172 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 



gratifying one. Among some of seventy breeds recog- 

 nized in the American standand of excellence, there are 

 only three of American origin, viz., the old fashioned 

 Dominique, the Plymouth Rocks, and the Wyandottes. 

 After some years of careful breeding the Plymouth Rock 

 has been brought to such a condition of merit, that it is 

 now one of the most popular breeds, and promises to be 

 one of the most suitable for farmers and attractive to 

 amateurs. 



AMERICAN DOMINIQUES. 



This old-fashioned breed is said to have been brought 

 over by the early Puritans, and wherever bred in purity 

 is acknowledged to be one of the best, hardiest, and 

 most beautiful of all domestic fowls; and as there has 

 certainly been no importation of any fowls of this breed 

 into this country for a century, they have come to be re- 

 garded as strictly an American variety. 



They are without doubt the oldest of the distinctive 

 American breeds, being mentioned in the earliest poultry 

 books as an indigenous and valued variety. In the fu- 

 rore for fancy breeds of fowls, the older sorts are some- 

 times wellnigh forgotten; yet it is highly probable 

 that the American Dominiques possess as many good 

 qualities as any of the newer breeds. If they do not 

 reach the heavy weight of some of the latter breeds, they 

 have great merit, and none give better satif action to the 

 farmer than this old American breed of Dominiques. 



They should weigh from six to eight pounds when 

 matured. 



The Dominiques are excellent layers, very hardy, un- 

 exceptionable as mothers, yet are not given to excessive 

 incubation, and are good for the table. They grow both 

 fat and feathers quickly, while their plain " home-spun" 



