172 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 
gratifying one. Among some of seventy breeds recog- 
nized in the American standand of excellence, there are 
only three of American origin, viz., the old fashioned 
Dominique, the Plymouth Rocks, and the Wyandottes. 
After some years of careful breeding the Plymouth Rock 
has been brought to such a condition of merit, that it is 
now one of the most popular breeds, and promises to be 
one of the most suitable for farmers and attractive to 
amateurs. 
AMERICAN DOMINIQUES. 
This old-fashioned breed is said to have been brought 
over by the early Puritans, and wherever bred in purity 
is acknowledged to be one of the best, hardiest, and 
most beautiful of all domestic fowls; and as there has 
certainly been no importation of any fowls of this breed 
into this country for a century, they have come to be re- 
garded as strictly an American variety. 
They are without doubt the oldest of the distinctive 
American breeds, being mentioned in the earliest poultry 
books as an indigenous and valued variety. In the fu- 
rore for fancy breeds of fowls, the older sorts are some- 
times wellnigh forgotten; yet it is highiy probable 
that the American Dominiques possess as many good 
qualities as any of the newer breeds. If they do not 
reach the heavy weight of some of the latter breeds, they 
have great merit, and none give better satifaction to the 
farmer than this old American breed of Dominiques. 
They should weigh from six to eight pounds when 
matured. 
The Dominiques are excellent layers, very hardy, un- 
exceptionable as mothers, yet are not given to excessive 
incubation, and are good for the table. ‘They grow both 
fat and feathers quickly, while their plain “ home-spun” 
