46 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, October 19, 1858 
Ducklings (Aylesbury).—First, J. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Ayles¬ 
bury. Second, M. Greenwood, Burnley. Highly Commended, Mrs. C. H. 
Colemans, near Ilolton-le-Moors ; J. Price, Londonderry, Yorkshire. (The 
whole class good.) 
Ducklings (Rouen).—First, M. Greenwood, Burnley. Second, J. Price, 
Londonderry, Yorkshire. Highly Commended, T. Burgess, jun., Burley 
Dam, Cheshire. 
Ducklings (any other variety).—First and Second, Miss S. Perkins, 
Sutton Colefield (Buenos Ayres and Decoy Ducks). Highly Commended, 
J. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury (East Indian); J. B. Chune, 
Coalbrookdale; H. Churchill, Gloucester (Buenos Ayres). (The Buenos 
Ayrean Ducks very good). 
CLASSES FOR SINGLE COCKS. 
Cochin -China. — First, H. Tomlinson, Birmingham. Second, H. 
Churchill, Gloucester. Highly Commended, T. Stretch, Marsh Lane, 
Bootle. 
IIambuhgh. —First, E. Archer, Malvern. Second, J. Martin, 'Worcester. 
Highly Commended, W. Pierce, Northwich; W. R. Lane, Edgbaston, 
Birmingham. (The class excellent.) 
SWEEPSTAKES. 
Game Cock Class. —First, E. Archer, Malvern. Second, F. Worrall, 
Liverpool. Third, E. Bowers, Nantwich. 
PIGEONS. 
Carriers. —First, J. Percival, Ilarbourne, Birmingham. Second, H. 
Holdsworth, Halifax. Highly Commended, H. Holdsworth, Halifax. 
Almond Tumblers.— First, R. Chase, Moseley Road, near Birmingham. 
Second, J. T. Lawrence, Liverpool. Commended, II. Holdsworth, Halifax. 
Balds. — First, J. Percival, Ilarbourne, Birmingham. Second, J. W. 
Edge, Birmingham. Commended, J. Percival, Walworth, Surrey. 
Beards. — First, J. W. Edge, Birmingham. Second, J. Choyce, jun., 
Harris Bridge, Atherstone. Highly Commended, J. E. Mapplebeek, 
Moseley Road, Birmingham. Commended, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. 
Jacobins. —First, II. Child, jun., Birmingham. Second, J. T. Lawrence, 
Liverpool. Highly Commended, AV. Thursby, Crewe. 
F ant ails.— First, J. Choice, jun., Harris Bridge, Atherstone. Second, 
G. AV. Boothhy, Louth. Highly Commended, J. T. Lawrence, Liverpool; 
G. Goore, Liverpool. 
Trumpeters. —First, n. Holdsworth, Halifax. Second, H. Child, jun., 
Birmingham. Highly Commended, J. Firth, Halifax ; G. Goore, Liver¬ 
pool ; j. E-Mapplebeek, Moseley Road, Birmingham. 
Powters. —First, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. Second, AV. B. Akers, 
Halifax. Highly Commended, H. Holdsworth, Halifax ; J. Choyee, jun., 
Harris Bridge, Atherstone. 
Mottled Tumblfrs. —First, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. Second, — 
Edge, Birmingham. Highly Commended, J. Percival, AValworth, Surrey; 
— Percival, Ilarbourne, Birmingham. 
Owls. —First, H. Child, jun., Birmingham. Second, J. T. Lawrence, 
Liverpool. Highly Commended, H. Child, jun., Birmingham ; Miss E. S. 
Killingby, Burton-on-Trent; Miss E. Pears, Birmingham. Commended, 
G, Goore, Liverpool; Miss E. Pears, Birmingham. 
Nuns. —First, J. AV. Edge, Birmingham. Second, II. Child, jun., Bir¬ 
mingham. Commended, J. Peake, Shavington, Cheshire. 
Turbits. —First, — Edge, Birmingham. Second, H. Child, Birmingham. 
Archangels.— First, II. Child, jun., Birmingham. Second, J. Firth, 
Halifax. 
Barbs. —First, J. T. Lawrence, Liverpool. Second, J. Percival, nar- 
bourne, Birmingham. Commended, II. Child, jun., Birmingham. 
Runts. —First and Second, II. Child, jun., Birmingham. Highly Com¬ 
mended, J. Filth, Halifax; G. Goore, Liverpool. 
Dragoons.— First, H. Hague, Haughton Green, Lancashire. Second, — 
Mapplebeek, Moseley Road, Birmingham. Highly Commended, E. Bebbing- 
ton, Minsbull A’ernon ; Miss E. Killingsby, Burton-on-Trent. Commended, 
II. Child, jun., Birmingham. 
Ant other Distinct A'ariett not Mentioned in the Foregoing.— 
First, G. AV. Boothby, Louth (A’ictorias). Second, — Lane, Edgbaston, 
Highly Commended, II. Child, jun., Birmingham ; AV. B. Ackers, Halifax 
(Swallow) ; J. Percival, Ilarbourne, Birmingham (Yellow Magpies). 
BEWARE ! 
I intended giving publicity to a letter I received a few weeks 
ago ; but it quite escaped my memory till I saw an article in 
your Poultry Chronicle of last week, headed “ Caution, to 
poultry-keepers.” I find I have received a letter from the same 
party, and have since learned that many have been duped, no 
doubt by the same gang. On the 31st of August I received the 
following note :— 
“ Wholesale Toy-belt Manufacturer, Manchester. 
“ 8 Mo., 30, 1858. 
“ Respected Frend ,—Please say if thou has any Bantams Fowls 
to dispose of, and thy lowest cash price for them, 
“ Thine truly, 
“ John Thompson. 
