THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 6, 1859. 
341. 
Wo recollect no year when Spanish appear to have been so 
carefully and so successfully bred as this. The chickens shown 
in the various classes were many of them perfect, and some of 
them better than we ever recollect to have seen at this season. 
We are also very glad to record that trimming, which caused so 
much discussion last year, has almost disappeared. The success 
of Miss Rake in t aking all the first prizes deserves especial mention. 
Taken as a whole, the coloured Dorking classes were not so 
good as we have seen ; but this remark must not be considered to 
apply to the prize birds which well deserved their distinction. 
The While Dorkings were perfect, as good as we have ever seen. 
The prize Single Cocks were also excellent. We were very glad 
to see Sir J. Paxton among the first-prize-takers; and, wandering 
on tire borders of this gentleman’s house, we saw a Dorking cock 
and several younger ones, which, we think, if shown at the Winter 
Show, are very likely to repeat the exploit. The cause of some 
disappointment in these classes is the uneven matching of the 
pullets. There should be no glaring dissimilarity of colour,; but 
it should bo borne in mind, that no merit of feather can justify 
penning a large and a middling pullet together. 
The Buff Cochin class was one of the best we have ever seen. 
We are always pleased when these birds are in the ascendant. 
Wo do not wish the days to return when a fowl would buy a horse, 
but wo think really valuable birds from their real utility should 
be encouraged. Mr. Stretch’s pen deserved especial mention, as 
did the second-prize birds shown by Mrs. Fookcs. The cock in 
the last pen was beautiful. The Brown and Partridge did not 
merit the encomium of last year, and were deficient as compared 
with their Buff brethren. Nor did the White shine as we have 
seen them. In selecting the Brown and Partridge, it is most 
important to choose those that are really brown ; but many are 
shown with semi-yellow breasts. In White , the colour of the 
legs is important ; and any approach to green, instead of the 
bright yellow, is a defect. We would not bo thought to be hy¬ 
percritical ; but, in many instances, birds are sent because they 
are the largest and oldest, while far better in points are left 
behind. 
Brahma Pootras were excellent. We do not mention the 
names of prize-takers, because all were published last week. We 
speak in terms of commendation of tire class; but as we think 
our report should also convey instruction, we have an observa¬ 
tion akin to that we made on Brown and Partridge Cochins. It 
is not enough to choose well-marked and pencilled backs, but the 
breasts should also be pencilled all over. Some of the com¬ 
mended birds, otherwise beautiful, had very light breasts. 
We can speak well of all the Came, save the Black and Brassy - 
winged; they were poor. The Black-breasted Beds were ex¬ 
cellent; and one pullet in one of Mrs. Sewell's pens was perfection. 
It would be unfair not to notice Mr. Vernon’s Duckwings, and 
Messrs. Swift and Moss’s Single Cocks. 
The Golden-pencilled Mamburghs made an excellent display ; 
and here, again, one pullet in the first-prize pen was perfect. 
The Silver-pencilled afforded the usual result. Mr. Archer 
carrying off first ; but he was hard run by his competitors. It 
is not usual, but we did not think the Silver as good as the 
Golden. The Golden and the Silver-spangled were both good 
classes. 
The Black Polands were very good. We recommend the 
exhibitors in Golden-spangled classes to be more particular in 
their selection. In all the pens sent to the Crystal Palace, there 
was only one that had not a hump-backed bird in it. The 
Silvers were very good indeed, and many chickens shown will be 
prize-takers at winter Shows. The topknots of the pullets were 
beautiful, both in shape and colour. 
Malays are always well represented here, and the present was 
no exception. The prize birds were admirable ; and, bad there 
been a third prize, it could have been worthily bestowed. 
In the Various Classes, Mr. Hind’s Black Hamburghs, and 
Mr. Coles’s Andalusians, were of great merit. 
The Gold-laced Bantams were better than the Silvers, as 
usual, but we thought there was an improvement in the latter. 
The White and Black were good; but in both, the long and 
graceful sickle feathers were wanting. Many can recollect the 
Black ones showed by the Rev. P. Gurdon, which, in addition 
to every point now insisted upon, had sweeping tails. The 
Sebright Bantams stand alone; and it is a mistake to take them 
for the beau ideal of every variety. The Game Bantams were beau¬ 
tiful. From the time of year, the Duckwinged showed to least 
advantage; they have not their perfect plumage, and, in many 
parts of it, look like a mixture of cobwebs and blotting paper. 
