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THE POTJLTRY-KEEPER.~NO. 15. 
THE SPANISH HEN. 
The hen has nearly the same characteris¬ 
tics as the cock. She is sprightly, and adds 
up her head and tail proudly. Her plumage 
is llko that of the cock, but the iridescence is 
less varied and brilliant. 
Weight.—5^ lbs., _ * r nli i 
a little more or less. 
mad (fig. 53.)- 
Delicate, sprightly, /{K 
and of rather small „ 'M f ,» 
size. ''' ' I 
Comb,— Long, ^ g aii? iM n 1 
finely denticulated, t 
bont near the base, • m‘ s 
and falling on one •;/ F c 
side of the head fig. 62. t 
without touching the cheeks. { 
Wattles.—Long and round. t 
Ears. —Large and white. £ 
Tu/fi—Larger than the cock’s. t 
Cheeks .—‘White like those of the cock, but E 
without the wrinkles, and scattered over j 
with small, black feathers, imperceptible nc ] 
a distance. | i 
Nostrils.— Ordinary. ! i 
Beale.— Like that of the cock. 
Eye.— Iris, reel ; pupil, dark chocolate. ( 
Feet and Toes.— Ordinary ; somewhat long. , 
Laying— Excellent; eggswhite, very large , 
and delicate ; non-sitter. I ; 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
This variety is of remarkable beauty as a 
fancy bird and of great fecundity ; it may 
be added, also, that it is excellent for the 
table. 
The cock is an admirable bird, contrasting 
with all tho other varieties, and the hen lays 
very many large milky-white-shelled eggs, 
and of an exquisite flavor. The flash is very 
abundant and of a remarkable flavor ; the 
skin white and fine. The couib, by its shape 
and the contrast of color, is a very peculiar 
ornament. The comb is very tender in cold 
seasons, and may be destroyed by even a 
slight frost if t he birds are not shut up in 
time. The chickens ure covered with a blu¬ 
ish-black down, marked with while, which 
comes oil and often leaves them naked. 
They are extremely susceptible of cold and 
take a long time to feather. It is not till 
they are five weeks old that they begin to 
have feathers, which first, appear on the 
back, and the birds are not entirely feather¬ 
ed till about two months and a half old. 
They decline much when the large tail 
feathers begin to grow, which takes place at 
the fourth month. The color of the skin is 
fine, and they can be set free at the end of 
five or six months : a projecting breast and 
loug limbs give the bird a disadvantageous 
aspect, and but an erroueous idea of the 
quality and abundance of its flesh. 
The old, like the young ones, feel much the 
molting, and their productiveness makes 
them always irritable. Tho rearing of the 
chickens must bo watched very carefully, 
and especially duriug the first six weeks, and 
they require delicate food, given often and 
in small quantities. The hen will lay six 
eggs a week from February to August, and 
from November to February three eggs a 
week, smaller than those of the summer. If 
the poultry-yard Is well sheltered, they com¬ 
mence laying at five mouths old and continue 
to do so during the winter. The eggs can 
only be sat. on in April. The white on the 
face appears more with the cock than the 
hen, and modifies according as the bird is ■ 
more or less amatory. 
The pure black color is the only one very 
much esteemed. When one has been im¬ 
prudently exposed to too low a temperature 
and the comb is frozen, which may easily be 
seen by its black color, care must be taken 
before putting it again into a warm place to 
directly rub the affected part with snow or 
ice till it becomes red again. 
There are some varieties. Tho Minorca, of 
which the cheek of neither the cock nor hen 
is white, though the oar is the same as in the 
Spanish. It is higher on the feet, and pre¬ 
ferable for the table on account of its more 
rounded form. 
The Ancona like the Minorca, if it were 
not that the plumage is sometimes white, 
sometimes black, and sometimes partridge. 
The White Spanish, which is none other 
than albinos reproducing black. 
The Andalusian. Cock from OV* to 7% lbs. 
Hen from 5)4 to 0)4 lbs. Color of feathers 
slate or grayish blue. Feathers of the hackle, 
back, tail, the upper coverts of the wings and 
shoulders, vary between slate gray, black 
and ringdove. Feathers of the thighs, the 
throat, tho under coverts of the wings, slate 
or grayish blue. The plumage of the hen is , 
all over bluish gray. The comb of the cock | 
is very high and very large, also that of the 
hen, which is large and hanging. In both 
sexes the ears are white, the cheeks red, the j 
eye and beak black. 