“ 7, Cross Street, Swan Street, Manchester.” 
I answered the above, requesting a remittance, on receipt of 
which the birds should be forwarded. But I have as yet had no 
reply from “John Thompson.” It does not answer his purpose 
to pay cash,—he requires long credit. 
Poultry-fanciers cannot be too cautious of this “ wolf in 
sheep’s clothingand not poultry-fanciers only, but exhibitors 
of cattle. I understand that this man has tried to obtain pigs 
and cattle in the same way. No doubt, Manchester will soon be 
too hot for our respected friend, and he will have to move his 
quarters, most likely into some other Cross Street, or back street, 
of a neighbouring town. If you wish to keep out of his clutches, 
take my advice,— Avrite for a remittance, and he will give you no 
further trouble.— J. Thornton, Heckmondwike, near Leeds . 
VARIANCE IN HATCHING SEASONS. 
The following is a table of the produce of eggs hatched at 
home under the most favourable circumstances :— 
1855, from 105 eggs, 94 chickens were hatched. 
1856 
» 86 
» 69 
1857 
„ 141 
„ 109 
1858 
» 169 
„ 94 
5 ) 
That is to say, upon an average, in 1855, from a dozen eggs, more 
than ten chickens were obtained. In 1856 and 1857, from every 
dozen eggs, more than nine chickens were obtained; whilst, in the 
season of 1858, a dozen eggs have yielded little more than six 
chickens. 
As the stock and brooding hens (Cochins) have been all the 
time under the same management, and as there has been at least 
as much pains and experience exerted in 1858 as in previous 
years, I think the foregoing statement goes far to provo that the 
present has been an unusually unfavourable season for poultry, 
and that those who have purchased eggs, and have got but few 
chickens, have, after all, not much worse fortune than their 
neighbours. 
Why this spring should be unfavourable I cannot say. There 
must, however, have been some cause at work more than is com¬ 
mon in ordinary seasons, for the complaints of ill-doing seem to 
be almost universal.—G-. G-. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
A’arious. —1. Is it common for pullets to lose weight after laying some 
time, or would any other cause occasion it, while seeming to be in good 
health? 2. In Cochins, is not the bright yellow of the legs dependent on 
a grass run ? Will they not lose it, if away from grass ? Will they regain 
it, if turned out ? 3. Are young birds more likely to breed chickens with 
good-coloured legs, and old ones to breed pale legs (I speak, of course, 
of the best strains) ? 4. AVill a cross of Hamburgh and Cochin fowls pro¬ 
duce good setters or layers, or large-sized birds ? I have bred some this 
year which I should not know from large Hamburghs, except by a slight 
feathering of the leg.”—A. S. B. 
[The time when hens or pullets are heaviest is immediately before 
laying, and, without losing condition, or falling off in health, they get gra¬ 
dually thinner as they lay their eggs,—not only becoming thinner, but losing 
weight. It admits of a natural solution—high condition is necessary to 
produce the eggs, and to bear the strain on the system. Then come sitting 
and rearing the brood, and then the sickly time of moulting. Afterwards 
the plumage is hard, and then the condition of the birds improves till it 
again attains its maximum before laying. AVe do not think the yellow of 
Cochin’s legs has anything to do with a grass run. No birds care so little 
for it, or need it less; where they have it they do not use it, and a good- 
sized sod of growing grass, thrown into their pens daily, is all they require. 
Old birds are as likely to breed good-coloured legs as young ones. The 
truth is, the beautifully bright yellow legs seen in chickens belong only to 
that age; adults lose’ the freshness as they get older, and they at last 
become pale, almost flesh-colour. The cross between I-Iamhurghs and 
Cochins appears to us a mistake. The Hamburghs cannot give size,—they 
cannot improve the laying of the Cochins,—and it is certain they will not 
make them better sitters. It is common, when two breeds are crossed, for 
part of the produce to appear in the plumage of one breed with the size 
of the other; and many are, to all appearances, pure, giving no visible 
indication of a strain.) 
December Shows (Jacob Beeby). —AA’e know of no other Show in that 
month, than is mentioned in our list. 
Redwing-bar Pigeons (G. S.). —Redwing-bars do not belong to silver- 
coloured Pigeons. Your Owls are, probably, mealy or strawberry, which 
are sometimes mistaken for that colour. Silver has, however, no shade of 
red ill it whatever; it is a very light bluish grey, or silver grey. The 
nearest example I can think of, is the colour of a shilling when it has lost 
its new gloss, hut before it is much tarnished. The wing bars of silver 
Pigeons are sooty black : flight and tail have a chocolate shade. Mealy is a 
very inferior colour, and generally discarded by Pigeon-fanciers. It is 
produced from a mixture of red and blue, red and silver, or red and 
grizzled.—B. P. Brent. 
LONDON MARKETS.— October 18th. 
POULTEY. 
The trifling advance we noted last week has not been sustained. The 
great quantity of game and the worm weather interfere with the sale of 
poultry. The supply of it has also been greater. 
Each. 
Large Fowls. 4s. Oil. to 4s. 6 d. 
Small ditto. 3 0 ,,3 6 
Chickens... 19 ,,2 3 
Geese . 5 0 ,,6 6 
Ducks. 2 6 ,,2 9 
Pheasants . 2 6 ,, 2 9 
Each. 
Ilares. 2s. 3 d. to 2s. 6rf, 
Partridges. 0 3 ,, 0 10 
Grouse. 2 3 ,, 2 6 
Pigeons . 0 6 ,,0 7 
Rabbits . 1 3 ,, 1 4 
Wild ditto. 0 8 ,,0 9 
