142 POULTRY FATTENING. 



than would be the case later on. In Sussex nearly 

 all the chickens are singed, the object being to get 

 rid of the small hairs which cannot be plucked out. 

 When properly done there can be no doubt that a 

 fowl is considerably improved thereby, but care must 

 be taken not to burn or blacken the flesh, or, in fact, 

 to leave any signs of the operation. Good wheat straw 

 is found to be the best for singeing. 



The packing of poultry is where much harm may 

 be done if not properly carried out. We have seen 

 crates of chickens opened, and their value was 

 materially reduced because of bad packing, many of 

 the birds being " barked " or otherwise damaged. 

 They ought to be packed firmly and evenly, and in 

 this way will carry long distances in perfect safety. 

 In this country strong willow baskets are usually 

 employed, well lined out with straw, and with an 

 abundance of straw beneath each row and on top. 

 The birds are placed with the sterns to the sides, and 

 in double rows. In Prance a firm crate, made of wood 

 with straight rods fitted into a strong wooden frame, 

 is employed, and these are at once light in weight and 

 yet strong. They are well lined out with straight 

 straw, but in nearly all cases each bird is wrapped in 

 a fine linen cloth, and this does much to keep them 

 from injury. We have seen cloths used here, and for 

 the better class of fowls their use might with advantage 

 be increased. During warm weather in France ice is 

 largely used in packing, but that is seldom necessary 

 in this country. 



I should like to refer to a new industry which has 

 recently sprung up at Bourg, in the La Bresse district 



