196 AGRICULTURE 



subjects, it is easy to obtain the advice of an 

 expert as to particular breeds suitable for the 

 particular locality or conditions, and this advice 

 it is always well to have before starting. 

 Housing Then comes the question of housing, 

 which of course is most important and many- 

 sided. As a rule poultry always spoil the 

 look of a place, and are a disfigurement to 

 any garden, because the runs and houses are 

 nearly always utilitarian to the last degree, 

 if not positively ugly, whilst if the birds 

 are at large they scratch and trample down 

 everything, especially the choicest seed beds. 

 One lady of my acquaintance suffered much 

 from the poultry which her husband delighted 

 in, but the care of which fell largely to his 

 wife, as he was away all day at his business. 

 She was devoted to her garden, and kept it in 

 good order, but little by little the chicken 

 runs encroached and encroached, and then 

 it was all runs and no garden, combined 

 with many searchings of hearts, and not a 

 little sadness. 



