THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 28, 1858. 
417 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
October 7tli and 8th. Worcestershire. Sec., Mr. G. Griffiths, 7, 
St. Switkin’s Lane, Worcester. Entries close September 23. 
October 13th and 14th. Crewe. Sec., D. Margetts, Crewe. Entries 
close 30th September. 
November 29th and 30th, December 1st and 2nd. Birmingham. Sec., 
Mr. J. Morgan, Entries close November 1st. 
December 17tli and 18th. Halifax Fancy Pigeon Show. Sec., Mr. 
II. Iioldsworth, 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 H. Oakey. 
February 9tli and 10th, 1859. Ulverstone. Sec., Thos. Itobinson. 
January 3rd, 1859. Kirkcaldy Poultry and Fancy Bird Show. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
BEIDGENORTH POULTRY" EXHIBITION". 
Beidgenokth lias ever maintained a high reputation for 
the excellency and spirited character of its annual poultry 
shows, and the one just concluded has not proved itself less 
meritorious than its predecessors. It was held this year in 
the newly-erected Market Hall, a building peculiarly adapted 
to the purpose. The ventilation is perfect, the light excellent 
and general, besides which, the ample space affords every ac¬ 
commodation. It is almost needless to say, the Committee 
again carried out their painstaking efforts to promote the 
welfare and comfort of the poultry confided to them, and it is 
only rarely we have witnessed a show of chickens (unaccus¬ 
tomed, as they of necessity must be, to the restraints of an ex¬ 
hibition pen), where the birds themselves seemed so quiet and 
contented. 
The class for Cochin chickens was a superior one. The 
birds exhibited by Mr. H. Tomlinson, of Birmingham, were 
a very close approach to perfection, and certainly did high 
credit to that gentleman’s poultry-yard. Their colour was 
the clearest buff. The second prize pen (Partridge-coloured), 
the property of Mr. Churchill, of Gloucester, were also of 
very high character. 
The Grey Borhings, with the exception of a pen of Silver 
Greys, sent by Mr. Chune, of Coalbrookdale, which were ex¬ 
ceedingly good, and well matched, betrayed a falling off from 
those shown at Bridgenorth on former occasions. 
Among the Black-breasted Game , perhaps the best pen of 
chickens that have ever, as yet, been exhibited to the public, 
at any meeting, here or elsewhere, took first honours ; as will 
be seen, they belonged to that well-experienced exhibitor, Mr. 
Archer. The cockerel in this pen w r as the subject of universal 
admiration, which he justly deserved, and although many grave 
doubts were whispered in the room, as to his chickenliood, 
it is both our opinion, and that of the Judge, Mr. E.Hewitt, 
of Birmingham, that there was no well-grounded reason 
to question the correctness of the entry. Ii' all goes well, no 
doubt this bird will be found during the coming season, again 
maintaining his high position against all competitors. He is 
the perfection of neatness, combined with great muscularity. 
His colour, too, is faultless. The other classes of Game con¬ 
tained many excellent birds, but obviously, as yet, quite too 
young “ to show ” to advantage. 
As anticipated, the Hamburgh classes were first-rate, Messrs. 
Archer and Chune evidently mustering most of their strength, ' 
as the decisions in these four classes it was presumed, would 
tell heavilyfor the “ Collection Cup.” The display in these : 
classes was, consequently, a show in itself; and in the principal 
pens of pencilled chickens, it would be difficult to suggest any 
: improvement. 
The Polands, particularly the white-crested, w r ere first-rate 
specimens,—Bridgenorth, in the person of E. W. Hazlewood, 
Esq., monopolising the premiums almost without exception, j 
The Spanish class was a weak one, although several extra¬ 
ordinary pullets were exhibited. 
The Any other Variety class contained specimens worthy 
of any poultry meeting. 
The Bantams of all kinds competed together. The Game 
varieties were well worthy of close inspection, and drew 
around them constant groups of visitors. Among the Seb rights 
we noticed two disqualified pens, from the introduction of 
adult birds, although the rules confined the Show exclusively 
to chickens. 
The White Aylesbury, and Buenos Ayres Bucks, were 
specimens of the closest attention to breeding; it would be 
useless to desire better. 
The great interest, however, arose respecting the Collection 
Cup, value seven guineas. It was richly embossed, with a pair 
of shields for the use of the engraver, when the individuality 
of its future possessor should be decided. It is a somewhat 
singular circumstance, that “ the Cup for Bridgenorth,” has 
j hitherto “ invariably left the county ; ” nor has it ever been 
' won at all, otherwise than with extreme difficulty,—a single 
! point, or even half a point, being usually the difference be- 
I tween the lucky owner and! his nearest competitor. The 
latter result was the same on this present occasion, Mr. Chune 
securing 23^ points, against Mr. Archer’s 22| points. The 
written directions, by which the decision was arrived at, "were 
given by the Committee into the hands of the Judge, and 
were as follows:—“ A first prize to count three points, a 
second two points, a highly commended pen one point, whilst 
a single commendation only was to count but half a point,” 
the aggregate being thus easily attained ■was decisive. 
