THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 21, i860. 
325 
CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY SHOW. 
The Crystal Palace Poultry Show may now fairly consider 
itself established, not only as a treat to amateurs every six 
months, but as a well-managed, meritorious Exhibition, claiming 
support as its right—as its reward for good management, and for 
those efforts which, while they cater for the public amusement, 
are at the same time parts of the varied network of entertain¬ 
ment which forms the yearly list of attractions. The Directors 
of this beautiful place give proof of wisdom, by adopting every 
pursuit in its turn.' Each brings its train of admirers, and all 
become identified with a place where their hobby is cultivated. 
It is thus a meeting like that of which we now write may be far 
more profitable than it appears, by the connection it forms with 
all classes, and many large parties are made up, and take place 
months after the Meeting at which they originated is forgotten. 
We would not have it thought we consider these as unprofitable 
speculations. We are happy to say we know the reverse; but 
we are bound, when treating of these things, to take the question 
jn all its bearings. 
If the popularity of a Show may be tested by the number of 
the entries, then Mr. Houghton, as the sole manager, may look 
with pride and satisfaction at the Exhibition just now terminated. 
One thousand pens of poultry, and three hundred of Pigeons. 
Add to this, that all the greatest and best exhibitors contributed 
to the list; and it will be believed, we have to comment on one 
of the greatest Shows of the season. It has one advantage that 
cannot be over-estimated—there is ample accommodation for any 
number of pens, and that without trenching on the comfort of 
the birds, or diminishing the space necessary to the well-being of 
visitors. There is one charm, or advantage, possessed by this 
Show in which it stands alone. We allude to the luxury of 
having the Palace to resort to, for rest or change, as frequently as 
may be desired. 
The adult Spanish was a capital class, but some of the birds 
lacked condition, owing, as we were told, to the inclement weather 
they had encountered of late. There was one last vestige of 
trimming—we trust the dying speech and confession of that bad 
practice. We must state at the outset, we cannot name all the 
meritorious pens. The prize list published by us last week will 
have given all information, and we must refer our readers to it; 
any mention can be only for unusual merit. Mr. Garlick’s birds 
were very good; but we doubt whether the second prize, Mrs. 
HalL’s, would not have changed places with them, had they been 
in condition. 
The Chicken class was a large one,—forty-two entries. Here 
Miss Rake and Mr. Teebay met to conclude the season. We 
cannot imagine anything bettor than the two pens with which 
Miss Rake took first and second, thus winding up a period of 
extraordinary success with the greatest triumph of all. Mr. Tee- 
bay was third. Fifteen of these pens deserved especial mention. 
There was a good show of Hens and Pullets, and the two prize 
pens were unusually good. The cocks afforded another triumph 
to that remarkable bird of Mr. Teebay’s. He may be proud of 
it; and if he keep in condition, it is not the last time he will be 
a prizetaker. 
Large classes are the next in order,— HorJcinqs. Here, again, 
every known and popular exhibitor entered the list. It will, 
perhaps, be better to treat of all the Dorking classes at once. It 
saves prolixity, and will not tire our readers. It leads us from 
126 to 290, and was made up of birds that would have done 
: credit to any Show. Especial mention is deserved by Captain 
Hornby for his old birds and his two hens. Lady Louisa Thynne 
showed at one of the large Shows for the first time with great 
success, and (we use the term advisedly) triumphed in the chicken 
clas 3 with ease over all our best and oldest exhibitors. Let the 
three names that follow speak for themselves. The Rev. J. Roys, 
the ILou. W. Vernon, and Mr. C. H. Wakefield. This latter 
gentleman would have occupied a high position in the adult class, 
but for an accident to one of his hens. Messrs. Breavington, 
Fowler, Berwick, Lingwood, Boys, Baker, Botham, Beal, Cole, 
and others, obtained prizes and mention they richly deserved. 
Mr. Frost was the victor in the Single Cock class, with a bird 
, of great merit. Those belonging to Captain Hornby and Mr. 
Botham were very good. 
Having thus noticed those that were most remarkable, we may 
| speak of the classes generally. The increase in size that has been 
noticed at recent Shows was here fully maintained; and while 
we regret the prejudice or fashion that keeps away the rose- 
combed birds, we were glad to see that almost the only pen shown 
occupied a high position in the prize list. Fifty-two pens of 
Dorkings claimed honourable mention at the hands of the Judges. 
Ninety-six pens of Cochins included all those exhibitors who 
have done so much to restore these birds to their old position and 
scale of merit. It must have been a novelty for Mr. Tomlinson’s 
old birds to be defeated ; but it was so, and the palm was awarded 
to Mr. Stretch; Mr. Tomlinson took his revenge hi chickens. 
