THE CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY SHOW.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 239, 28 January 1888, Page 5

THE CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY SHOW.

The nineteenth Annual National Poultry, Pigeon, and Rabbit Show waa opened on November 14, at the Crystal Palace, and the following particulars, extracted from an English paper, may be of interest to some of our readers :— Although the season has not been a good one for the breeding of poultry and pigeons, the entries to the Show number about the same as usual, amounting to over 6,000. The exhibit© are for the most part very fine, the size, making, and condition of the birds being in someinstances remarkable. In the poultry sections the Spanish head the list. The Challenge Cup for the beat Spanish cockerel gous to Scotlandi being won by Mr 3 D. Mackenzie, who exhibits a fine bird six months and two weeks old. Mr Roberts takes the Challenge Cup for pullets. There are large classes of Doi kings, the silver greys and whites being stronger than usual. Cochins, which on being introduced into England realised fabulous prices, are not largely represented, but the quality shows marked improvement. Some of the cockerels are simply feathery giants. Both light and dark Brahmas are present in large numbers, the cup in the cockerel section of the light being eecured by a typical bird belonging to Mr F. Nettlefold. The French fowl have taken so kindly to the land of their adoption 'as to leave far behind any competitors among their cousins across the < Channel. Game birds are no longer nurtured and trained for the cock-pit,, but since the days when the last "main" of cocks was fought as a recognised form of diversion have been put to more rational uses. The grace of neck, length of limb, and shape-pointed head dear to lovers of the breed, will not be found wanting among the present exHibits. The Indian Game, which on accountof their broad breasts and delicate flesh are crossed extensively for table purposes, have large classes. The vari - coloured Hamburgs, large - crested Polish, and long - limbed (?) Langshans each claim a share of attention. The nardy Plymouth rooks, which promised once to be particularly useful in confined spaces, do not appear in such large numbers as last year, presumably because judges are wont to put rather too much value upon the colour of the legs. Minorcae, a variety bred very much in the. west of England, which together with the Spanish, produce the largest aggs, are fairly strong in point of numbers. Wyandotte, a new variety very much of the Hamburg type, shows great improvement in marking upon the specimens exhibited last year. Under the comprehensive heading' "any other varieties " are included specimens of almost every description of English and foreign fowl. The banfcams, especially the Game birds, are good throughout, thechief honours falling ( to Mr E. , Walton and • Mr' W. Forester Addie, the latter gentleman not on|y winning the Challenge Cup for black rose-comb cockerels, but also the first, second, and third prizes for pullets. With regard to ducks, the Aylesbury variety is riot quite so, good as usual, but the Rouon description is nob only largo in number, but in many cases magnificently marked. Carolina, Pekin, and the .other familiar sorts are to be, found in the variety class. Geese -and turkeys are, tin the words of a connoisseur, " a grand , lot," and exceed in size and weight anything uthatJ has been, seen in former years. Table poultry; to the , production of which ,mucn crossbreeding has been employed, is of, immense weight. -In the, .pigeon, department the pouters are, in large numbers, many of them measuring above 22in, . in jength . - , Carriers proper — not noineing ,pirds-r-are fairly represented, . and , the, total number nof dragons is, , f ar , beyond that: ; of d previous years'. . The t littlo^t-Bhort-facedJ almond 'tumbler, almost, the., smallest 'breeds of upigepnj, existing,, ia repreßentjedt by .(some >Des|utif£il speoimens. • TJie Jacob jnej: nestling in theijf c^wls,. ,the owls, anddthe igorgeous^Qjsientalsj arfti .present sin, .strong "force,, and £urtl>e.r> along ,are>several f "h|omeing'/,V "birds, ;iwJioso-M,wingo i«b r ear. humerqns j Btamp.inark,B o recording/* their, various travels.; Jn. udditionito the ; feathered< ! exhibits are clashes, c fftr Jeakbitei <in,wtiic'lv a'lniost every conceivable > specimen, frc-m 'eluded cm*" «'«»* , ' >^»- <■'•