78 6UANGHAE FOWLS. 



"When I wish to " set a clutch of eggs," I proceed to the poultry house, 

 take one that " has the fever on," place her on the nest, provide her 

 with corn and water, note the time, and as there is not the least dis- 

 position to "flare up" under this treatment, if placed in a new loca- 

 tion, it is not necessary to give her any more of your time or 

 attention. To break up the inclination for incubating, shut the fowl 

 up in a dark place, with a sparing diet of corn, but plenty of water, 

 for a few days, when the fever will abate, and she will commence 

 laying. For the table, if well fatted, when about ten or twelve 

 months old, those competent to judge, pronounce the flesh of these 

 fowls very fine ; but, like many others of the Chinese race, if killed 

 when too young, will be found "dry and stringy," it being hard to 

 make them fat when very young. The game fowls will " flesh up " 

 at almost any age. For this information, I am indebted to others, as 

 I am no fancier of flesh in any form. For feed, give millet and wheat ; 

 when very young, dry rice, with crumbs of bread, and cooked beef, 

 or angle worms. Laying hens do better on wheat, as it affords suffi- 

 cient nutriment, and will not incline them to fatten. Millet is very 

 good for growing chicks, as it has a beneficial effect on the feathering. 

 Burnt oyster shells will be eaten at almost any period, but particularly 

 when laying. Some writers object to the use of Cayenne pepper, 

 others recommend a judicious use of it. One fact is certain, fowls 

 running at large will devour green peppers, when found within their 

 reach ; from this we infer, that it is a natural desire on their part to 

 eat vegetables of this class. On trial, I have found it to prove very 

 beneficial, in all cases. You will undoubtedly receive contributions 

 from others, respecting this breed of fowls, and a short explanation 

 will be due to you and your readers. Those in my possession were 

 bred from the first progeny of one importation, united with a cock of 

 this year's import, gaining by this, an improvement in size and model, 

 and being entirely free from the clumsy gait of many others, an 

 objection that I have removed. .As this communication is now some- 

 what longer, than I at first intended it to be, it will be necessary for 

 me to draw it to a close very soon, but I cannot do so without giving 

 due credit to the gentleman who imported the stock from which 

 those in my possession were bred, as I know Dr. Wight to be a fowl 

 fancier of the first order, and one that pursues it for the sake of 

 science, rather than for the profit he might gain by it, if he were so 

 disposed. Hoping this sketch of the management and peculiarities of 

 the above mentioned breed, will be of service to you in making up 

 your forthcoming work on poultry, and promising to communicate for 

 your periodical, the result of many experiments in breeding I now 

 have under way, and many I intend to try as soon as time will permit, 

 I am respectfully yours, in the cause 



of this branch of natural science, 



JOSEPH S. HlLDRETH, 



No. 61 Court st, Boston. 

 To T. B. MIXER, Esq. 



