Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1911-08-25
A new BREED OF HENS
Buttercups Said TO Be More Profit.
able Than Rh ode Island Reds.

Buttercups Said TO BE More Profit.
able Than Rhode Island Reds.
In the Rhode Island Reds it was
thought the maximum yield of eggs
was to be found. The Rocks" were
outranked by the "Hamburgs" and
in turn the ernburgs' had to give
way to the Reds" Our experience
with the Reds" has been a very
satisfactory one in every respect
says writer in the Indiana Far.
mer. But now comes rival to the
Reds" that bids fair to bear away
their well-earned laurels. These
newcomers are known by the rarc
of Buttercups, given them from the
very peculiar comb that adorns theii
heads. This comb differs from that
OF others very n1uch. 1t is an ap-
pendage on top of the head resem-
bling cup or saucer, the edges OF
which are marked like the butter
cup flower, hence the name.
A sea captain, while loading his
vessel with oranges and lemons il
q iOb VI pOulbly III
use on the vessel while on the voy-
age home. A number of the hens
laid so continuou sly that he reserved
these for landing, with a view OF
testing them. James Dumaresq,
learning of this took an interest in
the breed and found them very
promising. While Mr.. Cleveland
was president Mr.. Dumaresq was
consul-general to Italy, and having
ample opportunities to further in
vestigate the merits of the breed he
found them even superior to his
home experience. At the expiration
of his time he returned and began
improving his stock. He imported
from Sicily select strains to add to
his pens. Unfortunately Mr.. Du-
maresq died early last spring but his
work of improving is now being car
ried on by enthusiastic hands and
We will soon have the new breed in
many sections.
A few of their claims of unusual
merit are here given The first and
best claim is the great number OF
eggs produced, as high as 500 eggs
per year per hen being not unusual.
They are nonsitters and lay practic-
ally the entire year under proper
treatment. The eggs are uniformly
large and white in color. They ma
ture very early and begin laying
while yet young. A pullet Matched
on May l. 1907, began laying Aug
ust 8 following, being but 31k
months old. They acquire their best
egg producing qualities at from two
to three years of age.
Mr.. Dumaresq made a test of the
time the hens would lay and found
some instances where laying con
tinued up to the sixth year. The
plumage of the male resembles that
of the Reds" but the flight wing
feathers and name and tail are
black. The rose comb is superseded
by the buttercup comb They
weigh from five to seven pounds.
The hens are buff red with spangled
lacing similar to the Golden Ham
burgs. Their weight runs from four
to six pounds. The legs are unlike
any other breed in color, being of a
willowy green cast. The chicks are
hardy and vigorous. They are ac-
tive foragers on range and require
but little feed when out. Unlike
other Italian breeds they are tame
and docile. Bodies are plump and
are excellent for broilers but not so
good for roasting on account of
size. Small bones and golden yell
low hoeh GRO ohapa et ori9tive.
Twenty-Five Buttercups can be kept
on range and feed sufficient to keep
Is Leghorns. While all these good
traits go to show their value yet the
one chief claim We repeat is their
yield of eggs. We are not breeder,
have nothing to offer but expect in
due time to exhibit some of the finest
fowls to be found.