318 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



her weight six times in eggs in one year. She does not lay as 

 many the second year, and the third year nearly ceases laying ; 

 therefore, hens should not be kept more than one year on the 

 farm for profit. Eggs should be set in March ; the chickens will 

 commence laying in August, and then all old hens should be sent 

 to market. 



Great improvements have been made in the size and quality of 

 fowls within the last few years. The introduction of Shanghae 

 fowls has done much to improve the size and quality of our 

 native stock ; but the pure Shanghae cannot be recommended as 

 a profitable variety. I have a cross between the Shanghae and 

 Leghorn, which is a great improvement. They are of fine size, 

 great layers, and very superior for the table. There is a vast 

 difierence in fowls, as is known by every one who has paid any 

 attention to the subject ; while some are hardy and profitable, 

 others scarcely pay their way under the most favorable circum- 

 stances and the best management possible. It is always a judi- 

 cious plan for the farmer to keep a number of fowls of some kind 

 on his premises, as there is always enough waste or spare matter 

 to feed them ; and, besides, they are serviceable in protecting 

 the crops by destroying numerous insect depredators. To ren- 

 der poultry profitable, it is essential that great care should be 

 exercised not only in the selection of valuable breeds, but in 

 feeding and raising the young. If we are remiss in these points, 

 no profit will result from the enterprise. 



Mr. Trimble said that he was satisfied that there was no profit 

 in keeping poultry except where they are kept in small numbers 

 upon the farm. 



Mr. Weaver of Fordham said that he had pretty fully proved 

 that keeping poultry was profitable. 



Mr. Doughty of New Jersey said that he was satisfied that 

 poultry could not be profitably kept, except so far as to eat the 

 scattered grain and bugs upon the farm. 



Several other gentlemen spoke upon this question, and the 

 weight of evidence was in favor of the profitableness of poultry. 



Adjourned. 



JOHN BRUCE, Secretary, pro tern. 



