Pot'i.TKY Keei'Inc; Kih FAi;An;i{S. 245 



farm. Use no yards, but give the fowls tlieir liberty, and 

 they will thrive and pay a good protir. 



Hens do well in an Oi'chard, and will almost pay for their 

 keeping by destroying insects. I know of an orchard of five 

 acres, in Hancock, New Hampshire, that bears very heavy 

 crops, and the fruit is remarkably fair. The owner says it 

 is because he keeps hens in the orchard. He has small, 

 cheap houses, and keeps twenty hens in each flock. I think 

 he has five houses in this orchard. We must always remem- 

 ber that the nearer we imitate nature in the care of our 

 fowls, the better they will pay. We must use system. Be 

 regular in feeding, and neither over feed nor starve them, 

 but giv^e them enough every day. As I have said before, 

 fowls will not bear neglect. They require constant care. It 

 will not do to give them a large feed in the morning, and 

 forget them at night. I have not had much experience with 

 diseases. I have never had a case of roup, cholera, or any 

 of our prevalent diseases. If fowls are well cared for — not 

 croM'ded into filthy houses — and the " Douglas Mixture " is 

 freely used, disease will be almost unknown. 



The profits will vary, depending somewhat upon the loca- 

 tion, breeds and care. To get the most profit a good mar- 

 ket is requisite. Good fresh eggs will always sell in large 

 vilbiges, and when a farmer gets his reputation established, 

 he can always sell to hotels and private families much above 

 the market price. It costs about the price of a bushel of 

 corn to keep a hen If the hens have suitable care they 

 will pay from one to two dollars profit each, counting the 

 manure to pay for the care. Some of my neighbors clear 

 more than two dollars from each hen. 



