254 



NEW ENCn.AND FARMER, 



Frb. 23, 1831. 



small ainomit of information I now possess on 

 the subject. Yours, truly, 



Mwton, Feb. 17, 1831. OTIS PETTEE. 



(JJ^Tlie article referred to above is very pala- 

 table, and we doubt not wholesome , as it probably 

 partakes in some degree of the medical (jualilies 

 of all the plants of that species. Mr Pettee will 

 accept of our tliauks for the donation, and his de- 

 scription of the mode in which it was manufac- 

 tured. It will prove a valuable acquisition to our 

 dietetic articles. — Editor. 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVE.VING, FEB. i33, 1831. 



POULTRY. — By the Editor. 

 Under this head we shall include hens, geese, 

 ducks, and turkeys, and give a few practical ob- 

 servations with regard to each. 



The dunghill cock and hen [Phasianus gallus) 

 is a native of the warm countries of the east, is 

 found wild ininiiny parts of Asia, and is domestica- 

 ted in every country, where the arts of agriculture 

 and rural economy have made any progress. 



The varieties of this bird, which, according to 

 Loudon, are known in Great Britain are — 



The common dunghill cock and hen — middle size, 

 of every color, and hardy. 



The game cock and hen — rather small in size, 

 delicate in limb, color generally red or brown ; 

 flesh white, and superior to that of any other va- 

 riety for richness and delicacy of flavor; eggs 

 small, fine shaped and extremely delicate ; the 

 chickens are difficult to rear from their pugnacity 

 of disposition. The game cock has long been in 

 use to gratify a deijraved taste for a barbarous 

 amusement. Loudon says, however, that this 

 sort of sport is not so much in vogue, as it has 

 been in Great Britain ; and we do not know that 

 it has ever been nuich practised in New England. 

 The Dorking cock and hen. — This is named 

 from a town in Surry, (Eng.) It is the largest va- 

 riety ; shape handsome, body long and capacious, 

 legs short, five claws on each foot ; eggs large, 

 and lays abundantly ; color of the flc-'h inclining 

 to yellowish or ivory. Both'hens and cocks often 

 made into capons. 



The Poland cock and hen were originally import- 

 ed from Holland. The color shining black, with 

 white tops on the head of both cock and hen ; 

 head flat, surmounted by a fleshy protuberance, out 

 of which spring the crown feathers. Their form 

 plump and deep, legs short with five claws, lay 

 abundantly, are less inclined to set than any other 

 breed ; they fatten quickly and are more juicy and 

 rich than the Dorking. This is one of the most 

 useful varieties. There is an ornamental subvari- 

 ety, known as the golden Poland, with yellow and 

 lilack plumage. 



The every day cock and hen is a subvariety of 

 the above, of Dutch origin ; they are of smaller 

 size, and said to be great layers. Their tops are 

 large and should be periodically clipped near the 

 J»eyes, otherwise, according to Mowbray, they will 

 grow into the eyes of the fowls and render them 

 very subject to alarm. 



The bantam cock andhin is a small Indian breed, 



fur chickens, when small ones are not otherwise to 

 be had. They are also particularly useful for set- 

 ting upon the eggs of partridges and pheasants, be- 

 ing good nurses as well as good layers. There are 

 two varieties of this breed, of which the more 

 common is remarkable for having the legs and 

 feet furnished with feathers. The other and more 

 scarce variety is even smaller ; and is most elegant- 

 ly formed, a.s well as most delicately limbed. 

 There is a society of fanciers of this breed, who 

 rear them for prizes, among whom Sir John Se- 

 bright stands pre-eminent. 



The Chitagong or Malay hen is an Indian breed, 

 and the largest variety of the species. They are 

 in color, striated yellow and ,dark brown, long 

 necked, serpent headed, and high upon the leg; 

 their flesh dark, coarse, and chiefly atlapted to 

 soup. They are good layers, and being well fed 

 produce large, substantial and nutritive eggs; but 

 these birds are too long legged to be steady sit;ers. 



The Shackbag or Bake of Leeds' breed was form- 

 erly in g-reat repute, but is how nearly lost. It is 



hens, and even to his off'sijring. Hens above the 

 connnon size of their res))ective varieties are by 

 no means jjrefei-able either as layers or sitters. 

 The indications of old age are paleness of the 

 combs and gills, dulness of color, and a sort of 

 downy stiffiiess of the feathers, and length and 

 size of talons, the scales upon the legs becoming 

 large and prominent. 



The number of hens to one cock should be 

 from four to six, the latter beinc the extreme num- 

 ber with a view to make the utmost advantage. Tea 

 and even twelve have formerly been allowed to one 

 cock, but the produce of eggs and chickens, un- 

 der such an arrangement will seldom equal that 

 to be obtained from the snntller ninnber of hens. 

 Every one is aware that the spring is the best 

 season to commence breeding with poidtry, and 

 in truth it scarcely rnatters bow early, presuppos- 

 ing tlie best food, accommodation an(( attendance, 

 under which the hens may be suffered to sit in 

 January. 



