68 



POULTRY. 



several Bolton greys ; fowls of this breed mature slowly:^ 

 are of a small size^ and lay small eggs ; but they are a 

 bird of great beauty, and if fed well will during the year, 

 lay a large number of eggs. There were several fine 

 fowls of the native breed. There were others that were 

 part native, mixed with*some foreign breed. Such 

 fowls are generally more hardy, and if judiciously 

 crossed, are better for the farmer than those that are 

 bred from pure foreign blood. For such fowls the Com- 

 mittee have awarded most of their premiums. 



It is known to every farmer that if fowls have their 

 liberty, they will do some mischief during the summer 

 season. It is also true that they will at the same time 

 destroy grasshoppers, worms and other insects, which 

 infest the farm and do much injury to the farmer ; this 

 is especially true of turkeys. They will often go 

 through a field with almost as much precision as a 

 company of soldiers, and then back and forth, until they 

 have ranged the whole field, and destroy those insects 

 which have fallen within their path. If the farmer 

 should keep debt and credit with his fowls, he would 

 often find that he was the debtor. We would say to 

 every member of the Society who has a small lot of 

 ground at his command, keep a limited number of fowls, 

 and keep them well. Let a hen-house be built in a 

 warm and dry place ; let it be well lighted and venti- 

 lated, furnished with nests and nest-eggs, with fresh 

 water and every kind of food suitable for fowls, and if 

 your fowls are what they ought to be, you have our 

 word for it that they will pay a good dividend for the 

 money expended. 



