238 HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 



are early and good layers. They are supposed to have origi- 

 nated in the mixture of Shanghaes and Chittagongs. By many 

 persons, inchiding some exhibitors at our fair, the Shanghaes 

 and Chinas are regarded as essentially the same variety. This 

 is a great error, and may account for the fact that the commit- 

 tee have omitted to distinguish several specimens of fine fowls 

 entered as Cochin Chinas, which indicated very plainly a mix- 

 ture of the Shanghae. The latter, although natives of China, 

 are a distinct variety, and originate in a region far distant from 

 the other class. They were first brought out from China three 

 or four years ago, by Rev. S. R. Brown, of Monson, in this 

 county ; and a large share of the stock now exhibited is from 

 that importation. The Shanghae is generally considered by 

 connoisseurs as one of the best varieties, if not the very best in 

 the country, and has hitherto commanded most extravagant 

 prices for breeding. The common price of the eggs during the 

 past year, has been $3 per dozen, while the fowls have sold as 

 high as ^10, and even $15 per pair. As they are rapidly mul- 

 tiplying, it is presumed that they will very soon become suffi- 

 ciently plenty, at moderate prices, to bring them into the pos- 

 session of every breeder of poultry. The Chittagong is the 

 largest variety of the gallinaceous species extant. The pullets 

 usually weigh eight or nine pounds, when they begin to lay, 

 and they not unfrequently attain twelve or fourteen pounds 

 weight. They are of good flesh, but not very prolific. They 

 are distinct from the Malays, and should never be confounded 

 with them. Besides these, are numerous varieties of the 

 Pheasant fowl, which, however, are prized more for ornament 

 than profit, though some of them are excellent layers. 



The committee believe that the Shanghae, China, Dorking, 

 Spanish, and Poland varieties, or crosses of them, are the most 

 profitable for raising ; and they anticipate that another year 

 will show that the " hen fever," so far from subsiding, is in- 

 creasing and extending in our county. It is desirable that 

 care be taken to preserve unimpaired a sufficiency of pure 

 blooded stock, and that this should not be lost sight of in the 

 commendable desire for improved mixtures. 



We are aware that some prejudices exist against the raising 



