42 THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



so that the whole wing appears inverted ; the other, that the feathers of the 

 neck were reflected towards the head, like a crest or ruff, the whole tail 

 feathers turning in the same manner. 



As near as we can learn, this variety of fowl does not possess any peculiar 

 advantages over the common barn-yard breed, and is more interesting as a 

 curiosity than valued for any practical purposes. They would undoubtedly 

 thrive in our warm southern far better than in our cold northern climate. 

 The hens make good mothers ; they breed freely with all other domestic 

 fowls, and the offspring is prolific without end, the chicks being perfectly 

 hardy, and make a good table fowl, though rather small. 



THE DORKINGS. 



In years gone by the Dorkings were the favorite fowls in this country, 

 and the only reason we can assign for their degeneracy is the improper care 

 they have received and the continual in-and-in breeding. To rear Dorkings 

 profitably it is essential that a good, long runway should be provided on 

 a clay or gravelly soil for the chicks. They never should be allowed to run 

 on wooden or brick floors. If this is carefully attended to the chickens will 

 thrive and grow well, and make hardy fowls. 



There are two species of these fowls the white and the colored Dork- 

 ings. The former is the favorite bird of old fanciers, and. a writer in the 

 Poultry (English) Chronicle makes the following remarks on this breed of 

 fowls : " The old Dorking, the pure Dorking, the only Dorking, is the 

 White Surrey Dorking. It is of good size, compact and plump form, with 

 short neck, short white legs, five toes, a full comb, a large breast, and a 

 plumage of spotless white. They are hardy, lay well, and are excellent 

 mothers." 



WHITE DORKING. We have reared the White Surrey Dorkings for a 

 number of years, and fully coincide with the writer in the Chronicle. To 

 our mind, no fowl is more essential to the farm-yard than the pure White 

 Surrey Dorking. The first pen of Dorkings we ever experimented with were 

 purchased of Judge S. S. BOWNE, in 1852. His stock was procured from 

 imported fowls of Dr. EBEN WIGHT of Boston, who was at that time the 

 largest breeder of fancy fowls in this country. Our experiments with the 

 Dorking prove them to be fowls not to be despised. They are not early 

 layers, but make up this deficiency in the number and quality of eggs they 

 produce. They are easily fattened, and their flesh is of the very best quality. 



In speaking of the weight of the Dorking, the Practical Poultry Keeper 

 says : " It is difficult to give a standard ; but we consider that a cock which 

 weighs less than ten pounds, or a hen under eight and a half pounds, would 

 stand a poor chance at a first-class show." We have never, in our ex- 

 perience, seen one brought to this weight, not even by high feeding. Our 

 yearling fowls have often been brought to weigh from six to eight pounds. 



The practice of crossing Dorking pullets with a game cock is much in 



