42 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



the odd halfpenny being religiously put down as the cost of 

 a candle used to work by. On October I3th, 1885, f ur 

 pullets were bought at a cost of 135., including carriage, 

 no cock being kept on account of neighbours : they were 

 cross-bred, and bought on the sole guarantee that they 

 were "well reared and hatched in March." The first eg'g 

 was laid on November I3th, and subsequently these four 

 pullets produced in November 8 eggs, December 31, 

 January 42, February 47, March 78, April 60, May 80, 

 June 84, July 82, and up to August 2ist, 34 in all 546. 

 At the latter date the experiment was unfortunately broken 

 up by an unforeseen removal. No absolute account was 

 kept, as very many eggs were given away, but the food cost 

 i os. lojd. during the whole period, besides a few house- 

 scraps ; on this basis anyone may reckon the cost of the 

 eggs as he pleases. The birds were not non-sitters, and 

 occasionally became broody, but nevertheless averaged 136 

 each in the time stated. As moult was approaching, only 

 few more would probably have been laid, but the experi- 

 ment shows what may be expected when the system here 

 described is fairly carried out, even with cross-bred fowls. 



CHAPTER HI. 



NATURAL HATCHING AND CHICKEN REARING. 



MUCH disappointment in the hatching and rearing of young 

 broods would be prevented were more care taken that the 

 eggs selected for setting were of good quality not only 

 likely to be fertile, but the produce of strong and hardy 

 birds, with not too many hens in one harem. From 

 scraggy, half-starved fowls it is impossible to rear a large 

 brood, as the greater number even of those hatched will 

 die in infancy. As to the number of hens, that will depend 



