286 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



and shape. But place a brood of Plymouths in competi- 

 tion with the Langshans, and they are — to use a phrase 

 more expressive than elegant — ' ' nowhere ! " 



Two rivals, one claiming superiority for the Plymouths, 

 the other for the Langshan chicks, not long ago decided to 

 settle the matter by placing a brood of each kind together 

 under precisely the same treatment. 



In three weeks the Plymouth Rock man gathered up his 

 chickens under his wing and departed, saying, "Suppose 

 we don't play any more ! " 



The Langshans had been hatched on May the 23d, and 

 on July 3d, at six weeks old, they weighed two pounds, 

 which was little less than marvelous. No wonder the 

 Plymouth Rock man fled in dismay ! 



Langshans are not. as some suppose, identical with Black 

 Cochins. Their plumage is similar, but that is all. The 

 latter are poor layers, the chicks delicate, long-legged, and 

 slow of growth. 



Very often a " cross" between two good breeds w^ill pro- 

 duce a better bird for general purposes than any one pure 

 breed. For instance, the progeny of Houdan and Bramah 

 is a splendid bird, hardy, of quick growth, the hens fine 

 layers, and setting occasionally. 



The Houdan and Langshan, the Leghorn and Bramah, 

 or Plymouth Rock, the Langshan and Bramah, or the Leg- 

 horn and Langshan, all these produce most valuable addi- 

 tions to the poultry-yard. 



Some time ago a well-known fancier took ten pullets, six 

 months old, of each of the breeds mentioned below, and, 

 confining them, kept an exact account of the amount of 

 feed they consumed, the eggs laid, and value of flesh pro- 

 duced, for a given time, and here is the result : 



Bramahs — cost of feed $9.22, value of eggs $12.10, 

 meat $14,00. Total value $26.00. Total profit $18.28. 



