CHOOSING STOCK.] 



POULTRY. 



[choosing stock. 



There are many amateurs who would like to 

 have handsome, productive fowls, but who care 

 little about the fancy. We think they might, 

 with great advanta<7e, turn their attention to 

 systematic crossing. We are as great an enemy 

 as the most fastidious fancier can be, to turning 

 in a lot of differ'ent fowls hap-hazard ; but we 

 believe judicious crossing may give excellent 

 results in producing fowls which shall be very 

 hardy, fine for the table, and abundant layers. 

 The experimentalist has an almost unlimited 

 field ; let him only mark the merits of difierent 

 varieties, and study to unite, reproduce, and 

 continue them. 



Let a Malay hen run with a Game cock ; 

 set the eggs, and save the pullets which are 

 hatched from them. Match these pullets with 

 a good stout-built Spanish cock, and the 

 chickens will prove brilliant in plumage, very 

 hardy, excellent for the table, and will lay four 

 days out of five for most part of the year. 



Brahmas and Cochins would be valuable in 

 crossing, to produce hardihood and size. A 

 touch of the Game gives delicacy of flavour to 

 both fowls and eggs. The good properties of 

 almost every kind might be turned to profitable 

 account. 



"The great point of selection," says Mr. 

 Eichardson, " is the breed which it shall be de- 

 termined to keep ; and this must be mainly de- 

 cided by circumstances. The wealthy amateur 

 may do as he pleases, but a diff'erent rule must 

 be the guide of those who make poultry-keep- 

 ing a matter of business. A few words of ad- 

 vice shall be hazarded. 



"Both for appearance and for profit's sake, 

 it is advisable that the farmer should confine his 

 stock to some one approved breed. To retain 

 several breeds in their purity, requires more 

 personal attention, hired labour, and choice of 

 out-buildings, than he can usually aff'ord. It 

 is best managed by such country gentlemen as 

 have three or four lodges belonging to their 

 park, at each one of which a distinct set of 

 fowls may be maintained, and another or two 

 quartered upon the gardener and the game- 

 keeper, if the former official will submit to be 

 plagued with them. In this way things will 

 go on satisfactorily, especially if the people 

 can be brought to take an interest in their 

 charges, and perhaps to feel a little rivalry as to 

 whose set is the best managed. A large farmer 

 846 



may often attain the same object by making a 

 like use of the cottages of his workpeople. But 

 that is not the thing which he requires. Pure 

 chickens may be had from fowls that usually 

 live together in miscellaneous socialism, by 

 secluding the intended parents in an airy out- 

 building, and rejecting a few of tlie eggs first 

 laid by each hen. This plan requires constant 

 attention and a pitiless hand, to clear off the 

 many good-looking mongrels that will be con- 

 stantly displaying their new-fashioned charms 

 in the yard. The farmer had better decide to 

 keep one pure breed only of cocks and hens, 

 especially now that pure-bred fowls often fetch 

 such extraordinary prices. 



" If it is asked to determine wJiich variety 

 shall be kept, the counsel given must be ac- 

 commodated to what the farmer loants. Are 

 eggs greatly in demand in his neighbourhood ; 

 and does he wish to be spared the expense and 

 trouble of rearing many young birds ? Then 

 let him take some of the non-sitting breeds. 

 At the head of these stand the Black Spanish 

 fowls, and their sub-variety, the Andalusians ; 

 next come the Hamburgs — the races that 

 are so highly prized in the midland and 

 northern counties — i.e., the Bolton Bays, the 

 Bolton Grays, the Silver Moonies, and the 

 Copper Moss fowls, according to the numerous 

 local aliases of the four sub-races. Last in 

 profitableness among the non-sitters, though 

 not in beauty nor in excellence of flesh, are 

 the Polish fowls. But the Spanish fowls are 

 larger birds, and consume a good deal. It is 

 true that their eggs are of proportionate size 

 and excellence ; but, in the market, an egg is 

 an egg', and we believe that greater numbers 

 will be obtained, at the same cost of food, by 

 adopting one of the Hamburgs as the estab- 

 lished colonist of the farm-yard. We there- 

 fore beg leave to take the Bolton Bays, or 

 Golden-pencilled Hamburgs, by the hand, 

 and introduce them to the favourable considera- 

 tion of the farmer and his amiable consort. 

 Whichever breed of non-sitting fowls is se- 

 lected, the stock must be annually kept up by 

 sending out eggs to the neighbouring cottages 

 to be hatched, and paying, for all reared, a 

 certain amount of head-money, at an age 

 agreed upon. 



" If, however, eggs are not the principal desi- 

 deratum, and Madam has the leisure and good- 



