PREPARING FOR MARKET. 81 



wise money will be lost by them. They will barely hold 

 their own in December on feed which caused them to 

 increase rapidly in weight a month earlier. Those who 

 have watched the market know that autumn prices 

 usually are highest a little before and a little after 

 Thanksgiving, say about the middle of November and 

 soon after the first of December. The reason is that 

 those who are fattening fowls keep them back for a 

 short time before Thanksgiving-day and before Christ- 

 mas-time, in order to get them in prime order for sale at 

 those times. The result is usually an over-stocked mar- 

 ket and plenty of cheap poultry. Soon after the first 

 of January prices go up again; and well they may, for 

 one or two months' feed has been consumed and very 

 little weight added. 



Capons grow rapidly, and their growth takes up the 

 food, so that we have to wait until growth stops before 

 they fatten. It is well, therefore, that this delicious 

 class of poultry should not make its appearance before 

 the first of February, when the game-laws prohibit ven- 

 ison, quail, and other choice game from being exposed 

 for sale. At this time, consequently, fat capons and 

 pullets meet a good market, and even during Lent, 

 when a considerable portion of the Christian world ab- 

 stain from meats, there is a sharp demand for the high- 

 est-prized meats to grace the table of the rich on Sun- 

 days. It is therefore well to have fine capons ready to 

 supply this demand. 



DRESSING AND SHIPPING. 



The directions sent to their customers by Messrs. E. 

 & 0. Ward, 279 Washington Street, one of the oldest 

 commission houses in New York City, though very 

 6 



