September 1. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
“ What kind of poultry do you really advise me to 
keep ? ” This question has been so frequently beard of 
late, that the reasons on which an answer may he 
given will, probably, interest many of the readers of 
The Cottage Gardener. 
First, however, let us distinctly understand the class 
of persons to whom the following observations may be 
applicable. 
Now, with thoso that breed fowls for exhibition we 
have nothing to do in the present instance, which 
regards simply the value, in an economical point of 
view, of the several breeds of our domestic poultry; for 
though at present limiting our remarks to “fowls” only, 
properly so called, it may be advisable, on another occa¬ 
sion, to refer to geese, ducks, and the other ordinary 
members of the poultry-yard. 
On the supposition, therefore, that the enquirer is of 
the class of those country gentlemen, or clergymen, to 
whom the pages of The Cottage Gardener are so 
especially dedicated, and that some few acres of land 
are occupied by him, with the view of supplying his 
household with milk, butter, pork, or corn, as the case 
may be, we shall now proceed to explain our opinions 
as to the choice and management of his poultry. This 
arrangement, it will be seen, at once excludes the 
farmer and the cottager, whose object may probably 
be better served on a different plan. 
The occupier of some fifteen or twenty acres of land 
under the usual course of farming has many advantages 
in the small corn and the steamed food prepared for his 
cattle and pigs, both of which contribute to lessen the 
expense of the keep of poultry from the amount that it 
must reach when every article of their food has to be 
purchased. More, probably, may thus be made of what 
is so bestowed than is attainable by sale, or any other 
purpose for which it is commonly employed. Under 
ordinary circumstances, indeed, we strongly recommend 
the adoption of a system, on such occupations, that 
may provide whatever is required for household wants 
rather than growing or rearing for sale. Such occu¬ 
pants of land are not in the habit of attending markets, 
and, consequently, all such transactions must pass 
through the medium of a third person, whose interest, 
to say the least, is not identical with his employer’s. 
In poultry, no less than the other live and dead stock 
of a farm, however small, will attention to this fact be 
found prudent. 
Persons thus circumstanced will require a “conti¬ 
nuous ” supply of both eggs and poultry throughout the 
I year, and not, as too often happens, to find themselves 
j with abundance one month, and scarcity the next. 
Taking the numbers of the family from ten to twelve, 
! servants and children included—and eggs are often 
! good economy elsewhere than at your own table— 
i from twelve to fifteen hens should give a constant 
; supply throughout the year; and if, in the winter 
! months, there is too heavy a run on that branch of the 
I products of the poultry-house, the eggs that in summer 
have been stored in lime, or placed in a barrel with 
salt, will provide what may be required for pastry, and 
415 I 
similar purposes. But, at the risk of the penalties of J 
digression, let us here suggest tbe prohibition of eggs 
to the cook when employed on a rice pudding; their 
presence renders it too hard and dry, while their absence 
leaves it, if the work of a competent artiste, exactly of 
that consistency that finds favour with most palates. 
But the cart is now before the horse, since a recom¬ 
mendation is given when to use eggs before their pro¬ 
duction has been seen to. Now, of those twelve to 
fifteen hens above-mentioned, one-half should be Dor - 
kings, the remainder Shanghaes. In this selection, we 
have regard to the incubation no less than the mere 
production of eggs. During summer, both varieties 
will contribute jointly to the egg-basket; and when, later 
in the year, the Dorkings fall off, the Shanghaes will be 
at hand, and fully justify their great merits as winter 
layers. Early in the spring, the Dorkings only should 
be employed as mothers, remaining, as they do, so much 
longer with their chickens; but from April, tbe Shan¬ 
ghaes may safely bo entrusted with the responsibilities 
of maternity. The older hens of both varieties will be 
at their worst time as egg-producers during Autumn 
and their moulting season; early-hatched pullets, there¬ 
fore, especially Shanghaes, must then be ready to take 
their place. And thus, with a little forethought and 
anticipation of what may be necessary, the eggs need 
never be wanting. 
But persons, situated as those by whom we have pre¬ 
sumed the question that heads this paper has been put, 
require “ good chickens ” no less than fresh eggs: this 
leads to the consideration of what male birds should be 
the companions of the before-mentioned hens. 
In such establishments we have no reason to expect 
enclosed yards for separate birds; such arrangements 
carrying us out of our proper limits, and introducing us, 
probably, to those who regard their fowls as special pets 
and favourites, with a possible view to an occasional 
exhibition. 
We reckon, however, on a good, airy, clean, poultry- 
house, and the run of a meadow, with a careful provision 
of fresh water. 
The hens being of two separate breeds, the cocks—for 
we would have two—should belong to one or other of 
those breeds. Which, then, shall we take? To Dor¬ 
kings, we think, must the preference be given; or those 
who trust to our advice may not be so fully satisfied 
with the chickens that appear on their dining-tables. 
“A reluctant confession, at last, in favour of Dor¬ 
kings versus Shanghaes,” is an exclamation that, doubt¬ 
less, will be here raised by some reader mindful of 
former papers in The Cottage Gardener. No ; we de¬ 
cidedly reply. What we then said, still continues our 
opinion, and this is it—that a heavier weight of poultry 
may be raised within a given time, and on a certain 
quantity of food, from Shanghaes, than from fowls of any 
other breed. In “ quality,” we repeat our former admis¬ 
sion, that they may be exceeded by others, especially by 
Game and Dorkings. But a “young” Shanghae—fora 
cockerel of that race, destined for the kitchen, should j 
never live beyond five, nor a pullet beyond six, months— | 
