156 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, December 2, 1856. 
publicly would exceed by far our present anticipations, and 
that alike to the mutual benefit of the parties negotiating, 
whether the consumer or the agriculturist by whom it was 
originally produced. 
I have thus freely and in friendly spirit offered my sug¬ 
gestions ; they may excite the consideration of others, or 
promote'hints far better than my own, and I trust it may be 
proved so. Be that as it may, the old axiom, “ that even a 
penny saved is a penny got,” is regarded as an undeniable 
verity by— Chanticleer. 
THE SOUTHWELL POULTRY SHOW. 
The entries for this Meeting closed on Wednesday, No¬ 
vember 19th, and the result has proved most satisfactory, 
not only showing a large increase in numbers over any pre¬ 
ceding year, but likewise embracing the names of the 
majority of our principal poultry exhibitors. The event is 
now certain; it will undoubtedly prove a most successful 
meeting. We are informed, on authority upon which we 
can rely, that the Silver Cup for the best general collection 
will be awarded on the principle that, at the late Bridgnorth 
Show, gave such universal satisfaction. A first prize to 
count three points; a second prize, two points; a high com- 
mendatmn, one point; and commended, half a point; the 
aggregate thus obtained to finally determine the ownership 
of the Plate Prize offered. We cannot do otherwise than 
approve of this arrangement, by which even the “ suspicion ” 
of individual favouritism is altogether rendered impossible 
on the part of the arbitrators. 
GLOUCESTER POULTRY EXHIBITION. 
This Show, held on the 26th and 27th of November, has 
proved one of the most successful meetings that have taken 
place among the many we have lately visited. The East- 
gate Street New Market, only very recently erected, was 
most kindly appropriated to the purposes of the Poultry 
Exhibition by the express permission of the Mayor and 
Corporation of the city; and certainly we should be indeed 
wanting in common justice of description if we did not give 
our highest praise of the suitableness of the structure gene¬ 
rally to the purposes of a Poultry Show. It is very lofty, 
and the ventilation all that could be desired, yet without the 
slightest drawback from draughts of air of any kind. The 
pens used were the registered ones of Mr. Cooke, of Col¬ 
chester, and the arrangements were superior as to cleanli¬ 
ness, whilst the attention paid to the fowls did great credit 
to the truly indefatigable Honorary Secretary, Mr. Edward 
Trinder, of Cirencester. The absence of the band of 
music from the immediate vicinity of the poultry is the 
only alteration we could have desired, and the advisability of 
j the change will, doubtless, prevent its introduction within 
\ the walls on any future occasion. Among the many advan¬ 
tages this Market Hall possesses for the holding of a Poul¬ 
try Show are an excellent supply of fresh water from a very 
handsome fountain near the entrance ; scales that are of 
undeviating accuracy ; and the light being, as before stated, 
from the roof exclusively: the advantages, all-important as 
they are, were pretty equally enjoyed by all the pens of 
Poultry exhibited. There were but very few classes through¬ 
out the whole Show that were not well and fully represented; 
j I> ut a few very prominent peculiarities we will briefly allude to. 
The Dorkings showed a most manifest improvement over 
those of previous meetings ; and the competition, more espe¬ 
cially in the Chicken class, was most severe. 
In the Adult class a most noble pen of birds secured the 
first premium. They were rosy combs, but without any 
approach to coarseness of character. All the Grey Dorking 
j chickens were universally admired. A pen of White ones 
also arrested our attention as unusually good, but manifestly 
I competing to their sad disadvantage when compared with 
j their coloured rivals. 
The Spanish, whether chickens or old birds, fully upheld 
the repute of this neighbourhood as to this aristocratic 
variety. 
The Cochins, both Buff and Partridge-feathered, were 
exceedingly good. In the White ones, the “falcon-hocked ” 
birds mustered strongly, but obtained only second honours; j 
indeed, they are always deemed more notorious for their i 
singularity than their perfection. 
The display of Malays was far more satisfactory than j 
usually is the case in this really useful but neglected ! 
variety. 
The most prominent excellence of the Exhibition was, 
perhaps, found to be in the Game classes; indeed, very 
rarely have they been surpassed anywhere, whilst their first- | 
rate condition was most creditable to their owners. 
In the classes for Hamburghs a most awkward “ mis- ) 
take ” had been made in the prize-list, one set of prizes i 
being competed for by the Golden-pencilled and Golden- 
spangled in one and the same class. Exactly the same error 
was enforced in the Silver Hamburghs. 
To award premiums to birds so different in their variety, | 
and competing in the same classes, we should deem perhaps 
one of the most unenviable tasks that could be assigned to 
any poultry Judge. 
