The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-10-15
For THE POULTRY DEPARTMENT.
The Experiences of a Poultry Raiser
BY j. KENNARD.
NUMBER II.


done much to discourage amateurs, which
is to be regretted, because amateurs are
enthusiasts, and it is to their ranks that
we owe the numerous improvements in
blooded stock-from the pug dog to the
race horse, they have been the pioneers in
their various departments. Any one
who improves the breed OF horses, cattle,
dogs, poultry or other domestic animals
is a benefactor to mankind. Followed in
an intelligent, systematic manner, stock
breeding may be made, not only a source
of pleasure, but also of profit. Probably
there are more failures made in poultry
keeping than in any other branch offarm-
ing. The fact is it seems so easy that
everyone thinks he 'knows it all; "just
buy few fowls, throw them a few hand
fdls of corn nigh tand morning and scoop
in any quantity OF eggs" appears to be
their idea. If only half dozen fowls be
bought and no interest felt in them, this
system Cor want of it) may do very we'll
as far as it goes, but where large num-
bers are kept, or where the owner feels a
real interest in them, a thorough system
is as essential as in any ordinary trade.
Having Cleared my mind OF can't" con-
tanned in that book, [ began to look
about for more reliable information, and
subscribed to a poultry journal and
when in doubt wrote to it's editor asking
questions. BY this means gained many
useful hints. I also discovered that what
had read about the mammoth poultry
farms in the south of France was all
moonshine, and the enormous wealth &C
cumulated by their owners myth and
moreover that moderately large poul-
try farm can only be successfully ''run"
by man of great experience, and must
be of natural and steady growth. In
stances of attempts at poultry keeping
on large scale have come before my no.
tice with the almost invariable result of
failure. One gentleman having good
income and no employment took thepoul-
try mania and bought 500 fowls of all
sorts and conditions. They were for
warded to him by rail; some of them
caught cold, which developed into rOup,
the consequences we're disastrous, for not
only did he lose the flock but several poor
neighbors lost many of their fowls, and
an adjoining farmer lost seventy, SO in
fictitious is this dreadful malady.
The best adviceI received was ego slow
ly"-begin with dozen 'fowls and those
of the BEST" l have proved this to be
a sound maxim, for the reason that the
novice is sure to make some mistakes,
and should these entail losses, they will
be so trifing as not to utterly disgust
him with his new hobby. By keeping
fewfowls he will learn practically as much
as from large number, and moreover
they will pay better in proportion.
Now as to the best, the question arises
what are the best? To this it is nearly
impossible to give an answer; nearly
every breed is someone's "best, in other
words, his particular fancy" under
given conditions some breeds are prefer
able to others. When there is large
range the lighter, more active and rest
less ones, such as Games, Hamburghs,
Malays, Leghorns, etc., do well, whereas
-, olooo oOnfnompnt thew 0ro nOtSO GOOD