FLORIDA POULTRY. 279 



the settin' fever, and they keep me busy catchin' 'em, and 

 puttin' 'em in coops ; I shut 'em up for a week, and then 

 let 'em out, and they just go like a streak for the nest I 

 took 'em from ! I put 'em under the pump, tie 'em to 

 trees, talk to 'em, whip 'em ; it's all no use ; set they want 

 to, and set they will, if it's on china eggs or stones, or 

 nothin'; drat the critters !" There was a good deal of truth 

 in the good woman's lament too, as every one knows who 

 has had dealings with the i)oultry-yard. 



Setting hens, determined creatures that they are, are all 

 very well when wanted, but very often one prefers more 

 eggs laid and less time spent on the nest, especially if one 

 has an incubator ; and this is one of the great advantages 

 of having the bulk of one's flock composed of non-setters, 

 among whom the Houdan ranks first. 



Another point in favor of the Houdan is the fact that 

 they are much smaller eaters than any other breeds, accord- 

 ing to their size. Later on we will give results of an ex- 

 periment made to ascertain the greatest profit on the same 

 number of fowls of different breeds, which proves the 

 Houdan to rank first, very decidedly. 



Altogether, we do not fear making a mistake in recom- 

 mending the Houdan to the special attention of the Florida 

 farmer, since it will bear the climate well, and is certainly 

 the most profitable breed for the farm in all respects. 



With us, and wherever we have heard of them in Florida, 

 the verdict has also been uniformly in favor of the Bramahs. 

 So far as appearances and actions went, our Bramahs, 

 ''transported for life" though they were, did not see any 

 difference between their old home and their new. 



They strutted, cackled, crowed, laid eggs, hatched chick- 

 ens, and brought the latter up in the way they should not 

 go, just as they had always done, and so have they contin- 

 ued to do up to the present day. 



