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greatly improved within a few years by the general in- 

 troduction and extensive intermixture of the larger 

 Asiatic breeds. Not profitable in themselves, the Indian 

 and Chinese varieties, by crossing with our common 

 fowls, produce what experience has proved to be the best 

 stocks for our own country. The Shanghaes, and Chit- 

 tagongs, Cochin Chinas, and other gigantic and awkward 

 birds, have justly fallen into disrepute. They are mon- 

 strous 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 finest 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 

 of 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 av- 

 erage, and that the cocks will, at that time, give a dress- 

 ed weight of from five to six pounds. The weight ol" 

 the Asiatic breeds, at maturit}'', 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 