The conduct of the cock towards his bens is 



sometimes to be met with at Wokingham, in generally of the kindest description and sometimes 

 Berkshire, and is so large and the flesh so white, ! as in the Polish breed so much so as to be quite 



firm and fine as to afford a convenient substitute 

 f jr the tmkey. 



The improved Spanish cock andhen is a cross be- 

 tween the Doiking and S|)anish breed, also to be 

 found in and about Wokingham. It is a large 

 bird with black plumage, white and delicate flesh, 

 the largest eggs of any British variety, and well 

 adapted for capons. 



The foregoing, according to English authors, 

 are the principal breeds of the gallus, or cock and 

 ben species which are known in Great Britain. 

 We are notable to say what varieties of this useful 

 bird have been introduced into this country, but 

 we have obsei-ved considerable differences in their 

 forms, as well as in their habits. Some kinds have 

 a greater propensity to ramble, and to dig up 

 seeds, and injure vegetables in gardens, &c, than 

 other varieties of the same ."ipecies. We should 

 he glad to obtain and comnnmicate information 

 relative to the best breeds of fowls, as we have 

 no doubt there is as marked a difference in the 

 breeds of hens, as in those of swine or neat cat- 

 tle, and the profits of poultry must depend much 

 on the kind selected for rearing. 



Breeding. — Loudon says ' It should be a general 

 rule to breed from young stock; a two year old 

 cock and pullets in their second year. Pullets in 

 their first year, if early birds, will, indeed, probably 

 lay as many eggs as ever after ; but the eggs are 

 small, and such young hens are unsteady sitters. 

 Hens are in their prime at three years of age, and 

 decline after five, whence, generally it is not pro- 

 fitable to keep them after that [leriod, with the ex- 

 ception of those of capital qualifications. Hens 

 with a large comb, or which crow like the cock, 

 are generally deemed inferior ; but I nave had 

 hens with large rose combs, and also crowcrs, 

 which were upon an equality with the rest of the 

 stock. Yellow legged fowls are rf ten of a tender 

 constitution, and always inferior in the quality of 

 their flesh, which is of a loose flabby texture and 

 ordinary flavor. 



'The health of fowls is observable in the fresh 

 and florid color of the comb, and the brightness 



redible to those who have not witnessed it. 

 It is not an uncommon occurrence, however, for 

 the cock to take an antipathy to some individual 

 hen ; when it continues fur any length of time it 

 is fcest to remove her, and supply her place by 

 another, taking care that the stranger be not wor- 

 ried by the hens. Spare coops or houses will be 

 found useful on such occasions. 



In making the nests, short and soft straw is to 

 be ])referred, because the straw being long, the 

 hen on leaving her nest, will be liable to draw it 

 out with her claws, and with it the eggs. The 

 heii it is ascertained will lay eggs without the com- 

 pany of the cock ; of course such eggs are barren, 



Eggs for setting should never exceed the age of 

 a month, newer to be preferred, as nearly of a size 

 as possible, and of the full middle size ; void of 

 the circular flaw, which indicates the double 

 yolk, generally unproductive, nor should there bfl 

 any roughness or cracks in the shells. The num- 

 ber of eggs according to the size of the hen from 

 nine to fifteen, an odd nimiber being preferable, 

 in the supposition of theirlying more clo.se. The 

 eggs to be marked with a jien and ink and exam« 

 ined when the hen leaves her nest, in order to d^ 

 tect any fresh ones which she may have laid, and 

 which should be immediately taken from her, as 

 they, if batched at all, would be hatched too late 

 for tlic brood. It is taken for granted that the 

 box and nest have been made perfectly clean for 

 the reception of the hen, and that a new nesi 

 has not liccn sluggishly or skittishly thrown uiion 

 the old one, from the filth of which vermin are 

 propagated to the great annoyance of the hen, and 

 the prevention of her steady setting. Eggs bro- 

 ken in the nest should be cleared away the mo- 

 ment of their discovery, and the remaining wash- 

 ed with warm water, and quickly replaced, lest 

 they adhere to the hen and be drawn out of 

 the nest ; if necessary the hen's feathers may also 

 be washed, but always with warm water. 



Tn be continued. 



valued chiefly for its grotesque figure and delicate and dryness of the eyes ; the nostrils being free 

 flesh. Mowbray mentions a subvariety extremely from any discharge, and the healthy gloss of the 

 small, and as smooth legged as a game fowl, j plumage. The most useful cock is generally a 

 From their size and delicacy they are very con- bold, active and savage bird, cruel and destructive 

 vcnicnt, as they may always be used as substitutes I in his fits of passion, if not well watched, to his 



Early Asparagus. — Sir Roderick Toohey, gar- 

 dener at Gov. Gore's ))lace, has sent to the office 

 of the New England Farmer, several bunches of 

 Asparagus of good size and fine appearance. — We 

 believe Mr Toohey has ])roduced the first Aspara- 

 gus that has appeared in Boston, for several years 

 past. 



