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THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 22, 1859. 
but to bring up the same material. Many of the opposite parties 
—exhibitors—promise to show; and some have already applied for 
entry papers. The undersigned yields to none in Ins desire for 
concord ; bnt he has yet to learn that submission to tyranny and 
oppression is a way to secure it. And should circumstances require 
it, he will at once publish his prize list, offer premiums for 
trimmed birds, and appeal to all the lovers of freedom of exhibi¬ 
tion in Europe to support him.” 
THE SKINNUM PIGEON. 
I find the London fanciers have been working the Skinnums, 
or sharp-living birds, up to a standard as a breed. Skinnums, 
I have before remarked, are a cross between the Flying Tumblers 
and Dragoons, and have long been bred and trained for flying in 
London. The fanciers of these longffaeed, or flying birds, have 
gone to the opposite extreme that the Tumbler fanciers adopt, 
and desire to breed their favourites with as long heads as 1 
possible:—-one inch and seven-eighths being the length of some. ! 
Their colour is mostly the bearded marking — blue, silver, or 
black ; also some bald-headed, or whole blups.— B. P. Brknt. 
FATTENING TURKEY'S. 
“ Pi.f.ase to tell me the best mode of fattening Turkeys. 1 killed 
one last Christmas that was hatched the 1st of June; it weighed 
18 lbs., but the breastbone was far from being covered with flesh. 
“1 put it up six weeks for fattening. Is there, then, any mode 
of pressing in the breastbone, in order to make il less obtrusive ? ” 
—An Old Subscriber. 
[If you kill a Turkey seven months old, weighing 18 lbs., you 
have lit tie to learn in the way of fattening. The keel of the breast¬ 
bone of a Turkey is very deep, and will never be covered with 
flesh—if, by that, you mean that if should, on each side, bo level 
with the top of the bone. The bone is far too strong to be 
lowered by any pressure. That process can only be followed with 
chickens, whose bones are not formed. Before we tell you how 
to break the breastbone of your Turkey, we will warn you, that 
when carving, you will often wish it undone ; as splinters and 
pieces will penetrate the flesh, and, getting under the knife, cause 
it to slip about and tear the flesh, hurting the amour propre of a 
good carver. If you are wilful, you must have your way. 
While the bird is hot, and before it is plucked, lay a thickly- . 
doubled cloth on the breastbone; take a short, stout stick, and 
strike a sharp blow on each aide of the bone. You will find, by 
feeling, whether you have broken the bone. If you have, you will 
then, being careful that the bone is straight, although cracked, 
strike it sharply on the top, and it will go through the breast into 
the cavity of the body. 
Another method is, when the bird is drawn preparatory to 
being trussed, to introduce a very stout and sharp knife under the 
flesh of the breast, till it rests against the base of the upright 
bone. The back of the knife should be struck sharply with a 
stout stick, or mallet. This will cut it through ; and the bone 
being weakened thereby, it will yield to a smart tap on the top, 
and fall through. If this is well done, there are no splinters.] 
WELLINGTON POULTRY SHOW. 
The Show of poultry this year was most excellent; somewhat 
fewer in numbers, it is admitted, than heretofore. The superiority' 
of the poultry, as a whole, was without precedent; appearing 
as though most of our principal breeders were determined, if 
possible”to attain distinction at the last Meeting of the season. 
Competitors of the highest celebrity, from places even so distant 
as Devizes, Aylesbury, and many other equally remote districts, 
will, therefore, be found holding prominent positions among the 
successful ones. Nor did the poultry breeders of Salop in any 
instance resign their own, without a good trial for the mastery. 
We doubt much, however, the policy of holding the Show at the 
season just now selected,—early eggs are ever the desideratum of 
all exhibitors ; and a Show of three days’ continuance so late in 
the spring, must, necessarily, encroach much upon their arrange¬ 
ments. From this cause only is the diminution as to numbers 
to be attributed. The poultry exhibited, however, as a whole, 
were shown in the highest possible condition. The Show was 
held in a tent, in the rear of the Bull’s Head Hotel; and the 
general arrangements were most satisfactory. The untiring 
exertions of the Honorary Secretary, Mr. William T. Jones, 
gained the commendations of everyofte; and, we arc informed, 
the inhabitants of the district have adopted a substantial mode 
expressive o! their approval. Already about sixty pounds have 
been spontaneously contributed towards a fund which will be 
placed in the hands of a Committee, to be applied to the pur¬ 
chase of plate, or some similar memorial, to testify their high 
appreciation of the ability that gentleman has evinced in the 
superintendence of their various Exhibitions. If is supposed 
that the amount now at the disposal of the Committee will yet 
be considerably augmented. We may safely say, there was 
scarcely an indifferent pen to be found throughout the whole col¬ 
lection; and at once proceed to a few remarks as to the various 
classes. 
