The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-12-23
FARM 1iiPiCS.
The "Praciics! "r NusiurEs Hen" far Bu-
perior to Fancy Br.'"ds OF ChickensA-
7i,c pn:n'n Crop.

~" b''n'" Crop.
How tn Prrp,ro ia soI for Growing
Rosca-'Exc"i'""t ADVICE to Growers
%; v rnr Sock.
TIE BUSINESS HEN.
NJ. +. Leroy aFronch poultry-
breeder, has written work eu.itled
''La Poul" Practiquc. tho practical
or business hen. The chief object of
the book appears To be 10 dissuade
farmers and Others. who ~kcep fowls
for pi oft. from investing in the fancy
breeds OF chickens, especially those
that originated in foreign countries.
He afiirms that few breeds of fowls
arc profitable in places remote from
that whore they originated. He states
that the Houdans are valuable in the
department. of France where they ,hayo
long been raised. for the reusons that
the incubator is there used for hatch
ing eggs. aud that there is n local de-
mand for chickens that furnish very
choice flesh. The Creve Cours are
popular and valuable in Normandy,
chiefly because tino grass is plenty in
that department Of France. Taken
to most other parts OF tho country,
however, they soon lose their charac-
teristics and become OF very little
value. The like. he says. is true OF the
Houdans, which have gone to other
countries an,l been welcomed by
breeders on account Of tho reputation
they acquired in their native home.
Tho Dorking. winch is the favorite ta-
bic fowl in England. he firms, dwin-
dies in Franc" and becomes q very in
ferier bird. Fowls of eithor of these
hrnnlS hntrip 4, Il,
they are taken to places having diffor-
ent climatic conditions from that
where they have been long raised and
where u peculiar practice is followed
in breeding them. To keep up any OF
for exhibition il is necessary TO renew
tho blood by meats OF fresh importu-
tions every two ur three years. He
states that tho Houdaus are essential
pen fowls. They ARC great eaters and
are wanting in ability or energy to Sc
curo food for themselves. Tl.cy arc Of
little value when the incubator is not
used for halching purposes. and are
entirely unsuitable for the ordinary
farm.
The author If this work has no
praise to spend on tho Brahmas, CO.
chins, or Japanese fowls. He admits
that they arc very large. that they pro-
ducc eggs in proportion to the sizo of
the birds that lay them, and that they
are good scltors and careful mothers.
But ho remarks that when eggs are
sold by tho dozen, instead OF by weight,
there is no inducement for supplying
the market with those Of very large
size. He thinks that incubators are
much cheaper than hens for Matching
eggs. and believes that tho time will
soon come when they will be in gen.
cral use In all countries where fow Is
arc kept. The flesh of all tho large
breeds of fowls is course and lacking
in flavor. 1t ranks below good beef or
prime mutton. Tho Langshan fowls,
in tho estimation of this writer, rank
lar above the Brahmas and Cochins.
Spanish hens arc praised for produc-
ing many and large eggs 1t 10 ad-
mitted that most Spanish fowls are
poor eating, and tina. they nro not
suited to countries having a worry cold
climate. The Hamburgs are spoken
well Of as layers, though thoir eggs
are so small that few like to cat tho m
from the she'll The fowls are easily
kept, however, and suited to the farm,
and furnish very good eating. especial
ly when they are young. ls- SD
nj. Leroy recommends farmers to
keep the common barndoor fowls, CIV
ing preference to those raised near
whore they are to be kept. He states
that they are hardy, require little caro-,
aud arc possessed of ability TO pick UP
most of tho food they require. They
devour grass and eat large Numbers Of
insects. T,oy do not wait to DO fed in
tho morni. {. Like tho farmer who
owns thom, they are in the Held al
most as soon as it is light They arc
industrious birds and attend strictly
10 business. They take exercise after
the manner of wild birds, and arc less
liable to disease than fancy fowls of
the fashionable breeds. The keeper OF
barndoor fowls should exercise jndg-
ment in tho selection of birds to breed
from. lie should preserve for breed
ing purposes only the best specimens.
Their blood should be occasionally rem
ovated by cross; tho bost cross is
with the wild Bnnkiva cook. II that
can not be obtained he recommends
the Indian game or large English game
cock. These birds insure hardness
and vitality. as we'll as iino eggs and
delicious flesh. Ho winds up his re-
marks by saying: I'm tho pen and the
farm, for the omoette and tho spit,
there is but ono hon, and that tho
barndoor.