POULTRY-CRAFT. 161 
the popular shade is a golden buff, between the reddish buff and the pale yellow, 
which were the extremes of color which different breedérs have been calling 
buff. In mating buff fowls, the best method is to use birds of both sexes as 
near the desired golden buff as can be obtained, avoiding the mating of birds 
having color defects in the same section, whether the defects are similar or 
opposite. The common color faults in buff fowls are white, or black, in 
wings and tails; red on the backs and shoulders of males; very light breasts 
on females ; black ticks or lacing on necks and backs; mottled plumage, slaty 
under color, white under color—no under color. Black or gray in any part 
of the plumage except the primaries and main tail feathers, should cause a 
bird to be rejected, no matter how good otherwise. In the sections excepted, 
a little dark color may be admitted if the mate of the bird is good buff in them. 
In any case it is not advisable to breed from a specimen in which the foreign 
color is distinct. Birds with positive white in wings and tails should be 
rejected; also those in which the upper and lower webs of the feathers are of 
distinctly different shades. Faded, and slightly mealy wings and tails, may 
be admitted if the bird is pretty good all round, and can be mated with one 
good in wing and tail. A bird extra good in wing and tail can generally be 
used to advantage, though rather weak in other sections. In breeding to get 
the red out of the backs of males, the lightest females that can be found that 
are a good bright even surface color, the same on back and breast, should be 
mated to males as free from red as they can be had, and fairly uniform in all 
sections. Specimens with pale eyes should be rejected. In an exhibition 
bird surface color is worth more than under color; but in breeding, a bird good 
in under color will get more good even colored chicks than one better on the 
surface and not so good in under color. 
227. The Breeding Season is early or late, long or short, according to 
the purpose and progress of the breeder. For breeding early market poultry 
stock should be mated late in the fall. In producing laying stock the chicks 
of different breeds should be hatched at such times that the pullets will come 
to laying ‘maturity tolerably early in the fall, yet not so early that after laying 
a few eggs they moult like old hens. Brahma and Cochin pullets begin to lay 
at seven to nine months; Langshans, six to eight months; American breeds, 
five to seven months; Leghorns and the smaller breeds generally, four to six 
months. Very precocious stock may lay earlier, very backward pullets later, 
than the periods specified. If it is desired to have pullets coming to laying 
maturity from September first to November first, hatches should be: — for 
Brahmas and Cochins, February and March; for Langshans, March and April; 
for Plymouth Rocks, March fifteenth to May fifteenth; for Wyandottes, April 
first to June first; for smaller varieties, May first to July first. The breeding 
pens should be mated up at least five or six weeks previous to the earliest date 
given for hatching each class of fowls. When breeding fowls are shipped 
from a distance, it is best to buy so early that the birds have several months in 
which to become acclimated before the beginning of the breeding season. 
