APPENDIX.

COMPARATIVE MERITS OF DIFFERENT BREEDS
OF FOWLS.

HAVING hastily examined the proof sheets of "The American Poultry Yard," written by Mr. D. J. Browne, which you put into my hands, with a request that I should add something from my own experience, I am reminded of an anecdote that took place in this city some years ago. A gentleman being called upon to make the closing speech, at a public meeting, rose and said, he was an unfortunate man; that, since he came into the house, he had been robbed of everything he had intended to say on the subject under discussion, by the speakers who had gone before him; and that nothing was left for him to say which had not already been said. The application is obvious in the case before me.

The breeding of fowls, with many, is more a matter of fancy than of the intrinsic value of the different kinds; and the safest way of giving advice on this subject is to say, let each individual select that variety which he likes best, breed and compare the merits or demerits of each until his judgment is well founded upon actual experience, holding rigidly to the principle of not crossing different breeds for permanent use, but keeping them, if

possible, entirely distinct; for, in no other way, will the test be a fair one.

But, in respect to the comparative merits of the existing varieties of fowls in this country, I have but little to say. The Cochin-China, Shanghae, great Malay, jago, and other monstrous breeds produced by crossing with one another, in my humble opinion, are not the most desirable kinds for general use; as their legs are very long and large, which are bad points in a fowl; their flesh coarse; and they are great eaters; besides, they lay comparatively but few eggs, which are very liable to be trodden upon and broken at the time of sitting. I have bred most of them in their so-called purity, as well as many of their crosses, and I am free to say, there is no way to make them profitable except, perhaps, by caponising, and afterwards fattening them for market.

The Dorking is a fowl, all things considered, much to be preferred to all others for profit; but as their good qualities have been so minutely described in the able treatise before me, as well as in the back volumes of the American Agriculturist, it is needless to recapitulate them here. Their scarcity, as well as the high prices at which they are held by those who breed them in their purity, will, for some years, prevent them from coming into general use.

That there is a difference in the number and quality of eggs laid by different hens, I believe is conceded by all. Of these, the Polands stand first in public estimation; but to say or believe, that even these are "everlasting layers," is a great mistake. They are less inclined to sit, to be sure, and it is on this account that they have obtained the reputation of great layers; and for this reason, if I wanted eggs, only, and not chickens, I would keep this variety.

With most people, an egg is an egg, in the market, as in the old adage, "a pint is a pound, feathers or shot;' and the buyer seldom stops to think of the weight, although there may be three times the difference in the bulk of those in the same basket or cask. 'Tis not the largest eggs, however, that are the most profitable to the buyer, as the flavor differs not only in the different

breeds, but with the kind of food on which the hens are fed and the season of the year in which they are laid. Next to the Polands, in point of profit, the eggs of the Dorkings may be considered the best, although those of the Bantams and other small fowls are richer, betterflavored, and larger-yolked in proportion their size.

The Game Fowl, crossed with the Dorking, for the first or second cross, is an excellent bird both in the flavor of the flesh and eggs; but they are objectionable on account of their turbulent dispositions when kept with other fowls.

The little Bantams, however, can only be kept with any advantage as pets within doors, where the climate is severe. If their apartment be kept warm, they will lay abundanly during the winter and spring, producing delicious eggs, though small In size, at a time when other hen's eggs are scarce.

The Dominique Fowl is another breed becoming more and more in favor, as they are universally pronounced as being hardy, good layers, careful nurses, and affording excellent eggs and flesh. Besides, their beautiful appearance, when in full plumage, is quite an acquisition to the farm yard or the lawn.

As to the common Turkey, I have but little to say. I prefer the black or dark-colored varieties to all others, as they are generally the largest birds, are more hardy, and equal to the other kinds as to laying, rearing their young, as well as in the flavor of their flesh. Next to the black varieties, I prefer the buff-colored, which are quite as large, and perhaps as good in most of their other qualities; but last of all, I would select the white, which are decidedly less hardy, smaller in size, if they are not even inferior in other respects.

But of all domestic fowls, if not interfered with, the Guinea Hen is the greatest layer, the most faithful nurse, and the best adapted to get its own living when left to herself. These birds are not profitable to keep, however, where there are gardens or cultivated fields, as they will often devour or destroy, in a few hours, more than their eggs and carcasses are worth.

The most showy and magnificent bird of the farm

yard is the Peacock, which is of no use, except for admiring eyes to look upon. I need not describe the brilliancy of its plumage, the color of its various dyes, nor the unsurpassing elegance of its form. These are familiar to all. To use the words of a writer in the second volume of the "American Agriculturist," it is "idle and vagrant in its habits, mischievious in its propensities, and of little utility either in its carcass or its eggs; it is tolerant alone for its gorgeous display of plumage, and the showy splendor of its attitudes. I have kept them many years, and every year of my observation, only confirms in my mind the truth of the ancient proverb applied to the bird. 'It has the plumage of an angel, the voice of a devil, and the maw of a thief.' They are destructive in the garden, vindictive and quarrelsome among other poultry, without either merit of bravery, or energy of defence. Yet, after all, I like them; they make a beautiful show among the poultry, and add to the infinite and delightful variety of animated creatures, with which a kind Providence has blessed our vision."

Of the kind of Geese, I think the Bremen, crossed with the common China variety, the most profitable. They make a splendid bird; but I would never breed their hybrid progeny, if I could avoid it, beyond the first cross, except for the table.

Geese may be kept to advantage where there is a pond, or plenty of running water; but without these, the rearing of goslings never ought to be attempted, although they have been successfully raised without these-it cost more than it came to.

I have a few White, China Geese, which, with careful feeding and protection, lay nearly the whole year round. They can only be kept to advantage in a warm climate where the eggs could be hatched under a common hen.

The observation on geese will apply with equal force to Ducks-without a pond or running stream, it is not worth while to keep them; and unless they get some portion of their living out of the water, as cockles, mussels, weeds, &c., it is doubtful whether they afford much if any profit. Besides the common varieties, I

think the Muscovy or Musk Duck may be kept with some advantage to cross with them. Their offspring grow to a larger size, and when properly fattened, they are good for the table. Moreover, these birds, from their singular habits and unique appearance, are quite an acquisition to the poultry yard or farm.

It has been said that the Common Swan will not breed in this country, in consequence of the variableness of our climate. But this is an error, probably founded on ignorance of their habits, and the mode of propagation; for they have been successfully bred for a few years past by Mr. Roswell L. Colt, of Paterson, New Jersey, who has, by the by, a fine pond and every other accommodation necessary for rearing them.

Having written to Mr. Colt, a few days since for information on this subject, I have just received at this moment, the following reply:

DEAR SIR,

ones.

Paterson, December 31st, 1849.

You ask me what success I have had with my swans. I got them from France four years ago last spring. The first year, they did not lay. I suppose they were young The second year, I had two eggs which did not hatch. The third year, I had five eggs, four of them hatching out in thirty-nine days. The fourth year, (that is the last summer,) I had six eggs, all of which hatched out on the third of June, also in thirty-nine days. The swan lays an egg every other day, and begins to lay here towards the last of April. I have lost two young ones; but on examination could not discover any cause for death.

Swans must have an abundance of clean water to swim in. I feed mine with Indian corn, rye, oats, and buckwheat, put at the edge of the pond, close to the water, as they like to wash down their food as they partake of it. When the cygnets are young, I give them Indian meal, mixed with water and boiled potatoes, broken up. I throw into the water some clover, green leaves of Indian corn, lettuce, cabbage, spinach, besides