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MINORCAS OF
EVERY COMB
AND COLORE

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ORGE H„ NORTHUP,

RAOEVILLE, N. Y.

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GEORGE H. NORTHUP.

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Minorcas of Every Comb and Color

By GEORGE H. NORTHUP,

Secretary-Treasurer of American Black Minorca Club.
Secretary-Treasurer of Inter-National Rose Comb Black Minorca Club.

RACEVILLE, NEW YORK,
1907.

Copyrighted, 1907, By GEORGE H. NORTHUP.

PRESS OF
THE POULTNEY JOURNAL

POULTNEY, VT.

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INDEX

History of Minorcas 7

Hardiness of Black Minorcas 12

Description of Single Comb Black Minorcas 17

The Minorca as a General Purpose Fowl 21

Origin of Rose. Comb Black Minorcas , 29

Progress of Rose Comb Black Minorcas 33

The Comparative Value of Rose and Single Comb Minorcas. . 40

How to Select and Make Minorcas 42

The Time of Year to Hatch Minorcas 48

Hatching and Rearing Minorca Chicks 49

Influence of Color-Breeding on Color of Eggs 53

Color and Development of Color in Black Minorcas 56

Fitting Minorcas for the Show Room 62

History of Single Comb White Minorcas 65

Single Comb White Minorcas 67

Rose Comb White Minorcas 68

Rose Comb White Minorcas, by G. A. Clark 69

Buff Minorcas, Mottled Minorcas and Barred Minorcas 73

Preface.

My first book on Minorcas was received with much favor
by admirers of this noble breed of fowls, many compli-
mentary things were said of it by the press and I am sure
the facts it contains in regard to the Minorca fowl have
been the means of bringing the excellent qualities of that
breed to the favorable notice of many people who, without
such a book, would not have given special attention to
Minorcas. For these reasons I have felt well paid for the
work of writing that book. Since then, nine years have
elapsed, wonderful progress has been made in Minorca in-
terests and recently many requests have come to me from
Minorca fanciers for another book which should go further
into details and follow the subject of Minorcas down to the
present time. Such a book I have endeavored to make
" Minorcas of Every Comb and Color." I hope it will be
all that experienced breeders anticipate and desire, a help
over difficulties to those admirers of Minorcas whose exper-
ience with them is limited, and a means of presenting Min-
orcas in their true light to people who desire a thoroughly
practical breed of poultry from which the greatest possible
profit can be derived.

Mam>- thanks are due to members of the American Black
Minorca club and the Inter-national Rose Comb Black Min-
orca Club for their untiring efforts to breed the best type
of these two varieties and to the clubs, as organizations, for
their part in distributing to the public such knowledge of
Minorcas as their members have gained from practical ex-
perience, and interchange of ideas as to the best methods

35853

6 MlttORCAS OF

of breeding. I recommend all who are interested in Min-
orcas and wish to keep abreast of the times in all that per-
tains to the Single or Rose Comb Black Minorcas to be-
come members of one or both clubs and take an active part
in the work.

If I seem to have given the Minorca fowl too much praise
in the varous articles which make up this book, let it be
remembered that all has been written under the inspiring
influence and in the presence of many proud representa-
tives of the Minorca breed, to whom and their ancestors I
owe much for the help they have given me in gaining own-
ership of my home and the small city of Minorca buildings
which surround it as well as many other comforts of life
which I enjoy.

Pen of Single Comb Black Minorcas. First Prize at Madison Square Gar-
den, 1907. First Prize at Boston, 1907. Compliments of Frank McGrann,
President American Black Minorca Club.

HISTORY OF MINORCAS.

The earliest Minorcas of which, anything is known
were the Single Comb Blacks. In writing their early
history it is necessary to cnll such facts as have the
strongest evidence of authenticity, from much which
has been reported about them.

There are indisputable records of Single Comb Black
Minorcas being bred in England more than seventy
years ago. These same records show conclusively that
the general characteristics and appearance of Black
Minorcas of that time were essentially the same as we
find them in our average specimens of the present day.
As long ago as we find anything reported of Minorcas
their excellent laying qualities have been the remarkable
feature which commended them to poultry men and
fanciers wherever they were bred.

' ' They lay more and larger eggs than any other breed
of fowls known," has been so often said of them that
their very name, Minorca, has become a synonym of
wonderful egg production in every clime where Minorcas
have been bred in their purity. A peculiar feature of
the Minorca breed and one in which it is conspicuously
unique, in contrast with most all other standard breeds,
is the fact that the original type has been preserved so
perfectly that our best Minorcas now, those which are
in greatest favor with Minorca fanciers, answer closely
to the earliest descriptions of Minorcas which we can
find recorded. The cause of this wonderful tenacity of
type is attributed to the strong native qualities and
tendencies which have always characterized Minorcas as
a distinct breed. Besides, the great objects people have
had in mind when breeding Minorcas, have been their
hardiness and usefulness, two qualities which the breed
has so well maintained as to keep it always in favor
with a practical and thrifty class of breeders who had
no admiration for the freaks and eccentricities in na-

8 MINORCAS OF

ture except as curios, but who could and did appreciate
the strong, well-formed and characteristic specimens of
bird and animal life as the best handiwork of a wise
Creator.

The name ' ' Minorca ' ' could not have been derived
from any characteristic of the fowls to which it was
given, because they are naturally a large sized fowl. It
is a remarkable feature of them, as prominent as the
great number and large size of their eggs, that they have
much larger bodies than any other non-sitting breed of
fowls. Therefore it is very probable that the tradition
that they were natives of the Island of Minorca is cor-
rect, and that the name was given them because they
were brought directly from that island to England. The
Island of Minorca is the second largest of the Balearic
group and is situated about 125 miles from the mouth
of the Ebro, a river of Spain. The earliest date of im-
portation of Minorcas to England which can be abso-
lutely proven is 1834, but it is believed that Minorcas
had been brought to England before that date, and that
they came direct from the Island of Minorca.

Mr. Lewis Wright says in the Illustrated Book of
Poultry: " There is more evidence than usual for the
source of this breed being truly represented by its name.
Mr. Leworthy told us that Mr. Willis, a friend of his,
had seen them in Minorca, and the Rev. Thomas Cox,
of Castle Cary, informs us on the direct authority of
Sir Thomas Ackland that his father, the former Baro-
net, undoubtedly brought some from that island direct
to England in 1834 or 1835, and kept them for years
at Holnicote. It is doubtful if the fowl was not already
known in the west of England, but there is no doubt
but that one strain did diverge from this ascertained
importation, and the breed was for years known and
prized in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, before known
elsewhere."

We have it from good authority that Minorcas were
the progenitors of the White Faced Black Spanish. The
greatest difference between the two breeds is that in
breeding the Spanish for the white face they have been
in-bred so much as to establish a weaker constitution,

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 9

lower vitality and smaller size. This demonstrates the
advantage of keeping a good breed always at its natural
best.

Minorcas were bred many years in the Southwestern
part of England for purely practical purposes before any
attention -was given them as a specially fancy fowl, and
a separate class for them in the show-room was a very
unusual occurrence until a few years before they were
first imported to America. But when once admitted to
the show-room as a fancy breed they rapidly grew in fa-
vor with the English Fancier and have for about 30
years been among the chief • attractions of English
poultry shows.

It was from England that the first Minorcas were
brought to America. I quote a letter from Mr. Henry
Hales in which he writes of some Minorcas which were
probably the first ever brought to America. The same
letter was recently published in the catalogue of the
American Black Minorca Club and is as follows:

11 In the early seventies I heard of some Black Minor-
cas on Staten Island, N. Y. I went there and found a
lawyer named Carey at New Brighton, who had some
beautiful birds he had imported and I procured some
from him. These birds were of very large size, long
square bodies of very beautiful plumage, and the hens'
combs, as well as the cocks', were very large, but most
prominent was the green sheen of the whole plumage.
I have kept an eye on Black Minorcas ever since, and I
cannot see any improvement of the original stock, either
in combs, size or plumage, especially of the fine green
sheen which I think at the present day is only equalled
in a few choice strains of this breed. In looking over
the Black Minorcas from year to year, including New
York and Boston show exhibits this season, I do not see
that the largest are any larger than those I kept in the
early seventies. The combs are not as large, especially
the females. The type of the best birds is about the
same, though the legs may be a trifle longer."

Henry Hales is a naturalist of considerable ability and
reputation and one of our most skillful breeders! He
was exhibiting Black Spanish in 1858 and 1859 and is

io MWORCAS OF

today one of our best Dorking breeders. The Minorcas
which he speaks of seeing at New Brighton in the " early
seventies " were undoubtedly allowed to lose their iden-
tity in a short time by intermixture with other breeds
because we have no further account of them; and when
Mrs. Cynthia Sargent, Francis Morimer, J. D. Nevius
and myself began importing Black Minorcas in 1885 and
1886 they were considered an entirely new breed in this
country and were so reported by the poultry press and
poultrymen in general.

In America, Minorcas never had a boom, but the repu-
tation which their good qualities had established for
them in England was quickly reported here, and Ameri-
can breeders were prepared to welcome them on account
of their reputed worth. So Minorcas were hardly estab-
lished here before it was seen that more eggs than the
first importations could produce were wanted for imme-
diate hatching and each year found too few Minorcas
to supply the growing demand. This situation was a
temptation to a few unscrupulous breeders to " pad '
their Black Minorca breeding pens with Black Leghorns
to enable them to produce a larger number of eggs which
people would buy, believing them to be the produce of
pure Minorcas. It was currently reported that one man
who advertised extensively as an importer of Black
Minorcas, bought fifty Black Leghorn hens, yarded them
with his Black Minorcas and sold eggs, for hatching,
from the whole lot together as Black Minorca eggs.
This deception could not be detected so easily then as
the same could now, because until after the Standard
was revised in 1889, " black or nearly black " legs were
required for Black Leghorns and legs of any other color
disqualified them. After the change in the Standard
made yellow, or yellowish black, the correct color for
the legs of Black Leghorns there was another influx to
the Minorca ranks because the new situation afforde I
a new tenrptation to the same unscrupulous class to palm
off as many black legged Black Leghorns for Black
Minorcas as unsuspecting people would buy. This dast-
ardly work, so quietly and quickly done, produced evil
results, which required much time to correct, because

EVERY CO MB AND COLOR it

many people, who were deceived into buying cross-bred
or falsely named fowls, thought them to be genuine
Minorcas and treated them as such, breeding them and
selling them as true Minorcas. Thus a strong Leghorn
tendency was seen in many fowls which were called
Minorcas, and while most breeders now recognize the
true Minorca type, there are still some who suppose it
to be a new type and think that the earlier Minorca
was represented by the cross-bred specimens which I
have described. But absolutely pure Minorcas of the
best type were kept and bred, from the start, by some
of the more sagacious and honest American breeders
who appreciated the excellence of the breed and knew
that if carefully preserved it would eventually win the
distinction and popularity which we are realizing in the
Black Minorcas of the present day. Thus unlimited ef-
fort has been made to preserve the native excellence
of Minorcas, and those who made the effort deserve much
credit. Such breeders, together with those who have
appreciated and encouraged their work, are being re-
paid by greater success than anyone could have antici-
pated from the beginning; because from year to year
Minorcas have steadily gained in favor, until today
they are more" popular with American poultrymen than
they have been at any time since they first entered our
ports.

Notwithstanding the fact that Black Minorcas have
been very extensively bred throughout the United States
and Canada for nearly twenty years, the demand for
them has increased more rapidly than the supply, and
the present indications are that it will be many years
before Minorca fanciers can keep enough Minorca fowls
to be able to make prompt shipments of fowls and eggs
at all times. There is room for thousands more breeders
to take up Minorcas and give them their whole atten-
tion and best skill before the supply will be plentiful
for all who desire them. Long before the present breed-
ing season commenced it was impossible to find a Min-
orca fowl for sale, every available Black Minorca hen I
know of has 'been called into service to supply eggs for

i2 MiNOKCAS oP

hatching and thousands more Black Minorca eggs would
have been set if they could have been produced.

Minorcas have gained importance in the show-room
in the same proportion as they have in other depart-
ments of usefulness and are among the most favored
breeds of fowls from the fancier's standpoint as well
as for eggs and market purposes.

HARDINESS OF BLACK MINORCAS.

Next to profitable productive ability there is nothing
so important in the domestic fowl or animal as natural
hardiness, and the Black Minorca is physically strong
and hardy. Its native strength has not been sacrificed
for the sake of breeding for unnatural peculiarities, as
has been the case with many varieties of fowls, but
being bred always to preserve, and if possible, improve
its natural vigor and productiveness, it is one of the
hardiest in the whole list of standard fowls. This can
easily be demonstrated by anyone who will undertake
to raise a flock of Black Minorca chickens. If given just
ordinary care, clean quarters and protection from birds
and animals of prey, they thrive from the start and
make strong, vigorous fowls. In the whole twenty-one
years that I have bred Black Minorca chicks I have
never seen one of them afflicted with gaps.

There is some prejudice against black plumage for
domestic fowls, but the reasons given for objecting to
black fowls are of no importance and we have good au-
thority for saying that abundance of color pigment, in
animal physique, indicates a proportional amount of vi-

EVERY COMB A IV D COLOR 13

tality and vigor, and the black pigment indicates a
stronger nature than any lighter color.

One English naturalist, speaking of the different va-
rieties of Leghorns and the importance of color breed-
ing, says by way of illustration that the blacks are the
most economical, are very wild and very hardy; be-
cause very near to the natural color. Another speaks
of the black leopard and the black rabbit as examples
of exceptional abundance of vigor, in which the visible
result is the excess of pigment. He thinks, too, that
vigor and hardiness are accompaniments of yellow pig-
ment, but perhaps not so jjwich so as of the black. He
says: " We are accustonBh to think that abundance
of coloring matter indicates vigor, richness of blood, and
for some years we have maintained that the presence of
black pigment communicated to the flesh of fowls a
special savor; and we have been equally accustomed to
think that the absence of coloring matter indicates
weakness, poverty of blood, anaemia, etc., etc."

In this connection I think it not out of place to reprint
an article on this subject which was written at my re-
quest for the American Black Minorca Club's catalogue
by Judge L. C. Hoi den as follows:

Two years ago I furnished, by request, a letter on
" Minorcas in the Far North." That favor was asked
of me because I live farther North than any other mem-
ber of the American Black Minorca Club — my resi-
dence being at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the outlet
of Lake Superior. By that letter I tried to satisfy its
readers that the Black Minorca thrives as well here as
in the more southern latitudes. The " cold facts " of
the situation had long before satisfied me that no breed
will thrive here better than our own black beauties. I
am now asked to contribute a letter on the " Hardiness
of Black Minorcas," but I would hesitate to " tell the
whole truth," but for the fact that I am fortified by
eye witnesses, and a part of this history has already
been preserved by the photographer's art. In the first
place I do not class myself as a skilled fancier, but as
a breeder for practical purposes — results — though I must
admit that at the County Fairs and the Winter shows

i4 MINORCAS OF

hereabouts my Black Minorcas have never failed to win
first, second and third prizes for singles, pairs and pens;
and now to freshen the blood, our best breeding pen
has in it the first prize cockerel at the Michigan State
Fair of 1904 — purchased after his winning the blue,
from Jacob Beauman, who bred him, and at our recent
winter show he outclassed any I had raised by 1%
points, according to the markings of Judge Frank W.
Traviss, and I think he is as hardy as those- of our own
raising.

But now to the story of actual hardiness. About three
years ago I entered my coop one morning and found
one of my best Black Minorca pullets apparently suffer-
ing from some strange malady. She stood bracing and
her head was on the ground with the underside of the
beak uppermost. She was at once isolated without ex-
amination. She continued in this condition for two days,
when, having more time, I carefully examined her and
found her neck had been broken near the body, a sec-
tion of the neck bone having slipped by so that the dis-
jointed condition could be plainly felt. She was exam-
ined by neighbors and then I pulled and pressed the
neck bone into place. In other words I reduced the frac-
ture, or set her neck. For a few hours after my surgical
operation she was much weaker than before and could
not stand, but the following day she could walk around
and carry her head riarht side up and on a level with
her back. In two or three more days I could not tell
her from my others and have never known since then
which she is, but I do know that she still lives and con-
tinues to lay the great white eggs and lots of them. I
do not kill off my Minorcas until they are quite old, for
they continue to lay all right until they are several
years old (much older, I think, than most other breeds)
and then are still prime for the table. Notwithstanding
I keep them to a good old age, yet I have never in all
the years I have kept them had but two Black Minorcas
die a natural death, though in the meantime I have had
plenty of other breeds sicken and die on exactly the same
keep — all running together, except at breeding time.
Some fancier of other breeds may ask why I keep any

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

15

other breeds if Minorcas are so much better. I answer,
' ' I keep the others to do the setting, as my Minorcas
will not set and I do not use an incubator."

November 12th, 1904, Herbert V. Hughes, proprietor

of the Belvidere Hotel
in this city, killed a
number of fowls for
the usual Sunday
chicken dinner at the
hotel. The killing was
done in the usual
manner by holding the
birds by the feet and
chopping their heads
off with an axe upon
a block and throwing
the bodies into an
empty barrell. A few
hours later the girls
of the hotel went to
the shed to pick and
dress the fowls, when
a Black Minorca pullet was taken from the barrel and her
feathers pulled, she flopped, and the girl dropped her
in fright. The pullet, the headless, like the others,
struck on her feet and slowly walked around the room,
whereupon the sirls, all terrorized, ran into the hotel
screaming. Investigation followed and it was discov-
ered that the Black Minorca, the entirely headless, re-
fused to die.

