342 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
4, Size oF EGGS.—Layers of large eggs, averaging about7 toa pound: 
La Fléche, Houdans, Créveceeurs, and Black Spanish. Layers of medium 
eggs, averaging 8 to 9 to a pound: Leghorns, Cochins, Brahmas, Po- 
~ Jands, Dor kings, Games, and Sultans. Layers of small eggs, averaging 
9 . 10 to a pound: Hamburgs. 
. NUMBER OF EGGS.—Great layers ; Hamburgs, Spanish, Leghorns, 
ee Polands. ' 
6. INCUBATION.—Good sitters: Cochins, Brahmas, Dorkings, and 
Games. Non-sitters : Houdans, Crévecceurs, La Fiéche, Spanish, Po- 
lands, Hamburgs, and Leghorns. 
7. VALUABLE FOR FLESH.—True table-birds : La Fléche, Houdans, 
Créveceurs, and Dorkings. Flesh less juicy: Cochins and Brahmas. 
in confirmation of the opinion expressed above, concerning the supe- 
rior fecundity of the breeds named, the opinions of poultry breeders in 
various parts of the country, as recently expressed in communications 
to this Department, are annexed: 
Mr. Samuel J. Parker, of Westchester, Pennsylvania, says: “Leghorn, 
co epee aud Hambur ¢ fowls will lay" more eggs in a year than the 
larger and more hardy ‘varieties, they being non-sitters.” 
Mr, O. B. Hadwin, of Worcester, Massachusetts, says: Hamburgs 
Games, Leghorns, Spanish, Dominique, Bantams, or medium-sized fow 
are the most prolific in eggs.” 
Mr. William M. Leonard, of Beimont, New Hampshire, vice-president 
of the Merrimack Valley Poultry Association, says: “I find the White 
Legborus will lay more eggs in a year than any other breed of fowls.” 
| Mr. J. 8. Gould, of Ithaca, New York, expresses the opinion that the 
Leghorns are the best layers. 
Mr. W. Kodman, of West Farms, New York, says: “There is little 
doubt that the Hambur gs, Silver-spangled ‘and. Black, are our best lay- 
ers, they being most hardy.” 
Mr. Thomas. Gould, of Aurora, New York, says: “I find none so good 
as the Hamburgs.” 
Mr. A. W. Sawyer, of Sycamore, Llinois, says: “I consider the White 
Leghorns the best summer layers, and the Light Brahmas the best win- 
ter layers.” 
Some, however, prefer the Brahmas to any other breed for eggs, and 
this preference is ‘expressed, generally, in the examples of cost and profit 
of poultry-keeping in the preceding pages. 
«Mr, H. Bishop, ‘of Springfield, Ohio, says: ‘I find full-blooded Light 
Brabmas the best for the production of eggs.” 
Mr. Benjamin V. Brown, of Concord, Massachusetts, says: “ I am con- 
vinced, and it is the prevailing opinion in this vicinity, that Brahma- 
pootras are best for the production of eggs.” 
Mr. L. A. Spalding, of Lockport, New York, says: “As egg-producers, 
the Brahmas are in the front rank, and commence to lay at six to seven 
months’ old; and my first lot of sixteen laid in one year an average of 
140 eges each.” Mr. Spalding remarks that he finds no difficulty in 
breaking these fowls of the desire to sit. 
Mr. Leavitt, of New York, prefers the Brahmas, both for eggs and 
flesh, as they are hardy and cost less to keep than the best so-called 
ege-producing breeds. 
For market fowls the following is the testimony of the gentlemen just 
quoted : 
Mr. Brown says: “It isan established fact that the Brahmas are the ~ 
Loe for market, on account of their size and fine arbenaea when 
essed.’ 
