363 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 11, 1860. 
continue by asking ourselves why it is people like to complain. 
Do they wish to be pitied on account of the woes they endure? 
Do they wish to be admired for the courage with which they 
bear them ? or do they like to grumble ? 
We are forced to this train of reasoning by the inspection of 
the letters we receive after aDy show of magnitude. 
“ ‘ Belinda ’ has a high respect for the press, and knowing its 
power has no doubt we can ascertain why her Hamburghs did 
not gain a prize at the Crystal Palace. She admits the comb of 
one of the hens fell over a day or two before they went to Syden¬ 
ham ; but it was accidental, and those who saw them both before 
and after the competition can affirm it. She wishes to know if 
that was the only reason.” 
“‘J. C. H.’ wishes through our columns to expose a grie¬ 
vance. He showed two pens. He put £100 on one, and £2 on 
the other. The Judges, much to his surprise, gave first prize to 
the latter. He sticks to his own opinion, and says the others 
were the best. On arriving at the Palace he finds the pen sold. 
As shows cannot be held without exhibitors, and as many of | 
them, like himself, like to make it pay, he suggests that the prices j 
shall not be affixed to any pen till the Judges have made their 
awards. He wants nothing but what is fair, and does not wish i 
to cause trouble. He would say thus : * J. C. H.,’ 178, 179, ! 
180, prices according to merit and awards, £2, £L0, £20.” 
“ ‘T. F.’ wishes the public to be allowed to alter the prices of 
their pens. He was from home when the entries were made, j 
and a first-prize pen has been sold in consequence for 40s. His ; 
stupid man thought that a prohibitory price. He also laments 
the want of courtesy shown by some exhibitors and visitors. He 
asked the purchaser to give up the pen, explained the mistake to 
him, and he only laughed at him.” 
“ ‘ J. E.’ never grumbles, nor does he ever find fault with the 
decisions of the Judges. Their task is hard enough, and its 
difficulties should not be increased ; but he wishes he may never 
breed another chicken. If he can understand the merits of pen I 
2010, ‘ J. K.’ thinks them the worst birds in the class. His 
own are the best, and had they been properly judged (which they 
were not) he would have won. Nevertheless, he does not find 
fault.” 
POULTRY EXHIBITION AT KEIGHLEY, 
YORKSHIRE. 
The annual Poultry Show in connection with that of the 
Keighley Agricultural Society took place on the 5th iust. At 
6 a.m. the bells of Keighley Church burst forth in a long suc¬ 
cession of merry peals, proclaiming far and wide for miles around 
that the customary quietude of the neighbourhood was that day 
to give place to a joyful and universal holiday. As the morning 
progressed, great numbers of banners were erected across all the 
main streets, bearing suitable inscriptions ; the one nearest the 
railway station, being visible several hundred yards, was inscribed 
in bold letters some eighteen inches long, “ Welcome visitors 
all.” The shrubberies of the neighbourhood had evidently, too, 
contributed no mean addition to the arrangements of the day. 
By ten o’clock many thousand visitors had arrived ; and at the 
time the band of the local Rifles came forward to precede the 
procession of the Committee and Judges to the ground, the 
road was, from the numbers assembled, scarcely passable. In 
spite of the presence of so many sight-seers, however, the greatest 
order and decorum prevailed. For many hours from this time 
every successive train brought great accumulations to the pre¬ 
vious visitors; and it certainly struck us that soon after mid¬ 
day we scarcely remember having seen a show-yard better filled ; 
whilst, most luckily, the weather was the most favourable that 
could be wished for. 
The old Cochins were shown in very indifferent trim ; in fact, 
we rarely see so meagre a competition. The Chickens, on the 
contrary, were many of them very good; and among them some 
light “Cinnamons” were birds of much promise. We cannot 
speak highly of any of the Black Spanish , save and except the 
two first-prize pens. As candid journalists, we must say the less 
is said of the adult Chitterprats (Silver-pencilled Hamburghs) 
the better ; although for many years this locality has produced the 
greater part of our principal exhibition birds. The Chiclcens were, 
however, very good indeed. The selfsame remarks are equally 
applicable to the Golden-pencilled, the old birds being one of the 
most indifferent we remember seeing. The Golden and Silver- 
spangled Hamburghs were, on the contrary, perfect almost with¬ 
out the exception of a single pen. They were well worthy of all 
praise. Most of the Black Hamburghs exhibited were faulty in 
combs. The Poland classes were superior to common ; the Black 
wilh White Crests particularly so. The Dorkings proved how 
successfully this variety will stand the extremes of weather, even 
so far north as Keighley. The Game , generally, were good, but 
several of the very best pens became outcasts from not the 
slightest attention having been paid to matching the colour of the 
legs. For the hundredth time we must state, that every other 
good quality combined will not make good this deficiency. The 
Bantams were not first-rate, but the Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys, 
show that Yorkshire stands very highly in useful poultry. 
