ROASTERS, BROILERS AND CAPONS 



matter. The yard 6 by 12 feet and 3 feet high is a light wooden 

 frame. On top of each yard we noticed a large fork full of hay 

 had been spread for shade and to the north side was attached 

 burlap to shelter the fowls from the wind, which we were told 

 is qmte severe in cold seasons. As soon as the hay lands are 

 raked clea,n of their crop, these houses will be used for young 

 stock in the autumn and moved every day or two. The con- 

 stant changing to new ground and forage benefits the birds and 

 greatly adds to the productiveness of the ground, and we can 

 safely assert from our own and others' experience, that with 



good as should be, but- it was found that when chalk was placed 

 in the water fountains, the water was sweetend, and they were 

 sure the fowls kept in better condition. We have seen a small 

 proportion of slaked lime also used with beneficial results, 

 especially in the summer weather when the fowls are apt to 

 have bowel trouble. 



The poultry kept here was chiefly for market, and the 

 White Plymouth Rocks and White Wyandottes used as breed- 

 ing stock. An experimental cross that was expected to prove 

 quite satisfactory, was that from a white Old English White 



AN ENGLISH FARM WHICH MAKES A SPECIALTY OF CAPONS 



The position of the fowl on the 

 caponizing easel 

 The small movable breeding pens that are "favored on the place" 



A few of the flock of 200 ducks 



The operation of caponizing 

 The long brooder house 



extensive poultry growing over these fields, they would double 

 their yield of hay. 



One ton of hay to the acre was considered a fair crop a 

 few years ago at this farm, upon Goring Heath over the chalk- 

 hills, but we were assured that the land had been much improved 

 by allowing the poultry to range on it. This is the same experi- 

 ence that a New England Poultry Farm reported, only their 

 hay crops have more than doubled in the last ten years of ex- 

 tensive poultry keeping on the land. 



The wells on this farm were not as deep, nor the water as 



Legged Game cock with White Wyandotte females. They will 

 make medium sized birds — the kind wanted on the London 

 market — that will bring what will amount to about one shilling 

 per pound, and they will have white skin, white feathers, and 

 white flesh. In the early season the higglers, (or butchers) 

 will give about the same price for a bird of three or four pounds 

 weight as for one larger that would take longer and more ex- 

 pense to rear, so of course the one cheapest to rear to that size 

 is the best for the grower. In this neighborhood they tell the 

 tenderness of young fowls by the suppleness of their wings. 



153 



