THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 17, 1858. 
Goto r.Eti 13th and;i4th. Creave. Sec., D. Hargetts, Crewe. Entries 
close 30th September. 
November 29th and 30th, December 1st and 2nd. Birmingham. Sec., 
Mr. ,T. Morgan. Entries close November 1st. 
December 17th and 18th. Halifax Fancy Pigeon Snow. Sec., Mr. 
II. Iloldsworth, 57, Woolshops, Halifax. Entries close the 20th of 
November. 
January 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th, 1859. Crystal Palace (Winter 
Show). Sec., W. Houghton. 
January 20th and 21st, 1859. Liverpool. 
February 3rd and 4th, 1859. Preston and North Lancashire. 
Secs. It. Teebay, and II. Oakey. 
N.B.— Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY SHOW. 
We are like the charity children, when they get their an¬ 
nual treat and go to the Crystal Palace,—we are sorry it is 
over. But before they get into school the next day, they are 
looking forward to next year and tho next treat. So are we, 
and more fortunate than our young friends, we have two 
treats in the year—one in summer, one in winter. Why 
should they not have the same P We cannot account for 
the eccentricities of the human character ; and, incredible as it 
may appear, there arc some people who are not poultry 
amateurs. There are those who are moved to enthusiasm by 
the sight of a nondescript teapot, fine handle and spout; 
others who would rival the ancient Egyptians in their animal 
worship, if the Deity assumed the form of a bloated and obese 
lap-dog, or a darling pug, and yet who look coldly on poultry. 
When the Show wa3 formerly held, such amiable enthusiasts 
compelled to pass through the Exhibition of our beautiful 
birds, and, consequently, to elbow us in their transit, and to 
disturb our admiration of our pets, spoke disparagingly of 
them. This was a grievance, and the new direction of the 
Crystal Palace is entitled to the best thanks of the poultry 
public for having given them a proper place. The entire 
length of the north wing being devoted to them, enabled Mr. 
Houghton to arrange a single row of pens on each side, allow¬ 
ing ample room for spectators, and as much ventilation sa 
could be desired. There was, of course, a space wider than 
half our streets between the rows of pens, and this was 
divided by a strong rope passed down the centre. Thus two 
passages were formed, one for downward, the other for up¬ 
ward progress. By this arrangement, although there were 
crowds of spectators, there was ample room \ even the 
most distinguished pens might, with a little patience, be com¬ 
fortably viewed. The square tower at the extremity formed 
an admirable place for Rabbits and Pigeons. The large doors 
were open on either side, affording a constant current of air, 
and admitting to the square elevated terraces, with extensive 
; views, and redolent of the perfume that arose from the gardens 
beneath. While speaking of Rabbits and Pigeons, we cannot 
avoid noticing the pleasure this part of the Exhibition affords 
to two classes,—those who are prevented by circumstances 
i from keeping poultry, and to children. Numbers who cannot, 
i by any means in their power, keep fowls with any hope of 
! success, whose only outlet is a very small back-yard, and 
others who have not even that, but an untenanted washhouse, 
can keep their Rabbits ; and the Pigeons dwell in that part 
o»f the house which for many years has been allotted to a 
large section of poets and literati , who strive vainly to reach 
the upper rounds of the ladder of fame. We spent no part 
of our time more pleasantly than that we passed watching 
the children among these two classes. Theirs was pure 
delight, unchequered by disappointment; and, while with 
them we forgot for a time two scores of the years that have 
1 psssed over our heads, nothing gave us more pleasure than 
to mark the delight of the children of some schools that were 
there on this occasion. We have noticed the same thing at 
Birmingham, on the last morning, when all the charity and 
other schools are admitted. 
We must, however, proceed to the mere matter of fact 
duties of our report, and will begin by recording our astonish¬ 
ment that so many good pens of chickens could be sent, after 
a season of universal failure in hatching, like that of 1858. 
We have it on the best authority, that Mr. Houghton received 
numerous letters from old and large exhibitors, expressing 
J their regret they were unable to send, owing to the failure of 
j all their early hatches, and promising great things for the 
317 ( 
I ^ inter Show. We will now take the classes as they occur, j 
pointing out anything that calls for especial remark, and re¬ 
ferring for other information to the prize list we publisedh 
last week. 
