FOWLS, TABLE AND MARKET. 191 



much less care and expense of food. Capons are about 

 one-third larger, one-fourth to one-third heavier, one to 

 three months older and much fatter, though no more juicy 

 nor higher flavored. Fine cross-bred cockerels which have 

 been kept by themselves from infancy, will weigh at seven 

 to nine months old six to eight pounds; capons of equally 

 good stock at nine to twelve months old should weigh eight 

 to eleven pounds. The latter weight is very seldom reached, 

 and six-pound capons and those still lighter are very much 

 more common. 



Most people are disappointed when they first try to raise 

 capons, and after a year or two give it up. There is very 

 little trouble about caponizing the chickens. 1 have never 

 done it, but several of my friends practise it, having entire 

 success, and not losing more than one per cent. The only 

 advice given me in regard to attempting the operation, and 

 which 1 think is very judicious, is, first, to know exactly 

 what I am going to do, second, to practise upon a dead 

 chicken exactly as if it were a living one, and third, to carry 

 out my knowledge and experience. 



Pullets may be caponized as well as cockerels. They are 

 known as hen-capons, or by the French name poulard, and 

 are esteemed as a little better than capons, as the beef of a 

 barren or spayed heifer is thought better than that of steers ; 

 yet it may be questioned whether the superiority is not more 

 fanciful than real. 



The young caponized fowl, operated upon at about four 

 months old, is set back some weeks in its growth. This 

 back-set is obvious only on the careful comparison of capons 

 with cockerels of the same age, for it soon gets about, feeds 

 and apparently enjoys life as well as ever. Nevertheless, it 

 does not grow so thriftily for some time. 



If let alone to run with the flock, as soon as they develop 

 Btrongly their emasculated character they become the butts 

 of the yardi They are knocked about by the cocks, abused 

 by the hens, and shunned and driven by both. Thus they are 

 always on the outside of the flock, or ott' by themselves. 

 They are enormous eaters, run their flesh ofl', and will never 

 get fat. 



If, however, they are cooped by themselves and fed as 



