THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, May 3, 1859. 
“ Oh ! in shelter somewhere.*’ 
I went into another yard where there was a long shed, and in 
a small orchard close by, two small hayricks. There were my 
chickens, some under the ricks, and some huddled together in 
the shed. If one came out, the wind curled up all its feathers, 
and gave it the appearance of a Frizzled fowl. “ They do look 
very badly,’’ said I. 
“ Don’t think so, sir?” answered my man. “ Look at the 
weather. I’ll get them together, and 1 know nobody has a better 
lot. There are twenty, all hatched in January, and you cannot 
tell one from the other. They are the best I ever had.” 
He fetched a bowlful of oatmeal and water, and called them 
to him. They -were a fine lot; but, as fast as they filled their 
crops, they returned to their shelter. 
“It’s no use,” said my man, “audit ain’t fair to look at 
chickens when the wind’s in the east.” 
I quite agreed with him, and vented my spite on any one who 
may be disposed to read this, by committing it to paper. They 
will, probably, read it, if they do at all, when the wind has 
changed. I will, therefore, give them the result of my after¬ 
visit, to see what my man termed 7iis chickens. 
What a change ! There had been a slight shower, the dust 
was laid, the sun was now out, the wind was a “ sou’-wester,” 
the birds were singing. Trees, flowers, and chickens, all seemed 
to enjoy it; and my man too. He was better. 
“ My chickens are all right now, sir; look so well, and as big 
again as they were a -week ago. No end of winners among 
them.” 
“ Where are they ?” 
“ Oh ! all over the place; but I have not fed them to-day on 
purpose. I will soon get them together.” 
The orchard, where they ran, had a high bank all round it, 
and on one side a dry ditch. There were few chickens in sight; 
hut when called, they run from all directions. The hanks 
and ditch were alive with them. They did look well; and 
when I saw them together, I fancied there were lots of prize- 
takers. 
Now, let us see the result. Most of them were three months 
old, and, at that age, I fancy I can draft all but my Spanish. I 
do not mean to say I am not sometimes wrong; but, as a rule, 
I find it profitable. My man does not approve of having his 
chickens pulled about. 
“ There, sir,” said he, “ there is a cock, here a pullet, there 
another, and there two more. I should like to see the birds 
that would beat them.” < 
1 had never yet dared to have the close inspection I wanted; 
but I determined, this year, to have my own way. 
“ Feed them all into the house, and shut them in.” His face 
f«U. 
“ I don’t think I can.” 
t! Well, we will try.” 
All his alacrity vanished, but he was obliged to diive them in. 
“ Now, said I, “we will catch every one, take them to the 
light, and put the faulty ones aside.” 
“ Don’t think you will find one ? ” 
“ Hope not.” 
“ Catch that young Cochin cock.” 
“No occasion, sir; he is such a beauty, I know him.” 
“ Nevermind; catch him.” 
“ Why, he is crooked,” said I. 
“ Not crooked,sir; but not quite straight.” 
“ Well, he must be set aside.” 
“ What for ? ” 
“ For feeding. I am determined not to keep any more faulty 
birds. You know, at Worcester last year we had the best 
pen but for such an accident as you call it as this.” 
“ It is very discouraging,” said my man, “ to have one’s best 
chickens drafted in this way.” 
I found no answer would be best, and, therefore, caught up a 
smart, pretty pullet. 
“ Ah ! her comb falls over already; put her with the cock.” 
“ She, sir!” screamed he, “ she is my best; look at her colour, 
see how she is feathered, and what fluff.” 
He stood with her in his hand for some time, and, at last, 
reluctantly put her aside. 
“ Here ; here is another; she is clean-legged.” 
“ Not quite, I think.” 
“ You know you lost first at the Crystal Palace by an almost 
clean-legged pullet.” 
“ But she would do well to breed from.” 
“ Not so j all these may be traced to the birds I kept at your 
7l 
desire last year. For the future, I will only keep and breed 
from perfect birds.” 
To be short, I found only seven of the twenty up to exhibition 
mark, and I am sure, I shall have winners among them. 
