GENERAL TREATMENT. 53 



Dorkings. I would advise the Cochin eggs to 

 be used in the household, and a few of the 

 Brahmas to be set A cross between it and the 

 Dorking makes a large if somewhat coarse bird 

 for the table. 



The pure Dorking chickens can be sold, at 

 -good prices, to other fanciers. To the breeder 

 they are useless, and are, perhaps, too valuable 

 to be killed. The original stock will last two 

 years, at the end of which I would recommend 

 that the male bird be replaced by a younger one, 

 of a different strain, and then your own pullets 

 win come into use. A few choice birds can be 

 kept, in this way, at very small cost; only one 

 house is required, and that of moderate dimen- 

 sions. If the fowls are to be confined during 

 any part of the day, they must have a yard, 

 similar to that already described. If they have 

 absolute freedom, they find many means of suste- 

 tenance for themselves in the open fields or sur- 

 rounding shrubberies, and virUl be, in a great 

 measure, independent of the provision commis- 

 sariat. It is impossible to lay down exact rules 

 as to feeding ; experience is the safest guide. 



