1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FAKTHER. 



411 



is formed of a whitish, well-developed mem- 

 brane ; the crest divfdes at the base, and forms 

 two round and pointed extensions, like horns, 

 an inch or more in length, from which, in the 

 country, it gets the name of the "horned fowl." 

 The weight of the hen when m ature — say ten 

 or twelve months of age — averages about six 

 and a half pounds. The cocks at the same 

 age weigh a pound or two more, and increase 

 in weight until eighteen or twenty months of 

 age. 



They seldom commence laying before seven 

 months old, and lay very few eggs in winter; 

 but from the last of February they lay regu- 

 larly until moulting time. They scarcely ever 

 desire to set, and are not considered good 

 mothers. 



Breed of Mans. 



The true Du Mans variety differs from the 

 "Fleeche" in having a double crest. The 

 form is nearly the same ; the weight at maturi- 

 ty is considerably less ; the flesh is considered 

 about the same in quality and appearance, and 

 the bird fattens as easily. 



Creve-Coeur. 



The Creve-Cceur (heart-breaker) has rath- 

 er short legs ; its body is long, plumage black, 

 bead ornamented with white feathers. Its early 

 crest often presents the horned appearance 

 of the Fleeche ; the whiskers are thick, and 

 the cravat very decided. Weight of mature 

 female, six to seven pounds. The male of 

 this breed, has a black plumage, tinged with 

 green, very lustrous. They may have the col- 

 lar and tips of wings a little pale or red, and 

 yet be pure. After the second moulting, the 

 tuft of the male bird should always contain 

 some white feathers. When well fed, the cock 

 at maturity should weigh seven or eight 

 pounds. 



This breed originated in Normandy, and is 

 there in high repute with all the farmers. They 

 are the first chickens sent to the Paris market, 

 reaching here in April or May — a month or so 

 in advance of those from any other depart- 

 ment of the country. 



The Eoudan. 

 The plumage is an unique mixture of black 

 and white. The head is very large and strong 

 and surmounted by a tuft less dense than that 

 of the Creve-CcEur; "cravat and whiskers" 

 prominent ; crest and wattles small. The feet 

 are of a grayish lead color, and have five toes 

 — two above each other, projecting from the 

 hind part of the leg, above the heel. Weight 

 of mature pullet, five to six pounds. The 

 cock has a mottled plumage of tan mixed with 

 pale yellow, though generally black and white. 

 The feathers of the tall and wings have a very 

 marked green hue. Up to three months of age 

 the blaek predominates, after which time the 

 white increases. The crest is divided into two 

 parts, having the appearance of horns, like the 

 Fleeche breed. Weight of mature cock, from 

 six and a half to seven pounds. 



The flesh of the Houdan fowl is very fine 

 and delicate. They take on fat readily, but 

 the hens are smaller and less precocious than 

 either of the first-described varieties. 



BUCKTATHEAT FOB "WIRE WORMS. 



D. Marvin of West Alburgh, Vt., writes to 

 the New York Farmers' Club that all the low 

 lands in the vicinity of Lake Champlain are in- 

 fested with this pest. He says : — 



Two years ago I broke a low run-out mead- 

 ow of eight acres in the spring and sowed to 

 oats, expecting the sward would keep them 

 busy the first season ; but they destroyed 

 about one-half the crop, I noticed that where 

 I harrowed in the seed they did not destroy it ; 

 but not burying it to suit me, I loaded the cul- 

 tivator, put on three horses and buried it deep. 

 This was badly eaten. After the crop was 

 taken off we plowed the ground late in the fall, 

 ridging it up and draining it. Last spring, 

 waiting until I thought the seed would grow 

 rapidly, I sowed to oats, having in a consid- 

 erable sprinkle of buckwheat, purposely, twen- 

 ty-six bushels in all, to the eight acres. This 

 seed never came up. I never before saw a 

 crop literally eaten up. The worms were so 

 thick when we got in the seed that we could 

 see the yellow fellows roll up behind the culti- 

 vator and harrow. The buckwheat, I ought 

 to say, came up, but they evidently ate con- 

 siderable of this, so that it was a lost crop. 

 The last of June we put in the teams and 

 plowed it all over, and sowed to buckwheat, 

 one bushel to the acre, which, as the ground 

 was strong, was too much by one-half; how- 

 ever, the crop was good, but would have been 

 better with less seed. We plowed again late 

 last fall ; the ground was clean and thoroughly 

 fallowed, and on repeated examinations we 

 saw no worms. Buckwheat is our only remedy. 

 Experienced men prescribe two or three crops 

 in succession, two at least, which do not de- 

 plete the strength of soil, and so thoroughly 

 fallow it as to starve them out, and it is the 

 only crop that will. 



Coal Tar for Sheep. — The Urbana Citi- 

 zen, says that a farmer of Ohio, has used with 

 great success, coal tar for maggots in sheep. 

 When all other remedies failed to remove the 

 maggots from the wounds, he applied the coal 

 tar, which effected a speedy cure. 



Tanning. — The report of the Commission- 

 ers having charge of this department of the 

 Pjiris Exposition, have arrived at a conclusion 

 which will meet the approval of practical chem- 

 ists regarding the various processes for rapid 

 tanning, namely : That no definite advantage 

 has yet been found in these processes, and the 

 period required remains about the same as 

 before. 



