BEST POULTRY TO KEEP. 81 



stands in the case of Plymouth Rocks. The writer this year, 

 against his judgment, adopted the advice of a noted breeder, 

 who has. a theory, that, if one breeds the same colored birds, 

 their chickens, or at least many of them, will come out all 

 right, though there may be a few black birds. The result 

 proved that he was wrong ; for, of all the pullets hatched 

 from that mating, every one was too dark. The average 

 farmer, however, whose main object is to secure a plentiful 

 supply of eggs and poultry, need not trouble himself greatly 

 about these minor points. If he will take the trouble to 

 procure a light colored cock every two years, of another 

 strain, he will have little difficulty in rearing some birds 

 which will command extra prices ; but in any event he will 

 have a hardy, prolific race of birds, that will fill all his 

 requirements in the way of egg production and poultry. 



The experiments of different crosses are interesting, and it 

 may be well to suggest a few which have been proved to be 

 valuable. The Houdan crossed with the black Cochin or 

 dark Brahma makes a large, handsome bird, generally coal 

 black. The laying qualities, for which the Houdan is noted, 

 are retained, and greater size is the result. The white 

 Cochin and white Leghorn make another valuable and hand- 

 some cross. The silver gray Dorking crossed with the dark 

 Brahma makes a very handsome bird. The Game fowl will 

 improve the plumage, and enhance the beauty, of nearly all 

 the larger breeds, and will add hardihood to any strain 

 which has suffered from too close or in-and-in breeding. 

 The Partridge Cochin crossed with the brown Leghorn makes 

 a valuable and handsome bird, retaining the prolific qualities 

 of the latter, and gaining largely in weight. 



THE BEST BREED TO KEEP. 



There is no question more common or more perplexing. 



In the selection of a breed, the situation, the range, the 

 character of the soil, must be first considered, and, second, 

 the object which the purchaser has in view, — whether the 

 production of eggs or poultry. If there is plenty of range, 

 and eggs are the main object, the Leghorns, Houdans, Game, 

 and Hamburg varieties will be found among the most profit- 

 able. For winter-layers the Plymouth Rocks have few 

 equals, and no superiors. If the latter are confined, and fed 



