EUROPEAN BREEDS. 145 



are low and degrading. There may be laws against these 

 contests in some of the States, but they are seldom en- 

 forced, and do not remedy the evil. Our poultry socie- 

 ties have some responsibility in fostering the breeding of 

 these birds. As a matter of fact, we think most of them 

 would be found obnoxious to the charge of discrimina- 

 ting in their favor, instead of encouraging the more use- 

 ful and ornamental varieties. With the single exception 

 of the Asiatic fowls, the largest amount of premiums is 

 generally offered for Games. The premiums for turkeys, 

 the most valuable of all our domestic birds, amount to 

 much less. For geese, still less. Now, if the object of 

 these societies is the promotion of the common weal, the 

 highest premiums should be offered for the birds that 

 are most useful, or for those that promise to be such. 

 The managers should so arrange the list of premiums 

 as to draw out the birds that will be the most profitable 

 on the farm and in the poultry yard. No special in- 

 ducements are needed for the breeding of Game fowls. 

 That business would take care of itself if the premiums 

 were altogether diverted to the most useful classes. 



HAMBURGS. 



In writing of Hamburgs, an admirer of this favorite 

 breed says: They have taken their proper place in the 

 list of popular breeds. All varieties of the Hamburg 

 family are beautiful, symmetrical, and stylish in car- 

 riage. They have been much improved in the beauty 

 and uniformity of plumage since the era of poultry ex- 

 hibits, but not in productiveness, as that is hardly pos- 

 sible; for they have long maintained the reputation of 

 being "every-day layers." Birds of the Hamburg fam- 

 ily are of only medium size, but their deficiency in size 

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