THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 20, 1859. 
375 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
September 22nd. Bridgnorth. Sec., Bichard Taylor, Bridgnorth. 
October 5th. Weston-super-Mare. Sec., Mr. B. L. Jones, Weston-super- 
Mare. Entries close September 23rd. 
October 11th, 12th, and 13th. Worcestershire. Sec., Geo. Griffiths 
7, St. Swithin Street, Worcester. Entries close September 24th. 
November 28th, 29th, and 30th, and December l3t. Birmingham. Sec., 
Mr. J. Morgan, Bingley Hall, Birmingham. 
N.B.— Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
STOKE-UPON-TRENT POULTRY SHOW. 
This Show was held on the 13th and 14th inst., in conjunction 
with the Exhibition of the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. 
The Society, having existed some sixteen years, has reaped much 
advantage from experience. Indeed, it is notorious, that very 
few, if any, local Meetings of a like character are so well carried 
out. 
Although our present remarks will be confined to the poultry 
department only, it was quite evident from the great number 
of agriculturists who visited the implement-yard, that a spirit of 
inquiry into the best and most expeditious modes of carrying out 
all agricultural operations has been fairly aroused; and the supine¬ 
ness, that only a few years back was so generally admitted as to 
investigation of new practical farming among those whose very 
livelihood depended upon its success, has fast given way before 
the onward movement that has been altogether induced by the 
annual musterings of Societies like the one just concluded at 
Stoke-upon-Trent. The arrangements for the poultry were ex¬ 
cellent, every pen being placed under cover of tents provided 
expressly for their accommodation. 
The pens in which the fowls were exhibited were roomy and 
convenient, and certainly no effort was withheld to promote their 
comfort and well-being during the two days they were - open for 
the public inspection. The rule was imperative that all specimens 
exhibited must be birds of this season, save the Ducks, Turkeys, 
and Geese, these three classes being open to birds of all ages. 
It is most satisfactory to state, that not a single attempt was 
made throughout the whole collection to impose as to the ages of 
the birds competing, which, undoubtedly, is hut too frequently 
resorted to in the present day. The two gentlemen appointed by 
the Society to officiate as Judges for the poultry, were Mr. 
Edward Lowe, of Comberford Mill, near Tamworth, and Mr. 
Edward Hewitt, of Spark Brook, near Birmingham. 
The Game classes were of very high character—in fact the 
birds of Viscount Sandon were such, as, if properly dubbed, will 
certainly be again heard of among the successful ones at other 
Meetings; the noble Yiscount swept the board of both prizes. It 
is well here to suggest to exhibitors of Game birds it is high 
time the earliest of the cockerels were “ dubbed,” if intended to 
be exhibited at autumnal meetings. It was remarkable that only 
a single cockerel shown at Stoke, a Brown-red, had been, as yet, 
subjected to this operation, on which so much of their future 
celebrity as show birds depends. The Spanish class held a mul¬ 
tiplicity of good chickens. It is very rarely better are met with 
at the generality of Poultry Shows. In Grey Dorkings, the Earl 
of Harrowby secured all the premiums with birds shown in 
perfect condition, and extraordinarily well-matched for feather. 
Although so frequently mentioned hi our pages as certain to 
ensure defeat, in this class were to he found pens otherwise of 
first-rate excellence, containing both single and rosey combs. 
These were, of necessity, passed by. Mr. Stretch, of Liverpool, 
took the premiums for Cochin Chickens, with both Buff and 
Partridge-coloured birds, and, certainly they fully maintained the 
high character of his breeding. The Golden-spangled and the 
Golden-pencilled were, undoubtedly, the best varieties shown 
among the Samburghs. 
A most magnificent pen of Turkeys, belonging to the Duke of 
Sutherland, and a pen of equally praiseworthy Toulouse Oeese, 
the property of the lion. W. W. Vernon, stood at the head of 
their respective classes. 
The Aylesbury and Rouen Ducks were good, the former 
especially. In the extra class were shown a pen of White 
Doves, which, for purity of plumage and excellent condition, 
could not be improved. They were universally admired. 
The weather was most auspicious, and thanks to the liberality 
of the railway arrangements throughout there was no lack of 
visitors, every coming train bringing large additions to the com¬ 
pany assembled. 
Game.— First and Second, Viscount Sandon, Sandon Hill (Black-red). 
Highly Commended, F. Bagguley, Whittington (Brown-red). 
