The Poultry of the Farm. 
105 
ance of the subject I am introducing is proved bj the Council 
of the Royal Agricultural Society of England regarding it as 
worthy of their notice. Therefore let us suppose that, circum- 
stances and surroundings having been well weighed, the con- 
clusion is " some fowls are wanted." Now arises the difficulty 
of selecting the most suitable variety. 
Generally speaking, Mongrels do not go down easily with us. 
*' Some sort about them " is a recommendation for any kind of 
live-stock, and what is a mongrel if not something " mixed " but 
not " fixed " ? My idea is, that after the first cross we can only 
consistently use the term Mongrel until we have a variety so far 
established that the produce shall resemble the parent-stock. 
Sometimes we see mixed breeds described as " barndoor-fowls," 
to the annoyance of those who, with me, would call " a spade 
a spade ;" and I have yet to learn that it is either necessary or 
desirable to keep a stock of nondescripts, whilst so many excel- 
lent varieties and " first crosses " can be obtained. In making a 
selection, the great consideration will be, what is chiefly desired ? 
1. Eggs? 2. Chicken? 3. Chicken and eggs ? 4. Appearance? 
I. When the vast importation of eggs is remembered, the 
importance of a home-supply is recognised. We all like a 
freshly-laid egg, and the way to get it is to know when and 
where it came to light. There is such a doubt about foreign 
eggs, that just now purchasers are even particular about their 
colour ; but leaving that question, 1 turn to our own non-sitting 
breeds, and without hesitation I introduce — 
The Minorcas — on account of the many and large eggs they 
produce, whilst their dark glossy plumage looks well either in 
a farmyard or in a small enclosure. They are, moreover,, 
stronger than the Spanish, which have suffered in more than 
one way by the absurd demand of fashion for immensely large 
white faces. I may mention that this year we placed four 
Minorca hens and a cock at an outlying barn ; from February 6th 
to June 6th we took 324 eggs. Others were probably stolen or 
lost in the hedges ; one dozen of the eggs weighed 2 lbs. 2 J oz. 
Blue Andalusians closely resemble Minorcas, in fact may be 
regarded as an off-shoot or a variety not yet quite fixed, so 
many chicken " sport," or come black or white. 
Leghorns, either Brown or White, are excellent layers, and 
pretty useful fowls. 
Hamburgs. — Gold-Spangled and Pencilled, Silver-Spangled 
and Pencilled, and Black. The latter variety has lately gained 
ground the Spangled are larger than the Pencilled, and all are 
neat, nice, and noisy — consequently useful as well as ornamental 
about a house, being good night alarmists. 
II. Chicken being wanted, we must have Dorkings or Dorking 
