36 CHANGE OF BREED. 



ing; and even in a carriage with spr, ^s, 

 they should be carried by hand. By caver- 

 ing them with lard and taking care not to 

 handle them roughly, I have known eggs 

 laid in Hamburg to be hatched in New- 

 Jersey. By pursuing steadily this practice 

 of exchanging eggs, you will yearly infuse 

 new blood into your stock, and avoid the 

 inconvenience of breeding in and in. With- 

 out being aware of this fact, many farmer? 

 find their stock running out, as they term it, 

 by which they mean that they get fewer eggs 

 every year ; and in order to remedy it, kill 

 them all off, and resort to others to renew 

 their poultry-yard. 



The choice of a cock is a matter of con- 

 siderable importance. He should be active 

 and restless ; not very large, with an erect 

 head and animated eye ; with a powerful 

 voice, thick and stout bill, long spurs, claws 

 strong and slightly crooked. A black or 

 deep red plumage, or that variety called 

 birchen back, is generally preferred. He 

 should be young, as he begins tc propagate at 

 four months, and his vigour scarcely lasts 



