201 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 27, 1859. 
advent of another. Let ue be thankful we have been spared 
to do so. 
If that which was said of the Phoenix were true, and if the 
young one rose from the ashes of the old, and if the bird w'ere 
capable of reasoning, there must have been even in the throwes 
of dissolution a satisfaction that the old body in process of de¬ 
struction was by the fact creating another in full vigour and 
youth. So when we look on the departing year, think lightly j 
on its trials, much on its pleasures, any feeling of sadness is 
more than compensated by the fact that it disappears to make 
room for the new one. IIovv grateful should we be for the 
elasticity of the human mind—for that quality that enables us to j 
view the untried time through a Claude Lorraine glass, to people 
its periods with our own associations, and to arrange before- I 
hand that we shall avoid the rocks on which we made shipwreck, ; 
and be timely warned by the beacons that shone unheeded in : 
our previous time. 
The year 1859 has been a favourable one for poultry. Shows 
have been numerous, well-conducted, and successful. They 
appear now to be settled on a firm basis. Their utility is no 
longer contested, because their results are evident. We have no 
difficulties with them, because the Committees are tried and prac¬ 
tised men. There is little disappointment among exhibitors, 
because they have learned to estimate their birds aright. Wj 
may note one thing most encouraging to those who enter the lists, 
and that is the dissemination of the prizes. From Sir Piers 
Mostyn’s exploit in the Game cock class at Liverpool, to the 
recent prize lists at Bingley Hall, w r e have had a succession of i 
new names. Another very gratifying feature is the regular sale j 
of poultry. There are times when there seems to be a falling off 
in the amount received from sales ; but it is not really so. Those 
who possess good strains have learned wisdom, and have dis¬ 
covered that it is well to realise by putting moderate but remu¬ 
nerating prices on their pens. Three are now sold for the same 1 
sum asked for one a few years since. Hence the amount often 
represents three times as many sales as it did formerly. But if | 
any assurance were necessary that the desire to possess good birds j 
is as great as ever, we have it in the fact, that a Dorking cock 
was claimed for £15 at Birmingham, and three Grouse Cochins 
for the same money. We may fairly suppose we are now arrived 
at the common-sense price of fowls—the happy medium between 
Mr. Punchard’s first notorious pen sold for £2 each, and the 
ridiculous fact of one bird making £50. 
Another gratifying feature is the growing adoption of a Poultry 
Show as part of an agricult ural meeting. We heartily rejoice at this. 
Everybody is fond of agriculture, everybody takes an interest in 
the county show, and all like, in some way or other, to be iden¬ 
tified with it. Many who cannot enter the arena with cattle can 
send a pen of fowls ; and we believe Societies could add largely 
to the number of their subscribers by giving attention to this i 
point. One word more on Poultry Shows, and we will proceed 
to review the classes, as our custom has been for some years. In 
our favourite pursuit there is competition; but the success of 
one does not involve the loss of another. The pleasure of a prize 
has no alloy, and the most successful may survey years of con- , 
stant triumph without the bitterness of reflecting that his gains 
have caused the poverty of those who competed unsuccessfully j 
with him. 
Dorkings during the past year have gone on increasing in 
weight. The old winners in this breed have maintained their fame, 
chequered now and then by the appearance of new names. The 
weights we have seen would have been deemed impossible a few ; 
years since. Not long ago the Silver Greys had separate classes, 
because size was deemed unattainable coupled with feather. Now 
they hold their ow r n in open competition. 
Spanish have decidedly improved during the last year. They' 
have gone back to the standard of Mr. Davies’ day. In 1857 and 
1858 they retrograded. They are also becoming deservedly 
popular wherever eggs are required. The size of their eggs and 
the fact of their being non-sitters will explain this. In the early 
part of the year the question of trimming these birds for exhibi¬ 
tion was lengthily discussed in our columns. We are glad the 
firmness of our principal judges decided against it. 
We are glad to speak well of Cochins, which are now shown 
as good as at any period since they were introduced. We must, 
however, except the Whites, which are not so carefully bred and 
shown as they used to be. Public opinion lias discarded the 
Blacks. It could not be otherwise, no breed should have a 
separate class which cannot reproduce itself, and everyone knows 
it is an impossibility to breed Black Cochin cocks. 
