POULTRY. 185 



trio Crevecoeurs, four months old ; one trio white Leghorns, six 

 months old ; one trio silver-laced Bantams, one year five months 

 old. The fowls are all pure bred, and from the best stock to be 

 found. They have been fed on a variety of grains — oats, corn, 

 buckwheat, wheat screenings ; also, corn meal, scraps, meat, and 

 boiled potatoes. They appear to thrive better on such variety 

 than when confined for any great length of time to any one par- 

 ticular grain ; they have been confined all the time in a close 

 yard, where they could not pick up their living from the farm. 



My stock is nearly all Brahmas, and I prefer that breed to any 

 I have had, for the following reasons, namely : 



They are very hardy, and quiet ; the best layers in cold 

 weather, when eggs bring a high price ; the young chickens are 

 very strong — much more so than most other breeds ; they grow 

 quick, and are preferred by the dealers in the market, the eggs 

 being five to eight cents a dozen more in Boston market in the 

 winter than either Leghorns, Black Spanish, or the common 

 fowls, not so much on account of their size, but because they 

 are thought to be of better quality. I have intended, and tried 

 to breed, a good shaped, broad, square-built, compact fowl, 

 rather than a coarse, over-grown, long-legged one, believing that 

 they mature quicker, lay eggs younger, and more of them. 

 These in the coop are almost precisely like fifty more at home. 

 The Brahma pullets on exhibition have been laying for the last 

 six weeks. 



The Crevecoeurs were raised by me from stock of one of the 

 best importations that has been made ; they are very heavy 

 fowls and mature quickly. Not having bred many of them, I can- 

 not give my opinion as to their final value. The Bantams are 

 first-rate layers, but we keep them more for their beauty than 

 for profit. The Leghorns are very superior fowls ; they are 

 great layers in the summer, but not so good to lay in the winter 

 as the Brahmas. I have annexed an account of receipts and ex- 

 penditures — everything that has been bought for their keeping. 

 I have not charged anything for use of buildings, care, and in- 

 terest, as I am satisfied that the manure will pay well for all 

 those items. 



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