--♦♦♦- 
PARTRIDGE COCHINS, 
— 
Having had occasion to visit a number of 
shows this season, I have been most forcibly 1 
struck by the remarkable decliue in the size 
and true characteristics of the pullets and 
hens of this class of fowl, compared with 
those that were exhibited five or six years 
ago. Then this variety of Cochin was not so 
much of a favorite with breeders as now. 1 
have kept them for a long time, and have 
been a groat admirer of them on account of 
their variegated plumage, their excellency 
as winter layers and their exquisite table 
qualities. You will notice that almost all 
the capons that are brought to our market 
are made from this fowl, for the reason that, 
they formerly were not so universally bred, 
ami therefore retained more of the Cochin 
! characteristics, and by the aid of their short, 
stout legs the poulterers were able to put 
more flesh on them. A capon weighing from 
13 to 15 lbs. sells at from 33 to 40c. per lb., 
and paid almost as well an it did some of our 
I fanciers to raise them. 
A cultivated taste for tlie useful and beau¬ 
tiful has brought thorn more into vogue, and 
their hardiness lias recommended them also 
to those who place great value on their labor 
and trouble in taking cave of fowls ; or, in 
other words, those who allow their fowls to I 
take care of themselves. I have heard some 
complaints against them on acerount of the 
smallness of their eggs. Asiatics require 
mtiio attention to the kind and quality of 
their food. They must be fed according to 
the. extent, of their range and the severity of 
the weather, or else they are apt to get too 
fat and sluggish, in which condition they 
will not Jay so well nor such large eggs. This 
rule will apply to most of fowls, Tho cocks 
of this species had originally brown breasts, 
resembling somewhat brown-red game cocks, 
and tho liens resembled more closely brown- 
red game. than black-reds. It. is ilie opinion 
of some breeders that the black breast in the 
cock was got by a cross with the Black Co¬ 
chin. Mr, WniOHT says there is no ground 
for this assertion ; but he does not tell us 
how this solid black breast is obtained, ex¬ 
cept by that manipulation w hich a skilled 
breeder is capable of accomplishing, which 
is about as clear to mo as mud. However, 
the judges demanded black breasts in the 
cocks, and, in those times, the people tried 
to get black breasts any way they could. As 
the black breasts came to us without any 
trouble, it maybe needless for us to excite 
our curiosity as to how the brown was turned 
into a beautiful black. 
If mated properly, J know of no fowl that 
will throw more truly t.o feather ; but I must 
acknowledge that it requires some skill in 
mating these fowls, and I believe that the 
very great, disparagement between the liens 
FEEDING MEAL TO COWS. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker Inclosed 1 
send au article, cut from tho Chautauqua 
Farmer. I notice by your last issue that 
you have the essay of L. U. Miller. Would 
it not bo well enough to show- up both sides 
of the question and so perhaps prevent mis¬ 
chief and suffering to inoffensive animals l 
[We make the following extracts from the 
article referred to and forwarded by the 
above correspondent.— Eds. Rural New- 
Yorker.] 
Mr. Flint Blanchard in speaking of Mr, 
Miller’s experiment in wintering cows on 
three quarts of meal per day, is made to say : 
“The cows came out. iu the spring well and 
happy.” In the Tribune report of the same 
meeting, Mr. Blanchard is made, to say; 
“ Mr. Miller kept his herd of cows nine 
weeks oil three quarts of corn meal per day,” 
and that, “ The cows kept in good condition : | 
seemed comfortable and satisfied ; came in 1 
well and did as well through the summer as , 
those fed on hay.” In this Mr. Blanchard is j 
represented as having made a positive state¬ 
ment. But almost in the same breath, in 
your report, Mr. Blanchard is made to say : 
“He does not believe in this practice,” but 
gives no reuson why. 
Now, if Mr. Miller kept his herd of twenty 
cows on what any farmer can see would save 
at, least half of the usual cost of keeping, 
and if the cows came out in the spring well 
' and happy, and in good condition, and com¬ 
fortable, and satisfied, and came in well, and 
did as well through the summer as those fed 
on hay, should not Mr. Blanchard assign 
gome reason for objecting to the practice ? 
Has Mr. Blanchard been misrepresented? 
If not. docs he speak what he know s ? Did 
lie see the cows immediately after they 
were wintered 1 Did he see them milked < 
Or, is his statement about those happy cows 
all second hand ? 
It is well known that animals, especially 
cattle, when subjected to any kind of suffer¬ 
ing, even mutilation, will resist or struggle 
only for a short time, and w-hen they see 
that resistance brings no relief they yield 
w ith stolid resignation. M ns Mr. Blanchard 
there lo witness the frantic actions of those 
cows when this infliction was commenced, 
or was ho there afterwards to sec the look of 
forlorn, mournful submission they cast at 
every person who entered the stable ? Docs 
Mr. Blanchard know that those happy cows 
you value until you have first asked the 
Western New York Dairymen's Association 
to appoint a committee to experiment on 
some vicious, kicking cow, to see how near 
they can come to starring her to death in 
one winter and not quite kill her. If no 
other good should arise from so doing, the 
Association would have the gratification of 
knowing it had definitely settled one ques¬ 
tion in its three years’ existence. 
