Good and Bad Qualities of Breeds. 13 



largest and they are excellent table fowls ; but their dark legs 

 are an objection in market, while the crests render them liable to 

 roup in damp weather. The Black Spanish is one of the old- 

 established breeds, and once a favorite ; but breeding close 

 for a white face has taken away their compactness, and injured 

 them in vitality. The Leghorns are the best layers, and are 

 hardy, while the Hamburgs are considered by same as 

 possessing an excellent merit in the rose comb. All the non- 

 sitters lay white eggs, and all mature early and are good flyers. 

 Hence, while they are inveterate layers, and will even lay well 

 in winter if kept warm, they feather quickly when young and 

 are therefore not as easily raised as the larger breeds. Their 

 heavy combs and wattles are not in their favor in winter, 

 while they, like all other breeds, cease laying at certain times, 

 both for the purpose of moulting and recuperation. 



The only English breed known to me is the Dorking, which 

 is compact in body, possesses five toes, and makes an excellent 

 market fowl in England, but is not a favorite here. The 

 Houdan holds the same position in France that the Dorking 

 holds in England. Both are fine table fowls ; but, unfortu- 

 nately, Americans sacrifice all the desirable table qualities for 

 the golden skin and legs, though the best breeds for the table 

 have, like the turkey, white skin and dark legs. It may be 

 also stated that the muscles of .the breast are increased by ex- 

 ercise, and it should not surprise those who make a specialty 

 of Brahmas and other large breeds for market to be told that 

 the birds that fly the highest have the most breast meat. The 

 Creveco3ur, La Fleche and other French breeds have not 

 proved hardy in this country. 



The Minorcas, which, it is claimed are, the best layers of 

 all, even excelling the Leghorns, may be mentioned as being 

 of the same size as the Black Spanish, but more compact. 

 There are three varieties Black, White and Red. They are 

 non-sitters and of fair size for that class, and are also consid- 

 ered hardy ; they are likely to become favorites. The Games 

 are not considered fully up to the average as layers, but in pro- 



