IN QUANTITY, FOR MARKET. 27 



coming in for sitters naturally in the months of February and 

 March, when their htters will have been exhausted. 



As to stock for breeding purposes, a selection is best made 

 from the short-legged Asiatic male birds, to be introduced ■ to 

 the common native female stock. From their chickens, selected 

 birds should be used for future breeding, and the cross thus 

 obtained are best bred back to the Goohin or Brahma male again, 

 reserving from season to season Only the short-limbed and well- 

 shaped pullets from the crossing, for subsequent use. In this 

 way the better characteristics of the foreign blood are more 

 uniformly retained. 



The first feed for chicks, say for a week, is largely the best 

 if given of hard-boiled eggs and bread crumbs. They eat but 

 little for a few days after the hatching, but should be fed four 

 or five times a day. 



After this, give them cooked soft food, of wheat, fine corn 

 meal, and potatoes boiled, for two weeks. And if from the 

 outset, you scald this food in milk (as most farmers can) the 

 benefit -will be farther increased. 



From this time forward, crushed corn and boiled vegetables, 

 half and half, with occasional additions of bone-meal and fine 

 meat-scraps will help them, amazingly. Where hundreds of 

 young birds are raised, (instead of dozens, only), this system 

 cannot well be fully carried out. But in any case, the food 

 should at first be cooked for them. This renders it more easily 

 digestible : and for their drink, a tonic of Iron Tincture, or 

 Cayenne pepper in the water, twice a week, is beneficial. 



Where fowls are kept for profit, and especially when large 

 numbers are present, attention should be directed to saving the 

 feathers taken from them, (if dressed for market,) and also the 

 manure from the houses — no inconsiderable items of value in 

 each year. 



In raising poultry, whether the object be to produce chick- 

 ens for the market, or to obtain a supply of eggs, the first prin- 

 ciple to be observed is absolute cleanliness in and around the 

 houses they occupy. During the brief process of fattening 

 fowls, a range for the birds intended to be slaughtered is not 

 necessary. On the contrary, for two or three weeks devoted 

 to finally fitting fowls for the spit, the more quiet they re- 

 main in their confinement (always supposing them to be kept 

 cleanly and free from vermin') the better. 



For both laying and breeding fowls a range or walk is a ne- 

 cessity to their comfort, health, and profitableness. Without 

 this convenience, to a greater or less extent — and the more 



