The Country Gcntlcmaii s Magazine 



195 



^he pair]) an'b Poulttg ^art). 



WHO WOULD KEEP POULTRY^ 



SUCH are the words of not a few persons 

 who are either ignorant in poultry mat- 

 ters, or have some different fancy which runs 

 counter to a love for fowls as domestic 

 favourites. Such a sentiment, indeed, cannot 

 be entertained by any intelligent amateur or 

 experienced farmer's wife ; and the farmer 

 himself, his occasional condemnation of the 

 destructive creatures notwithstanding, will not, 

 when closely catechised, differ very widely 

 from the fixed opinion of her who should 

 know best. Unfortunately, however, many 

 amateurs are not sufficiently informed in the 

 management of their yards to enjoy the full 

 pleasure which can be derived from their 

 hobby ; and not unfrequently the mistress of 

 the steading, from want of proper training, or 

 from a dislike to being considered " careful 

 about many things," pays so little attention 

 to the denizens of the barn-yard that we 

 should not be at all disappointed at hearing 

 such a lady declare that they are "just a pest 

 — mair bother than a' thir worth — indeed, 

 what wi' the maister's noise, and folks ain 

 toil wi' the vermin, they're no worth the 

 keepin'." Strong language this, very ! yet, 

 strange to say, even such a lady keeps firm 

 by her hens, and still submits to the heavy 

 toil and conjugal scolding which they bring 

 upon her. Good-natured lady, hoAv heartily 

 Ave condole with you ! 



But why these complaints against the poor 

 poultry ? Are they really to blame for all the 

 bad things charged against them ? We don't 

 believe it, and, as we shall try to prove, for 

 very good reasons. What we mean to say is, 

 of course, not required to secure the patronage 

 of the wealthy gentleman who must have — is 

 pleased to have — a large poultry-yard and 

 his own poulterer, because he wants to see 

 fowls served up to him about which he has 



no doubts either as to age or feeding, not 

 to mention his commendable desire for a 

 fresh egg to breakfast, and as an ingredient 

 in numerous dainty dishes. Far less do we 

 presume to reason with those sensible people 

 of all ranks who can take a better view of this 

 lower world than the mere utilitarian. They 

 know that the human mind must have sorne 

 relaxation from severe duty and pressing care, 

 as well as some innocent hobby. Accord- 

 ingly, in leisure moments, they amuse them^- 

 selves with some pet animal or other, and 

 from the varied selection there presented to 

 them, many, wnth good taste too, become 

 OAvners of poultry-yards. Verily, rich is their 

 reward ! Interesting are the lessons they 

 receive in natural history ! Ay, and if 

 parents, great is the boon they confer on 

 their dear children ! What more pleasing 

 to a father or mother than to see a boy 

 four years old (and we are proud to have 

 known such), not only delighted with the 

 habits and freaks of his own inestimable ban- 

 tams, but able to distinguish each fowl in a 

 yard of 40 by a name, which the tiny fancier 

 has himself imposed, from some remark made 

 in his hearing, or very often fi-om some 

 striking appearance in the individual bird 

 — and this where all the birds were of the 

 same colour. We rather think the advocates 

 of " lessons on common things " should be 

 earnest patrons of the poultry-yard after this. 

 If they decline the honour, then, with all 

 deference to such modern sages, we say, the 

 sooner they lay aside the name of domestic 

 educationists the better, for they have yet a 

 great deal to learn. Nor is there anything 

 remarkable in men, or (beg their pardon), 

 ladies of taste and education, becoming 

 henunfe, since, by such a choice, they can 

 every day see a beauty of symmetry and 



