Poultry that Pay a Profit. 67 



cross seemed to be an advantage, by going further all was lost. 

 I have certainly had better results from the constant use of 

 one breed. I find that the keeping of dairy-cows for butter- 

 production goes well with the egg-business, and I know of no 

 way to dispose of skim-milk to better advantage than by feed- 

 ing it to laying hens. The farm crops raised are selected with 

 a view to providing food for both hens and cows, the rota- 

 tion being, corn, oats, wheat and clover. No garden crops are 

 raised except for family use and to supply succulent food for 

 the hens and cows in winter. Each hen-park contains a row 

 of plum trees, which provide the hens with shade and are so 

 situated that they make a rapid growth and bear fruit of a fine 

 quality. The plowing of the ground necessary to keep it in 

 good condition for the hens seems to give them the needed cul- 

 tivation ; while the droppings from the hens, in addition to a 

 yearly dressing of bone and potash, provide fertility. 



