CHAP. IV.] FARMI^STG FOR LADIES. 85 



CHAPTER IV. 



Fecundity of the lien — Breeding — Second broods — Ovary 

 — Desire of laying — Nests — Eggs — Hatching— Good and 

 bad sitters — Fecundation of the egg — Foetus of the chick, 

 and its progress to life — Incautious modes of acting. 



The great value of the hen is her fecundity ; 

 for she lays more eggs than any known bird 

 except the Guinea-fowl ; and eggs forming 

 a main portion of the profit arising from a 

 poultry-yard, it should be stocked with those 

 species which yield not only the greatest 

 number, but also rear their chickens with 

 the greatest care, and produce fowls of the 

 greatest size and delicacy. These advan- 

 tages are blended in the common dung-hill 

 hen and the Dorking, and either one or the 

 other, if not both, should be chosen ; but if 

 only one is to be selected, and the Dorking 

 can be had without difficulty, it should be 

 preferred; or, at all events, a cock of that 

 species should be got to improve the common 

 breed. Hens of this latter kind may, it is 



