314 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, February 3, 1807. 
of unhappiness felicity, then the absence of complaint is 
satisfaction, and exhibitors were satisfied at Birmingham. 
It is not so always. It is sometimes said the pieces of 
plate will be awarded by “ points.” It loolts mighty pretty 
on paper, and those who are suspicious of Judges hug the 
idea that at last there is a check upon them. They have 
the “anaglyph.” (See “The Caxtons,” part vii., chap. 7, 
page 134.) They are initiated. They are themselves 
Judges, and will award the Cups. Nothing can be easier : — 
First prize, four points; second prize, three points; third 
prize, two points; high commendation, one point; com¬ 
mendation, half a point. 
When the Show is opened the awards are placarded. 
“ But who,” say the visitors, “ have the pieces of plate ? ” 
“ The Judges,” says one of the officials, “ have not 
awarded them.” 
“ What do you mean ?” says the querist; “ not awarded ! 
it is simple addition. My friend has more points than any 
one, and I should like to see who will keep the Cup from 
him.” 
“Well,” says the official, “ we are in the Judges’ hands.” 
“ Not at all,” pertinaciously replies the other ; “ any one 
can award. Look here:—Eleven first prizes, 44; three 
second prizes, 9; two third prizes, 4; two high commenda¬ 
tions, 2; four commendations, 2; total, 61. No one else 
has as many.” 
“ But, Sir, it is observed your friend has more pens than 
any one else.” 
“ So much the better for your Show.” 
“ The Cup is offered to the best collection.” 
“But the best collection is to be decided by the greatest 
number of points.” 
“ I think, Sir, these decisions are safe in the hands of the 
I Judges.” 
“And I think, Sir, the Judges award the prizes, and any 
one may calculate the Cups.” 
This ends in a fall out—it cannot end otherwise. 
If awarded by points, a skilful exhibitor of a number of 
pens of small value or importance can make sirccess a 
certainty. 
It is useless to state that a competing collection shall 
consist of not less than a given number of pens, because in 
most cases the largest exhibitor will be the successful one. 
If two exhibitors have equal knowledge of the requisites 
for success, then he who can send twenty pens will assuredly 
beat another who can only muster twelve. If points are 
to form the decision, a pen of Bantams worth 35s., taking 
the prize over three other pens of inferior value, will count 
as much as the first prize pen of Dorkings or Spanish worth 
thirty guineas, and be distinguished over fifty opponents. 
Let us see how it will work with two entries. 
VALUE. 
1. Dorking. £20 No. of entries in class 40 
2. Spanish . 
25 
55 
55 
30 
3. Cochin China. 
12 
5 ? 
5 ) 
35 
4. Golden Poland .... 
6 
55 
55 
12 
5. Game . 
5 
55 
55 
50 
6. Silver Poland. 
6 
55 
12 
7. Grouse Cochin .... 
10 
55 
9 
8. White Cochin. 
8 
55 
55 
9 
alue of 8 competing pens 
£02 
beating 197 
Each pen a first prize, 32 points ; opposed successfully by 
(see points) :— 
VALUE. 
1. Black Polands, white tops .. £5 0 No. of pens, 3 
1. 
White Dorking .... 
0 
55 
6 
1. 
Black Cochin. 
0 
3 
1. 
Malay. 
. 8 
0 
4 
]. 
White Bantam .... 
0 
6 
1. 
Black ditto. 
0 
8 
1. 
Guinea Fowl. 
10 
2 
1. 
Tea ditto...... 
0 
2 
1. 
Various . 
. 4 
0 
55 
4 
Value 
of Pens T35 
10 
beating 
38 
Each pen, first prize, 3fi points. 
If any one should feel disposed to criticise any of the 
1 figures used, let him do so in both lists. 
1 maintain that, judging by points, the collection of nine 
pens must have the Cup. I could have added to the numbers • 
of the last by putting Pencilled Hamburghs, Turkeys, 
and various breeds, all of small value, compared to most of 
the classes in the first list. I have avoided Ducks and Geese. 
It is utterly impossible to give satisfaction by any system 
which will allow the winner in two classes with ten entries 
to beat the successful in one class of 150 entries. It is, also, 
manifestly'unfair to allow thirty pens to compete with ten 
by a simple addition of the honours gained by each. One 
of two things must be done : either the Judges must make 
the award to the best of their ability, or, if it must be worked 
according to rule, then not only the prizes taken, but the 
number of pens exhibited, must be taken into consideration. 
The new-fangled fashion against which I protest is a mistake. 
By bare possibility it is applicable to a class, but not to a 
Show, and if difficulties have existed iu awarding pieces of 
plate, the adoption of these rules would only make “ con¬ 
fusion worse confounded.”— Yoeick. 
SOUTH HANTS POULTRY SHOW. 
This, as we noticed in our last number, took place at 
Fareham on the 26th and 27th instant. There were about 230 
pens of fowls exhibited, and very few bad birds were among 
them. The numerous high commendations are an evidence, 
to some extent, of the opinion of the Judge of the ex¬ 
cellence of the classes. Too much praise cannot be given 
to Mr. James, the Secretary, for his care and exertions. 
The Judge was Mr. Baily, Mount Street, Grosvenor Square, 
and we did not hear of a single dissent to his decisions. 
