184 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



BRISTOL CENTRAL. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The show of poultry this year was, upon the whole, superior 

 to that of last year, both in variety and quality. It is gratifying 

 to observe, from year to year, increased evidence of a growing 

 appreciation of pure-bred fowls. It is now comparatively rare 

 to see coops filled with the mongrel poultry of former years. 

 The farmers of this section have discarded very generally the 

 long-legged, misshapen fowls, whose sole merit consisted in a 

 certain clumsiness of size, without any compensating merit to 

 redeem their general ugliness. They seem to have realized very 

 generally the fact that, as a rule, disproportionate size is gained 

 only by the sacrifice of more useful qualities. The Leghorns, 

 Black Spanish, Dorkings, Dominiques and Hamburg's have 

 replaced the Shanghai and other Asiatic breeds, with the excep- 

 tion of the best of the race, the Brahma Pootra. This variety, 

 which is identical with the Chittagong, is well adapted to all 

 localities where the range is limited. It is hardy, easily raised, 

 and comes to a marketable size so early that, where raising 

 spring chickens for the table is the chief object, it is perhaps 

 more profitable than any other, the Dorking breed not being yet 

 sufficiently well known to command the better price that it 

 deserves. It is rather a sluggish breed, and on that account it 

 may be doubted whether it will prove as profitable as some other 

 more active races where there is ample range. It is the testi- 

 mony of some of the best breeders, that after two years they 

 begin to degenerate, the strong setting proclivity of the Asiatic 

 races developing rapidly after that time. 



The Leghorns an^ Black Spanish, which are varieties only of 

 the same race, are very valuable for their laying qualities. The 

 immense size of the combs in the males of this species may be 

 considered, to some extent, a disability in our climate, as unless 

 they are protected with unusual care they almost certainly freeze 

 in winter, and this makes the birds more or less sickly and dull 

 in the spring, when they should have a redundance of health 

 and vigor. The Black Spanish must have a face entirely white, 

 black plumage with a greenish lustre, and dark blue legs. The 

 Leghorns, whatever their color, must have yellow legs, and their 



