394 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



MIDDLESEX SOUTH. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



When the " hen fever " was at its height it was an easy 

 matter to write a report on fowls. The chief requisites were, 

 to describe and recommend some new variety or varieties, 

 monstrous in size, and prolific of eggs, with an outlandish name, 

 and the public ear and mouth were open. The more extrava- 

 gant the statements respecting size and productiveness, and 

 the less said about cost of keeping, and fineness of flesh, and 

 hardiness to endure our climate, the better. 



But with people in general this day is past. Our common- 

 sense farmers, and indeed men of every calling who take an 

 interest in this business, have become cautious and incredulous. 

 Perhaps prejudice against the larger and rarer varieties is now 

 tending to a hurtful extreme ; but in time this matter will regu- 

 late itself. 



No one can deny that the efforts made within the past few 

 years, by gentlemen of means and taste, to import and breed 

 foreign stock, and even the lavish and often profitless expend- 

 itures of the mere amateur, have been productive of great 

 good. Some really excellent varieties have been introduced ; 

 and the public attention has been awakened, and careful inves- 

 tigation made, till now the principles of successful breeding 

 are well understood. The old proverb, "Don't reckon your 

 chickens before they are hatched," is now effectually repealed; 

 and the experienced breeder can calculate on the number and 

 the profits of increase with as much certainty as the breeder 

 of Jersey cattle or Suffolk swine. 



The same general principles apply to poultry breeding as to 

 the rearing of stock of any class. Skill in selecting perfect 

 birds, a dry, warm shelter, and an airy range, suited to the 

 nature of the fowl, regular feeding, and a variety of food, are 

 some of the indispensable requisites to success. A damp, cold 

 nest or roost will ruin the best fowl, in spite of good feeding; 

 and irregular feeding will counteract the advantage of a good 

 shelter. 



The skilful poulterer will adapt his choice of kinds and his 



