A POULTRY COMPENDIUM. S 



desires to raise enough chickens to replace one-half or 

 three-fourths of his stock; for he finds "that part pullets 

 and part hens pay best, taking summer and winter to- 

 gether. Leghorns and Hamburgs fill the bill, while Ply- 

 mouth Rocks, Houdans and Langshans are also desirable. 



Third Class. Here is needed what is known as "the 

 general-purpose fowl," "the combination fowl," and so on; 

 that is, a fowl which unites in itself, in a high degree 

 of excellence, the various qualities which distinguish other 

 varieties. The laying qualities of the Leghorns, the table 

 qualities of the Dorkings, the quiet disposition of the 

 Asiatics, the beauty of the Games, are all desired in one 

 fowl. Such a fowl has not yet been found, and there 

 •is no probability of its ultimate discovery. The quest 

 has proved and will prove a fruitless one. But yet some 

 varieties do unite laying qualities, table excellencies, quiet 

 dispositions and great beauty in so high a degree that 

 they serve to keep alive the hope in not a few breasts 

 that eventually one fowl will be found possessing every 

 desirable quality. Prominent among these varieties are 

 the Plymouth Rocks, Dorkings and American Dominiques. 



Fourth Class. To this class belongs any breed in 

 which the fancier is specially interested, and which has, 

 as all breeds have to a greater or less degree, valuable 

 qualities. Utility is to be preferred to beauty, but the 

 two are not to be deemed antagonistic, but, on the con- 

 trary, are to be united as far as possible, as they have 

 been, for instance, in the production of that noble fowl, 

 the Colored ■ Dorking, and in that popular breed, the 

 Wyandotte. 



Fifth Class. To this class belong all the breeds, both 



