ON POULTRY. 128 



may be called the native stock of our country, might, if the same 

 attention were bestowed upon it, by judicious crossing, become equal 

 to any of the above described kinds. 



Many varieties of fowls besides those above mentioned are de- 

 scribed in works on poultry, and some of them may be valuable, 

 perhaps as muc'i so as any of which we have spoken, but the Com- 

 mittee think that their duty will be better performed, by confining 

 their remarks to breeds which have been proved to be good. Of 

 the above described varieties, they would particularly recommend 

 the Spanish, Dorking, Chinese and Polish. The Malay, too, crossed 

 with the Dorking, might produce a valuable breed ; and the Chinese, 

 crossed with the Dorking, Spanish, or Polish, would, perhaps, prove 

 still more valuable. The Committee cannot condemn in too strong 

 language, the practice of breeding in and in ; if this course is pur- 

 sued, the best stock will soon degenerate. 



Selection of Stock. 



For the choice of a cock, Mr. Richardson gives the following di- 

 rections : He " should be in perfect health — feathers close and 

 rather short — chest compact and firm — full in the girth — lofty and 

 elastic gait — large and firm thigh — beak short, and thick at its in- 

 sertion. Next to health and strength, age is to be duly considered. 

 Neither select a cock that is too old, nor one that is too young ; let 

 the age be from a year and a half to three years and a half. Some 

 cocks retain their vigor till they are even past six years old." 



The proportion of cocks to hens must depend upon the object we 

 have in view. 



Mr. Richardson says : " If you look for profit to the production 

 of eggs alone, I should say that one cock, if a stout, young and 

 lively bird, may have as many as twenty-four hens. If, however, 

 you want to obtain strong and thriving chickens, you must restrict 

 him to six, or, at most, eight. If your object be the improvement 

 of a worn-out or degenerate breed, the fewer hens you allow to one 

 cock the better, and you should not, at any rate, allow him more 

 than three." 



In selecting eggs for setting, we take such as are not misshapen 

 nor small ; the number to bo used depends upon the size of the 

 hen. 



