No. C. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 391 



no s])i'ayiiig will pi-cNcnt il. Tlic cnrly l»li};lit is ;i [trcraature spot- 

 ting and dyeing of the leaves, and S|n'a.ving with Boi-deaux mixture is 

 recommi^nded as a preventive. If I he i)()(aloes are sprayed with 

 Paris green to kill bugs, it is advisable to mix il with the Bordeaux; 

 mixture, as the one spraying will serve both to kill the bugs and 

 prevent the blight. If the weeds have been permitted to grow, they 

 should be cut and hauled oil' before digging is commenced, as no 

 digger will W'Ork successfully in a weedy field. 



Every grower should be sui)p]ied with a number of bushel crates, 

 as they save considerable labor in handling. They should be dis 

 tributed over the part of the field to be dug first. The potatoes can 

 be picked into the crates or picked into buckets and poured into the 

 crates. When the crates are filled, the low x^latform wagon can be 

 driven along and the crates loaded on from both sides, and hauled to 

 the place of storing, with a small amount of labor. When an early 

 or medium early variety of potatoes are grown they can be dug in 

 time to SOW' the ground in wheat. If the weeds have been kept 

 under subjection, a good seed-bed can be i)repared by harrowing; 

 with a spring-tooth harrow. 



The CHAIRMAN: The next subject on the program is: 

 'Toultry Houses," by Mr. T. E. Orr, of Beaver, Pa. 

 The paper is as follow^s: 



POULTR^^ HOUSES. 



By T. K. Orr, Bearer, Pa. 



The three essentials of poultry management are cleanliness, com- 

 fort and convenience. As I can hardh' imagine that any of my 

 hearers will start a flock in an old and filthy house, I shall start 

 with the second of these requirements, comfort. An uncomfortable 

 hen does not sing; an uncomfortable hen does not lay eggs. You 

 must have the, songs of joy and comfort before you need carry your 

 egg basket out to gather the eggs. Start the singing; raise the tune 

 by giving warm quarters and an abundant and varied diet. 



^'Biddy" is no.t a growler. She does not complain if she is uncom- 

 fortable; she simply stops doing business. If she has lost a toe, a 

 comb or wattle she does not utter a murmur, but her svstem sets 



