FOWLS, TABLE AND MARKET. 195 



Mr. Weld. I don't know a great deal about that. I 

 was quoting a friend of mine. I think he did not mention 

 them especially as layers. 



Mr. . I would like to ask the speaker one question 



in reference to crossing. Supposing I have a flock of Leg- 

 horn hens, and want to cross them with the Plymouth Rock ; 

 I get a Plymouth Rock cock, and put him in with the Leg- 

 horns, and keep them together one season. The next sea- 

 son I wish to make^another cross with the same hens, and I 

 get a Brahma cock. Now, does that strain of Plymouth 

 Rock remain in those hens, or will the cross be perfect with 

 the Leghorns and the Brahma after they have had one sea- 

 son with the Plymouth Rock? 



Mr. Weld. I don't think you will notice any effect of 

 the crossing of the Plymouth Rock at all when you come to 

 breed a Brahma cock to the same hens. I am sure you 

 won't ; I have never seen anything of the kind. 



Mr. Shepard. You spoke of crossing the Houdan and 

 the light Brahma. I would like to ask which way you 

 would cross ; by using a light Brahma cock, or a Houdan 

 cock? Which makes the best cross? 



Mr. Weld. You will get the best fowl for flesh by using 

 a Houdan hen and a Brahma cock. No doubt about it. 



INIr. Hadwen of Worcester. I was very much gratified 

 with the essay, and, in my own practical experience, I have 

 proved a good many of the statements that have been made. 

 In regard to the crossing of fowls which was mentioned, I 

 will say that it is quite important to select fowls that have 

 some of the same characteristics. For instance, you would 

 hardly want t^ cross the game with the Brahma, which are 

 very unlike. It would be better to cross, perhaps, the Leg- 

 horn with the Plymouth Rock, both having full breasts and 

 not too much of leg. There is no doubt that in selecting 

 fowls with nearly the same characteristics, you will get a 

 much more desirable cross than where you select fowls that 

 are radically diff'erent. I think, in raising poultry for the 

 farm, the old practice of changing the cock every year is a 

 good one. Where you are breeding poultry merely for the 

 flesh and the eggs, it seems not only to give good flesh, but 

 a good quantity of eggs. Where you are breeding poultry 

 with the purpose of keeping a pure breed, and desire an 



