300 APPENDIX. 



the corn, oats, &c. They also come out and eat grass 

 like geese. In fact, they may be fed as you would a 

 favorite goose, and with afresh, clear pond of water, you 

 will succeed. 



Truly yours, 



R. L COLT. 

 To SAMUEL ALLEN, ESQ., 



There is one feature in the work before me, although 

 converse to popular opinion, which I think demands the 

 particular attention of those engaged in the breeding and 

 rearing of poultry ; that is, the antiquity and perma- 

 nence of species and varieties in our domestic fowls. 

 We all know of the many attempts that have been made 

 to bring the grouse or partridge, the quail, and the 

 prairie hen into a permanent state of domesticity with- 

 out success. For instance, the beautiful little Prairie 

 Hens, exhibited at the Fair of the New- York State 

 Agricultural Society, in the autumn of 1848, were pur- 

 chased by Mr. Lewis G. Morris, of Mount Fordham, near 

 New- York City, with the view of breeding from them, 

 but before the return of the next spring they all died. I 

 would not discourage others from trying to domesticate 

 them ; for even this, like the turkey, may prove another 

 " exception of the rule." 



PROFITS OF POULTRY RAISING. 



As regards the money profits derived from poultry 

 raising, I have but a few words to say. One principle, 

 in fowl-keeping, I think may be laid down as an estab- 

 lished truth, which is this: " The more densely poultry 

 are congregated, the less profitable will they be ; the 

 more thickly they are crowded, the less will they 

 thrive." 



Were it in my power to show by figures, a statement 

 of great profits, derived from keeping a large number of 

 fowls together that would satisfy my own mind, and that 

 I could conscientiously recommend as a guide for others 

 to follow, I would most gladly avail myself of so agree- 

 able a task. But, unfortunately, most of the Debit and 

 Credit accounts of poultry profits, we so often see pub- 



