THE POULTRY BOOK. 
87 
broad and full, with a long bone exceedingly deep in the keel, and extending 
well from the front towards the tail, so as to give space for development of flesh 
on the breast. The body cannot be too large and massive, with great length, 
depth, and width. The back should be broad, and the wings largely developed. 
I much prefer the thighs to be well developed, so that they may carry plenty 
of meat. The legs must be straight, stout, and free from feathers. The feet 
should be five-toed, the extra toe distinctly separated from the others ; the toes 
long, and well spread out ; tail large, well expanded, and carried uprightly ; the 
sickle-feathers and tail coverts long, broad, well arched ; carriage and appear- 
ance massive and grand. 
“ In the hen the beak should be stout — the comb, if single, well developed and 
falling over on one side ; if double or rose, firmly set on the head, not too 
large, square in front, inclining to a peak at the back of the head. The wattles 
should be fine, and rounded neatly at the lower edge ; head long and deep ; neck stout, 
and well set on the back ; the chest broad, with great depth from the top of the 
shoulder down to the point of the keel of the breast-bone, which should be 
straight and deep. The body ought to be large, almost forming a square when 
viewed from the side ; back broad and long. The wings should be large, but not 
so large, in comparison to the greater weight of body, as in many other breeds. 
The thighs may be long and well laid along side of body — consequently the birds 
do not stand in a stilty manner. This is a point in which I conceive many 
breeders make a mistake. A Dorking, in my opinion, should have a well- 
developed thigh ; but from its being set nearly straight with the body, it is not 
evident. The legs should be short, and of a length in proportion to the size 
and weight of the bird. The feet must be five-toed, the extra toe well developed 
and distinctly separated from the others. The carriage and appearance of Dorking 
hens should be matronly and dignified. 
Kespecting the management of breeding- stock, I think it very important not 
to move them away from their runs until after May, as the same Dorkings cannot 
be used for both breeding and showing at the same time. If such a plan is 
followed, the result is that poor weakly chickens only are produced, and not more 
than half the eggs hatch. Many persons think that Dorkings will not stand con- 
finement in a small place ; but I have bred some of my very largest and best 
birds in yards 30 feet long by 10 feet broad. When confined to runs of these 
dimensions, they certainly require to be kept in a state of great cleanliness, to 
\have a turf daily, and above all, plenty of clean water. They should also 
\e fed chiefly on soft food, which should be mixed stiff, and not watery, 
^en thus confined, it will be found very advantageous to give them some swede 
tunips cut in two, when they will eat out the whole inside from the skin. In 
the \arly spring, swedes or mangolds, boiled and mixed quite dry with barley or 
oatmM^ form a capital food. In fact, Dorkings in a confined space must have some 
fresh ’^etable food of this sold;, and when they are running loose it makes a 
capital^t'ood for once a day all the winter through. In general I give this food 