Gold and Silver-spangled Hamburghs are fast approaching to 
perfection, especially the former. Golden-pencilled have im¬ 
proved more, perhaps, than any breed we shall have to mention ; 
but the Silvers have lost ground in every way. 
There is no fault to find when speaking of the quality of the 
Polands; but they are not shown in sufficient numbers to en¬ 
courage Committees to offer liberal prizes for them. 
Brahma Pootras have succeeded in making for themselves 
large and popular classes. They deserve it, and we anticipate for 
them next year increased numbers and popularity. They have 
succeeded in raising themselves from the variety class, because 
they breed truly. 
What shall we say of the Game? We can only repeat what 
we have so often said. They are perfect. They offer a lesson to 
all exhibitors. However 'numerous the entries may be, the birds 
are always in perfect feather and condition. The sweepstakes 
for single cocks are very popular, and afford a rich treat to those 
who love these birds—we may as well say to every one, as all 
admire this breed. 
Golden Bantams have improved ; but the Silver still fail in 
colour. They are Silver gilt. Our anticipations of last year were 
realised when we spoke of our belief that Game Bantams would 
be favourites with the public. The classes have been numerous 
and exceedingly beautiful. 
Aylesbury Ducks bid fair to attain what was formerly thought 
a good weight for a Goose. Seeing the facility with which these 
birds fatten for the table, we are glad to notice the increase in 
their numbers at every agricultural meeting. We rejoice at any¬ 
thing that marks an increasing interest in poultry, on the part of 
those who have so many facilities for keeping them. Rouen Ducks 
have advanced in size and purity. The classes for Buenos Ayrean 
Ducks have also been in every way successful. 
Turkeys are yearly shown heavier than they were, and their 
average weight is considerably increased. 
It will be found that in every breed there is progress. We 
shall be glad to see the day when more attention is paid to 
poultry as an article of food, and to the production of eggs. 
Attention has been drawn to the latter subject by many of our 
leading journals. The breeds are now r thoroughly understood, 
and we know that much might be done in many yards by the sale 
of eggs to cover numberless little expenses. We speak, of course, 
to those who wish their hobby to be self-supporting. 
Whatever is asked for one year is sure to be shown the next. 
This was never better illustrated than in Ducks. Aylesbury and' 
Rouens were to be large, and Buenos Ayrean small, and they are 
so. The same is true of every breed, and it lends a charm to the 
pursuit to have something to accomplish. 
The most difficult part of our task remains. It is to speak of 
ourselves. We are happy to thank all those whom w r e addressed 
at the outset for a prosperous year. Our circulation, and with 
it our friends, have increased. We have endeavoured honestly 
to do our duty impartially by all, to abide by the truth on every 
occasion, and to promote the prosperity of a pursuit we love. We 
have been highly gratified at the continuous good feeling that has 
prevailed throughout the y r ear among all classes of the poultry 
world. 
Wo have had no complaining, no differences, no angry corre¬ 
spondences. We would hope there have been none : if there have, 
we trust they wdll be buried with 1859. 
We began with the “ Dead March ” of the old year; and 
having performed its last rites, we now strike up the lively 
“ quick step,” and wish you all 
A Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. 
THE COLOUR OF GAME FOWLS. 
From the experience I have had of the various breeds of 
Game fowls I consider the colour of the plumage immaterial; 
for there are good birds of every shade. 
Peacock, the large breeder, in bygone days—when cock- 
fighting was allowed as one of the British sports—had a strain 
of motley hues, principally blue and red dun ; but many of his 
birds were speckled : some were chin-piles (if I may use such a 
term); others red with a dun breast. In fact, the feather was 
so various that I cannot find words to describe it. 
Nevertheless, whenever his cocks were brought into the pit 
the betting was always odds in their favour. When he discon¬ 
tinued breeding for the pit he gave his stock to MichaelBecker, 
of Ash, Kent; and many a £100 did he win by them. I was* 
