II Jan., 1909.] Some Poultry Experiments. 61 



passed, they will, bv judicious feeding, bring good prices in the market. 

 The flesh of the Orpington is, at 2% years, much more eatable and suc- 

 culent, than that of the Leghorn, which is fibrous, dry and tasteless after 

 the second season has passed; in fact, the Leghorn was never intended 

 for the table. 



To determine the question, I have during the past few months con- 

 ducted exhaustive experiments as to the quick maturity of the breeds under 

 review. Attention has also been paid to the all important breed with 

 which we hope to build up an export trade, the Dorking-Game, and 

 •which, at the recent World's Poultry Congress, was recognised as being 

 the breed far excellence. 



Details of Experiments. 



The 41 chicks were placed in 4 pens of 50 x 20, each having pne- 

 •cisely the same food, viz. : oatmeal, stale bread crumbs, lightly boiled 

 sheep's liver, finely sliced onions, bonemeal and charcoal, with plenty 

 of skim milk to drink; grit and shell always being available. At the 

 -end of four weeks, the cockerels were weighed and the following tabk 

 5hows the results: — 



Breed. Age. Weight. 



Dorking-Game ... ... i montli ... ... 19 oz.s. 



Black Orpington ... ... ,, ... ... 1^ ,, 



Silver Wyandotte ... . . ,, ... ■ 14 ,, 



White Leghorn ... ... ,, .. ... 11 ,, 



At 6 weeks, they were again placed on the scales, when considerable 

 increase in weight was noticeable. 



Breed. Age. Weight. 



Dorking-Game ... ... 6 wteks ... ... 26^ ozs 



Black Orpington ... ... ,, ... ... 23 ,, 



Silver Wyandotte ... ... ,, ... ... 19 ,, 



White Leghorn ... ... ,, ... ... 15 ,, 



A fortnight later, bringing them up to 8 weeks old, they were again 

 ■weighed and it was found that the increase had been well maintained. 



Breed. Age. Weight. 



Dorking-Game ... ... 8 weeks ... .. 32^ ozs. 



Black Orpington ... ... ,, ... ... 26f „ 



Silver Wyandotte ... ,, ... ... 22 ,, 



White Leghorn ... ... ,, ... ... 1 8i ,, 



The result of the two months' test clearly indicates that the Dorking 

 and Orpingtcin are two of the most profitable breeds to keep. Whilst 

 the amount of food cons.umed by each pen was the same each day, the 

 ^ain in flesh varied considerably. Li addition to the rapid increase in 

 weight we must not overlook the fact that both breeds are excellent layers 

 •of fair sized eggs, and when bred early in/ the season, are good winter 

 layers. 



The time is not far distant when 8 to 10 weeks' chicks (broilers) will 

 tecome as popular here as they are in America to-day. 



