124 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 
common stock, are nearly as good as the pure breed. 
To introduce one young cock for every twenty-five com- 
mon hens would be to easily double the value of the 
farmer’s yearly product. 
From the time of its first introduction to American 
poultry-breeders, the breed has been held in the highest 
esteem. Other varieties have come up, the Plymouth 
Rock and Wyandottes, as market birds, and Leghorns in 
variety as egg-producers; still the Light Brahma has held 
its own asa family fowl among the lovers of choice poultry. 
Although quiet and unassuming in style, it has great 
dignity of carriage, and is really a majestic fowl. In 
excellent qualities for family use, itis hardly approached 
by any other. Its flesh is juicy and tender; and as it 
puts on flesh very fast, it remains a ‘‘chicken” until 
fully grown. The excellence of the hens as layers de- 
pends greatly on how they were bred, for some families 
are extraordinary egg-producers taken in. comparison 
with other large-bodied fowls. ‘They are layers of large, 
buff-colored eggs, which are very rich, and great favorites 
in the market. In disposition they are very kind and 
quiet. An ordinary picket-fence, three feet high, will 
restrain them ; and if handled gently, they can be picked 
up atanytime. ‘The plumage is white with black points. 
The tail is black, as are also the flight feathers of the 
wings, which are not discernible when the wings are 
folded. There is also a fine penciling of black in the 
neck. It has a ‘‘ pea,” or triple comb, which, being 
small and set close to the head, is proof against all or- 
dinary frost. They are easy to rear, very hardy, quick 
growers, and make very heavy fowls. On a well-kept 
lawn, there is nothing handsomer than a flock of Light 
Brahmas. 
‘It is an interesting fact in connection with this breed 
that it is the only one of the Asiatic breeds not received 
through England. The original birds were brought 
