246 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



poultry yards remain unchanged and uncultivated year after year pro- 

 viding an opportunity for the development and perpetuation of dis- 

 ease. 



FORAGE CROPS. 



Both the farmer and commercial poultryman should plan to grow 

 green crops for forage though the need of special crops is not so great 

 in the former case. This is a cheap method of furnishing a great abund- 

 ance of succulent food as the chickens help themselves thus eliminating 



Fig. 3. Young chicks will not thrive as well if compelled to pick their living with mature fowls. 



the expense of harvesting, etc. Wheat or rye can be sown in the fall, 

 oats or barley in the early spring followed by oats and rape, succeeded 

 later by rape and buckwheat. While permanent sod runs of grass are 

 not desirable, alfalfa is an exception being satisfactory because of its 

 rapidity of growth and the high quality of food it furnishes. 



SHADE. 



Protection from the summer sun in and about the yards is very essen- 

 tial to the health and comfort of the flocks. Many different kinds of 

 shade trees may be used but fruit trees can be made to provide protec- 



