362 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 13, 1859. 
Polands were a very weak class, and not sufficiently meritorious 
to obtain premiums. The Silver-pencilled Hamburgh) were 
first-class birds ; rarely have we seen a better collection, the 
chickens, of course, showing the most satisfactorily. The 
Golden-pencilled were likewise most creditable. The Silver- 
spangled were not good. The old birds were absolutely wanting 
in most of the points necessary for good show birds ; but some 
of the Golden-spangled were good. The Game classes were the 
pride of the Show, and the competition was a close one, both in 
adults and also chickens. Eor Bantams , the Golden-laced 
Sebrights and Game obtained pre-eminence. The Duclcs which 
competed together, whatever the variety, contained excellent 
Aylesburies, Rouens, and white Call Ducks. The Geese were 
unexceptionable. The Toulouse belonging to Mr. Benjamin 
Baxter, of Ellslaek Hall, Skipton, are only rarely equalled : nor 
can we pass over a pen of Empdens, the property of Mr. George 
Cunliffe, of Dulesgate, without very favourable mention. A 
special prize for the best pullets of any breed (for cottagers com¬ 
peting only) brought forward some very respectable pens, and it 
must have been gratifying to the donor, James Munn, Esq., of 
Heath Hill, to find his gift thus appreciated. 
The premiums were awarded by Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Spark- 
brook, Birmingham ; and we trust on future occasions that the 
weather will be propitious, as a sad discount on entrance fees must 
have now ensued. 
Spanish. —Prize, S.H. Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne. 
Cochin-China. —Prize, S. H. Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne. 
Dokking. —Prize, J. Higgin, Overtown, near Burnley. 
Hamburgh (Silver-pencilled).—Prize, J. Munn, Heath Hill. Highly 
Commended, II. Pickles, Easby Lane, Leeds. Chickens. —Prize, J. Munn, 
Heath Hill, Stacksteads. Commended, T. Barcroft, Gag Hills, Newchurch; 
AY. Warburton, Boothfold; E. Wood, Waterfoot; It. Whitham, Burnley. 
Hamburgh (Golden-pencilled).—Prize, J. Munn, Heath Hill, Stack- 
steads. Chickens. —Prize, J. Munn, Heath Hill. Highly Commended, J. 
Munn, Heath Hill. 
Hamburgh (Silver-spangled).— Chickens. —Prize, S. H. Hyde, Ashton- 
under-Lyne. Highly Commended, G. E. Hardman, Bawtenstall. 
Hamburgh (Golden-spangled),—Prize, J. Munn, Heath Hill. Chickens. 
—Prize, S. Fielding, Middleton. 
Game (any colour).—Prize, W, and N. Grimshaw, Pendle Forest. Com¬ 
mended, J. Brierley, Intack. Chickens.-^ Prize, W. and N- Grimshaw, 
Pendle Forest. Highly Commended. J. Townsend, Townsend Fold. Com¬ 
mended, J. Riley, Thornton, near Skipton. 
Game Cock (any colour).—Prize, A. Sutherland, Burnley. Highly 
Commended, R. Butterworth. Cockerel. —Prize, A. Sutherland, Burnley. 
Commended, J. Butterworth, Bellfield, Rochdale. 
Bantams.— Prize, E. Fielding, Rochdale. Highly Commended, S. H. 
Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne. 
Ducks (any colour).—Prize, E. Fielding, Rochdale. Highly Commended, 
E. L. Waddington, Bank Cottage, Burnley; J. Greenwood, Burnley; M. 
Greenwood, Burnley. Commended, — Heys. 
Geese. —Prize, B. Baxter, Ellslaek Hall, Skipton. Commended, G. 
Cunliffe, Dulesgate. 
Turkeys. —Prize, E. Holt, Fall Barn. Commended, Z. Ashworth. 
Three Pullets (of any distinct breed, the property of a cottager under 
£8 rental, the gift of James Munn, Esq., of Heath Hill).—Prize, J. Lang- 
thorn, Wales (Silver-pencilled Hamburgh). Highly Commended, W. 
Greenwood, Sowclough (Game). 
BRAHMA POOTEAS. 
You inserted a letter of mine, signed “A. B. C.,” in your 
paper of Eebruary 1st, 1859, on the Brahma controversy : but 
now, instead of putting initials, I think it best to sign my name 
in full, that your readers may not be left in doubt as to who 
your correspondent is. 
The Rev. Mr. Thursby states that which is perfectly correct, 
and he is known to many old poultry fanciers as a breeder of 
Brahmas from the first. You will find that I mentioned him 
in my communication of the 1st February, 1859, as one of our 
early supporters of Poultry Shows, and first introducer of 
Brahmas. Miss Watts, Rev. Mr. Thursby, and myself, were 
amongst the first, if not the very first, possessors of the Brahmas 
sent by Dr. Bennett, of America, to this country. 
