THE FEATHER FANCY

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 258, 24 July 1908, Page 11

THE FEATHER FANCY

. [Notes by "Domino."3 ■ POULTRY SHOWS. July 28, 29. —Marton.. . August .6,. ■ I■ ; ■ Th§ big show at Hastings last week practically brings to a close the; show season of 1908. A largo number of exhibitors attended, this > show, and the hattlos of 'tho champions, were fought over again. It is needless, for,-me to go into the details of the prize list hero, as your "Special's" telo-r gram on Saturday last gavo all particulars in that 'direction—a consideration much appreciated' by -theI:l'fancy"1 :I 'fancy" 'portion of' The Dominion's readers/ A few remarks upon the season may not be, out of i.place. Generally speaking, theio was ."an;all-round .shrinkage in .entries,. the big .' societies suffering ip,. this. respect quito as.;/mucl),,as those of smaller calibre. ' In poultry;'.principally iyas "this j noticeable, and the Vgeneral;, excuso. made.-for this is tho high ; price Jof grain during the , past year, combined i with. the ■ desire ;for _■ utility . stock that, has-taken' hold; of a section of .tho community.;.', The, latter can- hardly be aii- excuse -rhext...season, , however,; as it has . been proved .beyond doubt that in the ranks of the/fancy Strains-are to be foipid quite as go'od, ; egg-producers ,as amongst tho so-palled utility, ;sijcji..is"tjie. fact that Uhe; fancier commands ibig-prices for his Burplljs.i stick,, In. poultry, Wyandottes must claim pride of place, tho, silvers being quito up to the; standard,, and, competition at most shows i.very : . keen.... ■ Goldens,. were not, so .iii quality up' to the mark.' Whites,. ajsft,.• njaintainecl• .• a. "good standard. Bladk be, classed, nest, aU though -i they., suffered by : comparison' with former years, but nqt so in quality, tne, winners , being exceptionally fino continue to hold a footing, but unfortunately tho good Jiirds are in,tho hands_ of. too few exhibitors,, which is a pity, as. this lovely bird is.quito aii' attraction at'shows. , Browns are on the wane, the good ' .one's' out this "year being " very few. Minorcas and Langshans,, too, are a declining, variety, aiid«l-,.am afraid, unless the de ; yotee.s to x th'eso breeds bestir themselves, they will go the way. of ,the/Cochin, the Brahma, and .manyothers, , Plymouth Rocks anil Hamburgs are also ■ getting scarce —in fact, in,;the noar future, w_e niay expect to see theiperis occupied only by.the AVyandottes and Orpingtons. This should not bo so, as amongst/,the birds-noted above are many possessing excellent, qualities, both as layers and table'b;rds.. Bantams are on the move. Modern Game are at a standstill, but it is hoped the'newly-rformed Old English • Gamo Clijb will have tho effect of reviving interest in this section. ." '

Inithe.pigeon,section there is more' vitality. Many.he'w finciers are Springing up, and ,old ones who' ljayp" been', looking on for seasons are agaiii getting, together a few pairs,: and may be 'expccted to;' enter tho arena; I think, magpies'may'fairly premier' po-Bitibiir-the "classes at the chief shows being .well': filleS'fifi', this; variety, : and "quality k'eopa pace; \nth "the in'creaso in. numbers. Show homers,*' too, .are. forging ahead, both 1 nuir.erically and 'in quality, the latter 'by * a distinctive; feature' of the- past season. ' In owls, :'the tiny African , leads" the van,' its Eriglish;"coiisin being-' quito in> the shado. Long^faced-tumblers, are keeping their; place, and'many.'very fine birds were out this year r-alsd'shbrt-faced, and it .is rather 'unfortunate that this lovely specimen should find so fovy,.admirers. : Those who do cultivate them .are, however, the right kind of fanciers,. and, will not be put off with, trifles. Orientftl frills are still few in numbers, nnd confined chiefly to the city fanciers. But ill tho fanciers; of the stately ,iDameir?'-tii6'. ! A>t<jerp7 4 tW«j- dri^ook^th'^ifaatail, -and'other breeds that we now see so few, of at our shows? . It behoves omsrfui* ciers, if thoy want to make their shows"at-tractive-to Itako a hand, in reinstating these —hot ■' forgetting .'tho- attractive jacobin,' tho nun, the''arcbangelarid; the' fast' disappearing turbit. • •, : ,

In the ' canary _ section, ' the surprise has been- the increasing number of exhibitors. 'At Christchurch, 'Wellington, and Nelson the fine ; collections were the' subject of 'much admiratiori.'j'and'.the quality quite an eye-opener to 'the old school. Show committees will in the future havo the little songster in are " well catered for tho cages wilKbe* well filled.

, 'Ariother matter that has a strong bearing .upon..the!: buccOss or. otherwise of. shows is that of ! ''judging." ; This, is the upon whi'ch;;'the;._fancy . .works. Has' tno. judging' been what it should'be? Have the fanciers learned."anything from the judges? Wero I to igivo an unqualified answer it would bo; ''Noj'' , To. : .howevor, I mjist ad- : mit'. thiit in; certain, sections tho judging baa beeft admirable, and. in; sootioiis at different shows it has been good. But this is not enough. Air judges and all judging should be unassailable.. The chief defect has been the absence of specialist judging. Now, too many of our societies, will engago a judgo to judge the whole show. . Other societies will expect the judge to take poultry and pigeons;' others ,to take pigeons c and canaries. The result is tthat one section of tho show is neglected,' and exhibitors are dissatisfied. TVbiit i? the use of a specialist in-poultry awarding prizes in pigeon classes,' when lie' lacksy the -knowledgb do so. '. The samo applies to tho pigeon judge adjudicating upon canaries .'and .Vice, versa. It is' high time societies grappled with this problem. I am awaro the excuse is ' 'We cannot, afford two specialist ; Exhibitors' enter their birds in good faith, and. .expect to have" an expert opinion.; upon them.. ; If this- is not forthfar better for the birds to remain at homo, -and- tho -"owner- allowed to -.retain ks .own. good opinion of them. The suro cure for this sort of thing is clubs, who .will demand .specialist . judges, and the. sooner these cltibs are formed tho better for the fancy and the fancier. ;