POULTRY. 109 



wise good qualities which had combs sufficiently bad to 

 disqualify them. The comb of the cock should always be 

 straight, erect (not lopping to either side), free from twists, 

 fungus-like growths on the sides, having the shapes and 

 features of its own breed. The comb of the hen in some 

 breeds should lop to one side : in others it should be erect. 

 The legs should be of the proper color. " Leghorns " should 

 always have yellow legs ; but some were exhibited this year 

 having white legs. It is generally admitted, that, to insure 

 the best success, the cock and hens should be of different 

 ages. The strongest and best chickens are produced from a 

 cock a year old, with hens of two ; but it is generally true 

 that the proportion of cockerels to pullets will be much 

 larger than when the cock is two and the hens one year old. 

 For this reason some prefer the latter plan. It must not be 

 supposed that either rule is imperative, or that good chicks 

 may not be expected from fowls of the same age ; but in that 

 case the fowls should all be fully a year old. As egg-produ- 

 cing is, perhaps, the largest source of profit to the ordinary 

 raiser of fowls, they should be bred to increase their laying 

 qualities, which may be readily done by selection, the same 

 as any other peculiarity may be improved ; and it might be 

 well for this society to offer a jDremium for the pen of fowls 

 exhibited producing the largest proportion of eggs in a year. 

 Care should be taken to breed from fowls not ver}^ nearly 

 related to each other. Fresh blood should be introduced, 

 but of course of the same breed. 



E. J. Wood, Chairman. 



BRISTOL. 



[From the Report of the Committee.] 



Mr. Tliomas Smith of North Taunton reports that he 

 commenced, Jan. 1, 1876, with a stock of six hens. One 

 was killed by accident in July. Had a stock of five the re- 

 mainder of the year. They laid nine hundred and ninety-nine 

 eggs. Sold eggs to the amount of sixteen dollars and twentj'- 

 four cents. Whole amount paid for grain, eight dollars and a 

 half. Net profit, seven dollars and seventy-four cents, or more 



