 
laced, clearly marked wings, topknots shaped like cauliflowers, and 
close-feathered, straight well-formed backs. No clouded feathers, in 
which the colours would seem to have blended. Entire absence of 
splashes of colour. Blue legs. 
Cuckoo Dorkings (H. C. G .).—The Cuckoo Dorkings are not a 
distinct breed. They generally come true to feather, but the cocks 
have a tendency to red feathers on the wings (like a Brassy-winged 
Game cock), and in the saddle and hackle. In all the attempts to breed 
Dorkings to a feather, it is necessary to kill or otherwise get rid of 
those that offend. They will throw back, and there is no pure colour. 
Apply to Baily, Mount Street, about them. 
LONDON MARKETS.— March 22nd. 
POULTRY. 
Good Poultry, or we should rather say, the best Poultry, becon: 
scarcer daily. At this time of the year, when the prices appear fabulc 
to many, it is well to say, we quote only the very best, and the} - desce 
by degrees according to quality. 
Each. 
Large Fowls ... 5s. 6 d. to 6s. C>d. 
Small ditto. 4 0 ,,5 0 
Chickens. 3 0 ,,4 0 
Geese ... 7 0 ,,7 6 
Ducklings . 3 6 ,,4 0 
Guinea Fowls . 
Turkeys. 6 0 
Pigeons . 0 8 
Rabbits . 1 4 
Wild ditto. 0 9 
TT o pH 
2s. 9d. to 3s. 3 
/ C 
0 ( 
i ; 
o it 
I 
