THE CALL OF THE HEN. 13 



one, and that the minor difficulties to be met with in the former 

 case are increased a thousand fold in the latter. 



"Probably there is no other business which calls for so 

 many qualifications as that of the poultry-farmer,' and to say 

 that the man who has been successful in any other walk in 

 life is totally unfitted for this business, though somewhat 

 exaggerated, will give the tyro some idea of what is wanted. 

 An intimate detailed knowledge of poultry-management, an 

 unlimited reserve of perseverance, determination, and resource, 

 a genuine love for fowls, the capacity for hard, continuous 

 work for seven days a week, combined with business knowl- 

 edge and thrifty management, are all essential, and will, 

 with ordinary luck, lead one to the desired goal. 



"I am very dubious as to whether a living can be made 

 from utility poultry-keeping, pure and simple that is to 

 say, by selling eggs and birds solely for edible purposes. A 

 profit can undoubtedly be made, but it is so infinitesimal that 

 the income derived from this source alone would, I am afraid, 

 scarcely suffice for the needs of the most parsimonious. If 

 it is decided to specialize in utility points, pure-bred stock 

 must be kept of the popular varieties, and eggs for hatching, 

 day-old chicks, and stock birds must be sold. This will 

 make all the difference, and once a connection has been worked 

 up, there is no reason why the busjness should not pay, and 

 pay well. 



"The breeding of exhibition birds is, without doubt, the 

 most profitable branch, and when once a name has been 

 made, stock and eggs can be disposed of at most remunerative 

 prices. Success, however, cannot be attained at once; it 

 is often the work of years; and many breeders never rise 

 from the ranks of mediocrity. Moreover, much capital is 

 required to start an exhibition poultry farm, and one's ex- 

 penses incurred in the management are infinitely heavier 

 than in the case where utility points are the only consider- 

 ation. 



"I would not advise anyone unversed in poultry-culture 

 to give up a situation, however poor, in order to go in for 

 poultry-keeping as a means of earning a livelihood. To 

 think of such a thing is foolish in the extreme, but for any- 

 one to burn one's boats behind one in this way would be 

 suicidal. What I would suggest to poultry-keeping aspirants 



