Caponizing 245 



at all deft may perform the work by merely follow- 

 ing the directions furnished by the manufacturers of 

 caponizing instruments. Comparatively few farm- 

 ers, however, will become expert if they operate 

 only upon their own fowls. " While the novice might, 

 and probably would, spend a half hour upon the first 

 bird, and then possibly produce a slip, experts will 

 do scores each hour during the whole day. One 

 very sure and rapid worker caponized one bird per 

 minute for three hours in succession, his day's work 

 being 450, of which not one per cent died."* 



Not all breeds of fowls are equally well suited 

 to the production of capons. The Black Langshans 

 are generally especially recommended for this 

 purpose. The birds of this breed are large and 

 are easily operated upon. In a somewhat general 

 way it may be said that the meat breeds and the 

 general-purpose fowls are suitable for producing 

 capons. It is held by some that the Brahmas 

 though large are not easily operated upon. Crosses 

 between the Light Brahma and the White Plymouth 

 Rocks or the White Wyandottes are highly prized. 

 The Cornish Indian Game is sometimes used to 

 cross on other large fowls, as it improves the breast 

 meat without decreasing the size. Commission men 

 do not state that there is much, if any, difference in 

 the value of capons from the different breeds of 

 fowls; that is, it is not recognized that some breeds 



* "Pocket Money Poultry," Norys, page 171. 



