294 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



He said that members of his family did not hesitate a moment in 

 expressing their preference for the Orpington because of the thin 

 skin and the abundance of well-flavored turkey-like flesh. He rec- 

 ommended that more attention be paid to the quality of the flesh 

 in raising poultry; that in selecting the varieties for breeding pur- 

 poses it would be a matter of cold dollars and cents to pay attention 

 to egg-producing qualities and to (he demand of the markets as 

 to color and quality of the flesh as well as its quantity. He pointed 

 out the similarity of the principles of breeding poultry for the 

 market to those recognized in the breeding of the beef steer, and 

 said that farmers who raise poultry should address themselves to 

 an intelligent study of what is required along these lines. He 

 pointed out and illustrated the fact that among fowls profitable for 

 the farmer to raise, some are of the egg type in formation and 

 others are of the liesh-producing type, and he called particular 

 attention to the difference in shape of these respective types. He 

 said that one of the advantages enjoyed by the breeder of poultry 

 over the breeder of live stock — cattle or horses — lies in the fact that 

 results are so quickly known, that the breeder of poultry would 

 soon learn the result of his attempts to produce certain types which 

 would enable him to profit by his experience. 



Mr. Orr stated that he had no Plymouth Rocks to exhibit and 

 expressed regret that such was the case. He stated that Mr. 

 Temple had the promise of some for the purposes of illustration, 

 but for certain reasons was unable to obtain them. 



Mr. Orr stated that he wished to acknowledge his indebtedness 

 and return his thanks to the people who so kindly furnished the 

 fowls present on the platform for the purpose of illustration, men- 

 tioning particularly Mr. Townsend and Mr. William Moore, who 

 furnished the specimens of Langshans, Ruff Orpingtons and to Mr. 

 Grove, of Philadelphia, who furnished the pair of Partridge-Wyan- 

 dottes. 



He stated that the Plymouth Rocks were found all over the United 

 States from Maine to California, more numerously than any other 

 varieties, while in the show-rooms there were more of the Wyan- 

 dottes than any other variety. He said the Plymouth Rocks on 

 farms in the country are the most popular birds in America. The 

 Plymouth Rock has three recognized varieties, while the Wyandotte 

 fowls have seven different varieties, all recognized as standard and 

 one not yet admitted to the standard. 



Mr. Orr illustrated the <di;u-acteriHti<-s of these fowls by a prac 

 tical example held up before the audience indicating their different 

 points of conformation and peculiarities and characteristics of flesh 

 and egg production. He said that the characteristic of the Wyan- 

 dotte hen is a short body, short of shank, the hen standing close to 



