V/ INTRODUCTION. 



the country and the demands for its produce. Arrangements 

 have been made with a leading artist for illustrations of the prin- 

 cipal breeds, and we shall devote a considerable amount of space 

 to varieties of poultry, showing their external characteristics and 

 internal qualities. Upon this point we have gathered a vast mass 

 of evidence at home and abroad, and the importance of a right 

 selection is sufficient justification for devoting a large amount of 

 attention to this part of the subject. We shall also show the 

 characteristics of the more fancy varieties, in order to provide for 

 those who are in the third section into which we have divided 

 poultry-keepers. And in fact the work undertaken will be dealt 

 with as completely as possible, and be at once a concise yet entire 

 guide to Irish Poultry Culture. 



In this work our desire is to stimulate that which might be to 

 a vastly greater extent a National Industry than has ever been 

 thought of To secure this desirable result it is necessary that 

 there should be co-operation not merely on the part of those who 

 are directly interested in this trade, either as producer or con- 

 sumer, as dealer or carrier, but on that of everyone who is wishful 

 for individual and general prosperity. In a development of this 

 industry all sections of the community would share the benefit, 

 and the placing of greater means within the grasp of our people 

 would help to raise them from the misery in which so many are 

 sunk. In the enterprise many can share ; first, by disseminat- 

 ing as widely as possible the knowledge imparted in these 

 pages, and by calling the attention of all within their circle of 

 influence to this work. It has been already proved in various 

 districts that one poultry-breeder acting on right lines can exert 

 an influence which cannot be measured. Examples of what has 

 been done will be given from time to time, and it is our hope that 

 these will be very largely followed. 



