120 COMMON SENSE 
would depend, somewhat, on the way they were managed, as re- 
gards feeding. I looked. upon the birds now in my possession as a 
mere means to secure a better flock next year, and therefore I had 
no hesitation about getting all I could out of them, and as soon as 
I could., After that I proposed to let them go. 
If.I had known much about their ages and qualities, I would 
probably have adopted a different principle in separating them into 
lots. I would have put those of the same age and the same time 
of moulting together, but as I had no information on this point, I 
was obliged to employ an entirely artificial classification. Here- 
after, however, it would be easy to have all the hens in each yard 
of the same age, and they could be disposed of at once and to- 
gether. 
In talking with poultry keepers, I find the most diverse opinions 
prevalent in regard to the requisites for securing an abundant sup- 
ply of eggs. Many hold that it is entirely in the breed; others 
-place more dependence on the kind of food that is given. 
I could not change the breed of birds now in my possession, 
but I could regulate their feed carefully, and I resolved to pay 
great attention to this point. My opinion was then and is now, 
that the best breed in the world will not give satisfactory results 
without special attention to the feed, but I also believe that a great 
deal of good food is wasted on worthless fowls. 
