CHAP. Yi.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 133 



neither lay so many eggs, nor will those eggs 

 be either of the same weight or richness as if 

 they had had an abundance. 



We have already seen the extensive use of 

 boiled potatoes as the sole food for the feeding 

 of poultry in Ireland. They are, indeed, largely 

 used in many parts of this country ; and we 

 learn that Mr. Wakefield, of Liverpool — who 

 is a great feeder — has SLCtuaWy fattened many 

 hundreds in coops on steamed potatoes given 

 three or four times a day. The potatoes are 

 always given warm — that being considered in- 

 dispensable to success — and we know that in 

 Ireland they are always given in that state by 

 the cottagers. They doubtless form a cheap 

 and substantial food for store fowls; but those 

 thus fafted — if, indeed, the term can be in that 

 case applied — would certainly be neither equal 

 in flavour to those fed on corn, nor would they 

 fatten so fast : indeed, we know from many 

 persons that those which are generally brought 

 to table in Dublin, although delicately white 

 and tender, are yet very deficient in the fla- 

 vour and firmness of the flesh ; tasting, in fact, 

 more like spring chicken than that of a well- 

 fed fowl. 



