loo Tim Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



will be ample, as we have already observed that other shelter from bad weatlicr ought to be 

 provided by an adequate number of trees or bushes. 



In attempting to decide between the two systems of building we have considered, we are 

 again' confronted with the want of actual experience, as in England no large concern on rational 

 friiiciplcs, so far as we know, has ever been even attempted. The disadvantages of the one last 

 indicated obviously lie in the want of shelter for an attendant while crossing the open space, the 

 absence of the conveniences of a central passage, and the greater distances to be traversed. In 

 spite of these, however, and especially considering the advantages of having the fowls housed in 

 squads isolated from each other, we should on the whole advise the plan of Fig. 47, but must again 

 confess our inability to lay down a positive conclusion. If such a plan should be found successful, 

 the amount of capital required (for buildings, &c., even allowing for cost of trees) would be reduced 

 by about half, and the dividend on any given amount of capital would assume a very different com- 

 plexion, as will be seen by the following amended balance-sheet, where we have still supposed the 

 la)-ing to be only at the rate of 150 eggs per annum, but which might soon be largely increased.* 



Dr. Cr. 



To Interest on Capital, now reduced to /'400 ... £,10 



„ Wages 52 



,, Rent 20 



,, Taxes ... 4 



„ Net Profit ..; 13J 



/230 



By Gross Profit, as before ;^20O 



,, Crops from Trees, in twenty runs, at 30s. each 30 



£.^0 



But speaking of a "dividend " reminds us to state emphatically that we have no belief whatever 

 in the capability of "companies" to carry on such business with profit. We do believe that an 

 intelligent individual, or even a firm, possessing not only sufficient capital, but — a much scarcer thing 

 - — the thorough knowledge of fowls and their successful management, might reap a good harvest. 

 He or they would soon learn what to do and what to avoid, for the knowledge as acquired would 

 be brought immediately home to the consciousness of those most concerned, and they might be 

 relied upon for a careful and keen eye to their own interests and all that affected them. But this 

 would by no means be the case with a company. None of the members would probably have that 

 knowledge which would be as the very life-blood of the concern ; and in electing a manager at a 

 high salary they would not only be losing in hard cash a considerable part of the returns, but would 

 have to depend chiefly on " testimonials," the value of which has lately become proverbial. We 

 say this, because we have more than once had to restrain people from rushing into some such sort 

 of thing, and we are certain no company will ever successfully carry it out, until at least private 

 energy has solved the problem before them. In a case where so much has yet to be learnt, it would 

 be simply ruinous to have any man experimenting with other people's money. Let it be his own. 

 If any individual has really learnt how to keep poultry on a moderate scale successfully ; if he is 

 fond of it, and would like it as his business ; if he has capital /<?;' the business, and feels and knows 

 that what he has done with one lot of fifty fowls he can do with twenty ; if he knows the best 

 markets, and is not above seeing to this department himself; if he has the gift of finding people for 

 his assistants who know what he wants done and will do it ; then let him try poultry on a large 

 scale, and he will probably prosper : but we do regard it as essential that both the expenditure, 



* Lest it may be thouglit we have exaggerated what may be done in the shape of developing egg-production, we would refer on 

 the one hand to the fact that the natural production of the fowl has already been increased tenfold, and on the other to the recorded 

 instances which will be given in the chapters on Brahmas and Ilamburghs, for the strict truth of which we can personally vouch. 



