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THE GENESEE FAEMEE. 



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The Hong Kong Fowl. — The originals of this splendid variety of fowls were brought from the 

 port of Hong Kong, in China, by Capt. Fuller, of the ship Vancoiiver. The accompanying engraving 



is a true likeness of the pair I 

 have been breeding from the 

 present season. Their color 

 is buff and red, interspersed 

 with blue and black feathers. 

 The chickens generally have 

 smooth and dark colored legs 

 and black bills, and have 

 proved themselves to be the 

 descendenta of a hardy and 

 thrifty race. Dr. Bennett, of 

 Great Falls, N. H., the most 

 extensive fowl fancier in the 

 United States — having thirty 

 varieties of gallinaceous fowls 

 — says they are the "Manda- 

 rin Fowl of China," and " are, 

 all things considered, the best 

 fowl in America." In a letter 

 from him, of November 22d, 

 1851, he calls them "splendid 

 Hong Kongs," and says "they 

 are prime ones, and no mis- 

 take." Dr. Eben Wight says, in a letter to me, of January 22d, 1852, "I think them one of the very 

 best varieties which have come out from China, both as sizeable and laying fowls." The hen ha.s 

 proved herself worthy of this high commendation. Since I have owned her she has laid almost 

 daily, and continued to lay daily while rearing her chickens. In a letter to me from A. WmTE, Esq., 

 of East Randolph, Mass., a careful and scientific fowl breeder, after having thoroughly tested the 

 merits of this variety, says: "They are prime layers. As to their setting qualities, they can't be 

 beat when they get started." They are large, compact, and symmetrical in form. I think they 

 possess the good qualities of many breeds of fowl combined. S.\muel McIntosu. — Canoga, N. Y. 





Le.\cued Ashes as a Manuee. — Three years since I purchased a farm on which had accumulated 

 a large quantity of old leached ashes that were considered by the former owner of no value. They 

 lay in an exposed, slovenly manner, and by no means increased the good appearance or value of 

 the property. Wishing to ascertain whether they were of any value, I drew several wagon loads 

 and spread them on a light, sandy lot I was fallowing for wheat. I could not say how much 1 put 

 per acre, but should think ^bout 300 bushels, spreadmg them in a breadth about two rods wide, 

 the length of the field and riglit acrofis the lands. 



Now for the result. The wheat on the whole field was about an average crop, yielding 20 bu. 

 per acre. On the breadth where the ashes were spread, the wheat all through the fall and sum- 

 mer was much stronger and of a darker green color than on the rest of the field, and at harvest 

 the straw was at least four inches higher, and several good judges who saw it agreed with me in 

 thinking that the yield on the ashed ])art was 28 bu. per acre, or about 8 bu. per acre better than 

 where no ashes were a])plied. I seeded down the laud with clover and timothy, and the effect of 

 the ashes on the clover was equally striking and beneficial as it was on the preceding wheat crop. 



In the fall of 1851 1 spread a tpiantity of the same a.shes on another lot I was preparing for 

 wheat. The soil^was a heavy clayey loam, and yields good crops of wheat when well summer 

 fallowed. I could see very little benefit from the ashes. J. D. — Paui/ctoti, ^. Y. 



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