158 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. vi. 



with milk and partly raw, and both were al- 

 lowed to eat what they liked, as the troughs 

 attached to the coops were always left full, 

 and the only addition to their food was an 

 occasional handful, between them, of baker's 

 raspings and cinders to aid their digestion. 



They were thus fed during exactly four 

 weeks, and roasted two days after being 

 killed. They were both fine fowls, though 

 not so fat as people might imagine, and the 

 cock weighed six ounces more than the pullet ; 

 he was, however, when alive, the larger of the 

 two. The object was, however, rather to 

 ascertain any difference that might be occa- 

 sioned by the mode of feeding in the quality 

 and flavour of the flesh ; and every one of a 

 small party who tasted of the birds, gave their 

 decided opinion in favour of the pullet. Al- 

 though, as we have already said, the meat of 

 both was fine, yet that of the pullet was not 

 only whiter, but had also a delicate richness of 

 flavour which rendered it much superior. 

 This superiority may, however, have arisen 

 from the difference of sex, the flesh of the 

 female being in most cases more delicate than 

 that of the male : and we must admit that the 



