734 
FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 

and hung around with pictures of poultry, game, etc., all 
appropriate to the place. : 
Here we were introduced to Mr. G. W. Fox, the poul- 
terer, whose reputation is familiar to many of your readers. 
Adjoining the office, in the rear, is the feed-room, well 
lighted and furnished, with the most approved modern ap- 
pliances. From this room we pass into the poultry house 
proper, which is divided into nine compartments, each about 
twelve feet square. The partitions are of neatly wrought 
lattice work. The floors are covered with the white river 
sand, thoroughly raked and clean. The whole interior sur- 
face of partitions and ceilings is kept neatly whitewashed. 
The perches are clean, and sprinkled with plaster of Paris, 
while a wind-mill pumps water from the river, some six 
hundred feet away, which constantly flows through the 
rooms, thus giving the fowls clean, fresh drinking water 
so necessary for their health. 
The divisions in the second floor are same as below, and 
the rooms are used for a hospital and preparing fowls for 
exhibition. Each compartment has a yard run of twelve by 
thirty feet. 
Mr. West is enthusiastic in his devotion to this fancy, 
in which he first engaged some twenty-five years ago, with 
his uncle, Dr. Conklin, of Ohio. He has not given it much 
attention until within the last five years, at which time he 
commenced again, by importing from England, and purchas- 
ing some of the best birds he could find in this country ; and 
having bred with great care, has now some of the finest fowls 
I have seen in any place, especially in Buff and Partridge 
Cochins. One Buff pullet that I handled, I am confident 
“will score not less than ninety-nine points. I saw a trio of 
Black Cochins that Mr. West intends to show at Buffalo. The 
fanciers of these splendid birds will have to lookout for they 
are magnificent birds. Mr. West has learned what experi- 
ence will teach all fanciers, that justice cannot be done to 
many varieties in one establishment, and will devote his ex- 
clusive attention to Cochins in the future. A visit to the 
house, a wholesome lunch, and a pleasant chat with Mrs. 
West and daughters (who are thoroughly interested in Mr. 
West’s fancy), a pleasant ride on the steamer, Dove, back 
to Detroit, completes a visit, the description of which we 
only desire may be-as enjoyable to our readers as the reality 
was to ourselves. We have some notes on our “Thumb 
nail,” of Mr. West’s pigeon loft, upon which we may write 
at some time in the future. On THE Roap. 
TRIPS AMONG THE FANCIERS. NO. 2. 
So little has appeared in the poultry journals from this 
portion of the State, that few are aware of the interest mani- 
fested in the breeding of fine poultry in this region. 
A short time ago we, in company with a friend, visited 
the yards of A. A. Miller, of Oakdale, Alleghany County, 
Pa. Mr. Miller is the largest, and one of the most reliable, 
breeders in this part of the State. Last winter he carried off 
the majority of premiums on Dark Brahmas at the Western 
Pennsylvania Poultry Exhibition, and he received a full 
share of the prizes on the other varieties which he exhibited. 
Last autumn Mr. D. J. Rogers, of Mansfield, Pa., who 
thoroughly understands what a good Dark Brahma ought to 
be, selected some of the very finest chickens bred last year 
in the H. H. G. Sharpless yards; also procured from the 
same source several old hens for himself and Mr. Miller. 
Mr. Miller not only bred a large number of fine chicks 
from his portion of these fowls, but recently he purchased 

Mr. Rogers’ surplus chicks, together with most of his old 
breeding birds. These, together with some excellent speci- 
mens raised from his former fowls (Cooper’s and Van Win- 
kle’s strains), give him stock to select from for winter and 
spring trade, which cannot readily be excelled anywhere. 
His Darks number about 300, very many of them fit for 
high-class competition, or for excellent breeders. He has 
also a good supply of Buffs, young and old; and con- 
cerning these it is sufficient to say that almost all the 
birds of this variety from which he bred last summer 
were purchased from Mr. J. M. Wade, editor of Fanciers’ 
Journal; they are first-class. Last fall Mr. M. sold all his 
Light Brahmas to C. B. Elben, the well-known breeder of 
Pittsburgh, Pa., but he has now some good chicks bred by 
F. R. Wotring, from Williams and Buzzell stock. He has 
also a fair sprinkling of Houdans, Toulouse Geese, and 
Rouen Ducks. 
He has a very fine lot each of Aylesbury Ducks and 
Bronze Turkeys, of which any breeder might be proud. 
Last year he sent out a large number of very fine Turkeys, 
several of the finest of which were shipped to California, 
where they arrived in good condition, and gave entire satis- 
faction. 
At a farm-house on his place his Silver Spangled and 
Golden Pencilled Hamburghs are tended for him. These 
are quite fine, the Golden Pencilled especially are of rare 
excellence. 
Next season he proposes to turn his attention principally 
to Dark and Light Brahmas, Buff Cochins, Aylesbury Ducks, 
and Bronze Turkeys. He has a fine location, and with 
his proposed improvements in yards, etc., he will have ex- 
cellent facilities for breeding. With his great love for fine 
fowls, and his integrity as a dealer, he will no doubt attain 
the success which he deserves. West PENNA. 
TRIPS AMONG THE FANCIERS. NO. 3. 
Havinea a little spare time, I hitched up my team and 
drove over to Melrose, which is about 9 miles from Pea- 
body, arriving there in about one hour and a half. After 
hunting around awhile, and inquiring once or twice, we 
found the place where Mr. Burnham lived. Hitching our 
horse and going to the door, I pulled the door-bell; a lady 
answered. lLIaskedif Mr. Burnham lived there; shetold me 
he did, but was not at home. I then inquired where he 
kept his poultry; she told me at Mr. Weymouth’s farm, and 
directed me there. On our way we met Mr. Burnham, 
took him into our carriage, and drove to Mr. Weymouth’s 
farm, where we all landed safe and sound. Mr. Burnham 
told us, on our way to the farm, that he thought they had 
some very nice Brahmas, but was sorry I did not let him 
know that we were coming, as he should have assorted 
some out, and then they would have looked a good deal 
better. My reply was that we wanted to see them before 
they had been culled, and I think we did. 
They first showed us the way to the yard where the Light 
Brahma pullets were kept, and I must say I was disappointed 
when I walked into that barn cellar, and saw there about 
one hundred Light Brahma pullets. I looked them over 
very closely, and I can truly say that they were the best lot of 
Light Brahma pullets I ever saw together (I think I know 
what a good Brahma is, Light or Dark). Mr. Weymouth 
caught some of them and placed them on the scales, and 
they pulled down from 8 to 10 pounds each. I think this 
pretty good for pullets, and worth telling your good readers. 
