OF POULTRY. 
28r 
kings. Pure-bred Spanish fowls will not serve your purpose, 
for three reasons : first, they are not good foragers ; second, 
they are the worst of sitters ; and third, they are very hard 
moulters ; but for laying, they far outstrip all other fowls, 
and their flesh is very sweet, delicate, and tender eating. 
So by crossing them with the Dorking, you overcome all their 
bad qualities, and retain their good ones, and thereby obtain 
a fowl possessing a greater number of valuable properties 
than any other fowl that is bred. 
The first thing to be done, is to provide a suitable place 
for them. If you have not a place where you can turn them 
out without other fowls getting at them, you must build a 
small place, and lath it in securely, to prevent all mishaps 
whatever. Buy your hens in the autumn ; then, by keeping 
them through the winter, after Aunt Jane's manner, they 
will have full bodies and sound constitutions for laying. 
But clearly understand me ; if the hens you buy are laying, 
or about to lay, their eggs will be of no use to you that 
season, because it is a hundred to one but they are all con- 
taminated : so you must take care of them, and pen them 
up directly after the moult, for the next spring. 
In the next place, get six of the largest and finest Dorking 
hens you possibly can. Those coming in two year-old are 
the best ; but if you cannot get that number to suit you,, 
choose those you like, and make up the number with the 
finest maiden pullets. Or, if you please, have them all 
maiden pullets, if they are of superior size and quality ; but 
those coming in two year-old are the best for the coming 
spring, because they have arrived at maturity, and produce 
finer chickens. I must also tell you that I have raised some 
most noble birds from three year-old hens. However, in 
this case, buy with a liberal hand. If you do not, you will 
find it penny wise and pound foolish work. I knew a person 
of this kind, who studied what he called economy in the 
matter, and w^as going to carry all before him, with Spanish 
Dorkings ; he gave half-a-crown a-piece for six fiimsy- 
looking little hens, and because they had five toes each, he 
set it down for certain they must be thorough-bred Dork- 
ings. But, for the purpose he v\ranted them, they were not 
worth twopence a dozen. You must first look after the 
largest, smartest, plump-bodied solid-looking hens or pullets 
