THE FANCIER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1217, 28 June 1895, Page 25

THE FANCIER.

POULTRY.

Ethted by Red Cap.

PLYMOUTH BOOKS.

The points of breed, or as it is technically called " the standard of excellence," of the Plymouth Rock fowl are as follow ;—ln Australia there are, so far as I have heard or read, only the two sorts, viz., the barred and the white, both single combed; but in America they breed both varieties with rose combs as well as with single combs and hare separate classes for them at the shows. The rose-combed Plymouth Rock, either barred or white, is identical with the single-combed bird, with the one exception of comb; in the hen it is small and neat and in the cock somewhat larger, but not so largo as a Hamburg's; in each, however, well filled with spikeleta of good shape. Barred Plymouth Rocks.—Cock —Size not less than 91b , comb single, medium size, straight, with well-defined sert-atious, fine in texture, as amen like a Cochin's as possible ; beak thick and strong ; head medium size and carried well iip ; eye large, bright, and clear, hazel in colour ; ear-lobe well developed and pendant; wattles neatly rounded and large : body large, square, and compact; breast very fullr back broad and short ; wings medium sized, carried weliup, bow and tip covered breast and saddle feathers; shanks rather long, stout and bony, wide apart,,especially at hocks, and perfectly free from feathers ; thighs large and strong ; feet four toed, stout and strong ; tail like a Cochin's, small as possible, not forming an angle, but circular, with junction at back; carriage and appearance upright, noble and fefand. Hen—Size large, not less than 71b ; comb same as cock, but small ; beak, head, eye, ear-lobe, wattles, neck and breast same as cock ; back broad, the neck feathers flowing well over the shoulders; tail small, rather pointed, and slightly more upright than cock's : thighs large and well covered with fluffy feathers. Colour of Barred Plymouth Rocks.—Cock and hen—Comb, face, ear-lobes, and wattles brilliant red ; beak and legs bright yellow ; plumage cuckoo-feathered, viz., ground colour ashy-grey banded with blue or with black, the two colours blending into each other, the shafts of the feathers corresponding with the bands, presenting on the whole a perfect and even alternate clear barring of pure light grey and blue or black, and the plumage free from red, black, white, brown, or yellow feathers.

White Plymouth Eocks.—General characteristics in all respects resembling the coloured variety.

Colour of White Plymouth Rocks.—Beak and legs a bright yellow ; comb, face, earlobes and wattles brilliant red ; plumage all oyer a pure and spotless white, as free as possible from any straw tinge. Scale for Judging Plymouth Rpcis.—A bird perfect in shape, style, colour, and condition to count in points 100 :—Head and beak, 5 points; comb, 5 ; shape of tail, 10 ; absence of white in deaf ear, 5 ; size, 15 ; symmetry, 20; condition, 10; plumage, 25 ; colour of legs, 5 : total points, 100. The number of points to be deducted for each defect must be left to the discretion of the judge.

Disqualifications —Legs feathered or any other colour but yellow, rose or pea combs, red feathers, coloured feathers in whites, white lobes, any deformity, and any. tail feather missing.—By "Breeder" in South Australian Chronicle. LIME AND CHARCOAL FOR FOWLS. The American Poultry Yard says : " Charcoal should be broken in small lumps and put where the fowls can pet at it, and they will eat it with great relish. We have seen it fed to pigs with the very best results. Those which were treated to it were never troubled" with disease or sickness, while neighbouring ones were. This helps to prove its value, not only for swine but for fowls. When the birds are kept in confinement it is a very good plan to keep a small trough in a sheltered place full of small bits of fresh charcoal, and the fowls will soon learn to help themselves. The value of lime in the form of whitewash is well known, and those who use it liberally are the ones who keep their flocks healthy and cleanly. To render whitewash more effective in dislodging, driving away, or destroying lice and parasitic pests, the addition of a little carbolic acid is invaluable, for scarcely anything seems to be so distasteful to vermin. Airslacked lime should be occasionally scattered over the floor of the chicken house, to remove unpleasant and unhealthy odours, while a little of it should be scattered round the yards and runs for egg-shell matter.

The second Championship Meeting 1 under the auspices of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society is to be held at the Skating Rink on the 18th, 19th and 20th of next month, and the exhibition promises to be the most extensive and successful yet held in Wellington. There willbe some 389 different classes of exhibits, and in addition to over £3OO in prize-money some forty gold medals

will also be offered for competition. In order that all exhibitors may be satisfied as to tho judging-, two independent and competent gentlemen in Australia have been engaged to undertake this responsible duty. An extensive arb union is also to be held, and the prizes will be valuable as well as tiseful. Competitors should note that entries for the "Tolhurst prize" for the best kept fowlyard close on the Bth July next, and the general entries for the show will close also on that date. In order that there may be no difficulty for the public in obtaining tickets, the committee haye authorised Mr E. J. Barnett to make a house-to-house call to dispose of tickets, and in addition to the chance of winning a prize in the art union all tickets give the holder the right of entry to the show.

At the Poultry Show last week at Christchurch Mr J, Farrell achieved an undoubted success. He' entered five birds, and gained five prizes. One bird, a brown Leghorn cock, took first and a special prize, and beat the bird that won the first prize at the World's Fair at Chicago. We believe ic is Mr Farrell's intention to compete at the Wellington Show to be held next month.