Laying Breeds. 75 



months old. For such places as these we should recommend 

 Minorcas, Leghorns, Houdans, or Plymouth Rocks, the first 

 three of which are non-sitters. 



The majority of poultry keepers have eggs as their 

 primary object, and where this is the case they will do 

 well to select one of the non-sitting breeds, for, not only are 

 these the best layers, but they give no trouble in the way of 

 wanting to incubate. Many are the sorrows of a poultry- 

 keeper whose hens want to sit when he desires eggs, and 

 it is hard work conquering a determined bird of this kind. 

 These non-sitting breeds are Hamburghs, Minorcas, Leg- 

 horns, Andalusians, Houdans, Spanish, and Polish, which 

 are here given in rotation according to their laying powers. 

 The Hamburghs lay small eggs, too small for ordinary mar- 

 ket purposes, and the Spanish and Polish are rather deli- 

 cate, so we should recommend that the choice be restricted 

 to the other four varieties, which, whether they be kept 

 pure or crossed will be found first-rate layers of good sized 

 eggs. They are also very hardy, and can be kept successfully 

 in nearly every place, unless it is really a wet one. We do 

 not recommend to have more than two laying breeds, but 

 where there is sufficient room we should certainly advise two, 

 as they can then be crossed one with the other, if that is 

 thought desirable. 



Coming now to those breeds of domestic poultry which are 

 specially characterized for their table qualities, and which 

 Bhould be kept where there is a demand for dressed fowls, for 

 in time quality must tell, we cannot but place at the head 

 the Game variety, thorgh they are rather too small for 

 ordinary market purposes. Then come in rotation La 

 Fleche, Dorkings, Creve-coeurs, Houdans, Langshans, and 

 Plymouth Rocks. These are much larger than the Game, 

 and will be found to excel any other breeds for quality of 

 flesh. The Game crossed with Dorking has been stated to 



