U2 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



(c) The third is, that during this preparatory period he is 

 breeding up his layers as he goes on. This is indispensable. 

 The question of an egg farm, especially, being profitable, 

 rests mainly on the eggs over 120 per annum from each 

 bird. American experience has proved that 175 per 

 annum each is perfectly practicable, as will be shown 

 further on. 



Not much needs be said in regard to (a). If the runs 

 aie kept large, a quarter of an acre for 25 fowls and this is 

 a number which should not be exceeded in a flock much 

 grass will have to be cut at intervals, since long grass is 

 injurious every way, and, moreover, prevents the manure 

 from sinking into the ground. This cut grass will hardly 

 be good for stock, and is better burnt or composted with 

 manure, or the ashes mixed in the dusting places. On the 

 whole we think it better to run the birds on one-third or 

 even one-half the space, for half the year. There will 



Still Mr. Cobb's misconception is rather extraordinary. He specially 

 objects to our then postulate of 1,000 fowls laying each 150 eggs per 

 annum, estimated at a cost of 2s. 6d. each ; saying that no such number 

 can be " picked up " that will lay such a quantity, especially at such 

 a price. That is true enough ; but we had carefully explained that the 

 birds were to be bred up to that standard as part of the preparatory work. 

 That being pointed out to him, Mr. Cobb rejoins that this makes the 

 matter worse, since "no one can hire land, pay wages, erect accommo- 

 dation," etc., and breed during several years such a flock of birds, "so 

 that then the capital invested shall be fairly represented " by the 2s. 6d. 

 each. This brings out the fundamental misunderstanding. It is obvious 

 that all gradually sunk in "accommodation" is so far represented by that 

 (less depreciation), not by fowls ; for the rest, our contention and meaning 

 throughout has been that all must be bred up and gradually extended from 

 small beginnings, the fowls being made using a phrase repeated hereafter 

 "/0 pay as they go." Capital is not thus sunk in them at all, beyond 

 cost in breeding and rearing. This is more fully set forth and actually 

 illustrated by example in the following pages ; and the best reply to such 

 crude objections is that the method has been thus actually carried out in 

 all the successful examples cited in the text. 



