14 FARMING FOE LADIES. [chap. i. 



plished. We, indeed, know of many families 

 in which they are all reared together ; and 

 Mr. Wakefield, of Liverpool — whose accomit 

 of management has been published — bred and 

 fattened immense numbers of all kinds pro- 

 miscuously in the same yard. 



The whole arrangement for the support of 

 a moderate stock is very simple. The yard 

 should, if possible, have an open exposure to 

 the south, and be perfectly dry, as nothing is 

 more injurious, to all other than aquatic birds, 

 than stagnant water or moisture of any sort ; 

 and poultry suffer more from a wet winter, 

 even if mild, than from one that is intensely 

 cold, provided it be clear and dry. If the 

 ground is wet, the foundation should there- 

 fore be thoroughly drained, and the surface 

 hardened to render it sound, with a thick 

 stratum of well-rammed bricklayers' rubbish, 

 or broken limestone mixed with small sandy 

 gravel, over which pounded oyster-shells and 

 egg-shells, or bones coarsely powdered, should 

 be spread ; but never paved with either flags 

 or pantiles, as that would prevent the fowls 

 from scratching the ground, and picking up 

 those calcareous matters, such as shells, 



