*% 
New York Aqricuttun. Exprerment Sration. 2438 
Sun. These are less than those obtained by some producers, but 
probably fairly represent what can be expected in inust seasons. 
Where market quotations for live weight were not given, the 
prices for dressed weight were reduced to correspund.* 
As the demand for capons does not come from those who are 
looking for the cheapest possible animal food it is evident that 
effort should be made by any grower toward improvement in 
- quality and the most successful and profitable competition will 
probably be in this direction. 
It is better, of course, to use only the larger breeds for capons, 
and the Brahmas and Cochins are among the best, but while these 
breeds furnish poultry of superior size and excellent quality there 
is compared to the game an undesirable deficiency of breast devel- 
opment which is plainly noticeable in the dressed fowl. The 
accompanying plate taken from photographs shows the difference 
in appearance of the dressed fowls which were fair specimens of the 
breeds, Buff Cochin, Indian Game and Light Brahmas. At the 
New York Poultry Show in 1892 the first prize was given by a 
competent’ judge to a capon eight and one-half months old of 
Indian Game—Buff Cochin cross over capons young and old of 
Light Brahma, Black Langshan and two or three other breeds and 
crosses. The plates which were taken from photographs show 
mature specimens of Indian Game—Buff Cochin cross and Indian 
Game—Light Brahma cross. <A cross of the Indian Game gives 
nearly as large fowls as the pure breed with much of the game 
shape. This cross can probably be used with advantage, for 
the Indian Game while larger than the pit game has little of the 
fighting spirit of the latter and having yellow skin and legs will 
not interfere with the common prejudice in that direction. It is 
not probable, however, that did such prejudice exist in a market 
demanding the best of capons, it would be hard to overcome 
where good fowls of such breeds as the Dorking, Houdan, La 
Fleche and Langshan were to be had. 
* The average loss in weight in dressing thirty fowls for market was found to be eleven per 
cent. of the fasted live weight and about fifteen per cent. of the not-fasted live weight. Not often 
does much variation occur in the per cent. of weight lost in dressing for market. The smallest 
loss among thirty fowls being 6.4per cent. and the greatest 15.2, nearly all, however, being 
very close to the average of eleven per cent. 
