FANCIERS’ JOURNAL 
AND 
POBLTRY HXCHANGEH. 
Wor 1. 
PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 8; 1874. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 
. SHOEMAKERTOWN, Pa., December 15, 1873. 
EpiTor FANCIERS’ JOURNAL. 
I noticed on page 4 of the Fanciers’ Journal that the Mary- 
land State Poultry Association intend to offer as premiums 
ten gold medals, forty silver medals, and a number of di- 
plomas. Now, if my presumption may be excused, I would 
suggest to the officers of the above association that they give 
exhibitors the equivalent of the medals which they may win 
in greenbacks, if they desire it. 
Medals and diplomas are very nice things in, their way, 
but are not current on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and 
Baltimore Railroad. Hoping the officers of the above asso- 
ciation will give this matter due consideration, 
I um very respectfully yours, 
Wm. HE. FLOWERS. 

soe 
(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
CHARLESTON, S. C., December 15, 1873. 
Mr. Jos. M. WADE. 
Dear Sir :—It may not be known that the use of tobacco 
will drive away lice from poultry. No fancier should allow 
these vermin to get among his birds. I mean what is com- 
monly known as ‘‘ fowl-lice.’’ Due attention to the houses 
and coops will prevent it. But on one occasion these insects 
took possession of my pigeons. They killed all the young 
and at last drove me from the cot. I tried everything I 
could think of,—turpentine, kerosene, carbolic soap. Killed 
numbers of my young birds by one or another of these, | 
and millions of lice no doubt. But their increase was not 
_even checked. In despair I was about selling out my stock, 
when some one suggested tobacco. I bought one-half pound 
of Durham’s smoking tobacco; sprinkled it carefully in the 
nests and all over the house. In three days the lice were 
gone. In one or two nests they were found a month after- 
ward. These were again sprinkled with tobacco, and now 
my birds are entirely free from them. The lice peculiar to 
the pigeon are also driven away by it. 
Very respectfully, Je Ge 
So, 
LIGHT BRAHMA STANDARD. 
(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
Mr. Jos. M. Wapz, 
Secretary American Poultry Association, 
Dzar Sir: As the Convention will soon be in session at 
Buffalo for the purpose of making a standard of excellence, 
I present my views on the subject of light Brahmas for con- 
sideration. There has not been a day for twenty-three years 
that I have not had them in my possession, and they have 
been my especially favored pets. I feel that I know them 
thoroughly, and that my opinion should have some weight 
and consideration during the discussions. 
To my mind the present standard appears to be very nearly 
right. Though I will not attempt to exercise any influence 
whatever in regard to any other breed, but in ¢/is I have a 

Natick, Mass. 
| premises. 

strong feeling. Sickness alone prevents my attendance. 
[Norr.—Mr. F. has mistaken the time, which really is 
one month later.] If the standard is revised, or altered at 
ali, I suggest that, in the department I refer to espe- 
cially, ‘‘size’’ should read ‘‘ weight,’’ and that five points be 
taken off and added to ‘‘legs’’ and feathering thereof, ex- 
cepting the feathering of middle toe, to which I most em- 
phatically object. The reason for which is, ten to fifteen 
per cent. of such chicks will necessarily prove to be vulture- 
hocked, which no first-class breeder desires to see about his 
The legs should be of medium length, of a rich 
reddish-yellow color, and well feathered to the tip of the 
outer toe. Let the Brahma havea perfect pea comb, with 
seven serrations in the middle section, and in the two side 
sections five serrations each. The size of the comb to be in 
proportion to the size, vigor, and general symmetry of the 
fowl, and set straight and firmly on the head. Ear-lobes and 
wattles must be well defined, of equal length, and, like the 
comb, of a rich red color. Head not so small as to indicate a 
lack of brain room, but also in proportion to the size of the body. 
| We should not expect all the seven or eight-pound birds to 
have heads and combs the same size of one weighing ten or 
twelve pounds in the same ‘‘condition.”” The beak to form 
a perfect arch from point to nostril, strong, with a dark 
stripe down the middle of the same, which, to be perfect, 
should cover one-fourth its surface. Neck well arched, of 
fair length, covered with a profusion of hackle feathers, that 
flow well over the back and shoulders, each feather of which 
must be striped with black, running to a point at the point 
of the feather, the sides of the stripe to be in a straight line, 
and not running parallel with the edge of the feather. Body 
round, carrying the breast well forward; the feathering to 
be of that shade of white seen jn new milk, with bluish-white 
under-color, neither of which is to be given the preference 
in judging. Back broad, and of sufficient length when fairly 
viewed from the side, and combined with the neck-hackle 
and tail coverts, to define the curved form of an egg, the 
front part representing the curve toward the large end. 
Tail to be well developed, black in color, well spread like a 
fan or the letter A, well filled in with rich, curly feathers, 
which may be white, or white and blacklaced. The coverts 
to be black, or laced with white; the feathering part of the 
coverts should be in keeping with a moderate fluff. I like 
the richness of the fluff feathering, but we must not, for any 
consideration, attempt to increase the quantity, for if we do 
the consequence is the individuality of the fowl will be 
destroyed, the true Brahma shape lost, which I insist on 
maintaining. We cannot improve the wing. 
DISQUALIFICATIONS, 
Not matched in pen, vulture-hock legs any other color 
than orange or reddish-yellow, or not feathered. Under- 
color of body any other than milk or bluish-white. Comb 
other than pea-comb, or lopping to either side of head. Cock 
without wattles. 
