l88 



Tlic Country Gentleman s Magazine 



and weight must be considered, as the latter in flesh and well shaped. I have found them 

 is often the criterion where there are pens of quite hardy, and in damp weather much more 

 equal merit competing in a class. 



In form 



the Dorking should be as near a square as 

 possible— broad and full in breast— and 

 should stand on short legs, set well apart ; 

 the cock must be of upright, bold carriage, 

 and if an adult bird, be not less than lo lb. in 

 weight : 7 lb. each would be about the equi- 

 valent weight in the hens. Of these, it must 

 be borne in mind that perfect matching is re 

 quired in every particular. 



While allowing the Dorking breed of fowls 

 full and just praise, I must warn my readers 

 that, unless with assistance from hens of other 

 varieties, very early chickens cannot be ob- 

 tained from them. They are tardy sitters ; 

 therefore any winter-laid Dorking eggs (and 

 these can only be expected from the few and 

 precious early watched pullets) must be en- 

 trusted to the care of foster-mothers. It be- 

 comes a necessity to have these at hand, and 

 the Cochins and Brahmas come in admirably 

 to supply this want ; but we must also con- 

 •sider how the eggs for household use during 

 winter are to be procured, besides those re- 

 quired for setting. If poultry is kept at all, it 

 should be made to meet our wants at the 

 dearest as well as cheapest season of the year 

 — only thus can it pay — and we must there- 

 fore have a stock of early-hatched pullets 

 of good laying kinds to supply eggs which, 

 in market, are worth from is. 6d. to 2s. 

 per dozen during the cold, frosty winter 

 months. 



2. THE HOUDAN BREED. 



The French breeds are, as a rule, excellent 

 layers of large, white, delicately-flavoured eggs, 

 and as they rarely sit, five eggs weekly can be 

 depended upon from each hen. Unlike the 

 Dorking, they lay in winter quite irrespective 

 of age ; and adult hens. If highly fed, will lay 

 •during nine months of the year. I particu- 

 larly recommend the " Houdans," and can, 

 from experience, speak highly of their many 

 ^ood qualities. In addition to their laying 

 powers, as table fowls they are excellent — 

 ^smaller than the Dorking, but equally white 



easily reared than Dorkings. They feather 

 quickly, and are altogether more precocious 

 than any other breed, unless the Hamburgh 

 — that pretty, graceful bird, diminutive in 

 form, but of rare beauty. " Houdans " are 

 Imported in large numbers from France, 

 and as they are not expensive, will 

 be widely spread, I hope, throughout our 

 own land. They should be seen in every 

 farm-yard, and I can guarantee that the 

 earliest chickens sent to market will be from 

 that breed. Houdans, in their own country, 

 have no particular points of colouring beyond 

 the black and white plumage, as free from 

 any tinge of yellow as possible. In our 

 exhibitions we are, however, more ambitious 

 and exclusive, and I shall endeavour to de- 

 scribe the points of merit aimed at by English 

 fanciers and breeders. Size in this breed 

 should have much influence in the decision 

 of judges, just as in "coloured Dorkings," 

 where, provided the hens are matched per- 

 fectly, a mere shade of brown, darker or 

 lighter, is not considered a disqualification. 

 Premising that the pens of Houdans will be 

 matched in colour of leg, the other points are 

 as follows ; and first of the cock : — 



Breast — Black and white, regularly spotted, 

 full and deep. 



Tliiglis — Spotted, as short and fleshy as 

 possible. 



Legs and feet — Light grey or white, free 

 from feathers. 



Tail — White, carried well up, and abundant. 



Saddle hackles — White and long. 



Neck hackles — White and black streaked, 

 very full and long. 



Body — Spotted black and white. 



Comb — Branched, and slightly cupped. 

 Wattles — Red and long, but firm. 



Crest or top-knot — Scanty, streaked black 

 and white. 



Can i age — Upright and bold. 



The points of the hen are as follows : — 

 Breast — Black and white, regularly spotted. 



