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POULTRY AS FOOD. 163 
and likely to be put out of condition by careless treatment. 
But with intelligent handling and a good range they will 
thrive with comparatively little care, finding a large part of 
their own food and keeping strong and healthy. ‘heir flesh, 
like that of ducks, is coming more and more into demand, 
_and while it brings a lower price than turkeys, young chick- 
ens and even ducks, the cost of production is so much less 
that the percentage of profits is still good. Goose-raising is 
therefore to be strongly recommended to Connecticut farmers, 
especially those who have low, damp lands unsuited for other 
purposes. 
Though these four kinds of poultry are the only ones raised 
in sufficiently large numbers to furnish statistics for the cen- 
sus, the various ‘‘fancy’’ varieties are becoming more and 
more common and are said to bring good profits to the raisers. 
Pheasants are bred in large establishments in various parts of 
the country, and command good prices as aviary birds or as 
stock for game-preserves. Many of them end in the meat 
market, but as yet they are seldom if ever sold by the breeders 
for table birds. It would seem as if a large farm near a good 
market might be able to supply the poultry dealers direct, for 
the birds are in great demand for hotels, restaurants and pri- 
vate families, and bring enormous prices. Pheasants have 
been successfully raised in New Jersey, Vermont, and on 
Long Island, and would probably thfive in the warmer, less 
exposed sections of Connecticut. Squabs, as the young of 
pigeons are called, are also in constant demand and bring good 
prices. They are said to be fairly easy to raise and have been 
successfully grown in this State, so that the chances of breed- 
ing them with profit would seem excellent. ‘ 
Guinea-fowl are classed in the census with common fowl, 
doubtless because they are hardly ever raised in this country 
save in small numbers on a farm with other poultry. They 
are bred in large quantities in Austria and their flesh is much 
sought after there. ‘There is some demand for it in American 
markets, and doubtless this demand would increase if the sup- 
ply were increased, for they make excellent eating and can be 
had at seasons when game is scarce. A guinea-fowl farm, 
located where the cries of the birds would not be a disturbance, 
might make a paying investment. The birds will thrive any- 
where that common fowl will. 
