BREEDS AND CROSSES. 39 



The chief crosses for first-rate tahle quahties are : — 



Indian Game and Dorking. 

 Old English Game and Dorking. 

 Indian Game and Houdan. 

 Old Knglisli Game and Houdan. 



The above give the very best resuhs in table poultry, 

 and many of the leading winners in the cross-bred 

 table poultry classes at shows of late years have been 

 one or other of the crosses named. Of course almost 

 any breed can be improved for table qualities by the 

 introduction of Dorking, Indian Game, or Old English 

 Game blood, and hence there have been some excellent 

 specimens shown of crosses with the general pui-pose 

 and non-sitting varieties. The breeds we have named 

 may be called the first rank of poultiT for the table, 

 as also the crosses already indicated ; the second 

 rank would comprise Langshans, Plymovitli Rocks, 

 Scotch Greys, and Wyandottes ; whilst in the third 

 )ank are Brahmas, Cochins, and other of the general 

 purpose and non-sitting Ijreeds ; Ijut we fail to sec 

 why any one taking up table poultry shou^ld not 

 attempt to supply the best demand. It costs no more 

 to breed or to feed these than second or third-rate 

 specimens. 



As a matter of interest it may be desirable to 

 give the weights of some of the pure and cross-bred 

 table poultrj' exhibited at the Smithfield Show, held 

 December, 1894, where was gathered together the 

 finest collection ever seen in this country. Weight 

 does not, of com'se, determine quality, but it is a 



