2. Spanish.—Noble birds, abundant layers of very large eggs, may be kept in confined spaces more readily than other breeds, no mothers, but the chickens hardy, only wanting extra attention at about a month to six weeks old when feathering, good table-bird—should be well kept.
3. Dorking.—Genuine old English fowl, somewhat delicate in con stitution, and seems to thrive most on warm and dry soils ; eggs large and well-flavoured, but not abundant, fair mothers, chickens not so easy to rear as other breeds, splendid table-fowl where a large plump bird is preferred, wants liberal keep and warm housing.
4. Gold and Silver Pencilled Haniburgs.—Extremely elegant in ap pearance, forage well for their living, but require more feeding than the game fowl lay abundantly, but small eggs ; never incubate, or but very rarely ; chickens somewhat difficult to rear, unless In very favonred splits; nice birds for eating, but small ; limit have a good rank„-e to keep them in health.
Spangled Hanglougs.—Very handsome, abundant layers, chickens tolerably hardy, and a very good bird for the table ; their incubating qualities are seldom manifested ; require a good run.
0. l'oliale.—Good layers, very elegant in form, rare incubators, chickens very delicate at first, warm housing indispensable.
7. asAia.—Variealplumage hardy, excellent eggs and more abun dant than any other breed, good mothers. chickens strong, and grow rapidly under 5ood feeding • good for table at four months old, but not after ; requrre very liberal feeding ; feathers valuable.
Those who intend to rear fowls or any kind of poultry on a Large scale, should have a distinct yard, perfectly sheltered, and with a warm aspect, well fenced, secure from thieves and vermin, and sufficiently inclined to be always dry, and supplied with sand or ashes for the cocks and hens to roll in, an operation necessary to disengage their feathers from vermin : running water should be especially provided; for the want of water, of which all poultry are fond, produces consti pation of the bowels and inflammatory diseases ; and for geese and ducks, bathing is an indispensable luxury. A contiguous field is also necessary for free exercise, as well as for the supply of grubs and grass to the geese. The fowl-house should be dry, well-roofed, and fronting the east or south, and, if practicable, at the back of a stove or stables ; warmth being conducive to health and Laying, though extreme heat has the contrary effect. It should be furnished with two small lattice
windows, that can be opened or shut at pleasure, at opposite ends, for ventilation, which is frequently necessary ; and the perches should be so arranged, that one row of roosting fowls should not be directly above another.
M. Parmentier has shown e Dictionnaire d'Agriculturo') by what arrangement a house twenty feet long and twelve feet wide may be made to accommodate 150 hens at roost. The plan is this :—the first roosting-perch (rounded a little at the upper angles only, for gallinaceous fowls cannot keep a firm hold on perfectly cylindrical supporters) should be placed lengthways, and rest on trowels in each end wall, six feet from the front wall, and at a convenient height, which must depend on the elevation of the house from the which should be formed of some well consolidated material that can be easily swept. Another perch should be fixed ladder-ways (en echelon) above this, but ten inches nearer to the back wall, and so on, until there are four of these perches, like the steps of a ladder when properly inclined, but with a sufficient distance between the wall and the upper one to allow the poultry-maid to stand conveniently upon when she has occasion to examine the nests, which it is her duty to do every day at least once, and in the forenoon. The highest of these she can reach by standing on a stool or step-ladder. By this contrivance the hens, when desirous of reaching the nests, have no occasion to fly, but merely to pass from one stick to another. If the size and form of the house permit, a similar construction may be made on the opposite side, care being taken to leave an open space in the middle of the room, and a sufficiently wide passage for the atten to pass along the walls. It is not at all required to have as many nests as liens, because they have not all occasion to occupy them at the same time ; and besides, they are so far from having a repugnance to lay in a common receptacle, that the sight of an egg stimulates them to lay. It is however true that the most secluded and darkest nests are those which the hens prefer.