74 
Farm Poultry. 
resulting from crossing the Dorking either with the old- 
fashioned English game or the Indian game. By these means 
a hardy, early matured, very plump breed is produced, and 
at the shows of dead poultry these birds have always proved 
superior to others put into competition with them. I have 
never, under any circumstances, not even in the shows of 
fattened dead poultry that take place in Paris, seen better 
specimens of large plump table fowls of the highest quality, 
than those that were exhibited as the result of this crossing at 
the last Dairy Show held at the Agricultural Hall. 
The Azeel, or Indian fighting cock, is an extraordinarily, 
plump, close-feathered, and heavy bird, and also crosses ex- 
cellently with the Dorking or Surrey fowl ; but it has two 
disadvantages — it is rather small, and of such exceedingly com- 
bative propensity that it is difficult to manage. Moreover, the 
hens are very indifferent layers, usually wanting to sit after 
laying ten or a dozen eggs. The crosses between the Indian 
game or the old-fashioned English game and Surrey or farm- 
yard fowls are, on the other hand, as good layers as any variety 
of fowl that habitually sit. There is a preference in this country 
for table fowls with white legs ; although a most absurd one, 
it must not be omitted from consideration when breeding for 
the table, as to some extent at least it affects the price of market 
chickens. 
I have not thought it necessary to mention particularly 
other crosses and other breeds of poultry as market fowl. Many 
farmers have sought to increase the size and value of their fowls 
by crossing with some of the Asiatic varieties, such as Cochins, 
Brahmas, Langshans, &c. It is quite true that size can be 
gained in this manner, but as the cross-bred birds are deficient 
in the amount of flesh on the breast, and carry a great deal of 
offal in the shape of heavy coarse bones and useless feathers, the 
proceeding is not desirable. Crosses of this kind have found 
no favour in the eyes of our more practical neighbours, the 
French, nor are the birds appreciated by the feeders, who buy 
for the purpose of fattening for the mai-ket. There has been a 
run recently on a cross-bred breed, manufactured some few 
years since in America, and known as Plymouth Hocks. These 
being hardy fowls, and for sitters abundant layers, they met 
with considerable favour in this country, especially as their well- 
marked plumage allowed them to be exhibited as fancy fowl. 
Their yellov^^ skin and want of quality and plumpness render 
them however not adapted for market fowl in England. In 
America, where a good roast fowl is a rarity, chickens are mostly 
used as " broilers " when young, being split down the back and 
