1907.] DISCUSSION. 67 



the hen out and oil her wings. The chicks will run back under 

 her, and they will get daubed sufficiently with the oil to keep 

 them down. 



Question. What particular oil do you use? 

 Mr. Almy. We use sperm oil. That is all we ever do to 

 prevent body lice. Of course, we have these mites that some- 

 times appear, and when they show up we have to spray the 

 coops with kerosene emulsion. 



Question. I would hke to ask Mr. Almy if he believes 

 that a strong odor is a sure exterminator of mites? 



Mr. Almy. I do not. I believe, in fact, I know positively 

 that one dusting with that powder will keep the mites oflf from 

 fowls for a matter of two or three months. 



A Member. At one time I tried the experiment of using 

 camphor balls. I thought they would make a good strong 

 odor among the feathers which would be disagreeable to the 

 mites. We put them right into the nests along with the eggs. 

 It worked first-rate in certain respects, and in others it did not 

 work so well. As long as the balls were whole, and the hens 

 let them be, they were all right, but just as soon as they pecked 

 them and broke them up they commenced to swallow them, or 

 tried to, and the result was that it was not a conspicuou-s 

 success. The lice disappeared at first, but on the whole the 

 camphor balls did not accomplish what I expected of them. 



Question. Do you think that your houses are free from 

 lice owing to the fact that you have left the floorings out ? 

 Mr. Almy. I think that helps. 



Question. Do you use any preparation on the roosts and 



poles and about the interior of the house to keep down the lice? 



Mr. Almy. Oh yes. We use a solution of carbolic on 



the roosts and poles, and kerosene or carbolic,' or something 



of that sort on the interior of the house. 



Question. I would like to ask the speaker, Mr. President, 

 before he closes, what would be a reasonable income from 

 hens kept under the system which he has described. We 



