THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, July 20, 1859. 
249 
Tito Show was held in the Market Hall, a largo square build¬ 
ing. The entire centre was occupied by every description of 
flowers, arranged so as to form a receding bank of gorgeous 
colours. The fete, for we can call it nothing else, was enlivened 
by the presence of the Cyfaithfa band. This, as well as many 
other things, is duo to the kindness of Mr. Crawshay ; and that 
gentleman, who employs many thousands of the inhabitants, 
must reap a rich reward in seeing the happiness to which he 
contributes so largely. 
There is one peculiarity of this Show which seems to belong 
to it. Here the cottagers’ classes arc not only well filled, but 
the competition is great. 
In the flower and vegetable classes they compete among 
themselves, and they made on Wednesday and Thursday a noble 
show. Of their poultry effurts we shall speak hereafter. Formerly 
the exhibition was confined to the district, now the poultry 
is thrown open. The result was nearly two hundred pens, 
many of them containing first class birds. 
We begin with twelve pens of adult Dorkings. Many of these 
were excellent, and it will not be doubted when we say that 
Capt. T. Parker was only second. Mr. Forman, of Pendarran, 
was first. Mr. Jones, of Cardiff, showed capital fowls in this 
class. 
In Spanish, Mr. Fowler, of Aylesbury, was first; but he was 
hard run by Mr. Forman, who took second. Mr. Crawshay 
showed an excellent cock and hen, but the third bird was not 
equal to them. She could not, however, prevent them from 
having a high commendation. Mr. Evans also merited the 
same distinction. 
The Game and Black and White Cochins were weak, only 
numerically, and all the prizes were taken by Mr. Crawshay. 
Messrs. Fowler and Crawshay took the prizes for Grouse and 
Buff Cochins. These were excellent birds. 
We are bound to speak in the highest terms of the Pencilled 
JIamhurghs. We have never seen better. Those of Messrs. 
Llewellyn and Tracy are good enough to compete anywhere, 
and there were chickens shown in these classes superior to any¬ 
thing we have yet seen this year. We are sorry we cannot 
award the same meed to the Spangled. They were perfect in 
all points, but one most essential one. Every pen had one or 
more bad combs, very bad ones, falling over. There was a class 
for Black Hamburghs, and good birds were shown; but there 
was no competition. 
Polish were also a weak class. 
Bantams were few, but good. The Sebrights belonging to 
Mr. Crawshay, and the Game shown by Captain Parker, were 
all meritorious. If the cock of the latter were well dubbed, it 
is a pen that might take first prizes at many other Shows. 
Mr. Williams showed a good pen of White; but the long flow¬ 
ing sickle feathers seem to be disappearing from the breed. It 
is a pity, as it is a great point. 
Mr."Fowler showed a very good pen of Brahmas in the class 
for a distinct breed. 
Both Game and Dorking cocks were feebly represented, so' 
far as entries were concerned. Mr. Crawshay won for the first, 
and Captain Parker for the second with a bird well worthy the 
reputation his brother has gained in this breed. 
Mr. Crawshay deservedly carried off the prize for Single 
Spanish Cocks with a beautiful bird. 
Next came Geese and Ducks. In the former Mr. Crawshay 
took a first and a second; Mr. Fowler and Messrs. Cuff doing 
the same. Geese and Goslings have distinct prizes, but all are 
shown in one class. Although there are eight prizes, yet all 
Ducks are shown under the same number. Mr. Fowler was 
obliged to be content with second for Aylesbury, beaten by Mr. 
Payne, of Cardiff. Mr. Crawshay took first for Buenos Ayrean 
and Muscovy. Mr. Fowler for Rouens. 
The Turkeys call for no particular mention, as the competition 
was small. 
We now enter on the second part of this Show, that devoted to 
Chickens. We have to note an unprecedented thing in Dork¬ 
ings. Both the prizes were taken by White against the Coloured. 
Those shown by Mr. Forman and Miss Ida Morgan were very 
good, and were sold as soon as the Show was opened. For 
Spanish, Messrs. Payne and Crawshay were first and second. 
Mr. Llewellyn took both prizes for Silver-pencilled Chickens, 
and they were highly meritorious. There were some curious 
Indian Game that were rewarded with a first prize in class 9. 
