54 GENERAL TREATMENT. 



Poultry, if penned up, witli only an occa- 

 sional run, Uve in complete dependance on 

 the food given, which must always be regu- 

 lated by circumstances. It must be borne in 

 mind that high feeding is conducive to lay- 

 ing, and the eggs will always pay for the 

 grain consumed, if the yearly average price is 

 taken. 



I have thus attempted to show that it is pos- 

 sible to keep poultry, even as an amusement, 

 without loss. It pays best either on a very large 

 or very small scale. In the latter case it must 

 be viewed only as a "fancy," and if the expense 

 can be covered by the sale of extra stock, it is all 

 that can be expected or desired. On a larger 

 scale, the pursuit resolves itself into a system. 

 The market must be studied for the purchase 

 of grain, and for the sale of your produce. To 

 show a good balance-sheet, your household must 

 be supplied during the dearest as well as the 

 cheapest seasons of the year. Your spring 

 chickens must come from your own yards; your 

 eggs, at two shillings a-dozen, from your own 

 laying-houses. Thus you live in plenty — nay. 



