Fowls for the times. The history and development of the Orpington fowl by Cook William 1849-1904

Author:Cook, William, 1849-1904
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Orpington chicken
Publisher: St. Mary Cray, Kent
Published: 1896-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

The importance of this will be seen when I point out the run of events as evidenced by some political economists of past and present days.

We have already remarked how little poultry-keeping has been thought of as a lucrative industry in the past, and in Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations," we find the following suggestive passage:— "But in countries almost waste or but thinly inhabited, cattle, poultry, game of all kinds, &c., as they are the spontaneous productions of Nature, so she frequently produces them in much greater quantities than the consumption of the inhabitant requires. In such a state of things the supply commonly exceeds the demand."

And in no more detailed form do we find the poultry-keeping industry dealt with, so, evidently about 1750, in connection with the questions of agriculture, or even small holdings, the raising of poultry was looked upon as a thing of small importance.

John Stuart Mill, who wrote about 1850, gives up a good space to the discussion of agricultural interests, and broaches somewhat upon the industries of the continental farmers and Swiss holders of the valleys and plains, but in these days of farming prosperity little could be said, except perhaps to lament the lack of system which prevailed in the

easy going days of a farmer's life, when, just before the decline, wheat was making good prices, little heed was given to any other thing, especially the idea of making profit out of the poor despised poultry, was then a matter quite out of the question, and even Professor Marshall, writing to-day, leaves the question of the agricultural problem until a future volume which is under preparation. But many principles of every day life come under the headings contained in this very valuable exposition of the " Principles of Economics," which, applied to present day circumstances, go to show that with societies, associations, councils and the numerous aids to improvement which are in existence, it is possible for back-yard poultry-keepers to assist in making vast strides in commercial pursuits if they will fulfil conditions upon which the success of this industry— as indeed of every other—largely depends.

Of course, the small holder's question stands far apart from the case of dwellers in the town, but looking at things as we may, one can but be struck with the fact that real success in each case depends entirely upon excellence, first of all in the birds themselves, and then in maintenance of vigour and consequent vitality, in order that the best results may be obtained.

I am glad to have had the honour of introducing Orpingtons, because I know as the result of a long

and varied experience among all sorts and conditions of poultry men, that the characteristics I have so successfully combined in the various Orpington breeds are just what are required, not at this juncture alone, but in the future, when even a greater movement in favour of poultry-keeping shall have made it necessary that the very best birds shall be sought out to satisfy the growing demand for fowls that combine a handsome appearance with the utmost utility.

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