262 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, January 13, 1857. 
after Anerley, where, for the first time in his career, he was 
not judged worthy of a first prize. It is not our province 
here to speak of the merits or demerits of the breed, hut we 
will say this much—those who keep them will do so, though 
they should be erased from every pi-ize-sheet in the kingdom. 
Nothing more can be said of the Game than that they are 
perfect, and invariably shown in a condition that offers a lesson 
which should be learned by every exhibitor. 
Much care is evidently being taken to breed Bantams , and 
the Black, White, and Game are as carefully kept and ex¬ 
hibited as the Sebrights. There is a great and increasing 
demand for Game, and if any one could breed some good 
Duckwings it would be a valuable speculation. 
Rouen Ducks have lost weight during the year; but, as a 
compensation, the colour both of the plumage and beak is 
now thoroughly understood. We doubt not next year it will 
have to be reported that they have gained weight. 
Aylesbury Ducks have shown well throughout the year. 
Mr. Fowler has been most successful. In January Mr. 
Weston exhibited three immense birds at Aylesbury. We 
have seen nothing so heavy since, nor do we think there have 
been such birds shown in 1856 as we had in 1855, when Mrs. 
Ford and Mr. Davies contested the honours of the class. 
Turkeys and Geese are both on the increase. In the latter 
it may be fairly said that the average of the breed is increased 
by 3 lbs. per head. Let the number of Geese' consumed in a 
year be multiplied by three, and it will be seen that many 
tons of “ Goose ” have been added to the food of the country 
by the poultry movement. 
The market is not yet supplied as it should be either with 
poultry or Eggs. Of the latter 310,000,000 have been im¬ 
ported in eleven months. We shall recur to this when the 
cessation of shows will give us time and space. 
Our task now draws to a close. We have endeavoured to 
give a clear and impartial account of the year. We are 
happy to be able to make it a cheerful one. There has not 
been any cause for depression. Good birds have made full 
prices, and all have found a remunerative sale. Most shows 
have paid their expenses. In some instances where they 
have not, the causes have been so manifest that they can be 
easily avoided for the future. Rumours were rife during a 
part of the year that our great Show at Birmingham was to 
be given up, but an unusually well-attended and successful 
meeting has set all such rumours at rest. 
The quantity of plate given during the year for prizes has 
been almost incredible, and it increases in value with every 
show. It would be unfair not to notice the twenty-guinea 
prize at Colchester. 
There have been fewer causes for disagreement during the 
past year than usual. There have been some, but they are 
of that nature that they will right themselves, and dispense 
us from the unthankful duty of finding fault. 
When we addressed our readers at the beginning of the 
past year our work was new to you, at least in the connection 
in which it stood. Since then we have tried honestly and 
zealously to be just and fearless, to tell the truth impartially, 
and to withhold nothing that could interest our readers. 
We have never made a remark or comment with the in¬ 
tention of giving pain; if unconsciously we have hurt any 
one’s feelings we ask his forgiveness. Like the seaman 
returning to port after a long voyage we commit everything 
that is not productive of pleasure to the deep, there to be 
forgotten. Even in the trifling interests and contests of 
Poultry Shows there are sometimes angry feelings. They 
belonged to the past year. Let them be freely forgotten by 
all parties, and let us hail with pleasure and gratitude the 
BEGINNING OF 1857.—B. 
THE PHILOPERISTERON SOCIETY. 
The annual grand Show of the Pigeons belonging to the 
gentlemen of this Society was held on Tuesday, January the 
6th, at Freemason’s Hall. From the known enthusiasm of 
the members and the value of their respective studs of birds, 
a very superior Show may always be anticipated; but, on 
this occasion, the expectation of the most ardent was sur¬ 
passed; it may be truly said that there never was got to¬ 
gether at one place a collection of birds equalling those that 
constituted the Show. 
