The Portland daily press., 1874-10-26
THE PRES S.
MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 2e, "a
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Breeds of Poultry.

| Ah1 h1eu1 AMI nVUOEHOLUs
Breeds of Poultry.
In an address before the Bucks County,
pennsylvania, Poultry Association, DR.. A.
M. Dickie spoke as follows, according to the
Intelligencer, in reference to the comparative
value OF the different breeds of fowls:
The breed or breeds to keep will depend
TO considerable extent upon circumstances,
Ii one knows what man wants of his poul-
try, and something of the character of his
soil, location and climate, together with his
disposition to take care of them, it is an easy
matter to give advice. The most hardy and
robust fowls, where they are obliged to take
care OF themselves to a considerable extent,
are Dominiques and Plymouth Rocks. After
these come the Brahmas, light and dark. and
the Cochins. These are ali large fowls, easy
to raise, and are good market poultry. As
layers they are rot equal to the smaller
breeds, but are more quiet in their DISPOSE
ton. The Games will hold their own in a
rough and tumble scramble for existence bet
ter than any other variety; but where they
are kept they require the whole ground for
themselves, their pugnacity rendering them
dangerous to other poultry. Still they are
fairly good layers, and of first quality as table
fowls, though of small size. have seen very
10 n1nuooHo MaIhcI Poutry Iue prOuuce OI y
Black Is. Red Game cock and Buff Cochin
hens. For market purposes all the Asiatic
breeds may be very proftably crossed with
Dorking or Houdan blood. The first will inn
prove the quality, and the second will i'm
prove both quality and fecundity. A Leg
horn cock crossed with Asiatic hens will
somewhat reduce the size of the latter, but
will very much improve their laying qualities
and accelerate their maturity. 1t should be
remembered that all these crosses are only fit
for market purposes, and should never be
used as breeding stock.
A very profitable cross-bred fowl is a half
Plymouth Rock and half Asiatic; this fowl is
full-sized, very robust, hardy, and of early
maturity. l think farmers would find it to
their account in trying some of these crosses.
only be sure you know what you want, and
then 60 ahead. The Dorking Cor Houdan)
Brahma will give you bird of great size and
OF unexceptional table quality, and reasona-
bly, good layer-especially the Houdan-
Brahma. The Plymouth -Brahma will be
about the same in size and quality, but of
earlier maturity. The Leghorn- -Brahma will
be fair medium size, of quick growth and
good layer.
These hints are sufficient to guide the mar
ket poultry-raiser in making profitable crosses
for lis purpose. But remember, all cross
bred fowls are to 60 to shambles, 60 matter
how fine they may be. A farmer might wish
to except some of his very finest cross bred
pullets, but if he breeds from them he will be
very likely to be disappointed in their progeny
even though mated with pure-bred cock.
1t may be said that new and valuable breeds
may be, and are established by systematic
cross-breeding. admit it, but it requires
good deal of skill and experience, besides an
untiring patience to do this-much more than
the average farmer can bring to the task.
This is the work of amateurs and ifanciers,
and should be left in their hands. It NAV be
asked: How is the pure bred stock to be kent
up if we are to persistently kill off all the
stock from year to year? Easy enough. Buy
each year a sitting of eggs from the man who
breeds the particular Kind you may wish.
From the produce of these select the best
pullets, and buy a cock or two from breed
er who has the kind you want. This is sim
pie enough, and gives new blood every year,
or every other year, which is matter of no
small Importance to the health and thrift OF
the flock. Where eggs mainly are required
from the poultry yard, Leghorns, Hamburgs,
Houdans and Spanish are the breeds to Sc
lect from. The two latter breeds require
warm, sunny exposures, and dry gravelly
ground. With these conditions they will do
exceedingly well. Indeed, under favorable
conditions the Houdan is an admirable fowl
for all purposes. But if egg are wanted in
liberal supply, and all the time, the Leghorn
or Hamburg is the fowl to do it. They are
hardy, good foragers, non-sitteis, handsome
and satisfactory.