io Good and Bad Qualities of Breeds. 



well adapted to resist frost ; they lay early and are fairly hardy ; 

 but many of the eggs are small, especially the pullets' or first 

 eggs So, it will be seen, all the best points can not be ob- 

 tained any better in any one breed of poultry than in any one 

 variety among other kinds of domestic animals. The man 

 who intends to embark in the poultry business should well 

 consider which varieties are best suited to his circumstances. 



THE USES OF VARIOUS BREEDS. 

 P. H. JACOBS. 



As our country is diversified in soil and climate, the intro- 

 duction of new breeds has been productive of great benefit to 

 the poultry interests, enabling a profit to be made where for- 

 merly but little interest was manifested. With the advent of 

 the Shanghai, Chittagong, and Brahmapootra came a spirit 

 of rivalry in the production of the largest birds, size taking 

 the preference over quality and merit. Scientific breeders, 

 however, made wonderful improvements in the progeny of the 

 original ancestors ; and as the thoroughbred cattle, sheep and 

 swine of to-day have departed from their ancestral types, so 

 have the domestic birds. 



Including all classes of Games, there are several hundred 

 breeds of fowls, but those which are most popular and best 

 known are classed as Asiatic, American, English, French and 

 Spanish. The Asiatics are feathered on the legs ; the Ameri- 

 cans are clean-legged ; the English and French are compact 

 (the favorite breeds possessing five toes), and the Spanish are 

 non-sitters. No particular breed possesses all the desirable 

 qualities necessary to perfection. Though excelling in some 

 respects, a breed may be deficient in others. But each is 

 adapted to certain climates, soils, and modes of management. 

 The best breed depends upon the purposes for which it is in- 

 tended, the distance from market, the quarters, the range, the 

 fences, and the color of its carcass when dressed. 



In an examination of the breeds the Asiatic may be divided 



