GENERAL TREATMENT. 55 



in extravagance, had you to purcha,se all you 

 supply yourself with — and you enjoy the bless- 

 ing of independence. 



To the farmer (and I hope to number many 

 among my readers), I would give the following 

 advice : — In spring, purchase a Houdan cock and 

 six hens, also six Brahma hens. Set every egg. 

 From these keep all the pullets, and kill or sell 

 the cockerels. In autumn, the yard will be fully 

 stocked with fine young hens, which will lay 

 freely all winter. If eggs alone is the object, 

 the original male bii'd may remain, with the 

 addition of a cockerel when twenty pullets are 

 kept ; but if pure bred chickens are wished, then 

 I advise that the adult Houdans should be boarded 

 out. A cottager, for a remuneration, will gladly 

 take charge of them, and rear as many chickens 

 as desired for carrying on the system. In this 

 way, your original stock will supply your yard for 

 several seasons. Prom thirty Brahma and Houdan 

 pullets you wiU have above ten dozen eggs per 

 week all winter ; and the cross produces the finest 

 possible chickens for market, but not to breed from. 

 Pure Brahmas and Houdans alone must be kept 



