181)0.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 251 



least five pounds, at a cost for food materials of thirty to 

 thirty-five cents, or seven cents a pound. These figures are 

 on the assumption that a certain amount of liberty is given 

 the chicks daily. In growing these maturer birds, the 

 fattening process should be reserved for the last twelve or 

 fourteen days. It is bone, muscle, flesh, that is needed, — 

 bones strong in substance, large in size ; muscles capable of 

 carrying the frame to full maturity, and flesh of healthy 

 structure. There is no room for puny constitutions. When 

 the time approaches for marketing, confine in dry pens, with 

 only light enough to enable the bird to find its food. Here, 

 as all the while, regularity is to be observed ; but the ration 

 now wanted is to be rich in the fats, starches and sugars ; and 

 we turn to the corn, buckwheat, barley, ah increase of lin- 

 seed, sunflower seeds, and enough cooked vegetables to aid 

 digestion. No\'/ we enter upon the cramming process, when 

 fats are to form rapidly, and the bird pushed on to the 

 market just before the breaking down of the tissues. As 

 much as possible of the entire ration should be cooked, in 

 order that the work of digestion be aided as far as we may. 

 Feed whole corn at night, removing all that is not eaten. 

 In the time specified, from twenty to thirty per cent will be 

 added to the net weight, at comparatively little cost. Such 

 poultry satisfies the epicure. It is rich, juicy and tender, 

 more so than would be possible if allowed its liberty and its 

 muscles and flesh strengthened by exercise. When ready 

 to ship, give no food for twelve hours, that the crop and 

 intestines may be empty, or at least that all food may have, 

 in the process of digestion, passed the period of fermenta- 

 tion . 



When ready to dress, suspend the bird by a cord about 

 the legs, and, holding the lower mandible firmly with the 

 left hand, pass the sharp blade into the roof of the mouth, 

 where by a quick cross movement you sever the arteries, and 

 the vertebra3 at the base of the brain. A convulsive spasm 

 tells the story, and, before this ceases, the quill feathers 

 should be pulled. If the work be done promptly and rap- 

 idly, the whole surface will be cleared in a very brief time ; 

 whereas, by a little neglect, the labor will be many times 

 increased. Open and draw, making as small an incision as 



