SMALL HOLDINGS 173 



served will come again. Retailing in this way 

 enables the breeder to obtain a shilling a 

 couple more than is paid by the dealer, who, 

 apart from this, is more particular, rejecting 

 many birds which less critical buyers are 

 ready to accept. 



Among the breeds of poultry which should 

 be rejected on a Small Holding are Spanish; 

 the Hamburg varieties, which are too small 

 and entirely unfit for the table; the modern 

 Minorca, which has lost its laying powers; 

 the Andalusian, which was at one time one 

 of the best known laying varieties; the Brahma, 

 the Cochin; the modern Game; the Houdan 

 and the Creve Coeur. There arc various 

 breeds of fancy fowls which are still more 

 inappropriate and practically useless upon a 

 farm. It need scarcely be remarked that the 

 laying power of a hen cannot be discerned 

 or distinguished by her size, colour, or form. 

 The White Wyandottes, the Orpingtons, the 

 Leghorns, and the Plymouth Rocks have 

 all taken high positions in laying competitions, 

 but the reader must guard against the supposi- 

 tion that because of this fact hens of these 

 breeds are necessarily good layers; this is not 

 the case. Whatever the presumption may be, 

 we cannot depend upon the birds of any breed 



