114 PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 



may foe all included in four groups graphically expressed 

 by the following four words: 



GRITS, GRAINS, GREENS, GRUBS. 



1. Grits include gravel, small pebbles, coarse sand, 

 broken crockery or other hard substances of the right 

 size for use as milestones in the fowl's gizzard. If the 

 grinding materials are supplied in the form of granu- 

 lated bone, nourishment is also furnished in tbJe form 

 of phosphate of lime which is of use in forming and 

 repairing the bony framework of the fowl. Crushed 

 oyster-shells and clam-shells answer the purpose of grit 

 to some extent and also furnish carbonate of lime for 

 making the shells of .the hens' eggs. 



2. Grains such as wheat, corn (maize), oats, bar- 

 ley, rice, etc., are largely composed of starch and con- 

 tain some oily, mineral and nitrogenous nutrients. 



The seeds of some varieties of leguminous crops, 

 such ^as peas and beans supply a larger proportion of 

 nitrogenous nutrients than the regular grain crops. 

 The same is true of the seeds of sunflowers and hemp 

 and these also contain an extra amount of oily com- 

 pounds. 



The seeds of numerous other plants are relished by 

 poultry and supply mainly the carbohydrates, particu- 

 larly starch and fiber. 



3. Green food is amply supplied in the growing 

 season by the fresh blades of young grass OT grain. 

 Leafy garden crops like lettuce, kale, rape, swiss chard, 

 beet-leaves, spinach and cabbage furnish excellent 

 "greens" for the fowls. 



Chick-weed is a favorite green food for chickens. 

 Cabbages, mangolds, turnips and potatoes are often 

 fed to fowls when the cold weather cuts off the supply 

 of green grass or when the flocks are kept in confine- 

 ment. 



The leaves of clover and alfalfa hay are especially 

 excellent substitutes for fresh green food in the winter 

 time, and furnish considerable quantities of protein 

 nutrients. 