Spanish.— First, H.T. Latimar, Cobridge. Second, the Duke of Suther¬ 
land, Trentham Hall. Commended, P. Broad, Smallthorn, near Cobridge; 
J. Clews, Walhouse Street, Walsall. 
Dorking. — First and Second, the Earl of Harrowby, Sandon Hall 
(Silver Grey). Commended, Dr. Hewson, Coton Hill, Stafford (Coloured). 
Cochin-China (any variety).—First and Second, T. Stretch, Marsh 
Lane, Bootle, Liverpool. Highly Commended, J. Bailey, Shooter’s Hill, 
Longton (Buff). 
Hamburgh (Golden-spangled).—First, J. Leech, Liverpool Boad, New¬ 
castle. Second, W. Tatton, Leek. 
Hamburgh (Silver-spangled).—First, J. Leech, Liverpool Boad, New¬ 
castle. Second, Viscount Sandon, Sandon Hall. 
Hamburgh (Golden or Silver-pencilled).—First, W. Tavernor, Aston 
Hill Farm (Golden-pencilled). Second, Messrs. J. and W. Holland, San- 
some Walk, Worcester (Silver-pencilled). Highly Commended, W. 
Tavernor, Aston Hill Farm (Golden-pencilled). 
Turkeys. —First, the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham (Bronze). Second, 
J. Adamthwaite, Oak Hill, 'Lean. 
Geese.— First, the Hon. W. W. Vernon, Wolseley Hall (Grey). Second, 
J. Smith, EUenhall Park (Grey). Commended,.!. Smith, Ellenhall Park 
(Grey and White); J. Bailey, Shooter’s Hill, Longton (Common). 
Ducks. —First, the Earl of Harrowby, Sandon Hall (White Aylesbury). 
Second, G. Cargey, Sandon Farm (Bouen). Commended, the Lady Bagot, 
Blithfield Hall (Aylesbury); the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham Hall 
(Bouen). 
Extra Poultry.— Highly Commended, W. D. Kirby, Trentham (two 
White Doves) ; H. T. Latimar, Cobridge (Spanish). Commended, the 
Duke of Sutherland, Trentham Hall (Spot Pigeons). 
DUCKWING GAME EOWLS. 
I WAS somewhaf startled at the description of your corre¬ 
spondent, “ W. C. W.’s ” Duckwing Game cock in The Cot¬ 
tage Gardener of August 30th. I have seen it somewhere 
stated that the pure-bred Duekwing should have no coloured 
feathers on the back. An intimate acquaintance of mine is in 
possession of a superb Game cock, said to be a pure Duckwing, 
which is coloured like our finest Dorkings. By telling me 
through the columns of your interesting paper if the pale back is 
a fault you will greatly oblige. 
Is there any variety of Game fowl of that boasted maroon 
colour all over the body P—One Wavering Betwixt two 
Opinions. 
[There are two Duckwings, the Copper-back or Saddle, and 
the Silver. The description of “W. C. W.’s” will be correct, 
as will that of your friend. Both are considered equally pure, 
but we believe the seniority must rest with the Copper-saddles. 
We know no breed of copper-coloured Game.] 
LARGE PRODUCE OF EGGS. 
In your impression of the 30th August you say, “ a clergyman 
in Yorkshire has a two-year-old hen, Silver Pheasant, which laid 
on the 21st the sixty-fourth egg of the present season.” I pre¬ 
sume you mean from 1st January to that date : if so, I think the 
following statement will bear comparison with her performance, 
which I do not consider very great.* 
On January 1st of this year, I had five half-bred hens, one 
rising six years old, and five pullets of last year, out of a Spanish 
and Cochin hen, crossed by a Black Hamburgh cock. I killed 
three hens subsequently, one on 24th March, 21st July, and 30th 
August respectively, and added another lien at the end of May. 
Three hens brought up chickens, and the others being occasionally 
broody, I had sometimes only three or four hens laying at once. 
From 1st January to the 31st August, I had 1259 eggs, which 
will give an average far above the Pheasant hen you mention. I 
think my present cross is the best for producing eggs I have ever 
kept, not excepting the Silver-spangled Hamburgh which I kept 
for upwards of two years, although my pullets were bred from 
my best hen. I think a cross, generally, from a Spanish and 
Cochin hen with a Black Hamburgh cock will produce good 
layers, as, two years ago, I raised a pullet crossed in the same 
way, and of a hen not remarkable for her laying properties, yet 
she commenced laying at five months and a half old, and laid 
214 eggs in eleven months—that is, I was absent from home a 
month last year, when her eggs were not put down. This state- 
* The produce is very large for a Silver Pheasant (the genuine species), 
not the Silver-spangled Hamburgh sometimes so called.— Eds, 
