AMERICAN POULTRY CULTURE 



a breed originated in England not many years ago 

 and recently admitted to the American Standard of 

 Perfection. The Dorkings also belong to this 

 class, but it is only their old age and one-time 

 popularity that causes them to come in for even 

 this casual mention; they are outclassed by almost 

 any of our American breeds. 



Orpingtons are a good general-purpose fowl, 

 but not adapted to the present requirements of most 

 American markets on account of white skin and 



legs. They are large and stately in 

 Orpingtons t i i 



appearance, with long, round, deep 



bodies, and very full breast development. Their 

 eggs average about the same in color and size 

 as the Plymouth Rocks, and they lay about the 

 same number of them per year; but it will likely 

 be some time before they will displace any of our 

 American breeds of the same general class, because 

 the Orpingtons are not so well adapted to this 

 county and its market requirements, although it 

 is possible that this objection will largely disap- 

 pear within the next few years. 



It is true that the unpopularity of white- 

 skinned fowls is largely a matter of prejudice, 

 but the beginner or small breeder will find that he 

 can not readily change public opinion, whether 

 well founded or not, when he goes to market his 

 product. If you prefer the Orpingtons and want 

 them merely for your own use I have no objection 



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