NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 209- 



The merits or otherwise of any of the above breeds is a 

 matter which must largely be regulated by circumstances. 



The following experiment recently tried in England with 

 a view to determine the consumption and profit of different 

 breeds of poultry is suggestive ; the following is the result : 



Dorkings 6 ounces 391 grains. 



Games 4 do. 275 do. 



Buff Cochins 17 do. 296 do. 



Langshans ... ... 7 do. 31 do. 



Dominiques 4 do. 336 do. 



Brown Leghorns ... 4 do. 398 do. 



Hamburghs ... ... 4 do. 120 do. 



Polish 4 do. 28 do. 



Guinea Fowls 4 do. 182 do. 



It will be seen that the Buff Cochins ate much more 

 than any other breeds ; and to show the increase of weight 

 in proportion to food consumed, it may be stated that each 

 gained daily as follows for twenty days : 



Dorkings ... 138 grains and laid 130 eggs per year. 



Games ... 92 do. 100 do. 



Buff Cochins 77 do. 115 do. 



Langshans ... 123 do. 115 do. 



Dominiques ... 92 do. no do. 



Brown Leghorns 107 do. 190 do. 



Hamburghs ... 92 do. 239 do. 



Polish ... 46 do. 98 do. 



Guineas ... 75 do. 



It will be noticed that the Hamburghs gave the largest 

 number of eggs, and the brown Leghorns next, but the 

 Dorkings and Langshans made the largest daily gain in 

 growth ; while the Cochins, though consuming enormously 

 of food, did not show its effects either in eggs or the first 

 twenty days' growth. Taking the three highest for weight 

 at six months, the following was the result : 



Dorkings weighed lolb. i oz. and 685 grs. 

 Buff Cochins weighed 9 Ib. 13^ oz. 

 Langshans weighed 10 Ib. 5 oz. and 437 grs. 



The greatest gain was made by the Langshans, but for 

 the food allowed the Dorkings are entitled to the honour. 



p 



