18 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY. 



there be a good run, and they be kept scrupulously clean and 

 well sheltered from driving wind or rain. If the space be very 

 limited we would select four or five red-faced Spanish, or, as 

 they are now called, Minorcas, or the allied Andalusians; 

 they lay at least as well as their celebrated white-faced 

 cousins, while they are far hardier in winter, and stand con- 

 finement well. In default of either of these, however, and 

 if all be beyond the means of the speculator, we would under- 

 take to show a satisfactory balance-sheet with any good, lively, 

 ordinary fowls. 



Let us, however, repeat again for nothing is so important 

 whatever be the breed selected, there must be every autumn 

 a proportion, at least, regularly replaced by young birds 

 hatched in the spring of the same year. This is the great 

 secret of success, as far as system is concerned ; and if it be 

 neglected, during winter an empty egg-basket will eat up all 

 the summer's profits, and testify dismally to the improvidence 

 of the owner. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE FEEDING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF ADULT FOWLS. 



A JUDICIOUS system of feeding is very essential to the well- 

 being of poultry, and has, of course, more direct influence upon 

 the profit or loss than any of the circumstances though 

 equally important which we have hitherto enumerated. We 

 shall, therefore, endeavour to give the subject full and practical 

 consideration. 



The object is to give the quantity and quality of food which 

 will produce the greatest amount of flesh and eggs ; and if it 

 be attained, the domestic fowl is unquestionably the most 

 profitable of all live stock. But the problem is rather a nice 

 one, for there is no "mistake on the right side " here. A. fat 

 hen is not only subject to many diseases, but ceases to lay, or 



