444 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Brahma as a preference being their roasting merit so late in the Spring, when good poultry 

 is very difficult to obtain. 



The Dark Brahma and Partridge Cochin, as far as practical fowls are considered, in our 

 opinion, come next in merit. When exquisitely penciled, their plumage is exceedingly beau 

 tiful, but as they do not produce so large a number in a hundred, fit for exhibition, that is, do 

 not breed so perfectly, and true to color, and are also less prolific, as layers, we must place 

 them in the third rank; but to the fancier, whose pleasure is found in the most bright and 

 beautifully colored plumage, the Partridge Cochin will take the lead, while the more modest 

 tints, with equally fine penciling, seen in the plumage of the Dark Brahmas, find many 

 admirers. 



Of the poultry found in the middle group, viz.: Plymouth Rocks, Houdans, Black Javas, 

 Crevecoeurs, La Fleche, etc., we would say, for the New England and Middle States, for 

 practical purposes, the Java and Plymouth Rocks are of equal merit, while the South Middle 

 States could produce the Houdan with profit; but to speak of each, we say, if forced to choose, 

 we would give the Plymouth Rock the preference; its great excellence being rapid growth, 

 and its adaptation to making good broilers; a demand so large during the summer months. 

 The young chicks make fine broilers at the age of twelve weeks, and are very hardy; they 

 mature early, laying at five months of age, hence are good fall producers of eggs. Demerits, 

 not good roasters, as they become tough and hard in flesh soon after six months of age, and 

 are no more than average producers of eggs in winter. 



The Houdans are quick growers, and like the Plymouth Rocks must, as poultry, be 

 marketed before seven months old; they are good layers of white eggs, but their heavily 

 muffed and crested heads make them predisposed to lice, and in damp weather they are also 

 liable to roup, requiring great care as to quarters free from dampness and drafts of 

 air, which has made them undesirable for New England climate; but in a more southerly 

 climate, we believe them better than the Plymouth Rock, where light-colored meat is toler 

 ated, and a preference given to white eggs; for it is a fact that they will produce more eggs 

 in a year than the ; Rocks, or Java fowls, but the chicks, in a northern climate, cannot be 

 called hardy or easily reared. 



&quot;We class the Game fowl among the lesser medium-sized birds. They are the fancier s 

 stock, and the Black- Red variety may be called both the aristocrat and pugilist of the poultry 

 yard. It is true, that at four months of age their flesh is as fine, if not finer than any other, 

 but as their eggs seldom reach a number in excess of one hundred and twenty-eight yearly, we 

 can call them no more than an average, and by no means up to the best breeds for practical 

 purposes. The chicks are hard to rear. 



The Black Spanish may also be called of the lesser medium class in size. They are fair 

 layers of large white eggs, and average about one hundred and twenty-five in number during 

 the year; yet their eggs will, we think, weigh as much as one hundred and fifty eggs of the 

 Leghorn variety, of the Spanish class. While we consider the race not a profitable one for 

 practical purposes, yet its class with the Asiatic is a very prolific egg-producer. 



Among the small varieties, we think the Leghorn the best, and possessing far more 

 merit than the Hamburgs, yet the latter are much prized for their exquisite beauty of 

 plumage, and though delicate to rear, they seem quite hardy when once mature. Their eggs 

 are small and white, and a single hen has been known to lay one hundred and fifty-one eggs 

 in six months ; but as a rule, one hundred and sixty eggs would be considered the full average 

 for a year. 



The Leghorns are the most prolific layers of all the breeds; the best authoritative record 

 yet known is that of fifty-one hens with an average of two hundred and seven eggs each, and 

 a profit of $4.04 per head for the year, being the banner statement yet on record. They 

 axe of small size, but make very good broilers, yet as roasters are positively worthless, being 



