* 
TIITC COTTAGE GARDENER 
AND 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S 
COMPANION.— October 21, 1856. 
51 
and the quantity of the wattle. Mr. Moore, 1735, says the 
Dutch call this Pigeon Bagadat, he supposes from a cor¬ 
ruption of the name of the city of Bagdad. In Turkey lie says 
they are called Bagatins, or Couriers. Bngadotten is the 
German name for what we call Scandnroons, though they 
breed them with long, hooked beaks, and but little wattle; 
while the Breech, under the name of Bagndais, breed them 
with straighter beaks, and more wattle. I have met with 
very fine specimens in France by the name of Swan-necked 
Egyptians. They are very large Pigeons, almost as large 
as the best Runts. They are thinly covered with feathers, 
and these lie very close to the body; neither are the tail and 
pinion feathers remarkable for length. Their beaks are 
very long and somewhat bent, and they have a moderate 
wattle of a whitish colour, and the cere round the eyes is 
broad and red. The head is flat; the neck long, thin, and 
much bent; the shoulders are broad; the legs long and 
large, and they are the most powerful of all Pigeons I have? 
met with. They are heavy, clumsy birds, and appear to have 
great difficulty in rising; but I have found the young, if 
kept in exercise, and not allowed to got too fat, to be very 
swift and excellent homing birds. In the air they reminded 
me of wild ducks, owing to their scanty plumage and 
angular form. Many points of the body are left bare, as 
the front of the neck, and Ike shoulders of the wings, ex¬ 
posing a red skin. Mine were very good breeders, though 
they are not generally considered so. Their plumage is 
usually white, black, blue, or pied.—B. P. Brent. 
BRIDGNORTH EXHIBITION OF POULTRY. 
This very well-appointed Poultry Show took place on the 
Oth inst., and was held in the same field ns heretofore, the 
spot being a most appropriate one for the purpose. It is 
very gratifying to state, that year by year since the first 
institution of this Society its annual meetings have 
gradually increased in importance; and it is but common 
justice to state, this has arisen, in a very great degree, from 
the indefatigable exertions of the committee, and not less 
so from the undeviating courtesy and attention manifested 
to both visitors and exhibitors by the able secretary, Richard 
Taylor, Esq. 
We will now make brief allusion to the birds exhibited 
and general arrangements. All the poultry were shown in 
a new variety of exhibition pen, that is, undoubtedly, the 
most commodious we remember ever to have yet seen as 
regards the birds themselves, whilst the light and airy 
character of them (being an oblong square of wire-work 
throughout) offers the least possible obstruction to both 
the arbitrators and the visitors, if desirous of obtaining 
a very close inspection. On the one side is a very con¬ 
venient door, that opens, and also fastens, similarly to that 
of a parrot’s cage, so that where the additional test of 
“ handling ’’ is deemed advisable, this end is instantly 
attained without any loss of time or extra trouble. But 
there is also one other new feature that is a most unique 
and prominent advantage; when not used, they will fold 
up entirely into a square the same size as the top of the pen, 
and occupying only one half inch in thickness. They are 
galvanized, and, therefore, the appearance of them is 
unusually cleanly. We understand they arc from the 
design of Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Spark- 
brook, Birmingham, who again officiated as Judge upon the 
present occasion, a gentleman who has paid much attention 
to this feature in Poultry Show management, as, from its 
forming so considerable an item in the expenses of a com¬ 
mittee, his desire was to determine the lowest possible 
limit to which it could be reduced. It was for this 
reason Mr. Hawkins, the wire-worker, of Dale End, Bir¬ 
mingham, was consulted in the matter; and it appears that, 
for the future, any numbers of them are kept on hand for 
hire to Poultry Societies, at a price that is only a fraction of 
the amount usually demanded in such cases. A man is 
always despatched with the pens to superintend both the 
taking them to the show-field, their firm erection when 
there, and their removal at its close. They are affixed at 
the rapid rate of about 100 pens per hour. In cases of 
limited space an extra upper tier is readily placed on a few 
common boards above the lower row, as, indeed, was 
instanced at the Exhibition in question. 
A somewhat unusual feature of this Show was, that none 
but chickens of 1856 could compete for the premiums; 
another was the very just arrangement in respect of the 
means adopted to determine the future ownership of “ the 
Silver Cup for the best general collection.” The rule was 
as follows:— 
“ The Cup will be awarded to the exhibitor who counts 
the most for prizes, as follows :— 
Each 1st prize counts . Three points. 
Each 2nd prize „ . Two points. 
Each Highly Commended „ One point. 
Each Commended „ . Half a point." 
We feel great pleasure in giving the final result of this 
arrangement for the benefit of our readers, as showing the 
extremely close competition among the nine amateurs 
alluded to. 
Points, 
gained 15^ 
„ 10 
10 
11 
10 
1 } 
H 
114 
114 
Mr. Peters, of Birmingham 
Mr. Rodbard, of Aldwick Court 
Lady Chesterfield 
Mr. Archer, Malvern 
Miss Steele Perkins, Sutton Colefield 
Mr. Wilson .... 
Mr. Hopkins, of Mirfield . 
Mr. T. B. Clnme, of Coalbrookdale 
Mr. Haslewood, of Bridgnorth 
It was also the especial request of the committee “ that 
no prizes whatever (if practicable) should be withheld, and 
that every pen at all deserving of commendation should be 
individually distinguished, so that each might finally affect 
the award for the Cup.” The Buff Cochins were truly 
excellent, and the majority were far more advanced to 
maturity than we anticipated from the adverse and late 
spring of the present year. The Grey Dorkings were far 
superior to this class generally, and most of the competing 
groups bore strong proof of very careful breeding. The 
Game class was very good; many were in first-rate condition; 
but otherwise perfect pens lost all their hope of success 
from inattention to matching the colour of their legs. The 
Hamburghs were evidently birds obtained by most anxious 
and attentive breeding; white ear-lobes were (we might 
almost say) everywhere common. The Polands were well 
represented, the Silvers particularly. The Bantams were 
both numerous and good. The Black ones were pre¬ 
eminently so. Turkeys , Geese, and Ducks formed very 
capital classes; indeed, it was chiefly the superiority in these 
latter classes that finally determined the ownership of the 
plate premium. 
The tent was both extensive and excellent; but, most 
fortunately, a peculiarly fine day rewarded the exertions of 
the committee. The attendance of the nobility, gentry, and 
agriculturists was far beyond any precedent of the Society, 
and, of necessity, the funds progressed proportionably. 
The bells of the churches rang continuously, and a military 
band enlivened the whole proceeding. 
On inquiry, we find all the poultry were despatched home¬ 
wards on the same evening without any accident whatever, 
that the awards of the Judge were satisfactory, and that 
not one incident occurred to mar the success of the whole 
affair. We hope like results may mark future meetings. 
WORCESTER POULTRY SHOW. 
If other Shows failed, yet poultry will at all times form 
part now of agricultural meetings, because it is fast 
assuming its proper position as a good help at times, and 
a natural pursuit always, to the agriculturist. Another 
important feature in it, treated as an adjunct to such 
meetings, is, that it is remunerative, because it involves so 
little expense.. These Exhibitions will be popular with 
exhibitors, because the birds are detained only one day. 
The improvements and alterations that have taken place of 
late render the expenses of a Show easy of control, and 
have taken from the old members of committees, who 
oppose any change, and wi sh to do all things as their fathers 
did before them, their only argument—that of risk and 
nse. We lo not to were any such on 
this committee, bur. wo know there are many who hate 
novelty. A few years since, the necessaries for a Poultry 
Show were so little known, that the projectors found them- 
