224 THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF 



a flock of birds which are for sale with 

 the assurance that they will be gratified if, 

 in addition to their smart appearance, the 

 run is planted with a few fruit-trees, the 

 roosting-house painted or tarred, and the 

 fences covered with climbing roses like the 

 crimson rambler, or backed by evergreens, 

 which add an additional attraction to the 

 whole. 



Practically speaking, a specialist in poultry- 

 keeping should be a 'fancier' in the strict 

 sense of the term; in other words, he should 

 be a thorough judge of the variety he breeds, 

 and, consequently, a master of this branch of 

 his business. The value of hens in these 

 days of keen competition can only be appreci- 

 ated by those who are excellent judges, but 

 while it frequently happens that the unskilled 

 amateur overestimates the value of his 

 stock, he seldom possesses specimens which 

 are of greater value than he has placed upon 

 them. Imperfect knowledge of a subject 

 like stock-breeding is usually accompanied 

 by mediocrity in the stock, but the acquisi- 

 tion of knowledge which is the result of 

 experience is followed by the acquisition 

 of superior birds, either by breeding or 

 purchase. 



