Vol. XLVI. No. 1940, 
NEW YORK, APRIL 2, 1887. 
PRICE FIVE CENTS. 
$2.00 PER YEAR. 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, In the year 1887, by the Rubai. Nkw-Yorkeb, In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
THE LANGSHANS AND BLACK 
COCHINS. 
the Langshans, but it will always be at a dis¬ 
advantage on the market stalls, as well as will 
the Black Cochin, owing to the American 
preference for yellow legs (which do not 
denote quality), as both breeds have black 
legs. That there is a great difference in the 
general characteristics of the two breeds, in 
everything except color, is being generally 
accepted, and the experiment with the Lang- 
sliaus on the Rural Farm is a gratifying con¬ 
firmation of that claim to the admirers of the 
Langshaus, p. h. Jacobs. 
mon “A” coops are used. A board one foot 
wide is placed on each side. To this mosquito 
netting is tacked, as shown in the picture. 
Every flay or so the boards can be raised and 
the whole thing moved to a new place. With 
such a coop as this on the place, there will be 
no chickens in the garden. m. m. l. 
Bloom ingdale, N. Y. 
In a recent issue of the Rural Nkw-Yokk- 
er the Editor calls attention to the fact that 
he had easily noticed that a flock of Langshans 
on the Rural New-Yorker Farm differed wide¬ 
ly from the Black Cochin. The statement 
simply shows that he had no difficulty in dis¬ 
covering something that “expert judges” have 
disputed over, aud which in Englaud is still a 
subject of controversy. In this country there 
was a strong opposition to the admission of 
the Langshaus into the Standard, the claim be¬ 
ing that they were Black Cochins, yet the dif¬ 
ference between the two breeds is so marked 
that the Editor is induced to make mention 
of it. 
The Langshan is a very active bird, and 
though large and apparently heavy, can fly 
over a six foot fence or perch on a high roost, 
while the Cochin is clumsy, and remains close 
to the ground. Though both are black in color, 
the Langshan has a greenish cast, and is more 
brilliant in its plumage. The skin of the Lang- 
PLYMOUT1I ROCKS. 
# It. P, H. Scitdder, a sound 
poultry authority, writes us 
that many agricultural journ¬ 
als complain that too much 
attention is given to the faucy 
qualities of poultry, such as 
the shape and carriage of the 
head, comb, and tail, and too 
little to plumpness of breast, 
* * lack of offal and of egg-produc¬ 
ing capacity. We think that those who ex¬ 
amine the fowls shown at figure 140, will 
admit that in the ideal Plymouth Rock of to¬ 
day we have the offal parts reduced to a mini¬ 
mum, while the meat-bearing portions are de¬ 
veloped to the highest extent. Who can doubt 
that the introduction of such a male as that 
shown in the picture,into any ordinary poultry- 
yard would result in a lot of fowls with a far 
greater development of breast and meat¬ 
bearing capacity than their parents ? Mr. 
Scuddor estimates the annual poultry crop at 
$(5(M),(XlO,OClO. What would bo the guln to 
poultrymen if one pound could be added to the 
weight of each chicken, and one dozen of eggs 
added to the laying capacity of each hen ? 
This can be done, and it can be done only in 
oneway: by the proper introduction of thor¬ 
oughbred males, selected for the end in view, 
eggs or meat. 
It is claimed that the Plymouth Rocks still 
stand at the head of the poultry world as 
every day farmers'fowls. There are periodi¬ 
cal •‘booms" in all kinds of stock, but sooner 
or later business swings back to the best, and 
the “boomed” stock drops back into its place. 
By glauc iug over the entries at poultry shows 
or the advertising columns of poultry papers 
It will be seen that the Plymouth Rock leads 
all other breeds of poultry in numbers and 
wide distribution. The hottest competition at 
shows is always found over Plymouth Rocks. 
A year or two ago the Wyaudottes rivaled 
them, but now these latter fowls are gradual¬ 
ly falling back to a second place. The P. R. 
has l>een tried In every part of our country, 
and whan properly cared for, never found 
wauting. 
Mr.Scudder has hatched, in an incubator and 
raised in a brooder, P. It. chicks which, at 11 
weeks, weighed 7 pounds live weight per pair. 
Pure-bred fowls will average nine pounds for 
males aud seven pounds for females. The 
mongrels found on many farms will not weigh 
over seven and five pounds, as has been found 
by repented weighings, and the same food fed 
<l\)t ijfl'lXSflliUi 
APRIL LIVE STOCK NOTES, 
A Profitable Flock —I wintered 42 hens. 
From January 1 to March 8, I sold 79 dozen 
eggs for $10.60. Some more were broken by 
accident. I sold 22 dozen at 25 cents, 24 doz¬ 
en at 18 cents, aud the rest at prices between 
18 and 25. I feed four quarts of wheat in the 
morning and a pan of hot sour milk. At noon 
the hens get four quarts of buckwheat, with 
water, and at uight, three to four quarts of 
mixed grains. Plenty of coal ashes are sup¬ 
plied, as well as plaster from house walls 
HORSES. 
The changing of coats is accompanied by an 
excited condition of the skin and the hair fol¬ 
licles which are hardened by the secretion of 
an unusually large quantity of hair matter. 
