344 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



less invariably feo than some other breeds. Sonnini 

 tells us that in Egypt they are in great request for 



POLISH TOP-KNOT COCK AND HEN. 



the table, and our own experience confirms the pre- 

 ference. 



" The Spanish Fowl, the heads of which are to be 

 seen in the annexed cut, is of medium size, and the 

 hens are notorious as abundant layers, and their eggs 

 are very large and very white, very thick at both 

 ends, yet tapering off a little at each, and weigh 

 from one and a half to three ounces each. Their 

 flesh is delicately white, tender and juicy. 



"Like the Black Poland, the plumage of the Span- 

 ish fowls is of a glossy, sable color, except glancing 

 greenish tints on some feathers. This, with its qual- 

 ity of being one of the everlasting layers, n^akes it 

 a favorite, where eggs only are wanted. Some per- 

 sons complain that the hens are far better layers 



HEADS OF SPANISH FOWLS. 



than sitters. Their peculiar disinclination to sit, is 

 regarded as their most valuable characteristic; for in 

 our experience, we have been exceedingly annoyed 

 by the constant propensity which some other hens 

 have manifested in this resj^ect. 



" The Dorkings are remarkable as having been re- 

 corded in ancient poultry-books, more than two 

 thousand years ago. In size they rank next to the 

 Asiatic tribe. They are short-legged, large bodied, 

 and readily accumulate flesh, which is of good quali- 

 ty. The weight of the Dorking a*: maturity varies 

 from five to eight pounds, and full-grown capons 

 have been known to weigh from ten to twelve. 



"The original Dorkings are represented as being 

 of an ivory white, and as having uniformly five toes 

 or claws on each foot. Among the early importa- 

 tions of pure blooded Dorkings into this country, 

 white more or less prevailed ; but in later importa- 

 tions the speckled and brown colored — a stronger, 

 larger, and better constitution fowl — has been intro- 

 duced. At the Monroe Co. (N. Y.) fair, held at 

 Spencerport in 1855, we noticed one cock and five 



pullets, of the speckled Dorkings, which were deci- 

 dedly the best we had ever seen. In England, at the 

 present time, they are great lavoiites, and biing the 

 best prices there, both among the breeders and in 

 the market. They are good though not great layers, 

 capital mothers, and come early to maturity; but 

 they seem to bear breeding '' ir-and-in " worse than 

 any other variety. It is considered, therefore, desi- 



DUKKINU COCK AND HEN. 



rable to change the cock every year, or every two 

 years at most, il the stock is to be kept pure and in 

 high vigor. 



" There is another breed or variety, to be found in 

 almost every poultry-yard, whose merits we would 

 particularly recommend, as they possess some traits 

 not found in the Poland or Spanish. We allude to 

 the Dominique fowl, represented in our engraving, 

 which are good layers, good sitters, and good moth- 

 ers. They are healthy, hardy in constitution, easy 

 to keep, sn all boa;, and plump in their make; flesh 



ifz52^>*aKi':S57wiB-i'^— ^ ' 



DOMINIQUE COCK. 



tender, juicy, and of delicate flavor; besides, they 

 are of beautiful plumage, and in all respects a valu- 

 able foM'l. 



" For those who do not wish to give much atten- 

 tion to fowls, there is, according to our opinion, no 

 breed equal to the Game. They are hardier, less 

 liable to disease, keep fat with less feed, and raise 

 more chicks with less care than any other kind 

 They are not so great layers as some, but full equia 



