INTRODUCTION. 25 



number of coops in a nine-acre field of grass, which 

 had been laid down three years previously. He rears 

 about 600 chickens himself, and collects once a 

 week for his fattening shed, being away the whole 

 day with his horse and cart. He showed me his horse, 

 of which he was evidently and justifiably proud — a 

 handsome mare which might very probably be worth 

 £40. He had five cows of the Jersey- Shorthorn or 

 Jerse J'- Sussex cross, and a few sheep. The farm is 

 now all grass, and since he had come into occupation 

 he had grubbed a piece of plantation and sown it down 

 with grass. He had erected a range of fattening sheds 

 and pens, largely by his own labour, and he had also 

 made all his own coops. He was just thinking of buy- 

 ing a separator to deal rapidly with the milk, making 

 butter, of course, from the cream, and using the 

 separated milk for the chickens. He was also about 

 to try an experiment in crossing the Indian Game and 

 Dorking, as he believed that this ought to produce a 

 good class of fowl for his purpose." 



Biit I may add that the Eev. G. W. Pennethorne, 

 vicar of Heathfield, stated " that three acres and a 

 cow, plus poultry, or better still, six acres and two 

 cows, plus poultry, provided a decent living. He 

 cited several instances known to him of labourers who 

 had risen from the ranks, so to speak, by the aid of 

 poultry." 



These facts show that there is an opportunity for 

 development of poultry fattening, and consequently of 

 poultry rearing, in Britain, and thus obviate the need 

 for those vast quantities of chickens, geese, and 

 turkeys which are imported from Prance, and from 



