HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 177 



with an interruption of only ten days in January. Mr. Wilson 

 thinks the Shanghaes possess another advantage over the na- 

 tives, because the chickens are more easily raised. This he 

 attributes chiefly to the fact, that they do not get in full feather 

 until they are over five months old, and hence, as he infers, the 

 substance which in others is developed in feathers, with them 

 is incorporated in bone and muscle. He says he has raised 

 over seventy chickens this season, and lost none by disease. 

 The Shanghae, he says, is a home fotol, having no disposition 

 to roam, and is little inclined to do mischief in the garden. They 

 will weigh as much at five months old as the common kind, at 

 full growth. He thinks the Dorkings are fully entitled to the 

 h'gh reputation they have received. He had on the 14th of 

 February last, fourteen hens and two cocks, of the common 

 breed, and their product up to the present time, has been 1391 

 eggs, besides about eighty chickens. 



Mr. Eden says he commenced the season with thirteen hens,, 

 two pullets, and one cock. They commenced laying on the- 

 1st of March, and between that and the present time, they laid' 

 944 eggs. The breed is not mentioned. He shut them up 

 six weeks to keep them from the garden, during which time 

 they laid but few eggs ; but he does not describe their mode of 

 treatment. 



Mr. Temple says his Plymouth Rock roosters are six months 

 old, and the largest weigh six and three quarters pounds. The 

 pullets are five and a half months old, and the largest weighs 

 four and a half pounds. They are very hardy. Of his four early 

 broods, not one died of disease. They are also very quiet, 

 never attempting to fly over a fence three and a half feet 

 high. Their flesh is fine flavored. They are good layers^. 

 The pair from which these chickens came, were bought Feb.. 

 2nth. The pullet was then eight months old. Up to Septem- 

 ber 1st, she laid eighty eggs, besides bringing out two broods 

 of chickens. She is now in the midst of her moult, but lays, 

 on an average, two eggs a week. Th« eggs are of large size 

 and excellent quality. 



Among the causes of ill success attending efl'orts to render 

 the raising of poultry of any kind profitable, may be mentioned 

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