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POULTRY CULTURE 



cross. The color pattern, though long peculiar to the Brahma 

 among American Standard-bred fowls, is one that occurs often in 

 mongrel fowls and must have appeared times without number in 

 the evolution of every race which, for any considerable period, 

 was of various colors. Compared with the color of the Dark 

 Brahma, the color pattern of the Light Brahma represents the almost 

 complete elimination of black from the body plumage, while the 

 tail remains black, the wings black and white (the black or black- 

 and-white flights concealed when the wing is folded), and the 

 hackle retains the black stripe. The early Light Brahmas had not 

 excessive feather development, nor did that feature become seri- 

 ously detrimental to the variety until about the close of the last 

 century. American Standard weights for Light Brahmas are cock, 

 12 pounds ; cockerel, 10 pounds ; hen, 9^ pounds ; pullet, 8 pounds. 

 The Standard weights for adults are often exceeded in birds much 

 under a year old. 



NOTE. Though not adapted to the general requirements of poultry culture 

 in America, the Asiatic meat type, until spoiled by breeding for extreme feather 

 development, occupied an important position. It was the most satisfactory type 

 for the production of large roasting cMickens, and when properly handled, laid 

 as well as any other. It was best suited to northerly latitudes and well-drained 

 soils, and to men with skill and judgment in handling poultry. This class was 

 dependent for popularity upon the fanciers to a much greater extent than the 

 laying and general-purpose classes. As long as the fanciers preserved a useful 

 type, their cull specimens (particularly of the Light Brahma) were much sought 

 by market poultry growers. When the fanciers developed the type beyond 

 utility lines, they lost the market for their culls ; the poultry growers who had 

 become dependent on them for stock were unable to procure what they needed, 

 and turned to other breeds. There is still in the country a great deal of Light 

 Brahma stock good for practical purposes, but it is widely scattered. Some 

 effort is being made to bring back the old types of Asiatics. How successful 

 such an effort may be, only time can show. 



General-purpose types. While the credit of developing the mod- 

 ern general-purpose type of fowl belongs principally to American 

 poultry keepers, in a sense every effort to improve utility qualities 

 represents progress toward the combination of laying and table 

 qualities. The European meat types, as developed from European 

 laying types, are as good layers as their progenitors, and much better 

 fleshed. The Asiatic meat type, while carrying more meat than 



