Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-19

A Mr.. Desora, possessor of an old dilapi-

A Mr.. DeSora, possessor of an old dilapi-
dated estate near Paris. having discovered
the secret of making hens lay every day in
the year by feeding them with horse flesh,
raw and minced bethought him of going into
the fresh egg business on large scale This
estate was just what he wanted in the way of
grounds, and its proximity to Paris assured
him of ready market.
he began his experiment with three hun
dred hens, and found that they averaged the
first year some twenty-five dozen eggs each.
Last year he had 100000 hens at work. with
a fair proportion of male birds, and the pro-
portionate result was the same
The sheds. Offices, and other buildings are
around quadrangle. enclosing about twenty
acres, the general feeding ground. This is
subdlvided by fences of open pailing so that
only limited number of fowls are allowed to
herd together, and these are ranged in diff
ferent apartments, according TO their age !;
no bird being allowed to exceed four wears
At the end of the fourth year they are placed
IN the fattening coops for about three weeks
fed entirely on crushed grain, and sent to
Paris alive
The breeding rooms are warmed by steam,
and the heat is kept up with remarkable uni
formity to that evolved by the female fowl
during the process of incubation. which is
known TO mark higher on the thermometer
than at any other period. A series of shelves.
one above the other, form the nests, while
blankets are spread over the eggs to exclude
any accidental light. The Matched chicks are
removed to the nursery each morning. and
fresh eggs laid in to supply the place Of
empty shells. a constant succession of chick
ems is thus insured. and moreover the feathers
are always free from vermin.
A hen is never allowed to set. The males
and females mingle freely at all seasons. All
the Shanghai, Cochin China, and other fancy
fowls have been get rid of, as the old fash
toned barn yard breed is found to be more
cheaply and easily raised and to give better
eggs and flesh.
To supply the great consumption of meat
the numerous disabled and worn out horses
in and about Paris are depended on. They
are neatly and scientifically slaughtered at
NJ. tSOra's own d6ahoir. The blood is sold
for art purposes. The tanners buy the skins
The glue makers and manufacturers of Prus
sian blue get the heads, hoofs, shanks, DC
The button makers buy the larger bones The
agricultural merchants take the remainder OF
the bones for bone dust. or ivory black max
ing. The marrow is made into fashionable
ointments, lip salves, &c. Even the entrails
are put to use. The flesh is cut into certain
proportions, passed through a series Of re-
volving knivesan comes out in the shape OF
a mountain of mince meat, which is slightly
seasoned with salt and ground pepper-the
hens are eplcures, 1t appears-then put INTO
barrels, headed up and sent per railroad to
the Henery. There it is kept in storerooms
the temperature of which is just below the
freezing point all the year round, and thus
the mince meat is never sour or offensive.
The fowls eat it with avidity, are always in
good condition, and the hens lay each an egg
almost every day, in all weathers and seasons.
They have beside plenty of pure water, with
gravel and sand.
The average consumption of horses per
day is twenty-five, and so well arranged is
the system, that the proceeds of the sale of
the hides, bones, &c. makes a profit on the
original cost of the horses. Another item of
profit is the manure from the fowl yards,
which is eagerly sought for by the gardeners
in the neighborhOod
About one hundred persons. mostly fe-
males, are employed in the various DEPART
ments of the henery. The expenses OF the
establishment including repairs, interest, &c,
amount to about SIS, 900 per annum. The
sales of eggs last winter were 10000 dozen a
week, at franc for six dozen. or SIS 900 per
week, which is S250,OO0 per anDum. So that
Mr.. DeSOra can both cluck and crow over his
hens, that bring him in clear revenue of
nearly $4,000 year.
What would old Noah say to this could he
be shown one hundred thousand hens all to-
gether, laying one hundred thousand eggs all
at once His pair in the ark would be noah
where and he fain to confess himself noah
nothing.