THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 6, 1860. 
357 
Birmingham Council adopted the suggestion now again offered. 
It is well known that cocks will injure themselves quite as much 
by fighting through open wirework (so far as exhibition purposes 
are concerned) as in an open space; indeed they are, when thus 
situated, even more apt to tear and disfigure each other about 
the combs and wattles than ever. It is also equally obvious that 
the more plucky and higher the condition for showing off the 
cock, the more probable is it that severe injury will ensue. 
Nothing tends to anger exhibitors more than fowls returning 
home thus injured, and it is certain sometimes on the spur of the 
moment, that such owners are prone to express their feelings more 
hotly than reflectively. The trivial expense of the additional j 
four bars to each pen will prevent anything like a repetition of 
this nuisance, and save also a multiplicity of personal labour 
during the time the public are admitted. 
The report already published prevents any necessity for remark 
on the poultry generally, so far as the classes are concerned, yet 
I cannot avoid taking this opportunity of suggesting to exhibitors 
themselves, the folly of the “ old fault ” of putting fowls strange 
to each other, in the same pen for exhibition. They must fight, 
and they will fight, if so treated, in spite of all the united efforts 
of the most energetic Committee, giving the latter needless and 
endless trouble, and bringing to the owners themselves only dis¬ 
comfiture and loss as inevitable as it is undoubtedly well-merited. 
There is one other “ mistake ” quite too prevalent among 
poultry fanciers, and that generally amongst those who are in 
themselves the most anxious for their favourites’ welfare. They 
pet them too much at home; they habituate them to an un¬ 
naturally warm temperature; and whilst enjoying such luxuries 
the fowls seem to be improved beyond expectation. Then comes, 
perchance, without the possibility of provision being made for 
it by any Committee, however desirous of so doing, the sudden 
■change of weather that happened at the Crystal Palace, then the 
“ petted ” birds look in the last stage of unhappiness and dis¬ 
comfort ; whilst their more homely-trained opponents, feeling but 
comparatively little inconvenience, wrest from them the laurels 
they might otherwise have readily secured. 
But I will not encroach further on your valuable space, except 
to thank you for allowing me permission to point out these 
mistakes, and hope the hints I suggest may tend to their im¬ 
provement, if not their total removal.— Chanticleer. 
I OBSERVE in your Number 595 that the Crystal Palace 
Poultry Show is stated to be “ a treat to amateurs; and that 
Mr. Houghton, as sole manager, may look with pride and satis¬ 
faction at the Exhibition just now terminated.” 
Now, Sir, without wishing to detract from just praise due to 
the worthy manager, permit me trouble you with a succinct 
account of my visit and little adventure, or rather misadventure 
there, and then suffer me to ask Whether if has proved a “treat ” 
to me ? and whether, like Mr. Hougton, I can also look with 
pride and satisfaction upon the Exhibition just now terminated? 
As an amateur, I stole a day from the turmoil of business for 
the purpose of treating myself with the inspection of this Show. 
It was the first day (Saturday), and while looking around, 
admiring, among others, pen No. 346, I observed an attendant 
attach the important words, “First prize;” whereupon I im¬ 
mediately proceeded to the office, and claimed these birds at the 
price indicated in the catalogue, and was clearly informed that 
“ they were not sold.” I at once paid the money, and received 
; the usual printed receipt, Mr. Houghton telling me to call for 
i their delivery the following Thursday; as I preferred so doing to 
risking them to a journey by rail without an attendant. 
After enjoying the “rest and change” afforded by the Palace, 
as well as having had the pleasure of hearing my birds much 
I lauded, I departed with every feeling in accordance with your 
comment, that it was “ one of the greatest Shows of the season;” 
but unhappily I cannot add “ well managed ” to the “ meritorious 
Exhibition.” 
Should you, Mr. Editor, be, like myself, an amateur, do try 
and picture to yourself my feelings, which I am sure you will 
not envy, when—after having published in my home circle that 
I was shortly to add these handsome “ prize birds ” to my poultry 
stock—the Monday night preceding the desirable Thursday I 
received a letter coolly announcing that my (?) already-pa i cl -fo r 
“ prize birds ” had been previously sold to, and were to become 
the property of, another party. 