The local papers told the story and for more than two
weeks great crowds thronged the Hotel Belvidere to see
the strange and unbelievable sight of a living headless
hen. Everybody who heard of it seemed to be from
Missouri and would not believe until they had actually
seen and critically examined, whereupon they would go
forth among their friends, telling the truth, only to be
disbelieved by all listeners who had not already seen the
sight, stranger than fiction,

i6

MINOR CAS OF

Mr. Hughes fed the hen by means of a syringe injected
into the raw end of the food pipe. Biddy seemed to
relish it. At times she would walk slowly about, stretch
up and flap her wings, going through the motion of try-
ing to adjust and smooth her ruffled feathers as though
her head had not been chopped off. At other times she
would turn on her perch, sit down and get up and turn

again, and at other
times tried to croke
or sing. She appear-
ed not to suffer pain
and to be as happy

and contented as any
lien.

On the 25th day
of November Mr.
Hughes took the
biddy to the photo-
graph gallery of Lock-
wood & Lemon, Sault
Ste. Marie, Michigan,
where, sitting upon a
perch, she was twice
photographed, and at
my request, Seeman &
Peters of Saginaw, Michigan, have made the photograveur
cuts accompanying this article for the benefit of those who
could not, without them, bring themselves to believe the
truth of the story of Hughes' headless hen.

The pictures show her feathers badly ruffled and dis-
ordered. That condition resulted from much handling
by persons who would not believe their own eyes, but
would insist on handling her over and pulling her feath-
ers apart to see if there were not some mechanical de-
vice employed to deceive the eye. This Minorca lived
until November 30th, five days after the accompanying
pictures were taken and seventeen days after her head
was chopped off with an axe, when she died, the result
of the attendant, in Mr. Hughes' absence, carelessly al-

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 17

lowing the end of the neck to heal over the end of the
windpipe, so closely as to smother or choke her to death.

Hundreds saw the headless hen and hundreds won-
dered; but all were convinced that this Minorca hen lived
seventeen days without a head, in defiance of nature
and nature's laws. Had she received the same care which
the President of this club gives his Minorcas she might
have been still living and equaled in value the one thous-
and dollar cockerel of the same breed.

Inasmuch as Minorcas will not die off like others by
reason of illness, but live on in good health and lay on
in great numbers, refuse to die when their necks are
broken, and demonstrate the fact that you can not kill
them with an axe, who shall say the Black Minorcas are
not the hardiest and most healthy hens in the world?

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan,
March 15, 1905.

DESCRIPTION OF SINGLE COMB BLACK
MINORCAS.

The standard weight for Single Comb Black Minorcas
is nine pounds for cock, seven and one-half for hen,
seven and one-half for cockerel and six and one-half
for pullet. Minorcas belong to the Mediterranean class
and are the largest fowl in that class. There was a
period in their history when the Blacks were called
Red Faced Black Spanish and some writers think that
was their original name, but in this respect I believe
they are mistaken and that it was only a local and tem-
porary appellation first used 30 or 40 years after they
were well established as Minorcas.

They are distinguished by length of back and depth
of body, high stature, a large strong frame amply
rounded out with the most flexible and elastic muscles.

FIW1 PHOTO^ftflpn
&>&D\0nKt»fiY

Clo.hmorthw_

aopvniaHTeo

ELEGANTA

Weight, 7 1-4 pounds.

This hen was sired by Black Giant, and is a sister to a bird
which as cockerel won first in breeding pen at New York, and sev-
eral other Madison Square winners. She is also sister to Toro,
whose cut appears in this book. Her comb is as near perfect under
the requirements of the new standard as it is possible to imagine.
Her form for elegance and her carriage for style is about allthat can
be desired,

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 19

The Minorca is elegant in form rather than clumsy or
awkward, and its every motion indicates strength, vigor
and grace. Instead of moving slowly, as many large
fowls do, it is sprightly and ever on the alert to win its
food and avoid its enemies. Another characteristic of
the Minorca, and one in which it is unlike other large
fowls, is that its feathers lie smoothly and very close
to its body, for which reason the Minorca looks much
smaller than other fowls of the same weight and has a
smoother and more stylish appearance. It is impos-
sible to conceive of any more beautiful and perfect adap-
tation of structure to the conditions of existence and
functions of life than that which is exhibited in the
Minorca with reference to its intended mode of life.
Since the Minorca was admitted to the American Stand-
ard in 1888 it has been favored by having a standard
made to fit the best natural type of the breed instead
of being encumbered with unnatural requirements and
having its best development hampered to suit passing
fads and fancies of the hour.

The standard weights as given at the beginning of
this chapter are about the average weights, for though
some cocks have reached eleven pounds and some hens
weigh eight and one-half pounds each, others, which
are equally well bred, fall below the standard weight
according to conditions which are more or less favor-
able to vigorous growth. It is very easy to breed good
stock so that nearly all specimens will reach the stand-
ard in weight and approach creditably near to it in
other points. ■ But so much depends on food and care
during the period of growth, and nature is so eccentric
in her freaks, that it would be unreasonable to expect
all specimens of any variety of fowls to be exactly the
same size or without variation in other respects. The
aim of the standard is to describe an ideal bird which is
a composite of the best in each section as seen in the
best specimens of the breed when reared under the most
favorable conditions. It is by breeding to produce birds
as near as possible to this described ideal and by bring-
ing the best results of our labor together in the show-
room for comparison that American Minorca fanciers

20 MINORCAS OF

have been able, not only to perpetuate the original ex-
cellence of Black Minorcas, bnt to improve their quali-
ties of usefulness.

In external appearance no fowl is more beautiful
than the Single Comb Black' Minorca, with its glisten-
ing plumage of solid green black, its bright red face
and large comb and wattles of same color, with the large
pure white almond shaped ear-lobe, which intervenes
between the bright red of comb and face and the metallic
green black plumage, contrasting beautifully with both.

While the legs of the Black Minorca are dark colored
below the feathers, the skin of the Minorca, which is
covered with feathers, is delicate white. The legs of
the Minorca are long and in good proportion to the long
sloping back. -In color, the darker the legs the better.
However, the color of legs is different at different ages,
varying in young chicks from light to nearly black in
different specimens. The lightest colored legs of chicks
become as dark as the darkest at maturity. The best
specimens have black or nearly black legs by the time
they are eight months old, but after the bird has reached
full maturity its legs grow lighter in color as it ad-
vances in age.

For description of shape of comb see the ideal cuts
of male and female. Notice that the comb of male has
six even serrations, that it follows the shape of the neck,
but does not rest on the feathers, is smooth from front
to back, also straight and erect and has a broad base
which makes the comb less liable to lop. Now I would
call attention to the wattles. The same cut shows that
they should be of equal length, soft and falling with
the edges turned outward, but free from folds or
wrinkles. The comb of the Minorca hen is quite large
and is similar in outline to that of the cock, but instead
of standing erect it should fall gracefully at one side
of the head. The perfect comb rises slightly from the
head at the front and forms a small loop at one side
before falling on the other side. The shape and po-
sitionof hen's comb should be such as to give her per-
fect vision in front, but her " sidewise glance " is partly
obstructed by the comb as it falls over the side of her

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 2t

head. The Minorca pullet develops her comb so slowly
that it seldom attains full size until she is about to
begin laying. During moult the combs of Minorcas
shrink away so as to be hardly recognized to be the
same. This is more noticeable in the hen than in the
cock, for her comb nearly always shrinks to less than
half its usual size during her moulting period and does
not resume its natural size again until her new feathers
are fully grown and she is about ready to begin laying.

THE MINORCA AS A GENERAL PURPOSE FOWL.

A thoroughly excellent general purpose fowl is under-
stood to be a breed which reaches or surpasses the av-
erage degree of excellence in all the qualities for which
fowls are valued. Now that incubators and brooders
are so successfully operated and so generally used, the
hatching and rearing of chicks has ceased to be a pur-
pose which fowls are desired to fill. It is for them an
occupation of the past, now as needless as the artsi of
spinning and weaving are for the modern housewife.
In this respect the Minorca makes for itself a special
value in absolutely refusing to waste its time sitting.
Minorca hens are the most persistent non-sitters we have
and are the largest of all non-sitting breeds, being at
least two pounds heavier than their nearest competitor
in this line of usefulness. That the Minorca hen does
not otherwise waste the time, which she neglects to use
in performing maternal duties, is well demonstrated by
her unequaled record as an egg-producer summer and
winter under all circumstances and in all climates.

Another feature of the value of Minorcas is that the
laying period of their lives is comparatively longer
than that of the other breeds. Well kept Minorca pul-

22 AfJNORCAS OF

lets begin laying when very yonng. Those hatched in
April lay at the age of five months, and many July and
August-hatched Minorca pullets are reported to begin
laying in January and February, and instead of falling
off in egg-production proportionally early, Minorca
hens lay well to a greater age than is usual for common
fowls or hens of other breeds. As a rule the average
hen is considered to have passed her most profitable
time for egg-production when she is two years old. In
my own experience I have owned many Black Minorca
hens which laid as well at four and five years of age as
at any time in their life, and some still older laid well
as long as they lived. The American Cultivator, Novem-
ber 3, 1900, gives a report of an experiment which was
made at the Canadian Central Experiment Station Farm
to test the laying qualities of old hens, three years old
or more, from December 1st to June 30th, with the fol-
lowing results:

7 Black Minor cas produced 493 eggs =70 3-7 eggs each
10 B. P. Eocks produced 555 eggs=55 1-2 eggs each

12 W. Leghorns produced 591 eggs=49 1-4 eggs each
7 Col. Dorkings produced 342 eggs=48 6-7 eggs each
Showing that Minorcas laid nearly a third more than
the average of their competitors at the age of three
years and over. But the most extraordinary case which
has come to my notice is that of a Black Minorca hen

13 years old which laid 102 eggs between November
1st and March 23rd, as reported to me in the following
letter:

Port Allegheny, Pa., March 23, 1905.
Mr. George H. Northup,

Send me your catalogue of poultry. Maybe here is
something that will interest you: Fourteen years ago
this month I bought a setting of Black Minorca eggs of
you and hatched 10, I think, from them. This winter
one hen of that brood has laid 102 eggs since November
1st, and they are the largest I get out of a flock of 100.
The hen is a pet and lays in a place on the porch, so
know it to be a fact, also because of a peculiar ring at
the small end of egg. She is the only one of that brood

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 23

left; as we have her marked we know she is of that
brood. A pretty good record, I think.

Very trnly yours,
W. L. HAZEN.
The Minorca has earned the high position which it
holds in the poultry world, as being the greatest of all
egg-producers known, both as to size and number of
eggs laid, and it cannot be surpassed in the quality of
its meat for table use. Besides, its hardiness makes it
a very easy fowl to rear. I purposely said the Minorca
earned its position, because when I first introduced BlacK
Minorcas to American breeders, about twenty-two years
ago, by importing them from England, many articles ap-
peared in the journals saying, " Don't be humbugged
by the extravagant stories of the great laying qualities
of Black Minorcas," and " We have several varieties
which can discount them in the number of eggs laid."
But the Minorcas proved that the writers of such ar-
ticles did not know what they were talking about, by
demonstrating, in the egg contests of practical poultry-
men in the United States, their ability to surpass all
competitors. Then it was declared, by those who did
not know, that the Minorcas were not as good winter
layers as some other breeds, but after testing them ex-
perimently, in comparison with other breeds, for three
successive winters, the Report of the Canadian Experi-
ment Station places Black Minorcas at the head of the
list of the most profitable laying hens, and gives one
contest for December and January, of Black Minorcas
against Light Brahmas, Buff Cochins, Black Hamburgs,
Black Langshans, Houdans, White Leghorns, Plymouth
Rocks, Red Caps, Andalusians and Wyandottes, show-
ing that the Black Minorcas greatly outlayed their near-
est competitors and more than doubled the average of
all the other breeds in the contest, in the two least favor-
able of the winter months of a severe climate. The re-
port further states that Black Minorcas laid larger eggs
by actual weight than any other breed of hens at the sta-
tion, among which we have seen that Light Brahmas
were included. A pen of Black Minorcas have a record
in England of 236 eggs each, laid in one year. And I

24 M/jVORCAS of

will give an extract of what is said of Minorcas on page
27 of publication 182 (Department of Agriculture), is-
sued by the Board for Exports of New South Wales,
Australia. It is as follows: " This breed, as it existed
a number of years ago, was a more compact bird than
that exhibited at the present time. They have large,
evenly serrated combs, with an almond-shaped ear-lobe,
the legs are black and flesh white. Although not a great
fattener, the Minorca is the very best layer we have, the
eggs are large, and wonderful figures have been pub-
lished as to quantities, but allowing the usual discount
for interested returns, they are left with a record far
in excess of any other breed, while the great numbers
annually exhibited at the leading shows, and being more
generally kept than any other pure variety, is evidence
sufficient of their popularity, whether as an exhibition
bird or a useful domestic fowl. They can be kept
profitably^ whether on the free range of farm-holding
or in the confined run of the suburban poultry keeper.
The extreme temperature of winter or summer months
have little effect on them for ill. The chickens are easily
reared, the cockerels are very precocious and the pullets
lay at an early age. When given a free run they can
be very cheaply fed, being good scavengers for natural
food. To improve the Minorca, as a layer, by crossing,
need not be attempted, but the breed can be used to
great advantage for improving the laying properties of
a yard of ordinary farm poultry. A male bird of the
breed will suffice for every dozen hens; and in selecting
such, exhibition specimens are unnecessary, purity of
breed and good size, combined with a vigorous constitu-
tion, being chief considerations."

In the recent egg-laying contest at Eockdale, N. S. W.,
Australia, conducted by Mr. Mcintosh for the " Daily
Telegraph " of Sydney, which commenced April, 1905,
and ended with March, 1906, fifty pens competing, nine
different breeds being represented, Black Minorcas led
the list in number of eggs per hen and value of same.
The average number of eggs per Black Minorca hen was
237.5 and the value of each hen's product as sold in
the market was $4.78. The nearest competitor to the

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 2$

Minorca laid 218.5 eggs per hen and value of product
per hen was $4.60 or 18 cents each less than the product
of Black Minorcas per hen. Aside from Black Minorcas,
the average per hen for all the other breeds in compe-
tition was 201.74 eggs or 35.76 eggs per hen less than
the Black Minorcas, and the value of product from the
other eight breeds averaged $3,945 per hen, showing
that the Minorcas earned 83 1-2 cents each more than
the average of all the other hens in competition with
them. All the hens in this contest were housed and fed
exactly alike. The runs were 10x40 feet and were bare
sand without grass, which shows that Black Minorcas
bear confinement as well as they appreciate and utilize
a large run. The breeds in this competition were Black
Minorcas, Langshans, Black Hamburg's, Rose Comb
White Leghorns, Single Comb Brown Leghorns, Single
Comb White Leghorns, Black Orpingtons, Rose Comb
Brown Leghorns and Silver Wyandottes. According to
this contest, and laying at the same rate a flock of 100
Black Minorcas will produce eggs to the value of $478
per year or $83.50 more profit per year than the average
of the other best laying breeds at market prices, which
were about the same as we receive in this country, the
lowest being 13 cents per dozen and the highest 48 cents
per dozen.

In the light of the foregoing contests, it is evident that
market poultrymen in general will sooner or later take
up Black Minorcas, both to satisfy their customers who
will demand larger and better eggs, and to derive greater
profit for themselves, because, as we have seen, Min-
orcas will lay larger and better eggs than any other
breed and at the same time will lay more of them, and
buyers will pay more per dozen for large eggs than they
will for small ones.

The scarcity of genuine Black Minorcas compared
with other breeds is another incentive to breed them.
Hundreds of inquiries come every year to Minorca fan-
ciers from people who wish to buy them in lots of from 25
to 1000, either to stock a new plant or to supplant other
breeds which have proven less profitable than Minorcas
on market farms where other kinds have been kept —

26 AUA'OA'CAS OF

such inquiries are asking for just pure Minorcas with
little regard to fancy points and they are willing to pay
from $2.00 to $5.00 each for them, making an outlet at
good prices for all that are not strictly fancy. The fancy
specimens of Black Minorcas sell for higher prices than
any other breed for the same simple reasons that they
are valued above all other breeds and that the supply
is limited. As proof of this, look in the poultry journals
and you will see comparatively few offering Minorcas
for sale, while the ad. columns are crowded with offers
of most all other breeds. Consequently, he who would
sell Black Minorcas has only a few sellers to compete
with, while to sell any other prominent breed one has
hundreds offering the same on every side.

Further, the flesh of Minorcas is equal to any and bet-
ter than that of most fowls, being exceedingly tender
and fine flavored. Their bodies are large, hens weigh-
ing from 6 1-2 to 8 pounds and cocks from 8 to 10 pounds,
varying with different strains and the care and attention
they receive while growing.

I recently read an article from the pen of T. A. Faulds
of London, Ont., who is a market dealer in poultry and
dairy products, and he says the Minorca is the best
chicken he knows for table use, fine quality of meat, ex-
cellent flavor, and the nearest approach to turkey of all
fowls he has used.