I have good reason for what I did, and as mine is all ex¬ 
perience, 1 will detail the results. All breeders know that a 
bird faulty in oue particular almost always makes amends by 
super-excellence in some other point. In our time we have 
had single-combed Sebiiglits of marvellous lacing, colour, and 
markings. Hamburghs, with the same defect, perfect in every 
beauty. Spotless hackles, pencilled in body and tail, and breasts 
that left nothing to desire. Cochins, with charming heads and 
combs, purest lemon colour, stainless hackle, no tail, ample 
silky fluff’, but clean-legged. Dorkings, of marvellous size and 
symmetry— only they were four-clawed. Spanish, with such 
faces, but bad combs. Polands, with top-knots like exaggerated 
cauliflowers, just a little hump-backed. We have bred from all, 
and our experience is, that defects are more certain to be here¬ 
ditary than merits. 
BEVERLEY" POULTRY" SHOW. 
We think it well to remind our readers, that the first of our 
Summer Poultry Exhibitions is fast drawing nigh : it will take 
place at Beverley, Yorkshire. The excellent management of last 
year will, doubtless, render the coming meeting even more 
popular than the preceding one. Supported as it is by most of 
the leading men in the county, and superintended by parties 
well versed in all the requirements of a Poultry Show, Beverley 
has peculiar advantages; whilst prize-taking at the early Shows, 
most amateurs will readily admit, has great influence on the 
sales of stock during the whole after-season. 
In the general classes the prizes are 30#. and 15s.; and in 
Game fowls a third prize is also added. A silver medal will be 
given to the best pen of either Black or White Bantams; be¬ 
sides which, there are separate prizes for Single Cocks of each 
variety, even to Bantams—the latter being a new feature at 
Poultry Shows, but one much needed; affording, as it does, the 
opportunity of introducing fresh blood at a trifling outlay. The 
Turkeys and Geese have each three prizes allotted to them ; 
but, we fear, a more unfavourable time of the year could scarcely 
be named for exhibition in these two particular classes. A sweep- 
stakes for Single Game Cocks will take place; the amount of 
prizes depending on the subscriptions at 5s. each bird. This 
sum, whatever it may prove, will be divided into four prizes, 
after deducting five per cent, towards the expenses of the 
Exhibition. There will be prizes, also, for “ extra stock of any 
kind,” which will, no doubt, cause many interesting entries. The 
Society’s silver medal will be awarded to the best pen of Black¬ 
breasted Red Game fowls; also, to the best pen of Black or 
White Bantams exhibited. Again, to the best .Bantam cock of 
any variety or colour; also, to the best pen of Jacobin, Fantail, 
or Trumpeter Pigeons. The Pigeon classes, generally, have 
each two prizes—10#. and 5s. 
The show of Rabbits is expected to be very good—eight 
prizes being offered to secure weighty competition. By the 
regulations, every member of the Executive Committee, as also 
the Honorary Secretary, pledge themselves neither directly nor 
indirectly to compete for prizes. It is impossible to suggest 
greater disinterestedness than this; and it appears to carry 
much weight among Yorkshire amateurs. 
'l he instant destruction of every egg laid in the Exhibition 
will be scrupulously enforced; nor will diseased birds of any 
kind be admitted. During the time the Judges are awarding 
the prizes, neither “feeders " nor any other persons will have 
access to the building under any pretence whatever. 
With laws so exact, combined with the very excellent ar¬ 
rangements carried out last year, most probably this Show will 
prove a very successful one. 
DUCKS’ EGGS UNPRODUCTIVE. 
“ I have three fine Rouen ducks, two ducks and a drake, the 
largest I ever saw. Last year the ducks laid a vast number of 
soft eggs without any hard shell about them ; and out of those 
she sat upon (which are all hard-slielled eggs), only three con¬ 
tained ducks. This year both ducks have laid; one thirteen, 
and the other eleven eggs—all full sized and firm shells. They 
have sat particularly well, and have been well and regularly fed 