Permit me to add the inquiries—Would not good manage¬ 
ment have avoided this ? And is it not usual to ticket all 
. pens as soon as disposed of ? 
I can safely aver that many pens, to my knowledge, sold some 
time previously, at two o’clock in the day were not ticketed. I 
am, however, disposed to let bygones be bygones, and believe 
that I am a solitary instance of a disappointed purchaser.— 
W. J. Horry, Islinyton. 
DIET FOR POULTRY. 
In your number of February 14th, “ A New Subscriber ” asks 
“ Freeeolk ” about the best manner of feeding hens, so as to 
; cause them to lay. I was in a worse position than “A New 
I Subscriber ;” for I did not have my present stock till the be¬ 
ginning of last May, and no chickens were hatched till the 
middle of June. Of these I have saved seven pullets, which 
have been laying ever since the beginning of December. 
And now as regards feeding and treatment. They have a good 
run—of the first importance I think. Then they are fed at least 
three times a-day ; but the food varies according to the weather. 
In the summer and autumn they had only rice, bad potatoes, 
greens, &c., boiled up together, and mashed well into a mass. 
When the cold weather began I gave them barley, and occasion¬ 
ally (contrary to all the advice you have given) Chilies boiled up 
with graves, and thickened with oat or barleymeal. 
What I chiefly recommend to “A New Subscriber” is that 
he provide plenty of lime and grit for his fowls, and also a good 
run for them in the daytime. With this and plenty of “ tall ” 
barley they will do well, particularly if they have a warm roosting- 
place. Mine roost in my pigsties over the pigs, and they keep 
each other warm.—A Cleric. 
P.S. For your own information, but not for publication, I 
give my name and address. After Easter I shall be happy to 
give a debtor and creditor account of my last year’s poultry¬ 
keeping, which I have found to answer well, and which, I think, 
may be useful to other beginners. 
[Your debtor and creditor account will be very acceptable, 
especially if you mention not only the cost, but the description 
of food given.—E es. C. G.] 
ULVERSTON POULTRY EXHIBITION. 
The Show just concluded at Ulverston has been unusually 
successful, although taking place at an advanced period of the 
early breeding season. The Committee richly deserve the 
success attained; for not only has the prize list been a most 
liberal one, embracing £42 worth of silver cups, entirely in¬ 
dependent of money prizes, but the Committee have worked 
together most harmoniously, each personally not only superin¬ 
tending the Exhibition, but putting his “ own shoulder to 
the wheel, in carrying out every arrangement effectively.” This 
is as it should be, and as certainly wins the confidence of ex¬ 
hibitors for future meetings. It is worthy of remark, that 
almost every principal breeder in the kingdom competed. 
Indeed, as a gentleman stated in the room, “ to look over the 
names only in the printed catalogue, was in itself a complete 
show of great guns.” Among such, were residents of Worcester, 
Birmingham, and even Aylesbury and Devizes, with other 
localities equally remote from the Show. The weather the day 
previous to the Meeting was certainly one of the most tem¬ 
pestuous imaginable, the wind blowing an incessant hurricane : 
and as we journeyed to Ulverston rarely have we seen so com¬ 
plete a wreck of property as met the eye on every side. Chimney¬ 
pots, slates, windows blown in wholesale, and even walls and 
chimnies themselves lying prostrate in all directions. At the 
intermediate stations, female passengers were kindly “ assisted ” 
to the train, that, as the officials stated, “ they might keep their 
feet; ” and if any thoughtless individual attempted to raise au 
umbrella, it was in an instant either wrenched in ioto from his 
grasp, or the top blown completely away against the first hedge 
or similar impediment to its locomotion. It was a dark and 
desolate look-out, the wind moaned and shrieked again in 
the cuttiugs, whilst the open lauds and meadows were on all 
sides one mass of slushy vegetation. The apparel of every 
party whose misfortune it was to be exposed to the tempest was 
completely saturated as the clothes of a drowned man ; and we 
confess to fears as to its influence on the morrow's attendance. 
As the night wore away, however, a most extraordinary change 
ensued, an>i the morning of February the 29th was one of those 
loveliestxif spring days when the warmth of continual sunshine 
makes all nature glad. Such being the case, no lack of visitors 
