MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



either flank, and rioting among the grass- 

 hoppers. It is essential that both Guinea- 

 fowl and turkeys have free and wide range; 

 they are natural wanderers; my hens submit 

 to a curtailment of their liberties with more 

 cheerfulness; but there is after all, no biped 

 of which I have knowledge, that does not 

 glory in freedom. The Black Spanish fowls, 

 Dorkings, and Polish top-knots (for these 

 make up my variety, and are, I believe, the 

 best), form no exception; and if confinement 

 is necessary, the enclosing palings should be 

 of generous width. A safe rule is — to make 

 the enclosure so large (whatever the number 

 of the flock), that the fowls will not wholly 

 subdue the grass, or forbid its healthful vege- 

 tation. If too small for this, it is imperatively 

 necessary for thrift, that they have a run of 

 an hour each day before sunset. 



The oldest English writer upon the sub- 

 ject of poultry was a certain Leonard Mas- 

 call, who wrote about the year 1 581— when 

 Queen Mary was fretting in her long confine- 

 ment, and Sir Francis Drake was voyaging 

 around the world. He had been farmer to 

 King James, and calls his little black-letter 

 book, "The husbandrye, ordring, and govern- 

 mente of poultrie." Among his headings are 



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