PREFACE.
In issuing this edition the Author begs leave to tender his sincere thanks, firstly, to the public whose rapid purchase of an unusually large impression has enabled him to issue the present greatly enlarged, and, he hopes he may add, improved edition; secondly, to his brother amateurs to whom he is indebted for so many suggestions and so much valuable assistance; thirdly, to his reviewers, all of whom have spoken so favourably of his efforts to impart sound practical common sense, in place of the gross absurdities, which, it is not too much to say, previously disfigured all the low-priced poultry works; to the distinguished naturalist who did him the honour to give a lengthened review of the work in Fraser’s Magazine (Dec. 1853), he gladly takes this opportunity of expressing his thanks, as he is personally unknown. The present is distinguished from the last edition by the extension of such parts as were previously meagre; a table of the constituents of food has been added, which it is hoped may prove useful; a longer account of several varieties has been given, and the chapter on diseases has been considerably enlarged, and several new remedies indicated.
Willesden, Midsummer, 1854.
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
The object of this little work is purely practical; its aim is to place in the hands of persons who may not have had much experience, a book which should contain all that is most essential to be known respecting the housing, feeding, breeding, and treatment of fowls; and to this has been added such information as the experience of the author has enabled him to give respecting the most profitable varieties viewed as agricultural stock.
August, 1853.