THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 14, 1858. 
was remarkable; and we ourselves really feel astonished at 
the inattention lately manifested towards these very useful 
and equally handsome varieties. The fact was, in chickens 
there was not ~ ' competition whatever; and, even in the 
adult class, three pens only of scarcely passable birds were 
exhibited. Poland fanciers must, indeed, push forward a 
little from their present supineness, or, as a matter of course. 
Committees generally cannot long offer valuable premiums, 
where the entries are so limited, and the fowls shown so un¬ 
deserving. These remarks are rendered compulsory, from 
the fact that the falling off alluded to has lately become an 
almost general feature of this year’s Meetings. 
The Game naturally showed to a considerable disadvantage, 
consequent on moulting-time. 
The Turkey.' ?, Geese , and Duck classes have never been 
equalled at any former Meetings of the Manchester and Liver¬ 
pool Society ; and great credit is due to the collection of pen3 
from Knowsley, for the high position they maintained on the 
prize list. 
The attendance during the Show' was very good, and the 
Exhibition received its well-deserved meed of praise from the 
visitors generally. The birds, too, were well attended. But, 
undoubtedly, in future years, it would be well to complete the 
arrangements sufficiently soon to permit the Judges to con¬ 
clude their arbitration prior to public admission; this year, 
on the contrary, several hours elapsed before the gentlemen 
alluded to could even commence their labours, after the Show 
was opened to all parties. 
Dorkings (Speckled or Grey).—Prize, Capt. W. W. Hornby, R.N., 
Knowsley, near Preseot. 
Spanish. — Prize, Capt. W. W. Hornby, R.N., Knowsley, near 
Prescot. Highly Commended, S. H, Hyde, Moss Cottage, Ashton- 
under-Lyne; J. Parsons, Audenshaw, Manchester. Commended, J. 
Richardson, Timperley, Altrincham. (A good class.) 
Game. —Prize, D. Parsons, Cuerden, near Preston. 
Cochin-China. —rrize, T. Stretch, Marsh Lane, Bootle, near Liver¬ 
pool (Buff). Commended, T. Stretch, Marsh Lane, Bootle, near Liver¬ 
pool (Partridge); T. Burnett, Hutton, Preston. 
IIamburghs (Golden-pencilled). —• Prize, T, Bigby, Fenny Wood, 
Over, near Midcllewich. 
IIamburghs (Silver-pencilled). — Prize, T. Rigby, Fenny Wood, 
Over, near Middlewich. 
IIamburghs (Golden-spangled).—Prize, S. II. Hyde, Moss Cottage, 
Ashton-under-Lyne. 
IIamburghs (Silver-spangled).—Prize, W. Pierce, Hartford, North- 
wich. Highly Commended, J. Robinson, Vale House, near Garstang. 
Polands (Black with White Crests, and Golden or Silver).—Prize, 
J. Robinson, Vale House, near Garstang (Silver Poland). (An in¬ 
different class.) 
Bantams. —Prize, T. Johnson, Ilalton Grange, Runcorn (Game 
breed). Commended, E. Musgrove, Aughton, near Liverpool; Capt. 
W. W. Hornby, R.N,, Knowsley, near Prescot. 
Any other Breed. —Prize, J. Robinson, Vale House, near Garstang 
(White Dorking). 
Geese. —Prize, Capt. W. W. Hornby, Knowsley, near Prescot. 
Highly Commended, T. Browmhill, Hope Terrace, Gorton, near Man¬ 
chester ; T. W. Swinton, Marston, near Knutsford. 
Ducks (Aylesbury).—Prize, T. Burnett. Hutton, Preston. Highly 
Commended, J. Wood, Moat House, Haigh, near Wigan. Commended, 
T. Rigby, Fenny Wood, Over, near Middlewich ; S. H. Hyde, Moss 
Cottage^ Ashton-under-Lyne. (A superior class.) 
Ducks (Rouen).—Prize, R. Serjencson, 16, Tabley Street, Liverpool. 
Ducks (any other breed).—Prize, T. W. Tatton, Wythenshawe, 
Northenden (White Call). Commended, T. W. Tatton, Wythenshawe, 
Northenden (Brown Call); W. S. Ledger, Grove House, West Derby, 
near Liverpool (Call). (A very excellent class.) 
Turkeys.— Prize, Capt. W. W. Hornby, R.N., Knowsley, near 
Preseot. Commended, J. Longton and Son, Woolton Hill, near Liver¬ 
pool (Wild American). 
YOUNG POULTRY. 
Goslings. —Prize, Capt. W. W. Hornby, R.N., Knowsley, near 
Prescot. Highly Commended, W. Bradshaw, Slade House, Levens- 
liulme, Manchester; W. T. Pownall, Yarwood Heath, near Altrincham 
(half-bred Spanish); T. Johnson, Halton Grange, Runcorn (Grey) ; 
T. Brownbill, Hope Terrace, Gorton, near Manchester. (An unusually 
good class.) 
Ducklings.— Prize, E. Lister, Cassia Lodge, Northwich, Cheshire 
(Aylesbury); Highly Commended, J. Robinson, Vale House, near 
Garstang (Aylesbury); J. Longton and Son, Woolton Hill, near Liver¬ 
pool (Rouen); S. II. Hyde, Moss Cottage, Ashton - under - Lyne 
(Aylesbury). Commended, B. L. Sykes, Breck House, Poulton-le- 
Fylde (Aylesbury). 
