S04 TAB HISTORY OF 



To mcfleed With the breeding of poultry, the stock must 

 be colonized (if a large number of fowls be kept), or else 

 onlj a few must find shelter in any one place, about the 

 farm or country residence. And my experience has taught 

 me that five hehs together will yield more eggs than fifty- 

 five together will in the same number of months. 



I honestly assert, to-day, that of all the humbug that 

 exists, or which has been made to exist, on this subject, no 

 part of it is more glaringly deceptive, in my estimation, than 

 that which contends for the pi-ofit that is to be gained by 

 bteeding poultry — as a business by itself — for market 

 consumption. The idea is preposterous and ridiculous, 

 and no man can accomplish it, — I care hot what his facil- 

 ities may be, — to any great extent, upori a single estate. 

 The thing is impossible ; and I state this, candidly, after 

 many years of practical experience among poultry, on a 

 liberal scale, and in the possession of rare advantages for 

 repeated experiment. 



I do not say that certain persons whj? have kept a few 

 foTls (from twenty- five to a hundred, perhaps), and who 

 have looked after them carefully, may not have realized a 

 profit upon them, in connection with the farm. But, to 



have seen it tried, I neyer knew a large collection of sevcriil Imndred 

 fowls succeed in a confined place. I have known suadi^ of these enter- 

 prises tried ; but I never knew one jjermoneTsJZy successful. They were ail, 

 in turn, abandoned." The thing is entirely impracticable. 