The Poland Chickens were also good, and brought prizes to 
Messrs. Tracy and Bowden. The Spangled Hamburgh Chickens 
were free from the defective combs of their seniors. Messrs. 
Edwards and Crawshay took the honours, and several deserved 
high commendations. 
Then came prizes devoted solely to workmen. They form very 
pleasing classes, and the entries were good. But it is our duty 
to point out to our friends in this department the necessity and 
advantage of adhering to a pure breed. Thus, in the first 
class, for a cock and hen of any breed, there were many that 
seemed the result of every cross that can be imagined. They 
were, as cottagers’ chickens always are, well grown and strong, 
but their merits ended there. The birds shown prove there is 
no lack of good strains in the neighbourhood. There is, then, a 
good field open for the well-wishers to the workmen ("and they 
aro evidently numerous), to give them at the proper time a few 
pure eggs. This will enable them not only to show better birds, 
but will make them a better pecuniary return. Messrs. Tucker 
and Phillips were first and second, while three other pens 
received merited commendations. The preceding remarks apply 
equally to the ducklings and pair of chickens. With the ex¬ 
ception of the prize birds, they were not of any known distinct 
breed. Thus, a brown duck was shown with a white drake, and 
chickens with a smatter of Hamburgh, a bit of Poland, and a 
notion of Dorking. We would rob none of their dues, and, 
therefore, record the success of Mrs. Mary Williams, and Messrs. 
Leyshon, Bowden, Tucker, Pugh, Payne, Rees, and Evans. 
There was a silver cup given for the three best pens of fowls 
exhibited. It was taken by Mr. Fowler. 
As we wish to be faithful chroniclers, we here record our 
opinion that anything like a collection-cup is a mistake. It is 
a thankless task for the Judge, and does not promote the har¬ 
mony of a Show. The money would be better spent in in¬ 
creasing the prizes for those classes in which the entries are 
most numerous. One more comment and we have done. Ex¬ 
hibitors must bear in mind, that mere weight, especially in 
young birds, is not a royal road to success. Size and frame¬ 
work in growing birds are more essential. 
Mr. Harris was indefatigable as usual. All the Committee 
worked zealously and well, and it was a gala day at Merthyr. 
The Judge was Mr. Baily, of Mount Street, Grosvenor Square. 
CLASSIFICATION OF FOWLS. 
The present time being one not much occupied with Poultry 
Shows, and there being a dearth of poultry news, I think it a 
favourable opportunity for offering a few remarks on what I 
consider would be an improvement in the order of classification 
or arranging the numerous varieties of domestic fowls in our 
poultry prize lists. 
What I wish to impress on exhibitors, show committees, and 
poultry judges is a more natural and scientific arrangement of the 
numerous breeds in some sort of system, or natural groups, 
giving the place of honour in each breed to what appears to be 
the original colour of each variety. 
My ideas are that they should be arranged in three groups:— 
1st. The Incubators, or such as follow their natural occupation 
of sitting and rearing their own young. 
2nd. The Non-sitters, or such as rarely evince a desire to sit 
and take upon themselves the natural duties of maternal cares. 
3rd. The Dvvaeus, or Bantams. 
I think, also, it would be very advisable to appropriate a class 
or classes for the various wild breeds or species of fowls; six of 
which are enumerated by our naturalists, of which the Gallus 
Bankiva is thought to be the probable origin of our domestic 
varieties. 
I am too slightly acquainted with these wild species to give a 
description of them, nor have I a standard work by me from 
which I could extract such ; but I consider it would tend much 
to the advancement of poultry knowledge if these original species 
were encouraged at our fowl exhibitions. I would, therefore, 
advise the adoption of two classes at the commencement of the 
prize list, first for the Gallus Bankiva, and secondly for any 
others of the wild species of Galli. 
Returning to our domestic varieties. The first family, or 
group, would be the Incubators ; the first breed, or variety, of 
which would be the Game, as nearest approaching to the wild 
race. This variety is divided into several subvarieties distin¬ 
guished by colour. For the same reason I have above noticed, 
the Black-breasted Red seem to be most likely the original sub- 
variety of the breed. Consequently, compressing the numerous 
subvarieties into four classes, I would arrange them in order. 
First, the Black-breasted and other Reds ; second, the Dtickwinga 
