CHAP. Yiii.l FARMING FOR LADIES. 173 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Economy and aliment of eggs — Composition, weight and 

 quality — Number laid by hens — Expense of maintaining 

 fowls — Comparative cost of poultry and butcher's meat — 

 New-laid and stale eggs — Experiments on the preserva- 

 tion of eggs — Winter laying — Cock's eggs. 



Eggs are the main annual income of the 

 poultry-yard ; for it is chiefly by their pro- 

 duction that the maintenance of the fowls is 

 paid until the birds are put upon the table. 

 The smallness of their cost renders them pro- 

 fitable in point of economy ; and as an ali- 

 ment, nothing perhaps but bread can be 

 found more generally useful. They can be 

 dressed in a greater variety of ways than any 

 other animal food, and their qualities are 

 known to be so superior as to be considered 

 a universal delicacy, whether on the table of 

 the peasant or the prince. Some species are 

 indeed more delicate than others, but of what- 

 ever description they may be, they are all 

 equally nutritive. Those commonly called 



