292 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. siv. 



the neck should always be broken to deprive i 

 the animal of life ; and then, the throat may i 

 either be cut or not. Turkeys, pea-hens, ' 

 pigeons, and ducklings, are all killed in the I 

 poulterer's manner, but grown ducks and 

 geese in the common mode of cutting the 

 throat. 



Although fowls are frequently left in their 

 feathers for days together, yet the better 

 mode is to strip them while yet warm ; singe 

 and truss them immediately ; and place a 

 board with a weight upon the breast-bone, to 

 add to its appearance of plumpness ; or this 

 may be better done by putting a doubled 

 napkin upon the bone and striking it with one 

 blow of a wooden mallet to break it ; but the 

 blow must not be repeated, or it may break 

 the skin. If the bird is to be dressed imme- 

 diately — as in urgent cases it is sometimes 

 necessary — it is thought that by opening the 

 bill and pourino; a table-spoonful of vinegar 

 down its throat the meat will not be tough. 

 The better mode to make the fowl tender is 

 we imagine to put it to the fire before it be- 

 comes cold : for we have often noticed, when 

 travellincf in Portugal — where fowls are never 