Many of my customers tell me that they find the Black
Minorca the best fowl they have tried for table use, the
flesh being exceedingly tender, juicy, of fine flavor and
abundant in quantity. The same has been my own ex-
perience whenever 1 have used them for that purpose,
and I recently read an article contributed by Hon. Jo-
seph P. Hilldorfer, who owns the largest meat business
in Pittsburg, Pa., in which he says : "I own the largest
and best wholesale and retail meat business in the city
and handle dressed poultry by the ton, and I say for table
fowl, give me the Minorca, first, last and all the time.
I am very well aware that there is a prejudice among
some people in favor of the yellow legs and skin in table
poultry, but I know that the Minorca, with its white skin
and tender, juicy, well flavored meat, is far ahead of any

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 27

other breed we handle, and as I cater to the trade of
the best restaurants and hotels in the city, I feel capable
to judge about such things. Minorcas are so much bet-
ter for market than other breeds of fowls that I wish
I could get enough, so I could handle them exclusively.
I am sure there is no other way I could please and keep
my patrons so well as to be able at all times to furnish
them a plump, well fattened Minorca fowl or chicken.
My advice to anyone who wishes the best fowl for the
table and the best for laying is to get Black Minorcas,
and if you wish to win out in politics, invite your friends
to partake of a plump Minorca cockerel, stuffed and
roasted fit to win over the finest young turkey they ever
saw, and you will not be disappointed. ' '

Minorcas are easy to care for, tame, gentle and very
domestic in their disposition, always watching for nat-
ural food which is within their reach, never dull or lazy,
but always active, apparently interested in life, and well
contented with their lot. There is no breed which bears
confinement better.

Mr. Stephen Beale, an English writer who is considered
authority on all poultry subjects, says of the Black Min-
orcas in ' ' Profitable Poultry Keeping ' ' :

" They form one branch of the Spanish family, and
have been carefully bred for many years in the South
of England. Their great value as layers has made them
very popular all over the country, and they are now the
most popular fowl in England. Nor can we wonder at
it, for their great fecundity, the large eggs they produce
(weighing two pounds to the dozen) their precocity and
hardiness, their adaptability for all soils and places,
whether confined or otherwise, make them one of the
most useful breeds we possess, and being non-sitters,
we must give the Minorcas the first position among all
the laying breeds of poultry. They are not unlike the
Leghorns in their general appearance, having the red
face and white ear-lobe, but a much larger comb, and
will average in weight, two to three pounds heavier.
They are very hardy, mature early, pullets laying at six-
teen to twenty weeks, can be kept on any soil, are capi-
tal foragers, small eaters, and the fowl best suiting the
farmer, either alone or to cross on other varieties."

VICTOR

BREP^E-XHiaiTE-D BY

'in, GEOHNOROTVP -

"". fJACEVILLE t^-Y-

.5INffyLDfoR*l 000.?i(

'W-O'^" -■-

"T^"

VICTOR, Weight 9 lbs.

The First and Only Cock Ever Sold for $1,000.

Winner of 1st Philadelphia, 1st Boston

and 1st Chicago.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 29

ORIGIN OF ROSE COMB BLACK MINORCAS.

The first year I bred Black Minorcas from imported
stock I hatched a cockerel which had two side sprigs
at the hack end of his comb. This was a source of an-
noyance to me for a while every time I saw the bird, be-
cause he was elegant in shape, a fine large fellow and
just my ideal of the correct Minorca type, and I re-
gretted to see the symmetry of so fine a bird marred by
an irregular comb. But later I decided to mate him to
a hen which I selected as the best suited to my purpose,
partly to satisfy my curiosity and to ascertain if a sys-
tem of breeding persistently followed would produce
a distinct variation which could be depended upon to
repeat itself and leave all other points unchanged. I
had 'the Rose Comb Black Minorca in mind from the
start because I thought a pure Black Minorca with a
small rose comb, or, as nearly as possible, no comb at all,
would fill a certain place in the poultry world better
than any breed already established could do. The
Single Comb Black Minorca seemed to me to be all that
could be desired in 'the way of a general purpose fowl
except that its very large comb seemed likely to prevent
it. from becoming a general favorite in our Northern
climate. Besides, I saw in such a system of breeding
an opportunity to ascertain how much a strain of fowls
could be made to diverge from its natural type by breed-
ing in one direction away from the natural tendency. I
considered the knowledge to be gained worth the effort,
whether the primary object of producing pure Rose
Comb Black Minorcas was or was not achieved. If it
did succeed, it proved the strong influence of mating
for good or bad results and proved the value of thor-
ough investigation of any line of breeding which sug-
gested improvement in the established qualities of a
breed.

30 MINOR CAS OF

Breeding only from birds which showed the greatest
variation from the smooth Single Comb, and selecting
each season only those which approached nearest to the
object in view, it was not until the summer of 1889 that
I succeeded in getting one pullet with anything that
could be called a rose comb. This proved to be an im-
portant gain, for 75 per cent, of the chicks she produced
in the spring and summer of 1890 had rose combs, mostly
of irregular shape. I selected those with the best shaped
and smallest combs to breed from the coming season.

The Rose Comb Black Minorcas which I thus bred
were the first ever bred anywhere. The first published
articie mentioning Eose Comb Black Minorcas was writ-
ten by ire and published in Poultry Monthly, February,
1891. The first Eose Comb Black Minorcas which were
ever exhibited at a show were my own, shown at Glov-
ersville, N. Y., December, 1891. The year following I
showed thirteen Rose Comb Black Minorcas, twelve
adult birds and one pullet, at the New York and New
England Fair held at Albany, and in January, 1894, I
showed a full class at Saratoga Springs. Up to that time
no other breeder had ever exhibited an adult Rose Comb
B^ack Minorca. I did not begin to offer for sale either
Rose Comb fowls or their eggs 'till the spring of 1894,
and then only a limited number. Previous to that time
no Rose Comb egars or fowls had left my yards, except
two males, which were sold to parties who used them for
cross-breeding, and one setting of eggs which I gave to
a friend who kept every bird hatched from them till
after I began to sell Rose Comb Minorca eggs for hatch-
ing.

By thus keeping the entire product of Rose Comb
Black Minorcas in my own hands I could carry out my
plan of breeding without interruption, and would know
how any result which might be achieved had been ar-
rived at, and profit by the knowledge in future opera-
tions. If a Rose Comb fowl had been my only object
there would have been no reason for trying to breed it
in this way, because there were plenty of Rose Oomb va-
rieties already established. A Rose Comb fowl with
the external appearance of a Minorca could probably

JfeoLoLlijhtlll W ty&>

HEADLIGHT III.

This cock is brother to Victor, the cock which was sold for
$1,000, and whose picture appears in this book. Victor and Head-
light III were hatched from the same setting of eggs.

32 MINOKCAS OF

have been bred more easily by crossing, but it would
have proven nothing in the line of breeding that I was
working on, for instead of establishing anything in re-
gard to the results of systematic breeding, any cross-
breeding is sure to ingraft other qualities besides the
particular quality or feature desired, while a complete
change in the form of one feature such as I was breed-
ing for and such as I have accomplished, shows that
there is no end of the improvement which can be made
in similar ways, and at the same time demonstrates the
great danger of faulty selection and mating by which
the breeder may be unconsciously by carelessness or ig-
norance breeding directly away from the result he most
desires. In producing the Rose Comb Black Minorcas
I did not resort to any crossing whatever, "but followed
always the same course which is described at the be-
ginning of this chapter.

It was quite difficult, and required many years of
breeding, to reduce the size of comb and establish a de-
sirable shape. At first many of the combs were as thin
at the head as a single comb, terminating in several rows
of irregular serrations, making the comb top-heavy and
causing it to drop over to one side of the head and those
which sat more firmly on the head were, some of them,
as large as Red Cap combs and of many shapes. Some
were regular on one side and irregular on the other,
forming a sort of crescent. Others were large and full
at the front, but only extending back as far as attached
to the head; some of these were even hollowed at the
back instead of ending with a spike, and some had the
appearance of tipping forward over the beak. Another
variation of comb was partly rose and partly single, that is,
either rose at the front and single at the back, or the
reverse. These variations have, by careful mating, been
gradually overcome and the Rose Comb Black Minorca
now breeds as true to comb as any of the older of rose
comb varieties. Until this result was obtained I each
year killed many birds which I could have sold for large
prices had I been willing to do so. I bred only from
those which approached nearest my ideal. The chicks
selected from the hatch of 18877 four in number, two

.

•

.

'

EVERY COMB AND COLOR ^

cockerels and two pullets, were bred in separate pens
in 1888. Pullets raised from one of these pens were
mated with cockerels raised from the other, and vice
versa, for the next year's breeding. And my system has
since been to keep them divided and increase the num-
ber of pens so. that I could each year breed farther away
from the common center and each year bring the most
distant relations together for mating, thus to breed out
instead of in.

PROGRESS OF ROSE COMB BLACK MINORCAS.

During the time that I was culling my flocks and re-
jecting a greater part of each hatch as unfit to breed
from, the Rose Comb Black Minorcas were gaining no-
toriety from other sources. Immediately after my first
Rose /Comb article appeared in the Poultry Monthly
many people wrote me desiring to buy some of my Rose
Comb Black Minorcas or their eggs, but I refused all
offers and did not begin to offer either for sale until the
spring of 1894, as I have previously stated, when I of-
fered a limited number of eggs for hatching at $10.00
per 13. In the winter of 1895 I sold a few trios at $35.00
per trio. By this time I had exhibited some of my Rose
Comb Black Minorca fowls and chicks in different shows.
Several fanciers mentioned them favorably in articles
which appeared in different journals, and many people be-
came interested in them;

It was now evident that Rose Comb Black Minorcas
were a valuable acquisition from a money standpoint

34 MINORCAS OF

just like anything else in which people see practical
value, desire to possess, and are willing to pay for ac-
cording to their desire. This growing popularity nat-
urlally attracted the attention of breeders, and I have
certain knowledge of four who, rather than wait until
they could obtain the genuine Rose Comb Black Minorcas
or pay prices which were in accordance with the value
of such a variety, tried to produce by cross-breeding,
fowls which should resemble them sufficiently to be ex-
hibited and sold as true Rose Comb Black Minorcas.
Such breeders, of course, cared nothing for the future
of the Minorca nor for that of any other pure breed.
The controlling desire was to produce something quickly
to derive money from just at that present time with
little regard to the real and permanent value of that
which was produced or its lasting value as a source of
income, nor did they appreciate the knowledge of prin-
ciples by which such results could be produced. Of
course the Rose Comb fowls which were thus produced
were not Minorcas at all, nor will their progeny ever be
Minorcas or answer the purpose for which Rose Comb
Black Minorcas were originated, because they will al-
ways be reverting to the foreign blood which is in them,
some showing one characteristic and some another, so
that there will be no uniformity among them, either in
egg production or outside appearance, and the best of
them have so little of the true Minorca type that they have
always been defeated when they have come in compe-
tition with genuine Minorcas. The impression that
these cross-bred fowls made was, that they were inferior
to the Single Comb Black Minorcas and they were criti-
cised as resembling Red Caps, Hamburgs or Wyandottes,
in type, as much or more than they did Minorcas.

But the Rose Comb Black Minorcas which I origi-
nated could not show any other than the true Minorca
type, because they had no other than pure Minorca blood
in them. They had only to be seen to be recognized as
Minorcas, of the highest order and finest type, and when
they have come in competition with Single Comb Black
Minorcas for special prizes the Rose Combs have won
more than the Single Combs. The best Minorca judges,

"Nik.

Is^Frize Pullet a1[
Boston |3°5

Bred &■ owned lay

GHMorUug
Raceville

1st Rose Comb Black Minorca Pullet, Boston, \ 905.
Weight, 6 1-2 lbs.

36 MINORCAS OF

both English and American, who have seen them in the
shows, as well as in my yards, have said they see no
characteristic difference between the best Single Comb
Black Minorcas and the Rose Comb Black Minorcas
which I have exhibited.

Rose Comb Black Minorcas have overcome all the
prejudice which was created against them by the spuri-
ous stock which was thrown on the market under their
name before they were well known to the public, and not
only this, but they have steadily gained in popular fa-
vor until they stand today far ahead of all other breeds
and varieties of fowls as money earners for their own-
ers. All breeders of Rose Comb Black Minorcas, of
whose business I have any knowledge, report that they
have more ready sale for Rose Comb Black Minorca
eggs and breeding birds and at higher prices than for
the product of any other variety they have ever bred.

Undoubtedly the price paid for Rose Comb Black Min-
orcas and their product of eggs averages each year four
times as much per fowl as that of any other variety.

I quote from my book, "Minorcas, All Varieties,"
published in 1898 regarding Rose Comb Black Minorcas,
as follows: " I know of no variety which promises so
great profit for the investment as they, nor any way
that money can be invested with so good prospect of
large returns as in well bred fowls of this variety," and
the experience of the nine years since then have more
than fulfilled that prediction. Ever since that time the
demand for genuine Rose Comb Black Minorcas has in-
creased faster than the supply, fowls have always been
sold quickly as soon as they were offered, most of the
eggs have been sold months before they were laid and
some of them more than a year in advance. In the case
of my own fowls, for several years, all the eggs they
have laid from the first of March until September have
been used for hatching at $5.00 to $25.00 per 13, none
less than $10.00 per 13 before June 1st. Many settings
have been sold in June and July at $12.50 per 13. T
know of several other breeders who cannot nearly fill
the orders they receive at $10.00 and $15.00 per 13 eggs.

The acme of high prices was thought to have been

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 37

reached when I sold nineteen Rose Comb Black Minorcas
for $3400.00, receiving an even $1000 for one of the cocks,
but since that time I have refused an offer from the same
gentleman for twenty-seven birds at the same rate per
bird that he paid for the nineteen mentioned, and I made
another sale which seems more remarkable to me when
I sold three one-day-old chicks for $35.00. See engrav-
ings of these chicks, also the $1000.00 cock, in this book
and read what the editor of Poultry Success says of the
above nientioued sale in issue of March, 1905.

" 'To the most of our readers a transaction in Rose Comb
Black Minorcas in which Mr. George H. Northup of
Raceville, N. Y., was one of the principals, is still fresh
in their memory. This transaction has not been equaled
in the world or in the history of standard-bred poultry
by any variety. How long before it will be equaled or
exceeded we cannot tell, but there is one thing certain,
low prices for stock of the same character as that bred
by Mr. Northup are a thing of the past. One thousand
dollars for a single bird seems at first thought to be
" foolhardy " on the part of the purchaser, but it has
developed that the purchaser of Mr. Northup 's noted
Rose Comb Black Minorca has developed a wonderful
trade in this variety in his own country for the breed
and has tried since to get prices on more birds from Mr.
Northup to which he declined.

Mr. Northup showed us a letter from the same party
in Germany who bought the 19 head of Rose Comb Black
Minorcas at $3400, urging him to sell him 27 head more
at the same average price per head, but Mr. Northup
refused absolutely to name this party any figure that
would induce him to part with the birds. At the time
of our visit (September 25), Mr. Northup had already
orders booked for altogether 15 sittings of eggs for hatch-
ings at $10 per setting. He informed us that the demand
for his Single Comb Black Minorcas was fully equaled
to that of the Rose Combs, and was at this extraordinary
season of the year, at the time of our visit, booking or-
ders for Single Comb Minorca eggs to be delivered in
the spring."

The remarkable sales of Rose Comb Black Minorcas

rj TCotlL Ljryn/r* ioJIxjuS^ //Umrlr

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 39

have not been confined to one breeder in any sense. Cal-
vin Lee, Hyde Park, Mass., paid rne $10.00 for thirteen
Rose Comb Black Minorca eggs which were sent to him
the last of March, 1905. He raised seven chicks to ma-
turity and sold four of the pullets for $120.00, and there
was one cockerel in the flock which was worth more than
all the four pullets which he sold. I bought from S. A.
Howland, Granville, N. Y., his entire flock, thirty-nine
Rose Comb Black Minorca chicks (hatched from, eggs I
sold him) at an average price of $25.00 each. Last Janu-
ary Lloyd C. Mishler bought a fine Rose Comb Black
Minorca cock from me, for which he paid me $200.00,
and before he had owned the bird four months he wrote
me that since he had placed the cock at the head of a
fine pen, he had increased the price of eggs from that
pen $10.00 per setting above the price he had formerly
sold them for, and had sold enough eggs at the increased
price to nearly pay for the bird, beside having a fine
flock • of chicks which were sired by him, therefore he
considered that the bird had fully paid for himself in
that short time, with apparently plenty of time ahead
of him to repeat the same record several times.

I could go on giving names of breeder after breeder
who are having similar success with Rose Comb Black
Minorcas, but the instances given are sufficient to prove
that they are eminently profitable to those who breed
them, because there have never yet been enough of them
bred to supply one-tenth of the people who have wanted
them and because their worth is becoming better known
year after year as they are distributed to buyers
throughout the country. It is evident that they are
only beginning to enjoy the popularity which is in store
for them. I can say now with greater confidence than
I said it nine years ago that there is no variety of fowls
which promise so great profit for the investment as Rose
Comb Black Minorcas, nor any way in which money can
be invested for the next ten years with so good prospect
of large returns as in well bred fowls of this variety.

40 MINORCAS OF

THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF ROSE AND
SINGLE COMB MINORCAS.

As Rose Comb Black Minorcas were bred entirely from
Single Comb Black Minorcas, the only difference be-
tween them is the one distinguishing point, the comb.
In most cases, therefore, the choice between the two va-
rieties depends on the taste of the breeder. The only
practical difference between the two is, that the rose
comb being smaller and more compact does not freeze
so easily as the single comb. In fact, the Rose Comb
Black Minorcas can be kept in any building where any
variety can be kept without freezing their combs and
wattles, and for this reason they are more profitable for
practical purposes in the colder climates except in
specially warm buildings. In buildings or localities
where either Single or Rose Comb can be kept in perfect
comfort there can be no real choice between them.