I am aware that this criticism will be 
considered somewhat severe, but from hav¬ 
ing frequently seen the cows in question, 
during the time the experiment, was being 
made, and sincerely believing that if it had 
been perpetrated in New York City, it would 
have been considered a proper case for the 
interference of Bergh, and judging from the 
authority and manner in which it was 
presented before the Binghamton meeting 
that it was getting before the world in a 
false light, and seeing no damage that can 
arise from it, I offer it for publication. 
c^jieUt <%op. 
FREAKS AMONG BARLEY. 
Inclosed find abend of barley. My barley 
is of the two-rowed variety, but this season 
I find quite a number of double heads, simi¬ 
lar to the seven headed whcAt. In some 
stools I find as high as four of the double 
1 cads ; all the rest is two-rowed. The grain 
in this vicinity was rill eat, off last spring by 
the young grasshoppers; some of the oats 
tmd ‘barley came again very thin on the 
ground, and it stooled more than usual, 
flow do you account for 1 liese double heads ? 
This is the first year that they appeared in 
tl,i, valley. I aho find m my barlev a kind 
of nix rowed barlev, and I counted to-day 
130 heads on one stool. This barley is a 
round head, rather tapering to tho point. I 
have m'"U s«me of this kind of barley beforo 
lint, therev, as none of it to mine last year. 
There is not. over one fourth of the crop in 
Gallatin Valley this y ear.- J. D. McC AMMAN, 
Gallatin Co., M. T. 
The cluster-headed barley sent is entirely 
new to us and we cannot account for its ap¬ 
pearance any better than we could for 
hundreds of strange freaks which appear 
among other cultivated plants. We would 
endeavor to preserve and perpetuate, if 
possible, this cluster-headed variety, even 
should it not prove to be any improvement 
upon tho common four or six-rowed sorts. 
The specimen you forwarded was sent to 
one of mir best botanists, and he begged to 
keep it, it being new even to him. 
Whether the feeding down of barley in 
cocks, and, in those times, the people tried shadows long before they were turned to 
to get black breasts any way they could. As g raS!4) and that if the winter had been a few 
the black breasts came to us without any- months longer with the same feed their 
trouble, it xua.y be needless for us to excite dissolution by starvation must have been 
our curiosity as to how the brown was turned ou | y tL question of time ? While it seemed 
into a beautiful black. apparent that, this inhuman experiment 
If mated properly-, I know of no fowl that would be routined to one stable, the owner 
will throw more truly t-o feather ; but I must 0 f which perhaps through an inordinate love 
acknowledge that it. requires some skill in 0 f notoriety was willing to sacrafice the 
mating these fowls, and I believe that the comfort or endanger the life of his stock, it 
very great disparagement between the hens was perhaps excusable that his neighbors 
and the cocks of this breed to-day is the Jteld their peace. But since Mr. Blanchard's 
were wasted in flesh to a herd of walking gp^g by grasshoppers had anything to do 
great lack of attention to the rules in mating. 
I cannot account for the great fulling off in 
the character of tho hen and pullets in any- 
other way, unless wo attribute it, to the in¬ 
discriminate blending of different strains. 
As I have often said, we are breeding the 
f'oehiu too much like the Brahma fowl, 
riizo docs not consist in hight, but in super¬ 
ficies or bulk. If wo continue in this vicious | 
taste, we shall not be able to draw the line 
of distinction between a Brahma and a Co¬ 
chin. Even in the Brahma fowl they are, 
to our taste, getting too much leg and neck, 
which naturally results in a narrow back and 
a contracted chest. 
T am perfectly aware that as a judge I 
have been pretty well criticised for enter¬ 
taining such views, and have brought down 
upon myself some displeasure for overlook¬ 
ing hight. for due proportion and placing my 
stamp of disapprobation on such a class of 
birds. But, I think time, study and a more 
cultivated taste will soften these asperities, 
and that those breeders whom I have so 
justly criticised will believe that I acted from 
the kindest motives. 
In my next I shall give you my views more 
fully in relation to the Partridge Cochin. 
Greenville, N. J. Isaac Van Winkle. 
