The Question Box. 167 



result in a white plumage, but at the expense of the color of the 

 legs and the constitution. I have known of a fine strain of White 

 Leghorns being absolutely ruined by such treatment. 



All the above applies to the natural treatment of fowl. We 

 now come to the artificial methods employed to improve their form 

 and looks. Washing fowl for the show-rooms is often a necessity. 

 It is not a difficult job by any means. A thorough warm washing 

 Avith Ivory or Castile soap, two or three rinsings in pure luke- 

 warm water, careful drying at a fire, not too hot, and the final 

 rubbing down with a silk handkerchief will work wonders in white- 

 fowl and even Barred Plymouth Bocks. Another important 

 thing in preparing parti-colored fowl for the show-pen is the re- 

 moval of old or dead feathers. Even new T ones can be removed to 

 advantage when they are in the way. This is not faking; it is sim- 

 ply getting the birds in " silk attire." Bemoving false or foul 

 feathers is another important matter. As long as we allow color 

 disqualifications in the Standard of Perfection, this will go on. A 

 single red feather in the crest of a Creve Coeur cock disqualified the 

 finest bird of this breed w T e ever saw. The owner said ho would 

 not pluck the feather because he did not believe it honest to do so, 

 and at the same time condemned the Standard. That honest man 

 has long since given up the fancy. The cleaning of the legs of 

 fowl with sweet oil and turpentine, the saturation of the comb 

 with alcohol or vaseline are all legitimate tricks that make up the 

 fowl showman's trade. 



The singeing of feathers to hide disqualifications, the excision 

 of wdiite in red earlobes of white or grey tips in black feathers 

 by graphite, shoe dressing or dyes, the coloring of legs with 

 iodine or similar preparations, the plugging of holes in the shanks 

 with beeswax, and numerous other arts of faking should be uni- 

 versally condemned. A fowl that cannot be fitted for the show- 

 room without the above had better be left at home and save its 

 owner the opprobrium that is sure to be heaped upon him when 

 his faking is discovered. 



Question. — What is the best form of house for Bantams or 

 other fowl, when space and money are limited ? 



Mr. Davenport.— The small, low house has always given us 

 the best results for Bantams. We use drygoods boxes. Take 

 one three by four feet on the ground, raise one side so that the 

 roof will have a little pitch, cover it witli tarred paper, put a 



