220 AGRICULTURE 



it is a great deodoriser, and therefore helps 

 to keep the birds healthy. 



Roofs For the roof, corrugated iron with a lining 

 of straw is very satisfactory, whilst if felt is 

 used it must be thoroughly tarred. Mr 

 Webster suggests in his book, that if Port- 

 land cement be sprinkled over the tar whilst 

 it is wet, the surface becomes quite hard and 

 impervious to weather. 



Feeding The feeding of the birds is the next point 

 to consider, and this is where great extrava- 

 gance may come in. There is such a variety 

 of food, with so much that is really inferior 

 mixed with the better samples, so many 

 patent foods advertised to do everything, 

 that only hard bought experience teaches the 

 poultry keeper where to buy to the best 

 advantage for her own pocket, and to pro- 

 duce the best results on the birds. The cost 

 per bird per year ought not to exceed 55., 

 therefore if it works out at 135. and more 

 the poultry will never pay. The household 

 scraps are a most valuable addition, especially 



