THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— October 7, 1850. 
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE POULTRY SHOW. 
Sept. 25th. 
(From a Correspondent.) 
The Show here was extremely well attended ; almost all 
the county families were present, and seemed much in¬ 
terested in the proceedings. It is lioped that next year 
many more may be persuaded to enter the lists. Indeed, 
the number of pens this year shows the interest is in¬ 
creasing, as there were double the number that were ex¬ 
hibited last year. 
On the whole, for a county Show, the quality of the 
fowls was very superior. For Dorkings , Mr. Thursby, as 
usual, was very successful, but in Class 2 was beaten by a 
most extraordinary pen of birds, described as thirteen weeks 
old. They were in full plumage, and as large as others of 
six months. The Cochins were moderate, and do not seem 
favourites here. Came fowls very good indeed. Mr. Beasley's 
Black Game were universally admired, and the prize pen of 
Mr. Redgrave’s were first-class birds, and would show well 
in the best company. There were very few Hamburghs, and 
these of an inferior description. In the class for “Any 
distinct breed ” Lady Isham took the first prize with a pen 
of ohl Spanish; they were in bad order and deep moult. 
Mr. Thursby exhibited the best pen of Brahma Pootra 
chickens we have seen this year, but the Judge did not 
notice them. Aylesbury Bucks very middling. Other Ducks 
very good. Many thought Mr. Beasley’s Buenos Ayres the 
best they had ever seen. The Turkeys, too, were well worthy 
of the praises bestowed upon them. 
Mr. Joseph Jennens, Balsall Heath, Birmingham was the 
Judge. 
Coloured Dorkings. — First, Rev. F. Thursby. Second, Mr. 
Eady, Lamport. Chickens of 1856.—First. Mr. Wood, Clapton. Second, 
Third, and Fourth, Rev. F. Thursby. (Very superior class.) Cockerel 
and one Cutlet. — First, Rev. F. Thursby. Second, Mr. Franklin, 
Spratton. (Excellent class.) Best Cock.— First, Rev. F. Thursby. 
Second, Lady Isham. 
Cociiin-Ciiina (Any colour). — First, Mr. Tatham, Kingsthorpe. 
Second, Mr. Beasley, Brampton. Chickens.— First, Mr. Tatham, Kings¬ 
thorpe. (Second not awarded,) 
Game (Any colour).—First, Mr. Edmopds, Guilsborough. Second, 
Mr. Beasley. Chickens.— First, Mr. Redgrave, Boughton. Second, 
Mr. Beasley. Two extra prizes awarded. (Very good class.) 
Hamburghs (Pencilled).—First, Mr. Fleslier, Northampton. Second, 
Mr. Rigby, Cold Ashby. 
Hamburghs (Spangled). — First, Rev. H. Burdett, Bugbrooke. 
Second, Mr. J. Love, kingsthorpe. 
Any Distinct Breed.— First, Lady Isham, (Spanish.) Second, 
Mr. Clarke. (Bantams.) 
Cross Breed. — Second, Mr. Brown, Kingsthorpe. (First not 
awarded.) 
Aylesbury Ducks. — First, Mr. Clarke, Northampton. Second, 
Dr. Prichard, Abington Abbey. 
Ducks (Any other breed).—First, Mr. Rigby. (Rouen.) Second 
and Third, Mr. Beasley. (Buenos Ayres.) (Excellent class.) 
Turkeys.— First, Mr. Beasley. Second, Lady Isham. Commended. 
—Mr. Sheffield, Geddington. (Very good class.) 
with brown, or of a brawny colour, i.e., brownish black throughout ? 
I have two young cockerels," one an intense gamey red all over, with an 
entire browny tail, and the breast completely mottled or spangled with 
blackish feathers, and a dark bar across the wings ; the other the usual 
red colour, with spots below the hackle, &c., and the tail black, with a 
few lacings of brown on the sickle feathers. I want to know specifically 
about the tail. Is a tail ever found with sickle feathers like the hen ?— 
II. N.” 
[The ground-colour of the tail of a Gold-pencilled Hamburgh cock 
should be black. All the feathers should be edged with a rich, deep 
brown, but none should be entirely of that colour, except the ends of the 
tail-coverts. Hen-tailed cocks are found, but they arc abominations. 
