392 BROILERS, ROASTERS, AND CAPONS 
of surplus cockerels unless they are caponized. The sooner the 
general poultryman and farmer appreciate this fact, the sooner 
will the quality of poultry meat be so improved that the income 
and profit from its sale will bring an increasing revenue to the 
producer. 
Market Requirements.—It may be said that there is no definite 
capon season, for the demand is constant throughout the year, 
and the supply does not begin to meet even a fractional part of 
it. December to March is the season when most capons are 
marketed, yet it is almost impossible to find any at general mar- 
kets because they are immediately bought up at high prices. 
The better an article is, the greater the demand for it at corre- 
spondingly high prices, and ordinary chicken meat has no chance 
compared with capon meat. This fact is being realized by the 
more progressive poultrymen. The demand is continuous, the 
price paid is the highest for any kind of meat, and there are no 
commercial seasons to make it necessary to produce at that time 
only. The best birds for capons are hatched in the early spring, 
and the operation is performed during the early summer before 
extremely hot weather sets in. The birds are then ready for market 
during and after the holiday season, when there is always the 
greatest demand for market poultry. 
Best Breeds for Caponizing.—Cockerels of any breed can be 
made to increase greatly in weight by being caponized; but the 
larger breeds permit of larger gains and are the most desirable. 
For the production of capons on the farm, the Plymouth Rocks 
are one of the best breeds. The pullets may be kept for eggs and 
all the surplus cockerels caponized. If the production of capons 
is a specialty, one of the heavier breeds, especially the Brahma, 
will prove more satisfactory. The Light Brahma is undoubt- 
edly the best capon breed. It is not an uncommon occurrence to 
get a flock of such capons at eight to ten months of age to weigh 
from twelve to fifteen pounds each. The light capons, such as 
are produced from Plymouth Rocks, will probably always be in 
greater demand, because they furnish more nearly the amount of 
meat required by the average family, while the larger capon will 
serve instead of a turkey for special occasions, such as holidays 
and celebrations, or for hotel and restaurant demands. Crossing 
is practised in the growing of capons, with varying results. One 
method is to cross the Barred Plymouth Rocks and-Light Brahmas 
in order to get plumpness of breast, a little quicker maturity, and 
