THE CULTIVATOR. 
5? 
POLAND COCK AND HEN. 
CRESTED FOWLS. 
The varieties of crested fowls, or those having a crown 
of feathers proceeding from a fleshy protuberance on the 
back of the head, are numerous. We have been inform¬ 
ed by a gentlemen of much observation who has several 
times traveled through Europe, that they are common in 
France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and 
England. Their general characleristics are the same, 
although they are to be met with of every grade of co¬ 
lor, and are the more highly prized as the colors are 
more beautiful and rare. They are occasionally met with 
having five toes to each foot, like some of the Dorkings, 
and some of the Bantams. Their combs and gills, or 
wattles, are usually much smaller than in other breeds, 
and there are some whose heads are almost entirely des¬ 
titute of these appendages. It is this race of fowls u 7 hich 
the poultry fanciers of the old countries have mostly cul¬ 
tivated, and hence it is that particular tribes are found, 
each possessing some striking or fanciful peculiarity, 
which has become more or less fixed and hereditary, ac¬ 
cording to the degree of care and skill which has been 
bestowed in breeding. They are considered good layers, 
seldom or never wanting to ‘set,’ and though their 
growth is slow*, their flesh is better and more delicate 
than that of common breeds. Their size is about a me¬ 
dium. Where birds of prey abound, these fowls are 
reared with more difficulty than others, as, owing to the 
obstruction of the sight from the crown of feathers, they 
are more easily caught. 
Where the object is eggs, we know of no breeds that 
are preferable to these. They will lay more eggs until 
they are two or three years old, than any other sort with 
which we have ever had any acquaintance. As before 
observed, they are not inclined to set, but will some¬ 
times lay two days out of three, except in the season of 
moulting, for two or three j^ears—this has given them the 
name of “ everlasting layers.” But from the circum¬ 
stance of their constantly laying, they break down or grow 
old sooner than those kinds which have intervals of set¬ 
ting—the same as cows that give a great deal of milk, 
and continue to do so all the year, generally fail sooner 
than those which give less, and go dry apart of the time. 
Where it is desired to breed these fowls, it is best to 
have some kind that set well, (the game hen is first rate 
for this,) to hatch the eggs and rear the chickens. 
Of the varieties of the crested fowl, those are most 
prized by the fanciers which are most rare. Such 
black, with white tops—the clear white —the white, with 
black tops, (very rare)—the silver and the golden, a 
pheasant, a rare and very beautiful kind. 
The originals from which the figures at the head of 
this article were drawn, belonged to Mr. C. N. Bement, 
and were of the variety which are black with white tops, 
commonly qalled the Black Polanders. 
PROFITS OF POULTRY. 
Messrs. Editors —Agreeably to your request, 1 here¬ 
with forward you the account which I have kept with 
our fowls the past year. They have been confined in a 
yard of about half an acre, with a house and shed made 
expressly for them. The house is thirteen feet square, 
and two stories high. The first is devoted to feeding 
hoppers and nests, and the second to the roosts. In the 
shed is dry sand for them to roll in, and boxes of lime, 
gravel, &c. The fence is made of pickets six feet high, 
which we find sufficient; after they have been confined 
for a short time, they become attached to the yard,and sel¬ 
dom attempt to fly over the fence. Around the yard, 
close to the fence, is set a hedge of white pine trees, and 
a cluster in the middle, where the fowls resort in hot 
weather, and as a shelter from hawks. 
Most of the fowls were of fancy breeds. The geese 
of the large Bremen and Chinese varieties. They have 
been allowed as much grain as they would eat, and a few 
boiled potatoes fed to them while warm, and occasion¬ 
ally animal food, such as boiled liver, &c. in winter, 
with lime, gravel, and a constant stream of water run¬ 
ning in the yard. Their food was changed often. It 
consisted of oats, wheat screenings, millet and corn. We 
found that twelve quarts of oats were sufficient for seven¬ 
ty fowls per day, and other grains in proportion to their 
weight. 
Poultry Establishment. Dr. 
To 15 Cocks, 50c. each,- $7-50 
69 Hens, 37-^e.. 25-S7£ 
3 Turkeys, 62|c.. I -87^ 
7 Geese, $1.. 7-00 
1 Fancy Duck, $1.. 1-00 
1 Guinea Fowl, 25c.••• 25 
71 bu. screenings, 15c.-- 11-25 
4 bush. Millet, 50c.- 2-00 
14j hush. Corn, 42^c.-- • 6-07 
30j bush. Oats, 24c.- 7-26 
8 bush. Potatoes, 25c.- 2 00 
32 Fowls purchased, ••• 15-09 
3 Turkeys purchased,- 1-13 
$88-30 
Contra. Cr. 
By 3978 Hen’s eggs 12c. •• 39-78 
39 Duck’s eggs, 12c.. 39 
39 Turkey’s eggs, 12 c. •• 39 
50 Guinea hen’s eggs, 6c- 25 
47 Geese eggs, 36c.. 1-41 
41 Fowls sold, . 46-31 
5 Geese sold,. 7-00 
30 Fowls killed,. 7-06 
2 Geese killed,. 2-00 
2 Turkeys killed,. 1-00 
tl Fowls died,. 
1 Turkey died,. 
6 Fowls presented,. 
32 bu. manure sold to the 
Morocco Tanner, ••• 
54 Hens on hand, 37£c. ea. 
18 Cocks, 50c.. 
6 Geese, $1.. 
1 Duck, $1.. 
10 Turkeys, 50c.. 
2 Guinea fowls, 25c.• • • • 
6-00 
20-25 
9-0C 
•• 6-00 
-- 1-00 
-- 5-00 
50 
$153-34 
88-30 
Expense,. 
Profits,. $65 M 
Valuing them at the price of common poultry, that i 
15 cents a piece for the fowls, and 50 cents for the tur 
keys and geese, leaves a profit of $30,51. 
Albany, Jan. 8, 1844. George Bement. 
