50 



ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE 



Four Classes. Chickens have been divided into 

 four classes. The large, fat, meat-producing kind 

 does not lay well. They are the Cochins and 

 Brahmas (Fig. 30). The Leghorns and Minorcas 

 are especially valuable for producing eggs. They 

 are a small, wiry sort with large combs. They lay 

 large, white eggs and seldom want to hatch them, 

 so they can be kept laying for long periods. Their 

 flesh is not so excellent for the table as other breeds, 

 but they are very popular among poultry keepers 

 near large cities where fancy prices are paid for 

 eggs. The fancy or game chickens are beautifully 

 feathered birds and are kept for show. To this class 

 belongs the bantam that is too small for real use. 



But certain breeds combine the best qualities of 

 the layers and the fat chickens. They are the gen- 



Fig. 30. Light Brahmas. 



