278 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 2!). 
The points of excellence, in an economical view, of the 
Cochin-China race, ore as follows. They are excellent layers 
—pure bred birds will generally lay from 30 to 35 eggs 
before wanting to sit—they are good mothers while with 
their chickens, and recommence laying one month after 
hatching, though generally remaining Avith their young ones 
for a week or ten days after beginning to lay. On this 
account it would not answer to let Cochin-China hens hatch 
their own eggs very early in the year, as the young ones 
might then be too soon left Avithout the warmth and pro¬ 
tection of the mother; but for this purpose, Avere very early 
chickens desired, a feAv Dorking or game hens might be 
kept, and the Cochin-Chinas, when wanting to sit, might be 
put upon goose or ducks’ eggs, for Avhich, from their large 
size, they Avould be Avell fitted. For ducklings, a very 
short attendance from the mother is all that is required, as 
is seen in the vale of Aylesbury, where they are usually 
taken away as soon as hatched, and brought up by hand; 
the hens Avould then recommence laying almost immediately. 
The middle of April is quite soon enough for hatching 
Cochin-Chinas, nor have I ever observed anything gained 
at the following Christmas, either in size or othei'Avise, by 
hatching them before that time. With a short interval at 
moulting, i find they lay the Avliolc year round, and a supply 
of young pullets would therefore afford eggs even at the 
time when the old ones cease laying. They hatch readily, 
and the young ones are at least as hardy as those of any 
other foAvl that I am acquainted with. During the recent 
cold, Avet weather they have done Avell, when Polands, 
Hamburgks, and Dorkings, have had their numbers sadly 
thinned. 
Now as to the age at ivliich they will be fit for market. 
At four months old there should be no difficulty, under ordi¬ 
nary circumstances—as to a good run and fair feeding—in 
getting the pullets to three-and-a-half pounds, and the 
cockerels to five pounds, live Aveight; and, by being then 
cooped, a still larger amount of flesh can be easily and 
profitably laid on. I am inclined to doubt whether any 
other breed of fowls can attain their weights at so early an 
age, or give so quick a return : as to the quality of their 
flesh, Avlien properly fed, it need only be tasted to be 
appreciated. 
But, as I before observed, there are several distinct 
varieties even of imported birds. For my own part, I am 
inclined to give the preference to those of a medium size, 
deep in the breast, broad across the back, and with short 
leys. Length of leg, indeed, appears to me to be a fault 
against which breeders must carefully guard, as deteriorating 
both from the appearance of the live bird, as also, Avhen, in 
duo course, he is placed upon the table. I should here 
observe that at all periods of their age, rice boiled and 
kept well stirred for six minutes, so that the grains are 
separate one from another, should form a portion of their 
food ; it seems especially useful to them when young. I do 
not think that they are large consumers of food; and,from 
their quiet disposition and stay-at-home habits, a less quan¬ 
tity Avould of course profit them more than the same to 
fowls of a rambling habit; and, in almost every instance, it 
Avould be a great recommendation that the loAvest fence is 
sufficient to restrain their wanderings. 
But I knoAV Avhat will uoav occur to many of your readers. 
“ Granted,” say they, “ that these Cochin-Chinas are very 
profitable, and answer this description ; but look at their 
present price ! How is the farmer —to say nothing of the 
i cottager —to procure his stock ? ” No doubt Cochin-Chinas 
are selling at very high prices, as instance the account of 
some recent sales in The Cottage Gaedeneh; but these, 
it should be remembered, are choice show birds, bred from 
prize parents, the high value of which turns probably on 
some favourite colour, or remarkable beauty of shape. The 
darker and partridge-coloured birds may generally be ob¬ 
tained for very reasonable terms ; and while the favourite 
colours retain their large, but, ivlien the original cost and 
risk is considered, not excessive price, others, in every Avay 
suitable for the purposes I have been speaking of, will, I 
believe, be this year attainable in most localities at a price 
varying from 5s. to 10s. each. Thus, Avhen avg bear in mind 
that a large yard may be amply stocked by a single pair of 
birds in one season, I do not think that price can long 
hinder their general adoption by the farmer. The cottager, 
again, to whom even this amount may be an obstacle, may 
purchase eggs of his more fortunate neighbour, or another 
year obtain his birds at a still lower rate, supposing he is 
altogether unable to procure tbe means of such a present 
purchase as would hold out the prospect of a remunerative 
sale for his young birds; for seldom are better specimens 
of poultry to be had than those reared in a cottage, Avhere 
the knowledge of their ultimate value, either to keep or sell, 
ivould ensure them full care and attention. 
