42 AGRICULTURE. 



For egg production the Leghorns are typical fowls, and where 

 white-shelled eggs are wanted, the Leghorn varieties are more 

 widely kept than any others. 



The Minorcas, other members of the Mediterranean class, 

 excel the Leghorns in size of eggs, but do not equal them in 

 number. 



Some strains of several newer breeds are not far from the 

 Leghorn in prolificacy. 



Of the French breeds the Houdan is most widely bred in this 

 country, and, for such an excellent table fowl, is an exceptional 

 layer of large white eggs. 



The Polish, often good layers, have sometimes suffered in 

 vigor because of their beauty, which admirers hesitate to risk 

 marring by introduction of distant blood. 



Of the Asiatics, which lay brown-shelled eggs, the Langshari 

 is high in favor with practical poultrymen. The Brahma, thf 

 largest of the pure breeds, also ranks high and lays large eggs 

 Those strains, however, bred for early laying are usually much 

 inferior in size to the standard birds. The Cochin varieties 

 arc more particularly the pride of the fancier than of the farmer 



Of the American breeds the Plymouth Rock is undoubtedly 

 the most popular. Its type of plumage possessses an unusual 

 strength, even in blood much diluted, and faint reflections oi 

 the blue barring are seen in very distant relatives of the pure 

 breed. The perfect markings of the showroom bird are, how- 

 ever, quickly lost. The American breeds lay brown-shelled 

 eggs. Different flocks vary as much as the breeds or varietie 

 in productiveness. 



Many other breeds and varieties recognized by the American 

 Poultry Association are of considerable economic value, but 

 are less commonly kept. 



In feeding most farm animals the usual purpose is only to 

 secure meat, wool, milk, or work, and not always is consideration 

 necessarily given to the breeding condition and the breeding 

 season. When poultry is kept for other than fancy purposes, 

 the life of the individual fowl is so short that there is not only 

 an annual necessity of growing young birds with several more 

 or less complete sets of plumage, but egg production virtually 



