The record-union., 1894-03-06
FARM And ORCHARD.
Description OF Breeds and Points
Of Chickens.
An Entertaining Assortment of Fig
ures-The Horses, Cattle. sheep and
Swine of a Great Agricultural
Country-Farm Notes.


is question 1 am asked again and again.
To answer it with satisfaction requires
the introduction Of several ifs; different
conditions and different wants require
different supplies.
Ii you want a variety for eggs alone
and do not care to make anything out of
the market side of the business, choose
one Of the small varieties with large
combs, such as the brown or white Leg
horn, black or white Minorca, black
Spanish. L would choose them in the
order l have named them; they are all
great layers; in fact. the greatest egg pro-
Cucers OF the chicken race, all things
considered. But they have their faults;
they are high-fyers. deep scratchers and
non-setters and require close roosting-
house, or they will freeze their great
combs off close to their heads, especially
the Minorcas, which are the heaviest
combed variety yet introduced.
Anyone TO keep these great laying
breeds should be well provided with
warm roosting and good comfortable
laying quarters If they expect to get any
eggs from them during the winter sea-
son, for no one would expect eggs from
hens with their combs all frosted and
black. Ii they did, they would be disap
pointed. In that event you would not
get any more eggs from them than from
some of the larger varieties.
Ii you like d heavy variety, very tame
and easy to handle, great and good
setter and non-tyer one that will eat,
''laugh and grow fat" get some of the
Cochin family. buff partridge, white or
black. l prefer the buff. They have
their faults like others; they are not such
extra layers. When they lay a few eggs
they become broody. and as the Dutch
man says, want TO hatch. Ii kept in con-
nection with some of the small breeds
and used as settlers they can earn their
board very WELL and as table fowl they
are grand on UP to the time they are a
year old as roosters. They are quite great
winter layers, if hatched at the proper
time-the spring before.
If you simply want a few chicks for the
children to be interested in, that can
really live on the table scraps and be
kept on town lot and at the same time
get quite nice lot of eggs keep a few
bantams, either Seabrights or some one
Of the game bantam family; we prefer the
game-think them more hardy.
If you live upon a rough and wooded
farm, where you are bothered by hawks
and crows, then / would advise keeping
some one of the large game breeds. They
are great foragers, good layers, and are
rough on hawks, always ready for fight,
u T6d1 0OOQ IdDl0 lOWls DuL Gu0y never GET
tame or quiet, and can fly over the house
ii need be.
If you are after something fancy, then
you. will want Polish variety, either
white-crested black or golden. They are
very attractive in the yard and upon the
lawn, but are not What we would call a
practical variety, and will not stand eX
pOsure, very much subject to colds and
roup. If you are an adInlrer of a black
variety, and large one too, try the Java;
clean, stout legs, good growers, and good
layers Of nice brown eggs; or the black
Nyandotte not quite so large, more COM
pact, shorter on the legs, quicker to
mature, a low rose comb, not easily
frozen, lay good-sized yellow egg. and
good supply OF them at That, but all black
breeds have the objection OF the dark pin
feathers when dressed for the table.
Ii you are looking after the general
purpose fowl for the farm-one that Will
lay d good average of eggs through the
year, perhaps as well distributed for all
seasons OF the year as anything of the
fowl kind that will bring as much, yes,
usually more in the market dressed or
alive, young or old, than another that
looks well in the yard or on the green
lawn Tor on the table,; that are able to
take care of themselves pretty we'll at all
times, easily reared, great layers of
brown or light eggs-then you
will find itin the Barred Plymouth Rock.
They are not the only chickens in the
world, and not the only good ones; there
are lots of good breeds, but there are
very few that have stood the test for so
many years, and that at the very head of
the list. There are more of them raised
to-day and sold as breeders than any
other variety in the list, and that, too. at
good prices. That is the result OF their
being so popular as a utility fowl on the
farm. in the city or village-in fact, any
az in act hTnPHS
all tastes, and it is good plan to get a
variety best suited TO your tastes and sur
roundings, and success will be more
surely yours. / have tried to open the
way; any further points will be cheer
fully given.-Cincinnati Semi Weekly
Gazette.
HORSES, COWS AND SHEEP.
The statistics of the United States Agri-
cultural Department shows some Curl
oslties in the value of farm animals, and
the figures are enormously large. For
instance, the horses in this country num-
ber l6,O00,000 and are valued at S769, ,000,-
OO0 using round numbers), the average
value per head being $47 50. Iowa is the
banner State, with l,361 900 horses, closely
followed by Illinois. Texas, Missouri,
Kansas and Ohio, in the order named.
Rhode Islands horses average the high
est in price, in proportion to number,
each horse being valued at so 43, while
New Mexico ranks the lowest, the aver
AGE being but Sl5 so. Missouri, Texas,
Tennessee and Georgia lead on mules.
the former State holding the highest
honor, with nearly 259, 900 mules, valued
at $40 81 each. These prices are quoted
to January, 1894, and, as compared with
1898, they show decrease OF l25,0OO
horses in the United States and decrease
in value for 1894 of sob, 900. 600, as the
average price last year was sol y, while
this wear, as stated, the average is but
ST S3, the difference in price represent
ing an enormous shrinkage in the value
Of the whole.
HThere are almost the same number OF
COWS as horses, the cows slightly leading,
but the value of each COW is but 81 II,
the total value being S359, 100000. New
York leads, having 1,572, 600 cows. with
Iowa and Illinois second and third, the
highest prices being obtained IN New
Jersey, where the average IS $40 70 with
Arkansas lowest. at $40 20. There are
45,O00,000 sheep, valued at 81 9o each. the
total value being about 1900, ,00O.i 1hel
are also 45,000,U00 hogs, valued at % 9S
each, the total being over S270,000,000
California has the most sheep, 3,900,00O,
with Texas close up, her proportion
being 3.S00,000. Ohio, Oregon, New
Mexico. Montana and Michigan follow,
New Jersey leading in price, at 81 OS per
sheen. and Alabama the lowest. at 81 -.
Compared with 1898 cows have increased
63.G00, and are also a small fraction
higher in value on the average. the total
increase in value being over -, coo, 600.
Sheep have largely decreased in number
as well as in value, and the same may be
said OF swine, yet the decrease in the
value of each sheep is but GS cents and OF
each hog 43 cents.
The total value of horses. cows (oxen
and other cattle also, sheep and swine
amount to the enormous sum OF 8, no.,