Excerpt from American Farming and Stock Raising, With Useful Facts for the Household, Vol. 3 of 3: Devoted to Farming in All Its Departments

As the temperature of the Southern States admits of birds being raised at all times of the year, we would recommend for that section of our country, Light Brahmas and Black Cochins for large stock; for those of smaller size, Houdans, Plymouth Rocks, and Leg horns. All other breeds must be looked upon from a fancier's standpoint, wherein taste must be the rule, as they are kept quite as much for pleasure as profit. But do not consider us as condemning outright all other birds, for we do not.

They will all pay a profit over and above their keeping; the Creator of all things has made them with qualities suited to their purpose, and just in proportion to the care we give our fowls, will we reap a. Harvest, no matter what the class; for instance: if the Light Brahmas lay ten eggs more in a year than any other of the Asiatic class, then they become the best practically, and must be the bird chosen, as one Light Brahma hen pays the interest on three dollars more, as an investment, by her earnings. This however does not argue that all the Asiatics are not good.

Just so with the middle class - locality and adaptability being first considered, next, the economic value. While Houdans maybe better for France, and Black J avas for all purposes where only one breed is to be kept, and eggs as the sole product; we find that White Leghorns are the best for all sections of the country, since they will lay more and larger eggs than any of the non-sitting breeds, except the Black Spanish. Which lay larger eggs, but being more delicate to rear, and less desirable as a table fowl, must go into the list of fancy stock; - hence we see that for the greater profit, in both poultry and eggs, the Light Brahmas, Plymouth Rocks, and Leghorns are the three best, while the best cross for all purposes is the mating of a White Leghorn cock to a Light Brahma hen.

To Show the various preferences of bird fanciers and breeders on the subject of choice, we give a few other opinions from different sources. An extensive breeder gives his opinion as follows From all I could learn after a careful study of the subject, I decided that for both meat and eggs, no variety ranked higher than the Light Brahma, while for eggs the Brown Leghorns; were perhaps first. For experiment I wished varieties as diverse as possible, and secured them in the above breeds. The color and size of the eggs, and the appearance, habit, and temperament of the fowls are indeed very wide apart. With the Light Brahmas we have not been disappointed. They have proved even better layers in winter than our Brown Leghorns; their eggs are fine in quality, large, and of rich color. At the age of Six months the cockerels weigh seven and eight pounds, and while they may not quite equal the Games, the Dorkings, or the Houdans for table use, I am sure no one will go away hungry or dissatisfied from a dinner graced by a Light Brahma.

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