274 



Fowls for Table Poultry. [august, 



notably the Langshan and the Black Orpington. In these the 

 bone is heavier than in the purely table breeds, and propor- 

 tionately they have more meat upon the thighs, but the flesh is 

 of a good quality. Among the yellow-fleshed races may be 

 recommended the following : — 



Game (some varieties), Plymouth Rock, 



Indian Game, Wyandotte. 

 Of these the Game is distinctly the best in respect to meat, but 

 farmers do not find it easy to keep these birds in large numbers 

 on account of their fighting instincts, and they are rather small 

 in size of body. Consequently, the Plymouth Rock and Wyan- 

 dotte are found to be best adapted to meet the requirements of 

 this trade. Indian Game carry a large amount of flesh, but it 

 is hard and very yellow, for which reason, except in one or two 

 markets, they are not regarded with favour. This breed is 

 chiefly employed for crosses with soft and white-fleshed breeds, 

 producing very fine and meaty chickens. As yellow flesh is 

 always associated with shanks and feet of the same colour, 

 where such crosses are made the hens used should have white 

 flesh and legs. 



Whether the production of chickens be for a high or a second 

 class trade, crosses can be recommended if they are made for 

 the development of meat qualities, as by this method greater 

 vigour is obtained, and, frequently, more rapid development. 

 The ordinary crosses intended to secure an abundance of eggs 

 are of small service. In breeding chickens to be sold when well 

 grown, there is nothing finer than a cross between an Indian 

 Game cock and Dorking or Buff Orpington hens ; but the 

 birds are somewhat slow in growth by reason of the weight of 

 bone, and do not meet the market requirements in the spring 

 and early summer. Red or speckled Sussex are excellent, and 

 do not need to be crossed, as they probably have a considerable 

 amount of alien blood in their veins. Other crosses we have 

 tried are between a Wyandotte cock and Buff Orpington hens ; 

 Plymouth Rock cock and Dorking hens ; and a Faverolle cock 

 and Buff Orpington hens. These produce a fine class of chickens, 

 capable of full fattening. For a rougher class of bird, where 

 colour of flesh is of small importance, there is nothing better 

 than a cross between a Plymouth Rock or Wyandotte cock 

 and Leghorn hens, white or black for preference. 



