SREEDS FOR PROFIT. 17 



which show faults of colour may be kept in the other run 

 with a large coloured Dorking or Houdan cock. From this 

 cross table-fowls may be obtained which "look like young 

 turkeys," and being hardy are easily reared. The flesh may 

 not be equal to that of the Game fowl- -in delicious flavour 

 " the prince of all breeds " but it nearly equals the Dorking, 

 with greater size and freedom from that delicate constitution 

 which often renders the latter an unprofitable fowl. 



Dorkings, notwithstanding, are not to be despised, and will 

 do well if they have a fair-sized run, well gravelled and free 

 from wet, with a good dry shed to shelter in. If the supply of 

 table poultry be a main point, no breed, except perhaps 

 Houdans, will compare with this, the favourite fowl of the 

 London market. When of good stock, they may be got up to 

 an amazing size, and the quality of the meat is excellent. They 

 are also most exemplary mothers, and in moderate weather 

 produce a very fair quantity of eggs ; but are not very good 

 winter layers, even when hatched early. In this respect they 

 are excelled by the French Houdans, which lay very 

 freely, and are also most hardy fowls, whilst in size and 

 quality of flesh they rival the Dorking, whose blood, though 

 perhaps generations back, we believe them to share, as 

 evidenced by the general form and the peculiar fifth toe. 

 Houdans are pre-eminently a breed for the farmer ; their 

 extreme hardiness, quick growth, and excellent laying, making 

 a fowl with nearly all the merits and but few of the faults of 

 the fine old English breed. 



On the whole, therefore, of the pure breeds, where chickens 

 for table are wanted, we should pronounce Houdans to be the 

 farmer's, and Brahmas, Plymouth Rocks, or Langshans the 

 family fowl, crossing the table chickens from the latter with 

 Dorking or not, according as there were one or two runs to keep 

 them in. If a few eggs daily be the object, our own choice would 

 be foui or five black or silver-spangled Hamburghs, provided 



