PREFACE. 



DURING the past ten years some 5,000 questions 

 regarding poultry and its management have 

 been asked by readers of The Riiral New- Yorker. 

 In preparing this little volume I have had these 

 questions in mind. They are all answered in the follow- 

 ing pages. Most poultry books have two faults. They 

 are generally prepared by one man alone, and too much 

 space is usually given to a discussion of the merits and 

 markings of the different breeds. In preparing this vol- 

 ume I have endeavored to secure the opinions of the best- 

 informed poultry-men in the country. I desire to express 

 my special indebtedness to Messrs. P. H. Jacobs, Henry 

 Hales, James Rankin and J. H. Drevenstedt for advice 

 and information. Men who keep "The Business Hen" 

 care, more for performance than for outward appearance. 

 All who are interested in poultry have now excellent 

 opportunities of studying the different breeds at exhibi- 

 tions. For these reasons I have given but little space to 

 breeds and their characteristics. 



There is 'also nothing said about geese and other fowls 

 and pets. This book deals with the hen alone. I prefer 

 to treat other poultry exhaustively, or not at all. Much 

 is said here about the Leghorn hen. This is simply 

 because the Leghorn happens to be doing the work on 

 the majority of the successful egg farms that I have 

 examined. Special attention is called to the chapters 

 descriptive of Mr. Wyckoff's hens and Mr. Johnson's 

 farm. These men are good models for would-be poultry- 

 farmers to follow. H. W. COLLINGWOOD. 



