50 HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN, &c. 



Value of stock, Oct. 1848, . . $65 30 



" " poultry sold, . . . 20 68 



" " manure, 63 bushels, 15 cts., . 9 45 



" '^ eggs, 1256 doz. at 13| cts., . 169 56 



$264 99 



This leaves to the credit of the hens the sum of $108 19 ; 

 and this result I arrive at by actual and careful experiments, 

 without guessing or conjecture. It is one, too, attainable by any 

 prudent person, who will bestow an equal amount of care, pro- 

 portioned to their value, as is, or ought to be, bestowed upon 

 any kind of stock, in order to have them do well. And I would 

 inquire, in what other way, upon so small an investment, can 

 so fair a profit be produced upon the farm 7 



In regard to treatment of them, I give them a warm house, 

 with a comfortable yard or range ; and 150 hens should have 

 from one-half to three-quarters of an acre. My house is so 

 arranged, as to keep them, when I choose, in separate apart- 

 ments, and constantly supplied with food, old plastering, lime, 

 gravel, water, &c., with some secret nests, as well as open boxes, 

 for them to lay in. The house should be kept well white- 

 washed, and as clean as possible. The kind of food I use is 

 varied occasionally; — corn, boiled potatoes, burnt barley, oats, 

 and wheat screenings ; the latter, especially, I find very valua- 

 ble. The quality of the food, however, does not, in my opinion, 

 influence the laying so much as is imagined. They must have 

 enough to eat, and be made comfortable in other respects. 

 With my management, they lay the year round. 



With regard to the kind or breed, I am entirely of opinion, 

 that the cross between the Dorking and common hen is a very 

 valuable kind. This 3^ear, as will be perceived, I have had 

 1256 dozen eggs, while, last year, T had only 150 dozen ; and I 

 attribute the gain to the improvement in the stock in that way. 

 My own opinion is, that too little attention is paid to this spe- 

 cies of domestic animals, and that, for the proper attention, 

 while every one keeps poultry, very few reap all the advantage 

 they might. 



MiDDLEFIELD, Oct. 5th^ 1848, 



