The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-11
THEY ARE BUSY.
Awarding Of Premiums in Progress at
Poultry Show.

Young Allen Sells has entered into
the race for the adulations of the at
tending crowds at the chicken show.
Allen has a couple of cages containing
a pair each of cockatoos and macaws.
Perhaps you don't know what these
names represent. Webster's diction-
airy states that a coclxatoo is a caca-
TUNE parrot of the East Indies or
Australia having an erectile crest,
while the same authority describes the
macaw as an American arine parrot.
If you can secure a definite compre-
hension of what is described from the
foregoing you are welcome and no G.
o. D. charges viii be demanded for
hunting up the information. In COM
mon language the cockatoo is a bird
which has the characteristics of a par
rot as far as saucy eyes, beak and gen
eral shape go; after that the resem-
blance ceases. The cockatoo is per-
fectly white with the exception of its
crest, which is a. light green and of
comparatively immense proportions.
The macaW looks like a parrot only
it doesn't. The macaw has all the
colOrs a giddy parrot would have, and
then some It has the additional
property of a very long tail which
sweeps the ground and of which it ap-
pears to be very proud; at least it is
engaged in cleaning it with its beak
D.
Allen has this sign posted up in front:
please don't feed these birds"
The attendance is picking up. The
association has been having some hard
shedding as far as weather goes. This
is not intended as a pun. The heavy
snow and the generally wintry condi-
ton of the weather has kept back the
crowds which otherwise would have
wandered in. The latter part of the
week, if it breaks into more favorable
weather, will doubtless register good
sized crowds. To aid the visitors in
securing better comprehension of
what is on exhibition. Secretary
Hughes will have the cOOps all placed
single deck in place of the double
deck, which arrangement has obtained
thus far. This will mean the utiliza-
ton of every spare space in the Audi
tOrium. There are now in the neigh
borhood of $500 birds entered and re-
ceived. but this number will be in
creased by this evening with the
arrival of several late exhibitors.
The pigeons number from 500 to
600, and J. K. Muir, the judge, from
Chicago, completed the scoring yes
terday evening. The, best showing as
regards the variety, according to Mr..
Muirs judgment, were the "tumblers."
He said: 81 think 1 have never seen
a better display of tumblers in my ex-
perience. There are certainly some
good ones here" In this class were
some IS birds, and Mr.. p. PlamOndOn
and Mr.. NJ. F. Hankla, both of To-
peka, scored high in this contest. Both
of these gentlemen are deeply in love
with pigeon interests and will exhibit
their stock at the Chicago show.
Pigeons, like chickens, are judged on
a basis of 100 and on the following
points: Shape and color, typical car
riage, weight, condition, head, eyes,
lobes comb neck. back, tail, wings,
breast, body and fluff, legs and feet.
crest and beard. hardness of feather.
The tumblerS are marked on a some
what different basis, though, the
marking being based finally on the
character of tumbIing which the bird
does. A long strip of canvas is laid
on the floor and the birds, with a lit
tie coaxing, turn a single flip in the
air, or a double, according to the
training, before lighting on its feet
again. The roller simply does a series
of somersaults like the small boy is
accustomed to do when showing off.
The other classes which show up best
are the English pouters, pygmy pout-
ers, homers, and jacobins-
The showiest birds among the
chickens are the silver-laced Wyan-
dottes, the silver-spangled Hamburgs,
buff and partridge Cochins, and the
dark Bramahs.
Probably the most marked thing
about the show birds is their size
They are al of them large fellows,
their compatriots in the or
binary scrub stock by several pounds
The ROSTERS have a width of shoulder
and a depth of chest that would need
no padding in wearing a varsity coat.
In fact, their lung supply when it is in
full action reminds one strongly of
these grand opera singers one sees.
The birds are all tagged now, and you
can tell what you are looking at when
YOU stand in front of a COOP It's not
much pleasure to the novice to make |
show of this character unless he
knows what he Sees
The Judging of the chickens will not
be completed until some time this af-
and though 1t does not take
ong to Judge each chicken in the ag-
yregate it amounts to considerable. |
The only awards made thus far were
m the departments of White Cochins
and Blue Andalusians. In White |
vochfns Geo. PIummer, representative |
from Perry. Kas. took first in hens, |
first, second and third in the pullet |
Glass. and second and third in cock |
areIs. There was no entry in White |
enough to secure first prize In the |
Blue Andalusians, J. D. Martin, of Sa-
ina. carried off first and second hon |
1rs in cockerels first. second and third
n bullets. and first, second and third !
n hens. Speaking of Blue AndUla- |
;ians. Secretary Hughes received a |
etter from a party desiring TO make
purchase of this class of bird, but
evidently got slightly mixed on the
,ame. as thew asked for Blue Antede- !
Just one criticism in passing: The
auditoriuu might be kept a little |
,Ieaner from straw and feed 1eavings.
Probably the force has been kept busy /
1eyond its capacity, but this is a thing
hat should merit immediate atten-
ion.