I had one of the first pairs of Brahmas sent by Dr. Bennett, 
and have had many others from him since ; and, with perfect 
sincerity, I can endorse all stated by the Rev. Mr. Thursby in 
answer to “ W. H., Exeter," and, further, I can corroborate 
all that the Rev. Mr. Thursby states as regards breeding of 
Brahmas. 
At one time there was a dead set made against the Brahmas ; 
and poultry fanciers were told they could breed them from this 
and that variety, so that they endeavoured to produce them by 
the means pointed out. The result was many so-called Brahmas 
recently purchased at Poultry Shows and elsewhere, which, when 
you breed from them, their progeny are all sorts of colours; of 
course going back to those that the parent birds were crossed 
with. On the other hand, I would venture to assert that if 
Dr. Gwjmn, Miss Watts, and the Rev. Mr. Thursby have any 
Brahmas from the original stock, that they would produce alike 
almost to a feather. 
I stated in my letter of February 1st that I had not publicly 
appeared in the poultry world for the last three years, but that 
I had been watching the quiet and steady progress it has been 
making, my attention more particularly having been directed 
to the Brahmas; and I hope yet again to put forth some that 
will defy contradiction, and in full corroboration of what the 
Rev. Mr. Thursby has stated in praise of them. —Paul Gabba- 
nati, 11, Marglebone Street, Regent's Quadrant, 
THE EARLY DECREASE OE THE STORE OF 
BEES. 
I may have already mentioned that the common charge against 
bees for storing up too much pollen is unfounded—at least, that 
it only accords with their instinct, which is ill adapted to our 
climate ; likewise that these insects store up about an equal 
quantity of pollen and honey, both being gathered at the same 
time. The loads of pollen are less frequent than those of honey ; 
but each is nearly double in quantity, and lasts much longer. 
This is owing in great measure to the lesser demand for food for 
the larvse during cold weather. Connected with this, I have to 
remark that sometimes the store of pollen seems to increase, 
while that of honey decreases, even so early as the middle of 
August. But as regards this, much depends on the state of the 
weather and pasturage. In heath districts bees often add much 
to their store of honey in September. However, from long expe¬ 
rience I find that their store begins to lessen in this locality 
(Norwich) about the time mentioned, even in good seasons iike 
the present, when the thermometer stood at 83° in the shade on 
the 25th ult. This show's that the early decrease of stored honey 
is not so much owing to the failure of the pasturage as to the 
long and cold nights, when the bees begin to consume more 
food than they collect. Therefore bee-keepers are wise who take 
away the extra honey about the time referred to. 
Since the above was written, I find that “ A Devonshire 
Bee-keeper” notices my statement to “B. and W.,” that 
“bees never collect pollen alone.” He calls this “my fallacy,” 
and backs it with the following :—“ That two-thirds of his bees 
working from this artificially-formed stock returned with full 
loads of pollen at a time when, from lack of honey in the 
flowers, my hives in this locality are rapidly losing weight.” 
This, of course, does not apply to the point in question, and the 
latter part is the common occurrence which I have noticed above. 
However, I have to note, that about the “17th of August,” 
when other kinds of insects that do not collect pollen found 
honey, it would be absurd to think that bees would not. With 
regard to proof that they gather honey and pollen at the same 
time, and carry both in the same loads, I recommend those who 
doubt this, either to watch the insects amongst the flowers, or to 
destroy some laden with pollen, and they may find their bags 
filled with honey.—J. Wighton. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Leg 'Weakness (D. B. B .).—Give nourishing diet, such as bread soaked 
in ale, and four grains of citrate of iron daily, until the bird’s strength im¬ 
proves. Let him have also plenty of green food. 
LOUDON MARKETS. —September 12. 
POULTRY. 
The market has a downward tendency. The supply of poultry is in¬ 
creased : as, the harvest being finished, people have time to send, and 
London being empty, there are no 
moderate. 
Each—s. d. s. d. 
Large Fowls. 4 0 to 4 6 
Smaller ditto . 3 0 „ 3 6 
Chickens . 1 9 „ 2 0 
Geese. 5 6 „ 6 0 
Ducks . 2 6 ,, 3 0 | 
buyers. The supply of Grouse is 
Each— s. d. s. d. 
Turkeys. 0 0 to 0 0 
Grouse . 1 6 ,, 3 0 
Pigeons . 0 7 „ 0 8 
Rabbits . 1 4 ,, 1 5 
Wild ditto. 0 S ,, 0 9 
