INTRODUCTION. 



THK business of poultry raising in this country has now become an 

 object of great importance. Indeed it has ever been a matter of im- 

 portance ; but more particularly so now, because within the last five 

 years many new breeds and varieties of fowls have been introduced, 

 either directly from foreign lands, or from the yards of our own 

 poultry breeders, many of which have proved much superior to our 

 native breeds. A feeling of public interest has been awakened on this 

 subject, never before known; and this has led many persons to regard 

 the subject of poultry breeding as a science worthy of their study and 

 research. People have suddenly awakened from the slumber of ages, 

 to the fact, that this branch of rural economy is susceptible of the 

 same advances to perfection, as the breeding of any other class of 

 live stock. 



The raising of poultry as a business, sufficient to employ one's whole 

 time, is also receiving some attention ; and the desire to ascertain 

 what are the special difficulties in the way to such a business, and 

 how they may be removed, seems to be prevalent to some extent. 

 Hitherto but very few persons in the United States have attempted 

 the keeping of poultry on a large scale. I presume, however, that 

 such a business is not only practicable, but may be made profitable, 

 when rightly managed. 



Poultry raising is certainly profitable when kept even on a moderate 

 scale. Of this there is not a doubt in the minds of those who have 

 tested the question properly. I did myself, when a resident of Ra- 

 venswood, Long Island, experiment to considerable extent in keep- 

 ing large numbers of fowls. I have ever been from my youth up 

 fascinated with rural employments, and especially with the raising 

 and management of poultry. My experience has been of that kind 

 that will enable me to speak understandingly on many points. 