In warm or moderate climates there is nothing better
than the Single Comb Black Minorcas. On account of
the scarcity of Rose Comb Black Minorcas, the Single
Combs can be bought for much less money than Rose
Combs of equal excellence. Therefore, in deciding be-
tween the Rose and the Single Comb Black Minorcas
one should consider the advantage and disadvantages
of his locality and the trade which it is desirable for
him to supply.

The choice between Single and Rose Comb White Min-
orcas depends on the same conditions which are more
or less favorable between the Rose and Single Comb
Black Minorcas and can be determined the same way.

FIRST PRIZE • NE.W YORK I5?S
n°ob° Qeo-h-nor.tmup

RACEVH-kE- NY

"GRACE"

Rose Comb Black Minorca Hen; weight 6 3-4 lbs.; \ st Prize
Winner at Madison Square Garden, New York.

42 MINORCAS OF

HOW TO SELECT AND MATE MINORCAS.

Correct ideas of what is good in the particular variety
one is breeding are absolutely indispensable to success.
It is so easy to form an ideal which is exaggerated in
one point and deficient in another unless one is guided
by some set rule. The standard of perfection is de-
signed to furnish such rules for judges and breeders of
fowls, therefore the breeder of any variety ought to be-
come perfectly familiar with the standard requirements
for the variety which he intends to breed before he un-
dertakes to select birds for breeding or to pass judgment
on birds which others have selected. Acquaintance with
standard requirements having been gained, the amateur
is likely to expect too great perfection in one point and
tolerate too little excellence in another because he is not
sufficiently acquainted with the birds themselves to ap-
ply the standard correctly, therefore it is better to de-
pend on the ideas of someone who has had longer experi-
ence in breeding and judging until better knowledge of
the variety can be gained by breeding and caring for
them and by comparing the best specimens in the show-
room.

Utility points ought never to be overlooked, and the
fact that in Minorcas the points which count for utility
are equally desired in the fancy is one reason why
this breed has been so well preserved and why the im-
provments which have been made in it have counted
both for fancy and for utility. The best Minorca breed-
ers have interested themselves so thoroughly and
unitedly in forming the Minorca standard, that to breed
to the standard is to follow the guide of the most suc-
cessful breeders.

In-breeding should always be avoided and is one of
the most important considerations in selecting breeding
stock because weakness and loss of vigor, lower fertility

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 43

and diminished egg-production are always among the
results which follow it, and continued in-breeding will
certainly undermine the foundation on which Minorca
excellence has been built. For an example of this, note
the White Faced Black Spanish which are an off-shoot
of the Minorcas, and would naturally have been a use-
ful variety had not the intense in-breeding for white
face destroyed them.

New blood should be introduced in each generation
from some reliable source. Undoubtedly the birds, both
male and female, which naturally conform nearest to the
Standard of Perfection are the best to breed from, be-
cause as a general rule, like begets like and we can ex-
pect a larger per cent, of the chicks to be fancy if the
parents are fancy than if the reverse is true, but it does
not follow that accidental defects have any influence
on the offspring. Injuries to combs and wattles by fight-
ing or frosting, broken feathers or loss of feathers put
a bird out of condition for the show-room, but have no
effect whatever on the breeding ability and such defects
cannot be transmitted to the offspring.

Lineage is another important consideration, more so,
if possible, than the fancy points of the individual birds
which are selected to breed from. Breeding birds which
are naturally excellent in standard requirements and
have a long line of ancestors which were strong in the
same qualities are the best of all to breed from. The
more excellent such birds are, individually, the greater
their value as producers, and the poorest of their off-
spring are more desirable to breed from than the best
from a bap-hazard mating, because the good points
which they show are strongly bred and much more cer-
tain to be reproduced in their offspring. It is impracti-
cal to breed from a really fancy bird whose lineage is
known to be inferior, and much more so if it be a male
than if it be a female, because the male influences all
the chicks from his pen, while the female controls none
of the chicks except those from her own eggs.

It is the best plan generally to select and mate so that
the same pen will produce fine males and fine females,
though there are cases where certain results can be ob-

mm:

rsi-Prize WoritfsF&.ir
SlLouis I9°M

owned, by

"REGENT,"

First Prize Rose Comb Black Minorca Cock at World's Fair,
Weight 10 lbs. Regent was pronounced by poultry judges and
breeders to be an easy winner over all the Minorcas exhibited, both
Rose and Single Comb. He attracted by far greater attention than
any other of the more than ten thousand birds on exhibition.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 45

tained better by a special mating for each sex, for one
or two generations only, and in Minorca® this is never
desirable except with reference to the combs of the single
comb varieties. If the combs of hens are too small or
too stiff, or if the combs of males average too thin and
lop easily, either can be corrected by a special mating.
A good mating to correct the fanlt in females is to nse
the hens whose combs are nearest right and a well-bred
male with large drooping comb, the thinner the better,
one which falls completely over like a hen's comb if such
can be obtained, which is correct in 'outline and serra-
tions. The female progeny of such a mating can then
be advantageously mated with a male, which has a good
comb of medium thickness and would probably produce
excellent males and females. The reverse of this plan
should be used to correct the opposite extreme, but it
is obvious that special matings for each sex followed in-
definitely would necessitate the total loss of one sex or
the other from each mating, for all exhibition purposes,
and would virtually separate fancy breeding from util-
ity breeding and thus sacrifice one of the most valuable
attributes of the Minorca breed, which is the combina-
tion of fancy and utility qualities in the same individu-
als.

It is impossible to have breeding birds of any variety
which are absolutely perfect in iall sections. The object
of breeding to a standard is to have an ideal for each
section of the bird, so that by breeding as near as pos-
sible to that ideal the flock is kept more uniform than
it -could otherwise be. Therefore, when females are se-
lected for a pen, care should be taken to select birds
which are uniform in appearance, having similar faults
since they must have faults, and excelling in the same
points so that they can all be well mated by the same
male. In selecting the male, care should be taken that
he is specially strong in the points in which the females
are weak, and that his weak points are balanced up with
strong points in the females, always preferring the best
that can be obtained in all sections of both sexes. The
idea that like begets like is true to some extent, but the
fact that every chick has two parents is just as true.

46 MINORCAS OF

No chick can be exactly like both its parents except in
the points where they are exactly like each other. Any
fault which is common to both parents is sure to be ex-
aggerated in some of the offspring, and the same is true
of the tendencies to better type. The trained eye of the
experienced breeder can take advantage of these things,
while the inexperienced person is likely to be governed
by some fad of his own imagination and may overlook
some of the most valuable points in the birds which he
rejects and fail to recognize some glaring defect in those
which he most admires. For example, many people seem
to have 'the idea that a good comb and lobes makes the
Minorca, and the more fastidious of 'this class insist on
what they consider absolute perfection in these two
points, for which they are willing to sacrifice color or
shape in any or all other sections. Others have such a
horror of a crooked breast bone that they would discard,
because of such a defect, the best bird in other respects
they ever owned, when a common sense view of the case
ought to convince anyone that the crooked breast bone
was caused by injury to the bone when it was in a cart-
illaginous state and probably was the result of the bird
roosting when too young. Such a defect being accidental
could not be transmitted to the offspring by heredity.
Color, size, carriage of tail, etc., have just as many' de-
votees who, whether correct or incorrect in their preju-
dices, are unqualified to mate for best results until they
learn to view the bird as an entirety and appreciate the
good and the bad in every section. This applies not only
to Minorcas, but to every standard variety of fowls. I
have seen fine standard bred fowls of different varieties
in the hands of people who gave them excellent care, but
who allowed the progeny to deteriorate year after year,
until they were mere scrubs for no other reason than
the ignorance and prejudices of the person who mated
the breeding stock. I have also seen quite inferior flocks
of fowls, which had good lineage, bred up in two gene-
rations so well that some of the best prize winners in
strong competition were produced from them.

FIRST PHILADELPHIA,
FIR5T B°ST°H . 190^

"SEOM.NORTHUP
R(K.EVlU.E-N-y

R. G BLACK MINORCA COCKEREL "DANDY."

Weight iYo lbs. Winner of 1st at Philadelphia, 1902, and at Boston, 1902 ;
bred, owned and exhibited by George H. Northup, Raceville, N. Y. More than
one of the experts, when we inquired if any especially progressive birds seemed
to stand out among the classes they had looked over, remarked, "Have you seen
that fine Rose Comb Minorca cockerel ?" He was a "star" among a group of
good ones, with fine typical long Minorca body and unusual size, graceful car-
riage and elegance of finish in all sections. Truly he was a show bird all over,
a splendid sample of this valuable new variety of Mr. Northup's well-known old
strain of Minorcas. — F. L. Sewell in Reliable Poultry Journal for April,

4S MINORCAS OF

THE TIME OF YEAR TO HATCH MINORCAS.

The best time for hatching is subject to so much varia-
tion by circumstances which differ according to the ob-
ject which the breeder has in view, that there is no one
time of year which is altogether better than any other.
There are natural advantages to be profited by, and nat-
ural disadvantages to be overcome, no matter what the
season of the year.

The very early spring hatching which has obtained
favor with many people has the advantage of getting
the young to their very best at the time of the early fall
shows. Early chicks are certainly best for the early
shows and are practically valuable because they are
ready to begin laying when the earlier moulters of the
old flock stop laying. But the earliest hatched chicks,
especially the pullets, are apt to begin laying so early
that they have passed their best condition, that is, their
best show condition, before the winter shows begin, for
the very reason that the temporary strain of early egg
production has made it impossible for them to present
the finest appearance that they would be capable of,
under more favorable circumstances. I have seen too
many excellent pullets beaten by realty inferior birds
which were in prime condition, just because the earlier
ones had gone out of condition by prolonged laying.

Other disadvantages are the difficulties which attend
the rearing of chicks in the cold or damp weather of
early spring. Natural conditions average better for
hatching from the middle of April to the middle of May
in our latitude (43° north) and vary according to cli-
mate in other localities. But Minorca pullets hatched
in July will begin laying the following February if they
are given good care, and I have had August-hatched
Minorcas which began laying the following March.
These July and August chicks, if given good care, make
excellent show birds in their second year. Some of the

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 49

best cocks and hens I have seen in our largest shows
have been from July hatches. I sold two Single Comb
cocks in 1906 which were hatched in July, 1905, for
$100.00 each. Major, the Rose Comb cock which won
second for me at the St. Louis "World's Fair, and first
at Boston the following winter, was hatched in August.
I refused an offer of $500.00 cash for him. These late
hatched chicks are ready to begin laying early in spring
or late winter when some of the winter layers are drop-
ping out for a rest and they help to keep up a continual
supply of eggs through the summer and fall. Therefore,
while we find that conditions are not usually as favor-
able for hatching or rearing, very early or very late,
the instances given prove conclusively that good results
can be obtained from much later hatching than many
people suppose.

It is not important whether Minorca chicks are
hatched by hens or incubators, but when hatched it is
very important that they receive good care.

HATCHING AND REARING MINORCA CHICKS.

The greatest success with any variety of fowls or ani-
mals reaches back for its good beginning to the produc-
tion and care of the young. With parents well selected
and wisely mated the young have much in their favor
Jbefore they begin to live, but no matter how perfect the
mating from which eggs for hatching are produced, nor
how excellent the parent stock, the chicks need favor-
able conditions from the hatching time till they are fully
matured to bring them to their best, and no doubt many
chicks, which by nature are capable of being developed
to the finest specimens, are rendered quite ordinary or
even defective by conditions which are unfavorable dur-
ing the process of development.

Rose Comb Black Minorca Hen Sold for $200.00. The highest

price ever paid for a Hen. She has the long body and

back which are so much sought in Minorcas.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 51

Nature unhindered will do her best work. I almost
said unhindered and unaided because the assistance
which nature most requires is the removal of obstacles
which impede her operations, suitable protection from
extremes of heat and cold, and from birds and animals
of prey and provision of nourishing food and pure
water. All this, however, requires continual vigilance,
and I would not be understood to say that the work of
making all these natural conditions favorable is a small
undertaking, because a great deal of work is required
from the person who cares for a large flock of chickens
and keeps all these conditions constantly favorable for
the entire flock. The great principle of success, as I
have already said, is to let nature do the work of devel-
opment without hindrance. The protection which we
provide to keep chickens away from vermin may seem
to hinder nature by depriving chickens of full liberty,
but we can give them all the advantage that absorri**
liberty provides by having their runs large enough for
free exercise at all times of their life. Small runs are
best for very small chicks, as by them they are allowed
sufficient exercise and are protected from much which
might befall them if they were allowed to stray far away
from the brooder. Exposure to dampness by running
in wet grass is a great cause of sickness in young chicks,
and such a chill as small chicks will experience by too
long absence from the brooder so weakens their con-
stitution that comparatively few ever wholly recover
from the effects of it.

Chicks kept in confinement even in large grassy runs
are mainly dependent for sustenance and growth on
food which is given them. Chicks which grow rapidly,
as the Minorcas do, need a large amount of nourishment,
but there is danger of over-feeding, therefore they need
to be fed often when young, not less than five times
daily, but should never be given as much as they are
willing to eat at any one time except just before going
to roost or into the brooder for night. One of the
greatest causes of bowel trouble is over-eating, which
comes of feeding too much at a time and waiting too
long between times of feeding, so that the chicks be-

52 MI NOR CAS OF

come very hungry and gorge themselves when they have
an opportunity to eat or are so weak that they refuse food
altogether. Over-feeding at the regular meals is differ-
ent from the continual scratching and picking up food
when running at large with the hen, in which case they
continue to exercise vigorously while they eat and do
not force such large quantities at once into their di-
gestive organs and thus acquire indigestion and all its
attendant evils. This exercise of hunting for food will
be induced by feeding chicks sparingly at regular meals,
and may be provided for when the natural source is in-
sufficient, by scattering suitable seeds or cracked grain
among the grass of their runs or in a scratching bed
which can be easily provided.

Chicks which are brooded by a hen in coop should
have a separate apartment for their feeding place to
which the hen has no access. A variety of foods is bet-
ter for chick® than too much of any one kind, and it is
well to remember that young chicks need more of what
is termed fattening food than adult fowls do, for it is
on this class of foods that they depend to carry on the
processes of life and growth and 'to sustain the neces-
sary animal heat in the body. The smaller bodies of
the young, having more exposed surface in proportion
to their size and less power to withstand the effects of
cold, need better provision for natural heat than the
fully grown matured fowl. Right here let me call atten-
tion to the fact that next to over-feeding there is no
greater cause of bowel trouble in chicks than getting
chilled, which immediately causes lower vitality, weaker
digestive ability and consequent indigestion so that the
same result is arrived at by a different route.

Two grains which should always form a part of the
food for young chicks are cracked corn and rice graded
in size according to the size and age <of the chicks.
These two should comprise about one-half of their grain
food. Eolled oats and cracked wheat in about equal quan-
tities and one-fourth quantity of granulated milk, prepared
for chick food, can be added for the other half and all
thoroughly mixed together. I have found bread crumbs,
cracker crumbs or shredded wheat biscuit slightly moist-

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 53

ened with milk or water and mixed with hard boiled egg's
chopped fine an excellent soft food for one meal each day.
Pure water, clean grit and charcoal should always be
within the reach of chicks and fowls. Cleanliness of all
their surroundings is highly essential.

As chicks get older they need not be fed so frequently
and can be fed more at a time and coarser grain. After
they are four weeks old begin giving them beef scrap
and granulated milk in hoppers where it will keep clean
and chicks can help themselves. They eat both with rel-
ish. The granulated milk is a comparatively new food
for chickens and one which I find excellent for produc-
ing growth.

INFLUENCE OF COLOR-BREEDING ON COLOR OF

EGGS.

The plumage color of Black Minorcas has been a sub-
ject of a great deal of anxiety on the part of Minorca
fanciers, because at one time the particular kind of black
was not regarded as nearly so important as it has been
later. The purple tinge was undoubtedly most preva-
lent in the earlier Minorcas, but fanciers have come to
prefer the green sheen and to breed for it. On this
point I cannot do better than quote from my earlier
book, "Minorcas, All Varieties": "The beautiful
brilliant green which is so much sought can be and has
been obtained by carefully breeding from such birds as
show the most desirable color, but all of the best strains
of Black Minorcas have a strong tendency to revert to
the original purple, which appears mainly in what is
termed rainbow barring. This barring is considered an
objectonable feature in a strictly fancy bird, but these
slight variations in tinge of plumage are much more
easily controlled by the breeder than most of the fancy

54 MinorcAs 6P

points for which we breed, for it seems that the special
care of birds during the periods of growth and moult
has a very marked effect on the peculiar tints. It is
not a new idea that color of plumage comes from the
interior of the bird and I am convinced, by observation,
that breeding for the green creates a tendency, in the
hens so bred, to lay eggs with tinted shells, instead of
the clear white shells which have been one of the lead-
ing characteristics of Black Minorcas. The only way I
can account for this is that the green in plumage indi-
cates an increase of yellow pigment, some of which, not
unnaturally, is communicated to the shell of the egg.
The purple tint shows a predominance of blue pigment,
which, applied to the shell, only intensifies its white-
ness, the same as the blue pigment used by the laundress
increases the whiteness of linen. It is not an invari-
able rule that the peculiar tint of plumage is accom-
panied by a similar tint in the egg shells, but my atten-
tion has been called to the fact that such a tendency
does exist, both by talks and correspondence I have had
with other prominent Minorca breeders and by observ-
ing it in a few specimens of my own breeding. I ap-
prove, as a fancier, of breeding Minorcas for the green-
ish sheen because the prevailing popular taste and the
Standard favor it, and because it is very beautiful. But
we shall need at the same time to avoid too great a
diminuition of black. It is not that less color is desir-
able, but that the metallic green tinge shall shine out
from the apparently polished black surface of the plu-
mage when in such a position that the greenish light
can be reflected. The fact that, in another position, a
purple reflection is seen, does not necessarily diminish
the excellence of color, in fact, such is the color most
desired, so that in whatever light it is seen the coloring
is smooth and does not appear in barring."

