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and egg production are concerned, very little can be said in 

 favor of any one breed. The records of both private individuals 

 and experimentations bear testimony to this statement. Some 

 writers make the following classifications: egg breeds, general 

 purpose breeds and meat breeds. This scheme works out 

 better on paper than it does in either practice or theory. In 

 the first class they place the Leghorns, Minorcas, Anconas, 

 Campines, etc.; in the second, such breeds as the Rhode 

 Island Reds, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks and Orpingtons; 

 and in the third class, the Brahmas, Langshans, Cochins, 

 Dorkings, etc. This classification is objectionable if it leads 

 people to believe that the first class will produce more- eggs 

 than either of the other two, or that the third class is used for 

 the production of meat more than either of the others, because 

 in many sections of the country those in the second class are 

 used primarily for eggs, and in other sections they are used 

 wholly for meat. Those in the first class are small, except the 

 Minorcas, non-broody, lay white eggs and can fly higher than 

 the others. Those in the second class lay brown or tinted eggs, 

 are of medium size, prone to broodiness, have clean shanks and 

 make excellent mothers. Those in the third class are large, lay 

 richly colored brown eggs, have feathered shanks and have the 

 broody instinct well developed. Black or dark-colored vari- 

 eties show pin feathers if plucked when young or not in full 

 plumage, but when they have a full coat their bodies are 

 clean and present a fine appearance. White chicken feathers 

 bring 10 cents more per pound on the market than colored ones. 

 On the other hand, white fowls when kept in close confine- 

 ment do not appear as clean as colored ones on account of the 

 ease with which their feathers are soiled. There is as much 

 variation in age of maturity in different strains of the same 

 variety as there is in different breeds. For instance, I have 

 •had Light Brahmas laying at six months and Leghorns at 

 seven to eight months of age, but this, of course, is not usual. 

 As a rule, those in the first class will mature in five to six 

 months, and under good conditions those in the second class, 

 from six to seven months; those in the third, from seven to 

 nine months. It is important to remember that the breed is 

 determined by the shape or type, variety by color, and that 