-- 
A Cholera Remedy is named by- a corres¬ 
pondent of the American Rural Home as fol¬ 
lows .*—‘ 1 This disease is very easily treated 
as follows for 50 fowls—Take two quarts of 
wheat, bran and stir into a pot of boiling 
water; add one teaspoonful of sale rates, oue 
ditto of black pepper : stir it all together and 
place it where all the fowls can get some— 
the hotter the better. 
haclows long before they were turned to wifb Lbe f re ak is more than we can tell, Btill 
;rass, and that if the winter had been a few it, may have had some influence in thatdi- 
nont.hs longer with the same feed their rect i on< 
lissolution by starvation must have been --- 
>nly a question of time ? While it seemed | FIELD NOTES. 
apparent that, this inhuman experiment j - 
rvould be confined to one stable, the owner ir/it/ Potatoes Bun Out so Soon .—A Steu- 
E which perhaps through an inordinate love ben Co., N. Y., farmer is reported as Baying : 
;>f notoriety- was willing to sacrafice the Some one asks why it is that potatoes so soon 
comfort or endanger the life of his stock, it run 01 ,l. There are two grand reasons, 
was perhaps excusable that his neighbors There are but few potatoes in a hill that are 
held their peace. But since Mr. Blanchard's nt f or seed. Some are overgrown, coarse, 
statement came out, I liavo heard a number j. an k, and will not transmit the original 
of dairymen express their determination to quality. Others are undergrown, and not 
try Mr. Miller’s plan for one winter, and full-developed seed. A potato of medium 
when men who aro publicly selected to s j ZC) perfect in all its parts, with change of 
represent the highest interest of Chautauqua ground, will produce ite like, ad infinitum. 
abroad, arc thoughtless enough to givo it One other reason, cutting potatoes between 
even an indirect encouragement, and there stem and seid end continually, will demor- 
by offer a temptation for others to try the a fi Z6 the institution. It requires the stem 
I experiment, it seems high time that some and seed end to make perfect seed. If cut, 
oue should give the subject an airing. cu t lengthwise. Single eyes will run out 
I am well aware that keepers of stock ttny potato. There is no other seed that will 
may easily-disagree as to what constitutes bear mutilation like the potato; the only 
good condition in animals ; but it is easily- wonder is, that it does not run out com- 
wonder is, that it does not run out corn- 
demonstrated that there is not enough life- p] e tely. 
sustaining power in three quarts of dry corn Ffl7ue - Q Potato . —Ptot. Tyndall illus- 
meai to supply the natural requirements of the valuo of a gingle pota to by sup- 
the animal economy, from day to day, m e Umt , every potato iu the world but 
full grown, healthy cow. That a cow might ^ ^ destroyed ; that one would con- 
be kept through one winter, if started in on ^ itgelJ > Lbe p OSS ibili ty of again stocking 
full flesh, on that amount of feed, may e world with an invaluable article of food, 
true, but she would surely waste to a ^ one potato would produce, when planted, 
skeleton, and uo man could follow up his q . a crop of ten potatoes, in ten years, the 
course for an indefinite length of time with ^ duct of tbe produoe of this one 
any safety to the health or life of the animal. to would be eqlial to ten thousand mil- 
What disinterested person who had seen for whioh woukl be sufficient to stock the 
himself, is willing to come out publicly and whole world with seed . T hc real value of 
say, there was even one sleek decent looking thftt s - le potaK)j theLli would be such that 
animal in Mr. Miller 8 herd ot twenty co ws jfc woul(1 be better that the city of London or 
on the first of last May VYhaspeal s . ew Yo rk should be totally destroyed than 
Aside from the inhumanity of such treat- thafc tuber should be lost to the world, 
ment iu denying to animals a great amount 
of enjoyment, which under Providence they “ Egyptian ” Corn.—W. F. G. is informed 
are entitled to. and of which no man has that if he means the “Egytian ” com, about 
any right to rob them, nothing would be 
gained only to learn how- little food is needed 
to keep the breath of life in a cow for a 
given length of time. 
Dairymen of Chautauqua County, don’t 
dare to try this experiment on any animal 
If one potato would produce, when planted, 
only a crop of ten potatoes, in ten years, the 
total product of the produce of this one 
potato would be equal to ten thousand mil¬ 
lions, which would be sufficient to stock the 
whole world with seed. The real value of 
that single potato, then, would be such that 
it would be bel ter that the city of London or 
New York should be totally destroyed than 
that tuber should be lost to the world. 
“ Egyptian ” Corn.—W. F. G. is informed 
that if he means the “Egytian” com, about 
which there was excitement several years 
ago, it is au arrant humbug so far as the pre¬ 
tentions of the advertiser lie speaks of goes ; 
if it is anything else, we know nothing about 
it and advise him to let it alone until he finds 
some one who does. 