Keep the last-named of your two cocks. The spangled breast and 
barred wing are both wrong for Pencilled Hamburghs. They do not 
speak well for the breed.] 
Head of Rouen Drakes. —“ I am at a loss to distinguish the right 
from the wrong in a brood of Rouen ducklings about three months old. 
I can readily distinguish the drakes from the ducks, but the former 
differ in the colouring of the heads, some being entirely green, with 
the white ring round the neck, while others have the head streaked, as it 
were, alternately with green and white. Now, pray inform me, please, 
which is the right, for I am sadly in the dark in this matter. The 
alternately streaked have not the white ring very clearly developed.— 
Amateur.” 
[Drakes only have green heads and white wings. The green stripes of 
which you speak are probably the beginnings of colour. Although 
ducks have darker feathers on the top of the head, they never have any 
green, nor do they have the white ring. We cannot understand the 
white on the head. All outside white feathers are defects in Rouen 
ducks. Birds having them should be got rid of.] 
LONDON MARKETS.— October Cth. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
The supply of home-grown fruit keeps very limited, but the markets 
being dull prevent it being so sensibly felt as otherwise. Extensive 
consignments of Pears still meet with a ready sale from France, Belgium, 
and the Channel Islands, comprising nearly all the usual s tandard 
varieties. Pines are more plentiful. Peaches and Nectarines sufficient 
for the demand. 
POULTRY. 
There is still a good supply of poultry, and but a small demand for it. 
Large Fowls 4s. 6 d. to 5s. 6 d. each 
Smaller do 3s. fid. to 4s. Od. ,, 
Chickens.. 2s. 3d. to 2s, 9d. ,, 
Grouse .... 4s. Od. to Os. Od. ,, 
Partridges.. Is. 6 d. to Is. 9d. ,, 
Pheasants.4s. Od, to Os. ,, 
Hares - 3s. Od. to Os. Od. each 
Ducks.... 2s. 9 d. to 3s. Od. ,, 
Geese. 6 s. Od. to fs. 6 d. ,, 
Pigeons . 8 d. to 9 d. ,, 
Rabbits.... Is. 4d. to Is. 5d. ,, 
Wild ditto.lOd. to lid. ,, 
London : Printed by HuGn Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar ; and Published for the Proprietors 
at The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20 , Paternoster Row, in 
I the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—October 7, 1856. 
'sIKbcrtts'cnicnts. 
A ronlti'y Show recently took place at Clifton. One of 
the conditions upon which great poultry exhibitors compete 
at these Shows is, that all the eggs laid by their hens while 
in the pens shall be pricked, that others may not get pos¬ 
session, in an underhand way, of kinds which the owners 
prize so highly. A gentleman tried to seduce the sentry of 
the roost to give him some eggs, and the man, after con¬ 
sulting with the committee, accepted the bribe. Accordingly, 
the precious eggs were handed to the covetous person, and 
he sat them under some hens. After the hens had sat on 
the eggs an unusually long time, the ambitious amateur began 
to examine them, and, to his disgust, found that they were 
hoiled. — {Essex Gazette.) 
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he Dictionary of Domestic Medicine 
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OUR LETTER BOX. 
Points in the Goi.nEN-PENCiLLED Cock. —“Although a decent 
judge of a Golden-pencilled hen, I am very uncertain about the cock. 
Ought the tail to be of a black colour, with the sickle feathers laced 
The First Volume of Lowe’s British 
and Exotic Ferns will be published on the 15tli of October, 
1S56, in Royal 8 vo., Price 14s., containing Fifty Coloured Plates and 
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London : GROOMRRIDGE & SONS, 5, Paternoster Row. 
