17G 



NEW ENGLx\ND FARlvrER. 





DORKING rOAVLS. 



For the Neio England Farmer. 



Mr. Cole r This breed of fowls derives its name 

 from a town in England, where, some fifty j-^are 

 since, it was introduced from China. These fowls 

 •were selected by a person, a native of Dorking, 

 Suney, who resided in the East Indies, and hold a 

 civil office under the Honorable East India Company. 



The fowls Avcre brought to England in one of the 

 company's ships, and were carried to Dorking, where 

 they were highly prized by the recipients, as great 

 curiosities, on account of the fifth too, the snow- 

 white plumage, and the soft and downy feathcrs^ with 

 which they were covered. 



These fowls were for many years bred with the 

 utmost care, by the family of the ix>rson who se- 

 lected them, and were kept by them exclusively, the 

 family regarding it a matter of some honor to be the 

 sole posscsvSors of this race ; and only within a few 

 years, the thorough-bred fowl has been allowed to 

 go out of their possession. 



That the Chinese possess a race of fowls which 

 have the filth too, is proved by the fact, that a gen- 

 tleman of this city has received direct from Ca)iton, 

 China, a pair of fowls, which have the fifth toe de- 

 veloped as fully and distinctly, and in the same form, 

 as tlic best bred Dorking. These fowls, which arrived 

 within the last six weeks, arc also covered with a 

 snow-white plumage. 



I have been thus particular in giving the history 

 of the Dorking fowls, from the fact, that Dr. J. C. 

 Bennett^ in the Poultry Book, on page 200, says, 

 " For instance, the Dorking fowl was originally pro- 

 duced by crossing the Great Malay with the English 

 Game fowl, as an accident ; but it by no means fol- 

 lows that Dorkings are the luiiXoxm, oi: qvqn the coni- 



mon result of such a cross, for hundreds of such ex- 

 periments have proved unsuccessful. In order, then, 

 to produce pure Dorkings, the breeding must con- 

 tinue from the original stock, carefully avoiding 

 ' close,' and ' in and in ' breeding." 



Pure Dorkings from the Great Malay and the English 

 Game ! 



llie plumag-e of the pure bred Dorkings is white, 

 with legs and bill of th& same color. The fifth toe 

 is also an indispensable characteristic.' The combs 

 are both single and double. The wattles are of me- 

 dium size. The hens are good layei-s, constant sitters, 

 and most excellent nurses. The flesh of these fowls 

 has an agreeable flavor, and is rich and juicy. The 

 average weight of these fowls is from twelve to four- 

 teen ])Ounds per pair. The c-ggs are large, rich, and 

 nutritious. The chicks are hardy, and easily raised. 



The engraving was made from a drawing of a pair 

 of Dorkings which were two years'old at the time 

 it was taken. 



No thorough-bred Dorking ever has logs or bill of 

 any other color than wliite. Dorking fowls which 

 show any other color, are of impure blood, and can- 

 not be depended upon to produce their like. 



AU s:peckk-d, faioH-colorcd, or black Dorkings arc 

 mongrels, and any person having the thorough-bred 

 white Dorkings, can produce, by crossing with other 

 breeds, mongrel specimens of such color as they may 

 desire. 



On page 74, Dr. Bennett has favored the reader 

 with an elaborate description of the Black Dorking, 

 given by Mr. N. C. Day, of Lunenburg, ]Mass., ivho 

 says, " they came from Philadelphia." " Their bodies 

 arc of a large size, * * and of a jet black color." * * 

 " The neck feathers of some of the cocks are tinged 

 with, a bright gold color, and those of some of the 