The following is a list of the awards :— 
Spanish. —First, Mr. Philip P. Cother, Salisbury. Second, Mr. J. 
R. Rodbard, Langford, Bristol. Highly Commended, Mr. J. Fox, 
Devizes, Wilts; Mr. G. W. Locke, Newport, Isle of Wight. (Very 
good class.) Birds of 1856.—First, Mr. J. R. Roabiird, Langford, 
Bristol. Second, Mr. G. W. Locke, Newport, Isle of Wight. Highly 
Commended, Mr. Philip P. Cother, Salisbury. Commended, Mr. C. 
Coles, Fareham. (Good class.) 
Dorking (Coloured).—First, Mr. A. H. L. Popham, Reading. Second, 
Mr. H. H. Allen, Liphook, Hants. Highly Commended, Mrs. J. St. 
John, Oakley, Basingstoke; Mrs. Pettat, Ashe Rectory, Mitcheldever. 
Commended, Mr. W. Barnard, Fareham; Mr. C. Dorien, Funtingdon, 
Chichester. Birds of 1856.—First, Mrs. Pettat, Ashe Rectory, Mitchel¬ 
dever. Second, Mr. R. James, Wallington, Fareham. Highly Com¬ 
mended, Sir. J. H. Brackenridge, Bristol ; Marchioness of Winchester, 
Andover; Rev. E. K. Lutt, Easton, Winchester; Mr. H. B. Leggatt, 
Titchfield. 
Dorking (White).—First, Mr. Antill, Portsea. Second, Mr. C. 
James, Fareham. Highly Commended, Mr. C. Dorien, Funtingdon. 
Birds of 1856.—First and Second, Capt. Beardmore, Fareham. 
Cochin-China (Coloured).— First, Mr. N. Antill, Portsmouth. 
Birds of 1856.—First, Mr. J. Vaux, Ryde, Isle of Wight. Second, 
Mr. J. R. Rodbard, Langford, Bristol. Highly Commended, Sir. Kelle- 
way, Ryde, Isle of Wight. Commended, Sir. N. Antill, Portsmouth. 
Sir. Fielden, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight. (Good class.) 
Cochin-China (White and Black).—First and Second, Sir. A. Peters, 
Fratton (White). Commended, Rev. H. G. Bailey, Vicarage, Swindon 
(Black); Sir. N. Antill, Portsmouth (White). Birds of 1856.—First, 
Sir. H. Lowe, junior, Godshill, Isle of Wight (White). Second, Mr. 
J. R. Rodbard, Bristol (White). Highly Commended, Sir. Peters 
Fratton (White). 
•Game Fowl (Black, Black-breasted Reds, and other Reds). —First, 
Sir. J, C. Serle, Purbrook. Second, Sir. J. R. Rodbard, Bristol. Birds 
of 1856.— First, Mr. J. J. Fox, Devizes. Second, Sir. J. R, Rodbard, 
Bristol. Highly Commended, Sir. Locke, Newport, Isle of Wight ; 
Sir. Case, Fareham. Commended, Rev. H. G. Bailey, Swindon. 
Game Fowl (any other colour).—First, Sir. R. James, Wallington, 
Fareham. Second, Mr. C. James, Fareham. Highly Commended, Sir. 
J R. Rodbard, Bristol. Birds of 1856.—First, Sir. J. R. Rodbard, 
Bristol. Second, Sir. Fox, Devizes, Highly Commended, Rev. T. E. 
Abraham, Ormskirk. 
Golden-spangled Hamburgh. —First, Sir. R. James, Wallington, 
Fareham. Second, Sir. Cother, Salisbury. Highly Commended, Sir. 
C. E. Coleridge, Eton. Birds of 1856.—First, Sir. R. James, Wal¬ 
lington, Fareham. Second, Sir. Edwards, Lyndhurst. 
Silver-spangled Hamburgh.— First, Rev. C. J. Down, Chippen¬ 
ham. Second, Sir. Case, Fareham. Birds of 1856.—First, Sir. Newick, 
Ilminster. Second, Sir. J. James, Fareham. 
Golden-pencilled Hamburgh. —First, Sir. R. James, Wallington, 
Fareham. Second, Rev. J. Down. Highly Commended, Sir. T. P. 
Slew', Cowes, Isle of Wight; Sir. C. James, Fareham. Commended, 
Sir. Fox, Devizes, Wilts ; Sir. Newick, Ilminster. (Very capital class.) 
Silver-pencilled Hamburgh. —First, Mr. Slew, Cowes, Isle of 
Wight. Second, General Frederick, Winchester. Highly Commended, 
Sir. C. Dorien. Funtingdon. Birds of 1856.—First, Sir. Slew, Cowes, 1 
Isle of Wight. Second, Sir. R. James, Wallington, Fareham. 
Polish Fowl (Black with White Crests).—First and Second, Sir. 
T. P. Edwards, Lyndhurst. Birds of 1856. — First and Second, Sir. T. 
P. Edwards, Lyndhurst. 
Golden Polish. —Sir. Fox, Devizes. Birds of 1856.—First, Mrs. 
Pettat, Andover. Second, Sir. Coleridge, Eton. 