I am still of the same opinion as when I wrote the
above quotation, about nine years ago, but since that
time a great deal has been accomplished in breeding
Black Minorcas to the green sheen and at the 'same time
avoiding other objectionable conditions which seemed
to arise from such breeding.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 55

We now have the Minorca well bred to the green
sheen and I believe that my strain of Black Minorcas,
Eose and Single Comb, lay eggs which are as nniform
in size, color and shape as any strain of any variety of
hens, and I have seen it demonstrated time and again
that Black Minorcas are remarkable for the uniformity
of their eggs. At the Madison Square Garden show last
winter we had a striking demonstration of this. Includ-
ing the breeding pens and display pens, I believe there
were 108 Single Comb B. M. females, exhibited by 22
different breeders, birds which had been bred and se-
lected for show purposes. I judged the class and there-
fore handled all except those in the display pens. I be-
lieve that from the fancier's standpoint they were the
finest lot of show specimens that were ever brought to-
gether for competition. Many of these hens were laying
and continued to lay through the show. I spent most
of my time near their coops and did not see any except
large white eggs in the Minorca coops. If I had seen
any other I would have remembered it as I would any
unusual sight. Besides, I heard many expressions of ad-
miration for the large white eggs in the Minorca coops
from people who were not accustomed to seeing Min-
orcas. But it is no indication of impure blood to see an
occasional tinted egg from a variety of fowls which habit-
ually lay white eggs, nor to see light colored eggs from
a variety which habitually lay dark eggs. And I have
noticed that eggs from the breeds which lay colored
eggs vary more in shade of color than any Minorca eggs
that I have ever seen, and any observing person who
has given attention to the subject must have noticed the
same. I have been called on to judge exhibits of eggs
in which there were several plates from each of different
American and Asiatic breeds, and no two plates from
the same variety would be the same shade of color. I
have also seen pure white eggs which were laid by pure
bred Plymouth Bocks and pure bred Wyandotte hens
'and very light colored eggs which were laid by pure
'Langshan hens. I have bred 22 varieties of standard
fowls at different times during the thirty years that I
have been actively interested in poultry, have made a

56 MINORCAS OF

specialty of Black Minorcas for twenty years, and have
been judging all varieties for more than twenty years,
consequently have kept in touch with other breeds as
well as Minorcas, and think my knowledge of their
characteristics is quite accurate. Another peculiarity
which I have noticed is, that bringing two entirely dif-
ferently bred strains together appears occasionally to
interrupt the true breeding to color of plumage and col-
or of eggs, but the second year of judicious mating
usually overcomes it. I do not know why this happens;
perhaps it comes from the two different strains of blood
warring for supremacy, or from some elements in the
'two having greater or less affinity for each other. But
I have never heard a fully satisfactory explanation.

COLOR AND DEVELOPMENT OF COLOR IN BLACK

MINORCAS.

It is a source of surprise to people who are not fully
acquainted with Black Minorcas to observe the color
-of the chicks when they are first hatched. The Stand-
ard describes Black Minorcas as having black plumage
■throughout, but when the little chicks first emerge from
the shell most of them show a great deal of white on
head, wings and breast. Only occasionally one is wholly
'black when hatched, and they are as likely as any to
have poor color at maturity. This down is followed
in the first feathering by a varied mixture of black and
white feathers, more white appearing in the plumage
•of some chicks than in others. When they have grown
to the weight of about two pounds each, the flock ap-
pears to be uniform black in color as they run about
the yard, but taken in the hand and examined closely,
there is still some white to be found in the wings of

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 57

some of them. This peculiarity is perfectly natural and
we find it in the very best strains of Black Minorcas. It
is just as natural for them to take on fully black plumage
when they approach maturity, but this, like any other
feature of development, depends, next after heredity,
on the nutrition which they derive from the food they
eat and the air they breathe. It is very noticeable that
chicks which have abundance of clean, pure water,
fresh air and nourishing food develop steadily and per-
fectly, while those which are confined in coops too small,
poorly ventilated, and consequently filthy, neither grow
well or perfectly, and they soon get in such a condition
that good food is only partially available to them be-
cause their system is too much weakened to assimilate
it properly, hence their development is limited and im-
perfect. This is as plainly seen in plumage color as it
is in size or shape, because if the processes of breathing,
digestion and circulation are insufficient so that the ele-
ments of nutrition are not perfectly assimilated and car-
ried freely to the different parts of the body, color pig-
ment is not acquired in sufficient quantities, nor is it
freely conveyed to the feathers, or the failure of some
organs to perform their functions steadily, causes un-
evenness of color and lack of color in proportion to the
lack or the irregularity of these vital forces. Where
the conditions have been most unfavorable we find the
most white and gray feathers in the plumage of Black
Minorcas, provided that all which come under compari-
son are pure blooded and equally well bred. Of course
it is not possible to secure absolutely perfect conditions
at all times for an entire flock, nor is it possible to make
the best conditions perfectly uniform at all times,
therefore we must still have some imperfections which
are due to the causes mentioned, but I am certain that
the purple barring in the plumage of Black Minorcas
can be almost, if not entirely, done away with by breed-
ing from good stock properly mated, and keeping them
always at 'their best by providing always the best of care
and food to promote constant development.

I once had a striking example of this when I hired
two different persons to rear chicks for me from eggs

58 MINORCAS OP

produced from a very fine pen of Black Minorcas. As
both had eggs from the same pen, there should have
been no great difference in the quality of the chicks,
especially in points like color controlled by heredity.
There is no doubt but heredity does control all points to
a great extent, but the following shows how the course
of nature can be perverted after the chicks are hatched
and while they are growing. In the instance referred
to I gave one person one hundred eggs, the other only
twenty-six. The twenty-six eggs were set about ten
days later than the one hundred. All the eggs hatched
very well, but the chicks in the larger flock soon began
dying off from lack of care, till only twenty-seven of
them were left alive. Some were accidentally killed
from the smaller flock, but they were well cared for, and
at four months old twelve fine chicks were brought to
me as the product of the twenty-six eggs. Of these
twelve the pullets averaged in weight about four pounds
each, and the cockerels weighed from four to five and
one-half pounds each. The twenty-seven chicks which
I received at the same age, four months, did not aver-
age more than three pounds each, cockerels and pullets
together. This lot had their tails and wing feathers
broken and mussed from being crowded in small quar-
ters to roost, with a large flock of old fowls, and were
dwarfed every way from lack of nourishment. I gave
both flocks the best of care after they were brought
home. The twelve which had received good care while
young kept on developing and made large, strong birds,
several of them prize winners, and not one of that flock
had feathers other than black when matured. None of
the other flock grew to the usual size and most of them
had dull colored plumage, and very many of them had
gray feathers in wings and tail; in fact, I had more off-
color in those twenty-seven chicks than I ever had in
a flock of one hundred chicks before or since. The im-
poverished condition of their systems made them un-
able to produce sufficient coloring matter for their feath-
ers, and the time had passed when the perfect develop-
ment of their bodies was possible. In other words they
had matured before development was completed. No

EVERY COMB AND COLOK 59

one could have thought that the two flocks were pro-
duced from the same pen, but such was the case and it
shows the importance of keeping chicks steadily grow-
ing from the time they leave the shell till they are fully
matured.

Really, it is the same with birds and animals that it
is in vegetable life. How often we see a field of corn all
from the same variety and all planted the same day,
most of which is large and thrifty and of intense dark
green color, producing large, fully developed ears, and
in the midst of this luxuriant growth an occasional row
or two of small yellow stunted stalks, having leaves,
tassels and ears, but all of such inferior size and color
that the ordinary observer would hardly believe it to
be the same variety of grain. The experienced agricul-
turist would know at a glance that the poorer plants
had been insufficiently nourished by growing on ground
which had been impoverished in some way, most usu-
ally by having two furrows turned away from each
other, forming what is called a dead furrow. So much
for variations which can be overcome by good care and
favorable surroundings.

But I am perfectly certain that while we can ac-
complish general good results by the various lines of
mating and breeding which observation and experience
teach us to follow, we shall still find some variations in
form and color which cannot be fully accounted for as
long as living creatures, animals or birds are 'the objects
of our work. Among the peculiarities in plumage color
I have noticed that bringing two well bred strains of
the same breed together, in the breeding pen, in some
cases seem to produce variations in the plumage color
of the offspring, for instance, two strains of Black Min-
orcas bred to fine green sheen by different breeders,
mated together, sometimes produce entirely unexpected
results in chicks, at least not nearly the usual percent-
age of their produce come up to the excellence of the
parents. In some such cases the males have red feath-
ers in hackels, wings and saddles which cannot be sat-
isfactorily accounted for, but suggest that the two lines
of breeding, which brought similar results in the parent

60 M1N0KCAS OF

strain, opposed each other, or carried the offspring
beyond the standard mark. A variation which is harder
to account for and therefore more difficult to correct is
that occasionally feathers change in color after being
fully grown and perfectly colored. The organ which
produces coloring matter for the feather may for some
reason have ceased to perform its function, probably
from external injury in some cases and from disease
of the organ in others.

A young hen which I imported from England was
taken with convulsions. She would throw herself on
her back and twist her head around, flap her wings and
continued in a very bad condition for several weeks.
Gradually she regained her usual health to all appear-
ances, but several of the feathers in each wing had
turned white, but when she moulted again her feathers
all came in black. Another case was a Brown Leghorn
cockerel in a fine flock of that variety, from which I was
engaged by the owner to select the finest specimens for
a show at which he wished to exhibit. The cockerel
referred to was among those which I selected, and he
won first prize in strong competition, under one of our
most competent judges. The following February I was
again engaged to select and mate several breeding pens
for the same gentleman to breed from the coining season.
I selected the same cockerel to head a pen of Brown Leg-
horns and he was then in excellent color throughout.
The following June, having business in the town where
these birds were kept, I called on the owner again and
was surprised that one of the long sickle feathers in the
tail of the Brown Leghorn cockerel which I had so much
admired was now nearly all white. I was told that it
begun at the end farthest from the body, and had grad-
ually changed till it was now as I saw it. The owner
said that if he had bought that cockerel he would have
thought that feather had been colored before he re-
ceived the bird and the color had faded or washed off,
but as he had raised the bird he knew that the change
of color was wholly a freak of nature or the result of
some unknown cause.

Two still more remarkable cases were two fully ma-

EVERY COMB AXD COLOR 61

v.

tured cocks which I had special reason to observe closely,
as I was breeding from the first for a special purpose,
and the other was a bird which I was counting on to
win honors in the winter shows, so I know there is no
mistake about the unusual freak which I noticed in
each of them, viz: both had moulted perfectly black
throughout and plumage color was a strong point in
each. One was a bird which I put in a breeding pen
tlie latter part of February. In April I noticed a nar-
row white bar across one of his tail feathers. This bar
continued to increase until it was about two inches long.
Then it began to decrease until it had entirely disap-
peared and the feather was all black again before the
fall. The other was my Rose Comb Cock, Dash, who
was considered by all judges one of the finest colored
Black Minorcas they had ever seen. He was hatched
in July, 1896, and he won second in Madison Square
Garden in 1898, and won second again in 1899 at the
same show. The following fall he moulted in the very
finest color of plumage throughout, intense green black,
but after I had put him in a pen to prepare him for Mad-
ison Square Garden show I was dismayed, one day in
December, on taking him in my hand to find a flight
feather in one of his wings, the end of which was tipped
with about two inches of pure white. I thought, of
course, I could not show him, but in a few days I
noticed that the feather was coming back to its origi-
nal color without any treatment whatever, and before
show time it was perfectly black again. In less than a
month from the time I first noticed the white I showed
the bird at Madison Square Garden, where he won first
this time. Two years later, 1902, he won second at Phil-
adelphia and second at Boston, and the year follow-
ing that, when in his seventh year, he won third at
Boston and was greatly admired for the brilliancy of
his plumage. Why that feather changed from black to
white and then back from white to black in a period
of about six weeks I do not know. I have seen and heard
of other similar cases, but none of them have been satis-
factorily explained.

Anything which injures a pin-feather is likely to so

62 MINORCAS OF

disturb the coloring process that the feather, when
grown, will be imperfectly colored, that is, a naturally
high colored feather may, from such a cause, be white
or partly white when fully grown. For this reason
every precaution should be taken to avoid fighting and
all disturbances among the flocks at the moulting period
and special care should be taken to nourish fowls well
at that time.

FITTING MINORCAS FOR THE SHOW-ROOM.

Preparation for success in showing ought to include
a retrospective view of the ancestry of the birds on
which success or failure is to depend. A strong pedi-
gree, showing generation after generation of ancestors
which were excellent in all that is desirable, is worth
more than all the temporary fitting and grooming that
can possibly be crowded into the last few weeks before
show time. All that has been said about caring well
for chicks through all stages of their development forms
an important part of fitting them for show. Careful pro-
tection and good nourishment through their moulting
period is very important, for a fowl cannot produce fine
feathers from an impoverished body, and the process
of producing feathers at all is certain to be detrimental
in other ways unless there is ample provision for the
new growth.

A while before show time it is a good plan to sepa-
rate the birds intended for show, in separate pens, to
avoid the danger of the breaking' of feathers and injur-
ing of combs by other fowls. Thus penned separately,
the 'attendant can see that each bird has a suitable al-
lowance and is not over-fed and can get the birds accus-
tomed to being handled so they will not be timid when
placed in the show coops. It is desirable to have the

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 6j

birds full of vigor and abundantly nourished at show
time so that they can endure without drooping the in-
evitable strain of being closely confined, the journey to
and from the shows, the brilliantly lighted show-room,
through the long evenings, when it is fowl nature to
repose in darkness, and the constant passing of people
before their coops; but in trying to feed a fowl well we
must take great care not to over-feed, especially when
fowls which have been accustomed to free range are de-
prived of their usual opportunity to exercise.
v It improves the appearance of White Minorcas to
wash them thoroughly, but the plumage of Black Min-
orcas should never be washed. They ought always to
be kept clean by keeping their houses and runs clean
and giving them plenty of clean litter. If their plumage
looks soiled or dusty a sponge or cloth dampened in
clear water and rubbed the smooth way of the feathers
so as not to rumple the feathers or disconnect the web,
is the best way to clean them. I have seen the appear-
ance of glossy black feathers very much injured by the
use of soap and water. Feathers which have been
mussed can be much improved by placing on a smooth
surface and smoothing the web back into place with the
fingers.

Lice are always pernicious destroyers of health and
beauty of fowls and ought not to be tolerated at any
time of a fowl's life. Especial vigilance ought to be ex-
ercised in regard to them and all kinds of vermin
among birds which have been selected for show.
{ Sunflower seed, hemp seed, flax seed and oil meal, fed
in small quantities, gives gloss to plumage and can be
thus used to good advantage for a few weeks before
show time.

Long exposure to sun and wind immediately after
fowls have been accustomed to confinement in buildings
sometimes causes the delicate skin to chap and peel
and because of this the delicate white lobe sometimes
becomes streaked with red and irretrievably ruined. I
mention these dangers because it is in avoiding them
that much of the successful fitting for show consists.

Combs of male birds which begin to weaken and bend

64 MI NOR CAS OF

or lop can be strengthened by wire braces fitted to the
comb so as to hold it erect and straight. The side toward
which the comb bends should be slightly oiled with vas-
seline and rubbed thoroughly several times daily to in-
crease circulation of blood on that side of the comb. This
ought to be done as soon as the comb begins to bend,
because after it has been bent longer it becomes more
confirmed in that shape and there is greater difficulty
in restoring it to the natural position. One successful
exhibitor told me that he believed cocks caused their
large combs to lean to one side by habitually holding
their head under the wing on the same side when roost-
ing at night, thus causing comb to fall 'to one side, and
lie said he corrected the fault by sprinkling cayenne
pepper in the feathers on the side where he found each
particular cock's head at night, thus causing a change
in the habitual position, with the result that combs be-
came erect again.

The combs and wattles of hens can also be improved
by manipulaton with the fingers if combs do not have
the proper loop or fall gracefully over the head or if
wattles have wrinkles or folds.

As .soon as fowls are selected the legs should be ex-
amined, and if there is any appearance of scales or
roughness they should be thoroughly rubbed with vas-
eline and afterwards kept clean. But in using any
kind of oil on combs, faces or legs great care should be
taken that no oil is allowed to touch the feathers, as it
will injure them more than it will improve unfeathered
portions unless great care is exercised.