All the arrangements of the Committee were most satisfactory 
and complete, every one appearing satisfied. 
The Judges were J. O. Jolly, Esq., Acombe Grange; and 
Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Eden Cottage, Spark Brook, near 
Birmingham. 
Cochin-China. —First and Second, W. Dawson, Hopton. Chickens .— 
First. H. Sharp, Bradford. Second, W. Dawson, Hopton. Commended, 
W. Dawson. 
Spanish (Black).—First, T. Robinson, the Gill, Ulverstone. Second, 
D. Wilson, Sutton Fields. Chickens. —First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, 
W. Cunnan, Bradford. 
Chittfri'hats First, .1. Dixon, Bradford. Second, W.Cannan, Bradford. 
Chickens .—First, J. Stt-ll, Keighley, Second, Mrs. H. Sharp, Bradford. 
Highly Commended, J. Stell; J. Dixon, Bradford. Commended, G. S. 
Taylor. 
Golden Pheasant. —First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, H. Carter, 
Upperthong. Chickens —First, H. Carter. Second, W. Cannan, Bradford. 
Highly Commended, J. Dixon. 
Hamburgh (Golden-pencilled).—First, \V. Cannan, Bradford. Second, 
S. Shaw, Stainland. Chickens. —First, Mrs. H. Sharp, Bradford, Second, 
S. Shaw. Commended, S. Barrett, Harewood Bridge. 
Silver Pheasant. —First, W. Caiman, Bradford. Second, J. Dixon, 
Bradford. Commended, W. Cannan. Chickens. — First, W. Cannan, 
Bradford. Second, S. Shaw, Stainland. Highly Commended, Mrs. H. 
Sharp, Brartford. Commended, J. Hartley, Long Lee; T. Smith, Hexley 
Head ; J. Mitchell, nippe holme. 
Black Pheasant. — First, W. Cannan, Bradford. Second, J. Scott, 
Skipton. Chirkevs. —First, IV. Maud, Bingley. Second, W. Cannan. 
Commended, W. Maud. 
Poland (Golden Pheasant).—First and Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. 
Chickens. —First and Se ond, J. Dixon, 
Poland (Silver Pheasant).—First and Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. 
Chickens. —First and Second, J. Dixon. 
Dorkings.— First, Mrs. If. Sharp, Bradford. Second, H. Ifainworth, 
Lupset Hall. Chickens.— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, H. Hainworth. 
Game. —First, F. Hardy, Bradford. Second, J. Scott, Skipton. Chickens . 
—First, J. Firth, Halifax. Second, F. Hardy, Bradford. 
Bantams (Black, White, or Game).—First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, 
F. Hardy, Bradford. Chickens.— First, W. Lawrenson, Poulton-le-Fylde. 
Second, J. Rawmley, Gilstead. 
Any Distinct Breed.—F irst, W. Dawson, Hopton (Sultans). Second, 
J. Dixon, Bradford (White Polands). Highly Commended, J. Rawnsley. 
Gilstead (Black Polandsi; W. Cannan, Bradford (Malays). Commended, 
R. Tate, Driffield (Brahmas). Chickens. —First, J. Smith, Keighley. 
Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Highly Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford. 
Ducks (Rouen).—First, J. Dixon. Bradford. Second, J. G. Sugden, 
Eastwood House. Commended, S. Shaw, Stainland. 
Ducks (Aylesbury).—First, W. Cannan, Bradford. Second, J.Crabtree, 
Royd House. 
Ducklings (any variety).—First, F.. Tate, Driffield (Aylesburys). Second, 
J. G. Sugden, Eastwood House (Rouens). Highly Commended, J. G. 
Sugden; S. Shaw, Stainland; J. Dixon, Bradford. 
Geese. —First, Mary Gi een, Todley. Second, M. Mahoney, Goit Stock. 
Turkeys.— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, R. Tate, Driffield. 
Extra Stock.—C ommended, B. and A. Laycock, Woodville, Keighley, 
for Red Magpie, Archangels, Owls, Dun Carriers, Barbs, and Mottled 
Tumblers. 
Babbits. —Commended, S. Kirby, Tbirsk. 
THE RABBITS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 
At no other place can one ever see such a collection of Rabbits 
as that assembled a few days since at Sydenham. People whose 
ideas of Rabbits begin with those they kept in their childhood 
(those unhappy pets, surfeited one day and then starved for 
three), and finish with a shudder at the sight of a row of those 
from Ostendliungup at a cheesemonger’s—such cannot fail to be 
astonished when they see Buch a number of fine animals as those 
at Sydenham under the auspices of Mr. Houghton. 
Rabbits are assuming a position of greater importance than 
they have hitherto held, both from the demand for them as articles 
of food, and by the introduction of new varieties valuable for the 
sake of their skins. As articles of food in England, the tame 
Rabbit is not appreciated. In many establishments it may be 
kept at almost a nominal cost. In France, especially in the 
south, in Provence, we have seen many places where the stock of 
