160 THE TRADE IN EGGS AND POULTRY 



ments of the falters. They, or the ' higglers ' working 

 for them, on commission, go all over the counties of 

 Sussex and Kent, and over parts of Surrey as well, 

 buying up from farmers and cottagers such of their 

 chickens as may have arrived at sufficient maturity to 

 be ready for the final fatting off by the cramming 

 machine. Many of the farmers and cottagers lay them- 

 selves out to supply the demand thus made, and the 

 money they realize represents an acceptable addition to 

 other sources of income. The raising of the chickens 

 involves little or no trouble, while excellent prices are 

 secured, especially when there is a shortage of local 

 birds, and the breeders can get practically their own 

 terms. On these occasions, at least, the breeders 

 probably make more than the fatters. The two branches 

 of business are generally kept distinct, and the policy of 

 this arrangement will be appreciated by anyone who 

 visits a fatting establishment on a fairly large scale, 

 and sees the exacting nature of the substantial amount 

 of work involved. That work, I may remark in passing, 

 gives employment to a good number of hands, not only 

 directly, in the various processes of cramming, stubbing, 

 etc., but also indirectly, through the extensive demands 

 made on the millers for chicken-meal. 



When the local supplies which produce the best 

 birds are exhausted, the fatters have to look further 

 afield, and they obtain other English chickens from 

 Norfolk, Gloucestershire, Wales, Carlisle, and elsewhere 

 in England. But one of the grievances of the Sussex 

 fatters is that even the whole of England cannot pro- 

 vide them with as many chickens, in such steady and 

 regular quantities, as they want, and that for the greater 

 part of their importations, to supplement the aforesaid 

 local supplies, they must look to Ireland. The live 

 chickens brought from Ireland to Heathfield alone 



