50 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, April 20, 1858. 
No doubt, the most certain way for “ R. G.” to get good 
poultry, is to buy birds. To go, see, and select what he likes, 
and to take them away, then and there. He cannot then be 
disappointed; but, though sure, this is the most expensive 
mode, for people will not part with their best birds, except at 
corresponding prices. For many of mine, I have refused 
almost fabulous prices. 
The other and the most economical mode, is to buy eggs 
from those whose characters would lead “ R. G.” to suppose 
they woidd not do a dirty thing on any consideration, much 
less for a few eggs. 
If “ R. G.” likes to apply to me, under his real name, I 
will, at least, try to convince him that “ there is somebody to 
be found, who will act honestly, and sell the article he ad¬ 
vertises. ” But as, in spite of all the trouble, and expense of 
breeding race horses, and short-horns—such animals as 
Touchstone, and Butterfly, are few and far between—I must 
warn “ R. G.,” that prize chickens are seldom to be found in 
one or two batches of eggs, even from the best birds, and then, 
not without trouble, care, and risk.—W. W. H. 
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYENTE POULTRY' SHOW. 
Among amateurs of poultry, the idea was almost universal 
that the Liverpool Show would have been the concluding exhi¬ 
bition of the season; results, however, have proved the con¬ 
trary, and it is really somewhat difficult to class the Newcastle 
Show, just concluded, as properly belonging to the winter or 
summer Poultry Exhibitions. Perhaps, however, it will rather 
serve as the connecting link between them ; as among the birds 
there competing were not only nearly 400 pens of as good 
adults as ever were exhibited at a local Show, but likewise 
several pens of both Cochin and also Grey Dorking chickens, 
already as large as the English hen Pheasant. This early pro¬ 
duction, and after-careful management of chickens, evinces 
how sensitively alive poultry amateurs are to the necessity of 
early hatches, if hopeful to secure success at the onset of our 
Chicken Shows, during the coming summer. It is our pleasing 
duty to record, that this meeting was universally admitted to 
be by far the best hitherto held in this locality. At opening 
it was exceedingly well attended, and had the weather, soon 
after midday on Wednesday, proved equal to that of the early 
morning, no doubt the number of visitors would have been 
greatly increased ; but, most unfortunately, a very unexpected 
snowstorm stopped all transit on many of the railways in the 
neighbourhood. Still, even under this adverse casualty, the 
public support received by the Committee was fully equal to 
their anticipations. 
Since the last meeting of this Society, the Newcastle Corn 
Market has been entirely rebuilt, and certainly now affords 
every possible convenience for a Poultry Show. The light is 
excellent, and the building is perfectly free from draughts of 
any kind. The area of this new structure is so extensive, that 
from 600 to 800 pens might readily be arranged in single rows, 
leaving (even then) a space of at least 12 or 14 feet in width 
for each avenue allotted to visitors. With such an amount of 
accommodation available, there is but little fear as to the 
Newcastle Show of Poultry; its importance must necessarily 
increase year by year, and this result is rendered still more 
certain, when it is considered Iioav highly conversant are the 
gentlemen forming the Committee, with every possible require¬ 
ment necessary to success. This was their sixth annual meet- 
ing, and, to add to the competition, a great variety of useful 
premiums were offered by inhabitants of Newcastle, which 
were quite unusual at such exhibitions, including guns, boxes 
of carpenter’s tools, cruet-stands, timepieces under glass shades, 
papier-mache inkstands, &c.; and, in common justice to the 
generous donors, we must add, they were undoubtedly of the 
intrinsic value they represented. 
The Game classes competed without any restriction of 
colour, consequently the entries were both numerous and 
first-rate: Duckivings proved to be the victors. The Grey 
Dorkings were superior ; and the Rev. G. Hustler maintained 
Ins high position. The White Dorkings were likewise very 
good. The Spanish classes, and all the varieties of Cochins, 
were well rcpi’escntcd ; the competition in some of these 
c asses being very severe. The Malays were exhibited in very 
interior feather. The Ilamburghs, both Golden and Silver- 
pencilled, were not worthy of any particular notice ; but the 
Spangled birds, of both varieties, have very rarely been 
equalled. The Golden-spangled were decidedly good through¬ 
out, the neighbourhood being notorious for the excellence of 
these fowls, and also the extraordinary care taken in breeding 
them. The Polish of each variety were good. In Sebright 
Bantams, the falling off was very great; indeed, it was a 
difficulty to meet with even a passable pen. 
