THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION, Decembeb 2, 1856. 155 
keen, so enthusiastic are the amateurs who do keep them 
and know their merits. 
That they will muster in gorgeous array at Birmingham 
this year, I doubt not. Would that they be properly judged ! 
Let no pen where the cock has a pancake, a flat, long, thin 
pancake topknot, again take a Silver Cup ; but let the topknot 
he round and compact, and large withal. Let the breast of 
the bird be spangled, not laced, for they are spangled Polish ; 
and the more spangling, even on the shoulders and back, 
the better. White feathers in the cock’s topknot are not 
faults, for all fine - bred Golden Polish, on the second 
summer’s moult, do acquire, more or fewer, white feathers 
in the topknot. In the first year, till the bird has moulted, 
white feathers are not; but most certainly do they appear 
when the bird gets into his second year ; nay, Mr. Yivian, 
the first introducer of our fine Polish breeds, looks upon 
white feathers in the adult cock as a mark of purity of blood. 
For my own part, I consider it a matter of little or no 
moment whether a fine, large, round, and compact topknot 
has, or has not, white feathers in it. Some fanciers like 
them, as giving more variety; others would prefer to see 
them not; and let us hope, too, that the hens may have 
their full share of the attention of the Judges. Last year, 
at Birmingham, the hens were duly taken into account, and 
I observed that some amateurs, who also think only of the 
cock bird, were at a loss to account for the awards. “ Look 
at my cock bird,” indignantly exclaimed a well - known 
Polish fancier; “ not such a bird in the whole room; yet he's 
not noticed ! ” True enough it was ; but the hens were dark 
on the back, and confused in their marking. So much, 
then, for pinching committee - men and inexperienced 
writers on Polish fowls.— Samuel Slick, Hull. 
HINTS FOR THE COUNCIL OF THE BIR¬ 
MINGHAM POULTRY SHOW. 
The Birmingham Annual Exhibition of Poultry i3 now 
about to take place, and naturally excites extreme interest 
among all amateurs throughout the United Kingdom. This 
arises from the combination of two powerful causes. It was 
in that “ good old town ” our poultry fancy received its first 
stimulus; it formed the nucleus from which almost every 
town, certainly every county, was taught the possibility of 
carrying out these most interesting, popular, and really 
instructive reunions. It is, therefore, but natural that its 
well-doing and prosperity are the first hope of the lovers of 
poultry generally; its interests cannot be regarded other¬ 
wise than their own personal ones ; and the prevailing desire 
is to preserve it in its path of usefulness, and to prevent, by 
all available means, any temporary obstacle from detracting 
from either its permanency, its importance, or its extension. 
It has hitherto rejoiced in the universal acknowledgment 
of its superiority over all others, whether it be considered 
numerically, or as regards the perfection of the birds con¬ 
testing. Then let all exhibitors, every Mend of poultry 
generally, whether as living “ pets,” or smoking as favoured 
viands on the dining-table, do what in him lies to add his 
mite to the coffers of the Society. 
It is useless to attempt to disguise the fact, that the ex¬ 
penditure annually of this parent institution has, for some 
few years past, considerably exceeded its revenue ; and the 
deficiency it now labours under calls for “ an effort” from 
its friends. With this brief intimation, then, I will content 
myself for the present, knowing full well that poultry 
fanciers are proverbially enthusiastic ; and that, as the com¬ 
ing Show will fully equal any one of its predecessors, so 
most undoubtedly will the amount received at the doors for 
admission-monies tally in proportion. 
