iv. PREFACE. 



treated fairly, honestly, and (as I believe) in accordance with the best interests 

 of those for whom the book is written, I feel confident that no one of them 

 will find in it statements that will mislead, or advice which he will follow to 

 his disadvantage and loss. 



The matter of credits for borrowed matter in a book composed as this is, 

 requires particular mention. Only a few of the more important direct quo- 

 tations are fully credited. Matter which has been adapted, condensed, and 

 rearranged in harmony with the scheme of the work, is credited generally to 

 the author only the name of the paper or book from which it is taken not 

 being added, because in a number of cases a short paragraph is compiled from 

 statements of the same writer in several different books and papers, and to 

 give each paper credit would have detracted too much from the simplicity of 

 statement sought. Food rations taken from contributions of writers describing 

 the methods of others, are credited to the persons using the rations. 



For the rest, while acknowledging a general indebtedness to the poultry 

 literature of the day, I would here acknowledge special indebtedness to the 

 books and paper consulted most : to Poultry Culture, Felch ; The Practical 

 Poultry Keeper, Wright ; Poultry, McFetridge ; Incubation and Its Natu- 

 ral Laws, Cyphers ; The Practical Poultry Grower, Myrick ; Broilers for 

 Profit, and A Living From Poultry, Boyer ; Duck Culture, Rankin ; Farm- 

 Poultry Doctor, Sanborn ; to files of Farm- Poultry for the views of a great 

 number of writers on almost every topic treated ; to the Reliable Poultry 

 Journal for matter pertaining to many subjects, but especially for information 

 relating to the mating of thoroughbred fowls, and to turkeys, ducks, and geese ; 

 to the American Fancier, Poultry Monthly, American Poultry Journal, and 

 Poultry Herald for many valuable suggestions ; and to various national and 

 state bulletins for information regarding foods and feeding. 



The illustrations not otherwise credited were made for this book, or are 

 reproduced from Farm- Poultry. 



JOHN H. ROBINSON. 



Waltham, Mass., 1899. 



