Proceedings of tee Farmers' 1 Club. 387 



The hens are a mixture of several breeds, but none pure. The white 

 Leghorn and Brahma predominate. The feed has been corn and 

 wheat screenings, with some hog cheese and wheat middlings, 

 pounded oyster shells, etc." 



Mr. Edward Lloyd, Hartford, N. J., alluded to the statement of 

 Mr. Ketchum of Pennsylvania, who said that " capons in Bucks 

 county frequently. weigh seven pounds," and added : Hereabout they 

 frequently weigh twelve pounds, and I have seen whole lots of 100 

 fowls average eleven pounds. This, you see, is quite a difference ; 

 but even at that we think they don't pay, as we have to keep them 

 till February or March, and they eat their heads off by that time. 

 There is no sale early for them. Why, over at the Farmers' Club at 

 Mount Laurel, December 17, we had a pretty show ; to exchange, to 

 compare stock, and to select. Roosters there weighed from seven 

 pounds to nine, and blooded birds from eight to ten and a half pounds 

 — dark Brahmas and buff Cochins, while we had pullets there that 

 weighed seven, seven and a half, and eight pounds ; old hens, ten 

 pounds. So, you see, our friend from Bucks county is far behind old 

 Burlington county, N". J., as regards size and weight of birds. 



Mr. F. D. Curtis — There is no advantage in this forcing of poultry 

 to an enormous size. As a rule, medium-sized fowls are the most 

 profitable on the farm. The opposite opinion is inculcated by the 

 poultry society and the fancy-stock men, and herein they do wrong. 

 These large fowls are inert, poor layers, and their multiplication ought 

 to be discouraged. Bigness is of little value compared with egg-pro- 

 ducing and hardiness. 



The Chairman — I agree. I had rather have for my use three 

 medium-sized fowls than three of the ten-pounders. Of breeds, I 

 place Black Spanish first, and Polands immediately after. 



Dr. E. Ward Sylvester — It is only possible to have a continuous 

 supply of eggs by continuous crossing. By changing roosters each 

 spring and selecting a different breed I have no trouble about eggs. 

 I cross a Brahma on a Leghorn, and a Dorking on that, and so on, 

 getting a new style of rooster every year. 



Mr. D. B. Bruen — After all, there is more in keeping than in 

 breeds. Those who have great egg-stories to tell take great care of 

 their fowls. Farmers generally let hens shirk for themselves. 



Mr. F. D. Curtis — Which is all wrong. And, again, farmers keep 

 the same old mothers too long. They should frequently be off with 

 the old stock and on with the new. There must be a frequent infu- 

 sion of fresh blood and young blood. 