At the head of the room were Mr. Butt's collection of 
magnificent Powters, the central pens being occupied by 
the white birds, which are unquestionably superior to any 
that 1 have ever seen at a public show. A very large collec¬ 
tion of Carriers, both old and young birds, was shown by 
Mr. Hayne, all of surpassing excellence. The Short-faced 
Tumblers were equally well represented, in proof of which 
assertion I have only to mention the names of the exhibitors. 
Almond Tumblers were shown by Messrs. Esquilant, 
I’ercival, and Lucy; Mottles, by Messrs. Percival and 
Esquilant; Baldheads, by Mr. Harrison Weir; and Barbs 
by Mr. Fossick. One of the most attractive pens was filled 
with a collection of Blue, Black, Silver, Red, and Yellow 
Magpies, belonging to Mr. Wicking ; the snowy whiteness of 
their wings, contrasting with the various-coloured plumage 
of the bodies, produced a charming group most covetable to 
behold. 
The Jacobins of Messrs. Bult, Maddeford, and Weir 
were very beautiful, and the Fantails of the last gentleman 
of their usual excellence. The Red Barbs of Mr. Percival, 
and the White Barbs of Mr. Weir, were as perfect as it is 
possible to be obtained. 
The annual Exhibition of the Philoperisteron Society con¬ 
stitutes a most pleasant reunion of the members and their 
friends. There is no competition for prizes, but the best 
birds of the members are brought together, and their friends 
invited to inspect them ; and the annually increasing num¬ 
ber of those who gladly avail themselves of their invitations 
is alone a sufficient proof of the excellence of the Exhi¬ 
bition.—W. B. Tegetmeiee. 
ON THE EXTRA CLASSES AT POULTRY 
EXHIBITIONS. 
Having now attained very extended experience in matters 
connected with Poultry Exhibitions, I can confidently assert 
that there is not, iu my opinion, any feature connected with 
such meetings that so vitally affects the state of the ultimate 
receipts as well-filled and much-raried “ extra classes.” 
I naturally am one of the last of amateurs who would 
estimate lightly the great importance of extreme rivalry in 
our usual and accustomed varieties. I would, contrariwise, 
encourage by every available means so desirable a result. 
To poultry amateurs generally, and the cognoscentic more 
particularly, hardly-won laurels and “ neck-and neck ” com¬ 
petition will ever exact abundant attraction; but numerous 
as are these classes of attendants in the aggregate, they are 
certainly far surpassed, numerically considered, by those 
individuals who, but little versed in such matters, view all 
classes with closely-assimilating interest, but whose atten¬ 
tion, as the public, rests more particularly on any object 
that presents extreme beauty or novelty as its chief 
recommendation. It is, then, from this cause I now venture 
to express my own conviction as to the absolute advisability 
of giving an increased amount of attention and encourage¬ 
ment to these particular entries, from the fact that they draw 
together a greater amount of sight seers than the ordinary 
classes, and, consequently,' influence the amount received 
for admission in exact proportion. 
If by any one my statement is regarded with feelings of 
scepticism I would wish such party to notice particularly 
how constantly thronged the avenue allotted to these 
“ oddities ” always proves itself to be wherever it so happens 
that it is well represented. It is in the extra class only any 
really new description of poultry can hope for admission at 
the onset. No Judge, with any already classed general va¬ 
riety, could possibly tolerate their presence as competitors ; 
and hence, were they to so appear, “ disqualification ” could 
be the only result; whilst certainly it is the desire and 
interest of poultry fanciers to cultivate, improve, and fairly 
test any new comers that may thus publicly court a disin¬ 
terested trial. No doubt exists that there are still many 
new species of poultry existent in foreign climes, that, if im¬ 
ported and carefully acclimatised, would add alike to the 
interests of the exhibition-room or the cooking-kitchen, 
and that, too, although at the present hour quite unknown 
to any of us. 
It is for all such poultry I now plead the opportunity of 
