Thirty Years Amon^ BroM^n Leghorns 



of a Veteran Ponltry Breeder and Judge 



George H. Burtoll 



THE winter of 1879 brought a poultry show at Buf- 

 falo, New York, and as our next neighbor, Mr. A. 

 F. Conger, had arranged to attend it, my mother 

 was persuaded to allow me to accompany him to this 

 show. It was held in the ice skating rink, later occupied 

 by the Cutler Desk Company, and which is now the 

 Garden Theatre. This trip I well remember; it was here 

 that I lirst saw Philander Williams, J. Y. Bicknell, Chas. 

 H. Sweet, George C. Bucknam and I think Eldridgc 

 Comey. I believe W. H. Todd was also pointed out to 

 me. I looked the birds over carefully, and how I did ad- 

 mire the Plymouth Rocks and Brown Leghorns, and it 

 was at this show that I was made a fancier. 



In the spring of 1880 my mother was appealed to for 

 funds to purchase eggs. I decided to place my order with 

 C. A. Keefer, a popular breeder of Plymouth Rocks and 

 Bruwn Leghorns, for a sitting of each. Mr. Conger placed 

 hi> order with W. E. Bonney for Brown Leghorns and 

 with Sid Conger for Plymouth Rocks; this giving us a 

 combination of eastern and western breeders' stock, so 

 that we might exchange birds in the fall. 



The result of my hatch from 26 eggs was 12 Brown 

 Leghorns and 10 Plymouth Rocks. 

 This appealed to my father and 

 mother as a wonderful result for 

 eggs having been transported 

 about 600 miles. Twenty cliRk-, 

 raised to maturitj'. 



First Exhibit Made in 1881 

 My first exhibit was at Spring 

 villc, X. Y., January 12 to 14 1881, 

 winning second prize on cockerel 

 and pullet in Rocks and second 

 prize on cockerel and pullet in 

 Legho.ns. J. Y. Bicknell was the 

 judge and I was decidedly happy 

 with my scores and winnings A 

 cockerel was disposed of at $5 00, 

 and I well remember that my 

 father could not realize that a 

 single bird should bring that 

 amount, even though the eggs had 

 cost $4,00 per 13. 



The following year at the age 

 of 18. I showed at Syracuse, N 

 Y., Springville, N. Y., and Cobles 

 kill. N. Y., and Lancaster Pa 

 under Judge Bicknell, Newton 

 Adams and Capt. James E. White 

 I have before me a copy of the 

 ••Poultry World," Vol. 10, No 5 

 May 1881. I note photograph en 

 gravings of Capt. White and 

 others, who were connected with 

 the revision of the Standard in 



barred out. Mr. Bicknell, however, was instructed by the 

 secretary, Chas. R. Harker, to score my birds, which was 

 some satisfaction to me, two birds receiving scores of 96}4. 



After these winnings, not being satisfied and wishing 

 to see what others had done, and how they did it, a trip 

 was made to Mr. Reefer's yards at Sterling. 111., and it 

 was on this trip that Capt. J. E. White and Geo. T. Pit- 

 kin gave me some valuable information during my one 

 day's sojourn with them at Chicago. I think this was in 

 1883. 



Only a few years was spent in breeding Barred Ply- 

 mouth Rocks and my stock was closed out to Geo. K. 

 Siston, a banker of New York. 



Color of Brown Leghorn Females 

 The color of the female Brown Leghorn from 1880 to 

 1890 was varied by a cross of a Keefer female and a Pot- 

 tage male. A better male was obtained and by a cross of 

 a Keefer male and female the better male was obtained. 

 These two lines were maintained and better birds were 

 produced. The Browns of 1880 to 1888-9 were unlike the 

 Browns of today in both type and color; the male was de- 



In 1885, I made my entry of 

 some S. C. Brown Leghorns at 

 the old Madison Squai e Garden, 

 but on account of belated trains 

 and late arrival of birds I was 



A,- 



SINGLE COMB BROWN LEGHORN HEN 

 One of the finest specimens of a Brown Leghorn female ever bred or exhibited was 

 Jina C." owned and exhibited by George H. Burgott. In style and shape she was 

 ead of her time, while in color and stippling she was equal to the best bred and 



