Sussex.—This breed has long been noted for excellent table qualities, and those who have any interest in the table poultry industry realise its value either pure or when used for the produc tion of crosses. The Sussex fowl will improve the table qualities of any breed or variety, and some of the finest quality table birds are the result of using this cross. The breed seems well adapted for heavy soils, and for the production of winter eggs, but, with the exception of the Light variety, eggs are often of secondary importance. During the past ten years the Light Sussex has been boomed in connection with its egg producing qualities ; many strains have been trapnested, and individual records have been good. It is a fine all round, dual purpose breed and each year breeders whose aim is a combination of eggs and flesh, give it more attention. The hens cross remarkably well with some of the popu lar nonsitting blood, and when mated with the Wyandotte produce good quality chickens.
Rock.—Of the Rock varieties, little attention is being paid in England to any but the Buff. Barreds are seldom bred for egg production, and Whites and Blacks do not find favour in the egg or table poultry trade. Buffs, however, are attractive, and show signs of improvement, both in colour of plumage, and in egg-laying qualities. With careful breeding and selection they should equal the Rhodes in egg laying qualities, and those who keep them speak highly of their unusual winter egg production. For cross breeding the males are good, and it is one of the few heavy breeds useful for sex linkage purposes. The Plymouth Rock is popular in America, where it has proved to be a good egg pro ducer as well as a meat breed. It is a bird of good size, rather long bodied, broad, with a fairly prominent breast. It has a single comb, yellow skin, yellow beak and shanks. and lays a brown-shelled egg.
Orpington.—For heavy winter egg production under trying conditions the Buff is hard to surpass. Buffs and Whites have always led the way in the Orpington world as egg producers, and these two varieties have an excellent combination of the qualities required in the dual purpose fowl. Their susceptibility to broodi ness in the spring and summer, together with their indifferent foraging qualities, has probably accounted for a general falling off in numbers. Although their table qualities are good, they do not equal the Sussex. The chickens are slower in developing, and do not carry much meat on a somewhat large frame during early stages of growth. In course of time, however, the Orpington breed will develop heavy good-quality chickens, and excellent progeny are obtained by crossing with the Sussex breed or with the Game, Faverolle or Dorking.
Faverolles are looked upon as table birds rather than egg pro ducers and are usually not kept in great numbers. Good strains
will produce winter eggs in good numbers, but there are long periods of broodiness. To those who wish to produce highest grade table chickens, the breed has unique merit. The chickens develop rapidly and a saleable bird may be guaranteed at 16 weeks. In the Heathfield and other southern districts, where large num bers of table chickens are bred, the Faverolle is used with the Sussex for the production of early maturing chickens, and the progeny fetch high prices at Smithfield.
Game in their many varieties play an important part in the pro duction of table poultry, but the chief varieties used are Indian and Old English for crossing with any of the above heavy breeds. They are unequalled for producing heavy-weight chicks, breast meat being a special feature. Growth, however, is somewhat slower than with some of the other table varieties already men tioned, but time will produce the desired weight. Game males will improve the meat qualities of any table breed, the Indian giving the heaviest type, and the Old English the best quality birds. For farmers who desire to produce a few good quality table chickens at the end of the breeding season, there is no better means of doing this than by using the Game male. Game-Light Sussex chickens rank amongst the sex-linked types, a matter which need not however be considered when breeding for table purposes.
Dorkings have played a prominent part in the table poultry industry, and it is hardly necessary to mention the results ob tained from the Game-Dorking cross. It is one of the most popu lar table crosses, and secures the production of heavy weight and exceptionally full breasted birds.
Incubation.—One of the problems which all poultry keepers have to face every year is the incubating and rearing of sufficient eggs and chickens to secure the necessary pullets for replenishing the old stock. Various methods of maintaining the stock at its proper level have been put forward from time to time, such as the introduction of only a third of the pullets every year, instead of 5o%, as is the custom of many. The latter policy, however, is sound, and affords an opportunity for cutting rearing expenses to a minimum. To rear only one-third pullets every year leaves the farmer with far too high a percentage of old birds, which may or may not prove their worth as layers. Artificial incubation presents no great difficulties nowadays, and even the novice can secure good results if the right machines are used and properly manipulated and the breeding stock is sound. There is an assortment in incu bators on the market, and most of the best makes are capable of giving excellent results. Mammoth machines are steadily forging ahead and taking the place of the smaller types.