610 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vu. 



should be bred from. Neglect of this precaution will lead to enfeeble- 

 ment, for breeding from immature stock is most injurious. In France 

 the white turkey is largely bred, but in this country it is seldom seen. 

 It does not attain the size of the breeds which have already been 

 named, but is excellent in flavour of flesh, and is a very handsome 

 fowl. 



5. ORNAMENTAL POULTRY. 



It is not necessary that we should enlarge upon this section of 

 domestic fowls, because, though very beautiful or specially quaint, these 

 fancy varieties have no economic value. They comprise the Game 

 Bantams, of which there are at least six colours ; the Bantams, of which 

 there axe about fifteen different kinds ; and such breeds as the Silkies, 

 the Sultans, the long-tailed Japanese, the Frizzled, &c. Many of these 

 are bred largely, more especially the Bantams, and command large 

 prices, but solely for their fancy points. 



CHAPTER III. 



HOUSING OP POULTRY. 



TTTHATEVER be the form of poults-house there are certain 

 YY regulations which must be observed if the inmates are to be 

 comfortable, and unless they are comfortable it is scarcely to be 

 expected that they will thrive. These can be obtained in the 

 smallest and in the largest houses alike in the most simple as 

 well as the most elaborate; in fact, the more ornate the house is 

 the greater danger there is that these necessary matters will be 

 neglected. Fowls are like children; they do not like to be dressed 

 up and made to conform, as it were, to the restrictions of a 

 drawing-room. Yet this is a mistake which is often made in an 

 attempt to compel absolute cleanliness. In the Queen's poultry-house, 

 at Windsor Castle, both the ornamental and the practical are secured 

 at once. This is done by having large ornamental runs at the front, 

 where the birds can be allowed to go when they are to be viewed ; but 

 behind are runs of a more easy-going type virtually the living-places 

 of the inmates, where they are not compelled to be on their best 

 behaviour, but can disport themselves in the way that is most natural 

 to them. Of course, for this object, there must be plenty of space at 

 command, but such is generally the case when houses of this nature 

 are erected. 



Some breeders prefer a low to a high house for poultry, the reason 

 being that the former is usually warmer in winter ; we, however, do 



