POULTRY SHOWS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1668, 24 April 1884, Page 2

POULTRY SHOWS.

TO THE EDITOR. Dear Sir, —Would you kindly obligo by inserting a few words re the Masterton Horticultural Society. In reading the report of the Committee I notice that the Spring Show was the most successful yet held, owing, I presume, that they had introduced a now lino in tho sliapo of Poultry. In-fact, tho report says, •'An exhibition of poultry was introduced at the Spring Show, which proved very attractive, and was a great success. And from the'number of valuable birds being introduced, there is overy reason to believe the next Show will contain a larger number of entries and a greater variety of birds." Now, Sir, if it be that the poultry was the attraction, I tlunk tho Oommitteo ought to en-, courage that class by doing ono or both of the following things, viz., reduce the entrance fee or increase the prize money. I say so for this reason, , if a person has more than one class of, bird to exhibit, it means a great cost i to him in the aliape of cages, carriage,; and entrance fees, for which he has to pay cash, while the chances against' him are that he might not win a prize' (for all cannot win), but, if lie does, he ought to have something in tlid' shape of a decent prize to recoupirinV for his loss of time and adventure.

■lf the Committee were to open a separate sub. list under the head of' " poultry," I think they would find that it would be as liberally subscribed to as the other list. _ Last year it will be remembered tliis ; line had to depend for its prize money from the entries made, the Committee not feeling justified in taking money from the other part of the Show - to assist this class. Sir, sinco the last Spring Show a large number of residents have become interested in raising fowls, and I firmly believe that with a : little inducement there would be a still greater number of entries than oil tlio last occasion. I would also suggest that tlio Com- • mittee interview the railway authorities with a view of getting a reduction or concession similar to that obtainod by the people in Wellington on the occasion of the Poultry exhibition being held in Empire city. These few lines are, perhaps, rather premature, but "Better be too soon than too late."-—Yours, etc., Barxdoor, . Mastei'ton 23i-d April.' I