86 The Poultrij of France. 



appear at market at the bes^inning' of May — tlaey then, at two 

 months okl, weigh 2 lbs. and sell for 2 to 2j francs. 



The chickens when young are fed on a paste made of skim- 

 milk, bran, and potatoes, boiled and mashed ; when older they 

 have tail corn or buckwheat. The " pillettes " which are to 

 become " poulardes " are put into the coup at the age of three to 

 three and a half months ; the capons at four months. In the 

 extreme cold of winter the fatting process occupies three or four 

 weeks longer than at other times. 



A fat poularde of La Bresse at four or five months weighs 

 6 lbs,, a capon six months old, 8 to 10 lbs. Making capons, is 

 a trade followed by certain women Avho travel about ; an incision 

 is made with scissors by the side of the anus. The comb will 

 soon show whether the operation has been perfectly or incom- 

 pletely performed. In the latter case the comb swells, or if it 

 has been previously cut, grows again : in such case the fowls 

 lose one-fifth of their value at market, for the capon not only 

 fattens faster but has more white and delicate flesh. 



The fatting goes on in a closed and dark chamber ; each fowl 

 has a small box allotted to it, and is kept almost motionless. 

 The food given is a mixture of the meal of white maize and of 

 buckwheat, moistened with skim-milk. The poultry-woman 

 takes three or four between her knees, opens the beak with her 

 left hand, and inserts a pellet with her right. After three or 

 four weeks of fatting they are killed by bleeding them at the 

 palate : they are carefully plucked at once, and then wrapped in 

 a piece of fine linen steeped in milk, and fastened on with a 

 piece of string : this is kept on until they are sold. 



Their whiteness, fine grain, and rounded form, create great 

 demand. The best specimens are bought on the premises by pur- 

 veyors, who despatch them to various parts of France, Germany, 

 Switzerland, and Italy. The home markets have a weekly supply 

 of some thousands throughout the winter, weighing from 2 to 

 6 lbs. apiece. Several communes realize more than 80Z. per 

 week for four or five months for their poultry. The price varies 

 with the season, and is highest about New Year's Day, especially 

 if the weather is cold, and admits of carriage to a distance. 



The general run of prices at Bourg Market is — 



s. d. s. (I. 



For fowls, half- rat, weigliin<j; 3 lbs. ,. 2 6 to 3 4 



' 4 1bs, ,, .. 4 „ 5 

 Choice specimens : — 



Poulardes, 6 lbs. (iiett) 7 „ 8 



Capons, 8 lbs S „ 10 



10 lbs 12 „ 14 6 



Very choice capons sometimes make as much as 1/. apiece. 



