The Portland daily press., 1878-03-21
AGRICULTURAL.
Hut. on Raising Chickens.

Every one, whether he breeds and raises
chickens for exhibition purposes, for poultry
market, or reproduction, has some method
or system whereby he is governed in selecting
his eggs for incubation. If market chickens
be the the desideratum, the earlier they are
obtained the better. Broilers cannot be pro-
duced at moments warning Our OBJECT
should be decided, and our plans perfected at
least year in advance, so that we may enter
the arena prepared TO keep pace with the sea-
son. It Is also necessary to possess definite
knowledge of the many different breeds, so
that We may know which one Is best adapted
to bring abont our ends. If for market, we
require bird Of moderate size, that it may
mature early-one having yellow legs and
growth. To produce this bird, we must study
up the different breeds; for this kind of fowl
Is cross or mongrtl, obtained by the mating
OF Two thoroughbreds not analogous. For
early broile RS, a cross between Light Brah-
ma and White Leghorn produces a chick of
COED size, that natures rather earlier than
the pure-bred OF either bred, and is tit for
live market ifearly hatch, d. by the middle OF
July, when. such fowls meet with ready de-
maud at yemuDerative prices.
Our thoroughbreds are not suited for this
purpose, for more than one reason. The
small breeds mature early, but one hardly
likes to send fue birds off 10 a common mar
ket, without knowing the exact reception they
will meet with. Where one is situated ada
cent to the market, and can dress his birds
himself. this is The very best purpose he can
put them 10. Most OF the poultry is rearedin-
land, and of necessity must be conveyed alive
to market during the summer months, when.
in cities and villages, they are most in de-
mand. Games, Bantams, Leghorns and
Spanish make splendid brolers, and for home
purposes are excellent. JUDGED, the Black
Spanish. for table fowl, is not excelled by
any other known breed the flesh is always,
at any age, JUICY and tender, fne-grained and
fiue favored. This aristocratic bird Is meet
to grace auy table, either with eggs or flesh.
Tue Back Spanish can never become COM
mon low, but even among the select they are
not esteemed as highly as they deserve. For
beauty they are surpassed by none. The
Lsghorn varieties, some OF which approach
them nearly, can never throw thu m in eclipse.
Tastes differ, aud the Spanish have never met
with the universal popularity that has charac-
tened some of the other and less deserving
varieties. Toe mass of people are prejudiced
against black fUwl.
Tue common Dominiques are good birds
for poultry, mature early, and are hardy.
They are also good egg-producers, but for ear
ly chicks that will insure good prices by mid
summer, a good-sized bird is required. To
produce this effect, Asiatic blood must be in
troduced, A chick that will pull the scales
down at Jour or FIVE pounds at this season is
desirable. The Partridg eCochins are good Ia
bic fowls, and possess size. Mate p. Coch-
In hen with Leghorn cock, and good bird
is obtained lone that is suitable for summer
and iall market. 1t is necessary to procure
entirely foreign breeds and strange blood in
order to raise market chickens for profit We
cannot afford to spend the time and money
on them that we do on our choice or exhibit
ton birds. Thus mated, the progeny are har-
der, and withstand degree of cold and
storm in which our tender and delicate birds
would perish.
Where market eggs are the object, it is bet
: ter to have the birds of some purely distinct
breed, that the eggs may be as uniform in col
or and lie as possible. Good taste naturally
demands this besides, hens of puro breed lay
better. For this purpose also the earlier we
get the chicks from the shell the better. The
first eggs hen lays are always more valuable
for incubation than their later clutches, espe-
cially the non-sitting varieties. When first
commencing to lay, the bird is in full vigor.
The cock is also strong and hale at this Pc
riod. For this reason fewer diseases attack
the progeny, and they grow up and come into
early profit with less trouble and anxiety. It
is expedient to have the seasons chicks all at
one time, as it requires less care. At the
same time one person can attend to flock of
one hundred, and pullet can scratch for
fourteen chicks as well as well as one. A lit
tie more feed is required at one time, but the
business is much condensed, and is more sue
cessful II provision be made beforehand, and
the necessary materials are within reach. The
long, warm April days, when sunny, are fine
for chicks, but they should not be Matched too
early. II so, they receive stint from which
they seldom recover.-Country Gentleman.