REPOR T OF THE PO UL TR Y MAN A GER. 205 



Plymouth Kocks. 



One of the best known breeds on the continent and one of the best for the 

 farmer, who wishes an all round fowl. The pullets and young hens are good layers 

 and the cockerels put on more flesh per month than any breed so far tried at the Expe- 

 rimental Farm. The chickens are hardy and grow well, the cockerels putting on 1 lb. 

 to 1^ lbs. of flesh per month, when properly cared for and fed. Early pullets will 

 lay at age of five to five and a half months. The laying stock require to be kept busy, 

 and the hens must not be overfed as they get fat very easily. The pullets will stand 

 a little more pushing, as the pullets of all heavy breeds will. The hens make excel- 

 lent mothers. There are three varieties of this popular breed, viz. : Barred, White 

 and Bufil The latter is a new comer. 



Silver Laced Wyandottes. 



Another breed of American origin and a great favourite with a great many, on 

 account of their laying and table qualities. The cockerels make good growth, 

 showing a development equal to 14 to 16 oz, per month. They are square and. 

 compact in shape. The hens are excellent layers of eggs of fair size : some strains 

 lay large brown eggs, and they make excellent mothers. They come close after the 

 Plymouth Eock as a general purpose fowl. There are three other varieties, the 

 White, Golden and Buff. The white variety is described later on. The weights 

 called for are: cock, 8^ lbs.; hen, 6J lbs. ; cockerel, 7J lbs.; pullet, 5| lbs. 



THE NEW VARIETIES ON TEIAL. 



The White Plymouth Eocks, White Wyandottes and the Coloured Dorkings are 

 the three new breeds on trial at the Experimental Farm. The value of the Dorkings, 

 as table fowls, in Great Britain, is well known, and it is hoped by their numerous 

 admirers that they will be much more extensively bred in this country than they have 

 been. The characteristics of the three breeds are given as follows : — 



White Plymouth Eocks. 



All the good points of the Barred are claimed for this variety with the additional 

 ones of greater size and whiter appearance of flesh when dressed for market. The 

 latter claim is advanced on the ground that the white '* pin " feathers do not show 

 so darkly as in the barred. In order to give them a fair trial, eggs from two of the 

 best strains in the country were procured and from them 17 pullets and 8 cockerels 

 were hatched. The chickens were strong from their hatching out and made good 

 progress, a cockerel hatched on the 20th May last showing 6 lbs. on the 2l8t Septem- 

 ber. Two others weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz. and 4 lbs. 8^ oz. respectively. The pullets 

 are large and handsome. So far they are fully equal, if not superior, to the barred 

 in growth and robust health. Careful observation well be made of the one variety 

 as compared with the other. The standard weights required are ; cock, 9J lbs. ; hen, 

 7 J lbs.; cockerel 8 lbs.; pullet, 6 lbs. 



White Wyandottes. 



A very promising variety, showing so far, all the good points of the Silver 

 Laced. They are claimed to dress better for market on account of the white pin 

 feathers showing less. The same point it may be remembered, is claimed for the 

 White Plymouth Eocks. From eggs of different strains procured, eleven pullets 

 and ten cockerels were hatched. The chicks displayed hardinesss and grew well. 

 A cockerel hatched on the 30th May last, weighed on 2nd October following, 4 lbs. 



