BUYING FOWLS ON APPROVAL. 99 



they were unknown in that vicinity. So, while our popular varieties are quite well distributed 

 there are still uiiiny places where they are not to be had. The beginner located in such a place 

 must go or send aliroad (or stock. If it is at all possible for liini to go himself to yards where 

 stock of the variety lie wants is to be procured, it will pay liini to do so. He can then see how 

 the stock he buys compares with other specimens of the same stock, and have a lietler idea of 

 its actual quality. Seeing the stock as it grows, he will also better appreciate the variations in 

 it, and be better able to judge of the general quality of the stock he produces from il. 



If it Is impossible for him to inspect and select his stock, and he must buy by mail, he will 

 still tind it to his advantage to buy as near home as possible. By doing this he saves express, 

 and, further, when the express charges do not constitute too large a proportion of the cost of 

 the fowls delivered, lie can return the fowls if not satisfactory. 



Sometimes in making shipments a breeder will agree to pay return express on a lot of birds 

 not found satisfactory, but in geneial the buyer pays express both ways. 'I'here is room for an 

 argument as to what is fair in su<ih cases. 1 think the best way for a buyer to look at it is this: 

 —If he bought the fowls himself at the breeder's yards, whatever the distance from his home, 

 he would not expect the breeder to pay bis traveling expenses, or any part of them. He buys 

 "on approval," because of the inconvenience or expense of going lo see the fowls. He should 

 then consider return express charges on unsatisfactory birds as an expense arising from his 

 inability to inspect the stock before buying, and not an expense on account of the breeder's 

 failure to send him stock that would suit, and therefore an expense for which not he but the 

 breeder is responsible. If the buyer will look at the matter in that way he will enjoy more 

 peace of mind than if he resents the payment of return express as an imposition for which the 

 party who sent him the fowls is responsible. 



In deciding from whom to order stock by mail, a beginner is necessarily very much in the 

 dark. Many write to me for advice, information, and sometimes recommendations in this 

 matter, sajing that their resources are limited, and they cannot afibid to make any mistakes. I 

 can appreciate their position, and also approve the caution they display. At the same time I 

 know of no way of avoiding "mistakes" in buying stock. I have been buying fowls, some- 

 times a good many and sometimes only one or two in a season, for sixteen years now, and I am 

 somewhat acquainted with the qualify of stock kept by a very large number of breeders, yet 

 I cannot avoid "mistakes" of this kind. I don't think anyone can. The best I can do is to 

 reduce the cost of mistakes in buying to the minimum by never buying more fowls than I 

 actually need. That point we will take up again. 



In deciding from whom to buy, give the preference (for reasons previously stated), to breed- 

 ers nearest you. Write to as many of these as you wish, stating your wants, and asking for 

 prices, and terms. Most breeders state their terms in a general way in their circulars, but not 

 all are as explicit as is desirable. If you are going to buy stock on approval, (and it is the only 

 way to buy if you cannot buy on inspection), you should havp it distinctly understood before 

 you send your order on what conditions the shipment is made. Some lireeders make the state- 

 ment that stock may be returned at their expense "if not as represented" in their circulars or 

 correspondence. This is not enough. It is too easy to misinterpret both the buyer's statement 

 of his wants and the "breed ei's statement of what be will send to fill the want. Make your 

 order conditional on the stock l)eing satisfactory to you. Have the seller's written agreement 

 to that effect before you send him the money. It he will not agree to that don't liuy of liim. 

 A man who will not make such an agreement may be perfectly square. Looking at the matter 

 from his point of view he may think it not good policy to make sales that way. 1 think, how- 

 ever, that most breeders will without hesitation agree to such terms for shipments within 

 reasonable distances. 



How riuch to Buy. 



To make mistakes or misfortunes in buying of as little con.sequenee as possible buy only 

 for actual needs. I mean now your own actual needs. I think one of the greatest mistakes a 

 beginner can make is to buy more stock at the start than he needs for himself, expecting that 

 by selling eggs for hatching he is going to get back the additional money put into the stock, 

 and more. The novice is wisest who lets the egg trade alone until he has his stock well estab- 



