213 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, July 6 , 1858. 
December 17th and. 18th. Halifax Fancy Pigeon Show. Sec., Mr. 
H. Holdsworth, Woolshops, Halifax. 
January 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th, 1859. Crystal Palace (Winter 
Show). Sec., W. Houghton. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
TABLE TALK. 
tc How is it that ortolans , which, a few years since, were 
sold as rare birds for aviaries, have now become a common dish 
at the tables of our nobility and gentry ?” 
“ Because of the French revolution of 1830.” 
“ How so ?” 
“ Because, till then, they were monopolised in France; but 
when society was, for a time, broken up, just in the ortolan 
season, and when a man became suspected if he only ventured 
out wearing a clean shirt and gloves; when the unwashed 
passed the washed with scowls on their faces, and, clenching 
their fists, muttered, ‘ Aristo ,’ as they passed; to eat ortolans 
would have been to indulge in a luxury no good citizen could 
forgive. The dealers in them, therefore, brought them to 
England. When more peaceful times came, those who could 
afford them in this country were not disposed to give them 
up ; and now, therefore, the supply is divided.” 
The old gentleman who asked these questions shook his 
head, and said, he thought politicians might often take a 
| lesson from the gastronomers, and divide a thing in a friendly 
i way, rather than quarrel for possession of the whole. 
Among birds of prey, the male provides the food for the 
young, but the female feeds them. A friend of ours, in Scot¬ 
land, shot the female of a pair of falcons. For a time he heard 
continual cries from the young ones, and the male was inde¬ 
fatigable in bringing food. After two days all was quiet. He 
clambered up the rock, and found the young all dead,—starved 
( to death,—but absolutely walled in with food of every descrip- 
I tion that the male bird had brought. 
CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY" SHOW. 
Whatever the merits of the overture to be played, or the 
j charm of the concert that is to follow, nothing can exceed 
the torture to musical ears, that is inflicted by the preparatory 
tuning. The groanings of the bass instruments, the squeakings 
of the violins, the swell of the organ, and the mingled tones 
of the brazen throats, give such an idea of chaos and con¬ 
fusion as could not be attained by any pre-concerted per¬ 
formance. Whatever the delay may be in the appearance of 
the leader, or however long it may be necessary to wait for 
distinguished company, this discord will last its full time, nor 
do we believe it would ever cease, but for the scarcely audible 
tap of the conductor’s baton on his desk. All is immediately 
still. Every performer has his eye on the leader, and every 
whisper in the assembly is hushed. Perfect harmony is the 
result, and the office of the leader is to keep all in time. 
In spite of all that has been said and written to the contrary, 
! man is a procrastinating animal, especially in those things 
that are not strictly connected with his business and pursuit. 
That which will be in time a week hence, is often deferred till 
: it is too late. 
Many who keep poultry do so as a pastime and recreation ; 
and although theyare anxious to introduce method into their 
poultry matters, yet the receipt of prize lists and entry papers, 
from twelve or eighteen Shows, two months before the entries 
close, leaves them, when the time draws nigh, witli a re¬ 
collection as confused as the tuning we have attempted to 
! describe. 
Ladies and gentlemen, intending exhibitors, please to take 
this as the conductor’s tap, and be informed that the entries 
for the Crystal Palace Poultry Shoto close on the 10 th of 
July. We have purposely delayed our “reminder ” till now, 
because, when this is read, it will be necessary to make them 
at once, although then there will be ample time to do so 
comfortably. 
We are happy to inform amateurs there is every probability, 
almost the certainty, that this will be the best Show yet held, 
at this favourite spot. There is no occasion to wish it success, 
as that belongs to it, but we may be allowed to hope it will 
be extended. Added to the prestige of continual success, it 
has unusual claims on amateurs. Faith has been kept with 
exhibitors on every occasion, and in every way. The prizes 
and the amounts due for pens claimed, are immediately paid. 
The birds are carefully tended, and punctually returned. The 
prize list is a liberal one, and there is no extra sixpence for the 
poultry. The ordinary admission money to the Palace admits 
to everything. It is thus a boon conferred on all amateurs, 
and it has a claim on their best support. 
We have read of a “ Cheap John” at a fair, who offered 
a double-barrelled gun, a pair of ivory - handled razors, a 
hammer, and a portrait of Fergus O’Connor, for fourpence. 
This was cheap, but it was not so cheap as a first-class return 
ticket, and admission to the Palace, for half-a-crown ; other 
classes at lower rates. Escape London for the day, enjoy the 
Poultry Show, the beautiful prospect, the music, the gardens, 
the statues, the Courts, and the hundred and one feeries of 
the Palace. It is a marvellous sight, and is more like the 
realisation of a gorgeous dream, than anything we have ever 
seen. It is a place where all can be amused in their own 
different ways. We often wonder at the fact, but it is true, 
that all are not poultry fanciers. Even in the same family, 
one will take to poultry, another to pigeons, a third to China, 
a fourth to archgeology, the next to paintings, the sixth to 
music, and the last to flowers. Each one votes the other’s 
hobby a bore, and if a day’s pleasure in sight seeing is to be 
had in company, it is only accomplished by mutual sacrifices. 
We invite such to the Poultry Show at the Ciystal Palace, 
and we promise them all enjoyment in their several penchants. 
EGGS TRAVELLING BY RAILWAY. 
I was greatly surprised to see my name mentioned in The 
Cottage Gardener, of June 22nd, in connection with the 
hatching of eggs, after travelling 530 miles by rail. 
I am much obliged to Mr. Renny for his good wishes, and 
very much more so to you, for your kindness in allowing the 
notice to appear, although I would much rather that it had 
not appeared; for it is quite as likely that, next week, yon 
may receive from some of my customers something like the 
following:— 
“ Sir,—Some time ago, I bought of Mr. Chadwin a sitting 
of eggs, which only travelled ten miles by rail , and every egg 
was addled. This deserves notice .” 
If this should appear, I shall not have a leg left to stand 
upon. 
I can only say, that every order for eggs received by me 
has been most faithfully executed; but, for all this, I doubt 
not that some of my customers have met with disappointment, 
as is usually the case. 
My egg advertisement, which appeared in your paper, pro ¬ 
cured for me many more customers than I could supply. I 
therefore feel myself to be greatly indebted to you, and beg 
to tender you my warmest thanks.— George Chadwin. 
SHEFFIELD POULTRY" EXHIBITION. 
I 
This Exhibition, extending from June 28th to July 1st, is , 
the second meeting of this Society; and we feel great pleasure 
in recording the fact, that the success attending it quite j 
equalled the most sanguine hopes of the managing Committee, i 
The number of visitors (many having journiedlong distances) 
was extraordinary, caused by the conviction, that so liberal a 
prize-list as the one offered by the Sheffield Committee would 
certainly bring into competition the poultry of all our prin¬ 
cipal exhibitors. The result has proved the truth of these 
opinions, for a better collection could not be presented to the 
public; although, from the season of the year, some few of 
the birds were scarcely in the high condition usual at a later 
period, when their annual moult is completed. The arrange¬ 
ments left nothing for even the most capricious amateur to 
desire: all that money or time could do was done to ensure 
success. Indeed, an outlay of fully £800 was willingly in¬ 
curred by the projectors, to leave no ground of complaint 
from any quarter. The result was, as before stated, that all 
went off as pleasantly as possible. 
The number of entries was between 800 and 900; and, to I 
