REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER. 211 



Leghorn hens. None of the cock birds have it yet, nor have this year's chickens. 

 The sick ones are mostly last year's birds. My hens have the same run as any farm 

 yard fowls. The disease seems to be general round here. I would be glad if you 

 could let me know what to do." 



As the disease seemed to aflFect several localities Mr. Cowley's letter was fowarded 

 to Prof. Wesley Mills, of McGill University, Montreal, and the following reply was 

 received : — 



McGiLL University, 



Montreal, 28th November, 1893. 



Dear Sir, — I am in receipt of your letter of 23rd instant. From the account of 

 the disease given by Mr. Cowley, I should suspect some germ disease, possibly 

 tuberculosis. If you will forward one of the birds to my address as above, as soon 

 after death as possible, I will ask our professor of pathology to kindly make a careful 

 examination. 



In any case I would recommend isolation of sick birds and disinfection of the 

 houses in which the fowls have been kept, with a special care to comfort and 

 feeding. 



Faithfully yours, 



Wesley Mills, M.D. 



■'■> 



In accordance with the above Mr. Cowley was requested to send the fowl to the 

 address as requested. On the 18th December, Mr. Cowley drove in from Bristol's 

 Corners with a fowl which had died of the disease and the subject was at once for- 

 warded to Dr. Mills. The result of the examination will be awaited with interest. 



Beginning of Winter Laying. 



After enjoying a free run outside, the fowls went into winter quarters during 

 the third week in November. The hens were in most cases over their moult, but 

 some were still very ragged. The White Leghorns were the first to lay followed by 

 the Light Brahmas. Up to date none of the pullets had laid. 



The Poultry Show at the Industrial. 



During the Industrial Exhibition at Toronto, in September last, the meeting of 

 the Ontario Poultry Association held on the 15th of the month named was attended 

 and upon the invitation of the president an address was delivered on " the value of 

 poultry as a means of revenue to the country and to the farmer." The exhibition 

 of poultry, held in the enlarged and improved poultry building of the Exhibition 

 Association, was the best fall show ever seen on the continent at the time of year. 

 The management, arrangement and judging of the birds were simply magnificent. 



Increased interest in Poultry. 



Apart from the numerous excursion parties which visited the Experimental 

 Farm during the early part of the season, the increase in the number of farmer 

 visitors to the poultry department and in the interest taken in the same were most 

 gratifying. A largely increased correspondence and demand for plans of buildings; 

 reports containing details as to management of poultry, &c., indicate a more general 

 appreciation of the value of the poultry department as a means of making money. 



Improvements. 



During the past summer season a large piece of land adjoining the poultry 

 building has been fenced in as part of the department, and will afford change of 

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