Management, Care and Feeding. 49 



PLYMOUTH ROCKS FOR THE FANCIER AND MARKET 



BREEDER. 



None of our standard breeds in the past ten years have had such 

 a " run " as the Plymouth Rocks. Although the average fancy prices 

 were within the limits of the purchaser's means, yet there was such 

 good defnand and ready sale that the profits on this breed far ex- 

 ceeded that of the Brahmas. The prospects for the future look 

 encouraging, the white variety is bound to lead all the new breeds 

 and will prove a profitable source to their breeders. 



In a commercial point of view, our wide awake poultrymen begin 

 to see there is a handsome profit in raising fowls for the market, if 

 the business be conducted intelligently and economically. Raising 

 early chicks for market and taking advantage of good demand for 

 eggs will always pay, and everything indicates that the demand for 

 them is increasing. With the rapid increase of our population, 

 higher intelligence and better modes of living, we are sure the 

 demand will tax all the energies of our poultrymen to supply, and 

 eggs and poultry flesh will form the great bulk of our meat food, for 

 the higher we rise in intellectual force the greater our desire will be for 

 such kind of food. The savage or the illiterate backwoodsman don't 

 care for eggs or chicken, the wild bison or the bristled hog is more 

 suitable to his nature, but the truly refined and intellectual mind 

 always likes eggs and chicken, as they are intellectual food. 



Broilers are in demand about the first of March, and young 

 ducks about the first of June. Plymouth Rocks sell best for broilers. 

 In all our large cities, broilers, weighing from three-fourths of a 

 pound to a pound in March will bring from $5.00 to $6:00 per dozen; 

 from one and a quarter to two pounds in April, f6.oo to $9.50; from 

 from one and a half to two pounds and a quarter in May, $8.00 

 to $10.50. These figures ruled even in Chicago last year, and are 

 taken from the books of a South Water street commission dealer. 



Preparing for Exhibition. — The practice of cleansing and 

 preparing birds for the show room is much in vogue in England, but 

 owing to the severity of our climate in winter, and the danger of 

 taking cold, the practice is not carried on to a great extent among our 

 exhibitors. The process of cleansing the show birds is simple, when 

 properly done, but in the case of white or light colored fowls, it 

 requires more care and skill. The best way to remove dirt and 

 stains from the plumage, is by clean, white or transparent soap, mild, 

 without much free alkali. After the feathers are first dampened 



