AMERICAN POULTRY CULTURE 



All eggs are classed broadly as " white " or 

 " brown," but there really are many shades and 

 tints of color, and some eggs are so nearly inter- 

 mediate that they would be hard to place in either 

 class. The Mediterranean breeds seldom depart 

 from their usual white or very light-tinted eggs; 

 but the brown-egg hens frequently lay eggs that in 

 color vary from deep brown to light flesh color. 

 Other things being equal, the hen whose eggs are 

 truest to type in color is the most desirable, 

 although a variation in color of the egg shells does 

 not necessarily imply impure breeding. 



THE AMERICAN CLASS 



In this class are found the general-purpose 

 breeds of America, the most important of which 

 are the Plymouth Rocks and the Wyandottes, 

 although for the last few years the Rhode Island 

 Reds have been well up in the front ranks. All 

 three of these families are very hardy, lay brown 

 eggs, are good sitters and mothers; grain and 

 flavor of flesh excellent. They also stand confine- 

 ment well, but are good foragers when they have 

 the range. They average about the same with 

 regard to egg production, but the Plymouth Rocks 

 have the advantage of the largest size, Rhode 

 Island Reds next, and Wyandottes last. 



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