442 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



health for lack of out-of-door exercise. With regard to the scope for the exercise of the 

 aesthetic perceptions in such employment, a recent writer has well said: 



&quot; We can assure the ladies that in this specialty there is great scope for the exercise of 

 aesthetic perceptions. What can be more beautiful, for instance, than the penciling of the 

 gold and silver Hamburgs; the exquisite harmony of color which the best-bred Gray Dork 

 ing pullets exhibit, and which we think come nearer the wild game birds of the country in 

 beauty of form and plumage than any other? 



Then there are the numerous strains of game fowl, the preux chevaliers of their race, 

 unexcelled in splendor of plumage and unequalled in grace of form and carriage; the Hcu- 

 dans, helmeted like cuirassiers, and the plumed Crevecoeurs, the black-horse cavalry of the 

 poultry yard; the La Fleche with its branching antlers, and the black Spanish and Leghorns, 

 whose battlemented combs of the brightest crimson, flaming above the raven and snow of 

 their plumage, entitle them to be considered the color guard of the grand poultry army. Then 

 there are the stately Brahmas and Cochins, the giants of their race; the black Polands with 

 their crowns of snow, and their golden and silver cousins beautifully marked ; and last come 

 the sprightly little Bantams, whose pencilings have made immortal the name of Sir John 

 Sebright, and whose tints are almost as various as the wild flowers of spring. Is there not a 

 field here sufficient to tempt the most aesthetic taste?&quot; 



The pleasure afforded by this employment, the health derived from the consequent 

 out-of-door exercise, would well repay any lady for undertaking the task, to say nothing of 

 the pecuniary profit to our farmers wives and daughters, that with proper management 

 would certainly result therefrom, and thus a very desirable amount be added to the yearly 

 supply of &quot;pin money,&quot; which sometimes fails to meet all the demands made upon it. We 

 know of no employment that yields so large a per cent, of profit, with so little care, as poul 

 try raising, whether for eggs, market, or for sale as fancy stock. 



The Best Breeds of Fowls to Keep. There is probably no question regarding 

 poultry, more common, or more perplexing than, &quot; Which are the best breeds for general 

 purposes?&quot; since so many of the popular breeds have each their advocates, who give them 

 the first choice as their especial favorites, and urge claims to equal points of merit. We 

 find it true in almost all instances, that where a breeder has been particularly successful with 

 some especial breed or breeds, choice will lie naturally in the direction of his success, while 

 another might be equally fortunate with a breed entirely different, and urge his claim as 

 strongly in favor of that particular breed. 



In the selection of a breed of fowls, many things must be taken into consideration, such 

 as the situation, the range, the character of the soil, the object which the purchaser has in 

 view, whether production of eggs or poultry. If there be plenty of range, with eggs the 

 main object, the Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks, Houdans, Game, and Hamburg varieties will 

 be found among the most profitable. Hamburgs are exceptionally good winter layers, and 

 are said by some breeders to produce more eggs in a year than any other breed, as they are 

 non-sitters and lay almost every day, except when moulting; their eggs are, however, rather 

 small, while the fowls must never be crowded, and must be kept with very clean surround 

 ings, as few breeds suffer so much by overcrowding, poor ventilation and filthy conditions as 

 the Hamburgs. As winter layers, the Plymouth Rocks have few equals, and no superiors. 

 If however they are confined and fed exclusively on corn, they are apt to become so fat as to 

 seriously interfere with their laying. They require a good range; at least an acre of grass to 

 every twenty-five fowls. If the range is limited, Brahmas, Cochins, and their crosses will 

 be most profitable, and even whether the range be limited or not, the Brahma has few equals 

 in laying qualities; but care must be taken, as with all fowls, that the food consist of variety, 

 and not exclusively corn. 



Where the soil is heavy and inclining to be damp, the Dorking, Black Spanish, and 



