POULTRY RAISING ON THE FARM 



281 



do much foraging for themselves. The Brahma and Cochin 

 are well-known breeds. 



General purpose* type. This is now generally designated 

 as the American type, because it has been developed largely 

 in America. Fowls of this type combine to a certain extent 

 both egg-laying and meat-producing functions. They do not 

 produce as many eggs as 

 do those of the light type, 

 or develop into as large 

 fowls as the meat-produc- 

 ing type. Combining, as 

 they do, the chief charac- 

 teristics of each of the 

 other types, and being 

 vigorous and adaptable, 

 they are found on farms 

 more generally than the 

 others. Among the best- 

 known breeds are the 

 Plymouth Rock, Wyan- 

 dotte, Orpington, and 

 Rhode Island Red. 



Constitution and vig- 



General purpose type of poultry. 

 Barred Plymouth Rock male. (U.S. Dept. 

 of Agriculture.) 



or. Individuals of any 

 type or breed may differ 

 greatly. Some are of low vitality, and others are strong and 

 vigorous. It is now regarded as much more important for 

 an individual to have a strong constitution than to have the 

 well-marked characteristics of a particular breed. Vigor and 

 strength of constitution have to do with the health and mor- 

 tality of the stock, the number of eggs produced, the percen- 

 tage of eggs that will hatch, and the health and develop- 

 ment of the chicks. 



