1864. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



49 



A PATH OF WHITE SHANGHAI FOWLS. 



Several years ago there was a sort of furore i sented as without tails, or as having nothing more 



among the people in regard to rearing and keep- 

 ing fowls. It was not confined to the country, but 

 found more favor in villages and towns than on 

 the farm. It ran its race, however ; the fire slum- 

 bered ; and men, women, and children are quite 

 reasonable again upon the subject. The atten- 

 tion called to it has been productive of more good 

 than harm, we think, as it appears to us that 

 more poultry and eggs have been produced since 

 that fever ran through the land. 



There is no doubt on our mind, that attention 

 to poultry on the farm affords more profit on the 

 money invested, than is realized from any other 

 item of equal investment. But the comfort and 

 convenience of having poultry and eggs at hand 

 whenever they are wanted, are sufficient in them- 

 selves to recommend their production, even if 

 there were no profit. 



The beautiful fowls placed at the head of this 

 article are White Shanghais. They have proved 

 themselves to be an excellent breed, as they are 

 Df a naturally quiet disposition, come early to 

 maturity, and can be* made to reach a large size. 

 Their eggs are of a fawn color. Their bodies are 

 broad and stout, and the legs usually feathered. 



As represented in the books, the White Shang- 

 nais resemble the Brahma Pootras, in the general 

 appearance of the body, but are entirely unlike 

 each other in the tail. The Brahmas are repre- 



than a short bunch of feathers, which in the 

 rooster flows over tit their ends only in a slight 

 degree, while the male Shanghai has a long and 

 flowing tail. There is a difference of opinion 

 among poultry breeders as to the identity of the 

 two. We wish Mr. Ives, of Salem, or some other 

 person, well informed, would give us his views 

 on the matter. 



From the numerous accounts sent us, which 

 have been kept with accuracy, we think it safe to 

 say that one dollar per head may be reckoned 

 upon as profit, where fowls are properly provided 

 for in shelter and feed. 



Honey Bees. — We notice much complaint in 

 our exchange papers from all parts of the country 

 that bees have not done well this season. A cor- 

 respondent of the Illinois Farmei; who had nine- 

 ty swarms in the spring, did not get a single new 

 swarm the past summer. He has reduced hia 

 stock from ninety to seventy hives, and thinks 

 one-third of these will have to be fed more or less 

 during the winter. He says : "I do not think 

 there is a young swarm in this town (Mill Co., 111.,) 

 that has got enough honey to winter on, nor have 

 half of the old ones. I would say to all bee keep- 

 ers, sow a few acres of Alsike or Swedish white 

 clover, it is splendid for the bees and it makes 

 the best of hay." 



