44 6HANGHAE FOWLS. 



fifty of the finest young ones, and feed these regularly and plentifully, 

 affording them reasonable shelter in severe cold, he will find the yield 

 of eggs greatly increased, and the destruction of grain in the mow 

 and stack, as greatly diminished. When chickens are permitted to 

 help themselves, they are apt to leave in exchange what does not 

 much enhance the value of the grain they fail to consume " verbum 

 sapientibus satis." 



The killing off of fowls is another matter worthy of consideration. 

 The number of a hen's eggs is generally in an inverse ratio to her 

 years. Unless hens are great favorites, and possess very remarkable 

 personal attractions, they should not be permitted to live beyond two 

 years. Besides their comparative barrenness, their gouty dullness in 

 the poultry yard, is anything but ornamental. " Off with their heads," 

 before they get too old to be eaten. 



Yours truly, DAVID TAGGART. 



As the descriptions of our most valuable fowls have hitherto 

 been very meagre in works on poultry, I shall give full details 

 from numerous sources. 



Mr. Miner, Sir: I think the Shanghaes are very excellent fowls, 

 especially as layers. In proof of this, I have a " brown Shanghae " 

 pullet from stock of the Gillet importation, which commenced laying 

 in October last, and has layed almost daily, ever since, notwithstand- 

 ing the severity of the weather for a few weeks past. 



H. V/K DlMMICK. 



Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 5, 1852. 



Mr. T. B. Miner Dear Sir : Of the domesticated large breed of 

 fowls, the Shanghaes are conceded to be the best for general purposes. 

 They are as large, if not larger, than any other pure breed, and have 

 the most noble and commanding appearance of any fowl I have ever 

 seen ; they are of a fine form, good plumage, very peaceable and quiet, 

 healthy, easily raised, and much attached to home. Mine do not wan- 

 der twenty yards from the house, although, did they choose, they 

 might take the range of three or four acres. It has been said to be 

 a dish fit for an Emperor, when well cooked. This I am much inclined 

 to doubt, and cannot believe they are equal in that respect to the 

 Games, or those having a dash of that blood in them. I have not as 

 yet, however, tested their quality as table food. I have a cockerel 

 and pullet of this breed, which were hatched on the eighth of Janu- 

 ry last. The cockerel now weighs seven pounds, three ounces, and 

 the pullet six pounds and three-quarters, being within one ounce of 

 fourteen pounds, for a pair of chickens only nine months old. This 

 ought to satisfy any reasonable person as to size. The pullet has not, 

 as in the case of the Cochin, commenced as yet to lay, and I am better 

 satisfied that it is so, as the commencing so soon to lay, has a tendency 

 to retard the growth, and as I believe this to be a pure breed, their 

 precocity is not so great as a first cross would be, or for instance, the 

 Chittagong is, which has been known to commence laying at five 

 months old. 



