EUROPEAN BREEDS. 145 
are low and degrading. There may be laws against these 
contests in some of the States, but they are seldom en- 
forced, and do not remedy the evil. Our poultry socie- 
ties have some responsibility in fostering the breeding of 
these birds. As a matter of fact, we think most of them 
would be found obnoxious to the charge of discrimina 
ting in their favor, instead of encouraging the more use- 
ful and ornamental varieties. With the single exception 
of the Asiatic fowls, the largest amount of premiums is 
generally offered for Games. The premiums for turkeys, 
the most valuable of all our domestic birds, amount ro 
much less. For geese, still less. Now, if the object of 
these societies is the promotion of the common weal, the 
highest premiums should be offered for the birds that 
are most useful, or for those that promise to be such. 
The managers should so arrange the list of premiums 
as te draw out the birds that will be the most profitable 
on the farm and in the poultry yard. No special in- 
ducements are needed for the breeding of Game fowls. 
That business would take care of itself if the premiums 
were aitogether diverted to the most useful classes, 
+1 
HAMBURGS, 
In writing of Hamburgs, an admirer of this favorite 
breed says: They have taken their proper place in the 
list of popular breeds. All varieties of the Hamburg 
family are beautiful, symmetrical, and stylish in car- 
riage. They have been much improved in the beauty 
and uniformity of plumage since the era of poultry ex- 
hibits, but not in productiveness, as that is hardly pos- 
sible; for they have long maintained the reputation of 
being ‘‘ every-day layers.” Birds of the Hamburg fam- 
ily are of only medium size, but their deficiency in size 
10 