The Spanish were very good; the three winning pens ran each 
other closely. It is but rarely we have seen so excellent a pair of 
hens as those in the first-prize pen. The Grey Dorkings were 
very good, but certainly not equal to the truly magnificent 
birds that competed at Wellington last season. The class for 
Black-breasted and other Red Game fowls, was excellent. Three 
of the most highly-reputed Game exhibitors throughout the king¬ 
dom secured the premiums, leaving many first-rate pens among 
the simply commended ones. Some of the Black Game fowls 
were likewise very good ; but the Biles, Duckwings, and Whites, 
were exhibited in indifferent condition. The Hamburghs of all 
classes were superior—none but most excellent specimens standing 
even a remote chance of prize-taking. The collections in these 
classes caused great interest among the visitors. The Polands 
only mustered three pens ; but they were all praiseworthy, and in 
first-rate feather. Among the Cochin-China fowls, undoubtedly, 
the Grouse-coloured ones were the most perfect. The any other 
variety class was well supported: it contained perfect pens of 
Malays, Rumpless, Black Hamburghs, Crow fowls, or Guelder- 
lands, besides Brahmas, &e. The Game Bantams were a very 
pretty collection. The deterioration in the Sebright Bantams, 
however, was surprising, when it is called to mind how very' 
highly birds of this description, from this neighbourhood, stood 
at all our principal Shows during former years. They are now 
convincing proofs of the disadvantages of long interbreeding, 
without the infusion of fresh blood. The Single Game Cocks 
were the pride of the Exhibition. To find an indifferent bird was an 
impracticable task; and, as the premiums offered were most liberal, 
the exhibitors had strained every point to secure them. Some¬ 
what singularly, both first prize in the general class for Game 
Cocks, and also the silver goblet in the class confined exclusively 
to Shropshire exhibitors, were secured by “Brown Reds;” and, 
we were credibly informed, the fowls thus attaining so enviable a 
distinction were brothers. 
The weather during the first day was excessively boisterous ; 
nevertheless, the Show was well supported by the neighbouring 
nobility, and each successive train brought numerous visitors. 
We now quote from Bddo ices's Shrewsbury Journal, the most 
important and extensively circulated newspaper of the district:— 
“ We have now come to the conclusion of the catalogue; the 
Show' is undoubtedly successful in one sense ; we hope the at¬ 
tendance will make it pecuniarily so. The Judge on this, as on 
former occasions, was Edward Hewitt, Esq., Spark Erook, Bir¬ 
mingham, to whose courtesy we are indebted for much valuable 
information. Even this gentleman—celebrated as he is for his 
tact and discrimination—had, we believe, to use all his talent in 
selecting the prize Game cocks. We presume he satisfied every 
one, for wo did not hear one of his decisions cavilled at. In 
conclusion, we w T ould suggest, that if the Show were held either 
at Christmas or in June,—a little earlier, ora little later,—a much 
larger quantity of the feathered tribe might be brought to Welling¬ 
ton, and so make the matter more interesting to all concerned.” 
Spanish. —First, .1. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury. Second, J. 
Busst, jun., Walsall. Third, C. It. Nelson, Newhall Street, Birmingham. 
(Competition excellent.) 
Dorkings.— First, The Hon. W. W. Vernon, Wolseley Hall, Rugeley. 
Second, J. D. Ilewson, Coton Hill, Stafford. Third, T. Burgess, jun., 
Burleydam, Whitchurch, Salop. Highly Commended, T. C. Eyton, Eyton, 
Wellington, Salop ; Rev. J. Hill, the Citadel, Hawkstone. Commended, 
T. C. Eyton ; Master G. E. Meredith, Longdon Parsonage, near Wellington. 
Game (Black-breasted and other Beds).—First, G. W. Moss, the Beach, 
Aigburth. Liverpool. Second, Right Hon. Lord Berwick, Cronkhill, Salop. 
Third, W. Dawson, Selly Oak, Birmingham. Highly Commended, W. 
Dunning, Newport, Salop; G. W. Moss; lion. W. W. 'Vernon. (A most 
excellent class.) 
Game (Black and Brassy-winged, except Greys).—First, W. Dawson. 
Second, H. J. Taylor, Haygate, Wellington, Salop. Third, R. Ci. Hawkins, 
Eyton Mill, Highly Commended, II. Parry, Ellesmere Port, near Chester, 
