INTRODUCTORY 



HIS new breed book, devoted to the Leghorn race of domesticated poultry, is 

 pubHshed at a time when thousands of poultry raisers are taking up the dif- 

 ferent varieties of Leghorns for the purpose of supplying the ever-increasing 

 demand for white eggs — a demand not local, but extending from the Atlantic to 

 the Pacific Coast and from the Dominion of Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. 



To the splendid achievement of American breeders in giving to the poultry in- 

 dustry the Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds, must be added the Leg- 

 horns. All varieties of the latter, excepting the Bufifs and Duckwings, originated in the United 

 States, and the high standard of perfection that the Browns, Whites, Blacks — and we might 

 add the Buiifs — have reached today, is due to the intelligence and perseverance of American 

 Leghorn breeders. 



From the little red Italiens of the middle of the last century, which, like Topsy, "jest 

 growed up," and the appearance of the allied white variety at the same time, has sprung the 

 modern race of Leghorns, comprising eight Standard and four non-Standard varieties. 



In preparing this new and enlarged edition of "The Leghorns," the instructions to the 

 editor were to set the pegs far apart and get up a book worthy of the great Leghorn family — 

 one that would be a text book of authentic information on the history, mating, breeding, exhib- 

 iting and marketing of Leghorns, regardless of the time, labor and expense involved in such an 

 undertaking. 



This agreeable, albeit difticult, task has been carried out to the limit of the energy, ability, 

 and knowledge possessed by the editor. As an old breeder of Leghorns of over twenty years 

 ago, as well as a judge of Leghorns at the earlier Madison Square Garden Shows, and at other 

 great exhibitions years afterward, our opportunities for handling and examining all 

 varieties of Leghorns were many, while the experience gained enabled us to study the 

 evolution of the Leghorn fowl in America, with eyes wide open, sifting the real from the 

 imaginary facts with greater satisfaction, and, we trust, with more accuracy, than if we had 

 had to rely on the written statements of writers, past and present, alone. The conclusions 

 arrived at are based upon substantial facts obtained from a careful research of the records, as 

 well as personal observation in the show room and breeding yard, and impartially presented 

 for the careful consideration of our readers. 



We are greatly indebted to America's foremost Leghorn breeders for the many valuable 

 articles contributed to the different chapters of "The Leghorns," such articles being of per- 

 manent benefit to all admirers of the popular Leghorn fowl.- 



The art work by Franklane L. Sewell is one of the great features of the book. Mr. Sewell 

 stands pre-eminent among poultry artists of the world, and his Leghorn studies are among 

 the finest illustrations his artistic skill has produced . They convey most beautifully the evolu- 

 tion of the Leghorn type from its embryotic stage to the present Standard ideal. A. O. Schilling, 

 I. W. Burgess, L. P. Graham and H. G. Froby also contribute excellent and important illustra- 

 tions of modern exhibition specimens. 



The chapter on Commercial Leghorn Farms is invaluable to practical poultry raisers. It 

 gives the methods of successful Leghorn poultry farmers, illustrated with photographic views 

 of buildings and appliances, and will convince many, if not all, readers, that there are 

 sound reasons for proclaiming the Leghorn to be "The Business Fowl of the Twentieth 

 Century." 



J. H. DREVENSTEDT. 



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