NORFOLK SOCIETY. 291 



beginning to assume an importance which the committee hope 

 may produce an honorable competition at our fairs for the best 

 stock — that stock, which ever it may be, that shall give the 

 best fowl — those giving the greatest amount of meat with the 

 least offal, and which shall, at the same time, give the largest 

 number of eggs, or return in profit for the amount invested. 



That the rearing of poultry for market can be made profita- 

 ble, your committee could produce facts from well authenticated 

 sources, which should convince the most incredulous ; but they 

 will confine themselves to statements which have been handed in 

 to the society, and a few statistical remarks from reliable sources. 



The article of poultry is readily converted into money, and 

 is probably quite as readily prepared for market as any other 

 article of stock produced on the farm. The expense of feed- 

 ing the best stock is no more than would be the expense of 

 feeding and rearing the poorest dunghill fowl ; while the return 

 shows a heavy balance in favor of the large bodied and fine 

 meated fowl, with little offal. Let each one who is desirous to 

 improve his stock, make use of either a Spanish or Dorking 

 rooster, and he will find an improvement in the cross, giving 

 him a heavier bodied and whiter meated fowl, added to which, 

 will be an increase in the size of the eggs. \ 



Our convenience to the London market, by the aid of steam- 

 ers, weekly, enables the farmer, through the egg merchant, to 

 make sale of his surplus eggs, in that quarter of the world. 

 The wholesale price of the Spanish hens' eggs, in the above 

 market, at a recent date, was six shillings to nine shillings, 

 (f 1 33 to $2.) per dozen ; by retail, twelve shillings to eighteen 

 shillings. The Spanish hens are layers of the first order, and 

 the eggs of the largest size and best flavored. Where eggs are 

 intended for exportation, the hen should be deprived of the 

 male. 



The committee deemed it a duty incumbent on them, to 

 make a visit to the poultry yards of the only two contributors, 

 (Mr. Bray and Mr. Marsh,) who could come within the range 

 of premiums, having furnished statements, in part, in relation 

 to the fowls shown ; and even theirs' were so incomplete, as to 

 oblige the committee to give it in the form of gratuities. 