Dorkings.' —Prize, Capt. W. W. Horby, R.N., Knowsley, near 
j Prescot. 
Spanish. —Prize, S. II. Hyde, Moss Cottage, Ashton-under-Lyne. 
387 
Highly Commended, T. Davies, jun., Wavertree Nursery, near Liver¬ 
pool ; S. II. Hyde. 
Game. —Prize, R. Serjencson, 16, Tabley Street, Liverpool. Com¬ 
mended, Capt. W. W. Hornby, R.N., Knowsley, near Prescot; J. 
Crisp, Knowsley, near Prescot; J. Turner, Radcliffe, Bury, Lancashire. 
Cochin-China. —Prize, T. Stretch, Marsh Lane, Bootle, near Liver¬ 
pool (Buff).. Commended, E, Musgrove, Aughton, near Liverpool; 
Capt. W. W. Hornby, R.N., Knowsley, near Prescot. 
IIamburghs (Golden-pencilled).—Prize, W. Pierce, Hartford, North¬ 
wich. Highly Commended, R. Valiant, Poulton-le-Fylde. Com¬ 
mended, S. Kay, Longfield, Langley, near Middleton, Lancashire. 
Hamburgiis (Silver - pencilled). — Prize, W. Pierce, Hartford, 
Northwich. 
Hamburghs (Goklen-spangled). — Prize, S. Fielding, Fogg Lane, 
Middleton, Lancashire. Highly Commended, N. Marlow, Denton, 
near Manchester. 
Hamburgh (Silver-spangled).—Prize, J. Robinson, Vale House, near 
Garstang. Highly Commended, J. Booth, Failsworth, Manchester. 
Commended, C. Andrew, Taunton, Ashton-under-Lyne. 
Any other breed. —Prize, J. Robinson, Vale House, near Garstang 
(White Dorking). Commended, J. Robinson (Black Hamburgh); W. 
Copple, Knowsley, near Preseot (Black Cochin-China); T. Burgess, 
jun., Burley Dam, near Whitchurch, Salop (White Dorking). 
Extra Stock.— Highly Commended, J. P. Jones, Ilandsworth, near 
Sheffield (Silver-pencilled Hamburgh) ; R. Bell, Mosbro’ Hall, Rain- 
ford, near St. Helens (Muscovy Ducks); T. Rigbye, Manchester Road, 
Southport (Booted Coloured Bantam); T. Rigbye (White Silky). 
A SUNNY RUN ESSENTIAL. 
Having* some local reputation as a breeder of fowls, partly 
because I have occasionally taken prizes at the leading Shows, 
but mainly because I have always kitchen produce from my 
poultry, enough and to spare, I am occasionally called in by my 
neighbours, as a consulting physician, when chickens die, or 
hens refuse to lay the number of eggs expected from them. 
To readers of The Cottage G-ardenek, it is not now ne¬ 
cessary to say that, be the breed what it may, without cleanli¬ 
ness, regxdarity, and variety of food, no success can possibly j 
be attained. One other little essential to success I hope to j 
be allowed to mention,—a very little thing, but one that, if ! 
neglected, will frustrate all our pains,—have your poultry 
runs a light and sunny aspect? If they have not, no 
abundance of winter eggs will be produced. I have just re¬ 
turned from visiting a friend, to whom, for three successive 
years, I have sent eggs from a favourite variety of Cochins, 
which, with me, are the most prolific layers from Michaelmas 
to Easter. I sent eggs to my friend in March, 1855, and con¬ 
fidently expected I bad started him with every prospect of 
success. Late in autumn, I visited him, and found his birds 
half the size of mine of like age. I inquired into his method j 
of feeding, and suggested an im provement in that department. 
In spring, 1856, I heard that his poultry w r ere not healthy. 
He asked for fresh eggs from me ; I sent them. On paying 
my yearly visit the next Christmas, I found the birds of fair 
size ; but not one of the pullets had begun to lay. 
As my own April pullets always lay by November, I was 
surprised, and inquired into the feeding and lodging of my 
friend’s birds. I found feeding and lodging were both good ; 
t he soil was dry; and I could not explain the tardiness of 
the pullets in completing their plumage and commencing 
their laying season. Presently, it struck me that the yard in 
which they w r ere was overshadowed by the house and build¬ 
ings, and that, during autumn and winter, the sun could 
hardly shine into it at all. I pointed this out to my acquaint¬ 
ance, and suggested that a small run should be enclosed with 
wire in the kitchen garden, in such a place, that every sun¬ 
beam of the winter quarter should fall freely upon it. Ho 
1 adopted my suggestion, and now he reports that his birds 
last winter laid most regularly, and were invariably healthy. 
In short, he is now as sanguine as he was once desponding. 
The birds last winter had no better food, less space, and a \ 
worse house than in previous seasons, yet they throve better. 
It can only be explained by the invigorating effect of direct 
sunlight. 
I hope some unsuccessful reader of your pages may gather 
from this little story a hint which may conduce to his better 
luck in the coming winter. Of course, those whose birds 
have ample range need not trouble themselves to provide such 
a place. Their birds know what they want, and will find it 
for themselves. Those whose birds are always confined 
should know, that without sun the poultry will be neither 
thrifty nor prolific, feed them as they may.—K. 
