The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-10

i this country soma twelve or fifteen years ago.
 The history of the Leghorn is diner.
 ent. as it was first brought to this country and then to England. 1t is
 said by apparently trustworthy au-
 thorities that the first pair was brought
 to New England, to the region of the
 Mystic, or Mystic River in Connecticut, and at first were called Red LeGhorns" the hens more of reddish than black brown. They proved to be layers of astonishing merit. and their fame
 spread rapidly.
 A Leghorn Club was organized and Mir. Ayers was sent to Italy, to the vicinity of the seaport town Of Les. horn. whence the frst fowls came. to
 make selections and to import others; and to settle the question of the origin
 of Rose Comb Leghorns. Mir. Ayers. in his report later. stated that he found no rose combed fowls in Italy. He found Brown. Black and White. as well as parti-colored fowls there. all of the
 same type as those originally import
 ed--tsll and graceful. with large combs and white ear-lobes; a type similar to
 the Minorca: showing them all to have
 been of common origin In the past Thus, we see. that in Southern Eu-
 rope. the acclimated and most popular fowl is of the Spanish. or Leghorn type. In France and Holland there are several other types, having been ap.
 parently bred up by fanciers in the
 long ago, but all having the white ear- lobe. and all being superior layers--
 the different strains, we mean, not ifi-
 dividuai birds
 This would seem to indicate that the
 experience of the past, of pouitrymen
 of old, of which we must grant there
 were many quite as well informed as
 we of the present day--led to the con- viction that the types of fowls now
 found in older Southern countries, were the kind best adapted to q warm climate. Certain 1t Is, that the fowls of this class--the Leghorns and Mi- norcas-are unsurpassed as layers dur ing the warm season in our own coun- try: and for this reason the natural in- ference arises, that they are the breeds best suited to our Southern latitude. They are like Southern plant or fiow-
 CT that may endure a more Northern temperature and live. but which never
 reaches perfestion outside of its na.
 tural latitude
 It would seem, then, that from a practical view point. the breeds that are
 most popular. and which thrive best in Southern Europe. would be found the
 most profitable varieties for our own Southland. Those who are experienced
 know, that fowls of the type named are
 not 'every day layers." but that the hens lay about four or i've eggs a
 week each. and keep it up week in and week out, and month after month dur ing the warm season. and seldom be- come broody until the dog days in au- tumn, or just before the melting sea-
 son; and then they go out of the laying
 business for sixty to ninety days. This l shortage could. however. be readily ,, overcome by having early matched pull let's coming in at the time the older hens took to the nest and the nioiting. Again, there Is no such thing under the
 sun as a strictly 'non-sitter." They
 may be forced to laying on and on.
 but if turned out on a wide range where the natural instincts revive, the so-caiied "non-sitter" will late in the season respond to natures call and take
 to the nest Yet, Is is nevertheless In
 the hens, of the Spanish type to lay more eggs. and to lay longer on a
 stretch, than any other variety; pro-
 vided the weather Is favorable.
 Both Leghorn and Minorca hens have
 laid from 156 to ITO eggs each In s65
 days.
 Nashville. Tenn.