20 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
layer. From the preference shown by many poultry-maids and others to “cuckoo.” or blue- 
speckled hens, the Plymouth Rock will in many districts pave the way more easily than other pure 
breeds to an increased cultivation of fowls as a source of wealth, and is the very fowl for national 
use, where more fancy varieties will not be tolerated, or cannot be obtained. Sober and 
unobtrusive in its garb, it nevertheless always looks “ respectable ” and well ; and its plain, 
homespun suit is the very thing for a roadside cottage home and the wear and tear of 
every-day life. 
For the gentleman’s country house the choice will, probably, be different again. With a 
spacious paddock or orchard in which to range, the Silver-spangled or Pencilled Hamburgh 
will sustain its claim to be an unrivalled producer of delicate white eggs ; or if rather larger 
ones be desired, the Black variety will answer the call ; while any of the Hamburghs, in their 
matchless outlines, offer the very ideal of beauty in fowls. In such circumstances, also, the 
royal Game-fowl is an unrivalled layer, while it will always provide a pair of birds for the table 
when required, which surpass any other in flavour, and are often equal to the pheasant if not 
overfed. Or, if the owner prefer the gigantic Asiatics, in such happy circumstances the Brahma 
will borrow an added grace and a new lustre, and thrive and pay better than ever ; or the 
white Cochin will set off its pure and dazzling plumage by contrast with the grass ; or the 
delicate-looking Buff will appear at its very best while walking over the living green. Any 
of these will both pay for their keep and add to the attractions of the noblest country home. 
We have now mentioned the varieties which, as a rule, will yield the best return in the 
various circumstances referred to ; but it very often happens that some strong individual fancy 
of the proprietor will carry him altogether away from the choice we have made for him, to 
make a choice of his own. The result in such cases will usually depend upon the character 
of the management. If the owner simply buys the fowls, and then leaves them to the care 
of his domestics, the result cannot be satisfactory ; but if he has made his choice from real 
love of it, and having got his birds, proceeds himself to care for and study them, it may 
be very good : for it has been proved again and again that almost any fowl can be kept, 
and made to pay, in almost any circumstances, even the most unfavourable. In the days of 
the “poultry-mania,” first-class Cochins have been reared in a spare room, and Spanish have 
been kept in splendid condition on the flat roof of a house. A real love for the pursuit, in 
fact, will overcome the disadvantages of almost any breed for the* place in which it is to be 
kept. We should say, therefore, that where there is really a strong fancy for some particular 
fowl, it was best to gratify it ; — to go into the matter con amove , and make the best of it. It is 
always better to keep a breed you really care for than one you do not ; and if the feeling 
be genuine, and accompanied by ordinary intelligence, it will usually overcome all difficulties, 
and lead to a profitable result in the end. 
But of still more importance than a wise selection of breeds is the proper age of the birds 
themselves. Considered merely as a producer of stock, no hen should be allowed to see more 
than her third autumn. With valuable fowls the case is of course different, as apart even from 
prize-winning, a dozen fertile eggs from a proved first-class bird may be well worth the keep 
of a year ; but as regards the mere production of eatable product, the rule must be rigidly 
enforced of killing every hen at the age of tzvo-and-a-half years , at the first symptom of moult. 
In very many breeds, Brahmas particularly, the second season’s eggs are more numerous than 
the first, but after that all fowls show a great falling off, whilst they also become too tough 
to be eaten. On the other hand, by killing at the age stated, they may be either eaten or 
sold at a fair price, while the best part of their lives only is any expense to the corn-bin. 
