SMALL HOLDINGS 181 



to his stock if he has ah'eady undertaken 

 to accomplish as much work as is justified 

 by his circumstances. Where the wife of a 

 small holder, or some member of his family, 

 is able to undertake the management of a 

 poultry-yard, turkey breeding may be re- 

 garded as a very valuable addition; but the 

 management of a flock of young birds between 

 spring and Christmas involves the expendi- 

 ture of considerable time, and by no 

 means a small sum in the purchase of 

 food. Broadly speaking, a young turkey 

 is as profitable as a lamb, and a flock 

 of eight hens and a gobbler, all of which 

 should be of the highest quality, will return 

 a larger net profit than an equal number 

 of breeding ewes. 



It is a recognised fact that poultry of all 

 kinds thrive better upon the drier soils, 

 especially chalks and gravels; but they will 

 do well upon loam, or loam with a clay sub- 

 soil which is well drained; indeed, in good hands 

 poultry of all kinds will thrive upon any class 

 of soil which is well protected from cold winds 

 and which is not absolutely wet. From this 

 point of view it may be added that land 

 which is suitable for cultivation as a Small 

 Holding should be equally suitable for poultry. 