A good tonic to give fowls in the drinking water is
made as follows: Mix two gallons of water, one gill
sulphuric acid, one-half ounce sulphate of quinine, four
ounces cayenne pepper and one pound sulphate of iron.
This must be kept in a bottle or jug and should be thor-
oughly shaken every time it is used. One tablespoonful
should be thoroughly mixed with two quarts of drink-
ing water. Just before putting the birds in the show
pen their combs, faces, lobes, wattles and feet should
be thoroughly washed and dried.

Before closing let me call your attention again to

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 65

the chapter on color development in which there is much
which is very essential to successful exhibiting.

Remember the best care cannot correct the faults of
poor breeding or hereditary deficiencies, but the best
bred ,Minorcas of the finest type, if .neglected or badly
managed, may be defeated in the show by an inferior
bird which has had better care.

HISTORY OF SINGLE COMB WHITE MINORCAS.

The history of White Minorcas ,probably extends back
much farther than my knowledge of them. I know that
they were being bred in England about thirty years
ago and the particular strain that I know of came from
sports of the Black Minorcas. They were said to be like
the Black Minorcas of England at that time, except in
color, and were considered equal to the Blacks for prac-
tical purposes. But they were not so much bred in Eng-
land as the Blacks and the reason ascribed for this was
that breeders found it more difficult to care for them
properly and keep them looking clean in their small
runs and smoky atmosphere.

White Minorcas were first brought to America by
Francis Mortimer of Pottsville, Pa., in 1885 and 1886,
and they were bred and advertised by him quite exten-
sively for a short tine. They were also bred in the
Niagara Poultry Yards about that time. C. R. De Hart
took them up soon after they were first imported to
America and became one of the leading breeders of
them. Later, he sold his entire stock to 0. W. Jerome
& Company, who for years were the leading breeders
and exhibitors of this variety, winning many important
prizes in Madison Square Garden and other leading
shows. The Jerome White Minorcas are now owned by

Single Comb White Minorca Cock.

From Poitltry Advocate.

EVERY COMB AND COLO A' 67

Mr. William Glasgow, whose late wife was a member
of the firm of C. W. Jerome & Company, and well known
as a very estimable lady and a true fancier.

It is gratifying to see that quite a number of new
fanciers are taking up White Minorcas now and are
putting much enthusiasm and skill into the work of
breeding them up to their best. I know they will find
that they have a good foundation to build on, in a breed
which has had its best qualities well preserved, and I
am perfectly sure of grand success1 for those who per-
sist in keeping them at the front, because of the confi-
dence I have in the genuine Minorca, to take and hold
the high place which is its inherent right.

This is an excellent variety of fowls which I am sure
would be much more bred if their good qualities were
better known. Everything which has been said in the
foregoing chapters of this book of the characteristics
of Black Minorcas applies equally well to White Min-
orcas, except the advantages which I believe accom-
pany or are derived from the black plumage. Black
plumage affords a warmer covering and is generally
supposed to indicate greater power of endurance and
vigor than plumage of any other color. The standard
weights of White Minorcas are 8 pounds for cock, 6^2
pounds for hen, 6V2 pounds for cockerel, and 5% pounds
for pullet, which is one pound per bird lighter than for
the Single Comb Black, but I have seen many White
Minorcas in the show room which were equal in weight
to the standard requirements for the Blacks. The
plumage and beaks of White Minorcas are white and
legs pinkish white. Their owners always speak of them

68 MINORCAS OF

in the highest terms of praise as excellent in all points
of usefulness and a very satisfactory variety to breed.
I have noticed that breeders who have once taken them
up have bred them for many years and I am quite sure
that if breeders would make it a point to produce more
of them and advertise them thoroughly so as to call atten-
tion to their good qualities the White Minorcas
would find much greater popularity than they have
ever enjoyed. 'There are a very great number of
poultry-loving people who are so prejudiced in favor
of White fowls that they can see no beauty in any other
color and for them to be made acquainted with the in-
trinsic value of such a variety of fowls as White Min-
orcas is to open up a market which will tax every breeder
of that variety to his utmost capacity to supply it, only
to see that more and more are needed faster than the
number can be increased. Truly White Minorcas' in-
terests have suffered more from lack of competition
among the breeders than from any other cause.

Some very excellent fanciers have bred White Min-
orcas and some of them are still interested in them, so
it is not necessary to look to any other country to get
better stock than can be had here in America. The
quality of our White Minorcas is good, but they, are
deficient in numbers. Hence I believe their destiny lies
in the hands of those who are now breeding them.

ROSE COMB WHITE MINORCAS.

This variety is really in its infancy now, not yet ad-
mitted to the Standard. A few specimens have been
shown from time to time for a few years, but it has been
seldom that more than one or two have been seen on
exhibition at the same time, and most of them have

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 69

shown unmistakable evidence of other than pure Min-
orca blood. During the last two years I have seen a
marked improvement in the specimens which have been
exhibited.

G-. A. Clark of Seymour, Ind., breeds more Rose Comb
White Minorcas than anyone else I know, and has shown
some 'of the very best specimens which it has been my
pleasure to handle in the shows, where I have judged.
Knowing him to be a true fancier and a man whose
statements can be depended on, I have asked him to
write an article on Eose Comb White Minorcas for this
book. He has done so iu an interesting and instructive
way, which I am sure readers will appreciate. Mr. Clark
has also kindly loaned me a cut of a fine Rose Comb
White Minorca cockerel which appears in this book.

ROSE COMB WHITE MINORCAS.

BY G. A. CLARK, SEYMOUR, IND.

My first experience with the Rose Comb White Min-
orcas was the purchase of a pen. of birds from a party
who claimed they were bred from sports of the Rose
Comb Black Minorcas. They were not very good speci-
mens, but fair in several points. The first chicks I raised
from this pen were mixed up in shape and color and
comb pretty bad, as the progeny of any new variety
would have been, and among them I was able to select
only one cockerel and one pullet that was good. The
cockerel was a nice white in color, good comb and size.
This cockerel I mated with two single comb White Min-
orca hens. These two hens were selected for excellence
in all points except comlb. The result of this mating
was tolerably good and from the chicks I got one cock-

First Mw CocKerel

Madison Square (|arden

New York l*C7

Rose Comb White Minorca Cockerel.
Compliments of G. A. CLARK.

EVERY COME AND COLOE ?l

erel that was satisfactory. This cockerel I mated with
the good pullet above referred to, but now a hen. This
mating produced some chicks, good in both comb and
color and shape. The original pen that I had bought I
disposed of, as they produced a majority of stock small
and off in color. They also laid an egg much smaller
than the regular Minorca egg.

From the two matings I now had I selected the best
for breeders and along these two lines I am still breed-
ing them with results that are satisfactory. From 104
pedigreed chicks this }Tear only eight were culled out
for defects, and the defective points were single combs
and black feathers. From the remaining youngsters I
will be able to select some good breeders, as they are
now of good size and look extra promising.

I might mention that I dipped again into the Single
Comb White Minorca blood by a mating of two hens
to a Eose Comb White Minorca cockerel for a special
purpose. This blood will not be infused into the other
stock until the desired results are accomplished and
pro! ably not then if the first strain produce what we
want by the careful selection and mating we are using.

Our test hens now lay an egg very good in size and
a nice white shell.

As to weight, we have one male weighing eight pounds
and one hen nearly eight. These are the largest two
specimens we Lave. Several others are good and com-
pare fa\ orably with the usual lot of Minorcas.

The most difficult work in obtaining this new variety
has been accomplished. The pure white lobes, red eyes,
white legs and beaks are firmly established in them.
This year will see rapid advancement towards their per-
fection and the people who want a white fowl that lays
a laree white egg and lots of them will find the very
fowl to suit their fancy in this last addition to the Min-
orcas—the EOSE COMB WHITE MINOECAS.

72 MINORCAS OF

BUFF MINORCAS MOTTLED MINORCAS AND BAR-
RED MINORCAS.

The latest varieties of Minorcas which have been
spoken of are " Buff " " Mottled " and " Barred." I can-
not say that they are varieties because as such they have
not hatched yet. When it can be said that such varieties
of Minorcas actually do exist they will need man\ years of
brooding before they can be depended on to breed true to
the characteristics of genuine. The mottled variety is be-
ing produced by crossing Black Minorcas and White Min-
orcas together. No doubt such a variety can be produced
in that way if the man who has undertaken it is adapted
to the work and has patience to pursue it for the many
years that will be necessary to establish a uniform type in
the mottled coloring, and preserve the natural excellence
and the true Minorca type in size and shape. Cross-breed-
ing with other varieties cannot be tolerated by any true
Minorca fancier. Its effect will 'be just as lasting as the
variety which is produced by it. Of Buff Minorcas all that
I can say of them from personal obsservation is that they
are falsely named, counterfeits and can safely be " lei
alone."

The only Barred Minorcas I ever saw were the result of
a mixture of Barred Plymouth Rocks, Scotch Grays and
Black Minorcas. Of course they were a mongrel flock.
They had fairly good Minorca heads, smutty gray plum-
age, with irregular barring and there was great variation
in shape. They laid e>g;o;» of all shades of color from white
to dark brown. If the demand for Plymouth Rocks or
Scotch Grays had been such as to have made either of them
as profitable to sell as Minorcas, undoubtedly these fowls
would have been called either Lop-combed White Eared
Rocks or White Eared Lop-combed Grays. Either name
certainly would have been as suitable as Barred Minorcas.

Recently I have received information from different
sources that there has been an attempt made in Germany to

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

n

create Barred Minorcas, but I have not seen any speci-
men of this foreign product. Though I understand that a
few have been brought to our Pacific Coast, I hope the
breeder who has taken up this new variety in America will
control his product until he is sure that his Barred Min-
orcas will be a credit to the name they bear.

NEARLY AN IDEAL HEAD OF S. C B. M. PULLET.

A Philadelphia and Boston Winner.

Bred, Owned and Exhibited by Rowland Story.

?-l A/hVOA'CJs OF

REGARDING THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS BOOK

It is with pleasure that I recommend the individuals and firms whose ad-
vertisements appear in this book and I do so with confidence that my readers
who patronize them will find them courteous and reliable because I have offered
advertising space only to those who, [ have reason to believe, are careful to ful
fil all business obligations honestly and promptly, and who are prepared to supply
their patrons with excellent quality of everything they advertise.

In writing these advertisers you will confer a favor on them as well as my-
self by mentioning that you saw their advertisements in this book.

EVkkY COhfB AXD COLOR

MjNORCAS

Marvelous layers H Jaiile yVhite Egg^.

Madison Square garden, tm Vorh,
(hicago, tfagerstown, St. Louis,
Indianapolis, Detroit, Louisville,
Cincinnati «~ Otli?r %t Ihows.

I Stock Selected «> Uyinj »I«E5 Exhibition Qualities

"EHi For Hatching guaranteed

(f.^dlapk, §eyinoup, Ind.

76

MINORCAS OF

! WHATGLEN FARM 1

to m

^ BREEDERS OF

to Single Comb Black

to

jjj Minorcas Exclusively

to

to

to

to
to

id/
to
to
ito
(1/

11/

ito
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to

*
«

«

m
m
m

Winners at Madison Square Garden, 1906- 1907. ff\
Boston, 1907. ff\

Address, JOHN McGRANN, Prop. '{J

Pres. American Black Minorca Club, 9\

P.O. Box 417, Lancaster, Pa. 'J|

WINNER <f 2«»PHKfi A < '■', K <v'! 5MRf W.Pr.IW.'A1 YoRK- 1906 •

.I'I'.i.'K -l:K. J '.'.l' .Wr;''.;ri 'i i i. 4WlH,l.MK.A5T£R-M

V? 5-" & «; «^ fc S; S; Z~ & C: S; C' SL: & £; & ^j ^ t ^- fc ^; fc &

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

74

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MI NOR CAS OF

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IV HIGH CLASS

Black ninorcas,
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Collie Dogs

English Bull Dog at Stud Teddy II.,

Reg. 82190.

Collie Dogs at Stud Charlie Clinker,

Reg. 70259.

Collie Dogs at Stud Westfield ,

Reg. 512SS.

Chester Ave.,

ALLEGHANY, PA

Winners of 14 Silver Cups.

Vice President American Black Minorca

Club.

LOOK UP,

HiJIdorfer's Champion Record

of Jumbo Black Minorcas

Have shown at more National shows than any other breeder in the United
States. Winners at Pittsburg, Cleveland, Pan-American, Philadelphia, Hagars-
town, Md., Johnstown, N. V., Madison Square Garden, New York, and Chicago
Shows, also St. Louis, 1904, and at Boston, 1905.

Pronounced by the Judges that my birds are the finest strain of Black Minorcas
in this country to date.

Drevenstedt, Burgott, Keller, Hughes, Pierce, Northup, Nichols, Butterfield, Mc-
Clave, Oke and Rigg. These are the Judges.

Compare my winnings to any other breeder in this country at Pittsburg, Cleve-
land, Pan-American, Philadelphia, Hagarstown, Johnstown, N. Y., Chicago, Madi
son Square Garden, St. Louis World's Fair and Boston.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

/9

The Great World's Fair,

St. Louis, 1904, also at
BOSTON SHOW, 1903.

M.LEGHENY PA.

HILLDORFER'S

JUMBO
BLACK

won more prizes than
any other eight exhibitors
of iViinoicas at these two
shows. They have won
more prizes at the Na-
tional Shows than those
of any other breeders of
Black Minorcas in this
country to dale.

Won at the Largest Show in the World.

At St. Louis, 1904. Two Firsts ; two Seconds; one Third; three Fourths ; one
Fifth, all on Black Minorcas.

At the Club Meeting, Boston, January 17, 1905. Two Firsts ; three Seconds ;
three Thirds ; two Fourths ; one Fifth. All on Black Minorcas.

Also winner of Four Silver Cups at this show on my birds. All on Black
Minorcas.

WON AT THE LARGEST SHOW IN THE WORLD.

My breeding pens, 1905, will have my birds in them that won all my prizes for
me. We never sell a Prize Winner, keep them for eggs for our patrons. My pens
will be headed by the Cocks and the best Cockerels in this country to date.

Will mate up 12 Breeding Pens for my Egg Trade.

Have won 14 Cups, 100 Specials from 1900 to 1905. World's Fair and Boston
mating eggs will be $4.00 per sitting; 2 sittings for $7.00, and 3 sittings for $10.00 ;
he run of the pens, #3.00 sitting, 2 sittings for $5.00.

ADDRESS

HON. JOS. P. HILLDORFER, Chester Ave., Alleghany, Pa.

8o

MI NO RC AS OF

P O U L T R V

The National Poultry Magazine

«£ j« ^t ^ Edited by MILLER PURVIS ^ j* J* ^e

In less than three years POULTRY has become the
leading poultry journal of the country. Printed on fine
paper, and illustrated with finest half-tones, it attracts the
attention of the best people in the poultry business.

Poultry is sold on news stands everywhere at Ten .
cents a copy.

The subscription price is $1.00 per year. Write for
special clubbing proposition and rates to agents.

PUBLICITY

1 N

£ t

P o

"V '

PAYS

POULTRY is the best advertisir-g medium in the field
today. The present low rate of $2.10 per inch will be
raised with the October, 1907, issue. Contracts for a year
at the old rate may be made before September 1st, service
to begin not later than the September number.

Better write now.

POULTRY PUBLISHING CO.,
PEOTONE, - - - ILLINOIS.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

Canadian Poultry Review

The people's popular poultry paper. Full of bright,
instructive, interesting matter and engravings. All
poultry, nothing but poultry; 30th year of publication.

Gjoi Advertising Medium. Rates on Application.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES, Canada 50 cents a year, three

years $ 1. 00. United States 65 cents a year,

two years $1.00.

sample: free.

Address, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

Rose Comb Minorcas, Black, White and WottBed.

A Breeder since 1S93. Winners in Show Room and Egg Record.

CHARLES K. RTSLEY, Silver Lane, Conn.

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS.

The Great Egg Producing machines. Winners of Leading shows in state.

E M. & E: A. OLDER,
r r. 1 Carthage, South Dakota.

C. L. SANBORN

, Breeder of ]

Jt jt SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS j* <*

MEMBER OF AMERICAN BLACK MINORCA CLUB, GAINES' ILLE, TEX.

ROSE AND SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS

NORTHUP'S STRAIN,

winners at Montgomery, Birmingham and other shows, bred lor beauty, new standard
weight, and great laying qualities. Eggs $2.00 per 15 eggs. Stock for sale.

MRS. J R.'McNAIR, Ozark, Ala,

MEMBER A. B. M. CET7B.

BREEDER AND EXHIBITOR OF HIGH CLASS S. C. B- MINORCAS.

My Birds are now (1907) Holdingfthe Colorado StateXhampionship Cup.

R. F. D.'NO. 4: ALCOTT STATION, DENVER, COLO.

82

MINORCAS OF

-SINGLE COMB-

BLACK MINORCAS

ONLY

ARLINGTON STRAIN

Great Layers and Show Winners

Breeding and Exhibition Birds, Male
and Female, for Sale at all Times

ROWLAND STORY

187 Arlington Ave., BROOKLYN, N. Y.

Judge of Minorcas all Varieties.

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS FOR SALE.

Old and young birds. Northup and Treathaway Strains.

Rev. Geo. W. Ferris, Maiden, N. Y.

KENTUCKY'S BEST

Single an 1 Rose Comb Black Minorcas are bred by

HENRY L. MENGES, 1723 West St. Catherine St., Louisville, Ky., and President

Ana. B. M. Club for Kentucky.

BREEDERS' CARD FOR MINORCAS ALL VARIETIES.

