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AGRICULTURE FOR COMMON SCHOOLS 



Spanish breeds belong in the Mediterranean class. These 

 are of European origin, mostly from along the coast of the 

 Mediterranean Sea. The Leghorn and Minorca families are 



best known and most 

 widely distributed. The 

 breeds of this class, and 

 especially the Leghorns 

 and Minorcas, are fa- 

 mous as egg-producers. 

 Practically all of the 

 breeds in this class lay 

 white-shelled eggs, while 

 the eggs of nearly all the 

 breeds in the other 

 classes have tinted shells. 

 The Mediterranean 

 breeds are smaller in 

 size than any others, ex- 

 cept those in Classes 8, 

 9, 10, and n. They are 

 non-sitters, that is, they 

 rarely want to sit, and 

 this is a desirable trait where one wants eggs. 



4. The English breeds are the Dorkings, Red Caps, and 

 Orpingtons. The Dorking is the oldest breed of chickens. 

 These fowls have five toes on each foot, a condition not found 

 in any other breed except the Houdan. The Red Caps are also 

 an old breed. They have too large a comb to become popu- 

 lar as a farm fowl. They are good layers and their flesh is of 

 excellent quality. They are non-sitters. The Orpington breed 

 is one of the latest breeds, and because of its high quality as 



BUFF COCHIN 



Contrast the Cochin with Plymouth Rock and 

 Rhode Island Red 



