IN THE POULTRY YARD. (457 
serious objection was, that at that time, [ knew nothing about in- 
cubators and therefore the risk was too great, 
IT was therefore compelled to-fall back on the third plan which 
was to purchase common hens in open market, and build up my 
flock by degrees. The great advantage of this plan was that the 
risk was small, since 1 could at any time get as much, or more, for 
my stock than I paid for it, provided it was judiciouly selected in 
the first place, and well cared for afterwards. - I could, also, secure 
a few pens of choice pure bred fowls at no very great expense, and 
from these I could raise small flocks which would enable me, not 
only to improve my stock of laying hens, but to carry out my ex- 
periments of crossing, etc.* I therefore, resolved to buy a suf- 
ficient number of fowls in open market, using in their selection all 
.'the skill and knowledge of ‘which I was possessed, and taught by 
former experience, the great danger of introducing even a single 
diseased fowl into a large flock, I determined to subject every lot 
to a most rigorous quarantine before giving it the freedom of the 
place. 
‘But, in this case, it was necessary to provide accommodations 
for the birds before they were bought. It was well enough to buy 
one rooster before I had a coop to put him in, but it would not do 
to buy 500, or even 100 hens, without first erecting proper houses 
and fencing in suitable yards, I estimated that I would need at 
least six large houses and yards for layers, and eight small houses and 
pens for common breeders, besides at least three or four pens for 
small flocks of such pure breeds as I might wish to. keep for the sake 
of improving my stock. I intended to begin with White Leghorn 
and Light Brahma, and I felt very strongly inclined to give the 
Spangled Hamburghs a trial. It also occurred to me that in my 
miscellaneous purchases I might find some special strain or variety 
that it would pay to preserve. 1 therefore set out to build one 
* It is surprising that we do not see more flocks of fowls bred for special cir- 
cumstances when we consider the ease with which a large flock can be raised in 
a short time from even a single hey \ fort of 50 fo 75 in one season, from a 
good hen mite! i boop " ‘ve ne’ hing wonderful and in the 
second years ‘ot to a thonsand provided a 
sufficient uwduce ve Cus ava... 4. vv ded to hatch and rear the chicks. 