I cannot, however, dismiss the subject without looking 
at the other side of the picture, viz., the expenses hanging 
so heavily upon this really deserving Society annually. They 
must be curtailed, for none but those intimately connected 
with these meetings could form any idea whatever of their 
extent. I intend to allude exclusively to the first item, and 
that a most important one—the rental of Bingley Hall itself, 
being the only suitable building in the town for such a pur¬ 
pose. It amounts to .£800 per aunum ! and this sum is 
paid for less than one week’s public Exhibition. I believe 
this amount cannot now be lessened in actual payment; and 
it is this circumstance that leads me to the effort of suggest¬ 
ing) if possible, some other means of deduction from so 
serious an outgoing ; and through your extensively-read 
columns, perchance, the subject once introduced, even more 
valuable suggestions might emanate from other parties more 
practically conversant with the capabilities of Bingley Hall 
than is the writer, and who, at the same time, may feel 
equally desirous to “ put a shoulder to the wheel ” to help 
onwards. 
During the brief space of time that the Exhibition is open 
to public view, together with sufficient intervals both for the 
preparation and removal of all necessary fixtures, of course 
the Hall would not be available for any other purposes than 
those originally intended, its extreme space being in con¬ 
stant requisition. I must, therefore, confine my remarks to 
the whole of the remainder of the year, when the Society is 
not requiring it in any way. Its extent, combined with its 
being in all weathers perfectly waterproof, and enjoying an 
equality ot light throughout, are features highly suggestive 
of its applicability to purposes far different to the single one 
for which it was originally designed. I will confine myself 
to tour such, and trust they will induce more able writers to 
suggest many others of even greater importance, and yet 
increased remuneration. 
First, as a Biding-School. It would form one of the very 
best that could be imagined; and there are numbers of 
parties who would willingly rent it for this especial purpose 
I as an “ individual speculation.” 
Once within its walls, all aspirants to the saddle might 
be instructed without the exposure, even for a moment, of 
their previous inexperience; and, in case of an accidental 
fall, the tan and saw-dust already on the spot would prevent 
any personal injury whatever. There are numbers of parents 
that would be most happy to encourage such an institution, 
where this really necessary advantage of becoming ex¬ 
perienced riders might be attained by their children (of 
either sex) without danger or difficulty. 
Next, as the site for the Onion Fair. It is certain the 
present Council in possession of the building have a consi¬ 
derable influence with the general authorities of Birming¬ 
ham, while it is equally notorious and undeniable that the 
Michaelmas Onion Fair is, even to a proverb , usually a wet 
and unfavourable one. Why not, then, hold that Fair within 
the -walls of this quite sufficiently extensive building, where 
the esculent that actually gives name to the whole proce¬ 
dure would be perfectly protected from stress of weather 
equally with the purchasers ? No additional trouble would 
be imposed on the salesmen, as carts and waggons could, 
as at present, be actually drawn to the very spot where the 
Onions were to be finally deposited for sale. The ground 
might, without difficulty, be apportioned within Bingley 
Hall as it is at present in the exposed streets ; and, from the 
protection afforded, the Onions would eventually keep far- 
better than had they been unnecessarily wetted. The town 
authorities could not possibly be jealous of such an arrange¬ 
ment, for their “stall rental” might remain as heretofore, 
whilst the dealers themselves have for years been annually 
complaining, not only of the insecurity of their com¬ 
modities, and the inevitable injury to business if rain oc¬ 
curred, but have always stated their perfect willingness to 
give Mple the amount they now pay if the advantages I 
have thus feebly advanced could be with certainty secured 
to them. 
When it is considered the quantity of dealers who attend 
this market, the additional and willingly-paid impost would 
prove a considerable item in deduction of the Society’s 
present expenses, saying not one syllable as to the fact, how 
much better the Onions would keep when stored by pur¬ 
chasers for re-sale (or winter individual use, as the case 
might be), than under present exposure. 
Again, as Recreation Grounds for the juvenile public, 
what could be better suited than Bingley Hall, being 
commodious, rain-proof, and centrally situated ? 
I will yet mention one other application. Why should so 
great and densely populated a town as Birmingham not have 
its Cheese Fairs? It is well located in the very centre of 
agricultural counties, highly famed for the production of this 
necessary and so generally-used article; and, if once at¬ 
tempted, no doubt whatever exists that the amount sold thus 
