DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 767 



recommended for their flesh." The Plymouth Rockfl and Brahmas are espe- 

 cially recommended as winter layers ; but it is also claimed that well-lighted 

 and warm quarters, with a variety of food, corn at night, a hot or warm musb 

 made of the mixed meal, or best ground feed for hens, with cooked potatoes 

 and cooked carrots in the morning, are especially valuable as egg-producing 

 food, with chopped meat at least once a week, and vegetables mixed with the 

 mixed meal, or oatmeal, made up as the " boarding-house hash," the noon feed 

 to be of mixed grains, is excellent as a winter plan of feeding when eggs in 

 large quantities are expected. I would add to the "hash" once or twice a 

 week, a tea-spoonful of powdered Cayenne to every quart of the mixture, 

 when, with all this care, I guarantee a " fair show" of eggs all winter. It 

 will be noted in the first item given under the head of poultry that of the large 

 breeds Mr. Leland considers, for general purposes, none will be found superior 

 to the Brahmas. The Buff Cochins, it is thought, make the best setters and 

 mothers, of all the others. Let people, then, supply themselves with the 

 breed that is best for what they wish to do — for eggs, the best layers ; lor 

 chickens to sell, some of the large breeds that mature the quickest, etc., and 

 give care accordingly. 



I will give, however, the following item from the New England Farmer, 

 upon the question of the best breed for farmers and families of the villages 

 who only desire to keep one kind, for home use, home sales, etc. ; although I 

 think them equally valuable for shipping, if any one should desire at any time 

 to do so. This item will also confirm, in its statements, several observations 

 made in other places upon this subject. 



Best Breed of Fowls for Fanners and Families in Towns.— 

 One breed is enough for the farm, or for villagers, keeping only for home use. 

 What is wanted is a good sized hen, a good layer, a good mother, a non-setter, 

 (not inclined or determined to set,) and a fine table fowl, which the Plymouth 

 Rocks are conceded to combine in a greater degree than any others. The 

 White Leghorns will beat them in the number of eggs ; and the Cochins and 

 Brahmas as a table fowl exclusively; but the last n&med being great consum- 

 ers of food, lose their prestige, or superiority. But let it be remembered, 

 whether on the farm, or in the village, it is care and attention to cleanlines&, 

 food, and all other details of management which give their proper returns in 

 eggs and merit. 



Best Ground Feed for Hens.— Commeal, oatmeal and middlings, 

 each 50 lbs., bran, 10 lbs., bone meal, 3 ozs., cayenne, 1 oz.; mix evenly 

 together for use, 



Direeiiom. — If you can afford it, put milk on the fire till it wheys, and is 

 scalding hot, if no milk, water, the same; add 1 te*-8poonful of salt for a 

 dozen fowls, and stir in of the mixed meal, to make a stiff batter, and bake 

 four hours. Crumble to feed. This meal can be fed dry, or as any other meal, 

 for much feeding ; and if you have no milk to spare, it makes a feed nearly 

 equal, to boil meat scraps to a soup, adding potato parings and other vege- 

 tables, as for a common soup, then thickening with the meal and baking as 

 mentioned, for at least one feed daily. — Poultry JaiirnoL 