Mrs. Fookes was a close competitor. Liverpool monopolised the 
Grouse and Partridge Cochins prizes, Mr. Copple was distinguished 
in White. We can speak well of all the Cochin classes, and of 
the care with which the birds were chosen and exhibited. 
The Crystal Palace is always noted for the excellence of its 
show of Brahmas; and thirty-one pens maintained the old 
reputation. A new name appeared—Mr. F. Andrews, of Farn- 
liarn, who took the lead with an unusually good pen. With few 
exceptions all the birds shown were excellent specimens, and 
the prizes were scattered abroad. 
Next came 184 pens of Game. Whether we view these birds 
for symmetry, purity, or condition, we speak of them in the 
highest terms of approbation; and even after such a remark as 
this we must single out a few pens that deserve Something 
more. The remarkable pen of Piles belonging to the Rev. 
Mr. Cruwys; Black-breasted Bed adults of the Hon. W. Vernon 
and Mr. Edgar Hanbury. The first and second-prize pens of 
Mr. Archer in class 25—these birds were so meritorious that 
they gained their honours although disfigured by fighting. 
Mr. Hellewell’s Blades, the Hon. W. Vernon’s beautiful Duck- 
wings, Mr. Porter’s and the three first-prize Single Codes, espe¬ 
cially Mr. W. Cox’s and Mr. Moss’s. We do not for an instant 
mean to say we have mentioned all who deserve it. The forty 
highly commended pens were of very great merit. 
The Golden and Silver-pencilled Hamlurghs were very good, 
but the former excelled. Of late the exhibitors of the Silver- 
pencilled do not seem to have selected their birds as carefully as 
they might, or as they used to do. In these, as in all other 
breeds, it must be borne in mind that the avoidance of a defect 
is quite as important as the development of a beauty. The 
absence of the latter may not be fatal to success, while the 
existence of any capital defect must be. 
The Spangled were good and very numerous in ail their classes. 
We would especially mention those belonging to Messrs. 
Kershaw, W. Worrall, and Teebay ; also the single cock belong¬ 
ing to Mr. Worrall, which we thought almost perfect. There 
were 73 pens of Spangled Hambuigbs; and when we say 34 
were named in the awards of the Judges, we shall speak more 
favourably of their excellence than by any lengthened report. 
It is long since we saw such a class as that for Black Polands 
with white crests. Mrs. Robinson and Mr. Battye showed 
unusually good birds; the top-knots of the birds belonging to 
the first-prize pen being remarkable for their symmetry and 
closeness. Mrs. Pettat and Mr. G. S. Fox gained the honours 
of the Golden. There was much competition in the Silvers, 
which were excellent, and added to (he laurels of ;two old exhi¬ 
bitors, Messrs. G. C. Adkins and G. S. Fox. Col. Clowes 
showed beautiful birds. 
I 
Malays were not so numerous as usual. We were surprised 
at it, because they are London fowls, and should be well repre¬ 
sented so close to their home. 
Seventy-seven pens of Bantams in the different classes made 
a good display of these favourites of the public. The Gold- 
laced were above the average, and the highly commended pens 
richly deserved prizes. The Silvers were excellent, especially 
Mr. T. H. D. Bayley’s. The White were very good, but not so 
good as the Black. The small white deaf ears, bright red 
combs, and the long sickle feathers of the cock in the first-prize 
pen of the latter make it one of singular merit. Our favourites 
the Game mustered in strength. They furnished a triumph to 
the first exhibitor in this class, Mr. W. S. Forrest; but we do 
not think the Duckwings were as carefully matched and mated 
in colour as we have seen them. This remark may apply to many 
other pens and colours in this class. 
Geese have ceased to be stupid, for John says he has tided to 
run over one, but finds it an impossibility; and if our wise king 
had lived now he would have found one of them was enough for 
two. Thus, Mr. Manfield’s White Geese weighed 58 lbs.; Mr. 
Williams’s, 48 lbs. In the Greys Mr. Fowler, as usual, was first, 
70 lbs.; Mr. Edwards second, 06 lbs. These celebrated Grey 
Geese return to Prebendal Farm no more. They were claimed. 
They have laid golden eggs for Mr. Fowler this season. 
All the Duck classes were good and numerous, Mr. Fowler 
took first and second for Aylesburys with pens weighing 22 lbs. 
and 24 lbs. Mr. Hanks third, 20 lbs. 
