1883.] POULTRY RAISING. 61 



weeds around the house, that is the only diflficulty. I have 

 never found any difficulty about poisoning. 



Now that I am up, I will ask, do you think that onions do 

 any hurt ? I have heard that onions were a healthy article of 

 food for hens. I this year raised quite a piece of scullions, and 

 pulled two cart-loads for the purpose of feeding them to my 

 hens this winter ; but I heard one person say, while in Hart- 

 ford, that they bought eggs from Wethersfield (that is a 

 great onion town, you know), and they tasted so strongly 

 of onions that they were objectionable. 



Miss Reed. We have used onions very sparingly, not 

 having them very plenty, and being very fond of them our- 

 selves. I think a few onions may be fed with advantage, but 

 any great number would affect the taste of the eggs ; I have 

 no doubt of it, although I do not speak from experience. 



Mr. Fowler. I have heard it claimed that feeding onions 

 kept away vermin, but I do not know whether it is so or not. 

 Miss Reed. Kerosene will do that. 



Mr. . The lady, I suppose, has let her hens run at 



large. I would ask if hens in confinement can be made to 

 lay equally as well as those that have an opportunity to run 

 at large ? 



Miss Reed. We are obliged to keep ours shut up entirely 

 when there is snow on the ground ; we have had our hens 

 shut up for three weeks this fall, and now that snow has 

 come again, they have a prospect of three months of confine- 

 ment. As long as snow is on the ground, there is no other 

 place for them. They are not allowed to go near the barn or 

 pig pen, or any place but their own quarters. But I was 

 going to say, in regard to western screenings, that my father 

 objects to that, on account of the seed it brings on the farm. 

 He says we better give them the best of wheat rather than 

 buy screenings. 



Mr. . I would say that my experience is, that hens in 



confinement will do fully as well as those at large, provided 

 their wants are well supplied. If they have everything that 

 is necessary to their comfort, they will lay as well when con- 

 fined as when they have full liberty. 



