PREFACE. 



The numerous letters I have received from all quarters of the coun- 

 try latterly, urging me to prepare a book upon the subject which forms 

 the topic of this present treatise — together with the fact that I have 

 been applied to so frequently for similar information by parties whom 

 I could not find time to reply to, individually, as I wished, are the rea- 

 sons why I publish this little volume on " Raising Fowls and Eggs 



IN QUANTITT, FOR MARKETING PURPOSES." 



The pages which follow will be found to embrace the paper I wrote a 

 few years since at the request of the U. S. Commissioner of Agricul- 

 ture, at "Washington — ^and which appeared in the official Report of that 

 Department, subsequently. 



My chief object in putting forth this treatise at the present time is to 

 conveniently and fully answer the scores of letters which constantly 

 reach me, enquiring, " Does fowl-raising in the ordinary manner 

 pay ? " or " Can a man keep 500 or 1000 fowls of the common kinds 

 to advantage, upon a single farm or estate ? And if so, will you in- 

 form me how it is done ? " 



These queries I have now answered, in the accompanying book. 

 The main article to which I have made reference above, has been care- 

 fully revised, though in substance it is very little changed ; since it was 

 the practical experience of the author at a time when he was experi- 

 menting largely, with a view to learning for himself what could be 

 accomplished in this direction. 



Innumerable instances could be cited where fowl-keeping on a lesser 

 scale than this has proved profitable. The business may be made to 

 pay in any quantity, if properly and judiciously conducted. But not 

 otherwise. And I have endeavored in concise language and as briefly 

 as I could, in these pages, to show the interested reader how to do it. 



For some of the illustrations of practical fowl-houses used in this 

 work, I am indebted to the courtesy of H. H. Stoddard, Esq., of the 

 Poultry World, Hartford, where they were originally published. 

 This excellent monthly magazine I commend to all poultryraen who are 

 not already among its patrons. It is universally admitted to be the 

 ablest edited, the best illustrated, and the handsomest printed poultry 

 journal in this or any other country. 



My readers are now referred to the s'ubject I have chosen for this 

 volume, with the confident assurance that if they will follow the sug- 

 gestions herein made, with due care and judgment, they may raise fowls 

 and eggs for market to any reasonable extent, successfully, and to 

 profit — as I have done. 



Geo. p. Burnham. 



Melrose, March, 1877. 



