CULTIVATIOI^ OF PoULTRy ON FaRMS. 93 



quoted by Mr. Frere in a paper contributed to the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, from 

 which we have already extracted largely, the connection between the nature of the crops and the 

 production of poultry is clearly indicated, though not actually expressed. Thus, after a description 

 of several departments and their distinguishing peculiarities from a poultry point of view, 

 the remark is made that " as a rule the districts which grow buckwiieat are famous for poultry ; 

 not so those which grow rye." In speaking of La Bresse (now the arrondissement of Bourg, in the 

 department of Ain), which is pre-eminent for the excellence of the fowls sent to market, it is again 

 observed that "here alone is the growth of maize combined with that oi buckwheat ;" and we are 

 not surprised to read a little further on that this mixture of maize and buckwheat, ground into meal, 

 constitutes the food of the fatting fowls. Again and again maize and buckwheat are referred 

 to throughout all notices of French poultry. Such is the foundation ; with regard to the trade 

 built upon it, we quote (still from the same able paper) that "one of the small proprietors 

 or farmers on the borders of La Bresse or Revormont will sell between September and March 

 two or three hundred fat fowls, making by his poultry alone from £l to nearly £$ per acre of his 

 occupation." 



We have preferred to make, from the sources we have mentioned, short extracts having a 

 definite object rather than discursive quotations, in order that the considerations we would urge upon 

 the British farmer may be more readily understood. Whatever be the share in poultry production 

 ever taken by the labouring classes, as recommended a page or two back, and whatever be the success 

 or otherwise of immense estabhshments for rearing poultry and producing eggs, M^/«r;«^r will always 

 be in at least as good a position, and probably better, than either of these can be ; but his success 

 must depend on the conditions of it being properly observed. These are few and simple. He 

 must give his attention and care to this part of his live stock ; he must strictly look after all the 

 products ; and he must provide and give proper food. As to the latter point, we are more and 

 more sure that the use and growth of buckwheat is intimately connected with any great national 

 increase in poultry culture. We became convinced of this years ago, and were the first to advise 

 the free use of this grain in feeding fowls. For years we stood alone in this recommendation, 

 and we still see many expressions of a contrary opinion ; but we repeat our full and matured 

 conviction that buckwheat is the best whole grain fowls can have as a staple food. All game 

 prefer it to any other ; and it has the further advantages of producing more eggs, forming meat of 

 better quality, and of being grown on a large scale more cheaply than any other — it will grow 

 on poor land, and the crop rarely fails. Buckwheat and the ground oats of Sussex would alone 

 put a new face on many a farmer s poultr>' balance-sheet, forming as they do both the best and 

 cheapest foods in happy combination. 



How the cultivation of poultry could be best carried on by English farmers would depend 

 much upon the extent of the holding, the intelligence of the tenant, the system of farming already 

 carried on, the neighbouring markets, and other circumstances which need not be here alluded to. 

 In some cases the greatest benefit would ensue by allotting, in rotation, a certain portion of the 

 farm to regular poultry " runs ;" which can easily be done at small expense by making all the 

 houses upon wooden sills, and small enough to be movable, and using for fences simple yard-wide 

 netting, fastened to short stakes. In this way the loss of eggs by laying away can be altogether 

 prevented, and all the land in turn will be benefited by the manure and surface-scratching of the 

 fowls, as well as by the destruction of insects which they will find and devour. This plan of 

 proceeding would probably be found best for dairy-farms, as it does not answer to let poultry and 

 cattle graze together. In other cases it may be better simply to follow Mr. Mechi's system of 

 keeping a number of fowls on the run of the farm generally ; but with an intellio-ent attendant and 



