THE CALL OF THE HEN. 11 



minor difficulties to be met with in the former case are increas- 

 ed 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 to- 

 tally unfitted for this business, though somewhat exaggerated, 

 will give the tyro some idela of what is wanted. An intimate, de- 

 tailed knowledge of poultry management, an unlimited reserve 

 of perseverance, determination, and resource, a genuine love 

 for fowls, the cjapacity for hard, continuous work for seven 

 days a week, combined with business knowledge 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 sell- 

 ing eggs and birds solely for edible purposes. A profit can un- 

 doubtedly 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 differ- 

 ence, and once a connection has been worked up there is no 

 reason why the business 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. Suc- 

 cess, 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 ex- 

 hibition poultry farm, any ones expenses incurred in the man- 

 agement are infinitely heavier than is the case where utility 

 points are the only consideration. 



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 anyone to burn one's 

 boats behind one in this way would be suicidal. What I would 

 suggest to poultry keeping aspirants (and I believe the number 

 of these reaches well into four figures) is that they scould keep 