The Judges declared the Spanish a very good class, and w'e 
doubt whether so many good chickens were ever before seen 
in the month of August, and here we may note a remarkable 
progress. A few years since, the early birds of this breed, if 
they possessed white faces, seemed to owe them to precocity, 
I rather than purity; and the chickens were little, round, squat, 
hen-like figures, as unlike ordinary Spanish as they could well 
be ; but here, they -were not only w’hite-faced, but long-legged, 
growing chickens. Either of the successful may fairly look 
forward to a continued career. Mr. Fowler’s were especially 
good : the same may be said of the cock in Mr. J. C. Hall’s pen. 
All the prize birds in these tw'o classes may be highly thought 
of by their owners. They were far above the average. 
There was a long class of excellent Dorlcing chickens, and the 
Hon. W. Vernon maintained the position he has before oc¬ 
cupied at this Show',—he w'as first. Thirteen pens were deemed 
worthy of different degrees of commendation, and nearly all 
were meritorious. In some pens there were chickens with 
deformed and swollen toes : this should be carefully avoided, 
as it renders success impossible. All that we said of the 
Spanish, may be repeated for the White Dorkings. Their 
increase in size, their symmetry, and the pains which are 
evidently bestowed on their breeding, have worked a complete 
revolution. The J udges appended a note here, “ that no class 
shows greater improvement than this.” It was difficult to 
decide between Mr. Robinson and Captain Beardmore. 
The next class that calls for especial notice is that for Buff 
Cochins. It was truly a beautiful class. It was worthy of 
the best days of Cochins ,—colour, size, shape, all were repre¬ 
sented. Barring accidents, Messrs. Stretch, Johnson, and 
Fowler may expect to be talked of in this class ; for we have 
never seen birds of greater promise. W r e willingly endorse 
the opinions of the J udges, that the Grouse Cochins formed 
“ one of the best classes ever seen.” If we were asked to 
name the best Cochin cock chicken we had ever seen, we would 
select the cock in Mr. Fowler’s pen. He is a remarkable 
bird. All the prize-takers in this class were beautiful. The 
Whites were feebly represented, and by no means equal to 
their coloured brethren. Mr. Chase’s was, however, an ave¬ 
rage pen. 
The Brahmas were all that could be desired. Mr. Botham, 
as usual, was first, followed closely by Mr. Fowler. Mr. 
Botham’s birds were remarkable. 
The constantly rising Game classes came next in order. 
The Hon. W. Vernon took first and second for White and 
Piles, followed by Mr. Matthew r . All these birds were perfect. 
Then a hard contest for the honours in Black-breasted,—Mr. 
G. Moss first and second, Mr. Bentley third. These were 
not mean exploits. The Blacks and Brassy-wings were not 
as well represented. Mr. Bullock showed a good pen; but 
no other was deemed worthy of a second, although a third 
prize was awarded to Mr. Bullard. Mr. Marryatt took first, 
and Mr. Bentley second and third for Duckwings. 
Then came a class which has of late excited unusual in¬ 
terest, that for single Game cocks. It was well contested, 
and the names of the successful will speak for the quality of 
the birdsFirst, Mr. Matthew' j [second, Mr. W. Cox ; 
third, Mr. G. Moss. 
The Golden-pencilled Hamburghs were very good. All tho 
prizes went to new names—Messrs. Carter, Dyson, and Coates. 
The Silver-pencilled were pronounced “ meritorious.” Mr. 
Archer, of course, took first and second ; and an exhibitor 
almost as well known, the Rev. F. B. Pryor, was third. Both 
these classes deserved honourable mention. We cannot say 
as much for the Golden-spangled. The first prize was with¬ 
held. The Silvers were good. Messrs. Deigliton, Robinson, 
and Beardmore were prize-takers, and the class was praised. 
The Poland classes w'ere all poor. We know the difficulty 
of rearing early and good chickens in these classes j but it 
has been necessary for some time to remind exhibitors, that, 
unless the entries increase in number, the prizes must lie di¬ 
minished in value. The only average class is that for Silvers. 
Messrs. Adkins, Dixon, and* P. Jones, wdio took their prizes 
as placed, sent good birds. In every other class prizes were 
reluctantly withheld. 
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