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS, full Northup strain, from the best stock
obtainable. Stock, eggs and chix for sale in season. Write for bargains.

PROF. A. W. ROWELL, Empire Poultry Farm, South Atlanta, Ga.

SINGLE AND ROSE COMB BLACK AND ROSE COMB
WHITE MINORCAS.

Write your wants. W. W. WHITON, Wakeman, Ohio.

BEATTIE'S S. C. BLACK MINORCAS PURE BRED.

Stock of high quality, won 15 blue ribbons at our leading shows. Great laying strain-
Farm raised eggs $ I per 13. Satisfaction guaranteed.

JAMES BEATTIE, So. Hadley, Falls, Mass.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 83

THE BEST POULTRY PAPER

is the one which gives its readers the most practical and valuable instruction —
which caters to and supplies them with thoroughly dependable and timely informa-
tion upon all subjects in which they are interested, and which also protects them
from advertising fakirs and from being imposed upon by exploiters of valueless
schemes and theories. Poultrymen who know, willingly admit that

FARM-POULTRY

is, in these essential features, the very best of the good ones. Not only are its teach-
ings absolutely truthful in all problems pertaining to Natural and Artificial Incuba-
tion, Feed'ng, Rearing, Laying, Killing, Dressing, Marketing, etc. etc., but it is the
paper which publishes show awards in full, while others withhold this news
from their readers by discriminating in favor of their advertisers. FARM =
POULTRY is published twice a month, it and 15th, and costs only 50 cents a
year. Established 1S89. It is still conducting that great series of "Lessons in
Poultry Keeping" which is the favorable talk of the poultry world. Let us send
you a sample copy free, and ask us about our great one dollar combination offer of
the paper one year and two complete 160-page compilations of the "Lessons in
Poultry Keeping" which the best Agricultural Colleges use as text books, and
which are praised to the highest by all expert poultry instructors and authorities.
Drop us a postal reqirest for a sample copy of FARM-POULTRY — now.

FARM-POULTRY PUB- CO. BOSTON, MASS.

TWO OF THE BEST BREEDS ON EARTH.
S. C. B. Minorcas and S. C. B. Orpingtons.

I have selected these two breeds after twenty years of experience in
poultry raising. The best is none too good for me. I buy the best,
first, last and all the time, hence sell nothing but the best. Stock and
eggs of these two breeds for sale in season. If the best is what you
want, write to me, the price is right, and satisfaction guaranteed.

DR. N. O. MINEAR, Room 15 Cotwald BIdg., Springfield, Ohio.

F. J. EYSAMAN HEUVELTON. N. Y.,

St. Lawrence County.
MAPLE GROVE

S- C. BLACK MINORCA

-^TPOULTRY YARDS^x^

Elegant Stock that Wins,— Write for Prices. Eggs $2.00 tol$4.00

MINORCAS OF

m

£ /North up Strain

(f) Single and Rose Comb. Bred for Size, Shape, \$/

•'■ andLaying qualities. Eggs for hatching and stock \w

il; for sale the year round. •?•

*

BLACK MINORCAS

fo

to

% HOSE COM'B *RHODE *

$ ISLAJVD *REDS J

* *

'" Bred in lines. Have the Size, Color and Shape. W

y- A good fowl for all purposes. Very prolific lay- -J-

f*\ ers. Mature early as broilers. Make ideal as »L

/|\ broilers. Make ideal mothers and raise a larger \^f

'?* per cent of chicks than any other breed of fowls. w

^ WRITE ME YOUR WANTS *Ij

W *

J{J R. W. BAKER, j{-

m Los Angeles, Cal. Vl^

% i^

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 85

Samuel Bcrger,

VAN WERT, 0.

Ten years a breeder
-of-

i (. B.

My stock is best money

can buy and skill

produce.

Write your wants,

Samuel Berber

^_^g?T^ESCHMAN BROS.<r-58s*=?

5. C. BLACK MSNORCAS

EXCLUSIVELY.

Eggs from carefully mated pens in season. A postal will bring
you further information.

56 Penn St., Sharpsburg, Allegheny Co., Pa.

Why not try some of my

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS

direct from Northup's best pens. No pains spared

to secure the best and I shall try to please every

customer. Write for prices or call

and see my stock.

WM. H. HUTSON, Dallas, Pa.

R. F. D. No. 2, Box J8.

S6 MINORCAS OF

JEROME STRAIN
"BLUE RIBBON"

SINGLE COMB WHITE MINORCAS

G. C PENNINGTON, Waverly, Neb.
<r^S*J>riARYLAND POULTRY YARDS^j^^^

Don't write me if you want the best Black Minorcas in the world. But
my yards are producing some "Dandies." Stock, chicks, and eggs,
at hard time prices. (12 other varieties). Catalogue free.

riEMBER BLACK HINORCA CLUB.
CHAS. E. H. SHRINER, Taneytown, Md.

e. L. CROSS,

^Riverside, Ills.

Rose Comb Black Minorcas (Northup Strain). These birds
took first and second prize at Oconomowoc, Wis., and Belvi-
dere, Ills. Eggs $2.00 per 13. No stock to offer until 1908.

KENDALL'S BLACK MINORCAS

Rose and Single Comb. Exhibition and Breeding Stock. Eggs $2
per 15. Baby Chicks 15c and 25c each.

EARL I. KENDALL, HOLMESVILLE, OHIO.

MEMBER AMERICAN BLACK MINORCA CLUB.

EVERY COMB AMI) COLOR 87

Poultry Magazine,

Monthly, 50 to 100 pages, its writers
are the most successful Poultrymen
and women in the United States. It is

The POULTRY TRIBUNE,

nicely illustrated, brimful each month
of information on How to Care for
Fowls and Make the Most Money with
them. In fact so good you can't afford
to be without it. Price, 50 cents per vear. Send at once
for free sample and SPECIAL OFFER TO YOU.

SWINE MAGAZINE

Monthly 24 to 64 pages, bes t writers and i nforma-
tion how to Make Big Money With Hogs. It is

The NATIONAL SWINE MAGAZINE

Printed on heavy paper, well
illustrated with Prize Winning
Animals , Houses, Fixtur es.&c.
J^ 50 c ts. per year. Our Premium
Proposition to Agents on these
two M agazines enables y ou to
get one or a pair or more of
purebred pediereedpigs, 4 kinds, absolutely FREE ora
big Cash Commission if you choose. Write me today
for samples oft he two papers and full particulars.

R. R. FISHER. Publisher, Box 46, Freeport, III.

CRESCENT POUL TR Y FARM,

J. H. HORNAFINS, Prop.

Rose and Single Comb Slack Minorcas

a specialty. Eggs and Stock

for sale in season.

Lane Co., Elizabet'itown, Pa.

DUNNE'S S. AND R. C. BLACKS

Famous for Shape, Size, Color and large White shelled eggs.
Winners at Chicago, Ouelph, and Toronto, 1906-'07.

EGGS IN SEASON. STOCK FJE SALE.

H. DUNNE, Parkdale Poultry Yards, Toronto, Canada.

SINGLE COMB BLACK HINORCAS

exclusively, Northup strain; eggs for hatching in season $i.oo for 13, #6.00 for 100.

Breeding stock for sale at all times.
HAPLE AVENUE POULTRY YARDS, GEO. A. BROWN, South Otselic, N. Y

S8

MINOR CAS OF

S. G Black

Mi

morcas*

If you want good stock, the

kind that gives satisfac-

tion, write to

W. F. LINDENBERG,

FORT WAYNE, HMD.

BLACK MINORCAS
NORTHUP STRAINS

My Minorcas have scored higher at the shows in Utah
where they have competed, than all other Minorcas.

JOHN W. HA SLAM,

544 West 3d North St., Salt Lake City, Utah.

WM. L__ DEIEIIVIEIR,

TINICUM, PA.

BREEDER OR SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS

EXC LUSIVE LY.

Hens in my breeding pens weigh from 6% to 8j^ lbs. each and are mated
with grand males direct from Northup. My Minorcas have long backs,
deep bodies, large combs and wattles, and fine green sheen, and are
great layers of large eggs.

WRITE ROR PRICES OR EGGS AND ROWLS.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

S9

THE KITTITAS STRAIN OF SINGLE AND ROSE COMB

-BLACK. MIJVG*RCA»S.

Bred from the best blood in America.

Up-to-date in weight, color and shape. Unexcelled as producers

of large white eggs. Breeders and show birds always

in stock, eggs in season. Write for catalogue

and book on Minorcas.

J. C. HWB'BBLL, Ellenshxirg, Wash.

Before you buy Minorcas or their Eggs, Write for Prices to

ALEXANDER WOOD,

326 Lexington Ave., Clifton, N. J.

I Have a Lot of
"SINGLE S ROSE COMB BLACK MINORCAS."

They are well bred, good winners and good layers. For sale at any time cheap.

PHILLIP REPP, 430 Oak St., Johnstown, Pa.

DIRKSEN'S SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS

are heavy laying. You miss a great bargain if you don't get stock or eggs from his
matings, they will please you. Write for particulars.

JOHN E. DIRKSEN, 727 N. Third St., Springfield, 111.

EVERY FIRST AND SECOND PRIZE ON

ROSE COMB WHITE MINORCAS

at Utica and Frankfort shows last winter were awarded to

Stock and eggs for sale. G. S. PALMER, Ilion, N. Y.

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS

Prize Winning strains, stock and eggs for Sale.

W. A. BEACHELL, Waverly, Nebr.

9°

MI NOR CAS OF

IF YOU WANT

HIGH (LASS
BLACK MINORCAS

just like this cut, or
eggs that will produce
such and prompt at-
tention to your order,
write

C, W. GIFT,
Waynesboro, Pa.

R. F. D. 2.

"NORTH UP STRAI/N"

BLACK MINORCAS A SPECIALTY.

HENREETTA FARM, Oak Grove, Del.

COLE & CO., Prop's.

AMERICA'S CHAMPION WHITE MINORCAS

Winners at Pan American, New York, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, and
Canada's leading shows. My minorcas are noted for their great size,
shape, color and fine combs. Correspondence a pleasure. Stock for
Sale. Catalogue free on application.

J. N. O'NEIL, 22 Elm Grove aVe., Tororvto, Cal\ac|a.

MAPLEHURST FARM,

The home of the prize winner and great egg producer. S. C. B. Minorcas of
THE FAMOUS KENTUCKY BLUB GRASS STRAIN,

uueciualed for large size, beauty and egg production. Exhibition and utility stock for
sale at all times. Prices reasonable, satisfaction guaranteed.

J. L. GRAY, Falmouth, Ky

E VER Y COMB A ND COL OR 9 1

S. C. BLACK MI/NOHCAS.

BEST IN THE WORLD.

LARGE BIRDS. STANDARD WEIGHT.

EXCELLENT COMBS

B. B. YOUNG, = = Cumberland, Md.

*ROSE COME *BLACK_ MIJVOHCAS

My winnings for 1907 are:

AT NEW YORK -3rd cock, 1st cockerel, 1st pullet.

AT POUGHKEEPSIE— 1st cock, 1st and 2nd ckl, 1st and 2nd pullet, 1st pen.
AT PHILMONT— 1st cock, 1st hen, 2nd ckl, 1st Pullet.

AT SCHENECTADY- 1st cock, 1st hen : 1st, 2nd, 3rd ckl, 1st and 2nd pullet.
Eggs for hatching, $5 per 13. Stock according to quality.

T. A. McK.ITT'RICK., Hudson. JV. y.

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS EXCLUSIVELY.

EXHIBITION AND UTILITY POINTS COMBINED.
GREAT LAYERS AND LARGE SIZE.
STOCK AND EGGS FOR SALE.

For Particulars write to DR. JOS. E. BLANK, Green Lane, Pa.

Bales' Rose Comb Black Hinorcas

are the true type that win the prizes. My being a new breeder is no
reason my Minorcas are not up-to-date. In getting my start I got
the best money could buy, and have won prizes wherever shown.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd cockerel, 1st, 2nd and 3rd pullet. 1st pen at Illinois
State fair, 2nd ckl. and 2nd pullet at Elgin, 111., 1st ckl at State Poul-
try Show at Macomb, 111. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at Winchester.
Birds always for sale at reasonable prices, quality considered. Eggs in
season, also breed high class White Plymouth Rock of the Root's Can-
edy, and Shaw strains. I guaranteed 10 fertile eggs out of a setting of

l5 eggs-
TeIephone,in residence, No. 9. J. S. BALES, Springfield, 111.

MINORCAS OF

MELROSE POULTRY YARDS

HARRY (. MEISELBACH

BREEDER OF

America's Best White Minortas

My Birds have won at the World's Fair, St. Louis, and other
leading shows, as Madison Square (New York), Guelph, Toronto (Can-
ada) and Chicago, more prizes than all other competitors combined.

Stock for sale always. Eggs '» 'he Season,

shipments any distance in the World.

SINGLE COMB WHITE MINORCAS

from the best prize winning strains. Stock and eggs for sale at all times.

S. E. CONRAD, - - - Sterling, Ohio.

GOOD SINGLE COMB BLACK HINORCAS
are bred and sold by August Kielas,

333 Alexandrine St., Detroit, Mich.

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS

exclusively (Northup's Strain) a very nice lot of liens for sale and a limited lot of cocks at

reasonable prices.

JOHN H. BEAGHY, Middlebury, Ind., R. F. D. No. 3-

WILLIAM SAPPER

Breeder of

S.C.WHITE MINORCAS. WINNukS AT AMERICA'S LEADING SHOWS

BOX B, EB1E. PfcNN'A.

THOMPSON'S MINORCAS

ROSE AND SINGLE COMB

Have been bred and exhibited at leading shows by me the past
fourteen years. They are grand in size and color.

CHAS. A. THOMPSON, Melrose, Conn.
Spring Brook Farm.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

93

KLEE BROS.

8. C. B. MINORCA S

Win at America's Crystal Palace Show

fladison Square Garden, 1907,

20 Regular and Special Prizes, including 5 Silver Cups,
for best collection. Our Minorcas were considered
by the best Minorca experts, the finest collection at
the Garden. They won with Green Goods. Do not
fail to write us for your wants. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Eggs in season.

BLAUVELT POULTRY YARDS,

Blauvelt, N. Y.

The writer has been a poultry fancier since a boy. Have bred
a number of different strains of fowl. The

R. C B. MINORCAS HAVE MY PREFERENCE
FOR ALL PURPOSES TO ALL OTHERS.

In 1906 I made my first appearance at the Show Rooms
in Boston. The writer was awarded his share in prizes.
I sold^George H. Northup at that time four pullets for
one^hundred and twenty dollars, ($120.00), which'came
from a sitting of eggs in 1905 that I paid him $10.00.
The Minorcas are now sitters, lay a large white egg and
more of them than any other fowl. THE FLESH IS
JUICY AND GOOD FLAVOR, weight excellent.

Eggs for sitting' in 1 908, 3, 5, 10 dollars per 13.

Stock for sale at reasonable prices. Satisfaction guaranteed

C H. LEE, Hyde Park, Mass.

94 MINORCAS OF

SUCCESSFUL POULTRY JOURNAL

Will Tell You How to Succeed

A year's subscription to SUCCESSFUL POULTRY JOURNAL is a year's
course of instruction in poultry culture from the foremost experts and practical suc-
cessful breeders in all parts of America. We spend large sums in getting special
articles upon all branches of poultry raising and pictures of poultry plants, houses,
yards, fowls, etc., and full page color plates of fowls, all of which will be interesting
and helpful to you.

SUCCESSFUL POULTRY JOURNAL will save you money and teach you
how to make the most money and get the mos' pleasure from your fowls. You
need it whether you have few or many fowls or whether you are an amateur or an
expert. It is the handsomest poultry journal published and it is absolutely impossi-
ble to get more reliable or more interesting reading matter and pictures than are
found in its columns.

We cannot tell yon in this small space, how valuable and interesting the SUC-
CESSFUL POULTRY JOURNAL is, but will say that, if at the end of the year
you will write us and say that it is not worth the price to anyone interested in poul-
try, we will cheerfully refund your money. We would not make this offer did we
not know absolutely that you would be pleased and delighted with the Journal.
Breeders everywhere recommend it.

S«>n<l so cents in coin or sr-mps to SUCCESSFUL POULTRY JOURNAL PUB. CO.,
Frank Heck, Editor, 355 D arborn St., Chicago, 111.

An ad in it will sell your surplus stock and eggs. Write for rates. Mr.
Northup and other prominent breeders advertise in it.

MISHLER'S ROSE COMB BLACK MINORCAS

PURE NORTHUP STRAIN

have proved that they can win the best prizes at the largest shows and
in the strongest of competition. Trapnests used, and special attention
paid to egg production. Every chick is pedigreed. Send for my circular
which tells the "whole story" and you will want some of the blood of
Togo, the $200 cock, in your birds. Let me know your wants before buy-
ing elsewhere. Raising Minorcas is a business, not a side line, with me.
LLOYD C. MISHLER, Box 30, North Manchester, Ind.

^^SPRING BROOK POULTRY FARM-^-

H. H. SCOTT, Culpeper, Va., Proprietor,

Breeder of NORTHUP'S STRAIN BLACK MINORCAS
WHITMAN'S STRAIN BROWN LEGHORNS
and the BEST SILVER LACED WYANDOTTES

Have been breeding Black Minorcas for six years, always with the best type
in view. I have stock and eggs in season at very moderate prices considering the
quality of stock I have to sell. Write me for full particulars.