Wo may speak in terms of unmixed commendation of Mr, 
Manfield’s first-prize pen of White Geese. They were perfect in 
symmetry and condition. They weighed 42 lbs. Mrs. Seamons’ 
was nothing behind in condition, but. lacked 4 lbs. in weight 
compared to the former. The Greys, now-a-days, are heavier 
than the White, and they always afford a triumph to Mr. 
Fowler : his birds weighed 48 lbs. Mrs. Seamons’ followed, hers 
weighed 4',! lbs. Mr. Rugby’s were very good. 
Mr. Fowler always wins in Aylesbury Ducks; small wonder- 
three ducklings weighed 22 lbs. Mrs. Seamons’ was only half a 
pound behind. Every other point was perfect in both. An idea 
may be formed of the closeness of the competition, when we 
record that the highly-commended pen weighed 204 lbs. The 
Bouen Ducks were the best class of the breed we have ever seen. 
Mr. Fowler’s first-prize pen was half a pound lighter than the 
second, but the condition, and the exceeding beauty of their 
plumage, carried it in their favour. Mr Keable’s highly-com - 
mended pen weighed 17 lbs. Mr. Pryor’s first-prize Black Ducks 
were the best we have ever seen. 
All tho Turkeys were excellent, but Norfolk or Cambridgeshire 
always takes first honours. Berkshire ran them hard. 
The Show was eminently successful throughout. One remark 
was made by everyone : it was that the awards were unusually 
scattered about. There may be two reasons for it. First, that 
exhibitors understand the pursuit better; next, that by the great 
sale of eggs caused by prizetaking the sellers have to compete 
against their own stock. Chicken Shows will always bring 
forward new winners, because a successful early brood will mostly 
ensure success ; while in the winter all chickens are, to use an old 
breeder’s phraseology, “of the same age.” Thus some of the 
commended here may hereafter turn the tables on their victors. 
The Judges were Messrs. Hewitt and Baily. 
MORTALITY AMONG CHICKENS. 
Tiie same day that I forwarded to j r ou a dead chicken, I read 
your notice upon “ Crop-bound Dorkings.” On examining my 
chickens I found the crops full, but soft, as there described, and 
the skin blue. I gave them ipecacuanha wine till sickness was 
induced, when a whitish slimy liquid was thrown up, but nothing 
substantial. To this I added a tea-spoonful of castor oil, and 
after this had taken effect the patients were much relieved. Two 
of them appear to-day to be in a fair way towards recovery, 
though naturally weak after such vigorous measures; but a 
third, which was already far gone when the remedy was begun, 
died in the night. 
Those chickens are only ten days old, but this disease attacks 
all growing poultry ; and, I would add, that I scarcely think it 
arises from over-feeding, inasmuch as nothing is thrown up but. 
liquid. I do not, however, attempt to give an opinion as to 
whence it arises. 
I have recovered a young Turkey also, under this treatment, 
which ought to be begun upon the first appearance of moping 
or gaping, and hanging of the head. 
The food given to my chickens consists of Indian meal, slaked, 
and mixed with soaked bread and scraps of meat.—M. H. 
[The chicken was putrid when it reached us, and there were 
no appearances to indicate the nature of the disease. We believe, 
from what you state, that tho mortality among your chickens is 
caused by giving large quantities of food at a time, and at long 
intervals. Change tho food to oatmeal moistened with milk, 
with a little egg boiled hard, and chopped fine. Give it in a 
crumbly state, a little at a time, and very often,—say every two 
hours.] 
HALIFAX AND CALDER VALE POULTRY 
snow. 
Tms was held at Halifax August 27th. The following prizes 
were awarded :— 
The Secretary’s Silver Cur, to the Exhibitor who takes the largest 
number of Pigeon Prizes.—W. Smith, Beech Hill, Halifax. 
Spanish— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, T. Robinson, the Gill, 
Ulverstone. Chickens. —First, S. Robson, Pocklington. Second, T. Robin¬ 
son, the Gill, Ulverstone. Commended, S. H. Ilyde, Aslrton-under-Lyne. 
Domcing.—F irst, W. Dawson, Hopton, Mil-field. Second, H. W. B. 
Berwick, Ilelmsley. Chickens. — First, Messrs. Kirby and Holtby, Driffield. 
Second, J. Siddall, Halifax. Commended, H. \V. ii. Berwick, Helmslev; 
B. Wilkinson, Shelf, Halifax; L. J. Crossley, Manor Heath, Halifax ; J. 
Price, Londonderry, Bedalc; J. Siddall, Halifax ; T. Smith, Carlton Villas, 
Halifax. 
