172 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



FOWLS FOR THE TABLE AND MARKET. 



BY 3IAS0N C. "WELD OF NEW YORK. 



Barn-door fowls yield us two noteworthy products of very 

 different character : flesh and eggs. I confine my remarks 

 to the former. 



Like others of our domestic animals, the fowl in its 

 various breeds has adapted itself in its multitude of varieties 

 to the diverse uses and surroundings of civilized man. We 

 have persistent layers of eggs for those who value this prod- 

 uct chiefly. We have the ponderous Asiatic fowls rivalling 

 turkeys in weight. We have those of fanciful plumage, 

 combined with homely utility of one kind or another. We 

 have, besides, breeds so minute, and so useless withal, that 

 their very uselessness seems a merit ; and then we have the 

 active and beautiful Games, in great variety, — the thorough- 

 breds of the dunghill, in which all the excellences of all 

 varieties seem concentrated, — adapted to every useful pur- 

 pose, excelling in beauty of form, incomparably superior in 

 quality of flesh ; without superiors, almost without equals, as 

 layers, setters and nurses, and absolutely without peers in 

 the vigorous and iutelligent defence of their young on the 

 part of the hens, and of their flocks of hens on the part of 

 the adult cocks. 



Thus it would seem that every farmer should l)e able to 

 select a breed of fowls exactly adapted to the particular 

 requirements of his own farm and market. 



We must not forget, however, that in all pure breeds of 

 animals, from horses to canary-birds, there is a constant ten- 

 dency to depart from the standard, and as a result, if we 

 would breed pure, the necessity exists for constant care in 

 selection, breeding and rearing of standard stock. 



Now, if we are raising poultry chiefly for the table or for 

 market, it would be better if we could adopt a system by 

 which we could produce fowls for which we should need 

 only to take care that they are always in good breeding and 

 growing condition, and fatten readily ; for, so far as profit 

 goes, although " fine feathers make fine birds," yet feathers 

 and " points" of the scale are of little or no account either 

 upon the spit, the gridiron or the market stand. 



