CHAPTER H. 



THE REARING AND MANAGEMENT OF FOWLS. 



I CANNOT but think that Mr. Dixon underrates the profitable- 

 ness of good Fowls in the keeping of intelligent breeders ; they 

 may be unproductive in ignorant and careless hands, but not so 

 when properly attended to. I understand that a very respect- 

 able gentleman of Rhode Island, quite experienced in the 

 breeding and management of all kinds of Fowls, is wont to 

 say, that four acres of land, devoted to the rearing of the best 

 varieties of poultry, will, at common prices, be quite as pro- 

 ductive as a farm of 150 acres cultivated in the ordinary way. 

 The eggs of the common and cheaper kinds which might be 

 used for incubators and nurses, would pay, or could be made 

 to pay, if preserved as herein directed, and sold at the proper 

 time, all expenses of feed, etc.; and it is well known that good 

 Capons of the larger breeds will bring in any of our larger 

 markets from 3 to 5 dollars per pair, and early spring chick- 

 ens from 20 to 25 cts per pound. To make poultry profitable, 

 then, it is only necessary that the better kinds be bred from, 

 that suitable places be provided for them, that they be proper- 

 ly fed, and carefully and intelligently managed things which 

 have rarely conspired in any one instance heretofore to enable, 

 us to judge what might be made out of poultry under the most 

 favourable circumstances. I have deemed this preliminary 

 remark necessary before introducing the reader to what Mr. 

 Dixon has further to say on the rearing and management of 