A reference to the appended prize list will at once prove 
how difficult was winning, “ the head of the poll ” being first 
in favour of one of the rivals, then the other. This change of 
places after being often renewed, eventually settled down, as 
before stated, by the Cup remaining, this year, in the county ; 
and many were the congratulation of the Salopians, that after 
so hardly won a fight, it should be so. It was generally 
acknowledged that every available effort of either competitor 
was strained to the utmost, to secure a triumph. 
The Bridgenorth Show has, most unhappily, assumed 
almost the character of a “household word,” for being always 
held during unpropitious weather. This year we were glad to 
find a more comfortable result; all was fair, and the Show went 
off' satisfactorily. There was, however, one little alteration on 
the practices of former years, that might possibly lead to 
another consideration, viz. :—“Whether or not it is politic to 
divide the Agricultural and Poultry Exhibitions, when thus 
held simultaneously.” It is no less singular than true, how¬ 
ever strange it may appear at first sight, that several visitors 
left Bridgenorth, labouring under the mistaken impression 
that poultry no longer held its own position at this year’s 
meeting. Even a few posting bills might have obviated that 
mistaken notion. 
Silver Cup to J. B. Chune, Coalbrookdale. 
Cochin-China (any colour except White or Black).—First, II. Tom¬ 
linson, Balsall Heath Road, Birmingham. Second. H. Churchill, 
Gloucester (Partridge). Commended, J. Price, Londonderry, near 
Bedale; A. F. Watkin, Walkley, near Sheffield (Buff). (A very good 
class.) 
Cochin-China (White or Black).—No entry. 
Dorkings. —First, J. B. Chune, Coalbrookdale. Second, J. Price, 
Londonderry, near Bedale. Highly Commended, E. Archer, Malvern. 
Commended, C. H. Wakefield, Malvern Wells. 
Game (Black-breasted, and other Reds).—First, E. Archer, Malvern. 
Second, Messrs. Bullock and Rapson, Leamington. Highly Com¬ 
mended, W. Chatling, Wandsworth. Commended, W. Chatling. 
Game (White and Piles).—First, E. Archer, Malvern. Second, J. B. 
Chune, Coalbrookdale. Commended, J. B. Chune, Coalbrookdale. 
Game (Duckwings, and other Greys and Blues).—First, T. II. D. 
Bayley, Ickwell House, Biggleswade, Beds. Second, W. Chatling, 
Wandsworth. Highly Commended, II. Churchill, Gloucester. 
Game (any other variety).—First and Second, J. B. Chune, Coal¬ 
brookdale (Black). Commended, Messrs. Bullock and Rapson, Leam¬ 
ington (Black). 
Hamburghs (Golden-pencilled).—First and Second, E. Archer, 
Malvern. Highly Commended, J. B. Chune, Coalbrookdale. (A 
superior class.) 
Hamburghs (Golden-spangled). — First and Second, J. B. Chune, 
Coalbrookdale. Commended, J. Barnforth, Holmfirth, Huddersfield. 
Hamburghs (Silver - pencilled). — First and Second, E. Archer, 
Malvern. Highly Commended, J. B. Chune, Coalbrookdale, Com¬ 
mended, E. Archer, Malvern. (A beautiful class.) 
Hamburghs (Silver-spangled).—First, E. Archer, Malvern. Second, 
J. B. Chune, Coalbrookdale. 
Polands (Black ■with White Crests).—First, J. Barnforth, Holmfirth, 
Huddersfield. Second, Mrs. Blay, St. George’s Square, Worcester. 
Commended, G. Ray, Minesteed, Lyndhurst, Hants; E. W. Ilasle- 
wood, Bridgenorth. ' (A highly deserving class). 
Polands (Golden-spangled).—First and Second, E. W. Haslewood, 
Bridgenorth. 
Polands (Silver-spangled).—First and Second, E. AY. Haslewood, 
Bridgenorth. 
Spanish. —First, II. Tomlinson, Balsall Heath Road, Birmingham. 
Second, A. F. Watkin, Walkley, near Sheffield. 
Spanish (any other variety).—First, G. M. Kettle, Dallicott House, 
Bridgenorth (Cuckoo Fowls). Second, A. F. AVatkin, AValkley, near 
