387 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
across anything that disturbs me, I reserve it till opportunity 
serves. 
I was lately on my way to a Show in the North. Travelling I 
by myself, and well wrapped up, I sat me down in the 
corner of a second-class carriage on the London and North 
Western. In the next corner a stout fellow seated himself 
beside me, slung his hat to the roof, unfolded a spacious 
rug, which testified his nationality, inasmuch as it was 
“Union Jack” pattern, placed a comfortable cap on his 
head, and, after looking around, said, “ Second-class carriage 
with a vengeance!” He waited, but met with no reply or 
notice. “I say these carriages are shameful; everything is 
kept for the upper classes.” 
I ventured to remark he c«uld go first class if he liked. 
“ Thank ye for nothiug,” said he; “ I know I can by 
paying.” 
“ I think,” ventured I, “ that as much is done as it is 
possible to do. We have first, second, and third classes, 
suit ing in price as nearly as possible the upper, middle, and 
low r classes.” 
“ Don't tell me,” said he; “ I want the same for one as the 
otli r.” ' 
“ But,” hazarded I, “ it would not pay; and it is, after all, 
a thing of calculation of expense and revenue.” 
“ Don’t tell me,” he shouted; “we should all be treated 
alik 
F ‘aring an argument, I took out The Cottage Gardener, 
my l ravelling companion, and there I saw an article, signed 
“ Saii Slick,” on the Liverpool Show then about to come off. 
“ Now, Sam,” thought I, “ good, clever, cutting, ’cute Sam— 
what! Sam raving about ‘injustice, frantic injustice,’ and 
imputing motives? Now, Sam, if you had not been a Poland 
fancier would you have screamed in such a manner?” 
My dissatisfied friend had waited for an answer, but, 
getting none, broke out again. 
“ If all people were of my way of thinking they would give 
up travelling till they were better treated.” 
1 smiled, but did not risk an answer: I went on with my 
friend Sam. “ As to punishment, let all Polish and Sebright 
Bantam fanciers determine not to send any birds to the 
Liverpool Show.” Now, here I could not make Sam out. 
What have the Bantams to do with it? There was a Cup 
for them. Sam, Sam, it is with a Committee as with the 
red way—it is a question of finance. Surely you have not 
forgotten your famous question, “ How many fins has a cod 
fish?” You know what an effect that had. Well, then, let 
us ask our question: “ Which are the most profitable classes 
for a Committee to encourage ?” Only one word more, Satn : 
France did without Napoleon. I must, however, conclude 
with the wish that I shall soon read of Sam again in print. 
In the same railway carriage where I was travelling the 
lamp was in the centre of the partition, and formed a sort 
of Dionysius’s ear, which brought every word spoken into 
my compartment as through a trumpet. I found it was 
occupied by ladies. 
“La! Mrs. Mottram, what could Mr. Smith see in that 
Miss Fint to choose her? Why, her hair is dark in front 
and almost white behind! I know, when people get old, it 
will be white, but in this case there is no match; and then 
such good-looking ones left out. It is true I think one of 
the others is a little deformed.” 
“Well, Mrs. Grove,” said the other, “look at Mr. Smith’s 
hair hanging all over his forehead, and see how he stoops !” 
“ My dear,” said Mrs. Grove, “ between you and I, I 
cannot help thinking there is something that- 
“ Ladies,” said I, “ I can hear all you say.” 
There was immediate silence, save that I thought I could 
hear a titter. 
I went on with my old friend The Cottage Gardener, 
and stumbled on “ G. B.’s” letter, beginning and ending with 
an “ unpleasant bit of duty.” Sam—not Slick, but Weller— 
would have said, “Just what the colt said the first time 
lie wore the dumb jockey.” 
Poor Judges! I daresay you tried hard, and thought you 
were doing well; but it was all a mistake. Your first pen 
should have been third, and your second first, and the poor 
little unnoticed pen that blushed unseen should have been 
second; and, after all, it would almost seem to be a choice 
of evils. Spinal complaints predominated, and the third 
prize was crooked; and (wonder of wonders!) the giants 
GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, March 3, 1857. 
1 among Polands, Dr. Horner and Mr. Coleridge, both sent 
j crooked birds. The Bar and the College of Physicians both 
J detected by “ G. B.! ” 
I was here interrupted by Mrs. Mottram, who, after a long 
whispering, said, “ Perhaps you want him yourself.” 
“ Oh, Mrs. Mottram!” said Mrs. Grove, “ you know I am 
not on the list.” 
“ Ladies,” said I, and continued my reading, in which 
“ G. B.” says he is not a disappointed exhibitor. I believe 
him. With nothing else to do we will quiz each other’s 
crotchets after the manner of the old song:— 
“ Or, puisque chacun a les siens, 
Nous avons tous les nStres. 
A votre tr^sorier les miens, 
Et je rirai des vdtres.” 
BRAHMA POOTRAS. 
I beg leave to inform you that we have got two Brahma 
Pootra hens and a cock hatched last April. They began to 
lay in September, and the one has laid eighty-two eggs, 
and is now laying; the other has laid fifty, and has sat 
three weeks, and is expected to lay again every day. The 
cockerel is 8£lbs., the hens are 7^lbs. each. Is the cock 
old enough to breed from ?—I. W. 
[The cock is old enough. We should put hint with older 
hens.] 
JUDGING POWTER PIGEONS. 
The judging of Pigeons I think calls for some remarks, 
particularly with regard to Powters, which, if I am correctly 
informed, have at some of the principal Shows been judged 
more by the manner in which they are pied than by any 
other property. This, no doubt, is a point not to be over¬ 
looked; but I think every genuine fancier of these birds will 
agree with me in thinking that there are several points of 
far more importance, which ought to take precedence of 
marking, such as fine shape, length and covering of limbs, 
and length of feather. These points, at least, if not others, 
ought to be considered before colour, or disposal of colour, 
as it is well known to all who have any experience that many 
of the very finest birds ever bred have been deficient in the 
latter property; and, on the other hand, how often perfectly- 
marked birds are found deficient in the other more valuable 
points. Our great barrier in the way of breeding to a feather 
is the oft-rectirring necessity of having to get fresh birds for 
grossing to keep up size, &c., and it is not always in the 
power of fanciers to procure well-marked birds for the pur¬ 
pose, neither would it be prudent to take such unless they 
had the other good points as well. 
I trust no one will suppose from these remarks that I am 
quite indifferent as to how a Powter is pied; my object is 
merely, if possible, t6 prevent this taking the place of more 
valuable properties, and which, if acted upon, I am afraid 
will soon have the effect of producing a puny, degenerate 
breed, quite unlike the line, stately Powter; in fact, more 
resembling the Magpie or Nun. 
If the old standard of excellence is to be put aside it will 
he necessary for societies to give some information in their 
prize-lists as to the order in which the points required will 
be considered. This would save a deal of grumbling and 
disappointment, as fanciers would then be able to judge if 
their birds had any chance of success. Before quitting this 
subject I would beg to call attention to another rule, which I 
believe is good on the whole. It is, that a pair of Pigeons 
must be of one colour. Now, in the case of Carriers and 
Powters it is not only allowable, but, at times, commendable 
to match birds of different colours together ; and if so, I see 
no good reason why they should not be shown together as a 
pair. Should this not be conceded the Crystal Palace plan 
of showing these birds singly should be adopted, though 
there are objections to this too.—A Country Subscriber. 
