228 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



combined the most practical merit for a general market, and 

 with this end in view I made many experiments, both with 

 crosses and thoroughbreds. The Light Brahma, Plym- 

 outh Rock, Brown and White Leghorn and Houdan were 

 all tried in their purity, and were also crossed with each 

 other to increase the laying qualities of some and the weight 

 of others, keeping nothing further than a first cross. Re- 

 peated experiments proved to me that there was no fowl, 

 either half-blood or pure-blood, that combined so many 

 practical qualities as the Plymouth Rock in its purity. The 

 qualities of this variety are too well known to need com- 

 ment. They have been conceded to bo the finest table fowl 

 that enters our markets. Within the last two years they 

 have met their strongest rival in the AVyandotte, which I 

 believe will prove one of the most valuable fowls for the 

 farmer. They are great layers, about the size of the Plym- 

 outh Rock, small in bone, but very plump and yellow when 

 dressed. They have clean, yellow legs, which is a very de- 

 sirable feature in our New Enijiand markets. The farmer 

 can make no mistake in selecting either of these varieties in 

 their purity for his regular farm stock. For those who can- 

 not afford to start with a number of these fowls it would be 

 advisal)le to procure vigorous, thoroughbred males to cross 

 on the best of your common stock. 



With the new poultry-house and one hundred vigorous 

 April or early May pullets, twenty-five in each apartment, 

 you are ready to begin business. From careful analysis of 

 the various kinds of food, we find that the constituents of 

 the egg are found in good wholesome proportions in milk, 

 corn, oats, wheat, meat, lime, grass and potatoes; articles 

 available on any farm. In the morning at daylight, give the 

 fowls a feed of warm, soft mash, mixed as follows : one-third 

 in bulk of corn and oats ground together in equal parts, one- 

 third wheat middlings, one-sixth ground beef scraps or 

 boiled meat, and one-sixth boiled potatoes. If this morning 

 meal can be mixed with skimmed milk it will be still better 

 and will induce the hens to lay earlier and oftener. Next fill 

 a tight flour barrel with fresh, clover rowen that has been 

 run through a hay-cutter, and pour upon it four pails of 

 boiling water. Cover the barrel tightly and let it stand till 



