98 FATTENING. 



. Summer and autumn chickens are plentiful 

 enough, and in these seasons the pure Dorking 

 and French breeds are to be preferred ; but Jan- 

 uary Dorkings are scarce, and generally destined 

 for early exhibition, so we gladly put up with a 

 less delicate, but larger, style of chicken for table 

 use. 



The Creve Cceur attains a remarkable weight, 

 and is the Chapon and Poularde of the Continent, 

 but is late. The Scotch Grey or Chick Merlin 

 (the old name of this breed), also supplies a 

 really good and desirable table fowl. 



Turkeys, geese, and ducks should always be in 

 good flesh and condition. My own cure so, inva- 

 riably, and I should be very sorry to condemn 

 any of my stock to the miserable coniinement of 

 a fattening coop, with its too common discom- 

 forts — want of air and cleanliness. 



Aquatic birds fatten better when limited to a 

 trough, in lieu of a running stream, and this 

 seems no deprivation to them; they take their 

 bath daily, and it seems all they require, if 

 we may judge by their plumpness and good 

 spirits. 



