220 PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 



similar to the fencing. A frame may be made of iron 

 water-piping and covered with wire netting or woven 

 fencing. 



Common gates made of lumber and covered with 

 poultry netting will answer if they are well braced to 

 prevent sagging. 



All gates should be hung to firm, well set posts by 

 strong hinges and be provided with latches and hooks 

 for fastening in place, eittier open or shut. 



SHADE FOR YARDS. Trees furnish the best of shade for 

 poultry yards. 



Fruit trees answer the purpose nicely. Deciduous 

 trees provide shade in summer, and, dropping their 

 leaves for winter, permit the sunshine to strike past 

 their limbs in cold weather. 



Evergreen trees planted in hedges for wind-breaks 

 for winter also furnish a dense and cooling shade in hot 

 weather. 



Artificial appliances for providing shaded spots in 

 the yards include covers made of the branches of trees 

 cut in full foliage, frames of burlap, sacking or cotton 

 cloth, shutters made of slats, frames of wire netting or 

 laths covered with straw or hay, etc. 



CULTIVATION AND CROPPING. Crops for shade, shelter 

 or food may be grown in the yards if the arrangement 

 of double or triple enclosures is adopted. Indian corn, 

 sunflowers, castor bean, all provide a generous shade 

 when they have attained considerable growth. 



One of the yards may be devoted permanently to' as- 

 apragus, raspberries, blackberries or grapes and the 

 fowls allowed in it when they will be benefitted and 

 cause no injury to the crops. 



It is well to keep at least a portion of the yard 

 space in grass or growing grain to provide green food 

 for the flock. 



In the double yard plan one of the enclosures is 

 plowed early in spring and oats are sown. After the 

 grain is six inches high the fowls are turned upon It. 



