The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-04-23

majority of those who tie to novel and
untried propositions, whether it be in
fancy poultry or mining stock, get the
worst Of the deal.
The following general statement may
be laid down as a safe guide: Poultry
shows and the poultry fanciers are
usually several years ahead of the
farmers in their breed fancies: hence
the man who selects the variety of
fowls which are steadily gaining
ground among the breeders will have
good chances of finding market for
his stock among the farmers few
years hence. but of course his chances
of selling stock to other fanciers will
not be as good as the man who takes
up with new breeds still earlier in the
game. The reader must not interpret
me to mean that poultry breeds come
and go as do fashions in ladies' hats
They are rather more like mems clothes,
In which there are always some changes
OF fashion. but also few leading types
which hold their own pretty we'll from
year to year.
popularity OF Breeds.
Poultry breeds are supposed to differ
In form and habits, while the varieties
of each breed differ in the coloring of
the plumage. The following list will
give an idea of the leading breeds of
chickens as judged by the numbers ex-
hibited at shows and advertised in
leading poultry papers Gn this listing
the games and bantams have been
omitted, as the breeds Of this class
have little interest to the practical
poultryman): Plymouth Rocks, Wyan-
dottes, Leghorns, Orpingtons, Lang
shans, Minorcas, Brahmas, Cochins.
Hamburgs, Polish, Houdans and In
dian Games.
Plymouth Rocks rank, Barred. White
and Buff, in the popularity OF varieties.
These three types are shown in more
nearly even number than in the case
of Wyandottes, where the Whites are
exhibited more numerously than the
other five Or six varieties put together
Among the I.eghorns. the Single Comb
White is now easily the leading va
riety. though few years ago Brown
Leghorns were the more popular
That the representation of breeds on
farms is quite different from that Of
the show room will be readily seen
from the following percentage of
breeds on farms. which the writer tab
ulated while poultryman at the Kan
sas experimental station:
Barred Plymouth Rocks, IS per
cent: Brown Leghorns, ~ per cent;
Black Langshans, 10 per cent; White
Leghorns. S per cent; Light Brahmas,
4 per cent; White Plymouth Rocks, 2
per cent; Buff Plymouth Rocks, 2 per
cent; White Wyandottes, ? per cent;
other varieties and mongrels, II per
cent. For those who are to consider
the keeping Of poultry for market the
following ranking of breeds by poultry
packers will not be without interest:
Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Indian
Games, Langshans, Leghorns, Brah-
mas. mongrels.
The ranking of the breeds Of poul-
try for egg production is quite differ
ent from the popularity in the show
room or among the market men who
consider the carcass Of the fowl. AS
Is generally known. Leghornsf are the
best layers, and the Single Comb White
Leghorn. chiefly. because they are more
readily bred true to type. is the most
popular variety. The main bone of
contention in the choice Of breed for
commercial; poultry keeping seems to
+ be between Yhite Leghorns kept for
u