The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-11-05

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ver' must have large credit for these
improvements" These are the words
of an old friend. He crowds the poor
hen rather hard when he puts her
down good for two hundred or three
hundred eggs each year. The hens
thai drop two hundred fifty eggs each
in twelve months are as scarce as the
COWS that make from two pounds to
three pounds of butter per day. l
do not wish to be understood as say
ing that they will not or cannot do it;
but they are scarce. There is gener-
ally in the existence Of every fowl a
season of moulting, which lasts a
longer or shorter period, varying Of
ten with different breeds and differ
ent specimens, according to the man.
ner of keeping, from one to two
months. During this change, hens
seldom produce eggs, and it is the
rapid, steady layers which suffer most
at this period, and are the longest in
recovering from it. OF all fowls l
ever met with, the Brahma is the
most difficult to bring into egg pro-
duction. My inclination has led me
towards the smaller breeds, and |
believe them the very best in most
circumstances. The flesh OF a cross
between large and small breed is
not so good as either kept pure, but
opinions are often at variance, and
every one has the privilege OF exper-
imenting. The size of the egg is sell
dom increased, nor is the quality.
Still, people will have crosses, and
some crosses are good in their way,
oftentimes; but when once INDUCED
in, the boundary lines of discretion
are often overstepped, and the result
is a failure. Those who wish to
spend a little money on the best
breeds will be glad OF the following
hints from a gentleman in New
Hampshire, who has tried twelve diff
ferent kinds for one year, and thus
notes the results: "rhere are no
kinds that will pay me SO well as the
White Leghorn and Black Spanish
tor eggs; they have never Snowman
desire to sit. The White Leghorns
are hardy, medium.sized, have quiet
dispositions; are persistent layers,
and Of a pure, white color. They
mature early, and are superior TO
most kinds Tor table use. The Span
ish fowls are not so quiet as some,
but if we'll fed they will not stray
tar away from their walk, OF the barn
orthouse. like these two kinds the
best for eggs. For early chickens
tor market, consider the Plymouth
Rock and Chinas the best. They get
their full size much earlier than the
Brahmas or Cochins. These four
kinds shall call the best. shall let
my Brahmas run with the others, as
| find they are inclined to sit too
much for my fancy"
| For general utility no smaller bird
is needed than the Brown Leghorn
or Dominique. These two breeds are
good for eggs and chickens (the lat
ter being sitter, while the former. is
not). They are also good tor early
chickens, and make splendid broilers !;
but to introduce weight and size a
cross Of Brahma blood must be en-
ployed. The p. Cochins are fine,
sweet flesh-producers, although not
SO rapid in growth as some. They
are shy egg-producers, and on az
count of this disadvantage have not
met with general favor; while the
Light Brahma is universal favorite.
The La Fleche, Houdan, Creveceur
and Dorkings are noted as rapid flesh
producers and best table birds; Co.
chins and Brahmas are more muscu-
lar, and their flesh is not so white
and juicy-hence their interiority.
Houdans, Creveceurs, La Fleche,
Spanish, Polands, Hamburgs and
Leghorns are also noted as egg.pro-
ducers and non-sitters. Bantams,
Silkies, Sultans, Rumpless, ETC., are
Kept as simply ornamental. Ham
burgs, Spanish, Leghorns and Po-
lands are classified as prolific layers !;
Cochins, Brahmas, Dorkings, Games,
Dominiques and Plymouth Rocks are
classed among the sitters; Brahmas
and Cochins are deemed domestic
and quiet, and are generally esteemed
Tor those qualities, and deservedly so.
Over fifty patents have been OBJ
tanned for COW milkers-thirteen in
England and forty in America. These
machines have been divided into
three classes-tirst, tube mixers; Sec
ond, sucking machines; third, me-
chanical hand mixers. The first are
tapners. the second smokers. and the