io5 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



prolific, and do not cost too much for labour ; and it lias \>Q.<tn proved \\\dX this allowance of ground 

 will keep sweet an unlimited time. J\Ir. Lckind \\2i.s proved that even in larger numbers, witli this 

 range, fowls will do well. Many people have proz'cd that even fowls as they now exist will }icld a 

 profit of four shillings per annum over their food towards other e.xpenscs and profit ; and, finall}-, 

 it In-: bee.i proved that the laying of many breeds may, by careful breeding, be vastly increased. 

 All the elements of the problem, therefore, have been worked out to a satisfactory result ; but that 

 is really all which b.as yet been done, or is yet known, and to combine them into a successful 

 whole yet remains for the man of business. 



We have felt bound thus to confess liow little has been done, as well as how mucli ; but as the 

 problem will yet be inevitably attempted, and, we trust, brought to a satisfactory conclusion, wc 

 think it well in the last place briefly to say how, supposing a friend of our own was to embark in 

 such an enterprise, we would wish him to proceed. 



1. IVe '(.vould do nothing in it till wc had learnt thoroughly to understand fowls and their 

 management. Few people not in the secret know how much there is to learn ; and few ever learn 

 it unless from necessity or inclination they attend to their fowls tliemselvcs for a longer or shorter 

 time. 



2. While acquiring this knowledge we would look round, deliberately, regarding all such cir- 

 cumstances as would affect the result. Such would be easy access to a good market, rent of land, 

 character of ground, cost of building materials (chiefly timber and tiles) in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, and, not least, the looking out for individuals likely to make good and hearty 

 assistants. 



3. In the meantime, and before large operations were begun, stock should be selected, and 

 diligent selection made of the best layers. Only the best layers should be bred from, and onl)- the 

 best of their progeny, and so on ; cocks for breeding being also kept which were bred from the best 

 layers only. This selection is very simple, and demands no knowledge of "points " at all; but it 

 can only be carried on in smaller yards, and should, therefore, be commenced as soon as possible, 

 with an eye to the future. Every twelve eggs annually will represent an additional ^^25 profit on 

 each thousand fowls, and nothing can have more influence on the ultimate profit than systematic 

 attention to this matter. It lies at the very root of all success in commercial poultry-keeping. 



4. Buildings and yards will then have to be planned out ; and, on the whole, the system given 

 in Fig. 47 we think combines the greatest advantages in health, economy, and accommodation. 

 The breeding yards should be smaller, consisting only of five to ten hens and one cock, according 

 to the breed. The floors of all the houses should be some inches above the surrounding soil, and 

 asphalt will be the best material. 



5. We doubt if Mr. Stoddard is right in depending entirely on layers, chickens being of more 

 value in England than in America. Such a decision would give us only Houdans, Hamburghs, 

 Andalusians, and Leghorns, to choose from. Houdans and Leghorns are the best layers, on the 

 whole, of any breeds, considering the size of their eggs ; and the Leghorn is as jxt unspoilt by 

 fanciers, which the Houdan to some extent already is. For sitters, Brahmas and Dominiques will 

 be the best, except where a good chicken-market and dry gravelly soil combine to point out the 

 Dorking. But, on the whole, we should keep Brahma hens for sitting, breeding the best of them . 

 pure to keep up the strain, and the more inferior with Dorking cocks, so that the produce might 

 rear well for table. The produce of Brahma hens with Houdan cocks also, as we have elsewhere 

 said, makes a fowl first-class both for laying or for the table. The finest of the laying breeds 

 should also be carefully bred in yards, both to keep up the laying character, and because the one 

 or two cocks to each flock of fifty layers would not be enough to ensure fertility. 



