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THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 11, 1S59. 
February 16th and 17th, 1859. Poulton-le-Fylde. See., J. Butler. 
June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1859. Bath and West op England. At Barnstaple, 
Devon. Director, S. Pitman, Esq. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
DISCURSIVE POULTRY PAPERS. 
Wishing to give every information in our power on poultry 
matters, we purpose, at times, to devote part of our space to 
general subjects connected with them. We believe that such will 
be acceptable to many of our readers, who, although non¬ 
exhibitors, are not the less interested in every detail, seeing that, 
even if fowls are not pets, they are not without importance to 
every resident in the country. They supply many delicacies for 
the table; from the spring chicken—which comes in as a bonne 
louche with Asparagus—to the egg which appears daily at the 
breakfast-table. Sometimes, in the course of our peregrinations, 
we have found a cottage where no fowls were kept. We confess 
there are few such now-a-days. When we have asked, why there 
were none ? we have been told the expense was so great. As 
we mean these papers to be familiar, chatty ones, we do not 
profess to observe strict order, and shall meet objections, or make 
observations, as they occur to us. 
One remark, then, on the question of feeding. There is no 
house where there are not scraps enough to play an important 
part in feeding a moderate number of fowls. There must be 
crumbs at the bottom of bread-pans. Toast and water will be 
wanted sometimes. Crusts are cut off toast; and even where 
the most rigid surveillance is observed there will be scraps of 
bread. Children are great friends to fowls, in this respect, and 
the hog-tub (excuse the expression) is a great enemy. We are 
far from being haters of pigs. We respect them ; but the scraps 
that are thrown into their tub, and which are nothing to their 
“unbounded stomachs,” would keep a walk of fowls. We want, 
then, a pan for the fowls, as well as a tub for the hogs. In it 
should be put every crumb and morsel of bread, shreds of 
cooked meat; groats that have been used for gruel; cooked 
potatoes ; ancl, in wet weather, and during easterly winds, the 
drainings of the beer glasses. If this is carefully carried out, 
even the thrifty housekeeper will be surprised to find how many 
things there are in a house, that are utterly useless for any other 
purpose than feeding fowls or pigs. Perhaps some one may say, 
“ Ah! all very well, but we have nothing we could give to fowls 
in our house.” With their permission, we will try an anecdote, 
by way of illustration. Having said that fowls may be kept 
w'here there is nothing to give to them,—according to some 
opinions,—we will show how an excellent soup may be made with 
“ flint stones.” 
A curate in Erance was going his rounds, when he found in a 
cottage a woman in deep distress—“ What is the matter, asked 
he ?”—“My children are starving, and I have nothing to give 
them.”—“Nothing?”—“ No, Sir, nothing ! ”—“Your pot is 
not on the fire.”—“ I have nothing to put into it .”—“ Come, 
let us try ? ”—“ It is useless ! ”—“ Put it on, fetch me four flint 
stones, and wash them thoroughly?”—“Ah! Eathei 1 , do not 
mock me! ”—“ I am not mocking you, my good woman ; do as I 
bid you.” The pot was put on, and thoflmt stones in it. “Now, 
have you two or three carrots ? ”—“ Only those old dry ones.”— 
“ Never mind, they will do. Put them in the ashes, and bum them 
a little. Now take them out and scrape them. Brush off the 
dirt. Put them in: they give flavour and colour. Only three 
potatoes! Pare them and put them in. How lucky! just half a 
tea-cupful of flour ; no use to bake, but just enough to thicken ; 
and a little morsel of dripping. Now keep it simmering. Ah! 
you little rogues (to the children) you smell it, and it is good. 
Now, poor woman, serve it out, and recollect another time how 
to make flint soup ; all these little nothings, put together, have 
provided a meal.” The same may be said in many houses where 
there is not a scrap available for chickens. 
It is not necessary they should be always suffering from reple¬ 
tion : they require exercise, and the food they earn is better for 
them, than that they get without effort. Neither is it necessary 
they should be always fat. Eat birds are not the best breeders, 
nor do they produce the best stock. We shall have to do with 
fatting hereafter. Eowls in high condition, should, in plumage, 
look like Pheasants and Partridges—close, firm feathered, and 
bright eyed, and sharp in search of food. As they are not brought 
up to seek their food entirely, and as every place does not afford it, 
they require some help ; but this should be given sparingly. A 
fowl that is fed as long as it can pick up a morsel, three times per 
day, is, in reality, being fatted. It is being spoiled as a stock 
fowl, and two-thirds of the food are wasted. All poultry, by 
nature, are clever at seeking food, and nothing sharpens the 
instinct so much as necessity. But the economy of food is not 
the only advantage of moderate feeding—the numberless stones 
they pick up are indispensable to their health, not only because 
they induce exercise, but because they are their natural food. 