But I must now turn to othor members of the poultry- 
yard, lest I incur the chargo of favouritism; yet, after all, 
1 believe that the question at the head of this paper Avould 
truly find its ansAver here, notwithstanding all that may be 
said of many other excellent breeds—the Malay, for example, 
Avliieh stands next on our list, but Avhich appears to be 
receding in public estimation since the introduction of their 
oriental neighbours, the Cochin-Chinas. Their general 
fault is an inordinate length of leg; some that I remember j 
seeing at Falmouth, where they Avere formerly landed in j 
considerable numbers from our homeAvard-bound Fast j 
Indiamen, Avould have been justly, in this respect, called j 
ostrich fowls; but of late years much better specimens have 
been introduced, of which there wore good examples shown 
as Cliittagongs at Cheltenham ; but 1 believe it may be 
fairly said, that, whatever advantages they possess, they 
are, nt any rate as regards the present enquiry, at least 
equalled by the Cochin-Chinas. 
But what shall we say for that most beautiful bird the 
English Game Jowl ? Little, I fear, for their profit, as regards 
the market, however useful the hens may prove as mothers 
to other chickens, provided their disposition be tolerably 
quiescent; but tins is a quality seldom found to bo the case 
even in young chickens, still less so in mature birds even of 
the fair sex ; and they aro certainly not in the first class as 
layers. The Indian game foAvls, which aro often seen in 
this country, are handsome birds, especially the white ones; 
but I have never heard of their possessing any advantage 
over our native breed. 
Next come the Hamburghs, gold and silver-pencilled and 
spangled, all of them very good layers, and rarely wishing 
to sit, easily reared, and attaining a fair average size. 
Wherever eggs, rather than chickens, aro in demand, few 
birds would pay better than these, and good specimens may 
generally be had at from Is. to 5s. each. A silver-spangled 
Hamburgh, belonging to a gentleman in this parish, has 
laid ill eggs from the 22nd of February to July 12th, in the 
present year. The different varieties appear to be equally 
commendable, although a greater preference is often shown 
to the silver, probably from the greater elegance of their 
appearance. 
What claim can the Polish fowl advance to the distinction 
in question ? Admirer, as I certainly am, of this most 
graceful bird, I cannot put it in competition Avith others 
that havo been enumerated; for although the hens lay Avell, 
and the chickens are probably unrivalled when properly fed, 
they are, it must be alloived, of delicate constitution and 
sIoav groAvth, as is evidenced by their continuing to increase 
in size for tivo or even three years. 
Here, then, our list closes, as probably also the patience 
of our reader; for bantams, the rumpless, the frizzled, and 
the silk fowls, however interesting to the amateur and 
fancier, are not at present before us, nor probably are they 
ever likely to be so, although the Avhite silk foAvl is said, on 
good authority, to be distinguished in India for its excellence 
for the table,—certainly those I now have keep themselves 
in excellent condition, and have the largest and most con¬ 
stant appetites of any 1'oavIs that I have hitherto noticed ; 
I cannot, lioivever, but regard their black skin ns against 
them for this purpose. No birds, I should observe, sit 
better, or take greater care of their young. 
In conclusion, I must repeat my belief, that the pure 
Cochin-China fowl (for unless of perfectly pure race, dis¬ 
appointment must inevitably follow), such as I have de¬ 
scribed him, is the bird to Avhich precedence must bo given 
by the cottager. Particular localities may be best occupied 
with a particular race of foAvls, to which special circum¬ 
stances may justly give a preference; but, on the whole, I 
firmly believe that Cochin-Chinas must eventually carry 
with them an acknoivledged superiority, as regards the 
economy and profit of the poultry-yard. 
