510 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



desirable of the colored variety, notwithstanding the latitude given by the Standard in this 

 respect. They probably have more admirers than any other of the Dorking family, though 

 all varieties are very attractive in plumage and general appearance. Mr. V. A. Blakeslee, of 

 Winsted, Conn., who has for several years been a well known and successful breeder of 

 this variety, says of them: &quot;The average weight of the Colored Dorkings, as I find them, 

 is cocks, 9 to 1 Ibs. ; hens, 6^ to 8 Ibs. ; although I have seen pullets from stock that is now 

 in my yard weigh 8 Ibs. at Christmas. I do not find them inclined to sit early enough to 

 raise early chickens, and I have always purchased common hens to do my sitting; and in 

 fact they are not to be classed as bad sitters. They are the best of mothers, and I will here 

 say I have a hen in my yards that is three years old and has never offered to sit. I also find 

 that at the age of even six and seven years they lay nearly as well as when two years 

 old. Many write me: Are they hardy ? I answer yes, if you have a run for them, or put 

 them on a farm; and no fowl will do better. Many have an idea that they are subject to 

 roup. So is any fowl that is not properly cared for. In nine years I have not lost five fowls 

 with the roup. 



They will not do well in low, damp, confined quarters. Give them a run and high 

 ground, and they will mature quickly and have more flesh with finer bone than any other 

 known variety in the same time. In breeding early market poultry, a cross of the Dorking 

 and Buff Cochin makes one of the best layers in winter that can be had. I find Dorkings 

 good layers, though not as prolific in winter months as the Asiatics, but in the spring, from 

 February to the next September, I will not except even the Leghorns; for I believe they will 

 lay more eggs than any other variety of poultry, and, understand me, they will lay well in 

 winter, if well kept. Pullets, with me, commence laying at about seven months old.&quot; 



It is generally conceded by most poultry breeders that while the Dorkings may be called 

 fair layers, with good care, yet they are inferior in the egg-producing quality to most of our 

 standard breeds, taking the year through, though of course the care they receive makes a 

 great difference in this respect, the same as with any breed of fowls. For a hen to be a 

 perpetual egg manufacturer, she must be supplied with food material, and conditions suited tq 

 the article to be manufactured. 



White Dorkings. In symmetry this variety is said to surpass all others of the Dor 

 king breed; its outlines and general contour being very graceful, while its beautiful pure 

 white plumage, set off by the brilliant coral red of the comb and wattles, presents a scene 

 that cannot fail to command admiration, even from the most practical and prosaic, who never 

 see in a fowl anything but a manufactory of meat and eggs. This variety has doubtless 

 more pure Dorking blood in it than any of the others, since for years it was the only variety 

 that produced invariably the fifth toe, although now the others have been improved to the 

 extent that they seldom fail to breed that peculiarity, so dear to the heart of the bird fancier. 

 Pure white plumaged fowls are always attractive on a green lawn, and when given a large 

 run, they are kept clean and healthy. 



The White Dorkings are not quite as large as the colored varieties, but we see no reason 

 why, with a little judicious breeding, taking care to select the largest, and only mature birds 

 (perhaps two years of age) for breeding purposes, or by crossing with the larger varieties, 

 these may not be bred as large or even larger than their, at present, larger relatives. They 

 are very gentle, easily tamed, and will feed from the hand with the utmost confidence, where 

 gently treated. They are said to be better layers than the Colored Dorkings, their eggs 

 peculiarly delicate, the shell being of a pinky or French white shade; they are also of large 

 size. They, like all the Dorking varieties, require a dry soil and large range. If confined, 

 their plumage becomes soiled and dingy, and the birds never seem in such cases to be 

 iealthy. 



The great difficulty of breeding this variety a difficulty with all pure white-plumaged 