The Polands of all varieties, also, were general competi¬ 
tors ; the Black ones with white crests, however, obtained 
chief honours, and it occurred to us strongly that some of 
the best Spangled ones were held back in waiting for the 
colossal meeting next week at Birmingham. 
In the Extra class a pen of very purely bred Negro or 
Silk Fowls deserved the attention they obtained. 
The Bantams were all very superior; and in the Turkeys 
and Geese it would be hopeless to wish for better specimens. 
The respective weight of the two most distinguished pens 
we will mention for the information of our poultry friends, j 
Turkeys, 541bs.; Geese, COjlbs. What a truly wondrous im¬ 
provement on the birds of our forefathers ! 
In Aylesbury Ducks there was almost an equal advance¬ 
ment on those that obtained premiums, as to weight, when 
compared with the birds that smoked on our dining-tables, 
say only ten or fifteen years back. We subjoin, for general 
information, a few of their weights:—241bs. (id est, 81bs. 
each)-, 215 -lbs.; 2 libs.; 201bs.; 191bs.; 181bs.; and 16 jibs. 
It will be thus apparent the excellence was not identical 
with only a prize pen or two, but universal. The Rouens 
were equally good. 
In the Extra class for Ducks, the Labradors, Wild Ducks, 
and Call Ducks of both varieties, were especially meritorious. 
It gives us the greatest pleasure to find so extraordinary 
an annual improvement manifested by the Gloucestershire 1 
Society; indeed, it would be exceedingly strange were it other¬ 
wise ; for the undeviating courtesy shown to all, whether 
visitors or exhibitors, deserves the highest commendation 
we can offer. Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Spark 
Brook, near Birmingham, officiated as the Judge, and his 
awards were satisfactory. Before concluding, we must also 
mention most favourably the great care manifested by all 
parties as to the “ handling ” of the birds confided to them— 
a most important point in the successful issue of an Exhibi¬ 
tion, and which, therefore, we cannot too strongly recommend. 
Bokking. —First, Mr. A. H. Leyborne, Pophara, Purley Park, near 
Reading. Second, Mr. John R. Rodbard, Aldwick Court, Langford, 
near Bristol. Third, the Rev. J. L. Pophara, Chilton Rectory, near 
Hungerford. Commended.—Mr. James Rawlence, Bullbridge, Wilton, 
near Salisbury. Mr. William Henry Woodcock, Foulstone, near Salis¬ 
bury. Chickens of 1856.—First, Mr. J. Bale Hewson, Coton Hill, 
Stafford. Second, Mr. Christopher Smith, Great Durnford, near Salis¬ 
bury. Third, Mr. John H. Braikenbridge, Chew Magna, near Bristol. 
Highly Commended.—The Rev. E. Reed Bavis, Aldsworth Vicarage, 
near Northleach. Mrs. William Hewer, Sevenhampton, near Highworth. 
The Rev. George H. Richards, Broad Somerford, near Chippenham. 
Mr. J. E. Wilson, Clifton Cottage, Claverley, near Bridgnorth. Com¬ 
mended.— The Right Hon. the Earl Bucie, Tortworth Court, near 
Wotton-under-Edge. Mr. Geo. S. Fox, the Court, Wellington, Somerset. 
Mr. Thomas Porter, Baunton, near Cirencester. Mrs. Pettat, Ashe 
Rectory, near Basingstoke. (An exceedingly good Class.) Best Cock 
hatched in 1856.—First, Mr. A. H. Leyborne Popham, Purley Park, 
near Reading. Second, Mr. J. E. Wilson, Clifton Cottage, Claverley, 
near Bridgnorth. Commended.—Mr. John A. Braikenbridge, Chew 
Magna, near Bristol. Mr. Thomas Porter, Baunton, near Cirencester. 
Spanish. —First, Mr. Thomas Twose, Bridgewater, Somerset. Second, 
Mr. Henry F. Wells, Albion Cottages, Brunswick-square, Camberwell. 
Third, Mr. William Bawson, Selby Oak, near Birmingham. Com¬ 
mended.—Mr. John Buncombe, Wellington, Somerset. Mr. Brutton 
Ford, Ide, near Exeter. Mr. John Wright, Hulland Hall, Ashbourne. 
Chickens of 1856.—First, Mr. John R. Rodbard, Aldwick Court, Lang¬ 
ford, near Bristol. Second, Mr. J. E. Wilson, Clifton Cottage, Claverley. 
Highly Commended.—Mr. Parkins Jones, High-street, Fulham, Mid¬ 
dlesex. Commended.—Mr. J. Kilvert Bartrum, Richmond Hill, Bath. 
Cochin-China (Cinnamon and Buff).— First, the Rev. Grenville F. , 
Hodson, North Petherton, near Bridgewater. Second, The Misses 