MEMBER OF MINOECA CLUB.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

95

THAT WHICH HALF
COMPLETES, FAILS!

Fight shy of failures and use the old. re-
liable, standard remedies which have the
endorsement of the leading poultrymen
of the world.

CONKEY'S ROUP CURE

conquers this most fatal disease of the
poultry yard and restores the useless fowls
to health and profit.
Roup begins with a cold, followed by sneezing, wheezing, discharge from nos-
trils and eyes, which thickens and gives forth an offensive odor. CONKEY'S
ROUP CURE is guaranteed to satisfy you, or your money will be refunded with-
out question. Jusr a thimbleful according to directions, and trre feverish fowls
eagerly take their own medicine aid cure themselves. Prices 50c and #1.00, postpaid.

CONKEY'S CELEBRATED BOOK ON POULTRY FREE,

An illustrated book of 48 pages, full of useful information to the poultry raiser. Housing, Breed-
ing. Feeding, Mating, and poultry care generally. The price is 2;c, but YOU CAN HAVE A COPY
FREE for 4c. in stamps and names of two others interested. SEND TODAY.

CONKEY'S STANDARD REMEDIES

are used the world over and they are guaranteed to the limit. If they don't please you, you get your
money bade. THE G. E. CONKEY COMPANY CLEVELAND, OHIO, U. S. A.

PHILLIPS' S. C. B, MIJNTORCAS

a specialty for sixteen years, foundation Northup Strain. Special attention to
utility as well as fancy points.

THOMAS H. PHILLIPS, Hover, n. j.

ROSE AND SINGLE COflB BLACK MINORCAS

Northup's direct. Winners at all the National Shows. Stock and eggs for

sale at all times.

CHAS. DERR & CO . Box H, Litchfield, Mich.

DOERMANN'S BLACK MINORCAS, SINGLE AND ROSE COMB.

15 prizes on 19 entries. Blue Island Show 1907. 74 Minorcas exhibited.
Stock and eggs in season.

A. W. T. DOERMANN, Blue Island, HI.
THEO, W. KOOP, New Bremen, O.

Breeds Rose and Single Comb Black Minorcas exclusively, stock guaranteed as
represented. Write for circular. Eggs in season. Member A. B. Minorca Club.

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS

NORTHUP STRAIN

Blue Ribbon "Winners. Both at the shiw and Egg Basket. Eggs in season. Stock at all times
C. A. SPICKERMAN, 723 E. Kiowa St., Colorado Springs, Colo.

96

MINORCAS OF

m

8

m

#1

1

IZ3j&&Zfj&Efe7Z?&I£&If&

INDUSTRIOUS
HEN

i
i

i

Minorca Breeders Should
"Read Every Copy of

The Industrious Hen

Articles on this breed for the past year, many of which
have been worth ten times the cost of the magazine, have been
read by hundreds of thousands of people.

THE INDUSTRIOUS HEN reaches a large number of
Minorca as well as other breeders. Send 50c for one year or
$1 for three years. Advertising rates on application.

THE INDUSTRIOUS HEN CO.,

1
1

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 97

OUR POPULAR TRIO.

POULTRY SUCCESS

The World's Favorite and Leading Poultry Journal.

An up-to date, helpful and exclusive poultry magazine, beautifully
illustrated ; best writers ; always interesting. ^Tells just what you want
to know. 50 cents per year.

FARM STOCK SUCCESS

The Farmer's and Stock Breeder's Friend

Devoted to pure bred farm stock, including horses, cattle, sheep, swine,
a"d poultry. 50 cents per year.

PET STOCK MAGAZINE

The Only Exclusive Pet Stock Jlagazine Published

Is very popular among fanciers and breeders of all kinds of fur •
and feathered pet stock. 50 cents per year.

Advertise in our publications and reach the best people in your line.
Rates are reasonable. Write for them.

A. D. HOSTERMAN, Publisher, Springfield, O.

BRITTON'S

SINGLE AND ROSE COMB

BLACK MINORCAS

Equal lo the Best. Prices Reasonable. Satisfaction Guaranteed.

THE GLEYN MINORCA YARDS, 34 North Jackson Street, Elgin,

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS EXCLUSIVELY

My strain of Minorcas have been line bred for 10 years. If you want
size, quality and a "Square Deal," write me your wants. Baby chicks
a speciaHy. Catalogue of matings free.

T. M. HARKNESS, Box 7, Ashland, Ohio
Ohio Vice President of the American Black Minorca Club,

98

MINOR CAS OF

"BEJVTS MILK. ^/IL'BVMEF

is the

CRBATEST AJVIMAL, FOOT* KJVOWJV

It has 4-3.3 per cent Albuminoid "Protein,

and is endorsed by the A°\ Ex Stations and leading poultrvmen everywhere. It is
economical and healthful, promotes rapid growth in young stock, hastens the moult and is
uuequaled as an eggmaker. Keeps pure, s <eet and wholesome. Mr. Bent is the inventor
of dry milk food for fowls. G-et the original. Price $2.50 per 100, 20iMbs. $4.50, freight
prepaid east Mississippi River on trial order. sample and Colder free. Manufactured
onlyby THE BENT-CROISSANT CO., Antwerp, N. Y.

25 years

Think r-f_it! Our "Silver Ju
bilee!" vv'nv take chanees?i_
Buy a iteliable and be sure. |j
Beautifal Silver Jubilee Cata-fj
logfree. Write today. Reliableo
Inouoator & Brooder Co., Bos

Guincy, III.

The Release's 25th Birthday

This is our Silver Jubilee
year. For 25 years Reliable
Incubators have represent-
ed the latest and best in
incubator buildiDg, have
stood the test of practical
use and sre farther in the
lead this year thai. ever.
"Silver Jubilee" catalog free.
Reliable Incubator *
Brooder Co.. Box

Quincy, 111.

RIVERSIDE MINORCA FARM,

EDW S. LAMBRITE. Prop.

The home of America's |S. C. BLACK MINORCAS

Finest Strains of \ AND RHODE ISLAND REDS

exclusively
Circular with full particulars for the asking. Erwinna. Bucks Co , Pa.

W. W. JENKINS,

BREEDER OF"

single: comb black minorcas.

NORTHUF> STRAIN
EGGS AND POULTRY F^O R SALE IN SEASON. BENTONVILLE, ARK-

SINGLE COMB BLACK MINORCAS.

Northup strain exclusively. Prize winning stock. Eggs in season. Also breeder of White

Wyandotte Stock and Eggs for sale.

p. (i. BEBRENDf, Route No 1, Box 68, Waupaca. Wis.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

99

THE ELEANORE HINORCA YARDS, LOS ANGELES, CAL.
M. E. BROWN, Prop. Box ioo, R. R. No. i.

I have Geo. H. Notthup's strain of Rose Comb Black Minorcas. Eggs from Jan-
uary to July $3.00 per 15 or $5.00 per 30. Stock for sale at all times.

Finest Strains f s. C. B. \ Stock and Eggs In Season

W ALT S \ I: cc w: \ MINORCAS

WE HADDOCK Prop. I R. C. W. ) 190 Richmond st., B'klyn, N. Y.

SINGLE COHB BLACK MINORCAS EXCLUSIVELY

For eggs in stock Write

F. VAUGHAN, Lambton Hills, Ont.

SINGLE COM'B SLACK. MIJWO-RC AS

Exclusively. Good stock and eggs for sale ; quality guaranteed. Circular free.
GEOUGE L. AL'BEJV,

102 So. Main St.. Adrian, Mich.

i ,'ss i-is

^

AUTHOR'S CORRECTIONS.

Cut of Headlight III which appears on page 31 should have
been credited to "Poultry," an English Journal published in Lon-
don, and the Ideal cock and the Ideal hen to the American
Black Minorca Club. The omissions were unintentional and were
not noticed until after the reading pages and illustrations were all
printed.

\!& <

ioo MINORCAS OF

BREEDERS' DIRECTORY.

Breeders of Single Comb Black Minorcas.

J. Norman Bowen, R. F. D. 3, Manchester, Va.

C. E. Buttles, Wenachee, Wash.

C. R. Cuthbert, Meadowville, Ont.. (also Rhode Island Reds.)

Alwin F. Goehle, 133 Baitz Ave., Buffalo.

Frederick S. Lane, Foxboro, Mass.

Stephen O. Kent, Box 93, Rowley, Mass.

Mrs. S. D. Long, 78 Waterman St., Coldwater, Mich.

J. I. McLaughlin, Box 480, Oshawa, Ont., Canada.

Edward Orgill, Riverton, Utah.

Mrs. W. S. Porter, Petersburg, Tenn.

John Robinson, 6353 Greene St., Gtn.. Philadelphia, Pa., (also Japanese
Long-tail Phoenix Fowls.)

Henry Schumann, 2720 West Main St., Louisville, Ky.,

L. R. Schubert, South San Francisco, Cal.

E. W. Scofield, Morenci, Mich.

J. Flem Smith, Ponca City, O. T.

J. Wallace Snelling, R. F. D. No. 1, Manchester, Va.

C. G. Stevens, 123 J. Hail Road, Manchester, N. H.

W. Weidenmann, 64 Chestnut St., Brooklyn. N. Y.

Breeders of Rose Comb Black Minorcas.

George H. Gigee, Friendship, N. Y.

Jno. D. Prideaux, 117 Pipestone St., Benton Harbor, Mich.

Adelaide H. Toomer, Ivy Place, Springfield, Mo.

A. E. Wilson, Guilderland, N. Y.

EVERY COMB AND COLOR

m

n

Northup's Minorcas

Are Known the World Over
To Stand at the Head — — .

They cackle and crow in the yards of our customers who
are leading fanciers throughout the United States, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Prince Edwards
Island, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, Vancouvers
Island, Mexico, Republic of Columbia, Brazil, Bermuda,
Denmark, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Germany,
Trinidad Island, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Java and
Japan, and are giving the best of satisfaction everywhere
as egg producers and prize winners.

NORTHUP'S MINORCA TARN

s
I

K&j is devoted exclusively to UM

j| Single and Rose Comb Minorcas jl

I

1
f
1

and is one of the largest poultry establishments in the world.
More than fifteen acres of land is divided into runs for the
breeding stock. The buildings contain 18820 square feet
of floor space beside twenty-five colony houses.

We make a specialty of breeding show birds for sale and
selling eggs from which such can be hatched. Our large cata-
logue contains pictures and descriptions of our buildings and
birds and much information about Minorcas which cannot be TVS
obtained elsewhere. The catalogue is free but is worth much
more than the stamps required to send it. Write your wants to

RACEVILLE, WPfSH. CO., N. Y.

1
1

ft

1

IMPORTANT

Send

102 MINOR CAS OF

Recipe for Northup's Egg=Food.

This food has been on the market for twenty years and has
given general satisfaction to those who have used it throughout
the United States and Canada. The same people have bought it
year after year because it has proven to be the most profitable
egg-producing food they have found, by keeping their hens
laying all whiter when eggs were high, and when this food has
been given breeding fowls, their eggs have shown better fertility
and chicks hatched from them have been more hardy.

IT HAS KEPT YOUNG CHICKS FREE FROM GAPS
AND CHOLERA AND CURED MANY CASES OF BOTH.
It is one of the best preventives of catarrh and roup known because
by keeping fowls in a healthy condition it enables them to resist
diseases. It hastens the growth of feathers during moult.

MANY OF OUR BEST FANCIERS FEED IT TO
FOWLS WHEN FITTING THEM FOR SHOW because it pro-
duces a fine gloss in plumage and imparts the bright color to
comb, wattles and faces which indicates vigorous health and
helps many birds to score several points higher than they would
do without such a tonic.

This food has found ready sale at 25c per lb or $1.00 for
5 lbs. to people in all parts of the United States and Canada
who have had it sent to them by express or freight thus entailing
additional expense for transportation, and many poultrymen have
bought it in 100 lb. lots year after year.

My business in Black Minorca fowls has so greatly increased
that all of my time is required for the part of that business which I
do personally, and to relieve myself of the work of superintending
the manufacture, sale, and shipment of egg-food, I have decided
to discontinue making the food for sale, and by selling the recipe
for making it will give others an opportunity to obtain it at much
less expense. I am well aware that by so doing I sacrifice a
large profit which I have derived from sale of the food, but having
all I can do without it I consider this plan advantageous to my-
self as well as to my customers.

THE EGG-FOOD CAN BE MADE FOR jc OR 8c PER
LB. IN 100 LB. LOTS according to the local price for ingre-
dients. Anyone who desires can do a good and profitable busi-
ness in making and selling it in their own town because it is an

EVERY COMB AND COLOR 103

old established food, and the results of its use will create addi-
tional demand for it in any locality where poultry is kept in large
or small flocks.

IN SELLING THIS RECIPE I GIVE THE BUYER PER-
MISSION TO MAKE AND SELL THE FOOD, but all are
restricted from copying the recipe to give away or sell as the
recipe is copyrighted.

I am giving on the following pages a few of the many testi-
monials I have, to show what results the food has produced for
those who Ijave bought it from me.

Recipe with full directions for making and use $1.00.

Only two tablespoonfuls of egg-food is required for every
quart of grain food.

TESTIMONIALS.
INCREASES EGG YIELD,

Geo. H. Northup, Dear Sir: — You ask me for my experience in
the use of your Egg Food. I can give you an accurate statement, as
I keep a daily account with my hens. From this account I quote a
few 'terns, as follows:

March 10, commenced to use Northup's Egg Food.

Week ending March 16, received 10 eggs.

"23, " 50 »

" 3°> " 75 "

April 6, " 86 "

" 13. " 9° "

April 13, stopped using Egg Food, and supply of eggs steadily de-
creased until the week ending July 28, received 17 eggs. July 28, re-
commenced using N.'s Egg Food. Week ending August 3, received
47 eggs. Acc't goes on to show steady increase of eggs as long as
Egg Food was used, and a decrease as soon as I stopped feeding it.
When in March I first commenced using Egg Food, my hens were
sickly and in poor condition, and I had received only five eggs during
the three months previous.

Yours truly, EDWIN STARKS.

Tamaqua, Pa.
Mr. Geo. H. Northup, Dear Sir: — Yours just received. Yes, I had
50 lbs. of your Egg Food last winter and found it to be an excellent
article. I gave some of it to some friends of mine, and one of them
has told me that it is the best egg food he ever used and improved the
lay of his hens one half more in one month. I have been recommend-
ing it to my friends. You may use mv name in your circular if you
wish to. Very respectfully, F. SOWERS,

<^>

104 MINOR CAS OF

Saratoga, Cal.
About the Egg Food. I was very much pleased with it, and wish
I could procure more. Have you an agent on this coast ? The ex-
pressage is so high that lean hardly afford to send so far, but if you
do have an agent on this coast please let me know. Besides its great
egg-producing qualities it is excellent to keep the hens healthy.

Yours, GEO. H. FOSTER.

Reading, Pa.
Mr. Geo. H. Northup, Dear Sir: — In reply to your letter, at hand,
will say that I cannot speak too highly of your Egg Food, both in pro-
ducing eggs and keeping fowls in good condition. When I commenced
feeding it, the first Saturday after the Reading show, not one of my
pullets was laying. Since then I am feeding your food and am get-
ting 8 or 9 eggs a day from 15 hens and pullets. Although' my birds
are too fat. weigh from ~]}<2 to 9^ lbs., not exercjse enough. I can-
not recommend your "Egg Food" too highly to all that have fowls.
I need more soon.
© Yours, etc., M. B. SNYDER.

rjj Algonquin, 111.

[^ Mr. Geo. H. Northup, Dear Sir : — I received the Egg Food in

<J good shape. I thank you very much for putting in the extra pound.

Q., Now I have fed it for over three weeks to five hens and one cock. I

fed them corn and oatmeal mixed with bran, in boiling milk, and only

pj put in one tablespoonful of the Egg Food to each quart of meal, and

C/3 fed cam and oats mixed at night and from those five hens I can show

100 eggs in 22 days. I have not hatched any of them yet so cannot

tell how fertile they are, but I know to produce eggs that "Northup's

Egg Food" can't be beat. Now you can see from my hens that it is

good, for it must have been the "Egg Food" which made them lay, for

I had fed them the verv same feed before I got the Egg Food and they

0h did not lay at all, but by just adding a little of your Egg Food to the

O feed it made the eggs come. You asked me to be your agent, but I

^ was then undecided what to do, but now I am so well pleased with it,

[t] you can send me 100 lbs., for I am sure 1 can sell it.

PL, ROBBIE E. HAGER.

1— 1

y Hampton, N. Y.

«/ Geo. H. Northup, Dear Sir : — I bought a two lb. package of your

Egg Food, and commenced feeding it to my hens. We had not got
an egg from them in a long time, but they commenced to lay soon
after I commenced feeding it, and continued to lay well until the food
was gone, then they stopped and did not lay any more until I got
another package, some four weeks after, then they commenced laying
again as soon as I commenced to feed it and laid wonderfully well as
long as I fed it to them, and the eggs decreased as soon as I stopped
feeding It. I consider it a valuable egg producer. Yours truly,

GEO. W. WARD.

Truthville, N. Y.
Geo. H. Northup, Raceville, N. Y.

Dear Sir : I have used your "Eggfood" during the past winter
with very satisfactory results. There was a marked increase in eggs
as soon as I commenced using it, and a falling off when I discontinued
it. I consider it a very profitable food, and shall use a larger quan-
tity next winter. Yours truly, FAY. WILBUR.

<