n8 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



This fact, and the other fact that by these arrangements 

 30 to 40 birds per acre are reared in these examples, place 

 them far above cases in which poultry is a " mere adjunct " 

 or u bye-product " on a farm. The fowls are the key-stone 

 of the system. 



But there is also much to be done outside and beyond 

 the mere food market, and we have already remarked on 

 the desirability of cultivating a market for specialised pro- 

 ducts. The Coaley Poultry Farm, near Dursley, is carried 

 on by Miss Edwards. She does not wish some figures 

 published which she has kindly sent us ; but her business 

 has steadily increased from small beginnings, and is still 

 increasing. It very largely consists in pure-bred fowls for 

 stock at very moderate prices, with prize specimens at 

 higher rates ; in eggs for sitting, regularly graduated in 

 price according to the month, and quality of the pen ; 

 and, especially, in newly-hatched chickens, hatched in 

 incubators, and sent off within thirty-six hours of hatching, 

 at prices ranging from 95. per dozen up to i6s. per dozen, 

 according to month and quality. Of course any connection 

 of this kind can only be built up gradually ; for character 

 or reputation is indispensable to it, besides the stock to sell. 

 All this takes time, again teaching the necessity of beginning 

 gradually, and making the fowls pay as they go. 



One more English example, of the same sort but on a 

 larger scale. This is the well-known poultry farm of Mr. 

 Simon Hunter, Sowerby Grange, Northallerton, to whose 

 kindness we are indebted for the following particulars of a 

 business which has now become of great extent, and is 

 no ephemeral one, but resulted from a long and varied 

 experience. For fourteen years, he informs us, he occupied 

 a farm in Wensleydale, where he bred and kept large 

 flocks specially to lay eggs for market. From the first he 

 was one of the very few even fewer then who bred such 



