West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-09-23

most common OF these, are large, the
male weighing eleven TO twelve pounds
and tho hen eight and half TO nine
and half. This large size Is one OF
the chief points I'm favor OF the Brah-
mas. They arc slow maturing. and It
takes considerable feeding to get their
large frames thickly enough covered
with meat to be In good market condI.
ton. Like all feathered legged breeds,
tho Brahma IS clumsy and for this
reason does not make first class
mother. The pullets arc too slow IN
maturing to lay many eggs the first
winter. Even when matured they are
not heavy layers, though they do most
of their laying In the winter, when eggs
are high. This is largely because their
large size and heavy feathering make
them less susceptible TO cold. AS meat
producers tho Brahmas are about
equal TO the general purpose breeds,
though for high class capons they are
perhaps n little superior. There are
two varieties OF Brahmas, light and
dark. The light Brahmas arc tho more
popular. Tho black variety is more
difficult TO breed for color, and much
attention 20 fancy points has caused
utility TO be largely lost sight of.
Cochins are tho second of the meat
breeds I'm size, the males weighing
eleven pounds and the hens eight and
half They are Of the same massive,
full feathered typo as the Brahmns,
averaging a trifo shorter legged and
wider across the back. Like the Brah-
mas. they are hardy. They are not as
good layers, however, and arc just as
slow I'm maturing. There are four va.
rietles, OF which tho bun IS tho most
common.
Both these breeds have served good
purpose In grading up tho mongrel
strains OF the country and providing
foundation stock for tho American
breeds. At present, however, they
have few points OF superiority over the
American breeds as meat producers
and are inferior to them I'm laying abil.
ity. AS show fowls they are prized
because OF their size and beauty.
Tho smallest and quickest maturing
OF the Asiatic breeds Is the Langshan.
They are Objectionable because OF
their black color, white skin and feath.
cred legs and do not excel tho Amer.
lean breeds I'm any practical qualities.
An English breed, the Dorldngs, are
good meat producers. but poor layers.
For the man who Is I'm the poultry
business from n utility standpoint one
OF the general purpose or laying breeds
VIII be more satisfactory than any Of
the meat breeds.
The Laying Breeds.
The laying breeds originally came
from the region around the Mediter.
ranean sea, and hence arc often re.
ferred 10 as the Mediterranean breeds.
The most popular Of these Is the Leg.
horn. Leghorns are small birds, not
moro than half the size OF tho Asiatics.
They arc very active and good for.
ayers. They outrank any OF the other
breeds I'm laying qualities. laying both
summer and winter II properly cared
FOR. They are not adapted 20 tho pouI.
tryman who pays no attention 10 his
chickens, as they Will not lay unless
they nro given good care. They lay
white eggs weighing ten 20 the pound
Tho eggs OF the American breeds
weigh eight 10 tho pound.
The small size Of tho Leghorn hens
makes them cheaply kept They aro
early maturing, often beginning % lay
when they are four and q baif months
old. Their flesh IS Of good quality, but
their size IS against them from a mar
ket standpoint. Tho only way the
cockercls can DO disposed Of at n profit
Is TO sell them as brollcrs at two
pounds weight or smaller. or the sew
crab varieties Of Leghorn the white
md brown arc the most popular from
a utility standpoint