The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-03-09 00:00:00

%Caricature.

SCHEDULE OP THE BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND
POULTRY SHOW.—The poultry show held in connection
with the agriculture' meeting of the Bath and West of
England Society for the encouragement of agriculture,
arts, manufactures, and commerce, will, we presume, be
the first of next season's campaign, and will take place
in the town of Cardiff, South Wales, on Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of June.
It will include poultry and pigeons, and the entries will
close on the first of May. As is usual with this society,
the schedule is published so early that the date they
have fixed on can scarcely be interfered with, and
amateurs have particulars given them in ample tinie to
make good preparation for the competition. The entry
fees are 3s. 64. for bantams and ducks, Se. for the rest
of the poultry, and 2s. 64. for pigeons. The show will
be managed, as initial, under the able directorship of S.
Pitman, Esq., and Mr. J. Kingsbury will act as secre-
tary. The prises are :—A chased silver cup,. and second
prize of El to Spanish, Dorking, White Doraing, Light
Cochin', Dark Coollins, White and Black Cochins,
Brahma', the usual four classes of game, Malays the
usual four classes of Newburgh', three classes of
Polends, and the various class. Three silver chased
cup" will be given as a first prise, and the society's
medals as a second prize, for the best pens (cook and two
liens) of chickens of any breed. A prize of El will be
given to the best pen of chickens shown in this class,
considered entirely with regard to table purposes.
Cross breed birds competing for this prise mast have
their origin stated. Abeenee of offal, whiteness of akin
and fat, early maturity, and size, will be chiefly con-
sidered. There is a silver cup and the society's medal
to climes of single cocks—Spanish, Dorking, and game
—but these cups will not be awarded nnless the entries
exceed twelve in the respective °lasses. There are two
prizes of El and 104. to each, of five bantam classes, and
a silver cup in lieu of money, to the best pen of ban-
tams. There are two prizes, of El and 10s, to three
classes of ducks, geese, turkeys, and peafowl. There is
one prize of 105. in each of the usual classes of pigeons,
and a chased silver cup will be given, and the society's
bronse medal as a second extra prize, to the exhibitors
obtaining the greatest number of prizes for pigeons.
The Great Western Railway Company, the Bristol and
Exeter Company, North and South Devon Railway
Company, South Wales Railway Company, and Mid-
land Counties and Rhymney Railway Company have
consented to take bira to and from the exhibition at
half the usual rates of charge. All the specimens in-
tended for exhibition must be at the show yard before
twelve o'clock on the noon of Tuesday, the let of June,
otherwise they will not be admitted ; and no specimen
can be removed before four o'clock at noon on Friday
the 4th of June. All birds to which prises have been
affixed may be claimed at the price put upon them after
three o'clock on the first day.

BATH AND WIRT Of ENGLAND 8001ZTT FOR TEI
ENCOUBAOZIIINT OF AORIOULTURC &O.—A. monthly
meeting of the council of this society was held on Satur-
day week at Waghones Railway Hotel, Taunton, J.
Sl!Want, EN., of Comb., Crediton, In the chair. The
deputation appointed at the last meeting of the council
to visit Bernstaple, and report upon the various sites
offered by the local committee as suitable for the annual
exhibition in 1859, now reported that they went down
to Barnstaple on Thursday, and were met by • de-
potation from the local committee, who showed them
the utmost courtesy and hospitality. They examined
three mites, and they now recommended the choice of a
piece of ground called " Poddington"—an eligible spot
of considerable extent, well supplied with water, and ap-
proached by good roads—situate about • mile from the
railway station, on the opposite side of the town, pro-
vided the requiremente of the society in other respects
were complied with. The council also received • seals-
factory report from the director and Mr. R. Smith, to
the effect that suitable fields for the trial of implements
were obtainable in the neighbourhood, on terms that
were likely to meet the wicffies of the council. The di-
rector brought up • report on the subject of the tender'
offered by various contractors for eroding the boarding,
show-yard, offices, and works for the Cardiff meeting in
June next. The tender of Mr. George Pollard, builder,
of Taunton, was accepted. The committee appointed to
consider the conditions upon which steam *nib's were

to be allowed to be exhibited, reported that they bad
obtained the able assistance of Mr. Gooch, their consult-
ing engineer, under whose guidance they had arrived at
a decision; and it was resolved that the report be
adopted and printed, and a copy thereof sent to each M.
tending exhibitor of steam engines. Great satisfaction
was expressed by the members of the council that the
consulting chemist of the Bath and West of England
Society (Professor Voelcker) had been chosen to till that
officeVn the Royal Society of England.

HOPEL—The total number of acres under culture for
hope in the various collectiona of England amounted
last year to 50,974 i. 47,717,5611 b. weight of lope were
charged with duty in all the collections Wit/ear. The
total amount of duty received on hops was £417,526, at
the rate of Ed 3e. 9d. per acre.
IMPROVED BEE Hive.—This consists of dividing the
hive into two compartments, each of which contains a
number of frames to support the honeycomb. These
frames are suspended by means of brackets to moveable
boards Axed on the inner side of the hive. Each of
these boards is covered with bands of linen at its ex-
tremities, to prevent the comb adhering to the inner
sides of the hive. In the compartment dividing the hive,
is an opening which allows the bees to pass from one part
to the other, but which may be closed by a moveable
door and catch when required. Each compartment has
an opening for the bees to enter at hither end, which
may also be closed by a moveable door. The hive is
oblong in shape, and formed of wood ; 'there are two
openings, one in each compartment, covered with gauze
for the purpose of ventilation.