AT MBER 
of Poultry Possible per 
si CRE. 
107 
would be found the best department to cultivate ; and only when good markets arc at hand should 
the raising of chickens form part of the regular course of proceeding. Wire netting is now so 
cheap, that one gteat difficulty about this kind of poultry-keeping is largely obviated. 
.One of the leturns before referred to, is the most remarkable example of success in genuine 
poultry-farming upon almost allotment scale, which we have met with. The tenant, whose place is 
neai Chestei field, in Dei byshire, has about one acre and two roods of land, and the run in addition 
of about two acies of wood. On two roods fruit and vegetables arc cultivated, the rest of the 
land is divided into poultry runs, in which fruit trees are also planted, and one pig is kept in 
connection with the little concern. As already stated, from this acreage some 50,020 eggs are sent 
annually to London direct to consumers ; and the tenant writes : “ I find them to pay me very 
well, but of course I get a better price than my neighbours, and they are thoroughly looked after 
by my wife, who has had over twenty years’ experience. My experience tells me that an 
inexperienced hand would lose money ; but I am sure that a man who thoroughly understands the 
business can make it pay in egg production alone, provided he can get a fair market for his eggs.” 
This individual has made his market ; and that is another point in which friendly advice and 
co-operation on the part of clergymen and others may do much. 
I11 attempting to increase the production of eggs and poultry upon farms, the best arrange- 
ments will depend much upon the situation of the holding, its extent and nature, the intelligence 
of the tenant, nature of the markets, and other circumstances already referred to. And the one 
peculiar difficulty must ever be borne in mind. It will have appeared already, that in gross profit 
over food laying hens far surpass all other live stock ; but there is one drawback to this, and that 
one is tremendous. It is, that this profit has to be collected in a vast number of very small sums 
from small animals, which yet cannot be dealt with in one vast flock, like sheep. Hence the 
realisation of products demands much oversight comparatively, under penalty of countless small 
losses and wastes ; and the cost of accommodation and labour and marketing is relatively large. 
Hence the past neglect : the labour has been grudged, and any return for it disbelieved in ; and 
from personal investigation we know for a fact that on some farms the number of eggs supposed 
to be returned per hen does not exceed thirty-five per annum ! Some hens are poor layers enough ; 
but that the birds only laid that number of eggs, let him believe who can ! 
This makes so important the question, what number of fowls can be run upon land without 
interfering with other objects, and so costing rent. Now, while fowls require an acie pei bundled 
entirely to themselves if run upon the land exclusively (the better plan being to 11m them upon half 
of it alternately), we repeat that from ten to fifteen per acre can be run upon land, without in most 
cases injuring other objects. This has been questioned by seveial in the above letuins, but not on 
personal knowledge ; while it has been proved by experience. Several of our correspondents cor- 
roborate it from experience. One writes : “ Fowls to the extent you name do not foul the land. 
On the other hand, I have found that where fowls have run on grass land one year, you get a far 
better crop the next year, and you can see where every poultry-house has stood.” The late Mr. 
Mechi also wrote : “ It is a well-admitted fact by all my labourers that my best and thickest crops 
are in immediate proximity to the fowl-house, commencing at only ten yards distance. It is not, 
however, meant that ducks or geese can be run on land in this way ; or even that the very largest 
breeds, which are free grazers, can be kept to quite such a number. A little discount would have to be 
reckoned on account of such breeds, and some soil will stand less than others. Neither is it meant, 
as some seem to have supposed, that on a farm of 200 acres, 2,000 poultry can profitably be kept. 
As is acutely pointed out by Mr. Bernard Wilson, who has already been quoted, no doubt fowls 
can be kept up to the extent you say, but can it be done at a profit ? As a rule about 100 o 150 
