386 BROILERS, ROASTERS, AND CAPONS 



ing is undoubtedl}' more profitable when carried on as a side line 

 to some branch of agriculture, for its season is short, and the 

 amount of labor required from hatching time to finishing is small. 

 The returns are very satisfactory, but the cost of producing 

 varies greatly, this depending upon the amount and kind of range 

 for grazing. There are two great advantages which the roaster 

 growers of the New Jersey district have, — namely, large fields 

 for range after grain crops, or green pasture following the first 

 cutting of hay. These areas serve admirably for supplying plenty 

 of the required nutriment at so little expense that the cost of 

 production is materially reduced. 



In many of our Eastern Roaster Districts, the growers have 

 attempted to improve the quality of their stock with reference to 

 roasting qualities by cross breeding; attempting to combine the 

 qualities of fairly quick maturity with large size. The most not- 

 able result that has been attained in this line of work is the 

 development of a local breed known as the Black Giants. This 

 has been attained by the careful and persistent efforts of roaster 

 growers in Monmouth and Burlington Counties, in New Jersey. 

 These Black Giants are larger than Langshans; they have black 

 plumage, clean shanks with yellow legs and skin. They are birds 

 of exceptionally fine quality, and owing to the number of years 

 which they have been bred, the type is becoming more or less 

 fixed and the product more uniform. 



Most roaster growing is characterized by systematic marketing. 

 In some districts it is carried on through the efforts of local 

 buyers who reside in the district and make a practice of purchasing 

 the birds from the raisers in the name of some reliable commission 

 concern, after which they are crated at the point of loading and 

 shipped to various centres of distribution. In other districts the 

 roaster growers all cooperate and hire their own selling agent. 



To succeed in the growing of prime roasters, a poultry-man 

 must become familiar with the following general factors: (1) 

 What the team " roaster " implies; (2) market types of roasters; 

 (3) natural seasons of demand and variation in price ; (4) features 

 of a desirable roaster; (5) breeds best adapted to roaster growing; 

 (6) special points in management. 



What the Term Roaster Implies. — A roaster is a quickly-grown 

 bird of either sex, tender meated, and of good weight, and, owing 

 to its large size and fine quality of flesh, is in fine condition for 

 roasting. 



