86 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



continued to exhibit, I knew what roup was by experience, 

 and had a great deal of difficulty. I have stopped exhibiting 

 fowls now, and I have no roup. I think the roup is a disease 

 that is contagious, and that is spread by our exhibitions. Our 

 recent exhibitions, it is well known, continue for several days ; 

 the poultry is brought together from all sections of the State 

 and country, and many of the birds are diseased, and the 

 disease is communicated to nearly the entire lot. It can be 

 cured, but it is attended with a great deal of difficulty. 



I do not know that I have any more to say, unless I speak 

 briefly of a breed of poultry that has been bred for forty 

 years by a former member of the Board. This breed, which 

 is called the Wilbraham, has been kept upon one farm for 

 forty years. How they have been bred, I do not know, but 

 I know one thing, — it is the same breed. The birds are 

 white, with small heads and combs, — combs that will with- 

 stand our frosts without injury, — with yellow legs, full 

 breasts, and five toes. There is no doubt that there is an 

 infusion of the Dorking in the blood. I have tried this poul- 

 try as an experiment for the last two years, and I find it 

 eminently satisfactory. It is really the best poultry for farm- 

 ers that I have ever tried, and there are very few breeds 

 that I have not tried. 



I do not say this because I have any to sell, for I have not. 

 I have never offered any for sale, and am out of the poultry 

 line, in a speculative way. But it strikes me that for farmers 

 who let their poultry run at large, this is a very desirable 

 breed. They are not susceptible to frost, they are good egg 

 producers, and reasonably good setters. I will not occupy 

 any more time. 



On motion, the subject of Poultry Breeding was laid on 

 the table, and Mr. Flint read the following paper — 



ON THE COLORADO BEETLE. 



BY A. S. PACKARD, JR., M. D. 



This beetle was originally described by Mr. Say in 1824, 

 having been found by him the year previous, when he 

 remarked, "This species seems to be not uncommon on the 

 Upper Missouri, where it was obtained by Mr. Nuttall and by 



