FoodNet

The housekeeper's companion

1883

Page 176

Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
which resembles that on the breast of the Cuckoo. The pre- vailing color is a slaty blue, undulated, and softly shaded with white all over the body, forming bands of various widths. The comb is very small; irides, bright orange; feet and legs, light flesh color. The hens are of good size; the cocks are large, approaching the heaviest breeds in weight. The chickens, at two or three months old, exhibit the barred plumage even more perfectly than the fulhgrown birds. The eggs average about two ounces each, are white, and of porcelain smooth- ness. The newly-hatched chickens are gray, much resembling those of the Silver Polands except in the color of the feet and legs. This breed supplies an unfailing troop of good layers, good sitters, good mothers and good feeders; and is well worth pro- motion in the poultry-yard. The Dominique. — This seems to be a tOierably distinct and permanent variety, about the size of the common dunghill fowl. Their combs are generally double — or rose, as it is sometimes called — and the wattles small. Their plumage pre- sents, all over, a sort of greenish appearance, from a peculiar arrangement of blue and white feathers, which is the chief characteristic of the variety; although, in some specimens, the plumage is invariably gray in both cock and hen. They are very hardy, healthy, excellent layers, and capital incubators. No fcwl have better stood the tests of mixing without deterior- ating than the pure Dominique. Their name is taken from the island of Dominica, from which they are reported to have been importe/i. Take all in all, they are one of the very best breeds of fowl which we have; and, although they do not come in to laying so young as the Spanish, they are far better sitters and nurses. The Dorking. — This has been termed the Capon Fowl of England. It forms the chief supply for the Ijondon market, and is distinguished by a white or flesh-colored smooth leg, armed with five, instead of four toes, on each foot. Its flesh is extremely delicate, especially after caponization; and it has the advantage over some other fowls of feeding rapidly, and growing to a very respectable size when properly managed. for those who wish to stock their poultry yards with fowls 254 POULTRY. of the most desirable shape and size, clothea m rich and van- gated plumage, and, ^ t expecting perfection, are willing to overlook one or two c ' r points, the Speckled Dorkings — so called from the \. . of Surrey, England, which brought them into modern repute — should selected. The hens, in addi- tion to the gay colors, hcvc 1 i^ge, vertically flat comb, which, when they are in h\^h ]■ ..'i, adds very much to their brilliant appearance, particular]/ '.l seen in bright sunshine. The cocks are magnificent, '^'he : lost gorg( • hues are lavished upon them, which their jr':;at size and peculiarly square-built form display to the great j^^t advantage. Their legs are short; their breast broad; there >, ^^ut a small proportion of offal; and the good, profitable flesh i ; abundant. The c^ ':s may be brought to considerable weight, and the flavor and appearance of their meat are .nferior to none. The :ggs are produced in reason- able abundance; and, though not equal in size to those of Spanish hens, may fairly be called large.