The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-03 00:00:00

DOMESTIC POULTRY.

ONE of the most interesting signs of the times is the
rapidly increasing desire for the cultivation of domestic
poultry, which has almost become a passion. This is
evident in the number of poultry exhibitions throughout
the country, and the immense number of specimens which
they have been the means of collecting. There are some
matter-of-fact people by whom this new fancy may be
ridiculed, but when it is remembered that tons of poultry
and millions of eggs are annually imported from foreign
countries, in order to supply our markets for consumption,
the importance of increasing our own production of these
useful animals will be more evident. It has been thought
beneath the dignity of an English farmer to pay attention
to the affairs of the poultry yard, but perfection cannot be
reached without it, and if the same care were bestowed on
this department, which has been sometimes given to the
improvement of the breed of larger animals, it would often
be found equally, if not more, profitable, and constitute a
very important item in the means of supplying the rent
In all these cases it is not sufficient that the utility e
made evident, a certain degree of fashion must be en
to them in order to insure their adoption. It was the
encouragement given by Earl SPENCER and other noble-
men, which led to the improvement in the breed of short-
horned cattle : the establishment of the Royal Agricul-
tural Society, and many local societies, with annual prizes
for superiority, added to the impetus and may be consi-
dered the main cause of the great attention which is now
paid to the several breeds of cattle, sheep, and other farm
animals. The command of capital and indomitable per-
severance of Mr. MEcRI, a London tradesman, gave a
stimalus to the extension of draining and other improve-
ments in agriculture ; and now the adoption of similar
means of encouragement, with reference to the more
abundant supply of fowls and eggs for home consumption,
has led to a more rapid progress in this department than
was ever before known. It is almost impossible to over-
estimate its importance ; a fast increasing population must '
be fed by additional supplies, and every step which is taken
to obtain the addition from home produce is assisting in
the laudable endeavour to render us independent of foreign
aid. It has been said that the man who causes two blades
to grow where but one grew before, is a benefactor to his
country, and the same remark will equally apply to the
man who exercises his skill in the improvement of so use-
ful a race of animals as domestic poultry, which might be
made to convert more vegetable into animal food than even
the ox or the sheep. It will be observed that an exhibi-
tion of poultry will be held in about a fortnight in this
town, and we have no doubt that the commercial emporium
of Europe will not be behind in the race for distinction in
this useful pursuit.

CHILD OVERLAIN.—On Sunday morning last, about
-two o'clock Joseph Beha, a child five months old, living
with his parents at 36, Bevington Bush-road, was taken
to bed by his mother, who laid his head on her breast, and
covering him up with the bed clothes fell asleep. On
awaking about eight in the morning she found the child
still in the same position and quite dead.
DEAD BODY OF A CHILD FOUND.—OH Saturday
night, about nine o'clock, as a boy, named William Board-
man, was going on a errand to No. 1 Court, Comus-street,
he kicked his foot against something, which on examina-
tion turned out to be the dead body of a female child. It
was wrapped up among some hay. Medical testimony
proved that the child had been still-born. A man with a
bundle of hay was seen to go up the court a few minutes
before the body was found.

WOMAN DROWNED.—On Saturday night, about half-
past eight o'clock, a woman named Ann Staley, aged 67,
wife of John Staley, a labourer, was found drowned in the
Brunswick Dock, by police-constable Wilkinson, who
heard a splash in the loter, and immediately made
every exertion for her rescue. In about fifteen minutes
she was got out, but quite dead. It appeared deceased was
much addicted to drinking, and a short time prior to her
being found in the Dock she had had some words with her
husband, relative to her dissipated habits. At the conclu-
sion of the altercation she went out uttering angry ex-
clamations.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Tixa QUEEN held a Privy Council on Thursday, and on
Fridiy proclamation was made in the London Gazette
for the assembling of Parliament on Tuesday, the 31st of
this month. This is but a few days earlier than the time
ordinarily appointed ; but this little difference may have
been occasioned by the natural anxiety to hear the inten-
tions of the Government with reference to the Eastern
question,. and also the explanation of Lord PiLKERSTON
as to his recent resignation and resumption of office. The
discussions on these points will find ample occupation for
Parliament, and leave Lord JOIEN RUSSELL sufficient time
to cogitate over his new Reform Bill, if he has really any
serious intention of persevering in such a hopeless scheme.
Convocation, which stands adjourned until to-morrow,
will be further prorogued until Wednesday, the Ist of
February.