FLORIDA POULTRY. 273 



CHAPTER XVm. 



FLORIDA POULTRY. 



Just as all kinds of poultry will not do well in all local- 

 ities North, just so they will not all do equally well in 

 Florida, though nearly every variety tried faithfully thus 

 far has met with more or less success. 



On first settling in our present Florida home, we trans- 

 ported hither a portion of our "old home" stock — Hou- 

 dans, Light Brahmas, Partridge Cochins. 



Of these the Cochins, who, as every one knows, have a 

 bad habit of "running to fat" on small provocation, soon 

 grew disgusted with the climate, or soi], or something — 

 they never told which. Most likely it was the climate, for 

 as a rule stout people don't like warm weather ; but, how- 

 ever it was, the Cochins first refused to lay eggs, then grew 

 melancholy, and then decided to lay — themselves down 

 to die. 



That ended the Partridge Cochin era. And we have heard 

 the same report from so many quarters that we must con- 

 sider it a settled fact that their family do not approve of 

 Florida as a residence ; most certainly we do not approve 

 of their conduct while here, so the disgust is mutual. 



Of the Houdans, we brought a trio ; as fine and proud 

 a crested knight as ever challenged another to a chicken- 

 hearted combat, and two beautiful dames, with nodding 

 plumes upon their dainty heads. We were proud of our 

 Houdans, their black and white suits were so handsome 

 and glossy, their eggs so large and white, and their flesh 

 so firm and tender for the table. They were very graceful 

 in their movements, so long as they confined themselves to 

 a walk; but alas! when their greediness overcame their 



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