FANCIERS’ 
Pete A AN POU LVR YX CHAN G E. 
678 

our State Poultry Exhibition in Peoria, last month, con- 
vinced all with whom we conversed, that ten times the stock 
changed hands at much better prices, than at any purely 
poultry exhibition ever held in the West. 
State and County Agricultural Boards recognize the Poul- 
try Department as one of the chief attractions of the Fair, 
and will cheerfully listen to any suggestion that will pro- 
mote the interest, either by adopting a properly classified 
premium list, or increasing the amount of awards. 
The combined efforts of the Agricultural Board and poul- 
try men saves the poultry societies the expense of renting 
an exhibition hall, ete., more than doubles the amount to be 
paid as premiums, insures many thousands more visitors, and 
influences a large number of exhibitors. 
By this course no great demand for funds is made upon 
poultry breeders, and they are enabled to have a fall show 
at the Agricultural Fair, and purely poultry show in the 
winter, when birds are in fine feather. 
ILLINots. 

(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
A PLEASANT VISIT. 
A rEew weeks ago a very interesting letter appeared in 
the Journal, from the facile pen of Colonel David Taggart. 
It was old, but none the less interesting on that account. 
It is the only communication that has thus far appeared 
from that source in the Journal, but we hope that it may be 
speedily followed by other articles from the same able pen. 
He is an old stager in the poultry fancy, and could doubt- 
less give us something worth reading. By the way, this 
reminds your correspondent of a very pleasant visit which 
we enjoyed some time ago with the Colonel at his home, in 
Northumberland. It may not be amiss to write about 
some things that we saw while sojourning with the Colonel 
and his hospitable family. 
Being aware of the fact, that he is naturally a modest 
young man, and not fond of flattery, your correspondent 
sends this, as the Irishman said, ‘“‘ unbeknowns to him.’’ 
Soon after our arrival we visited his poultry yard, and 
found there as fine a collection of fowls, of different varie- 
ties, as any one would wish to see. He had arranged around 
the yard quite a number of trios and collections in wire 
coops, so that abundant opportunity was afforded to see and 
study them. Itis very apparent that the Colonel is an in- 
tense and enthusiastic lover of fine poultry, and that among 
his fowls he is in his element. Together we passed from 
coop to coop, around the circle. His Buff and Partridge 
Cochins, Dark Brahmas, Game Bantams, Dorkings, Hou- 
dans, and Hamburgs were remarkably fine—particularly his 
Partridge Cochins. The sight of these fowls alone repaid 
us for the trip. In the adjoining stable he showed us his 
Alderny cows, several of which are direct importation. 
Though not a judge of cows, yet we could see that they were 
of good blood. Of other good qualities we were more fully 
convinced at the dinner table, when we drank our coffee 
with Alderny cream, and ate our dessert with the same. 
At the same time and place we were persuaded of another 
fact, viz.: that when Partridge Cochins are properly 
prepared for the table they are as palatable as the smaller 
kinds of fowls. Just here we would say, in our own expe- 
rience with different varieties of fowls, we have found the 
Asiatics as fine and good for the table use, while young, as 
any others. It might be supposed that our host must be an 
old man, judging from the date of the letter referred to, 


but to look at his tall, erect, and robust form, is enough to 
convince any one that age has not hurt him yet. Indeed, 
his father is yet living, for we met him, and found him a 
smart old gentleman; so we may yet reasonably expect 
something vigorous from the pen of our ‘‘ mutual friend,’’ 
Taggart. Yours fraternally, 
TURBOTYVILLE. 

IMPORTANCE OF SALTS IN FOOD. 
Mr. Foster has made some interesting experiments on 
dogs and pigeons, which show that animals suffer and die 
when inorganic salts are altogether absent from their food, 
although the other nutritive constituents may be abundant. 
In all the animals tried there was a condition of muscular 
weakness, tremor, and general exhaustion. In the dog, the 
muscles of the posterior extremities, from the second week 
of the experiment onward, gradually assumed a paralytic 
character, as when the function of the spinal cord is weak- 
ened. The activity of the cerebrum was also impaired, as 
was evident from the bluntness of the senses and apathy of 
the animal. Later on increased excitability often appeared ; 
the dogs were terrified at any quick motion; one had a brief 
attack of madness, but soon crouched down, trembling and 
growling. On being taken out it ran forward and knocked 
its head violently against a wall. After the animals had 
been deprived of salts for some time, the juices of the intes- 
tinal canal either lost their digestive power or were not se- 
creted in proper quantity, and nutrition was thus interfered 
with. Death took place, however, from the alterations in 
the nervous system, before there had been time for it to occur 
from inanition. The quantity of salts necessary to life is 
smaller than is generally supposed, but the exact amount re- 
quired is still to be determined. 
The experiments amount practically to a scientific expo- 
sure of the unnaturalness and consequent abnormality of the 
use of sifted wheat-flour, the principal food of women and 
children, and of too many men. ‘The inorganic salts are 
almost absent from this artificial food, the chief material 
weakness of modern pseudo-civilization. Mr. Foster’s 
experiments are contributed to the London Medical Record. 


(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
STANDARD FOR BROWN REDS. 
cock, 
Face.—Dark purplish red. 
Hye.—Darkest brown. 
Beak.—Black. 
Legs and Feet.—Dark bronze, dark willow, or black. 
Neck Hackle.—Light orange striped with black towards 
the bottom. 
Back and Wing Bow.—Rich orange red shading lighter 
towards the saddle hackles which should match the neck. 
Breast.—Dark and evenly marked, each feather being 
darker brown or black with a light brown shaft and margin, 
Shoulders.—Greenish black. 
Wing Bars.—Dark green. 
Flight Coverts,—Black. 
Tail.—Greenish black. 
Thighs and under parts.—Black marked with brown like 
the breast. 
HEN. 
Blackish purple in face, comb, wattles, and ear-lobes. Eye, 
beak, legs, and feet to match the cock. 
