112 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



COCK OF THE WALK-GAME FOWL. 



To tbose who regard the Jungle fowl of India as 

 the common ancestor of all oar domestic cocks 

 and hens, the Game fowl naturally suggests itself 

 as the first link in the geuea-logical chain. An 

 English writer on poultry says: "Some of our 

 breedsers, indeed, would derive- onr black-breasted 

 Red birds from what is commonly called the Ben- 

 gal Jungle fowl, while the distinction of a separate 

 descent is claimed for the duck-wioged, from an- 

 other variety of wild birds, Oalluc Soneretii^ an 

 inhabitant of Southern India, whose raore varied 

 plumage bears a strong resemblance to this beau- 

 tiful variety." But inquiries of this kind, thoush 

 very interesting, we will leave to the naturalist. 

 O.ur present task is with the English Game fowl. 

 Jn England, he has long held a high post of honor, 

 and in some instances pedigrees and stud-botaks, 

 running back over a period of more than one hun- 

 dred years, testify to his unstained descent from 

 birds of note and fame in other places than the 

 poultry'-yiiird. The ardent temperament and high 

 courage has contributed to confer a degree of 

 interest upon this family of birds which has proba- 

 bly been shared by none besides. Although the 

 fowl was found in a domestic state in Britain, at 

 the time of the Roman conquest, it is probable the 

 Game breed was introduced after that event. It 

 ■is said by Mabtut, "that the Greeks possessed 

 several renowned breeds of Game fowls, and that 

 Media and Persia possessed other of first-rate 

 breeds." It is thought that the Game fowl was 

 introduced by the Romans, who are supposed to 

 . have derived it froin the Persians, when Britain 

 was a Roman colony. 



Of all the domesticated breeds which are believed 

 to retain, in a striking degree, their original charac- 

 ter, the Game fowl is entitled to the first rank. 

 Martin says; " The Earl of Derby possesses a breed 

 ' which has been in the possession of that noble 

 family for many generations, and which is sedu- 

 ously preserved from base «lloy." All nations, 

 where men have advanced beyond the savage 

 : state, appear to have had a taste for Game cocks, 

 .-and botli Christian and Pagan have alike taken 

 pleasure in witnessing their prowess. It is not 

 wonderful, then, that he should have been a favo- 

 r rite equally with the refined and intellectual Greek 

 and the hardy and daring Roman. 



Little need be said as to the accommodations 



iH^essary for Game fowls. A good grass run is 



.essential, and we can not advise their being kept 



by any who are unable to grant them this indulg- 



i ..«lice. ^'iiey are impatient of restraint, and never 



appear in really good condition when debarred 

 from the country exercise that seems required by 

 their hardy constitution.*. In suitable locations, 

 they are kept at very smfill cost; for, when in- 

 dulged with a good grass w slk, a little corn morning 

 and evening, is found sntHcient to keep them in 

 good order. They are thus M-ell suited to the 

 common farmer's present systeits' of poultry-keep- 

 ing; for, after ten weeks or tiiree months old, the 

 greater part of their tbud is procured abroad, ;ind 

 their owner's corn but sparingly reqiJji'red. YeC, 

 kill a game fowl when you will, it i»' always ia 

 good condition ; and thus, when fowls artr not put 

 up to feed, they iitford a ready supply wh<?never 

 they may be wanted. If any of our readers 

 should desire the ne plus xiltra of excellence m a; 

 fowl, let hi'm eat and pronounce his opinion on \h& 

 wing of a well-fed Game pullet, and we should 

 have no tear of his di^igreeing with this expres- 

 sion of OUT judgment (A the good qnalities of tliese 

 birds for tite table. As layers and sitters, Game 

 hens have no superiors. Quiet on their eggs, reg- 

 ular in the hours of conaing otf and retnrninK to 

 their charge, and conti'dent, from their fearless 

 disposition, of repelMwg the incursions of any 

 intruder, they rar-el-y foil tc bring off good broods. 

 Hatching accomplished^ their m^evits appear in a 

 still more conspicuons light. Ever on tl)eir guard 

 not even the shadow of a bird over head, or th( 

 approach of a man or bea-.st, but rinds them read} 

 to do battle for their oftspring. Instances are oi 

 record where rats and other vermin have thu: 

 fallen before them. The chicketrs feather rapidly 

 and with ordinary care and a liberal and varie( 

 diet, such as chopped eggs, with a portion of onions 

 chives or leeks, bread crumbs, grits, boiled Indiai 

 meal, bran; and wheat screenings, with some nev 

 milk in the earlier stages of their growth, ar 

 reared with aa little ditficulty as those of othe 

 fowls. 



It is allowedy by most persons, that a Game cocl^ 

 in full health and vigor, is, after all, the heau idea 

 of a fowl-^her trne- aristocracy of the genus gallu 

 He is, among poultry, what the Arabian is amon 

 horses, the high-bred Shiort-horn among cattl< 

 and the fleet Greyhound among the canine race. 



SpringiiJe, K K C. N. BEifENT, 



SURFACE MANT7RING. 



Eds. Gexesee Fakmee:— I have often thought 

 would send you my experience in surface maniu 

 ing. Most of the agricultural writers recommen 

 the manure to be hauled out and plowed in immt 

 diately. Until some few years ago, 1 was engage 

 in other pursuits, but having beeome the owner ( 

 some land in Kent county, I began tilling the Ian 

 according to my views on the subject. All tt 

 manure I could get was put on the grass Ian* 

 intended for corn the following season. Stab 

 manure, and the manure from the cow-yards,. w» 

 all cleaned up as soon .ifter the spring rains wei 

 over as possible, whether rotted or not, and applie 

 as above. During the year the same course wj 

 pursued. The corn was cut off and the grouD 

 seeded in wheat. If I had any manure fit f( 

 wheat at seeding time, it was spread on the surfa* 

 after the land was plowed, and harrowed or drille 

 in with the wheat. By this way of manuring, 



I 



