POULTRY. 207 



QUALITY OP STOCK. 



Our American poultry has been greatly improved within a 

 few years by the general introduction and extensive intermix- 

 ture of the larger Asiatic breeds. Not profitable in themselves, 

 the Indian and Chinese varieties, by crossing with our com- 

 mon fowls, produce what experience has proved to be the best 

 stocks for our own country. The Shangliaes and Chitta- 

 gongs, Cochin Chinas, and other gigantic and awkward birds, 

 have justly fallen into disrepute. They are monstrous eaters, 

 and their flesh, besides costing more, is coarse and strong in 

 flavor. Although their eggs are large, they are considered to 

 be of inferior character. The eggs of the large breeds have 

 often pale yolks, and it is contended that the highest colored 

 yolks, which are usually found in the smaller eggs, have the 

 fin^^st taste. It is an admitted fact that the eggs of the 

 Bantam hen, the smallest of all, are of unequalled delicacy. 



But the commingling of the strong foreign blood with our 

 domestic stocks has tended to hasten the maturity oT our fowls, 

 to increase their size and weight at a given age, and to increase 

 the number and size of their eggs. It is estimated that chickens 

 derived from a crossing of the Asiatic and American bloods will, 

 with proper care, begin to lay in four and a half or five months, 

 on an average, and that the cocks will at that time give a 

 dressed weight of from five to six pounds. The weight of the 

 Asiatic breeds at maturity is usually, of cocks, from ten to 

 thirteen pounds, and the hens about two pounds lighter. 



SELECT VARIETIES. 



"When select varieties of fowls are kept it is a good plan to 

 have at least two breeds, one to lay and the other to sit ; for 

 those hens which lay abundantly are not in general disposed 

 to sit well. The " everlasting layers " are not at all broody, 

 and cannot be relied upon either to hatch or rear chickens. 

 On the other hand, those that are much inclined to sit, and 

 consequently confine themselves closely to the eggs, and prove 

 good mothers, are not the most prolific layers. 



For laying' hens there is no breed superior to the Black 

 Spanish. They lay abundantly, and produce a very largo Qg'g^ 

 while the fowl itself is of medium size and not a great eater. 

 Their eggs will weigh from two and a half to three ounces each, 



