22 Farm Poultry 



It should not be inferred, however, that these 

 fowls are not suited to the northern, central and 

 New England states, for they are the best winter 

 layers when warm and comfortable quarters are 

 provided. Even when more or less neglected they 

 may still prove to be wholly satisfactory as winter 

 layers on account of their hardiness and their 

 great natural tendency to produce eggs. The very 

 fact that they do so well under comparative ne- 

 glect is one of the chief reasons for such unsat- 

 isfactory results in poultry - keeping : fowls that 

 will live with little care are likely to receive 

 little care. It often happens that the most deli- 

 cate breeds receive the most care. 



BREEDS AND VARIETIES 



The most noted egg breeds now reared in the 

 United States include the so-called Mediterranean 

 fowls, which comprise the following breeds: Leg- 

 horn, Minorca, Ancona, Andalusian, and Span- 

 ish. To these should be added the Hamburg, 

 Red Cap, Houdan, and perhaps some others. 

 Some of these breeds are further subdivided into 

 numerous varieties which partake of the same 

 general form and disposition but differ greatly in 

 color of plumage. 



In producing so great a variety in plumage as 

 seen m the numerous varieties of some breeds, 