If fowls are to be kept healthy, they should be kept hungry, 
sufficiently so to make them watch anyone who intrudes on their 
haunts, to see if they bring them food ; and when any is thrown 
down, there should be a race among them to pick it up, and if 
they will not run for it, they do not want it. Fowls, to do well, 
should be in the same condition as a greyhound, trained for 
running—full of good hard muscle, and with eyes bright and pro¬ 
minent ; but, to a casual observer, rather thin. 
(To be continued.) 
CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY SHOW. 
January 8tii, 10th, 11th and 12th. 
The period at which we go to press precludes anything like 
a regular report of this great Show : we promise it, however, 
next week. In our desire to afford, not only the most accurate, 
but the earliest information to our readers, we append to the 
prize list a few hurried notes. This maynow fairly rank as the 
second Exhibition in England, Birmingham alone surpassing 
it; and the entries show, to use familiar phraseology, that it is 
a good second. A feature that will be noted with pleasure by 
those who take interest in these Shows, is the dissemination of 
the prizes : they again go through the length and breadth of the 
United Kingdom, and we have once more to record the acces¬ 
sion of new names among the prize-takers. 
The Dorkings surpassed themselves. The Spanish showed 
visible improvement. The adult Buff and Cinnamon Cochins 
were better than the chickens. The Hamburghs were numerous 
in every class, and perfect pens were to be found in each. The 
Game were, as they have been everywhere, all that could be 
desired. We speak without hesitation when we say, the Golden 
Sebright Bantams were the best class we ever saw: the Game 
were also beautiful. The Polands were numerous, and excellent. 
The Malays and Brahmas have made this Show their especial 
battle-field, and the entries were numerous. The Turkeys were 
marvellous. The Rouen Ducks are gaining weight, and the 
Aylesburys were among the heaviest of the season. 
Spanish. —First, Mrs. J. C. Hall. Second, G. Botham. Third, J. Iv. 
Fowler. Fourth, II. F. Wells. Hens. —First, C. T. Nelson. Second, II. 
Whittington. Chickens of 1858.—First, Miss M. L. Rake. Second, J. R. 
Rodbard. Third, Mrs. J. C. null. Fourth, C. T. Nelson. Pullets.— 
First, J. K. Fowler. Second. J. R. Rodbard. Cock.— First, Miss M. L. 
Rake. Second, II. F. Wells. Third, J. K. Fowler. 
Dorking (Coloured).—First and Second, lion. W. W. Vernon. Third, 
•T. Robinson. Fourth, C. Punchard. Hens. —First, G. Botham. Second, 
Capt. W. Ilornby, R.N. Chickens of 1858.—First, J. Lewry. Second, W. 
Joshua. Third, C. H. Wakefield. Pullets. —First and Second, J. Lewry. 
Dorkino (White). — First, J. Robinson. Second, Capt. Beardmore. 
Clnckens of 1858.—First, J. Keable. Second, J. Robinson. 
Dorking Cocks (Coloured and White).—First, II. Townsend. Second, 
J. Robinson. Third, J. Lewry. 
Cochin-China (Cinnamon and Buff). — First, H. Tomlinson. Second, D. 
S. Moore. Thud, T. Stretch. Chickens of 1858.—First, T. Stretch. Second, 
Miss V. M. Musgrove. Third, Rev. G. Gilbert. 
Cochin-China (Brown and Partridge-feathered).—First, D. S. Moore. 
Second, J. Busst, jun. Third, J. Cattell. Chickens of 1858.—First and 
Second, T. Stretch. Third, C. Punchard. 
Cochin-China (White).—First, XV. Copple. Second, C. R. Titterton. 
Chickens of 1858.—First, XV. Copple. Second, G. Lamb. 
Cochin-China Cocks (Coloured and XVhite).—First, XV. Dawson. Second 
R. E. Gibbs, jun. 
Brahma Pootra.— First, G. Botham. Second, R. Teebay. Chickens of 
1858 —First and Second, G. Botham. Cocks. —First and Second, J. II. 
Craigie. 
Game Fowl (XXTiite and Piles).—First, Rev. G. S. Crnwys. Second, S. 
Matthew. Third, T. XVhittaker. Chickens of 1858.—First, J. Camm. 
Second, F. Sabin. Third, J. Monsey. 
Game Fow'l (Black-breasted and other Reds).—First, G. XX'. Moss. 
Second, XV. Ballard. Third, XV. II. Swann. Chickens of 1858.—First and 
Second, Dr. R. R. Sewell. Third, G. XXL Moss. 
Game Fowl (Blacks and Brassy-winged, except Greys).—First, II. 
Parry. Second, Rev. G. S. Cruwys. Third, XXL Ballard. Chickens of 
1858.—First, N. M. de Rothschild. Second, XV. Ballard. Third, W. 
Lawson. 
Came Fowl (Duckwings and other Greys and Blues).—First, J. Don- 
