AMERICAN POULTRY CULTURE 
a breed originated in England not many years ago 
and recently admitted to the American Standard of 
Perfection. The Dorkings also belong to this 
class, but it is only their old age and one-time 
popularity that causes them to come in for even 
this casual mention; they are outclassed by almost 
any of our American breeds. 
Orpingtons are a good general-purpose fowl, 
but not adapted to the present requirements of most 
American markets on account of white skin and 
legs. ‘They are large and stately in 
appearance, with long, round, deep 
bodies, and very full breast development. Their 
eggs average about the same in color and size 
as the Plymouth Rocks, and they lay about the 
same number of them per year; but it will likely 
be some time before they will displace any of our 
American breeds of the same general class, because 
the Orpingtons are not so well adapted to this 
county and its market requirements, although it 
is possible that this objection will largely disap- 
pear within the next few years. 
It is true that the unpopularity of white- 
skinned fowls is largely a matter of prejudice, 
but the beginner or small breeder will find that he 
can not readily change public opinion, whether 
well founded or not, when he goes to market his 
product. If you prefer the Orpingtons and want 
them merely for your own use I have no objection 
96 
Orpingtons 
