6i8 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Oct., 1908^ 



Both Messrs. T. and W. Baker place a high vakie on the manure 

 fron-x' the farm animals, and none is allowed to go to waste. On the Wood- 

 stock farm it is carted to a heap in the paddock and is distributed just 

 before the cultivation for each crop. At Somerton, all the spare time 

 of the farm hands is employed in gathering and carting the manure direct 

 to the paddock, where it is ploughed in at the earliest opportunity. 



It may be said that the average dairy farmer could not afford the time 

 taken up on both these farms in measuring the land cultivated and weigh- 

 ing the crops. The fact that two such practical men as the Messrs. Baker 

 readily undertook these exhaustive tests indicates the high A'alue they place 

 on the knowledge gained. It is this determination to bring any question- 

 able point as near as possible to a decisive finality, which marks the differ- 

 ence between the dairyman who secures average success and another who* 

 makes an eminent success of his work. 



WASHING WHITE LEGHORNS FOR EXHIBITION. 



//. T'. Hawkins, Poultry Expert. 



White fowls, and others of light colour, require washing all over. 

 The requisites are plenty of hot water, a basinful of soapy water- -made 

 by dissolving cut-up soap in hot water — a nice soft sponge, and some dry 

 towels. Having washed the feet and legs, fill a tub with water, hot 

 enough for an ordinary bath, and sufficient to go round th(; body of the 

 bird ; care must be taken to thoroughly drench the l)ird to the skin. 

 Part the plumage and work it about with the sponge under water ; then 

 rub the sponge, well soaped, into the feathers., up, down, and across; 

 for the fluffy feathers in front use the hand, working it up and down. 

 Continue working at the feathers until ever\- particle of dirt is removed. 



The next operation is to wash the head, sponging well round the eyes, 

 the top of the head, and down the hackle. After this, place the bird 

 in a tub of clean zcarm water — which will also do for washing the next 

 bird — and rinse it well, taking care that the soap is thoroughly removed; 

 otherwise, the plumage will become clogged, and will not web nicely. 

 Having pressed out with the hands any soapy water, put the bird into a 

 third tub of cold water to which may he added at least a tablespoonful of 

 borax, which will assist in preser\-ing that stay-white colour, which is 

 desirable in the show bird. Then rinse quickly — but thoroughly. The 

 cold bath will have the eft'eet of closing up the pores, thus minimizing the 

 risk of the bird taking cold. Place the bird on a table, and jemove any 

 watiM- that remains with a sponge, squeezed dry ; then, using a towel, dry 

 the head, wipe down the neck, and sop the rest of the body, always 

 working the way of the feathers. A stimulant may now be given — 20 drops 

 of ammoniated tincture of quinine to a tablespoonful of milk. When this is 

 done put the bird in a crate placed before a fire with a strong glow of 

 warmth, avoiding a fierce heat. :\nd. from time to time, turn the crate 

 until the l)ird is nearlv dry. but still damp. Remove it to a lined ex- 

 hibition basket placed in a warm, but not hot, position, the object of this 

 final drving being to secure a slightly moist atmosphere so that the plumage 

 properlv webs again. Birds may be washed three or four days prior to 

 exhibiting. Thev will keep ]>en-fectlv clean if there is plenty of chaff in 

 the i>en. and the droppings are frequently removed. 



