Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-09

poned until this morning. In the list will ap-
pear, of course, the names of the most impor-
tant contributors. There are more of the light
Brahma breed than any other present, there
being 81 entries. OF dark Brahmas there are 80
entries, CochinS of the various kinds, 80 en-
tries, brown and white Lcghorns 26 entries,
Plymouth Rocks 10 entries, black Spanish 10 en-
tries Hamburgs, of various kinds, 26 entries,
game fowls 26 entries, and so on through the
list of breeds, those mentioned being the most
important, and in the largest numbers.
In the evening the first club supper was en-
joycd in the upper hall, the services of Mr..
Mars having been brought to bear on some
fine specimens of poultry which he served up
along with numerous other delcctable viands.
The tables were surrounded by about eighty
men, there being many present from other state
clubs. After having partalen sufficiently, MIR.
o. b. Hadwcn, president of the club spoke as
| follows:
| Gentlemen: 1t is naturally gratifying to those
| of us who, several years ago, organized this
| club, and TO those of us who assemble at our
| festive board this evening, and have labored to
| foster the interests for which this society was
| formed to learn that the poultry interest is adj
| vancing with unparalleled vigor in the New En-
| gland states and in the country; that our an
| nual exhibitions invariably enlist the warmest
| interests of breeders and fanciers of poultry,
| and those who make the keeping and raising
| pleasant and profitable occupation.
Our seventh annual exhibition renews our
confidence in our speciality. We find ourselves
growing in knowledge and enthusiasm, and de
| velopng the interests of poultry breeding and
raising, that our exhibitions have shown and
| proved them to be regularly progressive, and
| certainly more apparent this year than ever.
Those who organized this club hoped to
| stimulate the production of poultry and eggs at
that time so scarce and expensive in our markets,
and place these staple and wholesome articles Tor
| food within the means of our people. We also
| hoped to encourage the people having either
| large or small area of land attached to their
| dwellings to become producers of food promo
| tive of their daily sustenance. We hoped to
| stimulate the iancier who is engaged in poultry
to please the eye as well as tickle the
| palate; we hoped to add to the resources of
| the farmer that he may produce ton OF poultry
| as Cheaply rs ton OF beef, pork or mutton; we
| have endcayored to persuade women and chill
| dren to become utilitarians and derive pleasure
| and profit by the care of domestic fowls, and We
| still hope to teach public opinion, that mighty
dictator, stronger than the legislature, and near
| ly as strong as the ten commandments, that one
may keep few hens without having the hen
fever and that poultry breeding and rais-
| ing can be pursued with earnest en-
thusiasm and without apology. And
therefore We have thought it worth our
while to give time and thought and labor to
prOmulgate our objects and benefit the state and
the nation by giving, under the sanction Of the
club, Il stimulus TO the poultry interest.
Never in the history Of the country has there
been so much poultry kept and raised as at
present. The interest has doubled in the last
ten years, with very rapid increase at the
present time. We would rather have the net
| profits of thirty well bred and kept hens than
| he
cheese and butter factories. And the net profit
of the poultry OF the country undoubtedly eX.
ceeds that of the sheep or swine.
The breeder of poultry of pure breeds and for
exhibitions wishes the birds that will draw the
highest prices and sell for the most money
Many of the best breeders breed for the love Of
the occupation. Such am anxious to encOur
age to develop any breed or cross breed and
bring them to their higl est state of perfection
We have followed in the ruts or grooves of the
English French and German; have brought
fowls from the borders of the Mediterranean
and semi-barbarOus countries of Asia and Afr
ca; have run after, and placed too much conf
dence in, birds imported and too little in our
own eXertiOns. What have we gained by the in
dolent Dorking, and what may we expect tC
gain by the pampered Creve Occur, Houdan OF
La FleChe?
Has not the time come to Americanize oul
pOultTy-tOlestablish and fix pure breeds that art
adapted to our wants and climate? Let us breed
|
fancy; with combs that will not freeze when The
mercury is eighteen below; sufficiently hardy tC
withstand the sudden changes OF caprciout
March, without having to resort to all noStrum>
laid down in the English works for the cure o
| roup and colds and other diseases rarely know
before the introduction of the foreign breeds.
would not be understood to discourage the uS(
| of any pure breed in the formation of new ones
The Brahma has claims to being an American
fowl, although bearing foreign name; thu
many other breeds shown at our exhibitions
well adapted to our climate, and affording more
profit in a commercial point of view, whicl
means the most eggs and flesh with the leas
amount of food consumed, than many of the
feregn sorts. The American breeds can he in
creased to equal in number all the pure foreign
breeds combined.
| As our common country is more extensive
the more breeds will he wanted that are adapted
to our varied climate. We have only to learr
and apply the scientific principles Of breeding
TO be able soon TO exhibit at our shows new
breeds, not only attractive but of real intrinsic
value and truly American, and shall wonde
ourselves at the scale of development which
awaits us. | shall therefore hope to see on
cOnnOisSeurs showing new breeds of their owl
skill at our future exhibitions, aud think i
would be well to encourage such production
of real merit by the offer of Il special cup 0
increased value.
Allow me, gentlemen, to congratulate YOU
ana especially the gentlemen OF the executive
committee-that the general arrangements art
more than ever satisfactory to competitors ant
patrons. The competition for the society!
prizes and cups are closely contested in many 0
our classes. Such is the nice discrimination o.
exhibitors in pairing or matching the pens o
birds, as to render the duties of the judges
difficult and arduouS task, by no means to b
enyied or desired by any gentleman, and dc
mandS the charitable considerations Of con-
petitors. And let us hope that our Judges AM
experts will keep pace with our breeders, so a
to be able from year to year to Judge the shoY
with strict impartiality so promotive of goo
feeling and desirable for the best interest ant
welfare Of the club.
Mr.. Henry Woodward, treasurer of the cul
read an original poem, and then the guests fror
abroad were called upon TO speak. Anon
those who res pended were, Mr.. Biscoe of Hair
ford, president of the Connecticut state clul
Mr.. Shute of Exeter, N. H., Mr.. Collier of Paw
tucket, Mr.. Fech OF Hartford, Mr.. Crosby c
Danbury, Ct, Mr.. Williams of Taunton, MI
Halstead of New York, Mr.. Hudson Secrctar
Of the Connecticut club, Mr.. Lockwood, MI
Hart, and Mr.. Samuel Colt of Hartford, MI
: Dibble and Mr.. Rucholl of New Haven, an
other gentlemen. The supper was such con
pleie success that it will doubtless hereafter h
made part of the annual gathering. To-da
: will be the best of the whole show.
f COUNTY NEWS.