Williston graphic., 1918-03-28
W.ittes
Fer
GrsPhie @
Rea4oro
G. .ENo.a..,

Now that Matching operations are
about to start, and you are thinking
of buying your eggs, the question
! comes up as to the breed you will ia
vor. If you have been raising poul-
try in the past and have had satis-
factory results you will probably con-
tinue with the same breed. If results
have not been what you expected, you
will probably think Of turning to some
other breed. OF course if you are
just starting in, the question of breed
will be the big important item at this
time.
In the first place, we want to real
ize that there is no BEST breed. AL
most any variety that is properly
bred and properly handled will serve
some good purposes, although it is
true that some breeds have better
combination purposes than others.
Therefore in considering the breed
you will handle. consider carefully
the use for which you will keep your
birds.
Some breeds are kept entirely for
egg production, other breeds are kept
for egg production and for market
purposes, while some of the very
large breeds are used quite exclusive
ly for meat.
Where a dozen hens are kept by
the back yard poultryman, breeds
like the Leghorn, Ancona, Hamburg
and Campine will probably yield the
greatest number Of eggs and at the
least cost per dozen, although at times
one of the smaller general purpose
breeds will make an unusually good
egg producer and be found even more
satisfactory. With just few birds,
where it is a question of egg produc-
ton only, the size of the carcass does
not make much difference because
only a few would be killed from time
to time for the purpose of replenish-
ing the flock. 1t is another matter
where the size of the flock is very
much larger, for here the question
Of the poundage of the carcass must
be considered along with the question
of egg production.
Where breeds are raised for meat
instead of egg production, the ques-
tion Of poundage, the quality of flesh,
and the appearance are the main
points to be considered. The age at
which these large breeds are to be
turned on the market should also be
considered in the selection of the
breed, for in some cases variety
which will have an excellent carcass
at maturity will not have a plump
carcass at certain stages of the birds
growth. Varieties like the Orpington
or Sussex are far more plump during
the growing period than would be a
variety like the Langshan or Brahma.
Where extreme size is not wanted,
the Rock or Wyandotte will make an
excellent table variety and the young
birds are plump during most of the
growing period. The Houdan, Fa-
verolle and Dorking would also come
in this class, although not so popular,
and any of these breeds in their var
ious colors would give good account
of themselves in egg production as
well as furnishing a carcass of good
quality.
Where the breeds are raised for
commercial purposes, the demands Of
the market should be carefully con-
sidered and this would mean, as a
rule, that the variety must have yel
low skin and legs together with light
plumage so that the carcass will dress
up without dark pin feathers. For
home consumption these features
would not, of course, have to be con-
sidered. With capons, less attention
is paid to the color plumage, or skin
and perhaps the demand would be
just as good for the pink as for the
pink as for the yellow tinted flesh.
While on the subject of capons we
might note that the large breeds al
ways make the best capons and these
varieties only should be considered
where this branch of the poultry bus:~
ness is featured.
You will note that above we touch
ed lightly upon the general pur-
pose" or "utility" breed. These breeds
combine egg production with meat
producing qualities. They are tire
breeds to be considered if you want
nens that will give you fair guam
can dry, can or store for later home
For Winter Storing
The gardener who has provided for
he immediate needs of his family
b.