212 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



horse cavalry of the poultry yard ; the La Fleche with its 

 branching antlers, and the Ijlack Spanish and Leghorns, whose 

 battlcmcnted combs of the brightest crimson, flaming above the 

 raven and snow of their plumage, entitle them to be considered 

 the color guard of the grand poultry army. Then there are 

 the stately Brahmas and Cochins, the giants of their race ; the 

 black Polands with their crowns of snow, and their golden and 

 silver cousins beautifully marked ; and last come the sprightly 

 little Bantams, whose pencillings have made immortal the name 

 of Sir John ScVjright, and whose tints are almost as various as 

 the wild flowers of spring. Is there not a field here sufficient 

 to tempt the most aesthetic taste ? 



We are glad to perceive that the Houdans are growing more 

 numerous at our annual exhibitions. From the universal testi- 

 mony in their favor, as well as from our own experience, we 

 consider this the most valuable of the late importations, and 

 we hope to see them very extensively introduced. Four hens 

 belonging to the Chairman of your Committee commenced lay- 

 ing about the first of January, and with hardly any intermis- 

 sion in the coldest weather, continued to lay until the last of 

 July, when they began so moult. 



Their eggs are of large size, and if these were sold by weight, 

 as they ought to be, this would bo a strong point in their favor. 

 The young are very hardy and mature rapidly. There is prob- 

 ably no breed better adapted to the generality of farmers. 

 They seldom show a disposition to set, and on that account, if 

 chickens are desired, it is necessary to have hens of the Game, 

 Dorking or other breeds to rear the young. The Gray Dorking, 

 we are also pleased to see, is growing into favor. The only 

 fowls of this breed in good feather were those of Mr. Isaac 

 Dean of Taunton, whose coops attracted great attention. 



The coops of Black Spanish fowls exhibited by Mr. Cummings 

 of North Dartmouth were very superior, showing that they had 

 been most carefully bred. 



Never before within our recollection has there been such a 

 fine show of thoroughbred fowls, and this is particularly grati- 

 fying when we remember the very poor mongrel varieties for- 

 merly exhibited by individuals, who now bring every year coops 

 of the choicest fowl showing thorough breeding. 



We cannot forbear congratulating the society upon the fact 



