388 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



profitable as smaller ones, I have this year, by way of experi- 

 ment, procured several smaller kinds. I now present you with 

 eight distinct varieties, viz. : White Shanghacs, Dorkings, Black 

 Spanish, Poland, Plymouth Rock, Bolton Grays, Bantams, and 

 last, but not least, a cross between different breeds, of a good 

 size. 



I am satisfied that my largest kinds are the most profitable. 

 They not only lay younger, but larger eggs and more in number. 

 When dressed, their flesh is yellow, rich, and good flavored ; 

 and for the table, they are not surpassed by any thing that 

 wears feathers. The fifty hens have laid 4,5G9 eggs since the 

 1st of last January, and raised 110 chickens. As it is difficult, 

 among so many, to know how many each hen lays, I have se- 

 lected but two, one of which has laid 176 eggs within a year, 

 hatched and reared one brood of chickens. The other, a white 

 Shanghae, has laid 131 eggs and raised one brood of chickens 

 since January 1st. I sell my eggs at an average of about fif- 

 teen cents per dozen. Some choice ones at one dollar per 

 dozen. Last year I sold my chickens, for market, at from ten 

 to twelve and a half cents per pound ; average weight, about 

 four pounds; some selected ones, at one dollar each, when 

 alive. 



I keep the largest part of my fowls in a yard, with a good 

 shelter, and a supply of food and water. I feed them with corn 

 meal mixed with water, corn, oats, boiled potatoes, meat, burnt 

 bones and grass, in summer, and rowen hay in the winter. 

 When they are confined from insects, they should have a supply 

 of meat as often as once a week. The cost of keeping, this 

 year, I should judge has been about two mills per day, each. 



CqnwaYj 1853. 



BERKSHIRE. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The committee to whom was confided the important duty of 

 making the proper comparative estimate of the various species 

 of poultry on exhibition, respectfully report, that the number, 

 variety; and excellence of the several lots of poultry offered 



