FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
655 
at college to get all the speed out of a fast horse in one 
drive, and who have been put into the counting-room before 
their brains were matured to learn the ropes. It is not at 
all odd that such men have no sympathy for fancies; they 
have been educated to view with scorn anything that ap- 
peals to the affections, and yet some of these men, seizing 
their last chance for happiness, embark in fancies, and, drift- 
ing heart and soul upon an ocean of pleasure, shout to their 
old companions, Eureka, and are looked at and judged by 
them as lunies. Oh, my readers, “ sufficient unto the day is 
the evil thereof.” Therefore, seize all the happiness you 
can ; throw the tendrils of affection as far as you are able : 
some of them may come back singed, but the most of them 
will find something about which to cling, and not the least 
pleasant of the objects so embraced are the fancies for 
pigeons. 
It is one easily to be indulged in. The expense is mode- 
rate ; the happiness intense. In many of the countries of 
Europe the pigeons are protected by law, in others they are 
fed by the public treasury, and at the hour of feeding can 
be seen assembling by myriads. The grain is conveyed in 
sacks, by persons authorized, and scattered in the public 
squares. Among the nations devoting most interest to the 
breeding of fancy pigeons may be ranked Persia, Germany, 
England, and America. Of these England should rank the 
highest, as Englishmen have bred for points far more diffi- 
cult of attainment than those sought for by the other coun- 
tries. America has entered the lists, however, and the next 
generation will likely see an international show that will 
cause the keenest kind of judging to decide the supremacy. 
America has bought up much of the best stock of England, 
and is now engaged in breeding it, and England, on the 
other hand, has traditions of breeding and experiences ex- 
tending over hundreds of years that cannot be imparted to 
others, and which can only be obtained by time. Thus we 
see there are advantages on both sides, though the weight is 
yet with England. Dr. W. P. Morgan. 
Baltimore, Md. 
CoF^ESj=0|'JDE[JCE. 
Mr. Editor. 
Dear Sir : Can you or some of the readers of your 
valuable Journal inform me what is the cause of white comb 
on fowls and what will cure it ? 
Truly yours, A Subscriber. 
Clinton, September 17, 1874. 
Dear Sir : Please stop my advertisement in Journal , and 
send my bill by return mail, and oblige. I have found 
more customers than I want. Your Journal beats every- 
thing. W. C. Hart. 
Philadelphia, September 21, 1874. 
Eriend Wade: 
I notice in No. 28 of the Journal an attempted description 
of the “ Great Green Macaw,” which is not correct. I have 
one of them, and can therefore speak from ocular observa- 
tion. The color of the head, neck, and breast, is a dark 
green, with a band of bright scarlet, half an inch wide, 
around the forehead, commencing at the base of the beak ; 
the beak and wing feathers a bronze green ; flights blue ; 
the tail feathers red and blue on top, under part shaded 
yellow; bill and feet black ; iris a light yellow. He is very 
familiar, and even affectionate in disposition, and talks very 
plain — as plain as a person in ordinary talk. It is, I be- 
lieve, a very rare bird. This is the only one I have ever 
seen, nor have I met with any person who has seen one 
before. 
Respectfully yours, W. W. Clark, 
1213 North Third Street. 
Jos. M. Wade, Esq. Philadelphia, Oct. 10 , 1874. 
Dear Sir : Please discontinue my present advertise- 
ments in Exchange Column, as I have received the offers of 
all the Leghorn pullets I want, at present. Your Exchange 
Column is the right thing, and it is a wonder that it is not 
better patronized. Yours truly, 
W. Atlee Burpee. 
Editor Fanciers’ Journal : 
Having noticed statements in the different poultry period- 
icals, from their subscribers, in regard to the laying quali- 
ties of their fowls, I send you my experience for last ten 
months. 
I have six hens each of the Silver-Spangled Hamburg 
and White Leghorn varieties (hatch of 1873). The Ham- 
burgs laid their first eggs December 8th, and to October 
8th have laid one thousand and ten eggs. The Leghorns, 
although a month younger, commenced December 13th, and 
to October 13th have laid eight hundred and sixty-one eggs, 
a total of eighteen hundred and seventy-one eggs from 
twelve hens. They have been kept confined in small, bare 
yards, almost the entire time. 
1 regret the change that you have been obliged to make 
in the Journal. I hope the continued efforts of the fanciers 
throughout the country will soon restore to us the ever- 
welcome weekly Journal. I shall ever remain a friend to 
the Journal , and well wisher for its success. 
A. IvEPHART. 
Mr. Wade. 
Dear Sir : I wish to ask of you — or some of my brother 
fanciers — through the columns of your excellent paper, the 
Fanciers' Journal — the following questions. They may 
seem very simple, at the same time I think there might be 
instances where the decision would call forth some contro- 
versy. In many of the premium lists of the poultry exhibi- 
tions one will see premiums offered for the best and largest 
collection of fowls. Now, the question is, what is the best 
collection? For example, A and B are competitors, A ex- 
hibits ten trios — four has taken first, and four second of the 
general premiums. B exhibits twelve trios — two have 
taken first, six second, and three third. Again, A and B 
each enter ten trios, A takes five first and three seconds, 43 
takes three first, five seconds, and two third in the premium 
list. Now, who has the best collection — in other words, 
are two first, six second, and three third, equal to four first 
and four second; or, three first, five second, and two third, 
equal to five first, and three second? J. A. L. 
[The above is a very important question ; and, we are 
glad it has been put just at this time — previous to the open- 
ing of our fall exhibitions — and, we hope some of our older 
exhibitors who have had the knotty question to deal with, 
will enlighten J. A. L. on the subject. — E d.] 
