ESSEX SOCIETY. 17 



^' The cock does crow, to let you know, 

 If you be wise what time to rise." 



The committee are aware that there are some persons in this 

 community who say that they can see no good likely to result 

 from what they sarcastically term this " hen fever." These are 

 the conservative class, those worshippers of the past, who op- 

 pose all innovations. We have the most sanguine belief that 

 this dreaded " hen fever" is producing the best results. They 

 may be seen in the exhibition this day of improved races of 

 fowls, and if it did not savor too much of "counting chickens 

 before they are hatched," we would confidently predict a still 

 better show another year. We would even indulge the hope 

 that the march of improvement will go on until it reaches the 

 performance of that famous fowl we read about, of whom it 

 was said, that 



" Every day she laid two eggs, 

 And Sundays she laid three." 



F. POOLE, Chahman. 



Daniel Putnairi's Statement, 



The lot of fowls presented for notice to-day, are a sample of 

 my small stock. They have been kept entirely confined to the 

 henery. Of their variety, they are the common " dunghill," 

 crossed with the Black Spanish. The following statement of 

 my hens, would have been more creditable, had not some one, 

 on the night of the 10th of February, entered their premises, 

 and selected from their roost, five of my very best pullets. I 

 regret that I cannot give you the name of the person who took 

 them — as a good judge of hens — whose knowledge, if honest- 

 ly used, might be of service to the society, and the community. 



In addition to the food estimated in my statement, I would 

 say that, during the warm season, they are supplied with 

 grass, sorrel, chickweed, and tops of vegetables, as freely as 

 they will eat. Also the meat of several calves, killed when a 

 few days old, have been given them. They are daily supplied 

 with fresh water. 



It may be stated that three pullets, hatched the 12th of 



