Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1884-01-17
THE POULTRY WORLD.

Where is the home that is complete with
out its wel-stocked poultry yard. Little
filings make up the picture. How bare and
lonesome is the yard without its lordly cock
and bevy of matronly hens; the shrill crew
of his highness and the Jolly song of his
harem add an admiration to the scene, pecu-
liarIy happy. After Wearisome rides through
sparsely settled sections of country, the
sound that enlivens the ear of the way-worn
traveller, and tells him Of the vicinage of hui
ceer and the cackling of his merry wives.
Now visions of creature comforts throng
the mind; rest cooling drughts OF fresh
spring water, and mayhap buttermilk, brol-
ed chicken, fresh butter, eggs cooked to suit
and bread steaming hot from the oven, pass
in tempting array along the channels of
thought. Thus scenes of domestic bliss
break upon the view, and all brought about
by the distant growing and cackling Of fowls.
1t is with fowls nowadays, as 1t is with
everything in the live stock line; il behooves
us to breed the yer, neSt. Ii is the poorest
economy to do otherwise. 1t is but squan-
dering of food to do otherwise. 1t is but
squAndering of food to feed degenerate
blood, for it is truth well known that like
begets like. and enough high or over feed
will increase size OF carcass and produce
flesh menstrosities are more or less likely
to spring from such qualities thus obtained,
than desirable merit. Superabundance of
flesh and size are frequently the pathogno-
monte of disease. Excess of bone or nnsce
is, as d general thing. alike TO be deplored,
as for all practical purposes an equal bal
ance should be the aim; yet tor symmetry,
an allowance should be thrown in. in favor
of the feshy side OF the scale. But with
regard to tewls, our choice mostly rests
with utility, and utility is summed up ia
hardness, size, early maturity, deicacy of
meat. laying qualities, and lastly beauty;
for beauty in the domestic fowl must be
held as part of its utility, as the sense of
sight must be catered to, as well as that of
the palate.
Now, by the assidncas breeding OF a num-
ber of years, of certain classes OF fowls, per-
SOHS utNoIllS tHciuSClNSS W tllC DuSiileSS
have attained nearly all that can be desired
in this order of useful animals. To a great
extent, breeding to feather has been the
principal criterion Of merit, though at the
same time vigiant eye has been kept to
the other points of excellence enumerated.
Take, as examples, the Asiatic breeds, con-
ssting of the Cochin and Brahma; we find
here. superior birds, either for the table or
show. Cocks of this class have kicked the
beam at fifteen pounds, and it will be found
at maturity those weighing from ten to
twelve pounds, will make up the common
run. Now, as turkeys are proverbially
tender bird to raise, they frequently "kick-
ing the bucket by the scores without any
obvious cause, and Christmas is no Christ
mas without Turkey, we insist upon the
general introduction into our poultry yards
Of those excellent substitutes, the Brahma
and Cochin breeds, which, with ordinary
housing and care, will supply us with all
that is needed in fowl. Throughout the
North they are fast supplanting the ordinary
dunghill or barnyard fowl, and from years
of experience we know no reason why they
should not take a speedy precedence here
Louisiana Planter.