Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-30


some sort is being held at the time, and
the standard of perfection as laid down by
the poultry judges has received high COM
mendation from European fanciers.
HIGH GRADE FOWLS.
The main variety of high-grade fowls
which are bred in this city and vicinage
are: Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, white
and brown Leghorns, Light Brahmas,
Langshans, black Javas, Houdans, Co.
chins, Hamburgs, American dominiques
and Mlnorcas. In this, as in most other
things. fashion dominates, and some highly
deserving varieties among the above are
temporarily less in demand. Just now
and for some time past the Plymouth Rock
is the species enjoying the greatest popu--
larity. That is a hardy bird, a good
steady winter layer, averaging probably
about $50 eggs per year. The cock weighs
81 pounds and the hen y pounds on an
average. 1t is handsome bird and of
proud carriage. The "barred" variety is
most in favor. The Leghorn is smaller
fowl. of Italian origin and belonging to
the so-called Mediterranean class, little
more tender than the Plymouth Rock, but
very prolific, laying 100 to $50 eggs per
year, but not much during the winter. 1t
/ is handsome bird, of beautiful plumage,
more especially the male bird. The light
and dark Brahmas belong to the Asiatic
class. In the light Brahmas the cock
weighs u pounds, the hen 81, while the
dark variety weighs one pound less. This
is good meat fowl, an early maturer and
good layer. With some crosses the
Brahma makes splendid "broiler" Tor
spring chicken) at an early age, and hence
is valuable bird to raise for the market.
Its plumage is very fine, white, with PEN
cilings on the neck feathers and dark
tail The Langshan weighs about 81
pounds for males and for females, and is
likewise a good, tender bit for the table.
1t is also a good layer. The Langshan
originally came from China and belongs
therefore to the Asiatic class. 1t is at
present the special favorIte in England.
1t has lrstrous plumsge of solid black
and is stately bird. The black Java
originally mailing from the island of Java,
has become thoroughly American and is,
in fact, one of the progenitors of the
: Plymouth Rock. 1t is a large bird,
weighing ten and eight pounds, respect
lively; fine, black plumage and graceful
carriage. 1t has host of special friends
in this country, who claim for it excellent
meat and egg-laying qualities.
THE FRENCH BREEDS.
The Houdon is a French fowl and be-
longs to the non-setting variety; that is,
the hen has lost the maternal instinct, and
the offices of stepmother are required to
inc1bate the eggs of this variety. The
Houdan is great favorite among French
people owing to the fact that its meat is
very tender and juicy, as well as that of
the Creye-Coeurs and the La Fleche, two
other French varieties. The Cochins are
somewhat out of fashion. They are a
large sort of bird, excellent meat birds
when young, fair egg producers and at
tractive in plumage. There are several
varieties of the Cochins-white, buff and
"partridge"-and they are all of fine APP
pearance The Hamburgs are of German
origin-birds of the greatest beauty.
They are rather small, but good egg pro-
ducers, and their meat is excellent. They
are six varieties of the Hamburgs, and
they constitute a class by themselves.
They have been crowded out somewhat of
, late by the popular craze for Leghorns,
but should be more cultivated. The
American dominique is a medIum-sized
bird, of fine plumage and stately carriage.
They are much like the Plymouth Rocks
i in general appearance and are good egg
producers. The Minorcas are lately being
pushed to the front. Like the Leghorns,
they belong to the Mediterranean
class, weighing about s and 81
pounds respectively. They have good
meat, are Of handsome appearance, with
a coat of black and white feathers. They
are active, lively scratchers and lay good
supply of eggs during the year. Each one
of these varieties has its special corps of
advocates, but the two varieties just now
in vogue are the Plymouth Rocks and
Leghorns There was left out, however,
the game variety, which form a very consid-
cradle item at the shows and in the yards.
The "black-breasted red" is variety es-
pecially admired. This is not only a
handsome bird, but its meat has the flavor
of game and its eggs are very choice.
Some Of the varieties named before are
also reproduced in miniature as bantams
and the trade in bantams is quite con-
] siderable, especially in game bantams-re-
duced fac-similes of the foregoing larger
varieties. All of the high bred fowls,
| however, when raised for exhibition pur-
poses mostly, with special reference to
their appearance, reai.ze good prices, all
/ the way from $40 to 500 apiece and more.
i The usual price for fine specimen is $25
! for cock and $40 to SIS for a hen.
! Higher prices have been paid, though, oc-
( casionally. John E. Gill lately sent a
man to England, paid his travelling ex-
| penses and paid $500 for single fine bird.
| MONEY IN EGGS.
There are noreliable statistics to be had
in the United States regarding the produc-
F., ton of poulty and eggs, but from what has
. been gathered by certain States and their
census reports, as well as what caube OBJ
tanned through private sources and through
the Chamber of Commerce, it is safe to in
| fer that the poultry produce of the United
States aggregates S4O0,0o0,0O0 a year.
Some people put the figures as high as
$500, 100000.
In becoming breeder of fine poultry,
the following points have to be noted !:
Find good locality, if possible high and
/ dry, or with sandy soil, easily drained and
/ free from soggy conditions. He must then
construct his hen-house, and if in the vi
cinity of the city he must have his in
( closed ''runs" made Of wire netting for the
/ purpose, 50 that his fowls can run around
in the opening without getting into
gardens. Then he must see that his hem
house is free from draught, lining the
cracks everywhere with tarred paper, and
also that the roosts are properly placed,
not to high, and easy of access. Above all,
! however, he must keep his place clean.
/ This is absolutely required, and to secure
I this he must use disinfectants quite freely.
Then he must study the subject of diet.
| There is a great diversity of opin-
ion as to that, and it would re-
quire a volume to adequately exhaust
| il. But a man can soon learn what his
fowls like and what agrees with them, and