NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



241 





SUMATRA GAME FOWLS. 



For the New Etigland Farmer. 



Mr. Cole : Herewith you have the portraits of the 

 above-named fowls, engraved, by Mr. S. E. Brown, 

 No. 50 Cornhill, from a drawing made by him of a 

 pair in possession of Mr. John Fusscll, Jamaica Plain, 

 Mass. 



The progenitors of this race of fowls wore, several 

 years since, brought from the Island of Sumatra. 

 The utmost care has been used to prevent the possi- 

 bility of a cross in this stock. 



This breed of game fowls is, in my opinion, equal, 

 if not superior, to anj' other in the New England 

 States. The hens are good sitters and nurses, and, 

 for the size of the fowls, produce large eggs. The 

 cocks have a brilliant plumage, and the hackles on 

 the neck are very long and full-feathered, making a 

 "perfect shawl." The body is round and plump; 

 the neck is long and powerful ; the breast full ; the 

 wings are long, and cover the thighs. The beak is 

 hooked and stout. The thighs are large and sinewy, 

 and well set to the body ; the legs are dark-colored 

 and long ; and the claws are strong, and, with the 

 legs, exhibit great muscular power. The belly is 

 compact, so as not to interfere with the agility of the 

 fowls, which they possess to a remarkable degree. 

 The tail is very long, and by its beauty adds much 

 to the appearance of these birds. The chickens are 

 easily reared, and bear the climate of New England 

 as well as those produced by any other stock. 



The ficsli of the game fowl is considered by all per- 

 sons who have eaten it as equal, if not superior, to that 

 of other breeds, and, for the size of the fowl, there 

 is less ofl'al than in any other. 



For the incubation of eggs of rare and valuable 

 breeds of fowls, game hens are to be preferred to all 

 others. Amateurs and fanciers will lind it much to 

 their advantage to employ game hens as incubators 

 of the eggs of the ditfcrent breeds of Bantam fowls, 

 as they are not so heavy or so clumsy as to break 

 the eggs, and at the same time are most careful 

 mothers, rarely or never injuring their chicks by their 

 impetuosity, as hens of other breeds sometimes do. 

 Game hens will most fearlessly attack cats and dogs 

 in defence of their chicks ; and I have known in- 

 stances where full-grown rats have been killed by 

 them. 



Many persons are deterred from keeping game 

 fowls by the reputation the cocks have acquired, un- 

 justly I think, of being quarrelsome. The true bred 

 game cock is not, my experience teaches me, quarrel- 

 some or vindictive. He resents the interference of 

 any cock with his vested rights and privileges, and 

 requires an instantaneous apology for an insult, and, 

 if his antagonist demurs, a battle is commenced with- 

 out the least delay. If the opposing cock retreats, 

 the true game does not follow, but with a loud, ex- 

 ulting, and derisive crow expresses his triumph ; but 

 when game meets game, death to one or both is inev- 

 itable, as true game " never retreats." This often 

 occurs at the first flirt. I have known an instance 

 where both cocks were instantly killed by a " brain 

 stroke." 



For the rearing of chickens a constant and regular 

 supply of small grains is required. The best kind 

 is wheat, being preferable to barley or buckwheat. 

 Indian corn, of course, is not to be used, on account 

 of its great size. I do not approve of giving to chicks 

 any moist food, particularly Indian meal, as it will 

 ferment in a short time and become sour. Chicks 

 should not be compelled to fast. Their crops are 

 small, and the power of digestion is so great that, if 

 the food is not constantly within their reach, they arc 

 soon exhausted by the growth of feathers and bone, 

 lose their strength, and death is the result. I have 

 used the " screenings " of wheat for feeding chicks, 

 and find them quite as good as wheat, although cost- 

 ing much less. AN'heat screenings of superior qual- 

 ity can be procured of P^arle & Thornton, No. 1 Kail- 

 road Avenue, Commercial Street. 

 Yours, &e. 



S. BRADFORD MORSE, Jr. 



To DESTROY Blue Flag. — A correspondent, of 

 Pawtuckct, R. I., in reply to an inquiry as to the 

 best method of killing blue flag, recommends covor- 

 i:ig the flag four to si.x inches deep in common sand; 

 then add a small quantity of manure mixed with 

 loam. The grass will increase, and the flags disap- 

 pear. 