The Turkeys and Geese, however, were most meritorious. 
In the extra class, was exhibited one of the most singular 
fowls we ever remember to have seen anywhere. The poor 
bird was found “chicking” among the burning ruins of Se¬ 
bastopol, on the entry of the allied troops. She is about the 
size of a common-booted Bantam, spangled black and white, 
with legs even shorter than the Scotch Dumpie fowl; she is 
very heavily bearded, and the feathers covering the orifice of 
the ear extend also completely over the eyes, so that feeding 
from scattered corn is a great difficulty. It was likewise lark- 
crested. 
The sole responsibility of the awards rested on Mr. Edward 
Hewitt, of Spark Brook, Birmingham, who has officiated for 
this Society on three previous occasions ; then, as now, his 
awards gave unquestioned satisfaction. The birds were care¬ 
fully attended, and the promptitude of their return all that 
the most anxious owner could wish for, nor did a single acci¬ 
dent occur to any. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Black Polands.— Will you correct a mistake into which Mr. Ray 
has fallen, in his letter at page 14. He states that the first prize at 
Preston (in the class—Polands, any other variety) was awarded to a 
pen of Black Polands, the second to Black with White Crests, and the 
third to White. The first prize was awarded to Mr. Dixon, of Bradford, 
for Black with White Crests. The second to Mr. Ray, for Black with 
White Crests; and the third to White. I quite agree with Mr. Ray, 
that at all the principal Shows there ought to he a separate class for 
this useful and beautiful variety, and I have no doubt the Preston 
Committee will take the hints given, and have a separate class another 
year.— John Jackson, Preston. 
“ Champion op the Poultry World and a Scarlet Petticoat.” 
—We shall be glad to be able to inform a correspondent how to com¬ 
municate with this lady. If she will favour us with her address, we 
can forward any letter our correspondent may send. 
Spanish Chickens Lame (J. L. D.). — You force them too much. 
Keep them in an outhouse, and not “ covered with a carpet near a fire 
at night!” Omit the Indian meal, hemp seed, and bread crumbs, as 
well as the Onion tops. Your barleymeal, chopped egg, Lettuce and 
Cabbage leaves, will be generous diet enough, and let them have 
plenty of exercise, with no greater shelter than that of a dry outhouse. 
Pigeon Trap ( Pigeon ). — The best form of pigeon area, or trap, is 
that mostly in use among London pigeon fanciers. It consists of a 
square frame of lattice-work, the sides and front opening with falling 
doors, which may all be drawn up at once with a line. Size, about 
two feet six inches, or three feet square, and fifteen or eighteen inches 
in height. _ On either side of the three doors are the bolting wires 
swinging inwards, to admit any pigeons that may be shut out, and 
falling against a small ledge, to prevent those inside from escaping. 
On the top, spaces about four inches square are left open, called tipping- 
holes, through which the pigeons can drop in, but cannot fly out, on 
account of their spread wfings. 
Cock and Hen Pigeons [Idem). — A cock pigeon may be distin¬ 
guished from a hen by his louder and bolder coo, also by being thicker 
about the cheeks. The price of a pair of Dragoons varies with the 
quality, from 3s. to 30s. per pair.—B. P. B. 
Australian Bronze-winoed Pigeon. —May I beg of you, or any of 
your correspondents, who have kept the Australian Bronze-winged 
Pigeons, which are now sometimes exhibited at Shows, to tell me if 
these birds breed in confinement ? Are they sufficiently domesticated 
to be trusted to fly out ? Whether they ever breed with other sorts ? 
and, if so, will the cross-bred produce breed again? Any information 
respecting these inquiries will much oblige—B. P. Brent. 
LONDON MARKETS.— April 19th. 
POULTRY. 
lhe market is tolerably supplied with poultry, although much is of 
an inferior description. Small chickens would appear to be more 
plentiful than they were last year, a natural consequence of a mild 
winter. The same cause makes large fowls scarce. 
Large Fowls ... 
Small ditto. 
Chickens.. 
Goslings.. 
Ducklings 
Each. 
Gs. OcL to 7s. Ocl. 
5 6 „ 6 0 
3 0 „ 4 0 
7 0 „ 7 6 
3 G „ 4 3 
Guinea Fowls . 
Turkeys . 
Pigeons . 
Rabbits . 
Wild ditto. 
Each. 
2s. 9 d. to 3s. 3d. 
0 0 „ 0 0 
0 9 ,, 0 10 
15 „ 1 G 
0 10 ,, 0 11 
! 
