86 BREEDS OF POULTRY 



that usefulness in an animal attains its highest perfection in one 

 direction only. When the animal shows a marked advance along 

 one line, it is at the expense of some other feature. So there has 

 not been a tendency to develop, to any great extent, the egg- 

 laying properties of the meat breeds. The Light Brahma has, 

 however, been considered a good layer, considering its size and 

 weight. Modern poultrymen, keeping the heavy breeds, consider 



FIG. 53. Black Langshan pair, a meat breed noted for great height. (Photo by Urban 

 Farms, Buffalo, N. Y.) 



them useful for turning out flesh of superior quality. They get 

 eggs enough from them to perpetuate the breed and to supply 

 enough young for market purposes. 



General-Purpose Breeds. A number of breeds have been 

 developed and bred for two purposes, namely, the production of 

 both meat and eggs. Birds of this type are most generally kept 

 on American farms and are credited with the great mass of poultry 

 and egg products sent to market. The majority of farmers, keep- 

 ing small flocks, desire a type which can furnish the home table 

 and market with both eggs and meat. After the fowls have passed 