Any sudden chill at this season will be ex¬ 
tremely dangerous, checking this excited ac¬ 
tion and throwing the large quantity of se¬ 
cretory matter back iuto the blood. Hence 
extra care is to be given, and any food which 
aids the skin in this temporary emergency, 
such as bran aud linseed in the form of warm 
mashes, will be useful. Two quarts of bran 
aud a pint of linseed steeped in boding water 
until nearly cool is a moderate quantity. The 
very common spring epizootic usually called 
distemper, prevails at this season. The warm 
bran mashes above-mentioned will be£useful 
in these cases and exposure to cold must be 
avoided. When the discharge from the nos¬ 
trils and cough are troublesome, drum doses 
of chlorateCof pota-*h. should he'given daily. 
In tuauy cases horses can go without shoes 
during the summer with advantage. It har¬ 
dens and toughens the hoofs and is at any rate 
a saving of expense. Where the land and 
roads are free of loose' stones shoes may be dis¬ 
pensed with. Brood mares, near foaling time, 
should be worked very lightly If at all. Some 
exercise is indispensable aud such food as is 
laxative and nutritious. Bran aud oats are 
excellent anil no musty or smutty fodder 
should be given, dean, sound Timothy hay 
is the best fodder. A loose stall should be 
provided for the mare in which she can be at 
liberty. As little interference as possible with 
the mare is the best. 
COWS AND CATTLE. 
The best food for cattle in poor condition is 
a warm bran mash. Few farmers or dairy¬ 
men realize the value of bran. In comparison 
with other food it, is the cheapest, because it 
has a most favorable effect upon tho digestive 
organs and therefore ou the whole system. 
From hay to grass is a critical period with old 
or young cattle, and especially with the young 
stock which are most subject to tho prevalent 
diseases of the spring. To avoid any ill effects 
PLYMOUTH ROCKS. From Life. Fig. 146 
to the puro-bredit and the mongrels will pro¬ 
duce these different results. It is charged 
that fanciers attain their results by slutting 
their poultry with all kinds of rich and stimu¬ 
lating foods. This is u very mistaken idea. 
Any fancier who followed such a plan would 
soon reach the end of his rope. Breeders of 
line poultry simply aim to give their birds 
enough to eat aud see that they are forced to 
driuk clear water and take plenty of exercise. 
Little things about the farm betray the 
character of tho owner. There is a good deal 
in the appearance of a farmer’s poultry, A 
ueat, well kept flock shows that the owner of 
the farm isa man who can take pleasure in tho 
beautiful and thoughtful phase of country life. 
American formers are too apt to lose sight of tho 
fact that there is something to be done in this 
life besides eternally grinding out, dollars uud 
cents. Flowers, trees aud all other beautiful 
things have their legitimate place ou the farm, 
aud where one can combine beauty and utili¬ 
ty in any implement or animal it his duty to 
do so. Lot us improve our Hocks of poultry. 
shim is thin aud white, while that of the Cochin 
is yellow. Ita tail is ornamented with long 
sickle feathers which are not peculiar to the 
Cochin, The feet of a Cochin are yellow ou 
the bottoms, while those of a Langshan are 
Hcsh-colorod, with a pinkish color between the 
toes. The legs of ft Langshan are uot os heavily 
feathered as are those of a Cochin, the former 
possessing little or noue ou the middle too, 
while the middle toe of the Cochin should 1*0 
well feathered. In shape tho Langshan is 
trim and symmetrical, while the close body of 
the Cochin, with the heavy cushions on the 
backs of tho heus, uiuko a striking contrast 
with their rivals. 
Both breeds possess excellent qualities. The 
Langshans mature somewhat earlier than the 
Cochins, but tho lattor are, perhaps, hardier. 
As to the superiority of one over the other, it 
is probable that in laying qualities a claim 
for either would bo disputed by the breeders 
of the rival fowl, but so far as table qualities 
are concerned, there is no breed superior to 
while repairing. Tho hen-house is 12x15 feet, 
single-boarded aud battened. I have given 
occasional feeds of cabbage and shall 
have plenty another season. I shall also have 
a warmer room and keep the roosters away 
from the hens. I have five Wyaudottes, eight 
half-blood, aud the rest mixtures of several 
breeds. The half blood Wyaudottes are the 
best layers. J. M. smith. 
St. Lawrence County, N. Y. 
Chicken Coop.—A good coop can be made 
like the one shown at Figure 148. Two com- 
Fig. 148. 
from the sudden change of food, cows and 
calves should be turned out for a short time 
and the lime should be gradually ’extended 
until full pasturage will be safe. An excel¬ 
lent safeguard against the common black-leg 
of young cattle at this season is to give salt 
freely aud every morning to give each calf 
one tablcspoonful of a mixture of sulphur and 
crenm-of tartar in equal parts with molasses. 
Use the card freely to remove the loose hair 
and scurfy matter which gather on the skin 
and Impede its excretory action. Cattle that 
are soiled will get green rye the first. It is 
safest to cut this along with the hay and feed 
equal parts for a few days; gradually lessen¬ 
ing the hay. 
Working oxen need as good feeding as 
horses. A bright, lively ox will do as much 
work to the plow if well fed and well driven. 
Four quarts of ground feed of corn aud oats 
are as little as an ox should be supposed to 
work on. 
SHEEP AND LAMBS. 
There should be no falling off in the care^of 
