THOROUGHBRED, OR BRED TO A PURPOSE. 
Buff Orpingtons. 
qualities they are excellent layers, and as they 
produce very large sized eggs, of superior dark 
brown color, which command a substantial 
premium where fancy eggs are appreciated, it 
is obvious that they deserve attention simply 
as egg producers. In some sections, notably 
in southeastern Massachusetts there are con¬ 
siderable poultry farms stocked wholly with 
Light Brahmas; probably not such Light 
Brahmas as the enthusiastic show-point breed¬ 
ers would admire, but possessing practical 
qualities of very great merit. We once had a 
stock of “early laying” Light Brahmas, some¬ 
what below the standard weights in size, rather 
finer boned and chunkier bodied but pretty 
good Light Brahmas for all that, that could be 
grown to laying maturity before they were six 
months old, and were most prolific layers of 
eggs of the highest quality in size and color. 
Mr. Silberstein, a well-known breeder of Light 
Brahmas three or four years ago and the inven¬ 
tor of the Eureka Trap Nest, had great laying 
Light Brahmas, individual pullets of which 
made records of 191, 197, 210, and 233 eggs 
each, within a year of laying maturity, and with 
such great laying stock to breed from undoubt¬ 
edly those records could be improved upon, and 
the prolific laying habit so fixed that 200 eggs 
each within a year would not be difficult to 
attain. 
Considering, then, the very high quality eggs 
of Light Brahmas and their superior merit as 
of brown-shelled eggs, and 
also fine bodied, long-deep 
breasted, white-skinned birds. 
The Buff Orpingtons were 
similarly made by crossing 
Golden Spangled H a m b u r g 
cocks on Dorking hens, and 
mating a Buff Cochin cock 
with the pullets of the first 
cross. 
The Orpingtons have all the 
strength and vigor of cross¬ 
breds, and as egg producers, 
especially in autumn and 
winter, when eggs bring the 
highest prices, they are re¬ 
markable; they lay also the 
brown, or brown-tinted eyes 
which are much preferred and 
command a premium in the 
market. In size they rank 
about with the Plymouth 
Rocks,' but are naturally somewhat shorter- 
legged, and of a more chunky-bodied build, 
with the round, full breast which indicates 
strength and vigor and gives an abundance of 
breast meat. One disadvantage which they 
have for Americans is the white skin and legs, 
and so long as the consumers prefer yellow 
skinned and yellow meated fowls, it is the part of 
wisdom of the producers to cater to that pref¬ 
erence. There would be little difficulty in 
overcoming this handicap with the Buff Orping¬ 
tons, since a pure buff variety naturally favors 
the yellow skin, hence breeding and feeding for 
yellow skin would soon give them that desired 
quality. It might be objected that when the 
breeder had accomplished this purpose his birds 
would no longer be Orpingtons, since it is im¬ 
perative that they have white flesh and legs. 
Light Brahmas. 
STANDARD WEIGHTS. 
Coc-k.12 lbs. Hen.9^ lbs. 
Cockerel.10 “ Pullet.8 “ 
At first thought it seems strange to list the 
Light Brahmas among the leading practical 
breeds, since they are the largest fowls in the 
world and usually classed first on the list 
of market-poultry breeds. Notwithstanding 
which fact there is good reason for considering 
them among profitable egg and market poultry 
producers combined. Bred for practical 
31 
