POULTRY av FARMS. 101 



fowls must be made a business if they are to be made to 

 pay. 



After examining the state of affairs on various farms, we 

 are convinced that on many it will be far the best to keep 

 enough fowls to occupy a man's whole time in looking after 

 them, with just a little general superintendence from the 

 owner, his wife, or daughter. Female labour is not adapted 

 for it, since there will be heavy weights to carry, and long 

 tramps over heavy ground, while the work must be done in 

 all weathers. The fowls want special attendance, and can 

 afford to pay for it, provided the man be made to feel that 

 his employer takes real interest in the results. He must 

 understand that the master both means and expects to 

 make money out of his charges, and then he will probably 

 do as near his best as he is constitutionally capable of. For 

 the right sort of man must be found for this business. We 

 have a vivid recollection of some agricultural labourers we 

 have met with, whose doings or want of doing would 

 have given Job much exercise of spirit. Scolding is no use 

 with them ; they haven't it in them to do any good, where 

 they have to think now and then. The poultry ought to 

 have one of the smartest men on the farm, and if he is 

 " smart " in the Lancashire sense, they will pay his wages. 

 It will sometimes happen that this sort of work, with its 

 variety and sense of responsibility, will just suit a man or 

 intelligent big lad, who does not shine in the steadier, 

 duller routine, but rather shirks work in that on account of 

 its monotony. Variety will sometimes make a man like 

 that, and get value out of him where nothing else will. 



In the chicken-yard, if many chickens are reared, the 

 help of the labourer's wife will be useful, and may be 

 required ; here the labour is both lighter and nearer home. 



To arrange for a labourer engaged in other things, "just 

 to give an eye to the fowls," never answers. We have seen 



