SELECTION OF FOWLS. 15 



doing well. More than four or five Hamburghs should not be 

 put in a shed, and they must be bept scrupulously clean ; 

 with these conditions they may thrive, but few breeds suffer so 

 much from filth or over-crowding. 



When chickens are to be reared, Brahmas may be strongly 

 recommended. As layers, when not spoilt they stand high ; are 

 very tame, and bear confinement well ; and the tendency to 

 sit does not occur often enough to be troublesome, as in the 

 case of Cochins. Plymouth Kocks are also good. But the 

 best of this class of fowls is the Langshan, which has white 

 skin and meat, is a capital layer, and very hardy. 



When there is a good wide range of any kind, a few Game 

 hens may be found profitable, the black-breasted red variety 

 being best. Some of the hens are as prolific as any breed, and 

 eat very little in proportion ; but they cannot be kept in close 

 confinement on account of their fighting propensities. 



For ourselves, we prefer pure breeds, or first crosses ; for 

 after all is said on the superiority of mongrel fowls, how 

 many " barn-door " fowls will lay as many eggs as a Minorca 

 or a Hamburgh ] Still, the cost of a good stock will stand in 

 the way with many, and has to be taken into consideration ; 

 and to those who cannot afford " fancy " poultry, it may there- 

 fore .be said, once for all, that on the whole, equal success may 

 be attained with good ordinary or " barn-door" fowls. Care must 

 be taken in the selection. They should be young, fair-sized, 

 sprightly-looking birds, with plump, full breasts, rather short 

 legs, and nice tight-looking plumage. They ought also to be 

 chosen from a country yard, where their parents have been 

 well fed. If such be obtained, they will repay the purchaser, 

 and are handsomer and better every way than inferior birds of 

 the " fancy " class. Of course this remark does not apply to 

 mere faults of colour. Fowls are often to be met with at a 

 moderate price, which from some irregularity of feather are 

 quite disqualified as show birds, but which possess in perfection 



